English Riviera Magazine June/July 2022 Edition

Walks • Local Food • Heritage • Theatre • People • Events • Arts

EnglishRiviera June/July 2022

magazine

Meet the

locals

Isla & John Taylor

Extraordinary Apiarists

Tony Heard

Life at Shoalstone

Give It A Go!

Rock Choir Planting wildflowers

with Ali Marshall EVENTS ACROSS THE BAY

Village Walk

Stoke Gabriel

English Riviera Magazine for Residents by Residents DELIVERED FREE TO HOMES AND BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT THE BAY

Supporting you and your business As a business owner, life is undoubtedly busy – with accounts to file, staff to manage and targets to meet. So it’s not surprising that keeping on top of your own personal finances can sometimes fall down your list of priorities.

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www.orestonewealth.co.uk The Old Bank Chambers, Fore Street, St Marychurch, Torquay TQ1 4PR The Partner Practice is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James’s Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the group’s wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the group’s website www.sjp.co.uk/ products. The ‘St. James’s Place Partnership’ and the titles ‘Partner’ and ‘Partner Practice’ are marketing terms used to describe St. James’s Place representatives.

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30/11/2019 10:30

Welcome

About us...

to the June and July issue The beautiful English Riviera is playing host to some really magnificent events to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and we’ve got a roundup of what is happening locally during the Jubilee Weekend.

Congratulations and thanks to Her Majesty The Queen for her wonderful service to the nation over an astonishing seventy years!

Created and Published By Devon Magazine Company Limited Julian Rees julian@englishrivieramagazine.co.uk Telephone 01803 842893 Mobile: 07455 206470 Anita Newcombe anita@englishrivieramagazine.co.uk Telephone: 01803 850886 Advertising Sales sales@englishrivieramagazine.co.uk Advertising Copy copy@englishrivieramagazine.co.uk Editorial editorial@englishrivieramagazine.co.uk Website englishrivieramagazine.co.uk ISSN (Print) 2052-8515 ISSN (Online) 2052-8523

There are many more events and happenings taking place in the rest of June and July and we hope that our What’s On, Arts and Theatre sections will inspire you to enjoy something new. We also propose a bit of beekeeping with John and Isla Taylor of Firscroft Honey Bees, meet Tony Heard of Shoalstone Pool, sail back in time with the heritage trawler Vigilance, meet the Mosaic Artists at Cockington Court and give singing at Rock Choir in Torquay with Richard Toomer a go!

If you fancy a bit of gardening in the sunshine then Ali Marshall, Head Gardener at Torre Abbey has lots of interesting tips for you and we’ve got a delightful village walk around Stoke Gabriel for you to try. If you just want to curl up with a comfortable read why not try our article on Rudyard Kipling’s association with our area?

Next issue 27 July Write to us at: ENGLISH RIVIERA MAGAZINE 69 DAVIES AVENUE PAIGNTON TQ4 7AW © 2018 All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or used in any form without prior permission of the publishers. All material is sent at the owner’s risk and whilst every care is taken, Devon Magazine Company Ltd will not accept liability for loss or damage. Every effort has been taken to ensure the accuracy of our content but the publishers cannot be held responsible for any omissions, errors or alterations or for the consequences of any reliance on these details; neither can they vouch for the accuracy of claims made by any advertiser.

The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publishers.

Happy reading and enjoy summer in the Bay!

@EngRivieraMag c englishriveramag f englishriveramagazine englishrivieramagazine.co.uk If you would like to ADVERTISE your business in English Riviera Magazine Call 01803 850886 or email sales@englishrivieramagazine.co.uk Walks • Local Food • Heritage • Nature • People • Events • Arts

EnglishRiviera June/July 2019

magazine

A Sailing Adventure with

Trinity

THE MANY TALENTS OF

MACKENZIE MOULTON

Wilfred Owen's

Torquay Vacation A Lifetime in Art

MARTIN DUTTON

FESTIVALS!

Give It A Go!

ROLLER SKATING

Debbie MacPherson Fashioning Leather

Vistas & Views on the coastpath

Occombe & Paignton Harbour

Armchair Twitcher

Feathered friends in your garden

English Riviera Magazine for Residents by Residents DELIVERED FREE TO HOMES AND BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT THE BAY

englishrivieramagazine.co.uk

June/July 2022 | 3

In this issue | June and July 2022 6 Openers Local news snippets

14 Meeting the keepers John & Isla Taylor at Firscroft Honey Bees

33 Interiors update

18 Shoalstone Seawater Pool A magnificent community asset

20 Heritage - Rudyard Kipling At home in Maidencombe

23 Vigilance - red sails ahoy!

Sail back in time with the heritage trawler

25 Give It A Go! Have an urge to sing? Try Rock Choir

28 Village Walk

14 Meeting the keepers

Explore Stoke Gabriel

31 Platinum Jubilee Celebrations in the Bay

35 What’s On Our pick of June and July events

40 Arts Roundup Enjoy exhibitions & arty events

43 Arts - South West Mosaic Artists Exhibiting at Cockington Court

44 Theatre Who’s treading the boards

47 Gardening Torre Abbey Head Gardener Ali Marshall

25 Give It A Go! Rock Choir 43 South West Mosaic Artists

On the cover

Red Arrows in Paignton © Paul Box

englishrivieramagazine.co.uk

June/July 2022 | 5

Engli

Brixham to Ukraine Torbay Lifeboat Crew decided that, in addition to fundraising challenges for the RNLI, they should also be doing something to help Ukrainian refugees. So they set up a fundraising page and (with the help of local people and organisations including Brixham College and Galmpton Primary) very soon six of them were heading towards Chervonoghad, near Lviv in Ukraine in two heavily laden transit vans. The crewmembers arrived on the Orthodox Christian Easter weekend where families (except the young men who were largely away defending their country) were heading to church in large numbers.

The lifeboat crew safely delivered about £15,000 worth of humanitarian aid for refugees displaced by the war, homeless but currently still in Ukraine. The list of donated items included tinned foods, baby food, nappies, sleeping bags and blankets, medical provisions, toiletries and pet food. The immense 2,600 mile round trip included an exhausting 90 hours of almost continuous driving.  gofundme.com/f/torbay-lifeboat-crew-supportukrainian-refugees

brewery also won an impressive array of awards at this year’s SIBA (Society of Independent Brewers) Awards.

Devon Rock, Devon Cove & Topsail all won top awards as well as a gold for Devon Dumpling. You can see the Bay’s team and taste your favourite beer at Music on the Meadows (3rd June) at Torre Abbey and the English Riviera Airshow at (and above) Paignton Green (4th and 5th June). Bays Brewery are still offering 35% discount on beer and cider via their website.  baysbrewery.co.uk

MooBoo Home Expands MooBoo Home has expanded their studio at Cockington Court’s fabulous Centre of Creativity, adding a larger workshop and a private consultation room to their popular show room. Having taken on two new members of staff they are now open 7 days a week. The pieces that MooBoo are being asked to make are getting bigger and bigger and so when the opportunity arose to take on extra space they jumped at it. They are focusing on sustainability by using super energy efficient LED light bulbs to complement their designs and they have many available to view in the studio. This season they are also working on outdoor lighting, using local sustainably sourced fallen tree branches. MooBoo is creating stunning one-of-a-kind outdoor lighting structures and would welcome all enquiries from people wishing to have something unique in their outdoor space. They also make indoor versions. mooboohome.co.uk • cockingtoncourt.org

Bays Awards

Bays Brewery’s delicious Devon Rock, Devon Dumpling and Pure Gold beers have all won gold at the 2022 Taste of the West Awards. The Paignton-based family-run 6

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Happy Birthday Rowcroft!

Rowcroft Hospice marked its 40th anniversary with exciting events and the launch of a giant flag to celebrate the specialist care that the charity has provided in South Devon over four decades. A plaque was unveiled and a cake cut to pay tribute to the late Richard Brinsley of Torquay Lions Club and others who helped to set up the hospice in the early 1980s. A 40 Years of Care photo exhibition charted Rowcroft’s history; there were Open Garden days, corporate networking events, cocktails and opera on the terrace for patients in the Inpatient Unit, tea parties, performances by Rock Choir and much more. A 40th Anniversary Flag will be passed like a baton within the community and businesses are invited to host this as a gesture of solidarity. Further Open Garden events are planned with people across South Devon raising funds for the hospice.  rowcrofthospice.org.uk/opengardens

Home Instead – A Familiar Face The team at Home Instead South Devon, pride themselves on companionship-led care, building great relationships with their clients and families. They allocate a minimum of one-hour visits so that they are able to deliver the care and attention that their clients deserve. Home Instead’s highly trained care professionals are approachable, and do not wear a uniform. They are introduced to the client before working with them and read the personalised care plan prior to a visit. By sending a familiar face to each visit, they can build strong bonds englishrivieramagazine.co.uk

and trust. The visit may be for companionship, home help or personal care, but it is always done with trust and honesty. Home Instead’s service has been recognised at the highest level and was awarded the Queens Award for Innovation, as well as being rated ‘Outstanding’ with CQC. This offers reassurance that you, your loved one, or your relative will be in safe hands with Home Instead.  homeinstead.co.uk/south-devon • 01803 611630

Grumpy but Fun Brixham Probus Club is extending a warm welcome to new members.

