Buckfastleigh Community News

Buckfastleigh Town Lottery is a non-profit local lottery supporting grants for community groups, events and good causes across the Buckfastleigh parish. Originally run by local traders at Huckaby’s, following its closure the lottery is now run from J Searle & Son.

The fund has helped many groups over the years and, this year, has given over £1,800 to local groups in the town.

How it works:

• Prize fund: a full 55% of the weekly stake money, with a weekly jackpot plus second and third prizes.
• Entries: have as many as you wish.
• Payment: £1 per week in cash at J Searle & Son, or £4.34 per calendar month by standing order.
• Results: winners are posted each week in the shop window and on Facebook.

Come and join us—your entry supports good causes in Buckfastleigh and gives you a weekly chance to win.

Community groups are warmly invited to apply for grants; the full criteria are available on request.

Contact: For grant applications and enquiries, write to Buckfastleigh Town Lottery, 43 Fore Street, Buckfastleigh, TQ11 0AA, or email shop@searles.tv (please use the subject “Buckfastleigh Town Lottery”).

Well known in the South West and across the art-rock scene, Temple of Shibboleth are a five-piece sisterhood whose original music blends Canterbury-tinged prog (think Soft Machine), jazz-pop (Steely Dan), lyrical folk (Joni Mitchell) and pure improv — all part of their unique sound.

Their Days of the Week show is a soul-fed ritual for the Home, playing their self-titled debut album in a performance that’s humorous, deep and delightfully absurd. Think: jazz gig meets circus dreamscape.

• Billie Bottle - voice, keyboards
• Viv Goodwin-Darke - voice, flute, recorder
• Roz Harding - alto sax, recorder, voice
• Anna Batson - bassoon, voice
• Jo Meikle - drums and percussion

Between them, they have played Ronnie Scott’s, London Jazz Festival, The Jazz Cafe, King’s Place, Camden People’s Theatre, Teatro Rossini, Vortex Jazz Club and Halle Women in Jazz Festival. Their music has been played on Jazz FM and BBC 6 Music, and they have performed live on air for BBC Radio 3 (Late Junction and In Tune) and BBC Radio 4.

• “an experience like no other” - Cultr
• “nothing will prepare you for this gorgeous gallimaufry from Bottle and her band” - Jazzwise Magazine
• "I saw their Exeter concert last week and was SO blown away." - audience member

This is deep music for climate collapse in a playful performance with circus influence that will have you dancing, thinking and singing along! Quirky, dreamy, adventurous, heartfelt and soul-fed connection for all our beginning, middle and endtimes. A surrealist sisterhood who perform a daring musical ritual. Blending nu jazz, mythic prog and psych-folk.

• Date: Saturday 13 December 2025
• Time: Doors 7pm; performance 7.30pm
• Duration: 90 minutes approx (plus 20 minute interval)
• Tickets: £8, £10, £12
• Audience: All ages

See the Moor Imagination Centre entry on our website for contact details.

Heart and Soul Funerals host a friendly monthly space to explore end-of-life matters. We meet on the last Thursday of each month, and newcomers are always welcome.

The January gathering will be the second of two conversations on Advance Decisions (Living Wills), following part one on Thursday 27 November 2025. Don’t worry if you missed it — you’re very welcome to join part two.

What we’ll cover: An Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment (often shortened to ADRT) lets you set out, in advance, any medical treatments you wish to refuse should you lose the ability to communicate in the future.

• Legally binding: When correctly prepared, an ADRT can be legally binding under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 if it is valid and applies to the situation at hand.
• Clear and specific: It must state exactly which treatments you refuse and in what circumstances, be in writing, signed, and witnessed.
• About refusals (not requests): An ADRT is for refusing treatment; it cannot be used to demand particular treatments.
• Keep it current: Review it regularly and make sure your family, GP, and those close to you know your wishes and where the document is kept.

Having an ADRT can ease the burden on families and give clear guidance to healthcare professionals at critical moments — for example, decisions about attempted resuscitation or life-sustaining treatment after catastrophic brain injury — helping ensure care aligns with your values and wishes. Come and join us for a thoughtful, down‑to‑earth conversation; you’ll find a warm welcome.

