Kingston ( South Hams, Devon ) Parish Council
Kingston Parish Council - Working with the community

View on-line at: http://kingstonparishcouncil.co.uk/redirectpage.asp?id=3409&SiteId=311

 

KINGSTON  DIRECTORY  OF   

“COMMUNITY GROUPS”

 

KINGSTON  BELL  RINGERS

No, not campanologists.  No self respecting bell-ringer calls themselves that.  We are plain and simple bell ringers, Christian and non-Christian alike, who enjoy meeting up on Monday evenings at 20.00h. for practice and then putting it all into effect on Sunday services and other community events.  A highlight, for example, was ringing in the new millennium. We always ring in the New Year, even if some of us don't remember it.  Bell ringing is difficult, making it all the more of an achievement when, after a lifetime, you have almost mastered/mistressed it.  It is also good exercise - one of the skills is using the right muscles. We have a wonderful ring of six bells, so why not put it on your list of Kingston "must dos" and come and join us for a trial session.  You will be made really welcome and will also enjoy afterwards in the Dolphin.

 Contact:  Viv Freeman 01548 810255

 

 KINGSTON  LOCAL HISTORY  SOCIETY

 Kingston's history has been documented in various ways. The Kingston Local History Society originated in the mid 1970's when Mary Petter took a great interest in the village's past & over about 20 years researched many aspects of village life by publishing letters & accounts of her findings.  Since then it has continued to function under the guidance of several local representatives in the community until it was finally revived in its present format in 2003/04.Three years ago it received a generous Heritage Lottery Grant, thanks to the combined efforts and hard work of Jennie Stanley and the late Peter Joiner and is now busy “Preserving Kingston’s Past” to make it accessible to all. 

Members pay an annual subscription, ( singles £3.00 and £5.00 for couples) & non members pay £1.00 each time they attend talks by Guest Speakers etc. in the Reading Room.  The Society also organises walks and visits to places of interest, usually on a Saturday.

The  AGM is in the Autumn.  Meetings/Talks take place in the Reading Room, at 8pm, normally on Thursdays unless otherwise stated.  The Programme of Events can be found on our Website and on this site under  'What's On '.

Contacts:  Jennie Stanley, ( Chair).    01548 810819  stanz@stanz.plus.com   
Joyce Masters, ( Secretary).     01548 810340  jayceem@talktalk.net

Or see our website, www.kingstonlocalhistory.co.uk for more information.

 

KINGSTON  GARDENING  CLUB

 Kingston Gardening Club is an informal group run on a co-operative basis by its members. Activities are held at roughly monthly intervals and include: meetings in members homes and gardens, plant swops, visits to local gardens and nurseries, workshops and talks. The latter are usually held in the village Reading Room and, like many visits, are open to non members.  We often hold a Christmas dinner with invited guests or recently a Christmas lunch.  Open events are publicised through the village newsletter.  Anyone can join. All you need is an interest in gardening and plants. You do not have to be an expert, but you will certainly learn more if you join us.  Most members live in Kingston, but some are welcomed from Ringmore, Easton and Modbury.  Members pay 50p per meeting and other funding comes from the Gardening Club stall at the Village Fair.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Members have renovated and continue to maintain the tubs and beds in front of the Reading Room. We have also planted wild daffodils and Scobbiscombe snowdrops on the banks of the lane leading from Four Cross towards Vicarage Farm. It takes time to build up wild plant communities, but we hope to extend this planting year by year. The aim is to both enhance the approach to the village and contribute to dwindling stocks of wild bulbs.

 The club is intended as a social activity for people with a common interest. If you would like to join us contact one of the following members:

 Contact:  Helen  Brown    01548 810850  mroakleybrown@hotmail.com                                                                                                            Christmas lunch 2010

 

 KINGSTON  SHORT  MAT  BOWLS  CLUB

Short-mat bowls is played in village halls and community centres throughout the UK.  There are many clubs in Devon and the South Hams has a thriving and very active association.  There are three divisions in the South Hams League and Kingston is in the 1st Division.

 

As it takes place indoors, bowls is played all year round, with League matches being held between October and March.  In addition to the League matches, there are various cup competitions, tournaments, etc. we enter.  Clubs whose halls are large enough hold tournaments throughout the year and the proceeds are given to charity

 

 

The game takes place on a rink mat, which is a green carpet with a bonded backing.  It has maximum and minimum lengths of 45 ft. (13.75m) and 40 ft (12.2m) respectively and its width is 6ft. (1.83m).  Placed in the centre of the rink is a wooden block 15 in (380mm) long.  This is to prevent the firing shot being used as this would be potentially dangerous in confined spaces.

 At Kingston we play in the Reading Room, in the centre of the village, on Mondays and Fridays, commencing at 19.00h.  New members are always welcome.  There are bowls for you to use.  All you have to do is turn up and if you enjoy it you can become a member, which costs £5 p.a. and £1 per evening, including refreshments. Short-mat bowls is a friendly game.  Come along and join us.