It offers “an opportunity to meet like-minded grumpy old men, put the world to rights and then listen to a wide variety of visiting speakers.” The group is non-political and non-religious and meets every Thursday morning in the Catholic Church Hall, New Road, Brixham. The number 12 bus stops right outside the venue. There is no joining fee, subscription or dress code - smart casual is fine. Your first three visits are free.

Then if you become a member after your three visits it’s £3.00 per attendance (card payment preferred), which includes refreshments and an option to buy raffle tickets.

Doors open at 9.45am for tea or coffee and biscuits and the meeting begins at 10.30am. It usually finishes between 1130 and 1145am. Call 07585 717525 if you’d like to chat to an existing member before coming along.  brixhamprobus.co.uk

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Celebrating Churston Cove An evening event was held at beautiful Lupton House to launch a new project called The Cove, intended to celebrate of the lives of both wildlife and people in and around Brixham’s stunning Churston Cove. The Cove is a collaboration of conservation and community, which will create a series of local events including talks, online conference, art exhibition, live music, and wildlife conservation awareness. Many thousands of people visit Churston Cove annually and the project aims to help preserve the cove as an important wild space.

The project is entirely volunteer-managed and they are looking for potential contributions in time, skills and support if you feel you have something that could positively impact the project.  c @thecovediscoveryproject

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The Devonshire Association Local charity The Devonshire Association (DA) is extending a warm welcome to new members who are interested in discovering more about our beautiful county. Their South Devon Branch meets in Newton Abbot and there’s a wide range of friendly events happening locally and regionally including talks, excursions and social gatherings. Outdoor events in the summer are chosen for ease of access by public transport and only gentle exertion, making them suitable for most. The DA also encourages members to join one or more of their eight special interest groups, which include: botany, buildings, entomology, geology, history, industrial archaeology, music plus literature & art. Upcoming events include a visit to Dunkeswell Heritage Centre and Airfield, A walk along the Stover Canal and an evening cruise on Dartmouth’s Kingswear Castle. Non-members can also join any of their advertised events. Why not give this friendly association a go today?  devonassoc.org.uk

Orchard Forest School Orchard Forest School, based in a 4-acre ancient apple orchard at Brixham’s Lupton House, has been awarded £10,000 by the National Lottery. They are creating The Queen’s Sensory Garden and will plant an additional seven apple trees in the orchard in honour of the Queen’s seven-decade reign. The garden will provide a calm and peaceful space within the orchard, not only for their existing activity groups, but also for all across the Torbay community who would benefit from the sensory experience.

Orchard Forest School provides a range of groups and sessions for local children, families, organisations and individuals using the power of natural outdoors activities. Contact: orchardforestsch@gmail.com or check their Facebook page.  c @OrchardForestSchool

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John & Isla Taylor

Firscroft Honey Bees

Marldon-based beekeepers John and Isla Taylor care for around 13 apiaries around South Devon, producing natural, artisan honey. Anita Newcombe goes to visit the bees at their Haccombe site.

I

winter bees live much longer at around 6 months, than ’m meeting Isla and John in a quiet and beautiful their summer sisters; they only manage about 6 weeks countryside location near Haccombe. Beekeeping had of life. Winter bees spend their lives working hard in the been a longstanding hobby for the couple and this has gradually evolved into a sustainable business. John worked nest, caring for the queen and ensuring the warmth and survival of the larvae and the viability of the colony. They in social housing for 37 years before his interest in bees led him to a complete career change. Now the couple sells will occasionally do ‘hygiene flights’ during warmer spells of weather as they don’t defecate in the nest. their wonderful, pure, cold-filtered runny honey online So now Isla and John kit me up with a full beekeeper’s and at special places like Occombe Farm. Isla, as well as suit complete with meshed hood and heavy-duty gauntlets working part-time and looking after the couple’s three to protect my hands. children, has created a line John tells me to make of handmade products I get stung occasionally but not sure my face is not from the hive using a wearing gloves allows you to be touching the mesh – blend of oils, essential oils much more delicate and gentle this might expose me and beeswax. John makes with the bees and greatly reduces to a possible sting. beehives for their own use the chance of crushing them However, I see that as well as for others. during handling...

John is now starting It’s very much a labour to open the hive and, of love because the process although he’s wearing a full suit he’s not wearing gloves – I of caring for the colonies and harvesting the precious ask him why. honey is very time-consuming. However, when properly He tells me, “Yes I get stung occasionally but not looked after, the bees will forage happily amongst wild wearing gloves allows you to be much more delicate and flowers collecting the nectar and caring for their hive and gentle with the bees and greatly reduces the chance of their queen. Ultimately the bees can then create sufficient crushing them during handling.” honey to feed the colony and produce a healthy surplus It’s only just warm enough to open the hive on this supply for harvest. early April day and John says he won’t leave it open Today we are opening up one of the hives for the very too long. Normally about 15 degrees is the minimum first time since the winter set in and the queen and her temperature for opening up. The hives are raised up off winter bees hunkered down with their food stores. It’s worth noting that it’s the females that do all the work. The the ground on wooden stands and have a strap around

“

14 | June/July 2022

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Riviera People them to stop animals such as badgers and deer pushing them over. John removes the hive roof from a ‘super’, he explains that a ‘super’ is a box that holds the frames where the bees will make and store their honey. During the season more of these ‘supers’ can be added as space is needed to store more honey. John tells me that up to 5 supers are achievable in a good year but typically two or three is the norm. When each layer is full the bees seal it with wax.

Below the upper ‘super’ or ‘supers’ where the honey is made there is a ‘queen excluder’ to prevent the queen laying in the honey collection areas. Below this is a ‘brood box’ where the queen lives and produces the larvae.

She can lay around 2,000 eggs a day. She may be a queen but she doesn’t really rule – she only controls the egg laying, which certainly makes her the most important bee. The queen lives much longer than the worker bees – around 2 to 5 years and produces a scent, which is

englishrivieramagazine.co.uk

believed to promote harmony within the colony. This hive we have opened today contains approximately 40,000 bees at the moment and the population will rise to around 70,000 in the summer months.

There are about 10 hives at each of John and Isla’s sites, so that’s a huge number of bees within the 13 colonies they manage. In the winter, jobs include strimming the area and general maintenance. They also may top up the bees’ own food stores by adding some Baker’s Fondant. John explains, “You can heft the hive to see if there’s enough weight; if it’s light then an additional feed may be necessary.”

From the end of April they will visit the hives every 7-9 days. Checking the health of the hive and ensuring the queen is alive, well and laying. If not they may have to be merged with another colony or a new queen introduced.

The queen bee is responsible for creating new bees and the summer worker bees cater to all her needs such as grooming her and even masticating her food. In summer

June/July 2022 | 15

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“

they have about three weeks within the hive doing a range of jobs including ‘undertaker bees’ which drag out any dead bees from the hive. Some of the worker bees use their wings as fans to create airflow throughout the hive.

After three weeks in the hive, the summer worker bees get about three weeks outside foraging for pollen, storing nectar, feeding larvae and producing honey - then their hard work is done and they die. Drone bees conversely (the males) do no work at all within the hive and are only useful for mating; they have an average life span of just 8 weeks.

Isla tells me, “Bees are an amazingly clever and well organised species. We take care not to overload our sites as there is only so much foraging available and there are other pollinators besides honey bees competing for resources.”

While I’m watching John open up the hive and lovingly check all is well, it becomes clear that he is highly experienced in caring for the tiny creatures. He uses a bee smoker to calm the bees during the inspections and as it is still cool, the hive is only open for a fairly brief englishrivieramagazine.co.uk

The queen lives much longer than the worker bees – around 2 to 5 years and produces a scent, which is believed to promote harmony within the colony

period. This is enough time however for me to appreciate the fascination of beekeeping and the complex and extraordinary lives of honey bees.

John and Isla have recently started offering beekeeping experiences (for a maximum of 3 people) from May to September and these can be booked on the Firscroft Honey Bees website.

Later I get to taste the Firscroft honey. It’s completely pure, straight from the hive and is quite delicious.

