Buckfastleigh Community News

Children’s Dance with Mythology sessions bring ancient stories to life through movement, supporting children’s physical and mental development. In each lesson, children explore the emotional and physical dimensions of a myth through dance, building imagination, cultural awareness and embodied learning, and sparking creativity.

• Date: 8 November 2025
• Venue: Moor Imagination Centre, Buckfastleigh
• Age range: 5–9 years
• Trainer: Lerna Babikyan

Come and join us — we’d love to welcome your child.

Contact: To reserve a place or find out more, email lernab@yahoo.com. Further information: https://www.lernababikyan.com

Join the Buckfastleigh History Society for A History of Mummers' Plays in Devon and Beyond, followed by a short performance by the Valiant Mummers. Come along for an enjoyable evening — we’d love to see you.

• Date: Thursday 11 December
• Time: 7.30pm
• Venue: White Hart Hotel, 2 Plymouth Road, Buckfastleigh TQ11 0DA
• Entry: No entry fee; donations to the Valiant Mummers very welcome

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

Buckfastleigh Town Council will once again be providing free Christmas meals for local residents. Meals are supplied by Wiltshire Farm Foods, delivered frozen, and brought to your door by our staff and volunteers. If you or someone you know would appreciate a festive meal at home, please do get in touch.

• Delivery: Tuesday 23 December
• Who can receive one: You must live in the Civil Parish of Buckfastleigh
• Order deadline: 12 noon, Friday 12 December

Numbers are limited, so please order in good time. We’d love to help make the day a little easier.

To order: Contact Clair at admin@buckfastleigh.gov.uk or call 01364 642576.

Chris, Andrew, Deborah and all the family would like to thank friends and neighbours for their cards and good wishes following the recent death of Cyril Doidge. He lived all his life in Buckfastleigh, was well known to many of the ‘old’ Buckfastleigh folk, and was a respected cricketer with a great passion for the game.

We would particularly like to thank Tracy and Steven at Gill & Eales for their professionalism, their support to us as a family, and their very efficient funeral arrangements; and the Resus team at Torbay Hospital A&E, who went above and beyond to give him the best chance of survival. Thank you also to everyone who attended his funeral.

A retiring collection raised some £310, with further online donations also made, to be split between British Heart Foundation and Alzheimer’s UK.

The sarod is one of India’s most expressive classical instruments, celebrated for its bold, resonant, and deeply emotional sound. Mayukh, a young and talented sarod artist, has been performing extensively across Europe for the past seven years, as well as in the UK at several renowned venues — including:

• Victoria Institute, Arundel
• Ashburton Arts Centre
• Ventnor Arts Club, Isle of Wight
• ArtJam Festival, Northampton
• Cella Arts, Worthing

…among others.

The sarod becomes even more captivating when joined by vocal music and the rhythmic poetry of the tabla. Experience a trio of young musicians who bring a refreshing new flavour to Indian Classical Music — proving that classical traditions can be vibrant, engaging, and full of life. This unique collaboration offers a new vision of classical music, honouring its heritage while opening it to new expressions and audiences.

The Vocal and Sarod Jugalbandi (duet) by Payal & Mayukh promises an interactive performance, inviting the audience to feel truly connected to the music. The experience will be beautifully enriched by the tabla artistry of Shreekalyan, completing a soulful and immersive evening of sound and emotion. Come and join us — we’d love to see you there.

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

Cinema returns to the Town Hall for a cosy community screening — we’ll be showing How To Train Your Dragon (2025). Come and join us for a relaxed evening; we’d love to see you there.

• Date: Saturday 13 December 2025
• Venue: Town Hall
• Doors: 5.15pm
• Film starts: 6pm
• Price: Free entry
• Refreshments: Bar open serving snacks and drinks
• Payment: Cash and card accepted
• Booking: Pre-book seats on Eventbrite

See the Buckfastleigh Town Council entry on our website for contact details.

Faith Matthews of Horizon Yoga is launching a new breath-centred chair yoga class on Thursday mornings at the Moor Imagination Centre (MIC)

Faith’s approach is Viniyoga – an authentic, meditative style that supports the brain, body and nervous system. Her classes aim to:

• Develop the breath.
• Build resilience and manage mobility.
• Offer the opportunity to connect with yourself, ‘reset’ and create calm (with tools you can use to this effect in everyday life too).

Three autumn taster sessions are running this November so you can see if this style of yoga connects with you, with the aim of becoming a regular weekly class in the New Year. As Faith says, “a light-filled and cosy space with plenty of room to move, breathe and come back to yourself”. Come and give it a try – we’d love to see you.

