SOUTH DEVON June / July 2013
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Lincombe Manor Advert 210x297 Awk 15/05/2013 14:40 Page 1
Lincombe Manor
Residential and Nursing Care Home Come and visit our beautiful care home facility and see for yourself how we are redefining care for older people. Lincombe Manor is a beautiful care home set in the mature grounds of a grade II listed coastal manor house, offering affordable luxury care in a stunning location, moments from Torquay town with breathtaking sea views over Torbay. We offer architect designed stylish modern accommodation, and round the clock professional care to look after your physical, social, and spiritual health. Quality care, empathy and compassion is shown to everyone at all times. At Lincombe you can live life at your own pace knowing that support is available whenever you need it. • Rated “excellent” by regulators CQC • Long term or short term stays - from as little as £795 per week • All rooms en suite with shower wet room, flat screen TV, telephone and call alarm • Comfortable communal rooms with spacious sitting rooms • Restaurant standard food from a team of top chefs • Garden lounge, quiet lounge, bistro, roof terrace with stunning sea views • Events and daily activities to suit a wide range of interests and abilities • Use of manor house country club facilities, including restaurant and licensed bar • Dedicated Clinical Nurse Manager
For more information call
01803 389800
or visit www.manorlife.com Lincombe Manor Middle Lincombe Road, Torquay, Devon, TQ1 2AF
for What's On, visit: southdevonhub .co.uk
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JUNE JULY 2013
Contents ISSUE NO 7
4. Forthcoming Events
27. Flatbeare Views
Find out what's on in South Devon.
Ardley's Summer of Love.
8. Live Music Roundup
28. Row your Boat
Get the info on local live music.
Sarah Acton discusses gig boats.
10. Art Gallery What's On
32. Loddiswell Walk
Art gallery events and Art Blog.
Illustrated walk with the Editor.
13. Nelson's Column
40. Tales of a Yokel
John Fisher's sage viewpoint!
Yarns from the inimitable FCR Esgen.
14. Fashion and Beauty
41. Eating Out
The Fashion Museum at Bath.
Great places to dine out.
16. Star Gazing
43. Life Matters
With broadcaster Judi Spiers.
The Prince's Trust.
18. Nudibranchs
45. But here's the thing
Dan Bolt's underwater pics.
John Fisher discusses some more.
22. Seaside Bathing
46. Murder & Smuggling
Home bathing - Amanda Crump.
John Fisher investigates.
SOUTH DEVON
Coast & Country
CONTRIBUTORS
Nigel Jones, FCR Esgen, John Fisher, Judi Spiers, Amanda Crump, Ardley Chic, Janet East, Hanneke Coates-Hoorn, Averil Quinain, Jill Cooke, Hazel Fergie, Sarah Acton, Dan Bolt.
MAGAZINE
Editor and publisher: Nigel Jones tel. 01395 513383 email: nigel@prestige-media.co.uk Advertising call: 01395 513383 By post: Beech Royd, 6 Bennetts Hill, Sidmouth, Devon EX10 9XH
Cover photo: by Nigel Jones Rose Cottage at Cockington Village All images copyright N.Jones unless otherwise credited
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Editor's Letter A warm welcome to the June & July issue of the South Devon Coast & Country magazine. Well, we're here at last, Summer has arrived. You may remember last year's Jubilee celebrations, then the Olympics (in which we did surprisingly well, especially on the bikes!) and oh - don't mention the weather. I'm sure it's going to be a quieter summer this year, we've can look forward to Wimbledon (one year we will win - just hope it's within my lifetime!), Royal Ascot and then the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's baby is due (July).
Estate Agents covering Salcombe and the South Hams since 1902 Salcombe 01548 843952
Kingsbridge 01548 852352
London 02070 791579
SOUTH DEVON
Made in Norway
We're lucky to enjoy summer in South Devon, particularly being alongside the sea, because so much happens along the coast, with regattas, festivals and suchlike. But we shouldn't forget all the stuff that happens inland. If you're like me, you'll really treasure the village fairs and fetes, with an abundance of cream teas, beers and ciders on offer - truly lovely.
Coast & Country
Summer's the time for all those interesting local events that you really don't want to miss, the list is of events is endless. In terms of finding out What's On, I hope that by now you're aware of South Devon Hub, a website that allows you to really see what's on in the region. It's free for everyone to both enter events and the public to view. What's unique is that it offers local villages, parishes, charities, indeed any local organisation the ability to publicise their events to a wide audience. You can also view the HUB on your mobile phone (smartphone versions). Additionally, many events also make it from the website into this magazine. Just go to:
www. southdevonhub .co.uk Kind regards Nigel Jones (Editor)
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June & July 2013
Forthcoming Events Events listings powered by: southdevonhub .co.uk
Dartington TAGORE FESTIVAL 27 Jun to 30 Jun - Join us for Tagore Festival 2013 in the inspiring grounds of Dartington Hall, Dartington Hall, Totnes, 10.00am. VIVA VERDI (NEW DEVON OPERA) 18 Jul - Celebrated scenes and extracts from the great composer's operas, Dartington Hall, Totnes, 7.30pm.
Are you Fed up with missing local events? Wish you could tap into a resource that has really comprehensive WHAT'S ON information for the region? The solution is here, it's called:
southdevonhub .co.uk
Festivals FLOWER FESTIVAL - CREDITON PARISH CHURCH 01 Jun to 06 Jun - Come to see our exhibition with flowers at Crediton Parish Church, Crediton Parish Church, Crediton, 10.00am.
IVYBRIDGE FUN DAY 06 Jul - Displays, rides, stalls, bands etc. Organised by Ivybridge Lions Club, Ivybridge Fun Day, Ivybridge, 12.00am. CHUDLEIGH LITERARY FESTIVAL 10 Jul - A day for writers, Chudfest, Chudleigh, 9.30am.
THE CONTEMPORARY CRAFT FESTIVAL 07 Jun to 09 Jun - Celebrating 10 years, one of the finest & most acclaimed craft events in UK, The Contemporary Craft Festival, Bovey Tracey, 10.00am.
KINGSBRIDGE FOOD & MUSIC FESTIVAL 21 Jun to 24 Jun - Superb local food produces and a great line up of bands, Kingsbridge. CHUDFEST 2013 05 Jul to 14 Jul - Ten day festival; events to suit all ages, all tastes and all pockets, Chudfest, Chudleigh. SOUTH DEVON
SOUND BITES: HAPPY FOOD WITH LAUGHTER YOGA! 14 Jun - Laughter Yoga and dinner, Hannahs at Seale-Hayne, Newton Abbot, 7.00pm.
VIRGINIA IRONSIDE - GROWING OLD DISGRACEFULLY 05 Jul - Written and performed by Virginia Ironside directed by Nigel Planer, Flavel Arts Centre, Dartmouth. JETHRO 27 Jul - Jethro returns to the Babbacombe Theatre for his 2013 UK Live Tour, Babbacombe Theatre, Torquay, 7.30pm.
THE TELEGRAPH WAYS WITH WORDS FESTIVAL 05 Jul to 15 Jul - A chance for those who read books to meet those who write them, Ways With Words Festival, Totnes. BISHOPSTEIGNTON VILLAGE FESTIVAL 20 Jun to 23 Jun - 4 day festival. Marquee on village green. Lots to do, Bishopsteignton Village Festival, Bishopsteignton.
Comedy
Museums &
Local Heritage
An Evening of Burlesque at Princess Theatre
SOUTH BRENT FOLK FESTIVAL 12 Jul to 14 Jul - South Brent Folk Festival - music, dance and song, South Brent Folk Festival, South Brent. PLYMOUTH DANCE FESTIVAL 22 Jul to 28 Jul - See web for details, The City of Plymouth Festival, Plymouth.
Coast & Country
COOKWORTHY MUSEUM GALLERIES Until 24 Jul - Open Monday to Saturday in season, Cookworthy Museum, Kingsbridge, 10.30am. REFASHION EXHIBITION 2013 Until 18 Aug - Exhibition Tues- Fri weekly Recycled Garments Textiles and Designs 1760-2013, Totnes Fashion and Textile Museum, Totnes. HERITAGE OPEN DAY 01 Jun - Heritage Open Day, Brixham Heritage Museum, Brixham, 10.30am.
