ONE family at Tedburn St Mary had eight sons who all served in France in World War One, three never returning.

Their story was only a part of the display set up in the Village Hall on Sunday afternoon (November 11), when a free tea and entertainment was staged to remember the Armistice, a tea party hosted by Tedburn St Mary Parish Council.

Knitted poppies were on each table and purple poppies, to remember the animals that fell during war time conflicts, were for sale with proceeds going to Blue Cross.

Poppy book marks had been made and were available for a donation. All funds raised were for the Royal British Legion and Help for Heroes, raising a magnificent £589.04.

It had all come from an idea of Pat Moody.

She explained: "It was Mike Hall’s idea. He asked if the parish council was doing anything and his remarks got me thinking. This is what we have done.

"The parish council has paid for the hire of the hall, everything has been donated. The Red Lion pub gave some of the sandwiches, the WI gave sandwiches and cakes.

"It was October when I first thought of this and look how everyone has helped. Bookmarks have been designed, made and guillotined with a red tassel on each, available for a donation to the fund.

"The poppies on the tables were knitted by a small group of ladies. Everyone has been wonderful, I cannot thank them all enough," said Pat.

There was an enormous raffle, everything being donated and a number of ladies helped out in the kitchen.

Entertainment was provided by Tedburn Community Choir and the wonderful Tedettes - Vicki Adams, Sally Wilding-Webb and Louise Taylor. All members of the Choir, they got together for a Choir event and are available for any function.

Among the photographs, newspaper cuttings, letters, cards and other family mementoes and history on show was the village history being compiled by Karen Bowden with Malcolm Little.

Karen intends this to provide a comprehensive history of the village. One of the photographs showed the petrol pumps that used to be at the top of the Crediton road with its junction with the main road through Tedburn.

She also has a copy of the photo showing the fields where Four Oaks Road is now. Karen is at the Farmers’ Market at Tedburn every month if people have information to add.

Pat added: "The support from the village has been fantastic, you cannot do this on your own so thank you to everyone."