Real honey is definitely worth buying, not only for its wonderful flavour but also for its well-established health benefits. Much honey sold nowadays has only a passing nod to the life’s work of bees it seems, and this is rather sad in my view. It is certainly worth the cost to buy natural, locally produced honey as the flavour is superb, even when only a modest amount is used.

Why not give it a try?   firscrofthoneybees.com June/July 2022 | 17

Tony Heard

Shoalstone Pool One of a group of directors and volunteers who now manage Brixham’s magnificent community asset, Tony Heard grew up swimming and rockpooling at Shoalstone Seawater Pool.

Anita Newcombe popped by for a chat.

I

t’s an absolutely stunning day when I arrive at Shoalstone Pool to meet Tony Heard. The sun is shining over the Bay, the rockpools are crystal-clear and azure, a seal is bobbing along just off the shore and the pool itself is looking very inviting.

Tony tells me that his grandfather worked for HM Coastguard and thus occupied one of the tied Coastguard Cottages on Berry Head Road. He lived into his 90s (his grandmother lived till the ripe old age of 101) and swam in the pool daily, performing his ‘special dive’ and chatting to visitors. Tony’s father worked at Upham’s Shipyard, having also been a Berry Head Lighthouse attendant and the Torbay Pleasure Boat Inspector for a

18 | June/July 2022

considerable period. With his wife, he bought another of the Coastguard Cottages for the family. So Tony grew up with Shoalstone Pool in his backyard. His family home was previously the childhood home of former Prime Minister James (Sunny Jim) Callaghan and there is a Civic Society Blue Plaque honouring him on the property.

Tony tells me, “I went to school at Furzeham and then met friends at Shoalstone to swim, play in the rockpools and kick a ball around on the green – that’s what young people did back then.”

Tony did a degree in shipping and law but ended up helping to run the family’s holiday cottages and caring for his grandparents and parents. So he’s usually around

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Riviera People and pops down to the pool daily. He performs the role of cashier for Shoalstone Pool, collecting and banking all the cash. It is free-of-charge to use the pool (although donations are encouraged) but the carpark delivers vital funds for the upkeep and lifeguard cover, as do the deckchair & beach hut hires. Further fundraising is regularly undertaken by the amazing Friends of Shoalstone Pool. Of course in addition to the day-to-day running costs of the pool, changing rooms and toilets, funds are needed each year for the major annual cleaning, painting and recomissioning as well as building reserves for major storm damage.

Shoalstone Pool is expected to open at the end of May and will have lifeguard cover until it closes in September.

There are always at least two lifeguards during quiet periods, rising to four or even six when it’s very busy.

Regular cleaning and flushing of the pool takes place and this can only be carried out on or very near high tide when fresh sea water floods in to replace the pool’s captured water. The sea can also flood magnificently over the edge at times. Tony says, “It comes in from all directions – it’s quite a work of art.”

It’s much more exciting and varied than running an indoor pool – small fish can sometimes get in and have to be netted out. Tony explains, “It’s impossible to get them all – they will often float out again at high tide.”

Occasionally a jellyfish will get in and a lifeguard will return it to the sea outside. There are always new challenges with the removal of seaweed another regular task.

The Shoalstone team are very careful about protecting the ‘Blue Flag’ environment that Breakwater Beach and

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Shoalstone enjoy so no chlorine is used. The team are also working towards installing a new paint system to prevent any traces from the pool ending up in the sea.

The pool’s individual changing rooms are based on the original ones; they have half-height swing doors and are painted a fetching blue and white, fitting in nicely with the feel of the place. Tony reckons that there’s a roughly equal mix of tourists and locals using the pool during the year. Wild swimmers might come for their dips if the sea outside is particularly rough. Often photography clubs will come down for the wonderful light and amazing views. Tony says, “Photographers love it – seals, sunsets, rockpools, the moon; one night there was so much going on you didn’t know where to look.”

Shoals Seafood Restaurant, a family-run business with an outside terrace opened on the site in 2014 and now also contributes funds towards the running of the pool.

The year 2026 will be Shoalstone Pool’s Centenary and the Friends of Shoalstone Pool will celebrate their 20th anniversary in 2024.

Outdoor artist Zoe Curley is currently painting a new mural at the site; it will be filled with seaside imagery and will include illustrations and names of volunteers. Tony tells me, “The mural already has a drawing of Nick Brown, a volunteer frequently known as ‘Mr Shoalstone Pool’ – he has made a huge contribution to the pool over many years.”   shoalstonepool.com

Jubilee Party by the Pool On Saturday June 4th there will be live music, a costume fancy dress parade, 1950s-style seaside children’s games and a competition for ‘Best-Dressed Beach Hut’ and owner. It’s also a good spot to watch the Red Arrows Display.

June/July 2022 | 19

Rudyard Kipling Here was a man viewed as a “literary colossus” of the world and yet some of his earliest work was completed when living at Rock House at Maidencombe in Torquay. Ian Handford of Torbay Civic Society tells the story.

R

udyard Joseph Kipling was born on 30th December 1865. His father was John Kipling, an architectural sculptor married to Alice Macdonald, and when they arrived in India John became a teacher at Jeejeebhoy School of Art in Bombay.

Rudyard’s autobiography tells us about those early years in India remembering, “Early morning walks to the Bombay fruit market with my ayah and later my sister in her perambulator - with Meeta my Hindu bearer”. “There were Arab dhows on the pearly waters, and gaily dressed Parsees wading out to worship the sunset - and near the house, were the Towers of Silence where their dead are exposed to the waiting vultures on the rim of the towers, I do not understand my Mother’s distress when she found a child’s hand in our garden, and I want to ask questions about it.”

A frail child, Rudyard returned to England at the age of six with his three-year-old sister and they were “marooned in a small terrace house smelling of aridity and emptiness”. They became boarders to a couple who were strangers. Their parents had abandoned them to a Captain and Mrs Holloway (‘the woman’ or Aunt Rosa as she was known). Neither child had any special qualities other than their passion to read.

The captain would take Rudyard on walks around the Portsmouth docks and was kind to both children. Yet after his death in 1875 ‘the woman’ and her evangelical, bigoted son created what Rudyard described later as a “house of desolation”. The siblings were told about hell, a concept unknown to them as Methodists. More importantly their own lives felt like hell on earth as they were bullied, caned and regularly humiliated.

The only joy for Rudyard came from reading the priceless books left behind by his parents now residing in India.

20 | June/July 2022

An illustration from Stalky & Co, much of which was written whilst Kipling lived at Rock House

He would reflect on his six blissful years in the care of his ‘ayah’ (Bombay nanny) though his memories were now completely overshadowed by his experiences at Southsea.

Years later his experiences of beatings and humiliation would resurface in his book ‘Baa Baa Black Sheep’.

After six long years, their mother returned after learning from a relative about the plight of her children.

She immediately arranged that Rudyard would attend the United Services College Westward Ho! North Devon. From 1878 he was a college boarder and at last there was happiness in Rudyard’s life. He made friends at Westward Ho!, later woven into the adventures of ‘Stalky and Friends’ when exuberance and a sense of fun started to emerge in his books. In 1891 he published ‘Brugglesmith’ and his extraordinary perception and recollections made contemporaries appreciate that here was “a scribe of genius”. He was invited onto the staff of Lahore Civil and Military Gazette where for the first time he had sight of his own father. Quickly recognised as a brilliant reporter he was an even better storyteller and they termed him a versifier.

For nearly a decade his literary output was staggering.

In January 1892 he married Caroline Balestier and they spent their honeymoon in America and Canada before settling at Brattleboro in Vermont. By now he had produced the ‘Jungle Book-Bandarlog’ and

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Riviera Heritage daughter Josephine tragically occurred ‘Many Inventions’ and their first just before the famous ‘Just So’ books child Josephine was born on 29th were completed in 1902. Rudyard’s December 1892. Having written autobiography confirms he felt that dozens more books in 1894, the these were his best stories. Others Kiplings returned to England to his described ‘Kim’ as one of the best parents’ home in Tisbury, Wiltshire. books ever written while following the Books continued to flow from Kipling publication of ‘Puck of Pook’s Hill’ including a humorous one entitled in 1907 Kipling finally won a Nobel ‘My Sunday at Home’ about an overPrize for literature. Meanwhile his son solemn American doctor in England.

