Plymouth Chronicle Central & Waterfront September 2021

Chronicle Plymouth

September 2021

COVID UPDATE See inside for news and information from Plymouth City Council Page 2

www.plymouthchronicle.co.uk The popular Plymouth Seafood and Harbour Festival is back in September.

For details See Page 3

Plymouth Samaritans have commissioned a stunning work of street art with a vital message See Page 18

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Celebrating city’s culture

A new website has been launched to promote, celebrate and explore the cultural sector of Plymouth.

The new digital platform www.Madeinplymouth.co.uk has been created as the cultural community emerges from lockdown. Pictured are Plymouth Dance Photo by Dom Moore • See story on page 24

2 September 2021

2 September 2021

@PlymChronicle

Think about what you should do, not what you can Unfortunately our COVID-19 rates have started increasing again. They are not as high as in mid-July, but we are no longer seeing a downward trend.

This just shows us how quickly and easily the Delta variant can spread after even minimal contact. We must remain vigilant.

It is clear that with rates still high we cannot afford to relax our guards. While the Government has now lifted the mandatory COVID-19 restrictions, it has stressed that the risks from the pandemic are by no means over and people need to take personal responsibility for protecting themselves.

This means that while measures such as wearing face coverings are no longer required by law, people are strongly encouraged to do so, particularly in busy indoor spaces and when using public transport.

With so many people in Plymouth contracting COVID-19, I urge everyone to think not about what they can do, but rather what they should do in order to stay safe. We’ll only be able to reduce the rates in Plymouth if everyone does their bit, looks out for each other and continues to follow the

measures such as wearing face coverings.

Please support the many venues and employers in Plymouth that are continuing to ask customers and visitors to take these precautions. For example, the Council is maintaining safety measures at its buildings, such as libraries, and is asking everyone to wear a mask.

Basic COVID-19 safety can remain part of our daily lives without significantly disrupting how we live. These include: • Wearing a mask in indoor public spaces • Getting tested • Staying outside where possible • Getting your vaccinations I know many people question why ongoing measures are necessary when so many people have now been vaccinated and when so many cases are in the under-25s age group.

The vaccine is very good and it is preventing many people from getting seriously ill. Thankfully, it has minimised the numbers dying from the virus and hospital admissions are much lower than they were last year.

However, the vaccine does not stop transmission

or illness completely. Most people will only suffer mild symptoms but unfortunately people of any age can still get ill and need hospital treatment.

Some will also suffer lasting effects of long Covid.

High COVID-19 rates are already putting pressure on health services, not only through the number of patients being admitted to hospital, but also through pressure on staffing and the impact on the whole health system. This is before we have to deal with the extra pressures that come each winter.

We all need to do what we can to reduce the spread of the virus now. It is a highly infectious disease and we know that the more contacts people have, the more likely they are to get the virus and spread it.

Around 30 per cent of new cases have caught COVID-19 from a household member, another 10 per cent in other settings that can be identified, but the majority – around 60 per cent – do not know where it has come from.

So please consider this when planning to meet people and take lateral flow tests regularly to ensure you aren’t going to give the virus to others

If you haven’t had your COVID-19 vaccination yet, or you’re due your second jab, you can get one at the Council’s mobile vaccine van in the city centre – and you don’t need an appointment or NHS number.

Now that the COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted, the number of positive cases across the city remains high.

That means it is more important than ever that people get both doses of their vaccine, to protect themselves and those around them.

The mobile vaccine van will be at Frankfort

Gate, in the city centre, every Thursday in August between 10am to 3pm.

Only the Pfizer vaccine will be available.

The walk-in clinic allows people to attend at a time that is convenient for them and means groups of friends can attend together to have their first doses.

It is also an opportunity for those who missed their second dose of the vaccine or haven’t got round to booking it, to ensure they are fully vaccinated.

However, please remember that second doses are ONLY given to those who received their first dose Pfizer eight or more weeks ago.

can check the latest number of COVID-19 cases in Plymouth HOW TO KEEP You on the Council’s website at www.plymouth.gov.uk/COVID-19.

The information on this page was correct at the time of going to UP-TO-DATE NOTE: press on August 12.

and that you haven’t come home with it.

We are likely to have a few weeks with high rates, and now is another time when we have to pull together to keep Plymouth safe.

Get your COVID-19 test this week!

The Council is continuing to take its mobile testing site on a mini road trip to hand out free COVID-19 testing kits, for people without symptoms.

Grab your vaccine jab this August

By Dr Ruth Harrell

Director of Public Health for Plymouth

The team will again be visiting busy parts of the city to make it as easy as possible to pick up a kit and to get a test. The upcoming dates and locations are: • Tuesday 17 August: Tamar View Community Centre • Wednesday 18 August: Salvation Army, Morice Town • Thursday 19 August: Frankfort Gate • Friday 20 August: Plymouth Life Centre • Sunday 22 August: Barbican Leisure Park

You can also pick up home testing kits from libraries, but tests themselves will not take place at these locations.

The mobile locations are in addition to the site at Place de Brest in the city centre, which is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10am to 4pm, offering assisted testing and handing out home testing kits.

All of the city’s pharmacies also stock the testing kits or you can order them online or through 119, to be delivered to your home.

For more information visit www.plymouth. gov.uk/gettested.

Out and About Your guide to events in the local community and beyond

The Hatchling August 14 and 15 Plymouth hosts the world premiere of The Hatchling, a ground-breaking theatrical performance over two days which will see a spectacular dragon hatch in the city centre and grow to the size of a double decker bus before attempt to take to the skies on The Hoe. Created by a leading design team specialising in puppetry, kites and immersive theatre. Details at www.thehatchling.co.uk.

Bird and Aftershock. 10am to 9pm. More details www.skymindstudios.com Tom Jones in Central Park Sept 18 One of Britain’s best-loved entertainers Sir Tom Jones has sold over 100 million records in a career spanning more then five decades.

With over thirty-five Top 40 hits in the UK, including ‘It’s Not Unusual’, ‘Sexbomb’ and ‘Delilah’, don’t miss this chance to see Tom Jones performing live in Plymouth. Details www.beeyay.com

British Fireworks Championships Aug 18 and 19 Tens of thousands of people will flock to The Hoe for the return of the pyrotechnic spectacular as six companies battle for the title of British Fireworks Champions.

ROOTS UP! Aug 19 Street Factory’s hip hop festival and dance challenge from 6.15pm to 9.15pm at The Hoe on the final night of the British Firework Championships. Event will feature multiple elements of Hip Hop including breaking or b-boying, MCing, DJ-ing, graffiti, rapping, poetry and spoken word, plus a bonus touch of R&B. Midnight Walk Returns Aug 20 St Luke’s popular Midnight Walk is back! It’s an opportunity for women and girls of all ages to come together as one to pay tribute to relatives and friends who are gone but will never be forgotten, sharing precious memories and creating new ones as they stride the streets of Plymouth for either a five, 10 or 15 mile sponsored walk. Sponsored by GA Solicitors, this year’s event kicks off from Plymouth Argyle’s Home Park Stadium and is set to be a night to remember. Details www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/ midnight-walk/ The Great British Summer Garden Fete Aug 22 Turn back the clock and enjoy English tradition at its best at the summer fete, being held in Mount Edgcumbe Country Park. The familyfriendly day out is presented by Miss Ivy Events and will provide a whole host of fun and entertainment for young and not so young alike.

The children will have a wonderful time with the bouncy castle, circus workshops, Punch & Judy Show, bubble football, traditional games and lots more! Events is from 10.30am to 4pm. Entry £5 per adult, under 16s free. Tickets must be pre-booked at www.missivyevents.co.uk 1 Big Summer August 27 to 29 EVENT POSTPONED TO 2022 Spectacular three day music event featuring

Plymouth Seafood and Harbour Festival returns on September 18 and 19 Photo: visitplymouth.co.uk Ibiza Classics on Friday featuring a full 26 piece live orchestra as well as including a DJ set

by Chase & Status and Rage, top names such as Deadmau5 and Raye on Saturday and the Great British Sausage and Cider Festival on Sunday. One for the whole family with games, competitions and food and entertainment all day. For refunds and information about postponement visit www.1bigsummer.com

reputation for electric stage performances and a voice unmatched in the world of rock and roll, Tina Turner has been wowing audiences for over six decades. Now, with a cast of some of the West End’s most incredible talent and a phenomenal eight-piece band comes a spectacular one-night concert of her amazing music Tickets are available from £20, available through www.argyletickets.com, or 01752 907700.

West End Carnival Aug 28 Live entertainment and free fun for all the family hosted by Plymouth City Centre Company and Plymouth Market in the market and around the West End of the city centre. (See story p22).

Gary Delaney Sept 3 Star of Live at the Apollo and sell-out sensation Gary Delaney is appearing at Marjon’s Quad Theatre. Details www.comicalentertainment.com/

Lazy Sunday Market Aug 29 Spend a Sunday savouring quality time with friends and family at the new Lazy Sunday’ Market at Plymouth Albion from 10.30am to 4pm. There will be an array of local businesses with unique gifts and food, perfect for browsing and the opportunity to support local businesses. Bring a picnic blanket and enjoy delicious Street Food while listening to some chilled Sunday music, lawn games, performances by Aerial Allsorts and a charity dog show in aid of Refuge4Pets. Dogs are welcome and there is lots of free parking on site. Free entry.

An Evening of Tina Turner Aug 29 Fresh from a successful summer schedule of live music and big-screen action, Home Park Stadium will play host to An Evening of Tina Turner. With a string of fabulous hits, a

Britain’s Ocean City Running Festival Sept 5 Originally scheduled to take place in May, the Festival was postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions. Thousands of runners are now expected to take part in the Half Marathon, 5k and 10k races which take place simultaneously.

For more details visit www.runplymouth.co.uk Classic Car Show Sept 5 Organised by Saltram Rotary Club in aid of Devon Air Ambulance at the beautiful setting of the Lyneham Estate near Yealmpton from 11am to 4pm. Admission £5per car pedestrians £2.

Park Fest Sept 11 Skymind Studios bring live music to Devonport Park with two stages and plenty of fun for all the family. Bands taking part include Rock Fit, MC Harmony, Gozer Goodspeed, Ukeabillies, Fire

£60,000 to make Plymouth safer this summer

Funding totalling £60,000 will provide street marshals and extra CCTV monitoring to help make Plymouth safer this summer.

The funding is part of an overall pot of £350,000 from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

The money is aimed specifically at preventing antisocial behaviour (ASB) by young people and creating safer settings for the evening and night-time economy (ENTE) in key areas.

These themes were deliberately chosen to tie in with Devon and Cornwall’s summer policing plan which highlights both ASB and ENTE as potential issues this summer.

In Plymouth, funding of £30,000 has been matched by Plymouth City Council to give an overall spend of £60,000.

The money will be used to provide night-time street marshals and extra CCTV monitoring as well as support for Street Pastors. These services will cover the Barbican and Hoe, Mutley and North Hill area as well as the City Centre, where there will also be taxi marshals on weekends throughout the summer.

The Commissioner’s £350,000 investment will also fund specific youth antisocial prevention activities across the city over the summer, including weekly sports sessions in Coxside,

Cattedown and Prince Rock, activity days and a tombstoning diversionary programme.

Alison Hernandez, Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said: “I’m aware some of our community are nervous about the spread of Covid during the unlock and may be too afraid to enjoy our beautiful towns, cities and coastline.

“Our experiences last summer showed that dry weather, alcohol and freedom led to some dire consequences. I want this opportunity to be used to prevent the escalation of antisocial behaviour because someone will intervene early setting clear expectations.

“Tourism is the lifeblood of Devon and Cornwall and it’s understandable that both locals and visitors will be wanting to make the most of their new-found freedoms and enjoy the summer.

“However, it’s important this does not veer into criminality or behaviour that can make others feel threatened or vulnerable.

“The measures we are funding will help us keep an eye on both antisocial behaviour and the night-time economy and hopefully prevent any unwanted scenarios, allowing everyone to enjoy themselves.”

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Plymouth Seafood and Harbour Festival Sept 18 and 19 Seafood lovers are in for a treat as Plymouth Seafood Festival returns to The Barbican and Sutton Harbour. Organised by the Plymouth Waterfront Partnership, this free festival is a vibrant celebration of the incredible sustainably caught fresh fish and seafood on offer in Britain’s Ocean City. There will be plenty of fun activities for children to get involved with too, throughout the two days, there’s something for everyone. Stalls will line Quay Square and The Parade, selling delicious fresh dishes to enjoy on the day, as well as some special treats to take away. Soak up the festival atmosphere with some refreshments and live music, with sea-shanty bands who will be entertaining the crowds during the weekend.

The Weekender Festival 2021 Sept 25 and 26 Staged at Newnham Park, Plympton the two day event will feature more than 20 acts, a whole host of local talent, cocktails and a funfair. It will feature the best in underground electronic music and commercial dance over a jam-packed weekend. With the legendary Pete Tong, Wilkinson and globe trotter Ben Nicky on headline, while Casa showcases the likes of Eli Brown, Bart Skils, and Danny Howard.

Joel Corry, the man behind the current UK No 1 single is joined by fellow chart topping stars 220 Kid, Franky Wah, and Nathan Dawe. For details visit www.theweekenderfestival.com Tour de Moor Oct 10 The Tour de Moor being challenge in aid of St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth returns to the rugged wilderness of Dartmoor in October. The popular event offers cyclists an adrenalin-packed adventure over the hillfilled, 52km mixed terrain route of mud, sweat and gears for those aged 12 and over. Shorter courses available for young ones and families.

Register at www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/tourde-moor-registration-page

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4 September 2021

Three Crowns pub in line for a top award The Three Crowns, on The Parade in Plymouth’s Barbican, has reached the final six in the Stonegate Pub Partners Pub of the Year category of the Great British Pub Awards.

