Local man buys clock off of e-bay

I was rather puzzled as to the nature of an article in this week's Gazette concerning Philip Milton's purchase of a big clock. The well known local independant (sic) financial adviser, failed Tory candidate, purveyor of Christian texts and all round local character, has bought a large clock off of e- bay. Apparently, Mr Milton considers this to be newsworthy as does the Gazette who promptly despatched a photographer out to Trimstone manor to snatch a portrait of Mr Milton with his newly acquired timepiece and I must say very nice it looks too if a little bit kitsch for my liking. To be fair the story does have a kernel of local interest as the face of the clock has Barnstaple written on it and according to Mr Milton it was made in Barnstaple by a local clockmaker some 200 years ago. He explains that when he saw it on e-bay he knew he just had to bid for it in order to restore it to it's rightful place back in here North Devon and I am glad to report that, in spite of the rather heated bidding war that ensued, he emerged victorious and was subsequently the proud owner of a unique piece of Devonian horological history.
Trouble was now Mr Milton had to arrange to pick up his purchase as the vendor refused to meet the shipping costs and so eager was he to gather it into his possession he decided to go and pick it up himself. So he describes how he set off first thing the following morning on an intrepid journey over Dartmoor all the way down to the town of Ivybridge. Yep Ivybridge, Devon, that town located between Plymouth and Exeter, just off the A38 which must be all of 60 miles away. Now I can see there being some interest in such a jaunt if the clock was retrieved from some crumbling colonial bungalow in Pondicherry, India or rotting in the corner of a municipal office in Port Moresby but a town in the South Hams, come off it! So, let me get this right,  a clock that was made in North Devon or probably more accurately sold in North Devon turns up 200 years later in ... South Devon bleddy incredible that is.
I was wondering if the Gazette would be interested in a story about me and my sideboard. My Mother bought it a few years ago now from Devon Pine, when they were up at Roundswell, but after a few months she went off it as didn't quite fit in with the Welsh dresser, so she offered it to my uncle down at Ilfracombe, who was glad to have it. However, about ten years ago now he had to leave Combe in a rather clandestine manner and much to Mother's consternation he took the sideboard with him. Last summer Uncle eventually returns to Barum, after spending a few years keeping a low profile in Scotland, with the said sideboard strapped to the roof of his car. Although mother was pleased to have it back she still couldn't make up her mind about it, so for the time being I have in my parlour. So like Mr Milton I am also the proud possessor of a piece of North Devonian craft work that has been restored to it's place of origin
As a footnote I would just add that I also have a couple of  painted plaster donkeys with Clovelly written on them and a shell mouse with a real leather tail stuck on a varnished pebble that has Lynmouth etched on it. So if anyone else in the area is interested in collecting some authentic local handicraft then I feel obliged to let you know they'll be up on e-bay later. Unfortunately, I cannot guarantee that I'll be able to ensure that these pieces stay in North Devon, but should anyone feel moved to keep them housed locally in a private collection or gallery then I will put a "buy it now" option on them.


I have to say though that it was only few weeks back when Mr Milton was in the Journal this time with some rather mildewy documents that he'd found concerning a lost inheritance. Once again this one left us all scratching our heads in the Marshals. What's he bleddy on about? What's so special in that? We thought, as each and every one of us could lay our hands on our own mouldy documents detailing lost inheritances, Great Granfer's farm sold for a pittance, tracts of land lost in the Devonian hinterland to family feuds, wheeler dealers and bad investments.