by David Birch | Jul 27, 2026 | Recent Articles
Background. As you will be aware, our school is required to relocate due to the serious flooding issues on the existing site. The rebuild is due to be funded and delivered by the Department for Education as part of the Government’s School Rebuilding Programme. The first step is for Devon County Council to identify and provide the Department for Education with a suitable piece of land. We consulted on the relocation of the school to Ottery St Mary in 2024 in response to a previous site appraisal exercise which did not identify a suitable site in Tipton. This was met with widespread opposition from the local community and the governors approached Devon County Council and requested they look again for a feasible site in Tipton St John Village.
Update. Last year, Devon County Council agreed to look again at potential sites in Tipton. Land West of Tipton Vale was selected as the one potentially feasible option and a detailed assessment of the site has progressed at pace and as a priority by Devon County Council over the past year. This has involved a multi-disciplinary team working together to prepare for an outline planning application for the development of the site, which requires detailed consideration and assessment of both on-site and off-site works that will be required to enable the site to be developed, including the identification of suitable pedestrian access route through the village. This work is extensive and ongoing. Governors have been regularly updated throughout this process and have worked constructively alongside Devon County Council officers throughout and we now have progress that we can relay to you…
Next Steps. Devon County Council will be leading a drop-in session as part of the outline planning application process to rebuild Tipton St John Primary School on Land West of Tipton Vale. This will be held at Tipton St John Village Hall on Thursday 23rd July (Main hall 2:30pm – 5:30pm / Small hall 5:30pm – 6:30pm). Here you will be able to learn more about the outline plans and discuss this with the project team. The intention is for Devon County Council to submit the outline planning application in the Autumn Term 2026.
Your Role. School governors really hope you can show your support for the project through engagement with the planned drop-in session and by responding to the outline planning application with your comments once the formal planning consultation begins. It is not an option for the school to remain long term in its current location and if this outline planning application is unsuccessful, it is likely the school will move to Ottery St Mary.
A Brighter Future for Our School. It is important that it is understood that this is simply a relocation to a new building, in a nearby location, NOT the opening of a new school. In fact this proposed location would be close enough for us to walk our resources to the new site! The essence of our church school and all that makes us special would journey with us. The Governors’ highest priority is to reach a deliverable solution which offers all pupils of Tipton St John Primary School a safe school building and an environment with allows all pupils and staff to thrive personally, socially and academically and be the best they can be!
Kind regards,
Sarah Walls Amanda Fulford
Chair of Governors Executive Headteacher
by David Birch | Jul 27, 2026 | Recent Articles
John who died on 1st June was the youngest of five children born to Stanley and Lilian Sargent. John was the only one of the siblings to be born at Tipton Mill where he would live all his life until deteriorating health forced the move into long-term care. John attended the village school and then Sidmouth Secondary Modern and impressed his teachers, ending his time at Sidmouth as head boy. He was keen on sports especially football, later playing for Tipton AFC alongside brother Edwin. On finishing school, he settled into life at Tipton Mill helping around the farm and learning the milling trade from his father and particularly enjoyed milking the cows and rearing the calves.
At just 17, John’s carefree life was abruptly cut short by the sudden death of his father in January 1956. Overnight he had to take over the running the mill and the farm. The family suffered a further loss In September the following year, when his beloved sister Betty lost her life in a road traffic accident at just 30 years of age. This double tragedy weighed heavily on John for many years. This period in John’s life was very hard. Finances were tight, work was gruelling with long hours and now the family was torn apart. Just at an age when John should be socialising and pursing other pastimes, he was trapped at the mill. Given all this, little wonder people considered John a recluse.
The old water powered mill was pushed to the limits often working long into the night to fulfil orders. There were no longer any farm animals at the mill and the stables, shippen, etc., were now used for feed storage. The milling business had been expanded as far as it could go. So, in the early 70’s the decision was made to build a new electric powered mill and warehouse on the current site. The new mill would offer a range of bagged or bulk products for delivery to farms. And best of all raw materials coming in were mostly in bulk and products leaving the mill were now stacked on pallets to be handled by forklift. Before the old mill finally closed, the University of Plymouth made a film of John and Eddy operating what was then one of the last working grist mills.
