PAST, present and future were part of the second anniversary celebrations for Sandford Community Stores.

The Big Birthday Bash at the shop and Post Office in the village square included apple pressing, tasting, apple poems and food.

There was an open day at the St Swithun's Under Gallery with displays of Sandford Heritage Group's projects and crafts and, further up the road, the Devon Record Office mobile unit in the parish hall car park where people could begin family history research.

Sandford Scouts had made mincemeat, the Cubs made toffee apples, which were for sale, while children at Sandford School had made apple cakes, apple crisps, and other nibbles for people to taste, with the recipes.

This had linked with their work on World War Two, rationing and food, and 25 pupils had been busy the previous day, with three parents, using the school kitchen. Many of the apples had come from the Millennium Green.

Also on display were apple poems by children at the school. An apple press had been hired from Tuckers of Crediton and people had taken apples to be pressed.

In the Under Gallery, Sandford Heritage Group showed work done so far on collecting old photographs of the area, researching a recording the history of local farms and researching the bench ends in the parish church.

The group aims to explore, record and conserve the heritage of the parish and create and maintain an information resource for the community and, especially, the younger generation through links with schools and youth organisations.

The group is about to launch a website, or anyone interested in helping or knowing more can contact the secretary on 01363 775676.

The group is recording "ordinary memories of ordinary people" so that their accents and the way they speak are preserved, as well as the everyday aspects of life.

It can also give advice on how to keep or store documents, photographs or other items so that they do not deteriorate. "It is about sharing information before it disappears," said one member.

Conservator Eddie Sinclair of Crediton was showing a minute part of her work, examples of spinning and knitting were shown by Jean Ford, pottery by Jethro Jackson, and a few of Keith White's collection of work by Sandford foundries, especially Wright's.

Penny Somerville was showing how she works stained glass, with a few of her pieces on show. She also does glass enamel in which each colour has to be fired before another can be added and is exploring printing on glass.

Heaps of information for any would-be researcher was available at the Devon Record Office mobile unit with the four officers being kept busy on the computers most of the day.

They were Diana Lewis (Devon Family History Society, http://www.devonfhs.org.uk">www.devonfhs.org.uk)(, Susan Laithwaite (senior archivist), John Brunton (principal archivist) and Katherine Weston (outreach officer).

The Record Office is at Great Moor House, Bittern Road, Sowton, Exeter EX2 7NL, email [email protected]">[email protected], telephone 01392 384253, or look at the http://www.devon.gov.uk/record-office">www.devon.gov.uk/record-office website.