Seeing off hundreds of other entries, the pub’s evolving business operation in the most challenging of circumstances formed a large part of the pub’s success.

The Great British Pub Awards recognise, reward and celebrate the invaluable work pubs do for the country and their communities, the established industry awards is widely considered to be the Oscars of the British Pub Industry.

The Three Crowns has been transformed into a boutique B&B in recent years by publicans, John and Tracey Allen, and now offers à la carte dining along with a popular cocktail bar. It offers a relaxed garden with the capacity to seat 40 people in its suntrap courtyard or watch live sports on the 60-inch weatherproof TV. Customers can eat in the first-floor restaurant overlooking the harbour while on the ground floor, those who fancy a more leisurely evening can enjoy a cocktail or a couple of drinks on the large harbourside terrace and watch the world go by.

Tracey said: “We are absolutely delighted to be in the finals of the Great British Pub Awards! The Three Crowns has completely transformed, both aesthetically and in reputation over the last few years, so it is particularly amazing to have that recognised in such a way. I’m so proud of my team and everything we’ve achieved over the last 18 months.”

4 September 2021

@PlymChronicle

New campaign supporting Plymouth’s tourism, retail and hospitality sector A new campaign is working to address the recruitment challenge currently facing tourism, retail and hospitality businesses in Plymouth.

Destination Plymouth’s new ‘Geddon in Tourism’ campaign showcases the wide range of opportunities within the sector. It features a number of familiar faces from businesses across the city, including chefs Mitch Tonks and Chris Tanner, sharing how they got started in the business, became successful celebrities and the skills that they have developed.

With businesses struggling to recruit staff and facing an increase in demand now the summer season is underway, there’s high demand for people to fill vacancies across the sector. A huge variety of roles are available, from chefs to customer service staff as well as wider support roles including marketing, security, operations and finance.

Amanda Lumley, executive director of Destination Plymouth, said: “Plymouth tourism, retail and hospitality businesses have been hit hard by the pandemic, and with the influx of tourists expected throughout the summer this campaign is designed to help them put their best foot forward.

“Across the country tourism and hospitality businesses are struggling to recruit, and with a high volume of fantastic opportunities here in Plymouth our campaign hopes to help shine a light on the career paths available. Our campaign focuses on how people working in the industry got to where they are now, how to get started in the industry and the key skills that tourism and hospitality jobs can help develop, to support further career aspirations. There are great opportunities for those with ambition not just

Staff at The Terrace on The Hoe

to refine their skill set but to fast track rapidly through supervisor to manager level roles if they have the aptitude.”

The campaign will include a virtual jobs fair on Facebook, where businesses can share current vacancies with jobseekers. There’s also a wealth of information on the Visit Plymouth website about courses and further training available within the tourism and hospitality sector, to help Plymouth residents get ahead.

Councillor Mark Deacon, Cabinet Member for Customer Services, Culture, Leisure and Sport at

Plymouth City Council said: “The past year has been incredibly difficult for local businesses and the challenges continue now that they’re reopened, with staff shortages causing problems across the sector. We hope this campaign will encourage people across Plymouth to see the potential in a career in tourism and will guide them in the right direction, whether that is towards training opportunities or current job vacancies.”

Find out more about the campaign at visitplymouth.co.uk/geddonintourism.

Circus acts including; Unicycle Juggler, Fire Performer, Hula Hooper, Sword Swallower and Alice in Wonderland characters. Live music featuring Andy Quick and Joanna Cooke and the West End Carnival Parade featuring Plymouth Dance, The Barbican Theatre, Salsa Kernow and Crooked Tempo. westendplymouth.co.uk

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Plymouth’s vast array of local nature reserves will get new dedicated urban rangers as part of a new project.

The Plymouth Natural Grid will support the ongoing Green Minds project in helping to make nature more accessible to residents across the city.

It will create 22 new jobs, including five urban rangers, who will work across and care for council and National Trust sites across the city.

The rangers will also deliver skills, training and learning opportunities for young people, with Kickstart placements (for people not in employment, education or training) and shortterm accredited learning programmes.

Nature conservation will be at the forefront of the project, with improvements across our 13 protected sites that focus on rewilding and nature restoration.

There will also be a programme of community engagement to ensure that Plymouth’s more deprived urban areas are connected to their local nature reserve.

The scheme is part of an 18-month partnership between the council, National Trust and Real Ideas Organisation and is funded by a £1.2m grant from the Green Recovery Challenge fund.

The money will not only support the new jobs but restore and connect wildlife sites across the city and open up opportunities for local communities to get engaged and become nature advocates.

Councillor Patrick Nicholson, Deputy Leader of Plymouth City Council, said: “Plymouth is a very green city, with nature reserves right on the doorsteps of thousands of residents.

“What’s so exciting about this project is that for the first time, we will be able to make sure that each reserve is as accessible; is as bio-diverse and is as well kept as the next, allowing us to help springboard the city’s postpandemic nature recovery from Ernesettle, right across to Saltram.”

Jez McDermott, general manager for the National Trust at Saltram said: “We’re really pleased to be working in partnership with Plymouth City Council and Real Ideas with funding from GRCF. “This project is a great boost right across the city for training and employment within the natural environment. A city wide project, our joint urban ranger team will engage communities and young people whilst delivering a range of exciting and innovative nature based solutions, including at Saltram and Plymbridge woods.”

Ed Whitelaw from the Real Ideas Organisation said: “Nature conservation is about our collective future, it is therefore right that young people are at the centre of Plymouth’s Natural Grid, as both our future environmental leaders and the biggest stakeholders”.

The Plymouth Natural Grid is one of 90 nature projects across England to be backed by the Government’s £80 million Green Recovery Challenge Fund.

More information on the scheme can be found at: www.plymouth.gov.uk/parksnatureand greenspaces/plymouth’snaturalgrid To find your nearest Local Nature Reserve go to : www. plymouth.gov.uk/parksnatureandgreenspaces/ localnaturereserves

6 September 2021

6 September 2021

@PlymChronicle

New app will bring Central Park to life

Exploring in Central Park is about to get even better with the launch of a new smartphone app.

Chance to visit Plymouth Market traders

Joanna Cooke will be live on the main stage

It’s carnival time in the West End!

Roll-up, roll-up for great family fun at the West End Carnival in Plymouth on Saturday August 28 from 11am.

Organised by Plymouth City Centre Company, the Carnival is back and better than ever. A free fun-packed day of live music, street entertainment and family friendly activities will be on offer.

New for this year is a ‘grand procession’ through the city centre from Place de Brest, all the way along Cornwall Street to the West End, ending at a performance area at the revamped colourful Frankfort Gate.

There’s live music from

Andy Quick and Joanna Cooke on the main stage. Visitors can also enjoy a huge range of entertainment including juggling unicyclists, Alice in Wonderland characters, samba and steel bands, Plymouth Morris Dancers and fire breathers.

Watch out for performances from Plymouth Dance, The Barbican Theatre, Salsa Kernow and Crooked Tempo along the West End Carnival Parade too.

The event will be a big celebration of Plymouth’s local traders and businesses and everyone is welcome to join in the fun.

As well as being a fantastic free day out for the whole family, it’s also an opportunity to explore the great range of independent shops in the West End and the 140 stalls, eateries and cafes in Plymouth Market.

For more information about the West End Carnival, head to westendplymouth.co.uk

The Love Exploring App has features for everyone to make the most of your time exploring Plymouth’s flagship park and is free to download and use.

Looking for something to do in the summer holidays? The ad-free app has two family friendly augmented reality games.

With dinosaurs and planets to find around the park these games will get little ones excited about exploring and even test their knowledge with fun quiz questions.

There is also a comprehensive map that shows points of interest, things to do and facilities within the park to make visits as enjoyable as possible whilst also providing details of toilets and cafe facilities.

The walking trails will guide visitors around the park for a relaxing walk, as so many people have been doing recently, with features such as a wildlife trail with fascinating facts about the park.

There is also an events feature - keeping visitors up to date on the exciting things going on in the park so be sure to check in regularly.

Plymouth’s subscription to the national app has been jointly funded through the Future Parks Accelerator and Green Minds projects with the intention of enhancing the way people see and use Plymouth’s precious green spaces, starting with a trial in the city’s largest park.

Download the app at https://loveexploring. co.uk/

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Talented singer-songwriter performing in Plymouth Live music in Plymouth is officially back and to mark the launch of Redeemer Church’s Autumn Alpha Course, talented singersongwriter Benjamin Haycock will be performing a gig on 24th September at 7.30pm live from The Redeemer Building (Redeemer Church, St Barnabus Terrace, PL1 5NN).

In 2021, Benjamin appeared on The Voice UK and astounded the coaches by doing an emotional rendition of his original song ‘Restlessness’ that he wrote as a letter to his late Father. Suffice to say, all four of the coaches turned around for Benjamin and gave him incredible feedback in which they called him the ‘real deal’. Such was the level of his audition, it has since been viewed on YouTube by over 1 million people.

Subsequently, Benjamin released ‘Restlessness’ as a single and got to second in the iTunes singersongwriter charts. He followed up this success by releasing his second EP ‘Enigma’s Quay’ which got to third in the same iTunes chart, with his debut EP making the top 10 within the same time period. His latest success has led him to partner with Australian guitar company ‘Maton’ and become one of their official artists, alongside the likes of global superstars Keith Urban, Tash Sultana and John Butler.

As well as being an exciting evening of live music, Benjamin will be sharing his life story and helping to launch Redeemer

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Magical Mayflower moments!

More magical Mayflower moments are taking place in Plymouth over the next few weeks - everything from a global conference to street parties.

Highlights include The Hatchling on August 14 and 15 and Roots Up! by Street Factory on August 19, while Adelaide Street stages three events and the Devon Family History Society host the Mayflower International Genealogy conference online where speakers from all over the world will share their passion and knowledge of all things Mayflower.

Councillor Mark Deacon, Cabinet Member for Customer Services, Culture, Leisure and Sport said: “All around the city some incredible events are taking place many of which have are happening thanks to Mayflower 400 funding community funding.

“The pandemic may have skewed the timetable for some Mayflower events but it has not stopped people from being creative, having fun and coming together. We need more of this!”

AUGUST August 14 – Adelaide Street Party August 21 – Multicultural tea dance at Catherine Street Baptist Church by All Nations Ministries August 28 - The Mayflower International Genealogy Conference by Devon Family History www.devonfhs.org.uk/shop/mayflower.

- Launch of the Mayflower mural at YMCA, Honicknowle, by artist Marcus Nodwell with the local community.

SEPTEMBER September 4 - Mayflower Morris Muster by Plymouth Morris Men at Piazza. From 10am there will be walking tours, comprising Morris dance teams from across the UK, which will take in Plymouth’s maritime heritage and historic hostelries, interspersed with dancing at various Waterfront locations. The day culminates in a massed display of Morris dancing on the Piazza at 4pm.

- Mayflower Madness Festival in Ernesettle at Budshead Manor Ruins - Mayflower Community Fun Day at Devonport Park with American music, marvellous mutts in the dog show as well as Mayflower themed flower planting and dancing. Organised by the Friends of Devonport Park.

September 5 - Gifford Place Jewish Cemetery audio trail launch by Ripple Theatre and Synagogue. Listen online or at the cemetery as part of the Jewish Heritage Days. From 11am to 3pm. To book call Jerry Sibley on 07753 267616 or phccaretaker@yahoo.co.uk - Mayflower Lunch Devonport Park hosted by Friends of Devonport Park September 11 – 1620 Symposium by Plymouth Archaeological Society September 18 - Respect Picnic in Victoria Park with Plymouth & Devon Racial Equality Council - Adelaide Street party by Adelaide Angels For details visit www.mayflower400uk.org

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8 September 2021

8 September 2021

Tinside Lido

Council plan to operate city’s leisure facilities

Plymouth City Council is set to consider major changes to the way its leisure facilities are managed when its contract with operator Everyone Active expires next year.

A report discussed by Cabinet members in August recommends that when the contract ends in March next year, the operation of Brickfields Sports Centre, Mount Wise Pools, Plympton Swimming Pool, Plymouth Life Centre and Tinside Lido be transferred to a new local authority trading company (LATC), set-up and owned by the council.

It follows a detailed review of different options available, taking into account the significant impact of COVID-19 on the leisure sector and independent financial advice that it would be unlikely for a commercial tender to deliver best value in the current market. It is estimated that over five years, an LATC model would be the most cost-effective for the council.

Most importantly, the report says the company would be best placed to run facilities in a way that will meet the council’s new strategic priorities for the city and the physical activity needs of its communities.

As well as tackling health inequality in the city and supporting its most vulnerable residents, the council is committed to making the most of Plymouth’s natural environment and the role it can play in helping people to stay active and well. The future use of Tinside Lido and Mount Wise Pools, for example, is an integral element of the National Marine Park vision for the waterfront.

Under the new leisure management proposals, separate business cases would also be developed for much-needed capital investment in improvements at Plympton Swimming Pool and upgraded facilities at Brickfields, including a review of its green spaces.

Councillor Mark Deacon, Cabinet Member for Customer Services, Culture, Leisure and Sport, said: “Our current leisure contract was set up a decade ago and

we’re looking at a very different landscape now, not least because of the massive impact of the pandemic on the sector right across the country.

“As we take our next steps we want to make sure we’re running our facilities in a way that will best meet the health and wellbeing needs of our residents, as well as our wider priorities and aspirations for Plymouth.

“We recognise the valuable links that can be made between our fantastic green and blue spaces and helping people stay active and well and we’ve made a number of commitments to make better use of our local environment – including Tinside and the rest of our spectacular waterfront.

“We also want to make much-needed investment and improvements to ensure our leisure facilities are fit-for-purpose not just now but for future generations.”