John was turned down by the Army as When their second child Elsie arrived he suffered from poor eyesight, but his they chose to move again, this time to father “pulled strings” so that he could Torquay in the autumn of 1896. join the Irish Guards. This action was That year our mild climate produced Words are, of destined to haunt Rudyard the rest of a very wet winter drawing the wrath course, the most his life, as John was killed in action of the famous writer. Kipling wrote in 1915. His guilt and sorrow was to a friend, “Bloody British is the only powerful drug word for it, Torquay is such a place as I used by mankind. brilliantly and honestly captured in Kipling’s poem ‘My Boy Jack’. do desire acutely to upset, by dancing Rudyard Kipling That sorrow was channelled into through with nothing on, but my lobbying when Rudyard demanded spectacles.” Having just discovered that soldiers were given gravestones whether rich or poor, the tandem bicycle he found that riding it greatly a battle he won. He also arranged for The Last Post to tested his patience. Writing once again he talked of, “a be sounded at the Menin Gate every year via a personal tandem bicycle, whose double steering-bars made good endowment to the War Commission. But now following dependence for continuous domestic quarrel”. Finally, an operation in a London hospital on January 18th when falling from the tandem he renamed it a “Hell 1936 - this man who could write the most wonderful spider”. He walked home and never rode again. words and put in print superb prose and fascinating Yet although he disliked Torquay, it was the place ideas, died in hospital. He was buried at Westminster where much of his more important works were produced Abbey. Kipling’s unfinished autobiography ‘Something of including ten books on ‘Stalky’, nine of which were Myself ’ was posthumously published in 1937. His wife published as Stalky and Co. But when the lease on Rock died two years later having already donated their home House ran out the Kiplings moved again, to Rottingdene ‘Batemans’ to the National Trust.

Sussex where their son John was born. The death of his Our society Blue Plaque still adorns Rock House, although it was never subject to an official unveiling.  Rock House at  torbaycivicsociety.co.uk Maidencombe

“

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June/July 2022 | 21

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Sail back in time with

On the Water

Vigilance of Brixham Vigilance is part of Brixham’s Heritage Fleet, a classic sailing trawler approaching her centenary, her red sails a frequent and evocative sight in Tor Bay. Trevor Taylor tells us more.

B

rixham simply would not exist as a world famous fishing port if it were not for boats like Vigilance, BM76. Built in 1926 at the famous Upham’s Yard on the site now occupied by the Prince William pub, she was the last of the big sailing trawlers. They were not built to last; they were in effect disposable boats, sailed hard for 10 to 15 years and then either scrapped or sold on. It is amazing that Vigilance is still in Brixham and approaching her centenary. That’s thanks in no small measure to all those who have worked so hard over the years to preserve her.

Vigilance has had a fascinating past. Once her fishing days were over she was converted into a gentlemen’s yacht. As war broke out she was de-rigged and served as a tether for barrage balloons protecting Brixham Harbour from enemy aircraft. She also served as an Arctic survey vessel and a training ship. She found international fame in television dramas and has hosted celebrity chefs for cooking series.

Today she is owned by a charity and all those involved are volunteers with a passion for Brixham’s heritage, desperately keen to preserve this important piece of Brixham’s past. Although highly conspicuous in the bay with her red sails she is one of Brixham best-kept secrets.

Few realise that they can go on half-day sails on this classic sailing trawler, part of the UK’s National Historic Fleet.

The trips across Tor Bay and along English Riviera coastline are simply stunning. Apart from viewing Berry Head and the bay towns from a totally different perspective, the wildlife can be amazing. To be on Vigilance as dolphins race alongside and then dive underneath only to surface on the other side is truly memorable. Skipper Neil Murray says, “Once at sea with the sails set, she really comes alive - words won’t cut it - you have to experience the power, the thrill and the exhilaration of sailing a unique vessel.”

Passengers are given the opportunity to get involved in englishrivieramagazine.co.uk

Clockwise from above: Tony Bridle, one of Vigilance’s mates.

Skipper Neil Murray at the helm.

Caroline Griffiths and Heather Ingram, volunteer crew who also look after Vigilance’s merchandise.

sailing the boat, perhaps by helping to raise and trim sails or by taking a turn on the helm, steering this 76-foot, 100-ton piece of nautical history. Or they can simply sit back and enjoy the ride. Many passengers return year after year and are keen to see what changes have been made. At the end of this season Vigilance is due to go in for a major refit and there’s great excitement about the future as she approaches her 100th birthday.

Vigilance is not cheap to maintain and run, so please support her and give yourself a treat this summer. Vigilance is based in Brixham Harbour on the Heritage Pontoon and sails four days a week. Why not try a half-day sail? You’ll leave with some wonderful memories.   07764 845353 vigilanceofbrixham.co.uk June/July 2022 | 23

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Give It A Go! - Rock Choir

t i g n i y P la ear by with...

Can’t read sheet music? Not happy to audition?

Want to sing simply for the joy of it? Rock Choir might be for you.

Anita Newcombe gives it a go!

I

’m meeting Rock Choir Leader Richard Toomer in the lots of different ‘strings to his bow’. hall at Torquay Boys’ Grammar School for the choir’s As well as leading at Rock Choir he is principal Monday evening session. He’s just finishing setting violinist for Exe Valley String Quartet playing at events up when I arrive so we’ve now got a bit of time to chat across the South West. He also plays piano and electric before the evening gets underway. violin and conducts orchestras and choral societies across Rock Choir is a family-run, UKthe South West. He frequently plays wide organisation, which has grown at weddings, performing at venues like dramatically since its launch in 2005.

Bovey Castle, Rockbeare Manor and It’s perfect for people who love to Haldon Belvedere with a wonderful sing pop and contemporary songs but repertoire including classical, popular, don’t have any musical experience. jazz and folk music.

Richard tells me, “Anyone can join As a musical theatre director he has Rock Choir; there’s no sheet music; completed his 50th production with I teach by ear and it’s always sociable Singing in the Rain. Having joined and fun.”

Rock Choir in 2017, he now performs Richard runs the choirs in South right across Devon and Cornwall. He Devon and this includes weekly has also performed at Proms in the rehearsals in Torquay, Newton Abbot, Park in London where he shared the Teignmouth and Plymouth. Once stage with Michael Ball, Josh Groban you join Rock Choir you can go to and Gladys Knight and the BBC any sessions you like and Concert Orchestra. you’ll also get resources so Anyone can join Rock Choir; there’s Richard’s wife Yvonne you can practise at home no sheet music; I teach by ear and sings in the Teignmouth or with a friend. Richard Rock Choir and they have 3 it’s always sociable and fun says, “If you enjoy singing grown-up children, having around the house then you’ll love Rock Choir.” met through musical theatre. Richard was the Musical Richard is a highly accomplished and active musician.

Director and Yvonne was a member of the cast at the He studied music at the acclaimed Royal Birmingham show in Birmingham. Although Richard has a very full Conservatoire, later becoming a secondary school music schedule, he always sets aside Fridays as his golf day, teacher for 23 years. Five years ago he decided to pursue playing with friends at Exminster and Teignmouth. a freelance musical career and is now super-busy with While I’m waiting for this evening’s Rock Choir

“

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June/July 2022 | 25

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Give It A Go! - Rock Choir

session to start, I chat to some of the many friendly and enthusiastic members. There are about 60 people here this evening and many are happy to speak to me. Yvonne tells me that it was great not to have to audition as she had never sung before. The first song she learned was ‘Footloose’ and she just loved it. Trish says that she loves the friendship and camaraderie and has made lots of friends. Chad explains that he joined Rock Choir a couple of months ago and finds it great fun. Mel and Pauline tell me that they enjoyed getting together daily over a glass of wine to practise in the lead-up to the choir’s performance at Tuckers Maltings Beer Festival.

Richard says that performing gives a buzz of excitement and an adrenaline high that feels great. It’s clear that he loves it when this evening’s Rock Choir session starts. There’s a 20-minute warm-up, which involves deep breathing, lots of vocal exercises and some relaxed movement. I hear plenty of laughter when they sing Papa’s Got a Head Like a Ping Pong Ball, a tune that gets progressively faster and faster. Richard jokes that they had better slow down the pace or the new joiners may shortly

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be looking for the quickest way out of the hall!

The rehearsal continues with the songs they are currently working on: Pompeii, Dancing in the Street and I’ll Do Anything for Love. The pace and feel of the evening is jaunty and fun and Richard’s approach is easy to follow as he explains how to find a note and how to manage a difficult line. The choir practises the different parts, the high notes, the lower notes and then come together – they do sound wonderful – it’s glorious to hear the performance evolve. The members are obviously loving the session; there are radiant smiles all round.

New joiners can experience a free taster at Rock Choir and are always given a ‘buddy’ to look after them on arrival. It’s so friendly; you definitely won’t be lonely if you come on your own. Richard says, “Just bring a bottle of water and a big smile!”

The South Devon Rock Choirs will be joining together to sing at Music on the Meadows at Torre Abbey on 3 June and at the English Riviera Airshow on 5 June. Sign up for a free taster session on the Rock Choir website.   rockchoir.com musiciandevon.co.uk

June/July 2022 | 27

Village Walk

Stoke Gabriel Need to know

Distance: 2 miles Exertion: An easy stroll Time: Allow 2 hours Dogs: On leads in roads.

