A record of events that make Brentor a community……

There is so much going on in our small village, organised by a wide range of people, such as….
Auctions of Promises – Anne Clark and Sheryl Burroughs
Barbeques – The Village Hall Committee
Bring a plate evenings – Various people each year
Coffee Mornings – Sheryl Burroughs
Jumble Sales – Sheryl Burroughs
Quiz Nights – various people
Talks – Sheryl Burroughs
Wine Evenings – Robin Burdfield
ConcertsVarious local people underwrite and arrange these events – contact Dom Carnell on 810425 or Colin Dawes on 811079
Brenstock – a new music festival since 2016 – contact Dom Carnell on 810425
Summer Fayre – Clare Percival

If you would like to contribute photographs or memories of past events please e-mail the editor at  editor@brentorpc.org.uk .


Queen’s Platinum Jubilee – June 2022

 

Over 20 effigies  were displayed around the village as a ‘scarecrow trail’, depicting different events during Queen Elizabeth II’s 70 year reign.  All were very imaginative and a great start to the Jubilee weekend celebrations.  There was an official planting of a cherry tree with a Platinum Jubilee plaque

at the playing field.  Mike Whitfield who has lived in the village for 50 years and has played a significant role in village life, planted the tree.

Finally there was an afternoon tea on Sunday, attended by over 170 villagers and hall supporters who were seated in the hall and marquee which were decorated with bunting and flowers.

The afternoon started with a drinks reception followed by a sit down tea.  There was abundant food, from savoury items and sandwiches to cakes and scones, all served with endless cups of tea. The event ended with a fantastic Jubilee cake made by newcomer to the village Caroline (now living in The Chapel) and a special raffle.  Proceeds from the raffle have been used to purchase a jubilee picnic bench at the village hall.

Finally, on leaving every household and child received a commemorative mug.

It was a lovely day with good weather and many expressed their thanks – it brought the village together after the pandemic.  Thanks go to the many helpers and bakers from around the village and to all who attended.


Carols by Candlelight 2021

The Carols by Candlelight event at the Brentor Playing field was a ‘first’ for the BVH&PF and it was a magical evening! The Committee and the Edge Singers were kept on tenterhooks until the last minute with regards to the weather but we were lucky.

Choir in pavillion

Images: Adrian Arnold

Choir and audienceOn a cool but still and dry evening, carols and a medley of seasonal songs were beautifully performed by 25 choristers, accompanied by guitars, harmonica and the audience. The pavilion was suitably decorated, The Edge choirdelicious warm mince pies and mulled wine were offered around under a magnificent starry sky. The choir and the audience thoroughly enjoyed the hour long event.
£72.16 were donated towards special cancer treatment for Fran Mumford.
Many thanks to all of you who turned up. This could well become an annual occasion!


Brentor Tea Party 2019

Anne Clarke

The Brentor tea party held at the Village Hall on Saturday 20th June 2019 was more than just a tea party.  It was  also a surprise birthday party for Anne Clarke, who was about to celebrate her 85th birthday.  Anne is a staunch supporter of the Village Hall, helping with just about all the village events held there, so the Village Hall and Playing Field Committee decided to thank her with a surprise party.  And what a party, complete with a sumptuous high tea, birthday cake and bouquet of flowers.

Congratulations, and thank you, Anne!


Brentor Summer Fayre 2018

Brentor’s first ever Summer Fayre was held at Brentor Village Hall on 28th July 2018

Although the 2018 spell of scorching weather came to an end the Fayre was a great success, attracting about 200 visitors and making almost £1000 for Village Hall and Playing Field funds.
The Village Hall was filled with produce show exhibits (but where were the entries for the children’s competition?!).  Cream teas, cakes and coffees were in abundance.  Outside the burgers and vegan food stall were busy, as was the beer tent.  Thank you also to the buskers who provided music during the fayre.  The craft marquee was packed with exhibitors ranging from a glass blower to a doll’s clothes stall.  Another marquee featured Brentor stalls selling plants, cakes, pocket money items etc.  There was also a children’s craft activity table and dressing-up tent and a well-stocked Tombola stall.

The Summer Fayre committee hard at work planning the event

Thanks must go to Clare Percival and the organising committee for all their hard work, and to the large band of volunteers who helped with erecting the marquees, staffing the stalls and acted as car park marshals.
As well as a Dartmoor beer and cider tent there was a range of refreshments including teas, coffees, bacon rolls and cream teas inside the Village Hall and a vegan food caravan and  BBQ serving a range of burgers and hotdogs.To echo the old Brentor Village Show, there was a small produce competition and photographic competition.