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FATHER'S DAY EXTRAVAGANZA 16 Jun - Lots of things for dads from displays of machines and gadgets to tree climbing, Castle Drogo, Drewsteignton, 11.00am. WILD TRIBE 02 Jul - Families with children between 5 to 18 yrs. Activities vary with time of year, Castle Drogo, Drewsteignton, 11.00am. FAMILY FUN DAY 13 Jul - Expect fun for all the family at this wonderful event, Hannahs at Seale-Hayne, Newton Abbot, 10.00am. SUMMER CAMP 28 Jul to 31 Aug - For this summer we are offeringsummer camp-style activities for youngsters, Hannahs at Seale-Hayne, Newton Abbot, 8.30am. SUMMER STAKEOUT, A PLAY IN A WEEK 29 Jul to 02 Aug - Make new friends, learn skills and create your own play which you can perform, Theatre Royal Plymouth.
Theatricals and Musicals SPELLBOUND Until 31 Jul - An Enchanted Evening of Extraordinary Entertainment, Babbacombe Theatre, Torquay, 8.15pm. THE ABYSS PRESENTS LUCIFER SAVED 02 Jun - The abyss presents Lucifer saved by Peter Oswald, South Devon arts centre, totnes, 7.00Pm. WEST END ENCORE 06 Jun to 29 Aug - Showstopping songs from current West End Hit Musicals, Babbacombe Theatre, Torquay, 8.15pm. FREDDY DARE & GINGER ROBBER 08 Jun - An adventure through theatre and film, A powerful story for all ages, Flavel Arts Centre, Dartmouth, 2.00pm. PRINCESS IDA BY GILBERT & SULLIVAN 02 Jul to 06 Jul - well known amusing operetta brought right up to date
Totnes Good Food Sunday
Classical
Conce rts ALEX KNIGHT 13 Jun - Alex Knight (Guitar), Dawlish Arts Festival, Dawlish, 7.30pm. ABBAS MUSIC GROUP 15 Jun - Abbas Music Group, Dawlish Arts Festival, Dawlish, 7.30pm. SHALDON'S 24TH CLASSIC MUSIC FESTIVAL 20 Jun to 23 Jun - Festival provides local people and visitors with first rate classical music, Shaldon Music Festival, Shaldon. PRESSENDA ENSEMBLE 27 Jun - Pressenda Ensemble, Dawlish Arts Festival, Dawlish, 7.30pm.
3rd Sunday, the Market Square.
WEST COUNTRY PRODUCER'S DAY 07 Jun - Come along and meet local producers, free entry and parking, Moorland Garden Hotel, Plymouth, 12.00am.
MARKET DAYS Brixham Arts and Craft Market Every Saturday under the old fish market, Brixham harbourside.
Dartmouth Market Every Tuesday and Friday in the Market Square from Easter to October.
Exminster Market First Saturday every month, 9.30am12.30pm
Ivybridge Market
CLASSICAL MASTERS SERIES: MOZART 12 Jul - Ten Tors Orchestra, Peninsula Art Gallery, Plymouth, 7.30pm.
The Scout Hut, St Leonard's Road, Ivybridge. Fridays. 8.30-11.30am.
LAST NIGHT OF THE PROMS 12 Jul - Light classical music with a Last Night of the Proms finale, Hannahs at Seale-Hayne, Newton Abbot, 7.00pm.
Town Hall Foyer, Fore Street. Wednesdays from 8.15am-12noon.
ENGLISH CATHEDRAL CLASSICS 13 Jul - West Devon Chorale: Choral Concert, West Devon Chorale, Plymouth, 7.30pm.
FARMERS &
Country Markets
Kingsbridge Market
Torbay Family Market Castle Circus, Torquay. Last Saturday of the month, 10am-4pm.
Tavistock Market The Pannier Market, Tavistock. Fridays from 9am-4pm.
Totnes Market Fridays and Saturdays.
Collectors WHAT DO YOU COLLECT? MY PURRFECT COLLECTION Until 21 Jul - One person's Hello Kitty collection, amassed since the mid 1980s, Royal Albert Memorial Museum RAMM, Exeter. DCAF ANTIQUES SHOW 29 Jun - Antique and collectors fair, The Matford Centre, Exeter. INTERNATIONAL ANTIQUES AND COLLECTORS FAIR 20 Jul to 21 Jul - Huge selection of antiques and collectables, Westpoint Arena, Exeter, 10.00am.
Newton Abbot Outdoor Market The Market Square every Wednesday & Saturday 8am-4pm.
CONTINUED OVERLEAF
Swanson Ford Your local Ford Dealer for South Devon
Ashburton Local Produce Market Thursday/Friday/Saturday, 9am - 3pm, Tucker’s Yard.
Bovey Tracey Farmers' Market Alternate Saturdays, Union Square.
Brixham Farmer’s Market Second Sunday of each month, Fore St, Brixham. 10.00am to 4.00pm.
Buckfastleigh Farmers’ Market Thursdays, 9am-1pm. Town Hall.
Dartmouth Farmers’ Market 2nd Saturday of the month, 9am - 1pm, Market Square.
Dawlish Local Produce Market 2nd Friday of the month, 9am - 2pm, Piazza on the lawn.
Ivybridge Country Market Fridays, 8.30am-11.30am, The Scout Hut, St Leonard’s Road.
New Car Sales Used Car Sales Servicing and MOT
Kingsbridge Country Market Wednesdays, 8am-noon. Town Hall, Fore Street.
Kingsbridge Farmers’ Market 2nd & 3rd Saturdays of the month, 9am 1pm, Town Square.
Newton Abbot Farmers’ Market Tuesdays, 9am-4pm, Courtenay Street.
Swanson Ford
Clay Cellars Studio, Pottery Road, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ12 3BN
01626 352000
www.swanson-ford.co.uk
for What's On, visit: southdevonhub .co.uk
GR
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FATHER'S DAY TEDDY BEAR PICNIC 16 Jun - While dad relaxes, make your own teddy bear mask and build a modernist housse, High Cross House, Dartington, 12.00am.
3rd Saturday of the month, The Triangle.
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FATHERS DAY AT PENNYWELL 16 Jun - Fathers Day at Pennywell. A FREE pasty and pint for all dads, Pennywell Farm & Wildlife Centre, Buckfastleigh, 10.00am.
Teignmouth Local Produce Market
NEWTON ABBOT RFC
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CRAFTY CASTLE CAPERS Until 26 Aug - Get your hands dirty by joining in a variety of fun filled crafty activities, Castle Drogo, Drewsteignton.
with full orchestra, Gilbert & Sullivan Society, Torquay, 7.30pm.
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Childrens' Events
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SWANSON FORD
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HANNAHS AT SEALE-HAYNE
A UNIQUE
BISTRO LIVE MUSIC HEALTH & WELLBEING CENTRE ARTISTS STUDIOS GALLERY EXHIBITIONS
SHOPS FARM CHILDREN’S TRAIL OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES CONFERENCING ACCOMMODATION
Fairs
DESTINATION... AN INSPIRING CHARITY
DONKEY SUMMER FAIR 01 Jun - Donkey Summer Fair & Fun Dog Show, The Donkey Sanctuary Ivybridge, 10.00am. PRIM AND PROPER LADIES PAMPER EVENING 17 Jun - @ Hotel Gleneagles, Torquay, Shoreline Events, Torquay, 5.30pm. www.shorelineeventspamperevenings. co.uk STAMP & POSTCARD FAIR 22 Jun - www.wessexpf.org.uk/ Torquay, Torquay & Teignbridge Stamp Club, Kingsteignton, 10.00am. KINGSWEAR REGATTA 29 Jun to 30 Jun - Village Regatta and Fete, Kingswear Regatta, Kingswear. MALBOROUGH VILLAGE FETE 06 Jul - Fun packed, with stalls, activities, bbq, Pimms and Cream Teas and lots more, Malborough Village Fete, Malborough, 12.00am.
For more details:
COFFINSWELL & DACCOMBE VILLAGE FETE 07 Jul - Lots of stalls, food, music etc inside & outside the church, 2.00pm.
Call us 01626 325 800 Visit us www.discoversealehayne.org Dame Hannah Roger’s School, registered charity no. 306948. Dame Hannah Rogers Trust, a limited company registered in England and Wales with number 5512987, and registered as a charity with number 1148882, and whose registered office address is at Woodland Road, Ivybridge, Devon PL21 9HQ is the sole trustee of Dame Hannah Roger’s School.
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ALE TASTING & BREAD WEIGHING CEREMONY & FAYRE 20 Jul - Procession through the town, in medieval dress, culminating in a Medieval Fair, Ashburton's Ale Tasting & Bread Weighing, Ashburton. KINGSBRIDGE FAIR WEEK 20 Jul to 27 Jul - Events held at various locations, Kingsbridge Fair Week, Kingsbridge.
