The Community Spirit
The world shrank in 2020 as did our daily horizons! The effect will be long lasting. Life throws out as many positives as it does negatives. I won’t dwell on the negatives -they are far too well felt, documented and personal. The significant positive is the realisation that friends and neighbours are there in time of crisis. Empathy and support.
Whilst the outside world is there through social media, Zoom and all the other ways technology connects us instantly, the value of the local community has been recognised for its true value.
I recently wrote about The Great Escape (See Devon Life October 2020). A mass exodus from city dwellers keen to embrace life in the country and provincial towns. What did they find? A Community Spirit where people are valued for themselves and not their bank balance. They hopefully learnt to give as well as take and look out for the elderly neighbour who doesn’t shop via the internet.
So many food outlets and hospitality venues reinvented themselves, delivered their wares or created takeaways -it helped their business survive whilst creating a sense of togetherness. For those that remember it is a recall of pre internet days. I recently read a comment by a millennial (on a social media channel!) amazed that business has grown more from direct contact with people than their online strategy suggesting they had discovered a whole new phenomenon. The old, tried and trusted ways come to the fore!
Across the county the communities rose to the challenge -traders joining forces with deliveries and villagers offering assistance. If nothing else Covid-19 has brought people together and put life in perspective.
The ancient Stannary town of Chagford on Dartmoor epitomises a community where all are integrated. Whilst being a destination for walkers and visitors the town has a wonderful local population who enjoy the many and varied attributes of the town. Elizabeth House sits tucked away with glorious views to Meldon Hill but is literally minutes from The Square. This secret house has been beautifully restored and has three bedrooms, two bathrooms, 41 foot living room. Kitchen with Aga and a delightful walled garden. Fowlers (01647 433595)
Copplestone House, Tiverton is in an enviable location to enjoy the benefits of this Mid Devon market town yet very accessible to the M5 and Tiverton Parkway Station reaching Paddington in under two hours. For those with children the nearby Blundell’s School completes the advantages of this lovely period family house sitting in 2.5 acres of delightful gardens. It comes with a spacious annexe, large office outbuildings. Strutt and Parker (01392 215631).
For those who have a love of the sea Budleigh Salterton is the perfect landing spot to integrate into the community. The town embraces opportunities for all generations to take part in social activities. 4 The Lawn is a classic 4 bedroom property built in the 1930s blending the Tudor and ecclesiastical architecture situated within a stones throw of the High Street and a short walk to the beach. David Rhys ( 01395 44401)
So, look out for each other, embrace the local community and enjoy home: It’s all about coming home.