Refreshments: The River Shack, Church House Inn and Castle Inn. Accessibility: Not suitable for mobility scooters, care with young children.

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toke Gabriel is a pretty village hidden at the end of a River Dart creek just 4 miles from the centre of the Bay. For those who grew up in the area it features in many childhood memories as a first encounter with the clawed kind - crabs! The Mill Pool still attracts throngs of children every weekend keen on crabbing so if you’re coming with young ones bring a bucket and line.

In the Domesday Book, a church is recorded here in 1073, the earliest official record of life in the village.

The churchyard is home to a magnificent Yew tree, thought to be near a thousand years old. Take a look at the chronology at the foot of the tree as you pause in the churchyard; it certainly gives perspective.

The village’s development can be tracked through the

28 | June/July 2022

architectural styles of its dwellings and it’s nice to see that green spaces remain. Most are ancient orchards, planted to provide cider for the fisherman and farmers who inhabited the village in years gone by.

Take your time and enjoy village life.

1 We start our wander at the proud village sign welcoming all, which is on the left hand side of the road where Paignton Road meets with Rydon Acres. There’s free parking here all day and our route loops back to finish here. Proceed downhill, as the road forks, bear left and continue.

2 Follow the road downhill for 300 metres in between cottages and dwellings, some opening onto the road

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Riviera Walk

©Crown copyright 2022 Ordnance Survey. Media 059/22

others hidden behind high walls; pass the War Memorial

is passable. Turn right and follow the water’s edge.

on the left and stay on this road until you reach the

6 Skirt the Pool to arrive at the River Shack and tidal weir.

centre of the village.

From here you can cross the weir and follow the riverbank or

3 Pass the village post office on the left and in front you

simply follow the riverbank to the right of the creek. At lower

will see the Church House Inn. Take the path towards

tides one can walk for a mile or so either way up the river bank

the church in front of the inn and pretty cottages (one

but eventually both directions succumb to tidal mud. Again

being the old school house) and take a minute to visit

take care with the tide as the weir can become impassable

the churchyard and ancient yew tree.

and you may end up walking further than planned!

4 Just before the entrance to the churchyard turn left

7 To return, follow Mill Hill up to the Castle Inn and turn

down into the orchard. Follow the path downhill towards

left on to School Hill and proceed past the village school

the edge of the Mill Pool.

and many more pretty cottages and dwellings.

5 Through the gate at the edge of the orchard you arrive on

8 After 300 metres turn right onto New Road which

the edge of the Pool. If the tide is at its highest and springs

skirts another large orchard and returns you to the start

then you might not be able to pass by here but generally it

of the route.

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June/July 2022 | 29

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Platinum Jubilee

This June, Her Majesty The Queen will become the first British Monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee after 70 years of service. We look at how the Bay will be marking the occasion.

HM The Queen in the Bay, Torre Abbey 2-19 June (Tuesday-Sunday) A special photographic exhibition, celebrating the many times that the Queen has visited Torbay throughout her reign. These include several visits to Torre Abbey itself, including during her Silver Jubilee in 1977. Included in abbey admission fee. Times: 10am – 5pm.

The King’s Drive, Torquay TQ2 5JE torre-abbey.org.uk

Beacons around the Bay Thursday 2 June Torquay, Paignton and Brixham has a jam-packed programme of events over the Platinum Jubilee weekend 2 – 5 June and the lighting of the Queen’s Jubilee Beacon at Corbyn Head will kick off the fun. Beacons at Daddyhole Plain, Shoalstone and Berry Head will also be aglow. As part of a series of over 1,500 beacons across the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and UK Overseas Territories, the beacon will be lit by the Civic Mayor accompanied by a Piper. Time: from 9pm.

Music on the Meadows Friday 3 June Music on The Meadow will be taking over Torre Abbey Meadows, with a full day of free family entertainment.

The party runs from 11am to 10.30pm and features main stage entertainment including South Devon Rock Choir

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and Funk City Band. To complete the day The Bootleg Beatles will headline the main music stage. There will also be a Children’s Tent with lots of fun, family entertainment.

English Riviera Airshow Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 June he En lish iviera irshow will take i ht on une, with breathtaking displays over the Bay and a selection of cutting edge and beautiful vintage aircraft taking to the skies. The air display team will be based at the Event Village on Paignton Green and visitors will be able to meet the pilots. There will also be family activities and a fairground plus stalls including food and drink. Timing is 10.30am – 6pm.

The Amazing Air Displays!

The RAF’s legendary Red Arrows and the historic Battle of Britain Memorial li ht will e yin a ain at this year s airshow, and will create a superb centrepiece for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations. The Red Arrows have spent the winter training in Greece and Cyprus and have devised a breathtaking new display for the 2022 season. Prepare for heart-stopping manoeuvres like the Mirror Roll, the Vixen Break, the Slalom, Opposition Barrel, the Goose, the Cyclone and the Gypo Pass.

Airshow fans will also witness three of the greatest aviation icons of the 20th century, the Lancaster, urri ane and pitfire. Part o the astoundin attle o

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June/July 2022 | 31

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Platinum Jubilee Britain Memorial Flight, these three WWII symbolic aircraft will grace the skies above the Bay. Don’t miss the Tigers Freefall Display Team, the Pitts Special Biplane, the aerobatic Yakolevs, the closeformation Blades, the powerful Strikemaster light attack aircraft and the awesome Chinook helicopter.

Street Parties, Picnics and Flotillas Sunday 5 June Alongside the Airshow, the Jubilee Flotilla will take to the water with celebrated and private vessels representing all parts of the area’s coastal community. Visitors are invited to watch from the shores as the water teems with maritime action. Why not enjoy a Jubilee picnic with friends and family on Paignton Green as part of The Big Lunch?

Jubilee Events in Brixham Wednesday 1 June There will be a public launch of the celebrations at ri ham a ht lu rom . pm to in lude firin o cannons at 6.30pm and a 1950s quiz at 8pm (£3 per person to enter). There will also be public exhibitions at Brixham Library.

Thursday 2 June Celebrations include free public displays and activities

including music and dance in Brixham Town Square ehind us station , ree s vinta e films at ri ham Yacht Club (2-4pm daily 2-5 June) and the lighting of Brixham Beacon at Shoalstone Pool Green with Brixham Town Band and a Scottish Piper.

Friday 3 June Groups and individuals are welcome to join a community march from the ‘Man and Boy’ statue to the Town Square (assemble 10-10.30am) where a service of thanksgiving will be held at 11am. In the afternoon there will be 1950s music and dance plus a fashion show in Town Square and activities in Fore Street. There will be a 1950s-style choir concert at Brixham Methodist Church at 4pm.

Saturday 4 June Enjoy more 1950s fun all day with a further concert at Brixham Methodist Church and a dance at Scala Hall in the evening.

Sunday 5 June Lots more free activities around Brixham including vintage vehicle displays, a free tea dance at Scala Hall (2-4pm) and a commemorative planting at North View Gardens (6pm). A closing Thanksgiving Service in tribute to HM the Queen will be held at All Saints Church from 6.45pm with performances from Brixham Town Band and Orpheus Male Voice Choir. 

English Riviera Airshow & Jubilee Weekend SATURDAY 4 JUNE AIRSHOW PROGRAMME 1-2pm Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, The Blades, Chinook 2.30-3.30pm i ers, Pitts pe ial, pitfire 3.30-4.30pm Strikemaster, Yakolev Yak 50s 5-6pm RAF Red Arrows

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englishrivieramagazine.co.uk

SUNDAY 5 JUNE AIRSHOW PROGRAMME 12 noon-1pm RAF Red Arrows 1-2pm Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, Yakolev Yak 50s 2-3pm Tigers, Pitts Special, Strikemaster 3-4pm pitfire, he lades, hinook englishrivieraairshow.co.uk

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June/July 2022 | 33

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Brokenbury Quarry (behind Churston Farm Shop) Dartmouth Road, nr Brixham TQ5 0LL 34 | June/July 2022

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n O s ’ t a h W

What’s On

BAY E H T D N U O R A

Please check before travelling as events are subject to change.

Anderton & Rowlands Funfair On till 6 June & again 15-23 July Enjoy all the fun of a traditional funfair.

Paignton Green, Paignton TQ4 6ED

Kayaking Taster Sessions, Dartmouth Throughout June & July (subject to availability) Book a fun kayak taster for you, your friends and/or your family on the beautiful River Dart. You will be out for approx.

3-4 hours, launching from the riverside and paddling either up or down river. Instructors will be there for you all the way.