Chair Yoga taster sessions

• Dates: Thursday 13 November, 20 November, 4 December
• Time: 11am–12 noon
• Venue: Moor Imagination Centre, Buckfastleigh TQ11 0AB
• Price: £8 per session, or £21 for all three

Booking and enquiries: https://www.horizon-yoga.co.uk/chairyoga or msfaithmatthews@yahoo.co.uk

Buckfastleigh Memory Cafe will once again hold its Christmas party at the Northgate Hotel in Buckfast. Expect a seasonal afternoon tea, carols to sing, and plenty of Christmas cheer. If you are living with dementia or other memory problems, you’re warmly welcome to join us with a loved one or carer — we’d love to see you there.

• Tuesday 16 December, 2–4pm
• Northgate Hotel, Buckfast (free parking)
• £2.50 suggested donation

With thanks to Devon County Council and their Growing Communities Fund for making this possible.

To book, please contact Kathrine on 07899 993134 or email kathrine@conversationworks.co.uk.

Buckfastleigh Memory Cafe will be meeting in January in a warm, cosy stationary railway carriage, with owls visiting from Totnes Rare Breeds Farm, a light-hearted avian quiz, and the usual conversation and refreshments. If you're living with dementia, do come and join us to start the new year in good company—we'd love to see you there.

• Date: Tuesday 20 January 2026
• Time: 2pm–3.30pm
• Location: On the platform at the South Devon Railway
• Cost: £3 (suggested donation)

For more information, please contact Kathrine on 07899 993134 or email kathrine@conversationworks.co.uk.

MakeShift presents a work-in-progress performance of Unstoppable at Moor Imagination Centre on Saturday 29 November. Come and be part of shaping a new play — we’d love your thoughts.

Key details:

• Performances: 4.30pm and 7.45pm
• Free drop-in creative space: Unstampable: Postcards from the Still Possible, in the foyer, 10am–12 noon
• Tickets: £8–£15 (sliding scale)
• Running time: 75 minutes (no interval)
• Content note: Includes references to the climate crisis and fertility challenges. Suitable for 12+ with parental and guardian discretion.

Unstoppable is a funny, inventive new play about the kind of future we want and how we can shape it. Ethan and Stella have been best friends ever since the post-it note incident at work. Now Ethan’s got a new job halfway across the world and Stella has a burning question that can’t wait — one that might change everything, forever. A love story between friends has consequences that resound across multiple possible futures, from seed libraries to concrete-smashing parties, real democracy to treetop saunas. Exploring tipping points — in human lives and the earth’s living systems — the play takes inspiration from climate and systems science, revealing how we all have the power to build radical hope in a time of crisis. Come see this work-in-progress version of the show and help us develop the play with your feedback and ideas.

PLUS – Unstampable: Postcards from the Still Possible (free, drop-in)
From 10am–12 noon in the foyer, craft your own “postcards” from a future you would love to make. Join theatre maker Hannah Mulder from MakeShift for playful exercises and conversation to imagine what a just and thriving future could be like, how we might get there, and what future generations might want to communicate to us now in a time of crisis. All ages and levels of experience welcome.

Audience feedback:

• “Thought provoking, funny, activating, a chance to feel part of something GOOD”
• “The first show I’ve seen about climate change (and our future) that actually has some answers and positive ways to make the world better”
• “It’s about showing up in whatever way we can, even in the face of the unknown”

Creative team:

• Writer/Director: Hannah Mulder
• Dramaturg: Rachael Walsh
• Design: Rebecca Wood
• Lighting: Joe Price
• Sound: Dave Price

Co-produced by Fern Culture, in association with Exeter Northcott Theatre, Libraries Unlimited and Sterts Arts and Environmental Centre. Supported by Arts Council England.

Book: https://dandelion.events/e/z0rg1   Instagram: @make.shift.theatre

Wellswood Yoga welcomes you to friendly, all-ability classes in Buckfastleigh. Whether you’re new to yoga or getting back to it, just pop along — regulars, drop-ins and visitors are all very welcome.

Weekly classes:

• Wednesdays (November–December 2025), 7.30pm–8.30pm at St Luke’s Church, Buckfastleigh. Entrance at the back of the church. Free parking at Victoria Woodholme car park. No need to book — just turn up.

What to expect: Classes are designed to be approachable for all abilities, with options to suit how you’re feeling on the day. Expect calm breathing, gentle strength and balance work, and a relaxing wind-down to finish. 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

Buckfastleigh History Society invites you to our January talk: Exeter's Elizabethan Middling Sorts - Rediscovering the Middle classes in Elizabethan Exeter, with Dr Kate Osborne. Come and join us for a fascinating evening exploring Exeter’s past—we’d love to see you there.

• Date: Monday 19 January 2026
• Time: 7.30pm
• Venue: Valiant Soldier Museum and Information Centre, Buckfastleigh
• Entry: £5; card payments available

Please note: this talk will be on Monday.

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

Anne Wright has been teaching yoga for 40 years and warmly welcomes you to join a friendly class. Improve posture, mobility and overall health in a relaxed way.