Choirs LIGHT NIGHT MUSIC 14 Jun and 22 Jun - An Evening of Lighter Music, Sir Joshua Reynolds Choir, Plymouth, 7.30pm. CHOIR AND ORCHESTRA 15 Jun - With the tenor Thomas Hobbs, and the conductor Andrew Millington, Exeter Cathedral, Exeter, 7.30pm. SUMMERTIME CONCERT 15 Jun - Concert at Thurleston Parish Hall, The Stanborough Chorus, Thurlestone, 7.30pm. PLYMOUTH PHILHARMONIC CHOIR 30 Jun - One of the West Country's most respected and prominent choirs, Plymouth Guildhall, Plymouth.
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Coast & Country
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June & July 2013
Forthcoming Events Get your events listed now! Add your events onto the South Devon Hub website totally free. Just register. The events you see in these listing come directly from the South Devon Hub website.
SUMMER CONCERT OF UNACCOMPANIED CHORAL MUSIC 04 Jul - Choral Concert, Ashburton Singers, Woodleigh, 7.30pm. AN EVENING OF SONG 05 Jul - Don't miss an incredible evening of live music, Hannahs at Seale-Hayne, Newton Abbot, 7.00pm.
03 Jun - Lecture and talk relating to all things science, Cafe Scientifique, Exeter, 8.30pm.
AFTER THE RAINFALL, (TR2) 04 Jun to 08 Jun - Use of multimedia movement and sound conjures up an epic and passionate story, Theatre Royal Plymouth, Plymouth.
EXETER FESTIVAL CHORUS 06 Jul - EFC have a long association with Resonance and Hanauer Kantorei, Exeter Cathedral, Exeter, 7.30pm.
THE HOLIDAY HIKE AT PENNYWELL
SUMMER CONCERT 11 Jul - Choral Concert, Ashburton Singers, Berry Pomeroy, 7.30pm.
LUNCHTIME LECTURE, BENJAMIN ROBERT HAYDON
SUMMER CONCERT OF UNACCOMPANIED CHORAL MUSIC 13 Jul - Concert of unaccompanied choral music, Ashburton Singers, Ashburton, 7.30pm.
Community RIVIERA WHEEL
southdevonhub .co.uk
BIODIVERSITY
Until 20 Aug - Take a journey 60 metres over Torquay, Riviera Wheel, Torquay, 10.00am.
05 Jun - Join the Torbay Holiday Helpers Network for a happy sponsored walk, Pennywell Farm & Wildlife Centre, Buckfastleigh, 10.45am.
05 Jun - Alan Read, lecturer for the NADFAS will illuminater the life of Haydon, Royal Albert Memorial Museum RAMM, Exeter.
THE TELEGRAPH WAYS WITH WORDS FESTIVAL 05 Jul to 15 Jul - A chance for those who read books to meet those who write them, Ways With Words Festival, Totnes.
SUMMER SWISS PAIRS 07 Jun to 02 Aug - Duplicate bridge played throughout the week - please see web page for details, Exeter Bridge Club, Exeter, 7.00pm.
FASHION SHOW 08 Jun - Fashion show in Dawlish, Dawlish Music Theatre Company, Dawlish, 7.30pm. BRIXHAM TRAWLER RACE 15 Jun - The dressed boats battle it out with a 2 lap race. Charity activities on quay, Brixham Trawler Race, Brixham, 10.00am. RACE FOR LIFE 30 Jun - Walk, jog or run to help save lives and fund breakthroughs in cancer treatment, Westpoint Arena, Exeter. WIMBLEDON BALL 06 Jul - Saturday evening ball at the Pavilion, Back Lane, Newton Poppleford, Newton Poppleford & Harpford Tennis Club, Dartington, 7.30pm. SIRONA OPEN DAY 20 Jul - Sirona Therapeutic Horsemanship here at Seale-Hayne are having an open day, Hannahs at Seale-Hayne, Newton Abbot, 11.00am.
· 12 unique individual shops · Cranks and Venus cafe and takeaway · The Haven Spa for a spot of pampering · Dynamic adventures for bookable outdoor activities · Crazy about Clay for bookable pottery lessons
Call us 01803 847 500 Like us The Shops at Dartington Visit us www.dartington.org/shops TIME TO EXPLORE!
ArrAn AromAtics BErsErKs crAnKs crAft GAllEry DynAmic ADVEntUrEs fooD shop fAshion & JEwEllEry GAllEry Gifts & stAtionEry GlAss GAllEry BAzAAr KitchEn shop my timE toy shop totnEs BooKshop thE hAVEn spA toG 24 VEnUs cAfé & tAKEAwAy Open 7 days per week with plenty of parking. Shinners Bridge, Dartington, Totnes, Devon TQ9 6TQ.
for What's On, visit: southdevonhub .co.uk
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Live Music
Live Music Roundup
June & July 2013
POPULAR
Celine Dos Santos 6 Jun - acoustic covers and originals, Offshore Bar Restaurant, Torquay, 9.30-11.30pm.
Joey The Lips
The Blue Vanguard Jazz Club 27 Jun - performing with legendary saxophonist Jean Toussaint, Gipsy Hill Hotel, Exeter, 8pm.
City Steam Jazz Band 25 Jul - The Devon Arms, Teignmouth, 8.30-11pm.
8 Jun - the nation’s funkiest 10-piece band, The White Thorn, Shaugh Prior..
Cliff Richard 16 Jun - Midsummer Nights Still Reelin’ & A-Rockin’ Tour, Powderham Castle, Exeter, 8.30pm.
Sandi Thom, with Blue Rose Code and Mary Spender 21 Jun - with her superb new album, South Devon Arts Centre, Totnes, 8pm.
Whoz In The Room With Norman 21 Jun - with drummer Will Beavis, The Spinning Wheel, Paignton, 9pm
Matthew Finnish 22 Jun - singer, songwriter and Christian with the gutsy blues rock voice, The Dolphin Inn, Kenton, 9pm.
Dave Rich 5 Jul - accomplished musical entertainer, The Crown & Anchor, Brixham, 8.30pm.
Olly Murs 7 Jul - loveable Essex boy with his own style and sound, Powderham Castle, 5pm.
Joey The Lips 12 Jul - supercharged hi-energy show from the funky 10-piece band, Sheldon Open Air Theatre, 7.15pm.
Johnny Cash Roadshow 12 Jul - the number one Johnny Cash experience, Princess Theatre, Torquay, 7.30pm.
Buddy Holly And The Cricketers 25 Jul - a wonderful mix of music with improvised and scripted comedy, Princess Theatre, Torquay, 7.30pm.
The Searchers 26 Jul - still with their distinctive sound, Princess Theatre, Torquay, 7.30pm.
JAZZ
City Steam Jazz Band
FOLK ROOTS & ACOUSTIC
Sara Grey 2 Jun - Folk On The Moor, Westward Inn, Lee Mill, 7.45pm.
Kieran Goss 6 Jun - acoustic folk/pop from one of Ireland’s leading songwriters and performers, Blue Walnut Cafe, Torquay, 7.30-11pm.
Ezio
Photo courtesy of Eva Gnatiuk
Saturday 27th July, 8pm THE CIRCLE IS BROKEN: THE TREMBLING BELLS AND MIKE HERON - Barrel House, Totnes
8 Jun - duo with a mixture of rock and folk, South Devon Arts Centre, Totnes, 8pm.
www.tremblingbells.com
Matthew and Me 14 Jun - EP Launch Night, South Devon Arts Centre, Totnes, 8pm.
Blue Jewel 15 Jun - folk/acoustic 4-piece, South Devon Arts Centre, Totnes, 8pm.
Flossie Malavialle 16 Jun - French-born folk singer/ guitarist, Folk On The Moor, Westward Inn, Lee Mill, 7.45pm.
Acclaimed Scottish folk-rock group The Trembling Bells teams up with Mike Heron, superstar of the folk scene from his days with the Incredible String Band, to bring The Circle Is Unbroken to Totnes in July. “Our musical sympathies are the same,” explains drummer Alex Neilson. “We have our own eclectic contemporary Celtic take on music, and Mike brings his classic String Band songs.” The meld is perfect, and you will be carried away on the soaring uplifting Sandy Denny style vocals of Lavinia Blackwall and rock in the world of folk. With this singularly tremendous band as it seeks to re-animate the psychic landscapes of Great Britain. Tickets: £10 Barrel House, 59a High Street, Totnes TQ9 5PB Tel: 01803 863000 www.barrelhousetotnes.co.uk
Blazin’ Fiddles 21 Jun - the hottest contemporary fiddle players from the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, Exeter Phoenix, 8pm.