John conducted all his business by telephone. He regularly spoke to traders from around the country and farmers far and wide for years without meeting in person. John was a great one for collecting snippets of information via the telephone. Although he rarely left the mill it was well know that if you wanted some information, ask John Sargent. John loved cattle and over the years, with the encouragement of others established a large herd of Charolais cattle. A few were selected for showing and on occasion won rosettes. Good prices were achieved at market for the quality beef reared. As the herd grew more fields were acquired and additional barns built to accommodate the herd over winter.
One achievement John was rightly proud of was the construction of the hydroelectric Archimedes screw on the mill leat. John had spent some three years bringing the project to fruition; battling planners and the Environment Agency. The project generated its first electricity in 2010 and is still going strong.
John’s love of nature and animals was one of his passions. He enjoyed walks around the fields by the river where he would often see kingfishers and dippers. A chance meeting with other walkers would often lead to a good chat. John loved “putting the worlds to right” and would often walk across the fields to Hugh Rudham’s at Fluxton to seek Hugh’s opinion on the topic of the day. John remained a bachelor all his life and never learnt to drive which he repeatedly said was his biggest regret.
John’s final years were spent at Kings Manor Care Home. John had a lovely room beside the garden with views to East Hill. The catering was five star and the care and compassion he received from all levels of staff was exceptional.
by David Birch | Jul 27, 2026 | Recent Articles
The 19th edition of the Otter Rail & River 10km and Fun Run was another great success. The event, which took place on Saturday, 11 July, raised more than £4,500 for the Tipton Playing Fields and other local causes.
The success of the event is a reflection of the village community who provide the majority of the marshals and volunteers. Many of the participants return year after year. And we know from the many thank you messages we received after the race it’s because of the support, friendliness and encouragement of the volunteers: “What amazing Marshalls you have, despite many standing in the baking heat they remained cheerful, encouraging and really worked hard to direct us all and keep the water stations, sponges and hoses going which was fantastic.”
The heat this year added an extra challenge to the participants, volunteers and organisers. But it didn’t discourage 250 runners lining up on the start line to run in temperatures of 27°C at the start, rising to 29°C by the finish! Despite the heat, Tom Merson came within 20 seconds of breaking the men’s course record and thankfully our medical team (expanded due to the conditions) were left twiddling their thumbs.
Tom Merson of Exmouth Harriers won the men’s race in 34:56, making him the second person in 19 years to break 35 minutes. Hannah Bown, also of Exmouth Harriers, won the women’s race in 50:28. The first local runners to cross the finish line were Andy Wiltshire and [???]. For the second year running, Dennis Burrell travelled up from near Camborne, Cornwall to cross the line as the oldest finisher – age 82! It’s not all about the 10km, though. Before the main event, more than 70 youngsters from 2 years upwards lined up for the fun run. They run about a mile, some of them at amazing speeds, for a medal and [the much sought after] jelly snake. This year, due to the heat they received an extra reward of an ice pop – a bonus that was very well received.
Our thanks go to Michelmores, Otter Brewery (beer for finishers), The Golden Lion Pub (vouchers for spot prizes), Four Elms Fruit Farm (apple juice to category winners), Pinnacle Icing (prizes for 1st, 2nd & 3rd male and female), Ian Winchester & Sons (fruit for finishers) and Phyzz (vouchers for spot and local runner prizes). And a special thankyou to Jo Earlam and Cathrine Hilton, our committee members, who make it all look easy by working so hard.
Race director Adrian Harris
by David Birch | Jun 1, 2026 | Recent Articles
Tipton School
I’m continuing to work closely with a multi-disciplinary team of officers at Devon County Council to help secure the future of Tipton School. We’re meeting weekly, and I’m also regularly in touch with the school’s Governors on this really important project. I’m doing everything I can to try to secure the school within the village.
