Landkey Village

The Remembrance service and wreath-laying ceremony on Sunday 11th November 2018 were attended by many Landkey residents.

The service was held in Landkey village hall and it is likely that as many as 70 people attended. The service was led by St Paul's Church clergy member Chris James and the main message of his talk was the terrible cost in human lives even on the last day of the conflict in 1918 when as many as 10000 troops perished just before hostilities ceased.

Chris also led the wreath-laying ceremony at the war memorial after the service where more Landkey residents gathered to pay their respects, swelling numbers to over 100. Wreaths were laid by Lieutenant Tom Wilks on behalf of St Paul's Church and by Colour Sergeant David Green on behalf of Landkey Parish Council. Also supporting was John Hayes, Standard Bearer for the Burma Star Association.

All will be welcome to take part in the Remembrance Day service on Sunday 11th November 2018.

The service will be held at 10:00 am in the village hall and will be followed by the Act of Remembrance at the war memorial from 10:45 am, and will include the observance of two minutes' silence at 11 am.

This Remembrance Day will be exactly 100 years since the Armistice which ended the First World War and that important time will be recalled at the service.

The excitement built gradually during the morning, with John and Janette having displayed bunting on the front of their shop and having placed bicycles high on the front of the building, all hinting at something special to come! The weather was calm with the suggestion of intermittent drizzle, but nothing to spoil the occasion, the forecast had assured us.

As the morning progressed, more bunting appeared in Blakeshill Road, tables became laden with drinks and Shelley's snack van took up position at the bottom of Acland Road. By 1pm, the street was lined with villagers eager to catch sight of the 196 cyclists taking part in stage 2 of the 2018 Tour of Britain cycle race (4th September 2018).

At 1:20pm, police and event marshal motorcycles appeared dramatically with blue lights flashing and horns blaring, all adding to the tension. How far had the cyclists reached on their way from Cranbook? Word then went out that they had gone through South Molton and were now heading our way! More motorcycles appeared, each one as if to say that the cyclists were that bit closer. Then a car bearing the logo of a cycle team, and then another, all met with cheers from the waiting spectators.

Shortly after 1:30pm, John announced: "They are in Swimbridge!" Then more motorbikes, more team cars, some now with bikes on their roof. It was 1:40pm. Surely the moment had come!
Then, around the bend in the road near the Castle pub, a group of 5 riders, cycling very fast (this was a sprint stage, after all!) behind their team cars, approached almost before we realised they were upon us! Photos were taken and hearty cheers expressed, before they disappeared from view on their way into Barnstaple.

We had been told that the peloton 5 were about 6 minutes ahead of the main pack and, sure enough, a few minutes later the road was suddenly filled with a mass of enthusiastic cyclists, all determined to make it through our village and be on their way to the greater challenges of Bratton Fleming and Challacombe. They all received loud cheers from Landkey villagers to send them on their way and, almost as soon as they had arrived, the last cyclists were disappearing from view beyond the war memorial.

We learned afterwards that the 5 leading cyclists were Erick Rowsell (UK), Scott Davies (Wales), Alessandro Tonelli (Italy), Matthew Teggart (Ireland) and Cameron Meyer (Australia). Cameron Meyer went on to win the stage, it seems. Well done to all of them, but especially to Cameron Meyer. And thank you to Ovo Energy for providing such a memorable occasion for our village!

Residents of Landkey are welcome to add content to this website. If you are planning to hold an event in the village, you might wish to advertise it (free of charge) here, by going to the "Village Events" and "Add Event" page.

Photographs of Landkey are always welcome, whether they be of village events, historical scenes or anything of interest to local residents. To upload a photo, please contact me on cerwaldron@gmail.com for login information.

Points of view of local people are likewise welcomed, and these can be contributed at the "Parish Council", "Your Point of View" page.

Local residents might like to know that the Link Road between Landkey and South Molton will be closed for repairs on the night of Friday 1st June from 6.30pm until 7.00am on the 2nd. Traffic will be re-routed through Landkey and Swimbridge.

Those living on Blakes Hill Rd should be especially aware of this notice and make alternative parking arrangements if they feel that that would be appropriate.