Event details:

• Event: Dying Conversations
• Date: Thursday 29 January 2026
• Time: 6.30pm
• Venue: Moor Imagination Centre (MIC)
• Topic: Advance Decisions (Living Wills) — Part 2 (all welcome, even if you missed Part 1)
• Note: No meeting in December 2025

Contact: Simon Smith, Heart and Soul Funerals — 01364 643522

It’s the start of a new year and a good time to make plans — perhaps something crafty. If you’d like to learn or pick up knitting or crochet, do pop along; our friendly members are always happy to help. Small projects are a great place to start — a simple rectangle can become fingerless mitts, or try a cosy cowl on circular needles. There’s plenty of choice in local shops if you’re looking for patterns and ideas. We’d love to see you there.

We meet at the Kings Arms, Buckfastleigh on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month, from 7.30pm to 9.30pm.

Next dates:

• January 2026: 14th & 28th
• February 2026: 11th & 25th
• March 2026: 11th & 25th

If you’d like a chat before coming for the first time, please call Dawn on 07990 332816.

Join Claire as she shares her beautiful new book 'Hettie Nettle's Book for Hedgewitches' with us. Afterwards we'll make moss folk dolls, and the book will be on sale for signing by Claire. We’d love to see you there.

• Date & time: Tuesday 17 February, 2pm
• Price: £2 per child
• Recommended age: 5+
• Booking: Spaces are limited — please book in advance at the library.

See the Buckfastleigh Library entry on our website for contact details.

Buckfastleigh History Society welcomes you to our February talk, Devon’s Painted Screens.

• Date & time: Thursday 19 February, 7.30pm
• Venue: Valiant Soldier Museum and Heritage Centre
• Speaker: Richard Knights on the history of medieval rood screens in Devon — the county is fortunate to have over 40 figurative examples remaining
• Entry: £5 (cash or card)

Come and join us for a fascinating evening — we’d love to see you there.

See the Buckfastleigh History Society entry on our website for contact details.

Spend Valentine’s night in a spellbinding world of music as the Mae Karthauser Trio brings old songs, new tales, and the magic of August to the Moor Imagination Centre — an intimate evening of voice, piano, cello and flute.

• Date & time: Saturday 14 February, 7.30pm
• Venue: Moor Imagination Centre
• Tickets: £8-£15 — book at https://dandelion.events/e/z5pht
• Age guidance: All ages

Devon-based songwriter Mae Karthauser — often compared to Joanna Newsom, Agnes Obel and Joni Mitchell yet unlike any of them — conjures music that shimmers between the familiar and the uncanny. Her latest album, August, emerged from a month-long ritual of writing a song each day, arranged for piano, flute, cello and braided vocals.

• “Honest, authentic and relatable… a colourful and captivating atmosphere that beckons you to stop and take it all in.” — Folk Radio
• “Epic… gorgeous… ethereal” — CLASH
• “Her voice soars like a nightingale” — FATEA

Mae is joined by Ben Roberts (cello) and Ronja Schlumberger (flute, backing vocals). Come and join us for a wonderfully atmospheric evening — we’d love to see you there.

See the Moor Imagination Centre entry on our website for contact details.

Wellswood Yoga offers friendly, all-ability classes in Buckfastleigh. Expect calming breathwork, gentle strength and balance, and a relaxing wind-down to support wellbeing and better sleep. Whether you’re brand new or picking it up again, drop-ins and visitors are very welcome.

Weekly class:

• Wednesdays (all year), 7.30pm–8.30pm — St Luke’s Church, Buckfastleigh.
• Entrance at the back; free parking at Victoria Woodholme car park.
• No need to book — just turn up. We’d love to see you there.

One-to-one and private sessions:

• Individual tuition for one or two people in your own home.
• Private classes for groups and organisations — ideal for staff wellbeing or community groups.

Why try yoga? It can:

• Improve strength, balance and flexibility
• Help with anxiety and stress
• Support with back pain
• Ease some arthritic symptoms
• Benefit heart health
• Help you relax and sleep better

Contact: Kevin — 07540 751745 · wellswoodyoga@gmail.com · https://www.wellswoodyoga.com