There will be some fun kayak games to play, so you may get wet! You will be able to enjoy the beauty of the River Dart and its wildlife from a unique perspective and you may even spot a seal or even a dolphin. Cost: £35 per person, £120 for a family of four (minimum age 10 years / no unaccompanied children). Email Phil Hayward at taster@dyc.org.uk Dartmouth Yacht Club, South Embankment, Dartmouth TQ6 9BB dyc.org.uk

Pirates! Fact & Fiction Exhibition On till 3 September Discover the world of maritime crime.

This exhibition takes the visitor on a journey throu h pirate history, film and literature from the Cilician pirates of the Roman Mediterranean to the Golden Age pirates of the Caribbean.

Meet Vikings, Barbary corsairs and Chinese pirates on the way, and discover facts about their ships, weapons, tactics and usually short lives.

Torquay Museum, 529 Babbacombe Road, Torquay, TQ1 1HG 01803 293975 torquaymuseum.org

the s enes operations at En lands lar est fish market. o finish o the mornin , you will e perien e a deli ious fish reak ast at Mit h onks o kfish restaurant, situated ri ht next door. Cost: £25 per person. Unsuitable for wheelchairs or children under 14 years.

The Quay, Brixham TQ5 8AW therockfish.co.uk/products/fish-market-tour

Wine and Wickets Fridays from 3 June Enjoy fun weekly sessions of ladies cricket – no kit or experience needed. Time: 7pm-8pm followed by Prosecco or soft drink and socialising after each session. £15 for the whole season.

Queen’s Park, Queen’s Road, Paignton TQ4 6AH paigntoncricketclub.co.uk

English Riviera Dinghy Regatta, Torquay June 11-12 Fun and competitive racing for PY Dinghies – Asymmetric, Non-Asymmetric and Junior Classes in Torquay.

Royal Torbay Yacht Club 12 Beacon Hill, Torquay TQ1 2BH rtyc.org/dinghyregatta

Titanic Exhibition 11 June-3 September In this special exhibition created by Titanic Exhibitions view artefacts from the ship, explore Torquay’s connection to the Titanic, learn about the people that travelled on board, and come face to face with items from the wreck site. Using large imagery and audio, you’ll get to experience the Titanic like never before.

Torquay Museum, 529 Babbacombe Road, Torquay, TQ1 1HG 01803 293975 torquaymuseum.org

Brixham Fish Market Tours 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 June, 6,13,20 & 27 July Now in its 11th year, Brixham Fish Market Tours are back and still proving to be very popular. Early risers won’t want to miss the opportunity to get a fascinating insight into behindenglishrivieramagazine.co.uk

June/July 2022 | 35

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36 | June/July 2022

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What’s On Dartmouth Farmers Markets 11 June & 9 July Enjoy a local farmers market, selling fresh, local and seasonal produce and artisan food products. Time: 9am-2pm.

The Old Market, Victoria Road, Dartmouth TQ6 9QD

and urther afield.

Kings Bowling Club, Seafront, Torquay TQ2 6NX englishriviera-tournament.com

Brilliant Bees & Their Curious Cousins

12 June & 24 July Special open days will be held on D-Day 12 June and Battle of Britain Day on 24 July. Times: 11am to 4pm. The whole site will be open including tours of the grounds, tunnels, gun oors, livin history displays, weapons talk with lank firin , military vehi les and i t shop. isitor donations wel omed.

Fishcombe Road, Brixham, TQ5 8RU brixhambattery.net

23 June-4 September Enjoy this exhibition looking at the importance of bees and other insects as pollinators and as part of the e osystem. ind out a out the rare ee that only lives in one area o the outh evon oast dis over the ama in work being done to help bees and other insects locally and un over some o the se rets o ees.

Torre Abbey, The King’s Drive, Torquay TQ2 5JE torre-abbey.org.uk

Babbacombe Rotary Fayre

Devon County Show

15 June heres a wide variety o stalls rom lo al charities and other community groups.

En oy some rare and eauti ul vinta e cars and motorbikes up close. There will be entertainment with lo al ands and s hool hoirs providin a wide ran e o music and song plus a tea tent.

Babbacombe Downs, Torquay TQ1 3LN rotary-ribi.org/clubs

30 June-2 July armin is at the very heart o this show sto kmen and women from the county and beyond will be competing in the show ring and agricultural machinery and suppliers will be out in or e. here ll e literally thousands o animals rom e eptional livesto k to da lin ra horses, amily ponies, canine superstars competing in the pedigree Dog Show, lofty alpacas and pigeons, rabbits and guinea pigs. There will be a thrilling programme of entertainment.

Westpoint, Clyst St Mary, Exeter EX5 1DJ devoncountyshow.co.uk

Brixham Battery Open Days

Armed Forces Day 18 June Armed Forces Day celebrates our Armed Forces Community, rom servin personnel and reserves to veterans, adets and families. A military Parade plus large marquee with entertainment through out the day is organised by The or ay rmed or es and eterans reak ast lu . ime 10am-6pm. Parade at 11am.

Babbacombe Downs, Torquay TQ1 3LN armedforcesday.org.uk

English Riviera Open Bowls Tournament 19-25 June All bowlers are welcome to participate in this friendly tournament which attracts competitors from around the UK englishrivieramagazine.co.uk

Rowcroft Sleep Walk 2 July This year’s Sleep Walk features a staggered start, with the first walkers setting off from Torbay Leisure Centre at 7pm. The full route is ten miles from Paignton to Torquay and back, and will take approximately three to four hours to complete, but or those wantin to do the shorter five mile route there is the option to turn around at Preston reen. ou ll re eive a ree film star sash to wear on the ni ht, and you ll e awarded a Sleep Walk medal on completion of your walk.

Entries close on 19 June. rowcrofthospice.org.uk

Dartmouth Shakespeare Week 19-23 July June/July 2022 | 37

TOADS THEATRE COMPANY @THE LITTLE THEATRE

2022 | 2023

SEASON Booking from 1st July 2022

ST MARK’S ROAD MEADFOOT TORQUAY TQ1 2EL

14 - 18 February 2023 12 - 16 July 2022

Tuesday 11 October 2022

Directed by Nigel Hickman & Michele Middleditch

Directed by Nick Young

7 - 11 March 2023

Sunday 23 October 2022

8 - 20 August 2022

Directed by Andrew Kenyon

I can’t believe it’s not Buddy!

Directed by John Miles

atre

Sunday 12 March 2023

15 - 19 November 2022

Absolutely Dragulous The 2023 Tour

Directed by Mary Singleton

12 - 17 September 2022

Directed by Alec Stokes

n

11- 15 April 2023

5 - 11 December 2022

Directed by Anna Reynolds

Directed by Chris Mitchell

Sunday 25 September 2022

Prsented by Seventh Avenue Arts

9 - 13 May 2023

17 - 21 January 2023

Directed by Heidi Pyburn

Directed by Ceni Wyatt

4 - 8 October 2022

Directed by Sarah O’Connor YOUR

Memebership is only £35 per season

NEED

THEA TRE

YOU!

S

For more information email:

membership@toadstheatre.co.uk

Sunday 29 January 2023

5 - 10 June 2023

Directed by Joe McNulty

Tel: 01803 299 330 Email: boxoffice@toadslittletheatre.co.uk Performance details and Online Booking: toadslittletheatre.co.uk

What’s On An open-air performance of Hamlet performed by the Inn Theatre Company on a purpose-built stage at Dartmouth Castle. It’s their 20th anniversary production.

Castle Road, Dartmouth, TQ6 0JN theinntheatrecompany.co.uk

UK Cadet Class National Championships 23-28 July From beginner to aspiring Olympian, the Cadet is the worlds’ most su ess ul two person trainin din hy, spe ifi ally tailored towards children and young people.

Royal Torbay Yacht Club, Beacon Terrace, Torquay TQ1 2BH 01803 292006 (manned mornings on weekdays) rtyc.org

Paignton Festival 23-31 July A 100-year-old festival offering free family entertainment and raising money for local worthy causes.

Paignton Green and other venues paigntonfestival.com

Riviera Classic Car Show 24 July Organised by Torbay Old Wheels Club since 1994 as part of the Paignton Festival you’ll see hundreds of vintage vehicles with a sprinkling of the exotic and quirky. There will be stage entertainment, food and a licensed bar.

Paignton Sea Front, Esplanade Road, Paignton TQ4 6BQ towc.club

International Cadet Class European Championships 29 July -5 August Originally designed by Jack Holt in 1947, there are now more than 10,000 Cadets sailed in over 40 countries around the world. It is spe ifi ally tailored towards children and young people.

Royal Torbay Yacht Club, Beacon Terrace, Torquay TQ1 2BH 01803 292006 (manned mornings on weekdays) rtyc.org

Totnes & District Show 31 July Totnes Show is over 100 years old and is still a great and exciting day out, entertaining the thousands of visitors that enjoy the show every year. There are exciting displays, demonstrations and parades in the Main Ring; cattle, sheep and horses complete for honours. There are show jumping displays and also a Craft Tent; Home, Handicraft and Horticulture marquee; Food Hall and a large selection of trade stands.

