news & talk in the community

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Community Council of Devon we are undertaking a project to reflect on the abilities of rural communities to promote, organise and support their own development and to consider the achievements and lessons of the past fifty years. In short ‘what makes a strong community?’ The Heritage Lottery Fund is funding us to work with six ‘communities’ across the County and we are also working with Wren Music to explore what makes a community project and how is it possible to keep these activities running long after the 'professionals' have withdrawn.

In Hartland the Community Council is working with the Town Band, which lies at the heart of the community and reaches into many organisations. 'A Year in the Life of the Band' will tell the story of many community activities in a village that is noted for the high quality and diversity of its local events.

The Town Band is highly featured in Hartland, and the bonus for us came when the Community Council found that this year also marks their 50th anniversary. The Community Council’s Martin Rich met the band on a rehearsal night in the former St John’s church, now the town’s music and arts centre, and outlined the project. The band was interested and the enthusiasm grew as some ideas started to flow.

A committee was formed as a number of band members met to put flesh on the bones. The group wanted to produce a book that told the story of the band and how it was interwoven with the community. Discussions centred on a ‘month by month’ presentation that would record the background to local events and organisations and how the Town Band plays its part. Designs were debated, designers, printers and budgets pondered and work was begun. The Hartland Times has provided a rich vein of information and senior band member’s deepest memories have been summoned up.

In addition a website has been created with an evocative video of ‘Abide With Me’ being played against a dramatic backdrop of the rugged North Devon coast. A CD is to be recorded and, probably after much debate about its content, will accompany the book to give the band an income for their efforts.

So how are Hartland’s stories progressing? It’s not only the occasions or the quality of the music that have come to the fore. We found that fondly remembered tales of Christmas carolling around the local farms were being embellished with confessions of carrot wine and arriving home in the early hours….

Other community histories

In the coming months we will be telling you about other communities we are working with to uncover and record their histories. Communities such as Tedburn St Mary Millennium Group who are recording their local traditions and reinvigorating these through activities with the young people of the village; an initiative with South Brent which has 'uncovered' an old store of community cine film; how Hemyock regenerated its community following the closure of the milk processing factory; Hatherleigh which has been at the centre of an agricultural community and which despite changes to economic and social structure still has a wealth of community organisations and activities.