Plymouth Labour has offered a cautious welcome to a proposal for the new trading company .“This is a move in the right direction but there are a number of issues on which we will be seeking clarity,” said Cllr Sarah Allen, Plymouth Labour’s spokesperson for HR, Leisure and Parks “This plan partially reflects the recent Labour-led administration’s ambition to bring these services back in-house and echoes our commitment to have better connections between our city’s green park spaces, the newlycreated National Marine Park and our sports and swimming facilities,” said Cllr Allen, who is a councillor for Peverell ward.

“It is vital all relevant groups and communities are involved and engaged as this new company is developed, we need to know how this will work in practice and, importantly, what the advantages will be to the residents of the city.

“We will also need to understand exactly what this will mean for the staff involved.”

The council has been briefing Everyone Active and other key stakeholders on the recommendations and if they are approved, further details will be announced in due course.

Plymouth Life Centre pool and slide

@PlymChronicle

Plymouth family’s praise for friend who raised money for cancer charity A Plymouth family whose teenage son has a rare form of cancer have praised the efforts of a friend who has raised thousands of pounds for the charity which has been helping the family.

The family’s ordeal started in February when 13-year-old Zain developed a lump on his neck. His GP was convinced this was a fast growing branchial cyst, so he was referred to Derriford Hospital for a more detailed scan.

During the scans, the doctor requested further MRIs, chest X-rays and CT scans.

The following day he was admitted to the High Dependency Unit at Derriford with multiple tissue masses discovered throughout his body, thought to be most likely a lymphatic cancer.

He was then rushed to Bristol Children’s Hospital and placed on immediate bed rest with the emergency spinal surgery team ready to operate at any moment to avoid paralysis from a tumour on his spinal cord. A further tumour caused the palsy of his vocal cord so he could not swallow or speak properly.

He was diagnosed with Stage 4 Sporadic Burkitt’s Lymphoma (bulky). Had he not been admitted, he’d have been just weeks from death. The tumour in his liver alone measured 14cm.

In the space of three days and no obvious symptoms, apart from a neck lump, some tiredness and occasional back ache, his family was facing a seriously progressed illness.

Zain’s stepfather Shaun Badmin said: “This is how quickly Zain receiving Burkitt’s treatment Lymphoma can develop and progress.

“Throughout the following weeks as Zainresponded massively well to treatment, the charity Young Lives vs Cancer have been there for us every step of the way. Lin our support worker has been amazing.

“Our family is now split between Bristol and Plymouth until treatment is due to finish in August. We have been

Matt Starling - raised almost £3,300

given free accommodation 10 minutes from the hospital, for as long as we need it.

“Young Lives vs Cancer have covered living expenses for us in Bristol and petrol for travelling from Plymouth every weekend. They have helped us negotiate the benefits we are entitled to, as well as a listening ear when we need it.

“Without the support from Young Lives vs Cancer we could not have coped financially, emotionally and physically with having a family split 120 miles apart and a seriously ill teenager.”

Matt Starling, one of Shaun’s work colleagues at Plymouth City Council, found out about Zain’s illness and the vital support of Young Lives vs Cancer and decided to raise money for the charity.

Matt, who lives in Torpoint, had signed up for the gruelling Pan Celtic Race in 2019, but due to COVID the event did not take place until July this year.

The cycle race covered nearly 1,400 kilometres – almost 200 miles – between

Cornwall and North Wales.

Matt, who is 46, said: “I wanted to dedicate my efforts to a worthy cause and it was a chance conversation with Shaun that convinced me that Young Lives vs Cancer was the charity I wanted to support.

“I knew I would be pushing myself and facing some uncomfortable times, but this was nothing compared to the challenges that cancer creates when it strikes young people and the impact it has on their families.”

Matt started with a target of £1372 – a £1 for every kilometre he would cycle – and ended up raising an amazing total so far of nearly £3,300.

Matt said: “I have been overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity of everyone who has supported and donated to this brilliant cause. I hope all of our efforts will help make a difference.”

Shaun added: “Our whole family are eternally grateful to Matt for being inspired by our story and raising money for this fabulous charity.”

To support Matt’s fundraising effort go to www.justgiving.com/fundraising/MattStarlingPanCelticRace2021 Every year Young Lives vs Cancer distributes thousands of pounds to hundreds of families to help them cope with the costs of cancer. For more information about the charity go to www. younglivesvscancer.org.uk

Criminal record for Mutley woman who fly-tipped sofa A fly-tipper has been slapped with a criminal record and hefty bill after a hearing at Plymouth Magistrates Court.

The court heard how in March this year, a woman from Mutley had left an old sofa on the street outside her home, blocking the pavement.

A Council enforcement officer was in the area on patrol and came upon the fly-tip and carried out investigations to determine who had dumped it.

When enquiries led to the woman, she admitted she had dumped the sofa and a fixed penalty notice for £400 was issued.

However, despite reminders, the fixed penalty notice went unpaid and the woman was summonsed to court.

Having attended court and pleaded guilty, she was fined £200, with legal costs of £200 and a victim surcharge of £34.

Councillor Maddi Bridgeman, Cabinet member for the Environment and Street Scene, said: “Another week, another fly-tipping case against another person who didn’t do the right thing with their waste.

“When will people understand that we do not tolerate fly-tipping in this city? I urge residents to please take responsibility and ensure that waste is disposed in the correct way.”

10 September 2021

10 September 2021

@PlymChronicle

Brent Singers on air and in the open air!

The Brent Singers have had one of their recordings showcased on the radio and have rounded off their singing season with their first face to face performance involving the majority of the choir in 18 months.

Zoo volunteer Mark creates wellbeing area in memory of his partner Sharon A brand new wellbeing area has been officially opened at Dartmoor Zoo. ‘The Breathing Space’ is located by the walk-through enclosure and is a peaceful area of the Zoo where guests can sit and reflect.

Mark Scott, a volunteer at Dartmoor Zoo, decided to create this area as a living legacy following the passing of his partner in March 2021.

He said: “At the young age of 62, my partner Sharon sadly passed away in her sleep. On a weekly basis, we would watch the film We Bought a Zoo and Sharon took inspiration from Benjamin Mee (chief executive of Dartmoor Zoological Society) with his ‘can do’ attitude to life.

“I wanted something more than a plaque to remember Sharon so approached Dartmoor Zoo with the idea of creating a quiet area.

“After months of hard work, I’m delighted that this area is now ready for the public and hope that everyone is empowered by what it stands for and gets as much from it as I do.”

As a wildlife charity, Dartmoor Zoological Society has developed a wellbeing programme over several years. They have fostered the benefits of biophilia and how working with or being surrounded by animals and nature can improve wellbeing.

This project enhances the programme further and will benefit thousands of people.

There are several ways for people to pay tribute to the life of someone special, whilst make a lasting difference to wildlife and people. For more information, please contact zoobase@ dartmoorzoo.co.uk.

Dartmoor Zoological Society relies on the generosity of individuals to continue its important conservation work and donations can be made here: https://bit.ly/DonateDZS

After practice sessions on Zoom and three weeks of small group rehearsals in the open, the singers from South Brent were delighted to recently perform together privately in the open at Lukesland Gardens in Ivybridge at the request of the Howell family.

They have also had one of their recordings from a pre-lockdown concert featured on a new local radio show dedicated to the work of local singers.

Songs of the Westcountry is a thirty minute show broadcast on Hospital Radio Plymouth on Sunday and Monday nights and is hosted by Plympton broadcaster Andrew Hill.

A recent edition of the programme focused on music from local choirs in Devon and Cornwall and featured the Brent Singers giving a rendition of Ol’ Man River from the musical Showboat. This was among a number of pieces the choir sang in a concert at St Petroc’s Church in South Brent in 2018.

After a summer rest during August, the singers will start their new season of rehearsals in September. More details about them can be found at www.brentsingers.org.uk It is hoped that Lukesland Gardens will be able to re-open to the public in October.

Past editions of Songs of the Westcountry can be found by performing a search on that programme name at mixcloud.com (Story courtesy of The Plympton Podcast)

Brent Singers rehearsing at Lukesland Gardens

September 2021 11

@PlymChronicle

Plymouth women celebrate victory in state pension campaign after Ombudsman’s ruling Women in Plymouth born in the 1950s who were not told their state pension would delayed by several years are celebrating a notable victory in their campaign for justice.

The Parliamentary Ombudsman ruled recently that Government officials were too slow to tell many women they would be affected by the rising stage pension age.

The findings bring the prospect of compensation closer for millions of women who have been affected by the issue.

It also marks a major victory for WASPI - Women Against State Pension Inequality - which has been at the forefront of the campaign.

Plymouth members of WASPI gathered on Plymouth Hoe to celebrate the Ombudsman’s ruling and to raise awareness of the

difficulties many women have faced because of the issue.

Kim Eynon from Milehouse has been a leading member of WASPI for a number of years after finding out that her plans to retire at 60 had been shattered and that she would have to wait until she was 66 to receive her state pension.

Kim and her husband Paul ran the Lemon Tree Bistro in Elburton for 15 years and they had planned to retire when she was 60.

She said: “I was in my late fifties when I was told that I would have to be 66 before I received a pension. It was a real kick in the teeth. I had worked hard ever since I was 15 and to find out that I would have to wait so much longer knocked my socks off.

“It meant all our plans for retirement had to change and I now have to claim Universal Credit, which I could never have imagined

Getting the message across: WASPI members with their protest banner on The Hoe

Plymouth WASPI members take their protest to The Hoe Photos: le23photography

would happen.”

In the wake of the pension controversy Kim and Paul decided to sell their business and retire anyway. Ill health and looking after elderly parents also influenced their decision.

Kim said: “I still have to wait several years for my state pension, so I have been forced to claim Universal Credit - which I never imagined would happen.”

Kim said that many women affected by the DWP’s decision had faced serious financial hardship and other issues.

“I’m aware that there are women who have had to sell their homes, ended up on the streets or lost their lives because of the

worry and anxiety caused,” she said.

WASPI is now urging its members to lobby their MPs and Chancellor Rishi Sunak in a bid for compensation or interim payments.

Angela Madden, who chairs the national WASPI campaign, said: “The findings reinforce what we, unfortunately, knew all along; that the DWP failed to adequately inform 3.8 million 1950s-born women that their state pension age would be increasing.

“These women have been waiting for many years for compensation. We cannot wait any longer. We are calling on the government to agree fair and adequate compensation rather than allow what has become a vicious cycle of government inaction to continue.”

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Photo by Steve Haywood. Image courtesy Theatre Royal Plymouth

Theatre Royal case study shows vital role of culture in high street recovery A new report has underlined the value of culture to the country’s high streets - and Plymouth’s Theatre Royal is highlighted as a perfect example.

The report, published by the Arts Council, showed that 69% of people believe having cultural spaces such as theatres, museums, libraries and music venues on their high street makes their local area a better place to live.

The report called ‘A High Street Renaissance: How arts and culture bring people and pride back to our high streets’ was published in early August and based on research carried out in June across the country.

The report shows that successful high streets are multi-functional and the presence of cultural venues on the high street is key to high street regeneration.

When people were asked what they would like to see more of on their high streets, culture was the joint most popular answer, alongside shops and ahead of pubs, bars and restaurants.

Findings also show that 62% of adults agree that cultural experiences on the high street give them a sense of pride about their local area, and that many people want the high streets’ presence of culture to expand, with half of adults (50%) keen to see more cultural experiences where they live.

With year-on-year high street footfall declining by 43.4% in 2020, the report also gives several examples of how cultural venues can bring visitors back to village, town and city centres, helping to support economic growth and prevent high street decline.

Using Theatre Royal Plymouth (TRP) as one case-study, the findings show the theatre: • Generates footfall: TRP encourages greater footfall to the high street by bringing new patrons to the area each year. In 2018-19, nearly 324,000 trips to the theatre were made to watch shows; roughly 35% of whom were first time visitors.

• Influences spending: The theatre’s

New chief executive is named Theatre Royal Plymouth has announced that James MackenzieBlackman will succeed Adrian Vinken as its chief executive in January.

Currently chief executive of Eden Court Highlands, Scotland’s largest single-site performing arts venue, James Mackenzie-Blackman’s previous roles include executive director of Matthew Bourne’s award-winning dance company New Adventures, executive director of the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain and six years in a variety of roles at the Lyric Theatre Hammersmith.

James grew up in Plymouth and cites his time with Theatre Royal Plymouth’s long-established Young Company as a life-defining experience.

He said: “It is the honour of my career to take on the leadership of the organisation that defined the path my life would take. I told my careers advisor at 15 years old that one day I wanted to run the Theatre Royal – and 26 years later that ambition has become a reality. Throughout the recruitment process I was deeply impressed by the continued ambition for the city of Plymouth, the role

that the theatre plays in the cultural life of the region and equally the recognition of the work still to do in the years to come. It will be a great privilege to build on all that Adrian and his colleagues have achieved.”

Nick Buckland, chair of Theatre Royal Plymouth said: “Finding a new chief executive for the iconic Theatre Royal Plymouth to follow Adrian Vinken’s outstanding tenure was never going to be easy, but after an exhaustive process I’m delighted that we’ve been able to appoint James.

Adrian Vinken, who has led Theatre Royal Plymouth for over 30 years said: “I remember James from my early days at TRP when he was a member of our Young Company and particularly an unforgettable trip to Poland to perform our production of Korczak in Warsaw and Gdynia. I have watched with pleasure his rapid career development over the years and couldn’t be happier than to be handing over the reins of the theatre to him. James

is a shining example of TRP’s talent development in action so he already has

the Theatre Royal’s DNA in his blood.”

own economic impact assessment (2018) revealed that TRP contributed almost £36 million to the economy of Plymouth, Devon and Cornwall. An Arts Council England study of the economic impact of all UK theatres, in 2012, revealed that Theatre Royal Plymouth had the third highest impact of all 541 theatres in the UK at the time • Increases civic pride: A Willingness to Pay (WTP) analysis of TRP revealed that residents of Plymouth have greater levels of pride in their local theatre relative to the norm for theatres the UK. Plymouth residents who had visited the theatre were willing to pay 11.1% above the mean average for attendance, while those who had never visited TRP were willing to pay 10.3% above the mean to financially support the theatre.

