I'm a bit puzzled

You will have seen the link on the tour-devon.com to a petition at number 10 with regards to fire service cuts.
On the news the government have announced spending a lot of money on metal detectors for schools and the police. This is to try and stop some of the deaths from knives and other weapons. It's a good idea but the official figures show between 2 and 300 deaths from knives in the past year. In the same period close on 600 have died in fires so my logic tells me that more money should be spent to try and stop some of these deaths. Unfortunately government see it different and are cutting that budget.
Is it just me or is this wrong.

Been Busy

Been busy for a few days doing a re-design for the site - now it's all up and running and your opinion on it would be appreciated.
The amount of info on there now is huge and I still have at least another 100 pages of stuff to add.
I'm hoping I can keep the site going but funds are funning very low and I'm not sure I can. Loads of people e mail me to say how much they enjoy the site and how much info they've got from it but no one ever thinks to give a small donation to help keep it going and my pension is at full stretch
.
Anyone have any ideas what I can do to raise funds or encourage a sponsor.

A CHALLENGE FOR A LOCAL TEAM

A CHALLENGE FOR A LOCAL TEAM

Hi I was on your site and hoped you could post this for our school social group Social visit / friendly Football game wanted in june 2008 Friendly football game wanted in june this year by visiting school social group from Cardiff. Mixed group of teachers, looking for pub team etc, we can pay for any facilities.contact mike_sman@yahoo.com regards Mike Sweetman Social organiser Whitchurch high school, cardiff, 02920 629700

ANY TEAM GAME ENOUGH TO TAKE THEM ON???? CONTACT HERE tourdevon@gmail.com

looking for information

I've had various enquiries from people trying to trace distant relatives that had connections to Ilfracombe.
If you know anything about any of these people please let me know here tourdevon@gmailcom

The first is

Nicholas Lovering - a well know family even now but he was one of the quay hobblers and not much else known at the moment.

Next

John Reeves who drowned of Lundy 28th July 1843

Next

Charles Lower Buckingham who drowned when the yacht Monarch sank off tunnels beaches in 1887

Next

George or Nicholas Comer - george was one of the hobblers and Nicholas drowned in 1848

Next

John Eastaway - drowned 23rd January 1806

relatives living in other parts of the world from America and Australia have asked if anyone can provide any information about any of these people or their families.

Just wondering

As a relative newcomer to North Devon but a West countryman at heart I just wonder what it is that brings people here. The attraction seems to be fairly universal and yet when you take a good look at the area we don't have many of the amenities that can be found in other places.
Jobs are low paid in comparison with other areas and less of them. Housing and products in shops are more expensive than in many areas. So What is it about the place????

Interesting

Spent a long time on the Town Crier Web site and found out a lot about Ilfracombe and North Devon that I didn't know. For example I didn't know it had the second highest tidal range in the world - over ten metres and that it had been hit by a tidal wave in the past.
I've never visited the place but think it would be worth the effort.
Anyone reading this that can offer some advice on the best time and places would be appreciated.

TIME FOR AN UPDATE

I'm incensed at the idea of cuts to the Fire service. As good a job as the retained fire personnel do they do not receive the intense training that the whole time personnel do. Whole time do 12 weeks of intense and difficult training and this is ongoing daily at their station , retained 2 weeks and then ongoing once a week. Turnout time is seconds for whole time and minutes for retained. Speed of attendance is vital to prevent a fire from getting out of control.
OK in the big towns with multiple station but in a rural area like the majority of the west country the time it takes to get to a fire is relatively slow even with a whole time service. Do we really want to say we prefer to save money than lives?
I for one feel more safe and secure knowing that a whole time crew are available in the event of a fire in my property.

What is it

I'm a west counryman born and bred. Been around for 60 years and visited many places. In the end I always come back to my roots. The scenery, the people, the weather all go towards making it my ideal. I've never found anywhere better.
I've started this blog in the hope that many of you feel as passionate about where you live and are prepared to share that passion with the readers on here. visit my site to see more of the area and to find out more about it