The Social Club in Upton Pyne continued to provide a focus for community life in the village, opening every evening of the week except Wednesday.

As well as pub past-times such as dominoes, cards, pool and darts (and the new wide-screen TV), club members took part in a number of local leagues. The darts team that plays on Mondays won the Exe Valley League, and the Thursday nighters were runners-up in the Creedy Valley League. The pool players took fourth place in the Crediton Winter League and they won the Summer League.

The charity for the past year, and also for the current year, is Children’s Hospice South West. Fund-raising events have included a charity auction, meat bingo, raffles and barbeques. A cheque for £2,500 has already been sent to the charity, and there will be a final presentation at the end of the current year.

Other social events during the past year included a New Year’s Eve Party, with a snow machine providing a festive atmosphere for Auld Lang Syne on The Causeway at midnight.

Following on from the success of the barbeques on The Causeway last summer, a programme of similar events is planned for this year. Well known local bands and musicians will be playing live for free, as the events are to raise money for the club charity. The club committee decided to invest in an impressive new gas barbeque, and this will be available for other village organisations to hire for a small fee.

The club is run and staffed by volunteers and the committee will be pleased to hear from anyone willing to take a turn running the bar. Training will be given if necessary.

New members are always welcome.