Looking back to the latter part of 2011, the Society held a successful Skittles & Social Evening at Crossways Tavern on Saturday 3rd December and a number of members attended the re-opening of the Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter on Thursday 15th December.

More recently, and in addition to the usual composting working group on Saturday 7th January, a working party did a sterling job on Hele Centre on the Saturdays of 14th & 21st January. The footpath between Hele and Bradninch by the railway was also cleared of overgrown branches to make it passable. Thanks to those who took part. By the time you read this, there will have been the normal bi-monthly Society meeting at John & Sandra Parker’s on Wednesday 25th January, which will be reported on in the next issue.

Some of you will have seen the progress made by volunteers with renovating the telephone box, now fully re-painted and with its new signs fitted – see photo. Although already functioning as such, there is still some work to be done to complete the project, after which there will be a formal opening of the box as our local information centre. Do have a look when passing. The content will be changed regularly and currently includes information about the Society, forthcoming events, maps and bus timetables plus a selection of useful leaflets on various topics, for example, on local walks. An interim ‘thank you’ goes to those who have been involved, as well as to Devon Valley Mill for sponsoring the work and to Paddy Nash, who is looking after the content.

A most interesting and well-supported talk on the re-opening of the Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Queen Street, Exeter was given to Society members and a number of non-members by Mr Simon Tootell on Monday 7th November at the Crossways Tavern, Station Road, Hele. The re-opening of the museum on Thursday 15th December follows a three-year, multi-million pound redevelopment. Simon’s illustrated presentation charted the refurbishment programme and gave an insight into the exciting new exhibitions and series of events that visitors can expect. The Society plans to attend the re-opening, either as an organized visit or on an individual member basis. More details can be found on the museum’s website (www.exeter.gov.uk/RAMM) or in the Execite magazine (Issue 82 - page 3).

The Society’s thanks also go to Dr Tim and Caroline Harlow of Whitley House, Hele Cross for their open day on Saturday 12th November when members were treated to a privileged tour of the property and its remarkable gardens. Tim and Caroline have sold the house and will shortly be moving into Exeter. We thank them for their support and wish them well for their move and in their new home.

Community Work

The Society has been involved in many community projects to improve Hele’s environment.We have pursued road safety issues, planning policies and Local Authority Consultation Strategy Plans.

We have helped to fund the activities of other local Bradninch organizations, including the Climate Change Group, the Duchy School, the Allotment Association and the Scouts, as well as sponsoring the programme for the Musical Gardens part of the annual Music Festival. The Society also paid for the Pin Oak tree recently planted at Townlands. We have even agreed to take on the old GPO telephone box in Hele as an information centre!

Throughout the year there is a programme of meetings, talks, visits and social events to accommodate the interests of members/residents of Hele.

Environmental Work

Tree planting and the Community Orchard

Community Composting

At the last bi-monthly meeting of the Society on Wednesday 28th September, Nicky Mather proposed a fresh and most welcome programme of childrens’ events starting with a ‘Trick or Treat’ evening on Sunday 30th October between 4 – 6pm, details of which have been delivered to residents by letter. Future events were scheduled and are set out in the forecast below.

Since the meeting, work has progressed with the telephone box project. The inside is now complete, having been cleaned and re-painted by Rick Andrews and there is now a new information display cabinet. Thanks also go to Paddy Nash for producing a special large scale map and aerial photo of the hamlet and its surroundings and to Gordon Wright, Peter Hall, David Abrahams, John Parker and Edwin Hannabus for starting the painting of the outside of the box.

An extremely fruitful meeting between our Chairman, David Abrahams and ex-Chairman Rick Andrews with the Devon County Council Highways Neighbourhood Team Leader from Tiverton, Mr David Fergie, took place on Thursday 13th October when a number of issues were discussed. These ranged from general repair and maintenance, winter preparedness, drainage problems on Strathculm Road and signposting to footpaths and tree replacement at Hele Cross. We hope that progress will be forthcoming on all these concerns. We have also chased the provision of a sign for Hele Square through Bradninch Town Council.

The replenishment of the flower baskets on the bridge and a re-painting of the bench and table at Hele Square were carried out by Society volunteers on Saturday 15th October.

AGM & Social

Saturday 30th July saw the 20th Annual General Meeting of the Society held at Crossways Tavern. The Chairman, Rick Andrews welcomed those present, in particular the Mayor of Bradninch, Councillor Jane Webber.

After the initial procedural agenda items, Gareth Shaw, the outgoing Treasurer, explained the accounts, reporting another year of sound finances based largely on our composting activities and highlighting the numerous charitable donations made. Thanks were extended to both Gareth, standing down due to his increased commitments at the University, and to Barbara Crispin for again auditing the accounts.

The Chairman then reiterated the Aims of the Society before reviewing the plethora of events, activities and achievements of the past 12 months, relating them to their respective Aims and thanking those responsible for each. Standing down after three years in accordance with the Constitution, Rick thanked everyone for their support during his tenure of office and expressed his satisfaction with the Society’s position in terms of its finances, increased membership and its relevance to both the immediate and wider parish communities – a view subsequently echoed by the Mayor, who complimented the Society on its positive and valuable contribution to the fabric of the community.