 Contacts:  Dick Bond, Chairman  01548 810747     Graham Phillips, Captain  01548 810054

 

SOUTH  HAMS  SHRIMPS

 

Contact:  Ally Lockyer  01548 810394

 

 KINGSTON  YOUNG  PEOPLE’S  ASSOCIATION

 Kingston has over 80 young people of all ages.  KYPA, known as “Youth Club” takes place every Wednesday evening in the Reading Room.  The younger members, aged from 7-11 enjoy activities from 6.30-7.30 and the older ones follow on from 7.30-8.30.  There are structured but relaxed activities, taken by qualified leaders, providing a solid framework for socialising and planning and carrying out projects.  Youth Club members took an active part in planning and fund raising for Kingston’s skate-park and are responsible for its ongoing maintenance.  Kingston’s young people contributed to the consultation on the Parish Plan and are also very involved in the work of the group, 'Active Kingston' see below. They are much valued members of our community.

Contact:  Ruth Bentley  01548 810107

 

KINGSTON  READING  ROOM  Registered  Charity  No.  300882

 Kingston’s Reading Room is our Village Hall.  Originally converted from almshouses and given to the village at the beginning of the last century.  The building is owned by the Parish Council, which is the corporate trustee of the Registered Charity.  The day to day running and management is devolved to the Reading Room Management Committee, made up of representatives of all the Reading Room user groups and other people whose skills are much valued.  Meetings are held monthly on the first Thursday evening of each month and the Reading Room hosts Kingston’s Annual Fair or Fun Day, which is normally held on the first Saturday in August and is where the Grand Draw will take place. This Draw is one of the main fundraisers for the ongoing maintenance and running costs of the Reading Room. The Reading Room is much used by village clubs and organizations and the wider community for private functions and family celebrations etc.

 Contact::  Barbara Mitchell Hon. Secretary     01548 810463

 

KINGSTON BRANCH of the DEVON and SOMERSET FIRE and RESCUE SERVICE - founded 1949   

 We are lucky, and proud, to be one of the few volunteer fire-fighting teams in the UK. and the only one in the Devon arm of the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service. 

If nothing else, it keeps us fit and active through Tuesday evening drill nights and enough “shouts” to make it all worthwhile.  We boast a new, state of the art Mercedes fire-fighting vehicle and our very own Fire Station in the village centre.  We are always seeking new men and women recruits.  You just need to be between 18 and 55 years of age and ready for the excitement.

 Contact:  Merv Freeman  01548 810070

 

KEEP  FIT

 Keep Fit takes place in the Reading Room every Tuesday evening at 8.00 p.m. and is suitable for all ages and levels of fitness.

 Contact:  Linda Watson  01548 810725

 

ART  GROUP

 This popular group meets in the Reading Room every other Wednesday morning from 9.30 to 12.30 to enjoy drawing and painting together in a relaxed atmosphere.   All levels of expertise are welcome, from absolute beginners to experienced artists. Fees are £12 a year, which pays for the hire of the Reading Room and there are occasional visits from tutors and outings to exhibitions.

 Contact:  Anne Scarrett  01548 810786  or  Caroline Thomas 810531

 

PARISH  PLAN  IMPLEMENTATION  GROUP

The Parish Plan was published in Nov.2007. It was developed following an extensive consultation with Kingston’s residents.  The Parish Council, PC, has set up the Parish Plan Advisory Group, PPAG, to manage the implementation of the Plan. The PPAG reports routinely into PC meetings and through regular articles in the parish newsletter.  The extensive Action Plan is being implemented by this Group and a number of volunteer interest groups who meet to discuss and organise projects.  For instance, one group is looking at identifying circular walks, using the footpath network, developing an orientation board for the village centre and working with the National Trust to provide up to date information on wildlife in the area. Another is devising improvements to the children’s playarea on the parish playing field. This particular interest group is now properly constituted as the community group 'Active Kingston'.  A new 'tree group' is being formed by one of the parish tree wardens to develop a proposal to plant a copse of trees on the playing field and develop the hedgerows.

If you have a particular interest in any of the Parish Plan topics, do contact the Co-ordinators and they will put you in touch with the relevant person. Check out the Parish Plan and associated documents under 'Parish Plan'.

Contacts:  Eve White   Chairman Parish Council   01548 810204    Cllr. Judy Alloway   01548 810692

 

  ACTIVE KINGSTON  

Active Kingston is a voluntary group of children, parents, grandparents, and carers who have got together to raise funds to provide badly needed new play equipment in the village.

More information can be found on the specific 'Active Kingston' tab of this website.

Contact:  Sally Denham  01548 810231 sally_denham@hotmail.com

 

 WOMEN  WHO  WALK

Around once a month, usually early on a Sunday morning, a group of women get together to walk locally.  The length and difficulty of the walks vary but they are always manageable and always fun.  We live in a beautiful area and are well aware of how lucky we are to have it all around us to enjoy.

 Contact:  Ally Lockyer  01548 810394

 

 

 

NETBALL  

Contact Jean Moore on 01548 810597 if you are interested in starting up netball again

 

FOOTBALL

Currently there are no organised football team in the village, but some young people play with Modbury Rovers Junior Football Club.  MRJFC has established and maintains a football pitch on Kingston playing field and the under 13s play there most Sundays in the season. MRJFC welcomes boys and girls. See details under 'Community Amenities' in the section on the playing field 

Contact Colin Lowe, on 01548 830089. mailto:colinalow@hotmail.com