• Assists High Street COVID-19 recovery: Theatre Royal Plymouth received £2.4 million from the government’s £2 billion Culture Recovery Fund, and the theatre has used that support to engage with patrons and to bring them back to the theatre and its high street.

Phil Gibby, area director, Arts Council England, South West, said: “The evidence in this report shows the positive effect creativity and culture has on local communities and economies. As we emerge from the pandemic, cultural organisations will play an essential part in bringing visitors back into our shared spaces and high streets. I for one can’t wait to visit Plymouth in a few weeks to see Trigger’s much anticipated The Hatchling – where a dragon will explore the city centre streets, and take flight from the Hoe on Sunday night. Now that is something to get us out of the house.”

Adrian Vinken, CEO, Theatre Royal Plymouth, said: “This report highlights the huge part cultural venues play for our high-streets, particularly in a post-pandemic climate where attracting footfall and generating spend is going to be key in rebuilding after the last 18 months.

“As the only ‘Number One’ theatrical auditorium located between Bristol and New York(!) TRP has a uniquely large region to serve with an accompanying broad programming remit. As such it routinely draws annual audiences of over 360,000 from throughout a 100-mile radius and its huge economic impact on its city centre has been recognised for decades. It has served to redefine Plymouth’s modern identity, firmly establishing the city as the cultural capital of the far south west.”

September 2021 13

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Latest veterans’ self-build underway Work is about to begin on the Stirling Project, Plymouth’s latest veterans selfbuild scheme.

Based on the site of a former residential care home on Honicknowle Green, the project will see eight previously homeless veterans involved in the construction of 25 selfcontained affordable homes to rent.

The start on site has been made possible through a partnership between the Plymouth City Council, housing association LiveWest and veterans’ charity Alabaré, who in 2019 merged with the Community Self Build Agency.

Taking inspiration from the successful Nelson Project, 12 of the new homes will be built, and lived in, by former service personnel who have been previously homeless or are in need of housing.

During the course of the build, the veterans will earn construction qualifications and skills which will help them gain employment once the project is complete.

The Alabaré team specialise in providing support to the veterans throughout the project to help them rebuild their self-esteem, mental health and wellbeing, enabling them to live successful, independent civilian lives in the new homes they have built. The support provided by Alabaré has been funded thanks to a grant from Plymouth City Council.

Adrian, a veteran who has joined the Stirling House Alabaré Veterans Self-Build team, said: “This is a unique opportunity for me to learn new skills and to have a fresh start and to seek new challenges ahead.”

Councillor Vivien Pengelly, Cabinet member for Home and Communities, said: “We are so proud to be able to support this the Stirling Project, Plymouth second veteran’s self-build project “Plymouth is a service city and we owe so much of the character and vibrancy that we have in the city to the many former and serving military personnel who live here which is why it’s so important we deliver to help those who have served their country through projects such as these.”

“I look forward to watching the project and individual veterans go from strength to strength as the project progresses.”

Russell Baldwinson, executive director of Development for LiveWest, said: “We are delighted to be working with our partners on such a flagship scheme for Plymouth, supporting the further regeneration of the city.

“The Stirling House project will provide much-needed housing for a wide range of people and will also offer something unique and special, where during the construction period ex-service personnel will have the opportunity to train and build on the scheme supported by Alabaré.

“We are proud to be bringing forward highquality build and design which focuses on the wellbeing of residents making it an exemplar project.

“We are looking forward to this exciting development progressing over the coming months and seeing the veterans gain some valuable experience in construction and jobbased skills.”

up to

On site at the Stirling Project (from left) Graham Devine, director of LHC Design; Russell Baldwinson, executive director of Development for LiveWest; Adrian, veteran; Debbie, veteran; Cllr Nick Kelly, Leader of Plymouth City Council; Tim, veteran; Major (Ret’d) Ken Hames, chief operating officer for Alabaré Veterans Self-Build; Johnny Mercer, MP for Plymouth Moorview and Adrian, veteran

Major (Ret’d) Ken Hames, chief operating officer for Alabaré Veterans Self-Build, said: “This is our second veterans self-build in Plymouth and we are pleased to be in partnership again with Plymouth City Council and LiveWest.

“As a veteran myself I understand the difficulties some veterans face transitioning to civilian life. This scheme offers the right support, challenge and training to help veterans toward full time employment and independent living.

“It also demonstrates a wider objective to bring an inspired vision of growth and regeneration to the Honicknowle Community.”

The project will be built on the site of the former Stirling House, a former residential care home, owned by the Council, which had been empty for several years.

The scheme follows on from the completion of the Nelson Project in October 2017.

This multi award-winning scheme saw the

construction of a 24-home development that includes 12 self-build homes for military veterans and 12 mixed use affordable homes, including supported housing.

Totnes-based, Coyde Construction, has been contracted to build the Stirling House scheme which has been designed by architects Form Design.

Of the 25 homes, 19 will be one and twobedroom flats together with two, three and four-bedroom housing.

Once complete, all of the homes will be let by LiveWest at a subsidised social rent, in order to provide support for households in high need.

The large four-bedroom house has also been designed as a wheelchair adapted property, helping to address the significant shortage of such properties across the city.

The project will benefit from grant-funding from government housing agency Homes England.

A new Home Office scheme will relocate locally employed staff who worked for British forces, often in dangerous and challenging situations, during the conflict in Afghanistan.

The staff, who will move with their families, provided roles such as translators, interpreters or clerks.

Their work undoubtedly contributed to saving British lives and, in recognition of the commitment and bravery shown since 2013, they will be entitled to build new lives in the UK. Plymouth is just one of a number of cities joining the scheme and our involvement supports the city’s strong connections with the Armed Forces and further boosts our credentials as a welcoming city.

During the first 12 months in the UK, the staff and their families will be supported through an integration package to assist in adjusting to their new life in the UK, including finding employment.

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An artist’s impression of the Stirling Project

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Although the language skills of the primary applicant are likely to be pretty advanced, support will also help family dependents so that attending schools and community activities is quickly possible.

After completing the five years limited leave, they can apply for permanent residence in the UK, ensuring that they can settle permanently in Plymouth and continue to build their lives and future.

Councillor Vivien Pengelly, Cabinet member for Homes and Communities, said: “I am absolutely thrilled that Plymouth is set become part of this scheme.

“These people are heroes. The courage they have shown in helping our troops among complex communities in Afghanistan is rightly being rewarded and I look forward to welcoming them here to Plymouth to join our warm armed forces family.”

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14 September 2021

Summer splash for pontoon

Plymouth’s wild swimmers will be able to use a swimming pontoon as the city begins to make waves as the UK’s first National Marine Park.

The floating pontoon has been installed as part of a pilot scheme to see how well it is used.

Cattewater Harbour Commissioners have towed the pontoon to its new home off Tinside before it was secured to the sea bed. The pontoon is the latest in a raft of new facilities that have been popping up along the waterfront thanks to a grant worth £625,000 from the Getting Building Fund.

New defibrillators have been installed along the waterfront and businesses offered training and the package has also helped fund the digital infrastructure to host the epic SailGP event, which saw thousands enjoy Plymouth at its very best.

Council Leader Nick Kelly said: “Hot on the heels of being awarded the funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to create the first National Marine Park, we are being proactive in encouraging more people to enjoy the Sound as safely as possible.

“By re-introducing the popular swimming pontoon we are demonstrating that we have listened to people’s requests and this is a practical measure that will help people feel safer whilst undertaking activities in the sea. It will be located off a popular swimming beach and is ideal for swimmers to rest if they get tired or should suffer from cramp.

“This is part of the new Council administration’s continued commitment to improving our amazing waterfront and making the most of this spectacular location through investing in maritime facilities, allowing more people to benefit from our coastal waters and making accessing the sea easier.

“The pontoon is going to be in place for eight weeks over the summer season to see how well it is used and to monitor any issues, with plans to install larger and more permanent platforms next year.”

The Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership was allocated money from the Government’s Getting Building Fund to invest in major infrastructure projects to support economic growth across the city. The project is one of a number to be successfully submitted by the council and partners across the city.

About the National Marine Park Last month the city learnt that Plymouth Sound, the home of UK’s first National Marine Park had been awarded £9.5 million from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to make its vision of a park in the sea a reality.

The success of the Heritage Horizon Awards bid means that the city can press on with its vision to help reconnect to the sea, the marine environment and its history.

As well as physical improvements to key gateways to the park, there will be a city wide community engagement programme designed to get all Plymothians in, on, under and next to the water and develop new ‘green’ marine employment opportunities.

14 September 2021

@PlymChronicle

School ‘booknic’ events hosted by Drake Circus inspires children to read More than 280 school children across three schools in Plymouth have taken part in a celebratory ‘booknic’ event organised

by Drake Circus in partnership with the National Literacy Trust.

The ‘booknic’ involved children enjoying a picnic and a book while also taking part in a range of fun reading-themed activities.

Schoolchildren from Pilgrim Primary Academy, St Andrew’s CofE Primary School and Salisbury Road Primary School took part in the event, with each child also able to take a book of their choice home.

The ‘booknic’ was part of the Young Readers Programme, an award-winning initiative sponsored by Drake Circus’ owner British Land and run in partnership with the National Literacy Trust, designed to encourage children to read outside of the classroom.

The initiative gave the schools access to virtual interactive storytelling sessions and a literary quiz, and the children have also been asked to draw pictures of their favourite literary characters which will be displayed at Drake Circus.

British Land and the National Literacy Trust celebrates its 10th year in partnership this year. Since the programme launched in Drake Circus, it has supported more than 2,300 schoolchildren

Children from Pilgrim Primary Academy enjoying the ‘booknic’

and seen more than 6,900 books donated across the city.

Research from the National Literacy Trust shows that children who own their own books are six times more likely to read above the level expected for their age and three times more likely to enjoy reading.

Over the past year Drake Circus as also gifted 550 books to local food banks, charities and community organisations to help provide children in under privileged areas access to books during the pandemic.

Greg Lumley, centre director at Drake Circus, said: “Supporting our community is so important to us and the Young Readers Programme plays a massive part in that. It’s a brilliant initiative which we look forward to every year and it’s great to see the children celebrating at our booknic event.

“Thanks also needs to go to the National Literacy Trust for their hard work on this event and over the years. They’ve helped us to ensure that the additional support and books go to those who need them most.”

Jonathan Douglas, chief executive of the National Literacy Trust, said: “Encouraging children to develop a love of reading from a young age can have a tangible impact on their literacy skills, mental wellbeing and futures.

“Yet hundreds of thousands of children across the UK are missing out on these benefits simply because they don’t have a book of their own to read at home.

“The Young Readers Programme, with support from British Land, tackles this and we’d like to thank them for all their support over the years.”

Patients’ views sought as three city GP practices consider move to new health and wellbeing centre

Patients at three GP practices in Plymouth are being asked to share their views on a possible move to a new health and wellbeing centre in the city’s West End.

North Road West Medical Centre, Adelaide Surgery and Armada Surgery - which have 16,000 patients on their books – want to relocate to the planned West End Health and Wellbeing Centre and are keen to know what their patients think to help shape their plans.

Plymouth City Council and NHS Devon Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) are working on plans for a new, purpose-built health, care and wellbeing centre in the the vicinity of Colin Campbell Court.

The centre would include a range of services all under one roof in a convenient location. The new building would not only provide a much-needed modern health and wellbeing facility, it would also help kickstart the regeneration of the area.

The practices are all currently located in outdated premises and say moving to a bright, modern and purpose-built facility would help secure their long-term future. They have been struggling with the increasingly complex needs of a growing population and an increased demand for their services. Existing sites don’t have enough space to accommodate services for rising numbers of patients and have limited space for office staff.

Dr Carmel Boyhan-Irvine, GP partner at

North Road West Medical Practice said: “We want to improve the service that we provide to our patients by relocating to a modern healthcare facility that is better suited to meet their needs. We are delighted that we have to opportunity to be part of plans for this exciting Plymouth facility.

“A bigger building would result in additional space for more staff, which in turn would mean more available appointments and shorter waiting times.

“Our vision is to provide an attractive and pleasant environment for patients and staff.

We have recently recruited more people to our team and we want to retain them, creating a stronger team for the future and ensuring patients continue to receive a high quality safe service.”

The engagement process with practice patients runs until September 16 and follows a recent public engagement programme run by the NHS and Plymouth City Council about what services people would like to see in the building.

Dr Richard Ayres, GP at Adelaide Surgery, added: “Our current premises are no longer fit for purpose and this is a great opportunity for not just a better staff environment but a better service for our patients. We can do much more clinically and it would be a much smarter environment that can provide more joined-up health and care services that would benefit the local population.”

The practices are keen to continue to expand and develop the range of services to their patients and to provide a full range of primary care services, with additional consulting rooms, pharmacists, physiotherapist, training rooms, research space, and space for admin needed to deliver these services.

Wendy Ellis, practice manager at Armada Surgery, said: “Like many parts of the country, recruiting new GPs and clinical staff can be a challenge, and working from a modern facility would enable us to attract more interest and recruit to vacancies more effectively.

“I know all the practices involved are looking forward to hearing what patients have to say about these exciting plans.”

All the practices have written to their patients asking them to share their views on the proposal and are offering to respond to any queries or concerns they may have.

The practices will also be engaging with their patient participation groups and other partners.

The Colin Campbell Court area would offer patients excellent access to public transport and local car parks are within walking distance. Patients are encouraged to complete the feedback survey, which can be accessed via each practice’s website.

A paper copy of the survey is also available at each practice.