Disclaimer - you are advised that before attending any of the events listed in the "Forthcoming Events" and 'Live Music Roundup' section of this magazine, you should contact the venue in advance to double check that the dates and times are correct.
Brooks Williams 22 Jun - one of the top 100 acoustic guitarists of all time, Hazelwood House, Kingsbridge, 8pm.
Bert Miller & The Animal Folk
The Nightporters
26 Jul - fantastically zany band, Jolly Farmer, Newton Abbot, 8pm-1am.
18 Jul - the kings of rockin’ rhythm & blues on their 20th anniversary reunion tour, Spinning Wheel, Paignton, 9pm.
Wizz Jones 30 Jun - acoustic blues and folk guitarist, Folk On The Moor, Westward Inn, Lee Mill, 7.45pm.
BLUES
Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells for Two 3 Jul - Princess Theatre, Torquay, 7.30pm.
Gigspanner
JARKA 1 Jun - 3-piece band playing classics to blues, reggae and ska, plus Irish singalong songs, Avon Inn, Avonwick, 9pm.
Bad Knees Blues Band
13 Jul - folk/rock trio formed by Steeleye Span’s legendary Peter Knight, Maker with Rame Community Hall, Kingsand, 7.30pm.
9 Jun - Sunday afternoon blues in a friendly pub, The Railway Inn, 4-8pm.
12 Jun - highly charged progressive mix of jazz, fusion and African sounds, Exeter Phoenix, 8pm.
Colvin Quarmby
22 Jun - Blues rock power trio, The Old Smithy, Ivybridge, 9pm.
Gwyneth Herbert
Clive Sheard
3 Jun - The Jolly Sailor, Teignmouth, 8.30-11pm.
Ginger Baker’s Jazz Confusion
20 Jun - acclaimed jazz vocalist, Exeter Phoenix, 8pm.
14 Jul - Folk On The Moor, Westward Inn, Lee Mill, 7.45pm. 25 Jul - Teignmouth Folk Club, The Devon Arms Hotel, Teignmouth, 8.30pm. SOUTH DEVON
The Swamp Hogs
The Christians 17 Jul - one of the UK’s biggest soul bands, Exeter Corn Exchange, 8pm.
Coast & Country
The Penguins 20 Jul - classic rock and blues, The Bay Horse, Ashburton, 9-11.30pm.
The Swamp Hogs 26 Jul - Blues rock power trio, The Market House Inn, Dartmouth, 9pm.
Souled 26 Jul - Atlantic, Motown, and Stax soul music from Devon’s favourite 9-piece soul band, Ten Tors Inn, Kingsteignton, 9-11.30pm.
ROCK/H-METAL
Still Life 7 Jun - guitar-driven alternative and classic rock covers, The Market House Inn, Dartmouth, 9pm.
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Find more Live Music Events online Find more live music events on the hub, and add your own by registering online at:
Friday 12th 7pm-midnight, & Saturday 13th July, 12 noon- midnight GLAS-DENBURY MUSIC FESTIVAL - Fairfield Farm, Denbury
southdevonhub .co.uk
www.glas-denbury.co.uk
Monday 3rd June, 8.30-11pm CITY STEAM JAZZ BAND - The Jolly Sailor, Teignmouth www.citysteamjazzband.co.uk Upbeat and laid-back, the City Steam Jazz Band will be entertaining for free in Teignmouth in June and July. The five-piece band - also available as a quartet (City Steam Hot Four) or a six-piece for big occasions - play Dixieland jazz, through to popular songs and dances of the ‘20s-’40s and the more modern rocking blues and songs with a lively Latin feel. They respond to the occasion and can even oblige with a waltz! And if you miss their June gig, they will be at The Devon Arms on 25 July. Ye Olde Jolly Sailor Inn, Teignmouth TQ14 8DE Tel: 01626 772864 City Steam Jazz Band Tel: 01769 561028 (Pete Miller) Email: peter.indevon@btinternet.com
Glas-Denbury is South Devon’s own live music festival, bringing local artists and great headlining bands from all over the UK to beautiful Fairfield Farm in mid-July. With a Main Stage, Acoustic Stage, and a Music Tent for kids’ workshops, this is a festival that offers a wide genre of music and lots of opportunities to get involved. Just to give you a taste of what to expect, there’ll be fast, fun and furious Joey The Lips on the Main Stage on Saturday, and on the Acoustic Stage up-and-coming singer/songwriter Cydney Brown. Great live music, lots of fun - just remember smiles and enjoyment are obligatory! Family tickets for both days (2 adults 2 children) £55; other ticket options available. Email: glasdenbury@gmail.com
Photo courtesy of Rachel Fairfax
Friday 26th July, 9-11.30pm Photo courtesy of Souled
SOULED - Ten Tors Inn, Kingsteignton www.souledband.co.uk
Photo courtesy of City Steam Jazz Band
Souled are Devon’s premier 9-piece soul band, bringing the message of soul music in its purest form from the three great record labels Stax, Atlantic, and Motown. One of their increasingly rare public gigs is coming up at the Ten Tors Inn, and it’s free - so if you are thinking of booking a true soul band, then get along and see them there and enjoy an evening of passionately-performed great songs and soul instrumentals. Souled: Tel: 07707 062347 Email: richie@ richieevansmusic.com Ten Tors Inn, Exeter Road, Kingsteignton TQ12 3NP Tel: 01626 365434
Photo courtesy of Whoz in the Room With Norman
FEATURED VENUE: High Voltage 8 Jun - Cornwall’s premier rock band at the National Harley Davidson Rally, Ashburton.
The Stone Angels 14 Jun - classic rock, The Old Manor Inn, Paignton, 9pm.
Skool Daze 15 Jun - 5-piece rock band, The Lime Tree, Paignton, 9-11.30pm.
Rock Against The Machine 21 Jun - the busiest man in rock music in Devon, De Traceys, Bovey Tracey, 9-11.30pm.
Orangutan Wheelbarrow 22 Jun - from alternative to classics, originals to covers, Berefest, Collytown, Bere Alston, 7pm.
Forge 29 Jun - new young alternative rock band, here supporting Second Nature, The Avon Inn Avonwick, 7-11pm.
The Humanitarians 13 Jul - 4-piece alternative rock, originals and covers, The Country House, Babbacombe, 8.30pm.
Spinning Wheel Inn
“Torbay’s première live music venue” Known to all as ‘The Spinny’ - is the No 1 entertainment venue in Torbay. Situated on Paignton Seafront, and by day a family pub, The Spinny is well equipped with several bars, over two levels, and a large function area with top-notch equipment. There’s a programme of nightly entertainment - live music, dance music with a resident DJ, and weekly karaoke. Looking for a venue for your party - wedding reception, anniversary, birthday, hen or stag night? The Spinny is the place to book. Just ring with your requirements and they will be happy to help create an unforgettable night.
There’s something to suit everyone’s taste during the course of a week. On 21 June, Whoz In The Room With Norman? will be there to entertain you. With Will Beavis on drums, this 4-piece band from Torbay covers everything from Jimi Hendrix to Bon Jovi. Will is a complete musician - he reads and writes music, plays bass guitar and piano - but drumming is his passion: he has studied it locally and in London, and gigged with bands in the UK and USA. If you want to learn to drum, Will is the man to go to. He offers expert drumming tuition on a 1-to-1 basis in his superbly-equipped studio in Exeter, taking
for What's On, visit: southdevonhub .co.uk
students from the age of 10 years. Spinning Wheel Inn, Paignton Seafront, Paignton TQ4 6ED Tel: 01803 555000 www.spinningwheelinn.co.uk Email: enquiries@thespinny.co.uk Will Beavis: Tel: 07788 745253 Email: info@willsdrumlessons.com www.willsdrumlessons.com Whoz In The Room With Norman? www.whozintheroomwithnorman.co.uk Contact: Kaitey Milner Tel: 07920 066859 Email: kaiteymilner@hotmail.com
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Forthcoming Exhibitions JUNE & JULY 2013
Teresa Pemberton - 'Table Tops- ' The Brownston Gallery Kate Lynch - 'Opening the Hive' - Thelma Hulbert Gallery
BRIXHAM'S MARINE ARTISTS- 41ST EXHIBITION
GALLERIES WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR Until 02 Jun - Showcases the winning images from all 11 categories of the competition., Royal Albert Memorial Museum RAMM, Exeter.