Great Court Farm, Berry Pomeroy, TQ9 6LE totnesshow.com

Cave Cinema, Kents Cavern 26-29 July This pop-up underground cinema offers a unique experience like no other. Sit back, relax, and watch a movie in a deckchair in Britain’s oldest home. It’s been a safe haven to Neanderthals and Ice Age animals including woolly mammoths, bears & lions. You’ll be immersed in this incredible environment as you’re entertained. Plus there is a Cave Bar. Films include Jurassic Park, Harry Potter and Bohemian Rhapsody.

Ilsham Road, Torquay kents-cavern.co.uk

englishrivieramagazine.co.uk

If you are holding an event in August or September let us know and we’ll list it here!

Email the details to: editorial@englishrivieramagazine.co.uk Deadline for submissions is 2 May.

June/July 2022 | 39

Arts

drawing, paintings and sculptural ceramics. Launch event: 8 July 6-8pm. art-hub.co.uk/ex/print22, art-hub.co.uk/ex/change22 and art-hub.co.uk/ex/form 22

R O U N D U P.

Please check before travelling as events are subject to change.

Torquay’s Artizan Gallery & Café Eden 11 June-2 July, Tuesday-Saturday 11am-5pm Featured artists: Luci Coles, Monica Shanta Brown and Vicki Gardner. Each artist brings her unique perspective, creating an exhibition on multiple levels: as a concept of earthly paradise exploring environment; as an exploration of creation and the stories surrounding it; and Eden as a personal and inner space. Launch event: 10 June 6-8pm. art-hub.co.uk/ex/eden22

Steve Manning A moment of calm Artizan Gallery & Café 7 Lucius Street, Torquay, TQ2 5UW

Torquay’s Artizan Collective Gallery Artizan South West Contemporary On till 12 June, Wednesday-Saturday 11am-5pm, Sunday 11am–4pm This curated showcase brings together selected artists from across the South West as Artizan Collective invites past and new exhibitors to the English Riviera.

English Riviera Summer Open

Vicki Gardner Great Ambrook

25 June-7 August, Wednesday-Saturday 11am-5pm, Sunday 11am–4pm A well-established event that welcomes old and new artists to Torbay for Artizan’s personal homage to the great institution that is the Royal Academy Summer Show. Launch event: 24 June 6-8pm art-hub.co.uk/ex/erso22

The Art of Printmaking 9-30 July, Tuesday-Saturday 11am-5pm Featured artists: Steve Manning, Mandi Street, Georgina Fay and Kevin Wright. Continuing Artizan’s 2022 Bursary Programme this Print Exhibition celebrates the diverse nature of printmaking. View the unique results that are achieved through the various explorations of an artform that is hundreds of years old. Joining them will be be Jenny Pope featuring work from her ‘Tools Evoke Change’ series and an exhibition ‘Of Line and Form’ featuring works of Kirsten Lavers and Sarah Strachan encompassing

40 | June/July 2022

Jenny Smy Baseline 1

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Arts Artizan Collective Gallery Unit 5 74 Fleet Street Torquay TQ2 5EB For more information contact: juliebrandon@artizangallery.co.uk 07522 509642 artizan gallery.co.uk, also check out art-hub.co.uk

of the human character throughout the ages. With live music. Time: 2.15pm, cost: non-members £8.00. Talk followed by tea and homemade cake.

St Matthias Church Hall, Babbacombe Road, Torquay TQ1 1HW 01803 314490 theartssocietytorbay.org.uk

The GALLERY @Cockington Court

Dart Art Day, Dartmouth

10.30am-4.30pm daily Ongoing selling exhibition showing the region’s leading artists and makers. Items ranging from scarves, jewellery, ceramics, metalwork, artists cards, metalwork, collages, paintings and prints. The fabulous craft studios are a must-see too!

01803 607230 Facebook @cockingtoncourt

25 June Browse and buy beautiful arts and crafts all in aid of Children’s Hospice South West. Live music and entertainment plus homemade cakes and cream teas.

Time: 10am-4pm.

Royal Avenue Gardens, Dartmouth TQ6 9PS 01803 770730 tweed833@btinternet.com

Outdoor Painting & Sketching

Brixham Art Society Summer Exhibition

2 June A chance to meet Cockington Court Artist-inResidence James Murch and join him in the park for some open air painting.

Please bring along your own materials, easel or sketch book. The group will meet at 3pm and gather again at 5pm for a chance to share coffee, a slice of cake and look at the group work created. Free event.

Cockington Court, Torquay TQ2 6XA 01803-607230 cockingtoncourt.org

27 July-6 August Brixham Art Society invites you to a wonderful exhibition of original paintings, drawings and prints by talented local artists. All work is for sale. Time: 10am-5pm (4pm last day). Free admission.

Scala Hall, Market Street, Brixham TQ5 8TA brixhamartsociety.co.uk Lyn Anderson

James Murch

Jubilant Papermaking 2 June A one-hour workshop making handmade Jubilee-themed paper sheets with Marissa Wakefield. Everyone is welcome, any age and ability. You will learn to create your very own sheets of handmade paper, made from using recycled paper and coloured using plant dyes. Please book for the morning session. Bookings can be made on the day for the afternoon session. Time: 11am- 12 noon.

Phone, or email Marissa.wakefield@tda.uk.net Cockington Court, Torquay TQ2 6XA 01803-607230 cockingtoncourt.org

The Queen of Instruments 9 June Enjoy an Arts Society lecture by Adam Busiakiewicz on musical instruments, which have expressed aspects englishrivieramagazine.co.uk

Cockington Court Sculpture Trail 30 July-31 October Enjoy hunting for the 30+ diverse sculptures dotted around the manor house and grounds. The trail leads around the grounds and into the Walled Art Garden and Kitchen Gallery. Collect a trail map from the Visitor Welcome Point.

Cockington Court, Torquay TQ2 6XA 01803-607230 cockingtoncourt.org June/July 2022 | 41

English Riviera Summer Open Exhibiting 25th June - 7th August

Discover our 2022 Exhibitions

ART-HUB.CO.UK/EXHIBITIONS | ARTIZANGALLERY.CO.UK INFO@ARTIZANGALLERY.CO.UK | 07762921571 VISIT ARTIZAN GALLERY, LUCIUS STREET & ARTIZAN COLLECTIVE, FLEET WALK

• 460 acre award-winning country park to explore • Meet our Creative Makers at work in their craft studios • Visit our two galleries showing an exciting programme of themed exhibitions by local artists • See James Murch, our artist in residence painting on site • Indulge in delicious food and drink at the Seven Dials Café • Manor House and childrens play area to discover • Browse our craft shop and find that perfect gift

COME AND VISIT US FOR A SUMMER OF FUN! 2nd JUNE JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS Big Noise Choir Jubiliant Papermaking Outdoor Painting with James Murch

FROM 11th JUNE FROM 30th JULY PICKING UP THE NIK BURNS SOLO SHOW PIECES EXHIBITION

FROM 30th JULY OUR RENOWNED SCULPTURE TRAIL 2022

10th & 28th AUG ILLYRIA OUTDOOR THEATRE 10 Aug - A Midsummer Night’s Dream 28 Aug - Peter Pan

For more information visit cockingtoncourt.org

Join us for our SUMMER

42 | June/July 2022

OPEN EVENING and meet our talented creative makers • 14 July 2-7pm

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Arts

A vibrant collective of mosaic artists will PickingupthePieces be exhibiting in the Kitchen Gallery at

beautiful Cockington Court from 11th June 11 June to 24 July. - 24th July 2022

T

he third Picking up the Pieces mosaic exhibition from the South West Mosaic Artists’ collective will bring a riot of stunning colour and fascinating form to Cockington Court’s fabulous Centre of Creativity. Contemporary mosaic art can involve a very wide variety of styles and materials, and visitors to Cockington Court can expect to see work made from glass, ceramic, recycled china, found objects and more. Fifteen artists, all based in the South West, are participating in this exciting and diverse presentation of contemporary mosaic art.

Janet Ventre is a successful and talented mosaic artist working at Cockington Court.

Taking inspiration from the beautiful Devon countryside and seascape, she makes mosaic pictures, mirrors and other decorative art and craft.

She also runs beginners’ courses in mosaic over the winter months.

Pam Wilcox is a self-taught artist, working from a garden studio in Stoke Gabriel. Her work is about movement and ow and she reates pie es usin ontrastin materials, with different textures and scale, from large glass shards to tiny tesserae.

Michelle Greenwood-Brown lives and runs a workshop in Teignmouth. She has a degree in Fine Art, and drifted into mosaic about twenty years ago, also working in ceramic.