September 2021 15

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Demand for new commercial premises growing Demand for additional commercial buildings at one of Plymouth City Council’s popular business parks is being satisfied by new buildings being constructed to help expanding city firms grow and to attract new investment into the city.

The council has started the third and final phase of its highly successful development at Hearder Court on the Langage Business Park in Plympton. Work got underway in May, with the ground work, piling foundations and drainage for the scheme all nowcompleted Soon the first of the steel girders will go in which will frame the building and give a sense of the scale of the 2,355 square metres of commercial space that’s to come.

The three units of the £2 million development are designed to be flexible with internal party walls that can be removed to allow units to be combined. Additional space can be created at first floor level by expanding the offices or installing mezzanine floors.

The workspace will have solar voltaic panels, high levels of insulation and lift access to units with first floor office accommodation.

Offices will be heated, lit (LED lighting) and carpeted, with natural ventilation, extensive glazing to office areas and roof lights within the production space to maximise natural lighting.

The scheme has been designed to be highly efficient and will assist in reducing running costs to occupying businesses. The scheme itself is targeting the highest Energy Performance Certificate rating for commercial buildings of ‘A’.

Facilities include toilet and shower facilities, kitchens, dedicated car parking and large service yards. There will be EV charging pods for vehicles, cycle shelters as well as recycling zones.

Council Leader Nick Kelly said: “We are conscious there is a shortage of high

Council Leader Nick Kelly pictured n the digger with (from left) Alistair Todd, site manager, Stuart O’Higgins Devon contractors contract manager and James Watt, head of land and property at Plymouth City Council

quality space for businesses locally, so we are investing and delivering the premises required to encourage expanding firms to flourish or new firms to operate in our city.

Not only are we helping to meet the demand for employment space for around 70 people, we are helping secure local construction and supply chain jobs.

“Hearder Court Phase 3 is tangible proof that Plymouth has a vibrant and expanding commercial sector that bodes well for the city with the creation of local jobs and that our city is able to meet the needs of the business community.”

When complete, the premises will become part of the Council’s growing property portfolio, helping to bring in rental income into the city’s services.

The build is being carried out by Devon Contractors who were awarded the contract following a tendering exercise by the Council last year. Contracts manager Stuart

O’Higgins for the company said: “We are delighted to begin work on this exciting project, which will provide top-quality working space for innovative Plymouth businesses and contribute to the wider economic success of the local area.

“Devon Contractors will be working hard to ensure the project is finished to the highest standard and ensure positive progress for this important scheme bringing investment and employment opportunities to Plymouth.”

Detailed planning was secured in May last year and if all goes according to plan, the units should be ready for businesses to move into early next year.

It is anticipated that these high quality units will be in demand and are available to lease now (by way of pre let) Interested parties are encouraged to make contact to discuss their requirements. For details contact Tom Palmer of Commercial Property Team on 01752 304202 or email tom.palmer@plymouth.gov.uk

£200,000 invested in new flooring store

One of the fastest growing retailers in the UK is well on its way to reaching its target of opening 25 new stores in 2021, with Plymouth now being added to its list of locations.

Flooring Superstore opened the doors to its newest store on the city’s Marsh Mills Retail Park in July.

The retailer has invested £200,000 in the 3,400 square feet outlet, which is resulting in the creation of four new sales representative roles for local people.

It is the 13th store Flooring Superstore has launched in the UK since non-essential retail was permitted to resume trading from April12 and forms part of a plan to open a total of 25 stores in 2021; taking their total store count up to 50 across the UK. Flooring Superstore regional manager, Nathan Pritchard, said: “We are delighted to be able to add Plymouth to the list of our stores in the UK. “It’s a fantastic location for us, providing us with a presence on a thriving retail park and we’re looking forward to introducing our products to shoppers.

“This is our second store in Devon, having opened an outlet in Newton Abbot in 2019, so we are pleased to once again be able to support the local and regional retail economy.”

This bring the total number of stores it has in the UK to 35 and by the end of the year it is planning to have 50.

Nathan added: “Less than 10 years ago we purely had an online business, so we have a come a long way in such a short space of time.”

THE HATCHLING

14-15 August, City Centre/The Hoe

S IP H S N IO P M A H C K R O W BRITISH FIRE oe 18-19 August, The H

ROOTS UP

19 August, The Hoe outh WhatsOnPlym

@WhatsOnPlymouth

@visitplymouth

For all the latest information and updates on events in Plymouth this summer please go to visitplymouth.co.uk

16 September 2021

16 September 2021 Plymouth’s Lord Mayor Cllr Terri Beer pictured with the South West In Bloom judges on The Hoe

@PlymChronicle

Students support college carbon reduction plan

Students at City College Plymouth are to play an active role in ambitious plans that will reduce the College’s carbon emissions and create a greener and more sustainable site.

Plymouth’s waterfront looked it’s blooming best for judging Plymouth’s Waterfront, from Royal William Yard to the Barbican and the Hoe, was looking its best as it welcomed the South West in Bloom judges recently.

Plymouth Waterfront Partnership Business Improvement District (PWP BID) has led the entry into the BID category for the 2021 South West in Bloom initiative, a regional heat of the renowned Britain in Bloom competition.

A huge amount of work has been done by the BID in the run-up to the judging, with the support of the Plymouth Waterfront in Bloom organising committee and the local community.

This includes the installation of 19 new planters filled with 2,000 trailing petunias along Southside Street. The planters themselves are now decorated with brand new signage, including information boards and art by local schoolchildren.

The flowerbeds in Basket Ope have also been transformed with beautiful new blooms.

As well as introducing some extra flower power to the Barbican, PWP has been working hard to improve the Waterfront, making sure it looks its best for both visitors and locals to enjoy this summer.

This has included: • Installing stunning new tree lights at Exchange Street Car Park • Supporting art installations and improvements at Bretonside, with new murals on Moon Street and North Street • Installing a new monolith containing useful visitor information outside Royal William Yard • Developing a ‘Community Payback’ programme which has resulted in painting and cleaning in Elphinstone car park, High Street and around the Mount Batten peninsula

• Installing new lights in the Leviathan (also known as the Barbican Prawn) sculpture, which is now illuminated at night.

Diane Mansell, chief executive of Plymouth Waterfront Partnership, said: “We’ve been working hard with our partners in the public and private sectors to ensure that the Waterfront is looking fantastic. We’re really proud of the improvements that have been made, and have worked hard to ensure they’re sustainable and have a lasting impact, fostering local pride in the area.

“The aim of entering the In Bloom initiative is to establish and maintain a high quality, attractive environment for everyone who shops, works, visits or lives in the Waterfront area. We were delighted to welcome the In Bloom judges to Plymouth on such a beautiful, sunny day and would like to thank everyone who played a role in making sure the city was ready for their visit.”

The In Bloom judges arrived at Royal William Yard before being taken by boat to the Barbican. After exploring the area, they were escorted by open top bus to Plymouth Hoe, where the tour concluded.

Councillor Nick Kelly, Leader of Plymouth City Council said: “We’re proud to work closely with Plymouth Waterfront Partnership to maximise everything the waterfront has to offer.

“As the jewel in the city’s crown, it’s so important to ensure that it’s clean, tidy and offers a fantastic welcome for visitors and locals alike. The entry into the South West in Bloom initiative has been a great driver for even more improvements in the area.”

The South West in Bloom winners will be announced later this year.

A new strategic action for estates and assets is shaping how the college uses its physical spaces and infrastructure, and will involve a full review of all of its sites as part of its bid to fight climate change.

Students who enrol on the college’s new Level 3 Environmental Science diploma will have the opportunity to be part of this process as they develop core scientific investigation and laboratory skills, alongside studying a range of topics linked to environmental sustainability.

In addition to developing key scientific skills that are essential for employment and an understanding of the fundamental concepts of environmental science, the students will be able to specialise in areas such as waste management, energy management, ecological surveying, and environmental management.

The students will benefit from a team of industry experts who have first-hand experience in circular economy, waste and resource management, business, agriculture and botany, and all of whom are passionate about sharing their expertise using a range of practical, hands-on teaching methods.

City College is fortunate to enjoy links with local employers, Plymouth City

State-of-the-art laboratory facilities at City College

Council, various government agencies, and community interest companies (CICs).

Thanks to these links, students will gain vital work experience, enabling them to successfully enter the workplace or progress to higher education.

Course lead Michael Mallet said: “With the help of our industry experts and the wider business community, we will provide practical skills to help transform our local economy and environment over the next ten years as part of the college’s strategic action for estates and assets.

It’s a huge task, but we are ready for the challenge.

“If you are interested in sustainability and taking practical action to protect the environment, this course is for you.

You won’t just be learning the facts to help you on your way to a successful career, but you will be actively taking part in a huge project that will make the college site both more economical and sustainable by reducing our emissions.

This will leave you in a fantastic position

when it comes to finding employment, hopefully working in one of potentially hundreds of roles that are on the frontline against climate change.”

In 2018 the International Panel on Climate Change (IPPC) report stated: “Without increased and urgent mitigation ambition in the coming years, leading to a sharp decline in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, global warming will surpass 1.5°C in the following decades, leading to irreversible loss of the most fragile ecosystems, and crisis after crisis for the most vulnerable and societies”.

In response to this, the UK Government aims to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and a new plan aims for at least a 68% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, compared to 1990 levels.

The Plymouth Plan 2020, approved by Plymouth City Council, sets out the city’s plans to become carbon neutral by 2030, with a clear emphasis on increasing the number of people qualified in science, technology, engineering, maths and socalled low-carbon subjects. This supports the council’s ambition to ‘Build a Better Future’ as part of its post-pandemic Resurgam economic plan.

Applications are open for those wishing to study environmental science from September: visit cityplym.ac.uk for more information or arrange to tour the college and see the state-of-the-art laboratories.

Members of Plymouth Philharmonic Choir performing at The Garden House Photo Howard Perks

Gardens are perfect setting for choir’s outdoor performance One of Britain’s finest gardens, The Garden House on the outskirts of Plymouth at Buckland Monachorum, recently hosted members of the Plymouth Philharmonic Choir who gathered on the front lawnto sing in an idyllic setting.

For head gardener Nick Haworth, gardening means selecting the best forms and cultivars to ensure diversity of seasonal interest – always innovating, always refining. Harmony and counterpoint like the work of a good choir.

Plymouth Philharmonic Choir are used to performing concerts of three or more major choral works a year with a full orchestra and nationally renowned soloists. Training and nurturing voices of current and new singers, blending to create sublime harmony and being at peak perfection on concert days for

participants and audience members’ delight.

Like a drought-stricken plant, voices need to revive, strengthen and flourish again. To begin that process it was a very appropriate choice, by musical director Christopher Fletcher, to select works from the aptly named A Sprig of Thyme by John Rutter.

The folk songs requiring a narrower vocal range and with their familiar melodies, were straightforward to sight sing and provided time for brains to get back into gear with the intricacies of musical notation and dynamics! In line with the words of the first folk song The Bold Grenadier ‘I am going a walking by the clear crystal stream to see cool waters glide and hear nightingales sing’ the choir enjoyed a stroll in the shade through the arboretum to the lake, where bird song took over the accompaniment.

An afternoon spent in the most

beautiful surroundings with glorious weather would always be special, but all of this, and on a day which saw the further relaxing of restrictions, meant that the words sung, took on greater significance in the Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves by Giuseppe Verdi ‘When will grief and lamenting be over … Hear the voice of thy people at last.’

From what was once the vicarage, singing down the valley to Buckland Monachorum church, the afternoon ended with the chorus ‘And the Glory of the Lord’ from Handel’s Messiah. It’s doubtful that the tear in my eye at the end of such a joyful couple of hours could be attributed to the very high pollen count!

The choir is preparing to start rehearsals on September 9 (further details will be available in due course on the choir’s website) www. plymouthphilchoir.org ).

September 2021 17

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Award winning film maker celebrates his degree success

An award winning filmmaker and cinematographer from Mannamead is among students who have graduated from Plymouth College of Art this year.

Sonny Layton, who is 22, was among scores of graduating students from the college’s photography courses as well as its film and screen arts and digital media production courses.

Sonny set himself apart during his time at Plymouth College of Art with his exemplary eye for lighting, image composition, camera movement and timing. His journey with the college began almost 10 years ago when he first got involved with its Saturday Arts Club aged 11, before studying media at further education level at the dedicated Pre-Degree campus, followed by undergraduate study at the Higher Education campus.

BA (Hons) Film & Screen Arts lecturer, Dr Neal Kirk, said: “Each year that Sonny studied with us, he set himself a new personal challenge, from learning sound and editing, to animation, creating a short horror film and his final major project, a music video. Sonny’s graduate projects demonstrate an impressive range, each dripping

Sonny Layton

with attention to detail that position Sonny as a soon-to-beunleashed force in the creative moving image industry.”

Sonny’s low-key biographical animation of his father’s travels around Europe ‘1977’ won the Animation award at the Royal Television Society Devon & Cornwall Student Television Awards 2021, with the judges commenting on how mesmerising and original the short was.

Sonny said: “My final project was a music video for the song ‘Shower Thoughts’ by local musician, Lil Dip. I wanted to challenge myself and have wanted to make a music video for a long time. As a result of the project, I want to continue collaborating on music videos, as well as taking on freelance work in videography and editing.

“Now that I have graduated, I plan to continue my freelance career and am looking for paid work as a videographer and editor which is where my skills primarily lie. I can’t wait to get started in the industry and continue creating and improving my craft.”

Plymouth Skills Bootcamp offers free training opportunity for young people

With economic uncertainty and apprenticeships becoming more and more competitive to gain, Plymouth’s Focus Training Group is offering a free solution for this as part of the Government’s Plan for Jobs Scheme with the Electrical Skills Bootcamp.

“Our Skills Bootcamps are unique, giving people the chance to upskill or retrain for free over a short period of time, with a clear line of sight to a job at the end.”