• Thursdays, 6.30–8pm – Buckfastleigh Town Hall.
• Wednesdays, 10.30am–12 noon – Caddaford Barns Studio, Buckfastleigh.

Come and give it a try — newcomers and all abilities are very welcome.

Anne Wright – Yoga & Holistic Therapies: Call or WhatsApp 07454 490 085, or email anne.wright76@yahoo.co.uk.

Moorland Community Caring is delighted to welcome our new Volunteer Co-ordinator, Sophia Young. Sophia has lived in Devon since 2016 and in Ashburton for the last four years.

Over the past two years she has worked with a local agency supporting people in their homes. Before that she helped run a vibrant, dynamic kitchen and managed a team of fantastic volunteers, cooking delicious meals for groups — sometimes as many as 200 people. Last year she even published her very own cookery book. Sophia loves bringing people together in simple, fun ways to help them connect and share, and we’re so excited to have her on the team.

If you’d like to volunteer with Moorland, we’d love to hear from you. Roles include:

• Driver
• Moor Social volunteer
• Befriender

To volunteer, please email volunteerco-ordinator@moorlandcommunitycaring.org.uk or call 07572 024636.

Here’s what’s on this winter at the Valiant — do pop in for a warm drink and a browse.

• 29 November – Wintertide @ the Valiant. Our “Zero Bar” will be open 10am-5pm for hot chocolate, mulled fruit punch and soft drinks. We’ll have lots of lovely gifts on sale, featuring Timeless Garments by Claire Dunn, local artists’ original art and Jon’s vintage vinyl. Free museum entry all day. We’d love to see you.
• Wednesday 3 December – During the Street Fair, the Valiant bar opens with festive tipples from 4pm-10pm: Christmas punch, hot chocolate and a selection of ales. Our pop-up shop will be brimming with gifts, including local craft items, jewellery, greetings cards, puzzles, 2026 calendars, and much more.

Opening times: Through the winter we’re open Wednesdays, 10am-3.30pm (last entry 3pm). Regular opening times resume in March 2026.

Funding: You could win £25,000 with the Teignbridge Lottery. Tickets are £1 (six numbers), and 50p from each ticket supports the Valiant Soldier. Play at: https://www.teignbridgelotteryforcommunities.co.uk/support/the-valiant-soldier-museum-and-heritage-centre

With best wishes to all our visitors and volunteers for a happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year.

For more information, visit https://valiantsoldier.org.uk or email info@valiantsoldier.org.uk.

Moorland Community Caring hosts friendly Moor Socials in Buckfastleigh on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month. Everyone is welcome — it’s a lovely way to meet people, enjoy a slice of cake and a cuppa, join in with talks and activities, or simply relax in good company. Come and join us — we’d love to see you.

• Time: 12:00–14:00
• Where: The Globe Inn, 123 Plymouth Road, Buckfastleigh TQ11 0DA
• Suggested donation: £4 for homemade sandwiches and a pudding
• Transport: We do our best to help with lifts to and from the socials (suggested £1 donation for transport)

Upcoming dates:

• Wednesday 3 December 2025: Festive-themed quiz led by the fabulous Chris Avis
• Wednesday 10 December 2025: Festive meal — fully booked (no regular social on this date)
• Wednesday 7 January 2026 and Wednesday 21 January 2026: Regular socials — come and help us welcome the New Year

For information or to arrange transport, phone 07572 024636 or email info@moorlandcommunitycaring.org.uk.

Come and join us at The Wool Hub for friendly felting, spinning, knitting and weaving.

Weekday drop-ins (December & January): Donations welcome. No booking needed.

• Monday: 10.30am–12.30pm
• Tuesday: 10.30am–3pm
• Wednesday: 10.30am–3pm
• Thursday: 10.30am–3pm
• Friday: 10.30am–3pm

Regular groups:

• Tuesdays 10.30am–1.30pm: Mums of new babies knitting & crochet group. Come to learn a new skill or share yours in a welcoming setting.
• Wednesdays 1–3pm (last session 3 December 2025): Sock knitting with Gill Gant for those with some experience.

Shop & library: Browse our textile craft book library and shop for handmade woollies, wool, knitting needles, and lovely baby clothes and blankets.

December 2025 (weekend drop-ins – no booking needed):

• Sun 7 Dec, 11am–1pm: Drop-in with Marcelle — needle felting.
• Sat 13 Dec, 10.30am–3pm: Drop-in with Noni — weaving and knitting.
• Sat 6 Dec, 10.30am–1.30pm (Workshop, booking essential): Make a Needle Felted Christmas Bauble with felt artist Coral Brown. Cost: £35.
• Children’s craft (school term, booking essential): 8+ years, £15 per session, subsidised places available.
  • Mondays 3.30–5pm: Felting Fun — last day 15 December.
  • Wednesdays 3.45–5.15pm: Crochet & yarn crafts — last day 16 December.

