The Christmas bazaar provided a merry start to the season, raising £673 for church maintenance.

Coffee Break on the two remaining Wednesdays before the holiday is likely to turn festive too and you can post your cards, to those living within the village, as you arrive at the village hall. The box will be emptied on Friday, December 15, at 2pm, when the contents are sorted and delivered the same day.

The Christmas lights on the cherry tree in Backshay will be switched on at 6pm tomorrow, with carol singing and a countdown. Carol sheets and candles will be provided, wind permitting. Singing, accompanied by Evelyn on keyboard, then continues in the village hall, with mince pies and mulled wine. A collection will be donated to the Children’s Society.

The parish council was pleased to report that our ­community policeman, Paul O’Dwyer, dropped in at Coffee Break, where he is always welcome. Also pleasing was the number of volunteers tidying the cemetery and grassy bank at the bottom of Hillingsdown.

Steps down to the beach will be photographed in their ­current state as erosion has undercut the final step, leaving a deep drop, while the railing also needs attention. Appeals are being made to the relevant departments.

Richard Snow from the National Trust attended the meeting in response to ­concerns about the impact of increased popularity of the beach in the summer. He intends to employ extra staff over bank holidays and to look at ways of improving traffic flow on the narrow lanes. Also he committed to ensuring that, when the new extension to the beach house is completed in the new year, all its ancillary buildings will be removed and the field boundary reinstated.

A subcommittee comprising NT and parish council members has been set up to keep concerns under review and an NT management plan for South Milton Sands is to be produced by next March. The next meeting is on Monday, January 22.

South Milton village has particular ties with the Alvington Singers, both through choir members past and present and enthusiastic supporters who will be in Salcombe Church for its Christmas concert on Wednesday, December 13. See the posters around the area for further details.

The Thursday Club’s Christmas lunch at the golf club is next week from noon, when Lindy will be issuing the 2018 programme.

Nine lessons and carols will start at 6pm on Sunday, December 17, followed by mulled wine and mince pies.

An early entry in next year’s diary could be Sunday, January 7, for reed-cutting at the ley.