The course is now complete, and the learners are now with employers on work trials to gain an apprenticeship.

A similar project was carried out in Amy, one of the learners, said: “I their centre in Exeter with successful have loved this course! I started with outcomes for many on this training. a tiny amount of knowledge about The scheme is a free 12 week the industry, and I now feel like I have Electrical Bootcamp programme, giving gained essential skills to help me 12 candidates an insight into what it gain an electrical apprenticeship. My is like to be an electrical apprentice Jamie Rail, managing director of Focus confidence has grown so much and within the construction industry, Training Group, welcomes MP Gillian Keegan, the the Skills Bootcamp surpassed all training them with basic knowledge to Minister for Apprenticeships and Skills for a my expectations. It has been a really tour of the Exeter Skills Bootcamp allow them to get ahead of the game positive experience.” to gain an apprenticeship within this Ian has also completed the course industry. to see the difference the government and is delighted to have secured an The opportunity will provide launch of Skills Bootcamps has had apprenticeship position. Like Amy he also candidates with sector-specific skills and on allowing people aged 19 and over commented that he came to the course fast-track them to an interview with a who are seeking work to retrain or gain knowing very little and has left it and local employer with the view of gaining employment. immediately gained employment. an apprenticeship.

She was able to see the candidates in “The Skills Bootcamp was amazing, I The government has invested into the action and chat with them about the past learnt the basics of the electrical trade to National Skills Fund to help adults to experiences and what this scheme means put me in a good place when applying for train and gain the valuable skills they to them to enable to take a different path apprenticeships which the Focus Training need to improve their job prospects. The or to progress into an apprenticeship.

Group have helped me get. Going on the Focus Training Group already support The Minister said: “I want to Skills Bootcamp is worth it and I would local employers with the training of congratulate everyone for completing recommend it to anyone looking to get apprentices so welcomed this new their courses. I wish all those who took into the industry.” initiative and created a Electrical Skills part and worked so hard the best of Due to the success of the Exeter Bootcamp course to support the scheme.

Bootcamp another one will be taking luck for their next steps and encourage The Minister for Apprenticeships place in the Plymouth Centre. For further anyone looking for a new opportunity and Skills, Gillian Keegan, visited information please contact Heidi.e@tftg. to see how a Skills Bootcamp could help Bootcampers at the Exeter training centre them. org or call 07702858201.

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18 September 2021

More CCTV cameras to be installed across city

New CCTV cameras are being deployed across Plymouth to keep communities safe.

Residents will be better protected and criminals easier to prosecute with new CCTV cameras across the city.

The installation of thirteen new, 4G CCTV cameras is already underway. These stateof-the-art cameras do not need a digital fibre connection and use 4G to transmit the live feed back to the monitoring centre.

The locations of the cameras are chosen by a partnership group made up of representatives from the council and the police and include fly tipping and littering hotspots.

There will also be additional footage from the 50 new body-worn cameras that will be worn by the council’s civil enforcement officers. These cameras are to capture evidence if an offence occurs, particularly in fast-moving, volatile situations.

This is in addition to three new permanent CCTV cameras placed around The Hoe to deter anti-social behaviour and two mobile cameras that will be used by environmental enforcement officers in fly-tipping hotspots Councillor John Riley, Cabinet Member for Governance, HR, IT, and Community Safety said: “We committed to introduce more CCTV cameras to deter crime and to create safer communities for our residents, and that’s exactly what we’ve done.

“I am delighted to see this commitment fulfilled. With the cameras already in place, the fifty new body camera for our Civil Enforcement Team and the CCTV still due to be installed, Plymouth will be safer for our law-abiding residents.”

Work is ongoing to modernise the current CCTV system, with 12km of copper for fibre optic cables and 10 cameras now replaced.

18 September 2021

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Street artists create striking mural with a vital message A bare wall in Stonehouse has been transformed into a vivid and colourful piece of street art - with an important message.

The Plymouth Samaritans branch is always keen to connect with people and the vibrant artist Jessie Wellington was commissioned to take on a monumental task with her own superbly refined and creative artistic skills and talent.

She has created a breath-taking work of art on what was a barren and forsaken wall at the Plymouth Samaritans’ Centre in Oxford Place, Plymouth.

Jessie said: “I knew straight away that I wanted to create something for this space that both reflected the core of what the Samaritans do for us, as well as the hope they provide to those who need them. Very quickly this Pop Art inspired, superhero, vibrant idea came to mind. Something that adds some colour out of the darkness.

“Everyone who volunteers, uses or has been touched by the Samaritans in some way has a story to tell, so I wanted this piece to both tell a stand-alone story and for anyone viewing it to see themselves reflected in that story in some way.

“But, ultimately, the main point of the piece is to remind you that you are not alone and the Samaritans will always be there for you when you need them.”

Jessie and co-worker Tony Fairchild worked tirelessly against the unpredictable British weather, and over five days, painstakingly applied the paint to the wall from her design.

“It’s been an honour to create this for Plymouth Samaritans, working with such incredible people

The eye-catching mural with its vital message Photo Plymouth Samaritans

for such an amazing cause,” added Jessie.

Tony Fairchild said: “Art is my self-therapy and self-development which has supported my own mental-health during lockdown and so working on a project for an organisation which supports lives, I’ll be always grateful for this amazing opportunity working with, and for, such dedicated people.”

Samaritans would additionally like to say a massive warm thank you to Rick at South

GOOD result for Tops Day Nursery in Devonport

Staff and children at Tops Day Nursery in Devonport are pleased to be celebrating a Good rating from Ofsted following their recent inspection.

According to the Ofsted report, children feel safe and secure and confidently explore the variety of spaces inside and outside at the nursery. Moreover, children are well behaved and understand the expectations of the setting. They respond well to the staff and remind each other of the rules as they play. Babies form attachments to staff, who support them and follow their personal routines.

The report also noted that the setting has high expectations and staff support children well, including those with special educational needs or disabilities, to make good progress in their learning and development. This helps to prepare children with the necessary skills and knowledge for later learning.

The inspector said: “The newly appointed manager has a strong ambition to deliver high-quality

West Hire and Sales, for letting providing tower scaffolding, Brett Lockrood and Guy Harris for taking photos of the art progression and the final photos of the finished mural, Morgan the plasterer, for assisting in the preparation of the wall for painting, Gypsy Greaves, for helping to clear the space, Brewers, for providing the paint, and Plymouth Artists Together for connecting Plymouth to its artists.

The Samaritans of Plymouth, East Cornwall and South West Devon are part of a network of 201 Samaritans branches across the UK and Ireland who provide a listening service to lonely and

Left, above and below Jessie and Tony busy at work on the mural Photos Brett Lockwood

care and education for all children who attend the setting.

She uses additional funding to give children access to outdoor learning at forest school sessions. She has made good progress in her short time at the setting and staff feel well supported. Staff are warm and caring towards the children and they treat them with affection. When babies are upset, staff give them cuddles and reassurance.

Ciara Fagan, nursery manager of Tops Devonport said: “I am extremely proud of the staff here: we worked as a team and are over the moon with our results! We would like to thank our families and children for the ongoing support we appreciate you all.”

Tops Day Nurseries have over distressed people 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

30 nurseries including Tops Samaritans can be contacted by people in need

Devonport and six other at any time during the day or night by calling

nurseries in Plymouth and Freephone 116 123 or emailing jo@samaritans.org

Torquay. The award winning The Plymouth Branch is an independent charity

childcare provider offers early in its own right. It is entirely run and staffed

education and care for by volunteers and has to raise all of its funds

children aged three months by itself. It costs £30,000 per annum to run the to school age, as well as branch.

before, after-school and People can donate to Plymouth Samaritans at

holiday clubs for children up www.justgiving.com/samaritansplymouth or text to 11.

PLYM to 70450 to donate £5

Pioneering one-stop-donations-shop helps city provide united response to Covid

Uniform Shop has no USP

There is nothing for sale in the Children’s Uniform Shop Plymouth (USP) which is up and running again for a second time.

Launched last summer, more than three thousand school uniform garments were provided free-of-charge to about four hundred families. Now, the USP has made a welcome return. The project, which is jointly run by Plymouth Vineyard Church and Redeemer Church Plymouth, has opened up in the former Lawson’s shop (near M&S) until August the 26th for people to drop off donations and chose children’s uniforms for the new school year. The shop will be open between 10am & 3pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Funded by the National Lottery Community Fund, it is also being supported by some of Plymouth’s city councillors enabling children to receive (new) pencil cases and rucksacks.

Donations of clothing will be welcomed.

For more information visit the shop or www.uniformstoreplymouth.co.uk

ARC Volunteers - Jo Asplin, Phil Loft and Karena Jolley.

Eggs donated by St Ewes Farm, via The Hive UK.

The Aid Redistribution Centre (ARC) launched in January radically improved the way donated food is being collected from supermarkets; stored and redistributed across the city. Since then it has effectively and efficiently provided more than seventy tons of food to local charities and causes.

Acting as a central point from which food could come and food could go, it has changed the way local food banks; community projects and voluntary organisations work for the better and for ever.

The ARC has evolved rapidly and today it’s not just about food: more than sixty diverse organisations are being supported, for example, the (newly established) Hygiene Bank with toiletries; the Uniform Store with clothes for school children and Brambles Pet Food Bank with... pet food.

Meanwhile, as word has spread about its role, donations are arriving every day from all manner of businesses, such as, sun cream & sleeping bags from Service Design Solutions Engineering Consultants; kitchenware from national retailers and eggs from local farms.

Ayshea Cross, the Plymouth Food Aid Coordinator, says all donations are passed on; “The challenge is to be creative, we recently had, for example, thousands of black flower buckets donated by the Coop. The Arc gave several hundred to gardening projects supporting people with loneliness and isolation and sent loads more to refuges living in Greece via a Plymouth-based humanitarian charity OHOB.” An unexpected outcome of the project has been the willingness of people to work together. For example, drivers from the Coop, en route to the ARC, are now stopping off at Marsh Mills and delivering Sainsbury’s donated goods as well as their own.

Furthermore, as project volunteers coming

to the Arc are finding out about the other organisations so donations are being passed directly between the groups, speeding up the process.

“Blankets donated by Suited To Help, came into the Arc,” says Ayshea “and then our volunteers immediately passed them on the volunteers from the soup run who were in the Arc to collect food for that night’s soup run.

Several hours later, those same blankets were spotted out on the street with a person who was homeless.”

The evolving collaboration has also led to changes across the voluntary and community sector with the ARC now acting as a one-stopdonation-shop for organisations; businesses and charities to both give and receive. This, in turn, has had a significant impact on the sector saving time and money and enabling volunteers to do what they do best – supporting local people: “Being able to offer a whole range of items to a whole range of projects makes for greater efficiency. A lot of these smaller grassroot groups have been started by individuals who saw there was a need for helping people and just got on with it: connecting into the ARC enables all of us to work better and support more people.”

The ARC has rapidly established itself as a fundamental part of the city’s solution to supporting people through Covid and triumphed as a centre of excellence for efficiency and connectivity.

The ARC has received funding from the National Lottery and the Government-funded Covid Grant. The project is supported by Food Plymouth CIC; the Plymouth Food Aid Network and Plymouth City Council. To find out how you can support or to donate items email: ayshea@foodplymouth.org

Come along and raise your voice at our annual general knees up!

After a very long wait POP will finally be kicking off our face-to-face meetings again with a networking extravanganza; a fab lunch and our AGM. POP’s AGM will take place on the Tuesday the 9th of November and we will be hoping to make up for lost time with a fun-filled session! The theme of the day is “Voices” and we want to hear from ‘unfamiliar’ people and projects, giving them the chance to be better heard. If this sounds like your project then please get in touch with us at info@plymouthoctopus.org or phone 395131. We’d like to introduce you to our wonderful members and the work POP does so that we might find ways to amplify your voice across the city.

To book your place: bit.ly/POPAGM2021

COMMUNITY RESEARCHERS NEEDED POP has embarked on a major South West study into ‘ageing’ and we are looking for people to be trained as ‘interviewers’.

We would particularly like to invite ‘younger’ people to participate.

Contact info@plymouthoctopus.org for more information.

Helpline Numbers:

Efford Community Network

Efford 07380 309586 Glenholt 07849 413125

Neighbourhood Networks continue to support individuals in their communities.

If you or your organisation would like to volunteer text 07411 949 742.

20 September 2021

20 September 2021

@PlymChronicle

Don’t give up too soon - Tom proved that!

THE

By Dave Simpson, Station Manager Cross Rhythms Plymouth

Experience At the time of writing this the Tokyo Olympics are in full swing.

One of the highlights of the games in my opinion was watching Tom Daley get Olympic Gold along with his diving partner Matty Lee in the men’s synchronized 10m platform diving.

I can’t deny that a significant part of this is because Tom is a Plymothian and being a born and raised Janner myself I feel a measure of pride in anyone from Plymouth succeeding on the global stage.

However the main reason why I found his achievement so profound is because of the journey he has been on to get to gold. This was not his first Olympics. It wasn’t even his second or third Olympics but his fourth Olympic games.

In all the preceding tournaments he had come close to gold but not close enough, winning a bronze medal in the 10m individual platform diving in 2012 and a bronze in 2016 in the 10m synchro.