VIBRANT IMAGES, VIBRANT ARTISTS Until 02 Jun - New works by Cherry Lyons, Jenni Pentecost & Wendy Chudley, Harbour House, Kingsbridge, 10.00am.
ACADEMICIANS' EXHIBITION 2013 Until 08 Jun - South West Academy of Fine & Applied Arts main exhibition at Gloss Gallery, South West Academy of Fine & Applied Arts, Exeter.
Louise Bougard - 'Berry' - Lime Square Gallery
SPRING SHOW
TOM BARRETT, ROBERT ORGAN & ROBIN RAE Until 09 Jun - 'Man and Dog' Paintings by Tom Barrett, Robert Organ and Robin Rae., The Art Room, Topsham.
SMILE EXHIBITION - JANET BELL & KIRSTY ELSON Until 13 Jun - Jane Reeves, Mary Sumner, Penny Timmis, Jeff Soan, Mirjana Smith, Tone V Krogh, Baxters Gallery, Dartmouth.
THE TANNERY: PHOTOGRAPHS BY PAUL GLENDELL Until 23 Jun - Life and work in the tannery captured in b&w photographs., Royal Albert Memorial Museum RAMM, Exeter.
Until 23 Jun - Established artist and new to the gallery, Mayne Gallery, Kingsbridge.
NEW PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION AT KAYA GALLERY Until 30 Jun - Featuring leading Southwest Photographers - Location, Location, Location, Kaya Gallery, Plymouth.
APPLIED ART IN DEVON AND CORNWALL Until 01 Jul - Ceramics, Glass, Textiles and Metalwork by artists based in Devon or Cornwall, 45 Southside Gallery, Plymouth, 10.00am.
Until 01 Jul - Exhibition of original marine paintings by the famous artists of Brixham, Strand Art Gallery, Brixham, 10.00am.
DAMIEN HIRST EXHIBITION 01 Jun to 30 Jun - Damien Hirst Selected Works Exhibition at The Drang Gallery, Salcombe 10.00am.
LOUISE BOUGARD - WATER COLOURS - JUNE 2012 01 Jun to 30 Jun - Louise Bougourd - Watercolour Painting exhibition at Lime Square, Ivybridge 9.00am.
ARTISTS IN THE GALLERY 01 Jun to 31 Jul - Robert Lenkiewicz & Mary Feddon, Frames and Boxes, Newton Abbot.
ART BOOT SALE 02 Jun - Free Boot Sale for arts., Hannahs at Seale-Hayne, Newton Abbot, 10.00am.
Natalie Rymer - 'What birds see' - D'art Gallery
Events listings powered by:
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Gordon Allen - 'Battle of Trafalgar' - Strand Art Gallery
SOUTH DEVON
Coast & Country
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Michael Sole - 'Red and Blue' - The Marle Gallery
MOISH SOKAL EXHIBITION - CHANGING WORLD 03 Jun to 20 Jul - Moish Sokal is back at the Malthouse Gallery with work from India and Morocco. East Lambrook Manor Gardens, South Petherton, 10.00am.
ADAM BUICK & JOHN HUBBARD EXHIBITION 23 Jun to 14 Jul - Ceramics by Adam Buick and Drawings by John Hubbard, The Art Room, Topsham.
JAMES MARTIN - PASTALS - JULY & AUGUST 2013 01 Jul to 31 Aug - James Martin Pastels, Lime Square, Ivybridge.
Mary Pym - 'Poppies by the light of the moon' - Marine House at Beer
MARY SUMNER, EXHIBITION OF NEW PAINTINGS 04 Jul to 20 Jul - Mary Sumner, new paintings inspired by the Exe Valley and Yearlstone Vineyard, Lantic Gallery, Tiverton.
ART BOOT SALE
SUMMER EXHIBITION 20TH JULY 2013
07 Jul - Free Boot Sale for arts. Hannahs at Seale-Hayne, Newton Abbot, 10.00am.
20 Jul to 31 Aug - Paintings by Nagib Karsan, Dee Nickerson, Yvonne Coomber, Michael Saunders, D'art Gallery, Dartmouth.
Robert Lenkiewicz - 'Anna Navas in front of the last judgement mural' Frames and Boxes
Connor McIntyre - 'Untitled' - Artmill Gallery
83 Hyde Park Road, Plymouth PL3 4JN Tel: 01752 255020
Fine Art Trade Guild Award Winning Guild Commended Picture Framer and Gallery
Artists Robert Lenkiewicz & Mary Feddon
Our Gallery Local, National and International Originals and Signed Limited Editions, Ceramics and Art Clocks.
10 Bank St, Newton Abbot 01626 335965 framesandboxes.co.uk
36 Church Street, Modbury, Devon PL21 0QR
15 Glanvilles Mill, Ivybridge t. 01752 698119 www.lime-square.co.uk
Louise Bougard
JUNE
Watercolour Paintings inspired by the Devon countryside, local estuaries and beaches.
James Martin
JULY
Beautiful pastel, watercolour, acrylic & mixed media paintings. Open Monday - Saturday 9am - 5.30pm
EXHIBITIONS Colours of Summer
1 Jun to 6 Jul - A mixed show to celebrate summer featuring Yvonne Coomber, Teresa Pemberton, Jane Cope, Stephen Bishop, Jennifer Wright, and Michael Hill.
An Uncommon Quest
7 Jun to 30 Aug - Sculpture Exhibition at Overbecks, Salcombe with the National Trust.
01548 831 338 art@thebrownstongallery.co.uk www.thebrownstongallery.co.uk
for What's On, visit: southdevonhub .co.uk
GALLERY & FRAMING CENTRE
EXHIBITIONS Connor McIntyre Until 8 June - We are very excited to be hosting his first exhibition.
St Ives Group of Artists 15 June - 13 July - 40 different artists from this prestigious group. Open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm Sat 10am-4pm
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Art Blog Art Blog http://dolbycusdin.tumblr.com
Lucinda Cusdin
Polly Dolby
THE ART OF FRAMING There is nothing that compliments that special picture more than a great frame to finish it of. Whether we are an artist or a buyer, the importance of this final decision can make or break a piece and seriously effect the value of the work, its aesthetic and life-span.
Bespoke Picture Framing If you have brought a valuable original, be it a financial investment or sentimental, it is definitely worth considering a more bespoke service. The same applies if you are an artist looking for professional representation
WRITE HERE Framing is tricky but doesn’t have to burn a hole in your wallet! Framing really is a fine art but not one that has to be difficult or expensive. If you love to collect art be it original paintings, prints, photographs or textiles there are a wide range of retailers and bespoke services to help you find the perfect frame for you. Framing on a Budget Found a bargain, but don’t want to burn a hole in your wallet framing it? There are a number of options which can be very cost effective and look fantastic. Locally you can find some great deals in Wilko’s in Exeter’s guildhall shopping centre, John Lewis and Athena on the High Street. Check out their websites too to order online. Ikea also offer an extensive range of contemporary frames at very affordable prices.
- galleries take framing very seriously. Again this doesn’t mean breaking the bank and a more specialist service will mean quality and endurance which over time is a real investment. Specialist framers in the area include: Calmar Framing Honiton Road, Exeter www.calmarframing.co.uk
Join a thriving community of writers and work with our award-winning staff including professors Naomi Alderman, David Almond, Aminatta Forna, Maggie Gee, Tessa Hadley, David Harsent, Philip Hensher, Kate Pullinger and Fay Weldon. It’s no wonder so many of our graduates see their work published by companies such as Random House, Oxford University Press, Hodder & Stoughton, Bloomsbury and HarperCollins. We’ve AHRC funded studentships available for some of our postgrad courses starting in October.
MA creative writing MA Writing for young people MA TRAVEL AND NATURE WRITING PHD CREATIVE WRITING postgraduate@bathspa.ac.uk www.bathspa.ac.uk
Devon Picture Framer Marsh Barton www.devonpictureframer.co.uk
Blog
Frames and Boxes Newton Abbot 01626 335965 www.framesandboxes.co.uk
CE TO CREATE SOUTH DEVON
Coast & Country
Art Galleries
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A point of view!