She is now a full-time mosaic maker and member of Make Southwest.

Corinna Barrell enjoys putting a modern twist on the ancient art form of mosaic with birds and nature a constant theme. She loves working with recycled china, using the patterns and texture on them to suggest feathers and fur.

She runs an artists’ collective, The Barn at Avon Mill near Loddiswell.

Other regional artists include: Audrey Hardman (Exmouth), Alison Hepburn (Topsham), Terry & Julie (‘Terry meets Julie’ Exeter), Manya McMahon (Exmouth), Allan Punton (Exmouth), Kate Rattray (Liverton), Ali Soper (South Hams), Adela Webb (Bideford), Emma Abel (Salisbury), Ruth Coram (Wells), Denny Dormer (Starcross) and Alison Nash (Dorset).

An added bonus has been a collaboration of some of the artists to create mini-mosaics in 3D-printed hexagons, which have been brought together for display at the exhibition as a single composition. Many of these tiny works were made usin filati, fine strin s pulled rom molten multi oloured glass and then cut into individual mosaic pieces. One of WM s ounders, llan Punton, produ ed the filati himsel and has also made three works for Picking up the Pieces using this technique.

Picking up the Pieces is at: Kitchen Gallery, Cockington Court Craft Centre Cockington, Torquay TQ2 6XA 29th February - 26th April 2020 10am to 4.30pm daily. Admission free southwestmosaicartists.uk

eryCockington CourtDevon | Admission free englishrivieramagazine.co.uk

June/July 2022 | 43

e r t a e h T !

CURTAINS UP

Beyond is a thrilling mix of live music, movement and wit is performed by eight versatile West End professionals. so orth seeing ords o the ee ees une hado ing ank uy

Babbacombe Theatre

o fice ditor s pick DON’T STOP THE MUSIC n ti cto er hursdays Don’t Stop the Music is billed as a ‘soundtrack to life’. It’s an all-new show encapsulating all genres across six decades and performed by six talented vocalists. It’s an inspirational journey through time. Babbacombe favourite Andy Oakley, a versatile and talented comedian and musician, headlines the show and there’s a host of other exciting entertainers too. so orth seeing istory o ock uy tar ight - uesdays ednesdays ti cto er

Princess Theatre, Torquay o fice ditor s pick une uy ased on the s ar winnin reamWorks nimation film, Shrek The Musical brings the fairytale to life in this allsinging, all-dancing, visually-spectacular musical comedy.

Join unlikely hero, Shrek, as he heads out on a quest with his trusty sidekick, Donkey, to rescue the feisty Princess Fiona. dd in a fire reathin dra on, a host o airytale misfits and the smaller-than-life Lord Farquaad and you have the perfect potion to delight audiences young and old. so orth seeing aitress une he ega ag es uy

Brixham Theatre o fice ditor s pick uy An uplifting celebration of the best of musical theatre presented in an engaging and entertaining package by one o the ountrys finest produ tion ompanies. roadway and

44 | June/July 2022

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Theatre Palace Theatre, Paignton o

fice

ditor s pick une uy When a stranger runs his car into a ditch in dense fog in South Wales and makes his way to an isolated house, he discovers a woman standing over the dead body of her wheelchair-bound husband, gun in her hand. She admits to murder, and the unexpected guest offers to help her concoct a cover story. But is it possible that Laura Warwick did not commit the murder after all? If so whom is she shielding? The house seems full of possible suspects. so orth seeing ati da unior uy hythm o the ance uy

Little Theatre, Torquay o fice STRICTLY MURDER une It’s April 1939. An English couple, Peter and Suzy, are living in Provence in idyllic isolation, far it seems, from the rumblings of the coming war. Their peace is shattered from within when Suzy discovers she has been betrayed.

Peter is not the man he claims to be... Lies, subterfuge and murder make this fast-moving thriller a dark and disturbing roller coaster of bluff and double bluff. A TOADs season production. so orth seeing he ikado uy o o ugust

englishrivieramagazine.co.uk

June/July 2022 | 45

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Gardening

Flower Meadows & Garden Friends Wild flower meadows provide wonderful habitats for our most important pollinators including bees. Torre Abbey’s Head Gardener Ali Marshall gives us tips on the planting process.

I

cannot remember ever being so busy in the gardens.

There is still a backlog of work to catch up with postPandemic, but I am also excited to be able to plan once more. Fortunately, we have recently recruited a new gardener to the team so I will have some help. Laura has a wealth of experience in horticulture, including in grass care, which is definitely my weakest skill. I cannot help thinking that grass is just something you find between great flower borders. I have a gardening friend who keeps reminding me that I should see the grass in the garden like the picture frame of a painting and that keeping it in good order will enhance the whole effect. Hmmm...long grass, though, has real biodiversity benefits and moves so beautifully. Hopefully, we can work out the right balance between formality and deliberate neglect.

What Laura and I are both totally enthusiastic about, however, are flower meadows. The meadow underneath our apple trees has been a thing of beauty for a number of years but this year needs a complete overhaul as perennial weeds and interlopers have started to take over. Our family exhibition this summer just happens to be ‘Brilliant Bees and their Curious Cousins’ highlighting our native pollinators. The team at Torre Abbey are all

agreed that joint exhibitions should be an important aspect of our visitor offering. So the galleries in the house will have their informative displays about bees, wasps and hoverflies whilst we in the garden will do our best to attract as many living invertebrates as possible by offering them a feast of pollen and nectar.

Meadows are still a popular choice for gardeners, although the early enthusiasm has been tempered by the realisation that just scattering a packet of wildflower seeds is not as successful as one would hope. At least that is what many of the visitors tell me. Like all good gardening, creating a flower meadow requires some serious preparation and timely actions.

In Torre Abbey we first dig over our meadow thoroughly, removing any sign of vegetation. Most meadow flowers do not need fertile soil so digging in green matter would be a mistake; remember that farmland meadows are traditionally harvested as winter food for livestock. The soil is raked level and then left for just enough time to see if any weed seeds germinate, which they do inevitably. Then everything happens very quickly. We hoe off the remaining weed seedlings, and then sow our meadow flower seeds immediately after. This is to give the flower seeds the

Ali Marshall

englishrivieramagazine.co.uk

June/July 2022 | 47

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Armchair Twitcher

Feathered friends in your garden

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48 | June/July 2022

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Gardening best chance to outcompete weeds. Ideally it would rain minutes after the sowing, and then the sun would return.

If not, then the hosepipe does have to come out.

Generally speaking, it takes about 12 weeks from sowing to flowering. At Torre Abbey we use a pollinatorfriendly mix rather than something completely native.

This contains a few ‘garden’ flowers like cosmos, but it suits the more formal setting and is very, very pretty whilst still providing food for our pollinator friends.

Talking of wild friends, we are also dealing with some unexpected planting combinations. During lockdown, our resident squirrels seemed to have enjoyed digging up tulip bulbs and depositing them elsewhere. Tulips have popped up all over the garden, including in lawns, in a most unexpected manner and since this is now the time to lift any spent tulips and store them for replanting next year, we are now removing these pop ups. Having said that, the tulips in the lawns were lovely so we may plant more of them in one of our longer grass lawns and let them naturalise. Hopefully, the squirrels will approve.

Other jobs in the garden that we undertake in the early summer include planting out those tender perennials that have been growing in our Propagation House. We

“During lockdown, our resident squirrels seemed to have enjoyed digging up tulip bulbs and depositing them elsewhere. Tulips have popped up all over the garden, including in lawns”

“Dahlias are still wildly fashionable if Instagram is anything to go by...” have more bananas to add to the sub-tropical border and Ricinus communis, the castor oil plant, always the most dramatic part of our Agatha Christie display. We also have basal cuttings of our dahlias, taken in April, which, once hardened off, will be used first to fill in any gaps in the dahlia borders or sold in our plant shop. Dahlias are still wildly fashionable if Instagram is anything to go by.

Pruning wise, we must thin out the oldest stems of spring flowering shrubs, like forsythia, weigela and early philadelphus, as they finish their display and trim back the whippy summer growth of the wisteria. After this it is on to summer pruning of apples and a bit of tidying and training of our climbing roses. Both apples and roses flower and fruit flower better on horizontal branches. The secret is to ensure that they will not poke out the eyes of unwary visitors around the orchard or rose pergola, so hard decisions do have to be made sometimes.

Last but by no means least, this is a peak time for our propagation volunteers, as they need to take more and more cuttings of shrubs, herbs and perennials to keep our plant shop stocked throughout the summer and make sure that we have ‘copies’ of all our favourite plants in case of future disaster. After all who knows what might be round the corner?  englishrivieramagazine.co.uk

June/July 2022 | 49

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