If we try for something we really want and

don’t get it on our first attempt, I’m sure most the lesson it is in not giving up, I discovered a of us would dust ourselves down and try again. song on Cross Rhythms Plymouth by JJ Heller After two attempts don’t go our way there are called ‘Don’t Give Up Too Soon’. It is a profound many of us who may consider song with a beautiful message giving up on whatever it is encouraging listeners to keep we’re aiming for. After three going and press on beyond the failed attempts I’m sure the difficult seasons we all face in vast majority of us would have life. a really hard time going again It may be you are reading this for a fourth time! article and finding day to day The fact Tom picked himself life a real challenge. Perhaps up on three separate occasions you have faced tragedy in recent over 13 years to push on to days or you just can’t shake a fourth Olympic games and negative thoughts and feelings finally win the gold medal he about yourself. had been aiming for his whole Tom Daley’s gold in Tokyo life is truly inspiring. helps shows us all the value in It’s not like Tom had it easy not giving up too soon on our either. His father, who had dreams and ambitions. The song been a significant support in

by JJ Heller goes a little further his diving career, died in 2011 to speak to people who are Dave Simpson just a few days after Tom’s 17th simply feeling like they want to birthday and just over a year give up on life itself. Her words away from the London 2012 games. encourage us to keep going and they remind As I was considering Tom Daley’s story and us of our profound God given value, which no

circumstance can take away.

Whether you are persevering to achieve great things like gold medals or just pressing on to keep going from one day to the next, may these words from the chorus of JJ’s song encourage you: Please keep waiting for the morning Don’t give up too soon Jesus cares for every sparrow I know he cares for you Oh, please don’t give up too soon There are so many encouraging songs like this one on Cross Rhythms Plymouth. If you have never tuned in before or if you feel you need something to lift your spirits tune in on 96.3FM in Plymouth or online at crossrhythms.co.uk/ plymouth.

Listen to Cross Rhythms Plymouth on 96.3FM or online at the new Cross Rhythms Plymouth website at www. crossrhythms.co.uk/plymouth

New animation explores Plymouth city centre’s heritage

A new animated film is helping Plymouth residents to learn much more about the heritage right under their feet.

‘Plymouth – City of the Future’ has been produced by animator Robin Holland at Saltashbased Carbon Pixel Limited for the High Street Heritage Action Zone Project.

The project is managed by The Box, Plymouth Octopus Project and Plymouth City Council.

It’s part of a £95 million government-funded programme which is being delivered by Historic England over the next three years to unlock the potential of 60 different high streets across the country.

The animation runs for six minutes and uses archive photographs and film footage to bring the story of why Plymouth looks the way it does The comprehensive rebuilding of Plymouth’s city centre after World War Two is widely recognised as one of the UK’s most important examples of post-war planning.

‘A Plan for Plymouth’ was prepared by Sir Patrick Abercrombie, the leading town planner of the day, in collaboration with City Engineer James Paton Watson. ‘Plymouth – City of the Future’ includes an insight into their ground breaking plan.

been doing some brilliant work over the last few months to raise awareness levels about the city centre’s heritage with a series of regular online talks and grants to support community projects that celebrate it.

“This new animated film will take things one step further and will really help the public understand why our city centre is, and deserves to be, a designated conservation area with a number of historically important spaces and places.”

Building screenshot from ‘Plymouth - City of the Future’

Gary Delaney is back in Plymouth!

The film can be watched on the High Street Heritage Action Zone’s Vimeo channel at www. vimeo.com/562687547 and The Box’s website at www.theboxplymouth.com by clicking on ‘Visit’, ‘Outside The Box’ and ‘High Street Sparks’.

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It will also be played at regular intervals on The Box’s outdoor film screen in Tavistock Place.

Councillor Mark Deacon, Cabinet Member for Customer Services, Culture, Leisure and Sport said: “The High Street Heritage Action Zone project has

For more information or to apply, contact us:

Phone 01752 225623

Find us on Facebook @PlymChronicle

Or online at cornerstonevision.com

Star of Live at the Apollo and sellout sensation Gary Delaney is back in Plymouth with his new show Gary in Punderland.

He will be appearing at Marjon’s Quad Theatre - the new home of comedy in the city – on Friday September 3 at 8pm.

One of the most sought after joke writers in the country and longstanding Mock the Week special guest, Gary has been through the laughing glass and he’s ready to bring a brand new show with hit after hit of the kind of one-liners only a master could craft.

This is a joint venture between Marjon and Comical Entertainment. Andrew Smallridge and James Maunder set up Comical Entertainment having found that few live comedy shows were available locally in Plymouth and across the South West. They now bring top comics to Plymouth, Launceston and Paignton in pursuit of their mission to become ‘The home of comedy in the South West.’

For tickets and information on forthcoming shows visit www. comicalentertainment.com

Dial the Experts The handy guide to Plymouth trades & services

J & M ARCHITECTURAL J & M ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN House & Building plans Extensions • Conversions • Alterations Planning & Building regulation applications Fast & efficient service 01752 936125 07745 392764 jjmmdesign@yahoo.co.uk • www.jmdesign.org.uk

STEVE ELECTRICAL Fully qualified and insured electrician • Free estimates/no call-out fees • all electrical work considered • Over 25 years experience • Friendly, local, family run business • NICEIC cert • Rewires • Certification for minor or major work Very competitive prices/ high quality work.

Will beat all other reasonable quotes.

• Call Steve 07894 208842

GARDEN & LANDSCAPING

PAINTERS & DECORATORS A.S. DECORATING & MAINTENANCE Specialising in full room skims/decor • Maintenance • Repair • Plastering • Flooring • Tiling • Kitchen & Bathroom fitting 16 Lympne Ave, Ernesettle, Plymouth Tel 01752 771457 Mob 07966 639129 Email: a.sdecorating@hotmail.co.uk

ERB PAINTING & DECORATING

BATHROOMS

Jobel - Bathrooms & Kitchens Plymouth family run independent bathrooms & kitchens We supply & install or supply only with all trades directly employed Visit our showroom at Bounds Place Millbay PL1 3LS - 01752 663010

BLINDS

UK Blinds Plymouth Ltd We won’t be beaten on price or choice!

Comprehensive Range of Styles & Fabric Free Measuring, Quotation & Fitting Discounts for Multiple Blinds 01752 300923 | 07765 033470 www.ukblindsplymouth.co.uk

CARPENTERS ALLWOOD INSTALLATIONS Trading Standards approved company Bespoke joinery • doors • staircases • bars Box frame windows • counters • PCstations.

Kitchens Bedrooms Bathrooms.

All associated plumbing,electrical & tiling Tel 07704448835 www.allwoodinstallations.co.uk 01752348648 allwoodinstallations@icloud.com

MALCOLM WILLS CARPENTRY Home Improvements, Alterations, Flooring and Doors, Small jobs undertaken.

Senior Citizens Rates.

Call for an estimate: 07599 888841 or 01752 255154

ELECTRICAL

R.C. Electrical - Ryan Cross

Fully qualified ‘Approved Electrician’ Which? Trusted Trader & Reviews on Yell.com • Over 19 years experience • FREE quotes •

www.rc-electrical.net info@rc-electrical.net 07813 195943

ROWE NET - Electrical & Home Automation Do you find it hard to get someone to come and do a small job?

• Fully Insured • Fully Qualified Electrician • NIC EIC Registered • No job too small or big • Free Quotations • Reasonably Priced • Satisfaction Guaranteed

Call 01752 548766 or email info@rowe-net.net

C. Wilson Tree Surgeons

Tree Felling • Crown Reduction Pruning • Stump Grinding • Hedge Cutting Garden Clearance NPTC Qualified - Fully insured FREE QUOTES 07366474535

ROB'S LANDSCAPES Landscaping • Gardening • Natural Stone Walling • Fencing Block & Brick Walls • Patios • Decking • Ground Maintenance Block Driveways • Pressure Washing • Turfing Artificial Grass Free estimates • 18 yrs experience

07506 739819

robslandscapes@icloud.com

colourfenceplymouth.co.uk Storm proof garden fencing.

Professionally installed with a 25 year warranty.

CALL NOW! 01752 544944 GUTTERING

TOTALLY GUTTERED BLOCKED, BROKEN OR DIRTY GUTTERS? Domestic & Commercial, High Level Gutter Vacuum (up to 4 Storey) Prompt, Efficient Service from a Local Family Business Call on 07467 297363

LOCKSMITH The Door Doctor - 24 hr Locksmith • Lockouts • Lock Changing/Fitting • Specialist UPVC Door & Window Repairs • Replacement Glass • Free Quotes 30 PERCY TERRACE, PLYMOUTH, PL4 7HG Tel 01752 516877 Mob 07989 599969

OVEN CLEANING SERVICES

GREENS OVEN CLEANS Let me give your oven a new lease of life Call Trevor on 07501 645208 trevgreen4@gmail.com Fully Insured

Decorating internal & external • Plastering Renovations • Flooring • General maintenance Garden decking & fencing • Friendly & reliable Tel: 01752 559753 Mob: 07796 961036 email: ellis-ball@hotmail.co.uk

S.G.F Decorating Services Plastering & Decorating Specialist Painting - Plastering - Wallpaper - Interior & Exterior Work - Over 30 years experience C.S.C.S Registered - Friendly & Reliable 07859 804389 stevefull@live.co.uk

PLASTERING A R PLASTERING & BUILDING From a small repair to the whole house All Internal & External Work undertaken • Plastering • Rendering • Building work • Decorating • Damp proofing • Tiling • and more Free estimates call Alex on 07904755491

STEVE BENNETT PLASTERING

Special OAP Rates Internal/External Plastering • Spar Dash Specialist • Insurance Work Welcome • UPVC Facias, Soffits and Guttering • Property Maintenance • Painting/Decorating • Coving Prompt Polite Friendly Service • No Job Too Small • Free Estimates 01752 368601 • 07971 741068 www.stevebennettplastering.co.uk • facebook.com/plasterersofplymouth

PLUMBING & HEATING SERVICES MIKE JARVIS PLUMBING & HEATING SERVICES All plumbing, heating and gas work undertaken • Servicing, installation and repair • Gas Safe • • No job too small • 24 hour emergency call out • VAILLANT approved installer Tel 01752 778440 Mob 07875136429

T.R.B Heating - Trevor Bryant

Full Heating Systems • Boiler Exchanges • Fire and Fireplace Installations • Complete Kitchen & Bathroom Design and Installation • Former British Gas Heating Installer • Gas Safe Registered Special offer on servicing boilers £50 (T&C Apply) 0790 6706 799 www.trbheating.co.uk trbheating@live.co.uk

PINK PLUMBERS Fast, Friendly, Reliable and tidy service by your local FEMALE plumber.

Specialist in small to medium jobs (NO VAT) 01752 412070 07540 956436

ROOFING

DEVONSHIRE ROOFING SERVICES

All aspects of roofing work undertaken, from repairs and maintenance to full restoration and new build projects.

Pitched or flat roofs • GRP (fibreglass) •lead-work uPVC Fascias & guttering • Roof-lights • Fully insured A fast & friendly service. Competitive rates.

Call or email Neil for a free estimate • 07543363225 • 01752216765 devonshireroofing@live.co.uk • www.devonshireroofing.co.uk 10% discount to Forces Veterans

LES PIKE • Emergency roof repair specialist • Concrete tiles • Natural slate • Lead valleys • Flashings All building & construction work undertaken.

45 Years experience in the building industry.

Tel: 01752 787708 Mob: 07977949898

STAIRLIFTS & ACCESS

Uplifto - STAIRLIFTS

New & reconditioned Reconditioned stairlifts from £750 with 12 months warranty New stairlifts from £1400 with 3 year warranty Sales, Service and repairs of all makes and models Plymouth based company

01752 336077 - admin@uplifto.co.uk

WASTE REMOVAL

J&S RUBBISH REMOVALS House/Loft/Garage/Garden Clearances Licence carriers. Discount for OAPs. Free estimates Call Steve today to take it away Tel: 01752 600570 Mob: 07929000918 info@js-rubbish-removals.co.uk

KSR Licensed Disposal REMOVAL OF WASTE Cheap rates for OAPs, For a FREE Estimate, CALL Kevin: 07810 450940 Please Stay Safe!

B Williams Plumbing and Heating Reliable plumber no job too small from tap washers to central heating systems. Free quotes gas safe registered. No call out charge, recommendations can be given. 07971572632 www.bw-plumbing.co.uk We can do it all for you from start to finish!

Want to reach 92,000 homes around Plymouth?

Interested in advertising in Dial The Experts?

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Whether you need to reach private individuals or business owners and managers, our Door to Door and Business to Business leaflet distribution services can reach your audience.

Get in touch to find out more information.

28 Old Park Road, Peverell, PL3 4PY 01752 225623 www.cornerstonevision.com

22 September 2021

Council fast-tracks support for people with terminal illness Plymouth City Council has delivered on its commitment to make it quicker and easier for people diagnosed with a terminal illness to apply for disabled facilities grants, Blue Badges and disabled driver parking spaces.

Disabled facilities grants help people make essential changes to their home, for example widening doors, installing permanent ramps or providing accessible bathrooms.

Grant applications will now be fast-tracked for anyone diagnosed with a terminal illness or life-limiting condition with a prognosis of less than two years to live. A dedicated case officer will also be on hand to support the process and ensure that the adaptation is delivered as smoothly as possible, with the aim of completing works within seven weeks.

The council has also reviewed its policy on disabled driver parking spaces to include specific arrangements for Blue Badge holders with a terminal illness. These drivers will not be expected to demonstrate difficulty in finding a parking space near their home and applications will be processed within one day, with the aim of installing the bay within seven days.

The website has also been updated to make it clearer that people with a terminal illness may be able to apply for a Blue Badge and that these applications are fast-tracked.

Councillor Patrick Nicholson, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member responsible for health and adult social care, said: “We want to help make the process as stress-free as possible for those who have been given a terminal diagnosis and their families during what is a difficult and often very upsetting time. I’m really pleased that we have been able to deliver on this commitment so quickly and hope these small changes will help to make life just a little easier for those who have been diagnosed.”

For more information about disabled facility grants visit www.plymouth.gov.uk/housing/ adaptyourhome/disabledfacilitiesgrant.

Information about Blue Badges can be found at www.plymouth.gov.uk/parkingandtravel/ bluebadgesanddisabledparking/bluebadges.

Key role for Labour leader Tudor Evans Councillor Tudor Evans, the Leader of the Labour Group on Plymouth City Council has been elected to the Board of the Local Government Association (LGA).

