FOR several years now, Susan Gales of St Mary’s Church, Morchard Bishop, has organised a walk in aid of the Devon Historic Churches Trust and this year’s walk went ahead in spite of the terrible weather.

Susan writes: “On Saturday, September 9, a group of nine of us from Morchard Bishop set off under leaden skies threatening many showers, on our sponsored walk.

“We drove to Cheriton Fitzpaine where we joined their coffee morning in aid of the Trust and enjoyed some excellent cheese scones! The County Organiser of the Trust, Judith Kauntze, happened to call in on the event there, so talked briefly to us and saw that we were doing our bit for the fundraising. Whilst in the church it rained heavily!

“We then drove towards Poughill - having to change our plans somewhat because of the bad weather and an unexpected ‘road closure’. So we went to Upcott Barton, walking up to the house in bright sunshine and explored the grounds of the amazing Elizabethan house.

“In the time of Henry VI, a rich and important lawyer (Nicholas Radford) was murdered there by an armed band led by the son of the Earl of Devon. The house is still considered to be haunted!

“Rain returned just as we left Upcott for Poughill, where we visited the church, finding some interesting inscriptions. We met other walkers there too.

“From Poughill we drove through Puddinngton Bottom, and did another small walk into Puddington itself. We visited the church and afterwards were grateful indeed to have our picnic lunches in the Village Hall, kindly organised for us by the church warden.

“Although we were not able to walk as much as we had hoped, we enjoyed the day and it seems as though we will have raised almost £350 from ourselves and our sponsors. Half of this sum will go to St Mary’s and the other half to the Devon Historic Churches Trust.”

Karin Moffett