Last Thursday the W.I ladies hosted an open meeting in the Village Hall. The usual business of the group was conducted at 7.30 pm, then the guests from A.G. Project group and other W.I groups were welcomed. The speaker for the evening was John Risdon, who had travelled from Paignton to be with us. After everyone had been settled in Mr Risdon began his informative talk on the region’s Coastal Defences over the ages. We started in the times of the Vikings and how they used the rivers to invade our country, sneaky, we then moved on to see how in times gone by coastal forts were built to enhance our security. Places like Plymouth, Torquay and others all around the coast became vital in attempts to repel all would be boarders! We all remember the tale of Sir Francis Drake and his defeat of the Spanish Armada; coastal harbours were very important to provide shelter and supplies to the ships as they set off to battle. The importance of signalling was discussed, and also the supply of food to the hungry sailors; local cattle were driven to the ports on receipt of signals from the fleet. It’s as well to remember that the landscape was very different in those days and no motorways! At the end of the evening acting President Maggie Skeates thanked Mr Risdon for his talk. A bring and share supper provided by W.I members was enjoyed by everyone, and  a raffle.
On the green the goal-posts have been given a face-lift. The damaged areas in the goal mouth have been re-turfed and the nets have been renewed. Peter Smith has been hard at work with a few other volunteers and they have created something of a transformation down on the pitch. The new turfs will have to be kept watered until they have established and will hopefully be ready for use in the next few days.Well done and thank you to all those involved.
Football is of course on everbody’s mind this week with the start of the World Cup and love it or hate it we have the footy for company for the next month. The Fisherman’s Rest is supporting the efforts of the England Team by showing their matches on the big screen in the pub, so keep an eye out on the notice boards outside the Fisherman s and on Libby’s Facebook page for more up to date information.
Still on the subject of football, the A.G five a side football fiesta will take place on World Cup Final day on 13th July. If you have a five a side team and fancy a kick about please contact Jim Neal on james@thereadingroom.elipse.co.uk to register. Each team is to include at least one under 10 and one over forty and one Brazilian…?  Don’t know where you’re going to find one of them in A.G, so you’d better start looking!!  The plan is then to end up at the Fisherman’s Rest to play table soccer and slurp cocktails, not a bad idea. Everyone is welcome to join in the fun, so please support this fun day of footy.