Nelson’s Column
by JOHN FISHER
Women’s Suffrage 100 years on... ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO this month, fifteen remarkable women walked from Land’s End to London via Devon. It was 1913 and they trudged the dusty miles in support of The National Union of Women Suffrage Societies. They set off on 18th June with hundreds of others joining them in support along the route as well as facing
Quiet studio! Stand by Devon - and cue local TV BEFORE HE MOVED ON LAST YEAR to take
However as the second call for offers closed at
care of the NHS, Jeremy Hunt, the coalition’s
the end of April an Ofcom spokesperson told
then culture secretary had a dream. He dreamed
us, “There has now been some interest for the
that the day would soon dawn when television
Plymouth license”. So there you go.
hostility and abuse - from men and women alike - before reaching a national rally of many thousands more suffragettes in Hyde Park demanding Votes for Women.
broadcasting licences would be issued to local (that’s not “regional” you understand but local) broadcasters. This for reasons never properly understood by some. Now that dream is a gnat’s away from materialising right here in Devon. Licences have already been issued to places such as Brighton & Hove. “If you make it, we’ll show it”, says Bill Smith of Local TV, whilst City TV in
Canadian sunset That earlier hesitancy in reaching out for Mr. Hunt’s proffered plum can only be guessed at. Were those tele-barons in waiting thinking perhaps of Canada? That’s a place where the kind of TV now in the offing for Devon continues to suck up advertising revenue from small businesses at a rate that sees local newspapers folding fast.
Birmingham plans a quiz show called “Reach
Little wonder those brave women faced abuse. Only a few days earlier on 4th June, 1913, one of their number, Emily Davison, 40, had been trampled under he hooves of
For The Top” where local secondary schools will
Whether they are trying to make a living in
answer questions ‘a la University Challenge’,
Winnepeg or Widecombe small advertisers are
the King’s racehorse at the Derby. She died four days later. The
fronted by a top Birmingham personality. And
the lifeblood of local and regional newspapers
coroner at the inquest seemed to speak for
all of this sponsored by local advertisers and
and magazines and deserve top bang for their
with no limit on the number of ads that can
bucks. And they get better - better value for
the nation when he
appear within a programme. Joy!
money and a longer ‘shelf life’ when their
said, ”It is exceedingly
advertisements appear alongside the printed
sad that an educated
Can you imagine?
word. Go back and read this paragraph again
lady should sacrifice
Would-be local commercial broadcasters have
radio or TV ad.
her life in such a
if you doubt that. Then try to do that with a Emily Davison
to successfully complete the application form, then come up with some ultra low budget
way,” whilst Queen Alexandra called the
Any ‘media group’ thinking of moving into
act “the abominable conduct of a brutal
local programme ideas that can be paid for by
local TV might care to recall the line penned by
lunatic woman”. Emily is buried in Morpeth.
local advertisers. Then they buy a camera or
W.W. Jacobs in his tale of horror The Monkey’s
Her gravestone bears the WSPU slogan,
two, a caption generator and a monitor, find
Paw. “Beware what you wish for - it may come
“Deeds not words”. Women finally got the
a presenter, print some rate cards, persuade
true!”
vote in 1928.
So will Mr. Hunt’s dream be sorted or thwarted
pilgrimage called Oxygen, produced by
a local big wig to cut a ribbon and it’s “Quiet studio!” and “Stand by Devon!” Licences to date have been awarded to ‘media
Now there is a play about that epic in Devon? If we are to witness a bevy of new
Dreadnought South West, who work with
names, faces and voices coming to our small
arts and heritage to champion women’s
groups’ and ‘business interests’. So much for
screens we can only hope that it will at least
voices and stories. This first major project
culture. But a license to print money, surely?
employ a different kind of weather presenter
is touring many of the stopping places along
Well not necessarily, apparently. Oddly, the
- ones who can actually pronounce the words
the South West route - or you may see the
Devon patch on offer (based in Plymouth) had
“e-mails” or “South Wales” without rhyming
no formal applications lodged with Ofcom first
them with “tea towels” the way so many of
time round. (Neither did Swansea come to that).
them do currently. for What's On, visit: southdevonhub .co.uk
play at Theatre Royal, Plymouth on 28th and 29th June. www.dreadnoughtsouthwest.org.uk
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Fashion
Victoria Sewart Contemporary Jewellery Gallery Showcasing over 50 British designers Current Exhibition: ʻRinging The Changesʼ An Exhibition Of Contemporary Wedding Jewellery until mid July
For fashion aficionados:
For more Jewellery, Online Shop and Jewellery Workshops (including ‘Making Your Own Wedding Rings’) Visit us at:
50 FABULOUS FROCKS
www.victoriasewart.com
01752 220011
Celebrating 50 years of the Fashion Museum in Bath. A special exhibition showcasing 50 of the Museum's most glamorous dresses.
39 Southside Street The Barbican Plymouth
www.fashionmuseum.co.uk
Chelsea Medallist British Master Florist
YVES SAINT LAURENT
If you're really passionionate about fashion, not too far up the M5, the Fashion Museum at Bath is hosting their 50 FABULOUS FROCKS until the end of 2013. The exhibition includes a gorgeous gold embroidered Georgian court dress and a delicate 1870's gauze bustle day dress. They are shown alongside a slinky jersey evening dress by Ossie Clark and a
• Innovative & Stylish • European & Japanese designs • Weddings, Funerals • Gifts • Tuition & Workshops
ALEXANDER MCQUEEN
classic chic Chanel suit. It includes the iconic and infuential names of 20th century couture; Schiaparelli, Poiret, Vionnet, Christian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent - as well as today's most desired fashion designers and brands - Erdem, Burberry, John Rocha, Alexander McQueen, Vivienne Westwood.
SOUTH DEVON
Coast & Country
01548 830642 1 Broad Street, Modbury, Devon, PL21 0PS contact@hojofloraldesign.co.uk www.hojofloraldesign.co.uk
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for What's On, visit: southdevonhub .co.uk
15
STAR GAZING with
Judi Spiers
We’re delighted to announce that well-known presenter, broadcaster and dyed-in-the-wool Devonian Judi Spiers, now writes for COAST & COUNTRY magazine
You donʼt very often talk to a West End star who went to school in Devon... and then like buses along come two!
Michael Ball
M
ichael Ball recently came back to Devon with his latest show ʻBoth Sides Nowʼ showcasing his new album. He moved to Dartmoor with his parents when he was three years old and when he was 11 he went to Plymouth College. I often tease him about seeing him in short trousers, striped blazer and school cap, which of course I didnʼt, but it never fails to amuse him. In fact Michael is amused by most things and is never far from a giggle, usually at his own expense, like when Imelda Staunton his co-star in Sweeney Todd in the West End broke his rib!
Michael moved to Dartmoor with his parents when he was three years old
“We were in the first week of rehearsals,” he explained, “and I wanted to make the album for the Sweeney. We managed to get Steve
Sondheim to come over - he was in the studio with us and I’d been very tense cos we’d been recording the album in one day in three sessions. The pressure was on - it was my responsibility, I’d raised the money and when you get all tense your back and your shoulders can go out. Just as we were about to do our duet together, and I said ‘ooh Imelda - my backs gone’ and she said,
obviously he works with a lot of big ones, but nevertheless promised me the ʻbiggest name drop you will ever hearʼ and it concerned his latest single ʻThe Perfect Songʼ written especially for him by Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber and Leslie Bricusse, the fi rst time they had even written together. Iʼll let him take up the story.
the two of them had never written together? They said, ‘I don’t know shall we?’ Andrew said “alright Leslie give me the title of a song and Leslie said quick as a flash ‘The Perfect Song’ lets write the perfect song.”
“It inspired Andrew and he went away and literally wrote it in the car on the way back to the hotel in his head.” “Round a piano the next day he wrote the chord sequence, sent it over to Lesley, and Lesley put a beautiful lyric to it, sent it back to him that was the Friday and I was talking to Andrew on the Tuesday and there it was!”
Michael Ball - his new album Both Sides Now includes The Perfect Song written by Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber
“No problem, lie on the floor and I’ll ease it out for you.” “She knelt on my back and jumped thinking she’d click it back in, but she dislocated my rib and literally for the next 6 weeks I was in agony!” You get used to Michael dropping names because
SOUTH DEVON
“I was talking to Andrew at Downing Street at a British Theatre function. There was me, Cameron (Macintosh) and Tim (Rice) and Andrew said ‘I’ve got a song for you.’ He was at a dinner for Leslie’s (Bricusse) 82nd birthday and their mutual best friend Michael Caine got up and made a speech and asked why
Coast & Country
Great story and surprisingly the only person Michael didnʼt give a name check to was the PM! Of course Michael originated the role of Marius in the London production of Les Miserables a role that was also played by another Devon lad Jon Lee.