Fish Supper and Shanties 2018

Brentor Village Hall was full to the gunwales for its first ‘Fish Supper’ event on 27th October 2018.  The evening raised funds for the hall and also for the RNLI.  Sea shanty singers ‘Missin’ Tackle’ from Brixham treated the audience of 70 to some rousing and moving shanties – the audience joined in with gusto when required!  A great big thanks must go to them for inspiring the evening and for performing free of charge.

Tables were laden with a vast array of delicious fish pies, fish cakes, even fish fingers! About twelve people contributed to the food, and thanks goes to them for all their hard work.  Thanks must also go to Helen de Carles for taking on the organisation of the event and to Ian Drayner for providing the initial contact with ‘Missin’ Tackle’.  Not forgetting Sue, Sheryl, Anne and Clare who staffed the kitchen and to those who helped to decorate the hall with all things nautical.


Beating the Bounds 2018

Brentor parish held a Beating the Bounds on Rogation Sunday, 6th May 2018, the traditional day for such an event.
It was very fortunate that the day was one of the hottest May days on record. Over 100 walkers joined in the perambulation, not all walking the full 12.5 miles (but many did).  More than 90 people attended the ‘Medieval Feast’ in the Village Hall after the walk and generously gave towards the £400 which was raised for the Village Hall and Playing Field.

The photographs below have been generously provided by many of those taking part – if you have any of your own that you would like to submit please contact the Editor, Colin Dawes, at brentorvillage@btinternet.com .

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Brenstock 2017

Brenstock 2017, the second Brentor music festival to be held, was staged on Saturday 15th July at the Village Hall and grounds, and was bigger and even better than in 2016.  The event was a sell-out, over 400 people attending.  Over £2000 was made, which goes to help maintain Brentor Village Hall as a major resource for the local community and to provide a fund for future Brenstocks.

Two marquees housed an acoustic stage and main stage and there was non-stop music from 1.00pm until 11.30pm.  Despite the wet weather everyone had a great time and line-up of 14 bands and performers was superb…..

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Brenstock 2016 – Brentor’s first music festival

Brenstock 2016 was a sell-out, with over 250 visitors to coming to Brentor’s first-ever music festival.  The weather was kind, the food was good and the Castle Inn provided an excellent licenced bar.  All the music acts were superb, from solo singers to the headlining Fireblockers.  The Village Hall and marquees were decorated in a riot of colour and in the evening the dance floor was packed as the festival reached its climax.

Thanks has to go to Dom Carnell and the Brenstock organising committee for all their hard work, and to the volunteers who helped throughout the day to make the event a safe and enjoyable one for all the visitors.  Over £1,000 was made which goes to the Village Hall and to provide a fund for future Brenstocks.

You can go to the Brenstock website at www.brenstock.org.uk by clicking here

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Yann Martel in Brentor 2014

Yann Martel at the Brentor book group

On 2nd January 2014 the Man Booker prize winner Yann Martel delighted members of the Brentor Book Group when he visited their meeting to discuss his writing.

The Canadian author, from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, is probably best known for his book Life of Pi, which was made into a film in 2012. He took time out from visiting his partner’s family in the village to chat with group members who had chosen to read another of his works, Beatrice and Virgil, which took seven years to write and was published to mixed reviews. The novel is centred on ”representations” of the holocaust, which Yann explained was quite a rarity as most books tackling this sensitive subject are almost always non-fiction. He also spent part of the evening discussing Life of Pi and the making of the film.

Yann talked about the lengthy procedures involved in researching, writing, rewriting, editing and the eventual publication of a book. The group were then treated to a glimpse of his latest work when he read the first chapter of the book he has just completed, but which will not be published until later in 2014.

Brentor Book Group is one of over 200 book groups in the county which are supported by Devon Library services.  Each month Tavistock library supplies every member of the group with a copy of the book selected for reading and discussion. Yann Martel is a great supporter of public libraries and was Writer in Residence at Saskatoon library when he won the Man Booker Prize.

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Mistletoe Fair 2013

Brentor’s Mistletoe Fair, held on 7th December 2013 was a great success. The Village Hall was thronged with visitors for much of the day and the stalls were packed with a wide array of seasonal gifts and decorations. Children enjoyed the Treasure Hunt game and the raffle provided lots of quality prizes. Thanks must go to all the people who put in so much work to make the day such a success, especially the team of organisers and the kitchen team who provided such excellent food throughout the day. Thanks should also got to all the members of the choirs who performed during the day. Hundreds of pounds were raised from this event, which will go towards funding the Village Hall and Playing Field. – Photos by Colin Dawes

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Brentor Village Show

For many years the village show was the highlight of the Brentor calendar, run by a dedicated team of villagers.  It showcased local crafts and activities, with a thriving fruit and vegetable competition and baking competition.  It became more and more difficult to find new volunteers to organise the show, so sadly the last one was held in 2013.  Since 2018 the village show has been replaced with a Village Fayre, held alternately with the Brenstock music festival.