U-turn by Devon County Council sees it abandon cuts to library opening hours
Ottery St Mary Library was one of dozens of libraries across Devon facing significant reductions in opening hours under proposals brought forward by Devon County Council. The Friends of Ottery Library led an excellent campaign to stop the cuts and I was pleased to work with them on this. They presented a petition of more than 1,800 signatures to the Leader of the County Council and held a protest outside Ottery Library. I also formally challenged the proposals through the council’s scrutiny process.
The response to the public consultation on the cuts to the opening hours was overwhelming, with more than 25,000 responses submitted across Devon. It was clear that residents strongly rejected the idea that people would simply travel elsewhere if their local library reduced hours or closed – 93% opposed this. I’m really pleased that the County Council listened and has now dropped the proposed cuts. This is a genuine victory for local communities and campaigners who made it clear how important libraries are.
20mph for Tipton and Wiggaton?
The rollout of 20mph zones across Devon has unfortunately been very slow. However, town and parish councils do have the option to introduce 20mph limits themselves if they are able to cover the costs – which are considerably higher than many people expect because of the legal and traffic order requirements involved. Ottery St Mary is one of only a small number of places where Devon County Council has funded and implemented a 20mph scheme. I’m very supportive of extending 20mph zones more widely across my division, including Tipton and Wiggaton. A preliminary consultation will be carried out by Ottery St Mary Town Council to gauge public opinion.
Tipton – Bowd Road reopening
I’m really pleased that the Tipton-Bowd road has now reopened. I know how difficult the closure has been for residents, businesses and families, with long diversions causing ongoing disruption since Storm Chandra. I pushed for every possible option to be explored, including reopening the road under temporary traffic lights while longer-term stabilisation work continues.
There will likely need to be a short additional road closure to allow the repaired section of road to be resurfaced. I’m hopeful this closure will only be for a day or two, but I don’t yet have confirmed dates.
Footpath 24
This is a well-used and valued footpath and I appreciate how frustrating its closure has been. I’m in contact with the Public Rights of Way team at Devon County Council, who are working with landowners and tenants to put a formal diversion in place. DCC is also liaising with the Environment Agency about options to stabilise the riverbanks. I know this is a priority for the community and I’ll continue to press for this to be resolved as quickly as possible.
Gerway Farm, Sidmouth Road, Ottery – 140 houses refused
I’m very pleased that this application for 140 houses was refused by the EDDC planning committee in May. I spoke at the meeting to object, alongside Cllrs Vicky Johns and Peter Faithfull, as well as five local residents. There was a strong turnout, with around 60 people attending to oppose the application. It was a nail-biting meeting and it took around two and a half hours for the committee to reach its decision. In the end, the application was refused due to its impact on the rural character of the area, the loss of best and most versatile agricultural land – and the fact the site was outside the built-up area of Ottery St Mary.
This was a really significant outcome for the town and reflected the strength of local feeling about the scale and impact of the proposal.
Cllr Jess Bailey 01404 814056 email jessica.bailey@devon.gov.uk
by David Birch | Mar 24, 2026 | Recent Articles
Tipton St John Playing Field will be playing host to runners from around the south-west in July and, possibly, around the world next April.