Cllr Evans is one of a handful of senior councillors from across the country to join the board and described it as ‘a big deal’.

“It is a great honour for me to be able to represent Labour at the very highest level, it really is a big deal,” said Cllr Evans, who is a councillor for Ham Ward in the city.

The LGA is a politically-led, cross-party organisation which works on behalf of councils to ensure local government has a strong, credible voice with national government.

It comprises 328 of the 333 councils in England and includes district, county, metropolitan and unitary authorities along with London boroughs and the City of London Corporation.

Cllr Evans said that the election, which means he becomes one of the most senior figures in local government, means Plymouth City Council ‘has representation at the highest level’.

“The board makes decisions on behalf of all its members and is responsible for maintaining good relations with the government and opposition parties.

“I’ll be lobbying on issues of concern and using it as a platform to raise issues not just in Plymouth but also the rest of the South West, which isn’t always on the government’s radar.”

22 September 2021

@PlymChronicle

Centre providing mental health support celebrates new facility A centre providing vital support for people with mental health and wellbeing issues has reopened.

Crossroads Fun and Friendship Centre has provided support for adults in the city for nearly 27 years, with the backing of Plymouth City Council and Morice Baptist Church in Ham Drive.

After the difficulties created by the pandemic the centre has worked hard to provide social interaction and support - and in mid-July re-opened to provide support

groups for up to 15 people per session.

And at the end of July an event was held to open a re-developed area of Morice Baptist Church’s garden, which is maintained by Crossroads staff and members and used by the centre every day. Previously it was an ageing decking area which has been replaced by a new patio area surrounded by raised flower beds - providing an accessible and peaceful area for all to enjoy.

The garden improvements were made possible with the help of local councillors

Tudor Evans, Gareth Derrick and Tina Tuohy.

Crossroad project manager Len Russell said: “We would like to take this opportunity to thank all who have contributed to the successful ongoing garden work and to the organisations which have helped is the past to achieve better accessibility in the garden, especially Plymouth Community Homes and Cornwall College.

“This is now an area that will be enjoyed by many and will be beneficial to their mental wellbeing during this difficult period.”

Ribbon cutting ceremony (from left) : Allan Jones, chair of Crossroads Trustees, Cllr Tudor Evans, Len Russell, Crossroads project manager, Cllr Gareth Derrick and Mike Taylor, deacon of Morice Baptist Church

Blooming beautiful illustrations by Plymouth schoolchildren brightening up Barbican planters Local schoolchildren have been creating beautiful Plymouththemed designs to adorn the new planters on the Barbican, as part of a competition run

by Plymouth Waterfront Partnership Business Improvement District (PWP BID).

A total of 19 planters, filled with more than 2,000 trailing petunias, were recently installed along Southside Street. The aim is to provide a floral welcome to visitors to the Barbican, and make the area safer for pedestrians by discouraging parking on the pavements.

The planters are part of the BID’s entry into the 2021 South West in

Bloom initiative, a regional heat of the renowned Britain in Bloom competition.

PWP is now brightening up the planters themselves by decorating the sides with the children’s bright and colourful designs.

A total of 135 entries were received for the illustration competition from children aged 5 to 11 from three local schools: St Andrew’s C of E Primary School, Pilgrim Primary School and Hyde Park Junior School.

Diane Mansell, chief executive of PWP, said: “We were absolutely blown away by the creative and imaginative designs submitted into the competition and I’d like to say a huge thank you to all the children who got involved. It was a difficult process to narrow down all the amazing entries to just 19 winners!

“The designs bring even more colour and cheer to the Barbican so make sure you visit Southside Street and take a look.”

Each of the 19 Barbican planters will now host one of the winning designs, as well as new signage welcoming visitors to the area and showcasing unique facts about the city.

For more information about PWP, please see: www.waterfrontbid.co.uk

September 2021 23

@PlymChronicle

USEFUL NUMBERS Emergency Numbers

Police, Fire, Ambulance or Coastguard 999 or 112 Police general enquiries 101 Derriford Hospital 01752 202082 Electricity, Western Power Distribution 0800 678 3105 Gas, Wales & West Utilities 0800 111999 Water, South West Water 0344 3462020 Environment Agency (Emergency) 0800 807060 RSPCA 0300 1234 999

Helplines

Golden age of cruising comes to Plymouth In July Plymouth hosted the stunning Golden Horizon cruise ship on its inaugural sailing – and the ship is set to return to the city again in August.

The largest square-rigged sailing cruise ship in the world, Golden Horizon is operated by a new UK-based cruise line, Tradewind Voyages.

The ship, which was undertaking a series of short cruises from Dover, arrived in Plymouth Sound on July 22.

Passengers on board went ashore as part of the shore excursion programme to enjoy a ‘Historic’ Plymouth’ walking tour around the Barbican and Plymouth Hoe, led by Blue Badge Guide Adrian Chapman.

They were the first cruise-ship guests to use the new Barbican Landing Stage, refurbished in 2020 by the Cattewater Harbour Commissioners.

To welcome the passengers ashore were Plymouth Cruise Volunteers Douglas, Annemarie and Sandra, the Town Crier John Pitt, Harbour Master Richard Allen and recently appointed cruise development manager for Destination Plymouth, Glen Gardner.

Executive director of Destination Plmouth, Amanda Lumley, said: “We are delighted to have given a really warm welcome to our first cruise passengers of the year here in Plymouth, Britain’s Ocean City.

Everyone really went the extra mile in providing the best experience

possible for the passengers and we look forward to welcoming Golden Horizon back again in August.

“It’s been such a long time since we’ve been able to showcase our amazing city to cruise guests, but this is just the beginning of a busy spell for the city and port with ten cruise calls booked over the following few months.

“We were thrilled to learn that the passengers commented that they were pleasantly surprised with how lovely Plymouth was, with many saying they would make a return visit, and that it was their best port call of the cruise - words reiterated by the Destination Manager on board.

“All of the passengers who came ashore were treated to a gift bag before they returned to the ship as part of our ‘Fond Farewell’. We have to say thank you to local businesses for making this happen including Plymouth Gin, Roly’s Fudge, The Boathouse and the Tourist Information Centre.”

Captain Mariusz Szalek was also presented with a gift from Plymouth, as a token to mark the occasion of the ship’s first ever call to the city.

Usually presented personally by the Harbour Master or a city official, on this occasion the gift was sent via the ship’s tender due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Golden Horizon is scheduled to return to Plymouth on August 11.

ABOUT GOLDEN HORIZON

Golden Horizon boasts five towering masts, was built in Croatia, and weighs in at 8,784 gross tonnes. She was originally named Flying Clipper but was renamed by Tradewind Voyages - the UK firm which is running its cruises.

Built in 2019, the ship is a near replica of the 1913-built ocean vessel, France II, and provides similar elegance, adventure and romance of an historic ship. The vessel cost 100 million Euros to construct and has a top speed of 20 knots, an overall length of 162m and a beam of 19m. With a passenger capacity of between 272 and 330 (in normal times), looked after by a crew of compliment of around 160, passengers have four decks to enjoy and there are 140 cabins.

Age UK Plymouth 01752 256020 Adoption UK 0844 848 7900 Al-Anon Family Groups 020 7403 088 Alcoholics Anonymous 0800 917 7650 Carers UK 020 7378 4999 Childline 0800 1111 Christians Against Poverty (Debt Advice) 0800 328 0006 Citizens Advice 0300 3309 043 Cruse Bereavement Care 0870 1671677 Devon & Cornwall Food Action 01752 651800 Disability & Information Advice Line 01302 310123 Drug Addicts Anonymous: Helpline 07818260811 Jan Cutting Healthy Living Centre 01752 203670 Money Advice Plymouth (Debt Advice) 01752 208126 NSPCC Child Protection Helpline 0808 8005000 National Missing Persons Helpline 0500 700700 National Christian Helpline 0300 111 0101 NHS Direct 0845 4647 National Domestic Violence Helpline 0808 2000247 Osteoporosis Support Group 075958 500314 Overeaters Anonymous 07000 784 985 Parentline Plus 0808 8002222 Relateline 0845 1304010 Samaritans 116 123 Talk to Frank 0800 776600 Shelterline 0808 8004444 Stop Hate Crime 24/7 Helpline 0800 138 1625 Stroke Helpline 0303 3033 100 West Country Landlords Assn 01752 242980

Travel RAC Green Flag Rail Travel, national enquiries Plymouth Citybus National Express Coaches Brittany Ferries Cremyll Ferry Torpoint Ferry Tourist Information Passport Office, National Helpline

08000 828282 0800 400600 08457 484950 01752 662271 08717 818181 08705 360360 01752 822105 01752 812233 01752 266030 0870 5210410

Entertainment Theatre Royal 01752 267222 Barbican Theatre 01752 267131 Devonport Playhouse 01752 606507 Plymouth Athenaeum Theatre 01752 266079 Plymouth Pavilions 01752 936363 Plymouth Pavilions Ticket Store 03337 727727 Cineworld 03303 33444 Vue Cinema 0345 308 4620 Tourist Information 01752 306330 National Trust Saltram 01752 333500 Plymouth City Museum & Art Gallery 01752 304774 Plymouth Arts Centre 01752 206114

Leisure

Plymouth Life Centre 01752 606900 Brickfields Recreation Ground 01752 563320 Manadon Football Dev’ment Centre 01752 201918 Plympton Swimming Pool 0870 300 0020 Plymouth Pavilions 0845 146 1460 Megabowl, Coxside 0871 5501010 Tourist Information 01752 306330 The Beckly Centre, Plymstock 01752 484433

Weather The Met Office Weathercall

0870 9000100 0870 6004242

If you think your organisation would benefit from being listed in our Useful Numbers guide please e-mail your details to info@cornerstonevision.com or write to: Plymouth Chronicle, 28 Old Park Road, Peverell, Plymouth Tel 01752 225623

Golden Horizon passengers are welcomed ashore

Please note that whilst the Publishers have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of telephone numbers in this Directory, and dates in the What’s On section, no responsibility can be accepted for any errors.

24 September 2021

24 September 2021

@PlymChronicle

New website shows off Plymouth’s Advertise to vibrant cultural and creative sector over A new digital platform has launched in Plymouth designed to promote, celebrate and explore the culture sector in the city.

Madeinplymouth.co.uk has been born as the creative and cultural community prepares to emerge from more than a year of lockdowns and a forced shutdown of much of the sector.

Artists, creatives, businesses and organisations can finally start to see the light at the end of a long dark tunnel, with events, gigs, shows and exhibitions now starting to appear again.

Made in Plymouth tells the stories of the people and groups working incredibly hard to help culture thrive again.

It has been created by Plymouth Culture, the support agency for the city’s cultural sector and has three main aims: • To attract people to take part, visit and enjoy cultural venues and events in Plymouth • To show off and celebrate the sector’s people and their work • To give a positive representation of Plymouth’s culture, attracting people to the city and persuading artists and creatives to stay It also includes a comprehensive guide to cultural venues in Plymouth as well as a curated listings service that welcomes contributions.

Hannah Harris, chief executive of Plymouth Culture, said: “Now is a critical time for culture and Made in Plymouth is designed to celebrate, support and shout from the rooftops about the amazing work that has taken place during the Covid crisis as we emerge from lockdown.

“We want to let as many people as possible know about the amazing array of cultural events taking place in Plymouth but we also want to speak to the future artists and creatives that will continue to build the city’s reputation as a cultural hub.

“Made in Plymouth will profile the people in the sector and show their journeys –providing inspiration to a new generation and telling the rest of the world what we’re capable of” Organisations and individuals are being urged to get involved too. They can upload events from the website’s What’s On page and let the Made in Plymouth team know about their work, so it can be featured.

Hannah added: “We hope Plymouth will tell us what’s missing – the places and stories Made in Plymouth should be telling, so we can truly be a beacon for the amazing work taking place in the city.”

Plymouth Culture is supported by its funders including Arts Council England and Plymouth City Council and works with partners across the city.

For details of the wide range and variety of cultural activities in Plymouth go to www.madeinplymouth.co.uk

City Culture: Street Art in Stonehouse with artist Joe Greenaway Photo by Brett Lockwood

City Culture: Barbican Theatre Rebels puppet parade Photo by John Allen

homes in Central and Waterfront

The Central and Waterfront Chronicle is delivered door to door every month to homes in Hartley, Mannamead, Compton, Efford, Laira, St Judes, Mt Gould, Lipson, Greenbank, Prince Rock, Cattedown, Barbican, Hoe, City Centre, Mutley and Peverell.

The October edition of the Plymouth Chronicle in Central and Waterfront will be published on September 17 with a copy deadline of September 6.

The Central and Waterfront edition is one of four hyper local editions delivered to a total of more than 90,000 homes throughout the city.

We welcome submissions but cannot guarantee publication. We accept press releases in the form of text documents and images in JPG or TIFF format (high resolution please).

For more information, or to talk to one of our sales advisors, call

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or email info@cornerstonevision.com www.cornerstonevision.com

Chronicle Plymouth

September 2021

COVID UPDATE See inside for news and information from Plymouth City Council Page 2

www.plymouthchronicle.co.uk The popular Plymouth Seafood and Harbour Festival is back in September.

For details See Page 3

Plymouth Samaritans have commissioned a stunning work of street art with a vital message See Page 18

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Contact Chris Etherington:

chris.etherington@cornerstonevisio

01752 225623

• Dial the Experts • Local news and views

• Cross Rhythms Experience • Useful numbers

A new website has been launched to promote, celebrate and explore the cultural sector of Plymouth.

The new digital platform www.Madeinplymouth.co.uk has been created as the cultural community emerges from lockdown. Pictured are Plymouth Dance Photo by Dom Moore • See story on page 24

City Culture: Theatre Royal’s Funky Llama club night Photo by Dom Moore

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