January 2026 (weekend drop-ins – no booking needed):

• Sun 11 Jan, 11am–1pm: Needle felting imaginary creature with Marcelle (ages 14-18)
• Sat 17 Jan, 10.30am–3pm: Knitting and weaving with Noni.
• Sat 24 Jan, 11am–1pm: Needle felting with Marcelle.
• Sat  31 Jan, Wet felting with Rita (ages 14-18)
• Two-day workshop (booking essential): Wet felting a lampshade and assembling it — Sat 3 Jan, 10.30am–2pm and Sat 10 Jan, 10.30am–12.30pm. Cost: £65 (all materials and lampshade kit included).

Bookings: Payment in advance; free cancellation up to 7 days before the event. We’d love to see you there.

Contact: thewoolhubcic@gmail.com

As more of us reach for blankets and throws for warmth while watching the telly or reading, our volunteer-made quilts offer that same cosy comfort — and more. They’re a practical source of warmth, beautifully made with skill and care, using only donated fabric to embrace reuse, reduce waste and recycle. Our sewers select fabric remnants, cut them into squares and arrange them into spectacular designs.

We’ve received hugely positive feedback from RAFT (Refugee Aid from Taunton) and Exeter Refugee Support, who love our quilts. We continue to support SCBU at Torbay, providing a steady supply of baby quilts for “tummy time”.

Meetings: downstairs at St Luke’s, Buckfastleigh, 10am–3pm. No experience necessary — just a willingness to have a go. Everyone is welcome to help with making or simply to have a look at our work. We’d love to see you.

Dates for 2026:

• Saturday 10 January
• Saturday 21 February
• Saturday 14 March
• Saturday 18 April
• Saturday 9 May

See the Patchwork Quilt Challenge entry on our website for contact details.

We’ve been holding our Dying Conversations gatherings on the last Thursday of each month at 6.30pm at the Moor Imagination Centre (MIC) for nearly a year now — a gentle, supportive space to talk about any aspect of end-of-life.

There will be no meeting in December. In January we host the second of two sessions on Advance Decisions (Living Wills), following the one on 27th November. Don’t worry if you missed part 1 — you’re very welcome to join part 2.

An Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment lets you state, in advance, that you do not want specific medical treatments if you later can’t communicate your wishes. Key points are listed in the full article on the Buckfastleigh News website, and will be explained and explored in more detail at the meeting.

• Date: Thursday 29th January
• Time: 6.30pm
• Venue: Moor Imagination Centre (MIC)
• Topic: Advance Decisions (part two)

Come and join us — you’ll be most welcome.

Enquiries: Simon Smith, Heart and Soul Funerals, Buckfastleigh. 01364 643522

As the wet weather rolls in, it’s a good excuse to settle in with your crafting. Many of us are busy making presents; it’s a joy to give and receive items made with love. This time last year I was busy making hats for a cancer care ward and they were well received. Enjoy whatever you’re doing over Christmas and the New Year, and all best wishes for 2026.

Purl and a Pint meets at The Kings Arms, Buckfastleigh. Come along with your knitting, crochet or any portable craft — new faces are always welcome.

Last meeting of 2025: 10 December 2025. We restart: 14 January 2026.

2026 dates:

• 14 January 2026
• 28 January 2026
• 11 February 2026
• 25 February 2026
• 11 March 2026
• 25 March 2026

See the Purl and a Pint entry on our website for contact details.

Our Community Christmas Fair is nearly here. Please come along and support this annual festive fair on Wednesday 3 December, 4pm–7.30pm.

• Live music and performance: Tano Taiko (Japanese drummers) and Street Heat, a vibrant walking samba band.
• Theatre: The wonderful Valiant Mumas will perform outside The Valiant Soldier — a play not to be missed.
• Children’s area (at The Globe Car Park): two fairground rides, a Hook‑a‑Duck stall, balloon modelling with children’s entertainer Emazdad, and a special visit from Santa Claus.
• Shopping and food: plenty of stalls for your Christmas shopping, food outlets, and fantastic local venues offering delicious food and drinks.
• Extras: a seasonal photo booth, the popular Street Auction, and a Christmas Fair Draw with some lovely prizes.

All in all, we hope to bring you a fun evening to kick‑start the festive season. We’d love to see you there — your support makes a real difference.

See the Buckfastleigh Christmas Fair entry on our website for contact details.

Monday 22 December, 1.30–3pm at Buckfastleigh Library.

Join us for a friendly Christmas craft session for families. We’ll be making:

• candy cane elfins
• stained glass stars (out of paper)
• decorated tree decorations

There’ll also be a Christmas animals treasure hunt and a 50p lucky dip.

Drop in on the day – free; donations always welcomed. We’d love to see you.

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