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Centenary Hog Roast and Party 2013

This event, held on 20th July 2013, celebrated the Village Hall building’s 100th anniversary.  There was a hog roast followed by a party and the heatwave made the event a memorable occasion.  The new marquee provided welcome shade and the event was attended by over 100 local people.  A fitting celebration for a building that has been a focus for the village for so many years! – Photos by Colin Dawes

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Auction of Promises 2013

– Photo by Colin Dawes

The Auction, held at the Village Hall on 28th June, raised an impressive £1,431 for the Village Hall and Playing Field’s funds.  Thank you to everyone who bid at the auction for making it such a success.  Thanks also to all the donors of ‘Promises’ that made the event possible.  Sharon M’Quillin, our auctioneer, managed to maintain some sort of order and certainly managed to squeeze every penny from the audience!

Special thanks to the organisers of the Auction, Anne Clark, Sheryl Burroughs and Sue Stephens, whose hard work made it such a great event.

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Mistletoe Fair 2012
The Fair, held on Saturday 8th December 2012, was a great success.  A beautifully decorated Village Hall was packed with stalls displaying presents, hand-made food and a wide variety of Christmas decorations.  Throughout the day there was fresh home-made food and drinks and the hall was busy from 10.30am until the event closed at 3.30pm, with lots a visitors joining us from outside Brentor.  About £900 was raised,  which went towards the cost of running the Village Hall and Playing Field. – Photos by Colin Dawes

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 Bonfire Night 2012
This event was regularly held in the past but was revived in 2011 to 2013 to raise funds for the maintenance of the playing field.  It was sometimes lucky with the weather and everyone who attended agreed that it is a great occasion, especially for younger people in the village. – Photos by Colin Dawes

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Brentor Steam Day, May 2012
Held at Brentor Station, this event was a huge success.  It raised £740 for Brentor Village Hall and Playing Field, the funds being allocated to the improvement of the children’s play area.  A miniature steam railway track was laid to provide rides and tickets were sold from the original Station ticket office. There was a variety of other attractions including children’s activities, numerous model railway layouts and exhibitions, and the return for the day of the Brentor steam locomotive nameplate. The Station Buffet served railway themed food and there was a raffle and “Guess the Weight of the Engine” competition. The event was organised in association with Plymouth Miniature Steam. Special thanks must go to Eric and Sue Rhodes for generously opening the Railway Station for the event.  – Photos by Colin Dawes unless otherwise attributed

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Brentor Big Brunch 2012
The Brentor Big Brunch has raised over £200 towards the Village Hall fund.   About 100 people enjoyed Brunch at the village hall.

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The reopening of Brentor Village Hall, 29-30 May 2010
After its major refurbishment the Village Hall reopened on 29th May 2010 and was celebrated by a ribbon cutting, village lunch and a special Villages in Action performance by poet and performer Matt Harvey. – Photos by Colin Dawes

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– Photo by Colin Dawes

Bangers and Mash at the Old Station, January 2010
Thanks go to Sue and Eric Rhodes, who lived at the Old Station until 2016, for allowing their historic Brentor Station house to be used for this hugely successful event. Over £330 was raised for the Village Hall. Despite snow showers a large number of people joined the walk which started at 11am, led by Helen de Carles. At 12.30 they and many others enjoyed the meal of Bangers, Mash and Beans followed by Crumble and Custard – hearty warming food for a cold day, especially for those eating on the platform! We all enjoyed the friendly and relaxed atmosphere of the event. So much work was put in by all the helpers – thank you once again to everyone!

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Refurbishing Brentor Village Hall, 2009 – 2010

By 2007 the Village Hall’s 1970s toilet and kitchen extension was beginning to decay.  The kitchen floor was rotting, allowing free entry for mice!  The toilets were cold, damp and mouldy, with ceilings collapsing from leaks in the roof.  The main hall was in need of refurbishment and redecoration, and there was a shortage of storage space.  It was decided to replace and extend the toilets, kitchen small store and to create a new entrance and store, as well as upgrading the main hall.    Almost £200,000 was raised to enable the work to be done, from November 2009 to May 2010 – Photos by Colin Dawes

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Christmas Fair 2009
When the Village Hall was closed for refurbishment the Christmas Fair moved to Liddaton, courtesy of three residents who provided their homes for the purpose!  It is now once more a regular event at the Village Hall, called the Mistletoe Fair,  and raises at least £800 per year towards the cost of running the Hall – Photos by Colin Dawes

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