Ashburton Buckfastleigh the past the future

Attended two events within a couple of days this week end and week, which go to show that the past influences the today, and today is tomorrow's history.

On Saturday Buckfastleigh Town Council and residents of the Town celebrated the 125th anniversary of the Town Hall. Part of the celebration was the Town's retired GP Dr Peter Edwards reminding us of the history of the Town and of those who so generously gave by public subscription monies for the Town Hall and the different opportunities it offered then and now.

The Town Council gave 'Good Citizen and Community' Awards to individuals and Community Organisations that make a difference to the daily lives of residents. History was made and witnessed by all present, not just because a time capsule  was contributed by the pupils of Buckfastleigh Primary School and was buried in the Community Garden, but because the Town Council awarded the first 'Freedom of the Town' honoured to Sandra Coleman. I for one look forward to Sandra driving her flock of sheep through the Town:)

Yesterday I attended a public meeting called by the Ashburton Buckfastleigh Community Hospital League of Friends to listen the CEO of the Torbay NHS Trust talk about the forthcoming review of health facilities and Community Hospitals.

As President of the League of Friends Dr Edwards gave a resume of the 120 year history of our Community Hospital, noting the public subscription base of the hospital, and again making reference to the fact that there are still families in both communities of those who orginally subscribed.

 I would urge all residents to read and respond and consider the review document in due course, and make no comment on its content until I like others have read it.

What was, I feel, most striking was the passion with which residents from both Ashburton and Buckfastleigh spoke about their hospital - not the hospital or your hospital. (And I have to say, every time I've fetched up there the staff & our GPs could not do enough for me or my family). My experience not withstanding, both communities may just be names on a map, they may just be between Exeter and Plymouth on the A38 Expressway, they only be small moorland market towns on the outside, but on the inside they are communities of warmth, strength and character, where the past meets the present for the future.

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