Jon Lee
J
on Lee has just brought out a new album ʻFallen Angel.ʼ Jon shot to fame as a member of the group S Club 7 and the band enjoyed number one hit records all over the world. Jon is currently starring as Franki Valli in the award
16
winning West End production of the story of the Four Seasons ʻThe Jersey Boys.ʼ But, would you believe that it all started with NEWTS? Thatʼs Newton Abbot and District Music Society. It was whilst he was appearing in Oliver at the local cinema in Newton Abbot, age 12, that he was watching television with his mother and they heard about an open audition in London for Cameron Macintoshʼs Oliver. They drove straight up to London he auditioned and got the title role appearing at the London Palladium alongside Jonathan Pryce! This won Jon a scholarship to train at the ʻSylvia Young Theatre Schoolʼ At 16, Jon joined Simon Fullerʼs pop sensation S Club 7, which took him in another direction, and for five years they dominated the pop world and even had their own television series.
Honor Blackman - six decades in the ‘business’
I
f Jon and Michaelʼs careers last as long as Honor Blackmanʼs they will be very lucky. Six decades that is pretty good going. Honor was just about to appear at the Sidmouth Manor Pavilion when I caught up with her in conversation with the director Richard Digby Day. She had just returned from Spain in an episode of Casualty... I donʼt want to spoil anything but she doesnʼt die!
At just 31, Jon has gone from a local Music Society in Newton Abbot (NEWTS) to huge stardom in S Club 7, a role in Les Miserables and a new album Fallen Angel - not bad for a Devon lad
As he says, “I paid my dues. I have never worked that hard in my entire life. From 16-22 the perfect age and the perfect education.”
At 16, Jon joined Simon Fuller’s pop sensation S Club 7
Unbelievably, he went from S Club 7 to the role of Marius in Les Miserables, which he agreed, “shut a lot of people up!” The role of Frankie Villi is certainly a challenge considering the man had an incredible falsetto voice or as Jon put it,
“It’s all up there for two hours!” Nevertheless he is loving it.. he must be - heʼs just signed until March 2014!
“I never thought I’d stay in a show for 3 years” he told me “but it’s flown by!” Who knows in few years he could be following Mr M.Ball in Sweeny Todd although I did advise him to see a good physio if he had any back problems. We fi nished our chat with this message,
“A big hello to everyone at Ipplepen Primary School I have very fond memories of being there!”
partner to Patrick Macneeʼs Steed in The Avengers. It was the role that got her noticed by Cubby Broccoli who then offered her Pussy Galore in Goldfi nger resulting in a romp in the hay with Sean Connery. I was surprised when she told me that her grandchildren hadnʼt seen her in that but had watched Jason and the Argonauts in which she played Hera.
A stunningly attractive women still, I was advised not to mention her age as it is comes up in every interview, so instead I asked about her exquisite cut glass vowels. Apparently itʼs all down to her father who offered her a bicycle or elocution lessons for the 16th birthday. Although a couple of years ago she had to draw on her original accent for a fi lm called Cockneys vs Zombies!
“ They are just getting the hang of the fact that the woman in the peculiar wig is their grandmother!”
“I just reverted” she said, “it’s alright though I’ve come back.”
I asked if any of them might follow in her footsteps?
We chatted about her early work as part of the Rank Organizationʼs stable of talent making fi lms like ʻSo long at the Fair ʻwith Dirk Bogarde and ʻA Night to Rememberʼ with Kenneth Moore.
“My daughter’s daughter is a proper little madam so that’s a possibility.”
“There’s so much of my life it’s awfully difficult to cut it down. The audience doesn’t want to be there for a fortnight!” Honor is probably best remembered as Cathy Gale the smart, sexy, leather clad
for What's On, visit: southdevonhub .co.uk
Avengers got her noticed by Cubby Broccoli who then offered her Pussy Galore in Goldfinger
Would it please her knowing what she knows of the business?
“Not a lot. It’s so insecure I wouldn’t wish it upon anybody!” A hard argument to make when youʼve had a career thatʼs lasted for six decades.
Judi X 17
Dan Bolt Dan was born in south Devon and for the past 25 years has been diving and snorkelling the coastline both for pleasure and as a source of endless opportunity for his hobby as an amateur underwater photographer
Leas Foot Beach, South Hams (access to Louis Sheid wreck)
He is pictured looking at a pair of ‘Polycera quadrilineata’ on sea grass at Broadsands
Nudibranchs
of the South Devon Coast by Diver and Underwater Photographer Dan Bolt
South Devon is understandably famous for the fabulous walking afforded by the South West Coast Path. Visitors and locals alike will appreciate the stunning views from the many beaches coves and bays looking outward into the ever-changing sea. But in other circles, that same sea water is famous for its diversity and wealth of marine life; not just the richness of the fishing grounds but for the superb scuba diving on offer directly from the coastline or further off-shore from boats. Amongst the many hundreds of scuba divers who enjoy the warm waters of South Devon, there are a small band of enthusiasts who have discovered the joy, and frustrations, of searching for the seemingly endless variety of nudibranchs. Pronounced ‘Noo-dee-brank’ (which actually means ‘Naked Gills’ because their lungs are exposed and have no protection), these small marine creatures are a family of mollusc who have completely lost their external shell and for obvious reasons, are collectively know as Sea Slugs. 'Coryphella browni' Eastern Kings, Plymouth SOUTH DEVON
Coast & Country
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'Polycera quadrilineata' in sea-grass beds off Broadsands, Paignton
‘Polycera pharoensis’ Eastern Kings, Plymouth
Nudibranchs can be found around the world and in the whole of the UK, but the sheer variety of marine habitats available in the waters off south Devon make this area a national ‘hot spot’ for many common and not-so-common species. For every habitat niche there are a sub-family of slugs who thrive on those specific conditions; for example sheltered shallow coves with lots of sea-grass attract huge numbers of Polycera quadrilineata, and rocky current-swept areas are home to the rare and outlandish Okenia elegans. South Devon’s geographical location means it is a meeting point for both cold-water species more commonly found in Scotland as well as southerly, warm water species often seen in the Mediterranean sea. In autumn Hermaea variopicta can be found on the wreck of the Louis Sheid on Thurlestone Beach in the South Hams. This is a warmwater slug rarely recorded in the UK, but sometimes seen in Devon & Cornwall, quite some distance from its usual habitats.
As an example of the sheer numbers of individuals out there, there are over 40 species of nudibranch to be found just off the shoreline along every inch of the coast in Torbay. At Shoalstone for example, it is possible to see 15 different species in one dive, and at Eastern Kings in Plymouth Sound you can see literally hundreds of individuals during a single 60 minute excursion to the sea bed. Ranging in size from a few millimetres to almost 30cm, all species of nudibranch are hermaphrodites and as such carry both male and female reproductive organs. When two individuals meet to mate, often both slugs will go on to be fertilized and lay pretty spirals or ribbons of many thousand of eggs. This is the start of an annual cycle as the vast majority of species live for less than 12 months. Many time their hatching for Spring when the warmer waters induce an explosion in numbers timed perfectly to coincide with their favourite food becoming more widely available.
for What's On, visit: southdevonhub .co.uk
‘Hermaea variopicta’
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'Eubranchus farrani' different colour morphs from across South Devon
For divers who enjoy spotting the many forms, shapes and colours of nudibranchs, the best way to see them is to know what they eat. It is often easier to find their favoured food than the actual slug itself. A great example of this is Coryphella browni who munch their way through thousands of Hydroids (a form of colonial animal which favours sites with large tidal flows) in the early summer. Colonies of Hydroids are quite large (football sized or larger) and easily found, then all the diver has to do is get close and search for the slug amongst the colony.
The food a nudibranch consumes can also dictate their colouration and method of defence against would-be predators. Being a slowmoving, soft-bodied slug means they are a likely target for fish and crabs to seemingly pick off at leisure, but his has lead to two major forms of defence. Nudibranchs like Eubranchus pallidus will rely either on superb camouflage or mimicry to hide from would-be attackers, while others will warn predators off with bright patterns and colouration backed up by toxins and poisons. Those slugs such as Coryphella lineata, who feed on anemones which have stinging cells,
'Eubranchus pallidus' Meadfoot, Torquay (can you spot it?!)
