THAT wonderful smell of cooking bacon wafted up through the main street at Zeal Monachorum on the morning of Saturday, June 17, telling everyone that breakfast was ready.

This was not any old breakfast but a part of the “Big Get Together” in memory of MP Jo Cox, who was murdered a year ago.

The breakfast at Zeal had been organised by the village hall Management Committee whose chairman is David Bettony, secretary and treasurer is Jan Brealy.

Sixty-five people had booked the free breakfast being given orange juice, the full English, toast and marmalade which had been made by Jan Summers, plus plenty of tea or coffee. As much as possible, everything for the breakfasts was local.

Outside the hall was a board with photographs of Jo Cox and her belief: “We have more in common than that which divides us.”

Donation boxes were on the tables and £126 and a few pence was raised for Crediton Food Bank.

Jan Brealy, for the hall committee, said the Great Get Together in the form of a breakfast went really, really well.

“Exceptional generosity was provided by the Waie Inn, Lady Rachel FitzRoy, David and Hazel Wainwright, David Bowyer, Chris Allis, Judi and Alan Hollingsworth, Jan and Alan Summers, Tracey Allis, Tony Brealy and St Peter’s Church.

“The atmosphere was brilliant, just what the organiser in London would have wished for to celebrate the memory of Jo Cox. Comments afterwards have encouraged us to seriously think about another community get-together.”

Sue Read