News:

Oh for a crystal ball! At the time of writing this, before Christmas, and just after Storm Darragh, we must travel optimistically and hope that everyone enjoyed the festive season and that nothing has happened since to make January or February anything other than the beautiful, if quiet months we can all enjoy together. Fingers crossed. Happy 2025 everyone. May this year be a good one.

St Margaret’s Church and churchyard
Maintenance work continues at St Margaret’s Church, including repairs to the roof and the crenulations and some wood treatment. Hopefully, there will be enough funds to continue the repairs which will include painting the walls and exposing the stonework around the windows. Thank you, Peter for maintaining the churchyard so well and a special thank you to Alfie and Brett for making the two wooden nesting boxes for the birds in the churchyard.
 
The Sunday services for January and February are published in the centre pages of this magazine. The lay-led Sunday services at St Margaret’s Church, Templeton will be on 5 Jan, 12 Jan and 2 Feb at 10.45 am and they usually last about 30 to 40 minutes. There will be a Cluster Holy Communion Service with Steph and Dave on 9 February. If there is not a Sunday service at Templeton at a weekend, there should be a group or cluster service at one of the other nine parishes.

Past Events

Templeton’s Annual Firework and Bonfire Night was held on Saturday November 2nd at Templeton Village Hall. This local event was very well attended as always, and as spectacular as ever. Hot dogs, tea and coffee were a big hit and the bar was very popular. It was a mild evening this year and it was lovely to see so many families enjoying the event. Thanks go to all those who gave their time to help from the bonfire builders to the firework setter offers, the teams preparing and serving food and drink, the bar team and those overseeing the gate and the car park. It really does take a village.

The Remembrance Day Service on Sunday 10 November allowed the congregation to pay their respects to all servicemen who died during conflicts around the world with two minutes’ silence. Reg led the service and read a very moving poem that encapsulated everything that we should try to remember on this day.

The Scrap Metal Day on 12 October at Templeton Village Hall was a great success - again. We collected cables, saucepans, copper pipe and wire, copper cylinders, aluminium, stainless steel, brass, old taps, metal troughs, and car batteries. Tractors and trailers collected big items, and the bacon butties, tea and coffee kept the team going as they sorted and loaded all the metal. £1740.16 was raised from our scrap metal! Thanks particularly to Julie Dent for initiating the event in 2012, to Kathy Hunt for coming back to the village and giving her time and expertise, and to everyone who donated, loaded, sorted, collected, transported, and provided delicious refreshments on the day. Since we started this event in 2012, we have filled 9 industrial size skips with general metal and four cattle trailers with aluminum, copper, brass and stainless steel. In total, over the four scrap metal events we have now raised a total of £7,727.77 for the village funds.

Several events happened after we wrote the Templeton page of the magazine. Here’s what we know and what we think we know. Fingers crossed:
 
The Annual Children’s Christmas Party was on Sunday 15 December at Templeton Village Hall with a visit by ‘you know who in the red suit’! There was a disco, party food and fun. Every child received a gift from the ‘big man.’ A big thank you to Tony Loosemore for organising this event.

Christmas Competitions
The Annual Christmas Competitions (table tennis, pool, darts, and skittles) were held at Templeton Village Hall every Saturday evening in December - 7 December, 14 December and 21 December.  We can’t tell you the names of the winners here but they will have their names engraved on shields.

Carol Service
On Christmas Eve, Tuesday 24 December, the candlelit Christmas Carol Service took place at 6pm, followed by wine and mince pies. It was lovely to see so many local people supporting the church and coming together as a community for this special event. And the singing was heavenly!

Karaoke and music night
On Tuesday 31 December (New Year’s Eve), a Karaoke and Music Night rang in the New Year at Templeton Village Hall. Many thanks to Sue Coffin’s talented brother Bob and family, for the music and the karaoke. This was a lovely way to celebrate with singing, dancing, hot dogs, snacks and nibbles, plus the bar, while coming together again as a community.  

Dates for your diary

Bingo Night! Saturday 1st March 2025 at Templeton Village Hall.
Come and have fun with all the family on our bingo night. Doors open 7pm. Eyes down 7.30pm prompt. There will be plenty of snacks and treats to enjoy during the evening and the bar will be open.  More information to follow as the details were not finalised at the time of writing, but please book the date in your calendar now.

Templeton Run
On Sunday 24 March 2024, the South West Road Runners and Exe Valley Rotary Club are organising their annual Charity Templeton Run. This event started ten years ago as a 5km ‘fun-run’ for runners of all ages. Two years ago the Rotary Club expanded the run to a 10km and 5km run. This year, the course will start at Templeton Village Hall and go through beautiful countryside into Cruwys Woods, which Guy Cruwys has kindly opened for the occasion. More information to follow.

Templeton Variety Show. Friday 11th and Saturday 12th April 2025!
After the wildly successful Templeton’s Got Talent Show in 2023, Sue is organising a 2025 Templeton Variety Show on the weekend before Easter.  
Time: 6.30pm for a prompt 7.00pm start at the hall.
Tickets on the night - £5 adults and £2 Children. Popcorn and ice-cream will be on sale and the bar will be open. This event may not be suitable for very young children as it can be a long time for them to sit still. If you, or anyone you know would like to take part, please contact Sue on 01884 860246. Sue will need to know who is performing, so a programme can be organised, no later than the end of February 2025. Sue will send round an email at the beginning of February with dates for practice evenings - and daytime rehearsals.

Templeton Safari Supper on 24th April 2025
A safari supper is a fun way to enjoy getting together for a meal and also raise funds. Each course is prepared and eaten at different people’s homes in and around Templeton. One of the courses could start or finish at St Margaret’s Church or Templeton Village Hall. If you’d like to know more or would like to host one of the courses (usually for about 6 people) please get in touch with Bindy on 01884 860655.

Regular gatherings

Art Group: every other Tuesday 10am-12midday Templeton Village Hall. No charge. Just come along. Coffee and cake provided.
Book Group: Templeton Village Hall. Second Wednesday of every month at 3pm. Although the group is at full capacity at the moment, please contact Julie 01884 233507 if you would like to be contacted when there’s a vacancy.

Knit and Natter: At St Margaret’s Church on the last Friday of each month 10.30am to 12 midday. Bring any repair work, embroidery, crochet, knitting, or just come along for a cuppa, biscuits and a chat!

Garden Club: We are taking a break through the winter months, but Gardening Club will start again in the Spring. If you would like to join us then please email Ginah Palmer at  ginahpalmer@gmail.com or phone her on 01884 253552.

Join us at Templeton Village Hall and Social Club:
Come up on a club night for a drink and a chat, have a game of darts, pool, table tennis or skittles. Club nights are Monday and Saturday evenings from 8.00pm to 11pm. Club membership is only £2 a year and the drinks are very reasonably priced.  If you would like to book the village hall for a birthday party, meeting, or a game of table tennis with friends, please contact Bindy 01884 860655.

Thoughts, prayers and best wishes

Our thoughts, prayers and best wishes go to all those who are unwell, who have been in hospital, who are awaiting or recovering from surgery, or who are having a tough time at the moment. We hope that you will soon be feeling better.

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