The Committee for the forthcoming year was then elected, with Jane Parr remaining as Secretary and Margaret Shaw becoming Treasurer. David Abrahams assumes the role of Chairman with Paul Younger and Horst Blum taking on that of Vice-Chairman in a joint capacity. Our thanks go to both the new incumbents for agreeing to take on their respective appointments and to those standing down for their previous work.

The meeting concluded with the lead personalities of the various Working Groups being confirmed, along with diary dates for August and September. Finally, the Society extends a warm welcome to its two newest members, Peter Harner and Helen Roden, of No 3 Hele Square.

The thanks of those present go to both Sheila Mason and her staff for the excellent and most attractive buffet and to Dawn Abrahams for her organization of the evening.

Farm Visit

Royal Wedding Party

On Saturday 13th November some 27 members and non-members of the Society were privileged to be able to visit Devon Valley Mill in Hele, courtesy of member Horst Blum the General Manager.

After a fascinating introductory talk by Horst, the group was given a conducted tour of the production facilities. With pulp imported from the Philippines, Sweden and Finland, paper is made for laminates, as well as for tea bags, coffee filters and sausage casings – all to full human food standards – before being exported to various countries including the USA, many destinations within Europe and even China.

As one of only two manufacturers of the special paper involved, it is interesting to think that, wherever you might be in the world, there is a 50:50 chance that the processed or smoked sausage you are eating will be encased in paper made just down the road in Hele!

A truly enlightening and enjoyable visit appreciated by everyone who attended. Thank you again to Horst and his colleagues for such a remarkable opportunity.

A stunning and highly enjoyable illustrated presentation was given by local doctor, Dr Neil Rushton, to a Society audience at the Crossways Tavern on Monday 25th October.

The talk covered his exploits in aid of charity last year, which included mountaineering in the Himalayas – the main topic of his presentation, trekking in Scotland, a cycle journey from Land’s End to John O’Groats and a rowing expedition up the River Thames – some feats indeed!

Dr Neil raised some £11,000 for a cancer charity in memory of his late wife and the evening raised further funds to this end.

The photograph shows the Chairman presenting Dr Neil with a cheque from the Society. Dr Neil had only just returned from climbing Mt Kilimanjaro, about which he has kindly agreed to speak on another occasion, perhaps in the Spring. We look forward to welcoming him back.

The photograph shows the group of 26 Society members and friends who, on Saturday 8th May visited the Eden Project.

It was unanimously agreed that the Project made for a truly remarkable and inspiring experience and that the trip had been most successful and thoroughly enjoyable.

Thanks to Dawn Abrahams for doing an outstanding job of organizing the event. Various ideas for visits to other interesting places, such as Chelsea Flower Show next year, have already been put forward – watch this space!

Behind the plaque

Many of our readers will be familiar with the thatched roof bus shelter at the top of Fore Street and the commemorative plaque to Alan Leslie Stooke-Hallett - but how many know anything about that person? We decided to do some research to try and answer that question, particularly topical as this year marks the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

 Alan (‘Ginger’) Stooke-Hallett was born at Clyst Hayes, Strathculm Road, Hele on 21st June 1923 to James and Priscilla S-H. At that time, Clyst Hayes was part of Hele Payne Farm and Alan’s father described himself as a farmer and Riding Master. Alan was educated at Norwood School, Exeter and Blundells in Tiverton, where ‘Ginger’ was a School Monitor as well as being a member of both the School 1st XV rugby (hooker) and cross-country teams. He joined the Royal Air Force on leaving school in April 1941 to become a fighter pilot, albeit by then too late to take part in the Battle of Britain itself.

He flew various aircraft types, including the rocket-firing Typhoon – the fastest and most powerful single-engined aircraft of its time.

‘Ginger’ S-H was shot down over Nijmagen, near Arnhem in Holland and successfully baled out of his stricken aircraft. By so doing he became a member of the Caterpillar Club, a club exclusive to those who have had their lives saved by the silk of a parachute. Unfortunately, he was captured and became a PoW.

GS-H re-joined the RAF at the end of the war but was sadly killed when his plane crashed after his No2’s aircraft collided with his whilst rehearsing for the Victory Day fly past at Andover airfield. A flight of aircraft flew over Bradninch Parish Church at his funeral and he is buried in Bradninch churchyard, the committal being taken by his old Blundells’ Housemaster, the Rev R A Abigail. The Blundellian (the School magazine) describes GS-H as a ‘well liked boy, of exuberant vitality, he found his obvious niche as a fighter pilot, flying the newest and fastest machines’ – the perfect epitaph?


If anyone has any further information, or a photograph of Alan S-H, we would be delighted to hear from them.




[Information kindly provided by Mr Peter Fraser of Greenslynch Farm, Silverton, a cousin of Ginger S-H and Mr Mike Sampson, the Archivist at Blundells School]