Two events are in detailed planning stages, the first is the annual Otter Rail and River Run 10km, which will take place on Saturday 11th July 2026, 10.30am start for the Carol Weaver Fun Run and 11am for the 10km. This is an important annual fundraiser for the playing field, requiring more than 50 marshals and helpers on the day to see the runners safely around the course, take entries, serve refreshments, manage car parking, etc. All marshals from previous years should receive a direct email in April, so please check your inboxes or contact me direct at jo.earlam@hotmail.co.uk
The Otter Run began back in 2007 to mark the then 40th anniversary of the playing field. Ten years later, for the 50th anniversary, Women Can, a women-only marathon, was held from the field, celebrating the achievement of the first woman to officially run the Boston Marathon, Kathrine Switzer, at a time when, in the Olympics, the longest women’s race was the 800 metres. Many local people pitched in and made this event a huge success, much enjoyed and remembered fondly by the 400 women who entered from across the globe. Next year’s event will be on Sunday 18th April 2027, the day before Boston when big celebrations will mark the 60th anniversary of Kathrine Switzer’s groundbreaking 26.2 miles. A new organising team is in place, and new course – with the start and finish being from Exmouth, passing through Tipton as the halfway point, and the half marathon will start from the playing field. A long way off and lots to plan and do. Please get in touch if you’d like to know anymore or would like to help. The website is live at www.womencanmarathon.co.uk
Jo Earlam
by David Birch | Mar 24, 2026 | Recent Articles
Recently Tipton has felt rather cut off from the outside world; with roads collapsing, closures, traffic lights and potholes, all restricting normal access in andout of the village. Due to subsidence the Sidmouth road has been completely closed and has caused quite a struggle for many of us trying to get to and from Sidmouth, having to find alternative routes which then take us onto the narrower lanes.
The Sidmouth road was built around 1845. Previous to the B3176 being constructed you could only travel from Tipton to Sidmouth either via Combe and up over the Goyle ridgeway or along to Harpford and up beside Northmostown or probably the most favoured route would have been past Hayne and up Seaway lane, hence the name. From the top of Seaway you could continue onto upper Seaway or bear right and follow a track around the side of the hill at Woods Farm bringing you to Harpford woods and onto the Bowd. Back then you would have been walking these lanes, possibly with a donkey or pony to carry your goods. These lanes would have been muddy, rough and steep in many places and probably impassable in areas for a ca
In 1844 Parliament passed an act to create a new toll road from Sidmouth to Ottery and onto Cullompton. The Turnpike trust borrowed five thousand pounds to build the new road but they spent all the money and more in the first year of constructing the road and had only completed as far as from Sidmouth to Ottery. Purchasing the land, paying surveyors, contractors and legal fees quickly used up the money. The section across the Goyle at Tipton and up around to Woods Farm represented a significant engineering challenge and must have cost a great deal of the monies raised for the road. Large embankments carry the road across the Goyle and support it as it steeply skirts the hill towards Woods farm. Tolls were collected on theSidmouth top road by Greenway Cottage, at the Bowd and at Tip Hill, Ottery.
In 1846, The ‘new road’ as it became known locally, enabled coaches to be able to offer a daily service from Sidmouth out to Ottery, four horses pulling carriages with people travelling and mail to be delivered. Peter Orlando Hutchinson, of Sidmouth wrote of taking the coach in 1855 when he was involved in an accident on the road, one and half miles from Ottery. “the coach was very heavily laden with luggage piled on the roof so much so as to make it top heavy, besides which there was a full complement of passengers. One of the leaders became restive, and set off the horses causing the coach to oscillate to and fro until it tipped onto a cottage garden bank. Some of the passengers jumped or fell from the coach. People began to pick themselves out of the cabbages and turnips to shake the earth from their clothes and to assure themselves that their limbs were safe, then many hearty laughs followed the adventure.”
The tolls were not sufficient to cover the upkeep and in 1850 the trust had to apply for a grant to make repairs. Things improved for a while with some money being made for the trustees from the tolls taken at the gates but when the train line to Sidmouth was opened in1874, the use of the roads declined and the trust eventually decided to wind up the business, closing with huge debts. The trust however had left the lasting legacy of a much-improved communication between Ottery and Sidmouth for future generations. And so today we now appreciate just how useful this road is and how much we miss it while it’s closed.
Ref: Chris Wakefield ‘One of Ottery’s turnpike roads’, OSM heritage; Peter Orlando Hutchinson diaries; The British Newspaper Archives. Aerial photographs – Wayne Pop
Judith Taylor
Recent Comments