SOUTH DEVON
can actually recycle those cells to the tips of their bodies. So if a fish took a nibble, they would be left with a nasty sensation in the mouth while the slug gets to live for another day. The good news is that you don’t have to be a trained diver to see these stunning little critters. Some species can be found lurking in rock pools at low tide if you are lucky. The next time you are walking the beaches of South Devon, take some time to peer through the water (polarising sun-glasses help a great deal to see through the surface glare) and you may very well spot
'Coryphella browni' Eastern Kings, Plymouth
Coast & Country
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'Okenia elegans' Shoalstone, Brixham
'Eubranchus farrani'
A ribbon of eggs, Meadfoot, Torquay
'Eubranchus farrani'
a yellow Sea Lemon (Archidoris pseudoargus, up to 6cm long) laying its delicate ribbon of eggs. The amazing thing about this family of animals is that even in the 21st century, marine biologists are still discovering new sub-species and re-defining the accepted ranges of traditionally northern, or southern species of nudibranch. Last year, divers at both Babbacombe and Plymouth spotted individual slugs that are widely accepted to be northern, cold water dwellers, seemingly living happily side-byside with traditionally warm-water species. Learning to identify the less obvious families within this group of animals can be a tricky task and sometimes the differences can only be ascertained with the use of a magnifying glass – not that simple whilst scuba diving! And to add to the frustrations of would-
be nudibranch spotters is what's known as a ‘colour morph’. This is when individuals from a single species can adopt wildly differing colourations and patterning. Take Eubranchus farrani as an example. This slug can be completely white, white with yellow tips (and with or without coloured spots), completely orange, or black with yellow tips. Confusing? Most certainly! But there-in lies the attraction of these diminutive creatures to a great number of divers and marine biologists. There are a seemingly endless variety of nudibranch out there in our rich waters, and the knowledge that there are undiscovered or rare sightings still to be had drives many to an endless search. Dan Bolt
Editor A big thanks to Dan, I'm sure you'll agree that his images of the nudibranchs are absolutely superb, god knows how he manages to keep his camera dry? Dan's a keen champion of Torbay, and I think he's right in what he says that Torbay is often disregarded. He says all you need to do is make some time to discover the fascinating coves and bays of this colourful coastline.
view of this area. It discusses features such as caves, stone formations such as 'London Bridge Arch' and a host of other unmissable features. It also provides a bit of background history to each location. It's a great little book, well worth adding to your collection. ISBN 978-0-9556186-1-1
Dan's underwater images have been included in an interesting new book that's just been published, entitled "Beyond the Beach - The Secret Wild Swims of Torbay". The book includes information and pics on 15 Torbay swimming locations, from Maidencombe Beach, all the way down to St Mary's Bay. The book is a mine of information on Torbay and gives you a real 'locals'
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21
Y
Seaside Bathing Z in your home
Landmark freestanding - Bathstore
Cambridge - Bathstore SOUTH DEVON
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T
he bathroom is where we start and end each and every day. We need it to be clean and fresh, with contemporary units to increase speed for the morning rush, and relaxing for our evening soak to wind down the day.
Living in Devon automatically pulls me towards a beach themed bathroom. However, there are many ways to achieve this look without it looking dated or tacky! Colour schemes can range from whites and sandy hones through to the more traditional blues, aqua or duck egg. For a younger look you can accessorize at the end by throwing in a touch of red and beach hut bunting.
Going for neutral flooring is key, a lovely light coloured stone (Mandarin Stone stock some wonderful products), or natural limestone floor tiles from our local supplier Original Style would be perfect. Plain white bathroom pieces are also a must, and if you have the space and finances allow, a roll top free standing bath is definitely the star player. There are some lovely roll top baths, as seen on the opposite page, available across Devon from our many local bathroom designers and suppliers.
Finding the right paint is important, not only for choosing the right colour, but also to ensure it withstands the bathroom’s steamy environment. Little Greenes Intelligent Matt Emulsion is perfect for use in kitchens and bathrooms as it’s matt, environmentallyfriendly and completely washable. It can be used on doors and radiators too and available in all colours - £39.50 for 2.5 litres.
Devon Driftwood Designs Ltd
With all of the basics in place, it’s time to have some fun accessorizing! Choose a beach or striped themed fabric for a roman blind and cushions in the colours you have decided to go for. Jane Churchill have a beautiful fabric called Oceana which is available in coral, blue and aqua, at approx £41.00 per
metre. You can order this fabric from your local design house such as The Sidmouth Design Company, Sidmouth and Artisans and Artists, Ashburton, who can both also supply bespoke soft furnishings. A basic wooden chair painted up in white and sanded back a bit can create a lovely weathered look and is always useful to have in your bathroom.
Fluffy white or sandy coloured bath mats and towels always feel special to use. The White Company have a lovely selection, including some herringbone striped towels in white and neutral from £10 and some super Hydrocotton towels from £16.
The final touches include lovely scented candles (I can’t beat Diptyque candles myself, available from £40 from any large department store) and some well chosen pieces of driftwood or items made from it, such as the amazing products Devon Driftwood Designs create. The mirrors really are simply outstanding, and bespoke items are also available to fit into any space or colour scheme.
Although it’s tempting to collect all kinds of shells and seaside objects, this can create a cluttered and tacky look so it is best to keep to two or three objects such a large piece of driftwood or maybe a special shell you found on holiday. Pebbles are really effective also as they are such simple and elegant natural forms which work well in any colour scheme. So, next time you visit your local beach, start hunting for those special finds which can really give your bathroom that lovely Devon feel, and enjoy bathing in your own seaside retreat, whatever the weather!
M
andi Crump (www.mandyjane.co.uk)
Little Greene’s Intelligent Matt Emulsion £39.50 for 2.5 litres Oceana Aqua wallpaper Colefax & Fowler £41 p/m
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23
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PHIC
GRA
S
ONE
YL J
ARR
BY D
Ardley Chic reveals more...
Summer of Love M
y good lady wife is dragging me abroad this summer. Sheʼs taking me on a surprise birthday trip to somewhere called Kernow.
I donʼt hold with foreign holidays, what with all that exotic food, strange dialects and road signs you canʼt understand. But it is a special birthday. After all, itʼs not every day you become umpteen. So I suppose Iʼll have to bite the bullet, have my injections and look for a phrasebook. I suspect Kernow is one of those Eastern European states that used to be something else. We shall see. Actually Iʼd much rather be spending my time in familiar territory; Flatbeare really comes alive in the summer with numerous exciting events. Can it really be all of a twelvemonth since the last FARCE - Flatbeare Agricultural & Really Cheesy Exposition - and the infamous tug-of-war episode? Letʼs hope for no allegations of rope greasing this time around and that sleeping pigs may be left to draw a line in the sand. It should be an event that unites the wider community. After all, itʼs only a spot of friendly inter-village rivalry, though you wouldnʼt think so the way itʼs played by some folk (you know who you are). That Lower Bathwater giant runner bean was never going to pass the newly introduced growth hormone testing regime. Then thereʼs the annual Flatbeare Folk Festival. This started several years back in the skittle alley of the Pig & Trampoline but has grown so much it now just about squeezes into the childrenʼs play area; unfortunate for the kids and their vitally important exercise but Iʼm sure they wonʼt complain about sitting in front of the TV for a couple of days eating sweet things. Each year the festival features the very best of local talent such as ʻStutteringʼ Stan Croswaite, multi instrumentalist extraordinaire; as much at home on the
musical saw as the beer bottle organ. He often used to duet with Trevor ʻTone Deafʼ Dagwood. Who can forget their epic eighteen minute ʻduelling spoonsʼ session? Certainly not the surgeon who had to remove a spoon from an unmentionably delicate part of the winnerʼs anatomy. Let us hope for a more convivial get together this year. We must all hope for some better weather this time around. None more so than Jack, mine host of the Pig & Trampoline. The Pigʼs open air beer garden with hog roast was a washout last year, drowned by a mixture of rain, hail and Jackʼs tears. Heʼs pulling out all the stops this year to drum up trade but his life is a real struggle. Januaryʼs Burns Night was less than a triumph as the pipes sprung a leak and the haggis escaped whilst the chef was knee deep in neeps and tatties. Then, after organising an April event to celebrate St Georgeʼs Day, it occurred to Jack that there might be insurance implications in having a sword wielding knight and a fi re breathing dragon going hammer and tongs in a public place. A hastily re-arranged event went ahead with George wearing boxing gloves and the dragon a muzzle. To everyoneʼs surprise the dragon won on points, but luckily the helpless maiden had turned out to be not quite so helpless and had managed to free herself and clear off to a nightclub. His attempt to organise an indoor pentathlon - skittles, darts, beer mat fl ipping, shove 50p and metre of ale drinking - resulted in several darts injuries and much broken glass due to flying bowling balls because he had rather naively started the evening with the last named event. Summer is the time for outdoor pursuits and not just the sort favoured by the village lads and lasses. When I gave up football a few years back due to age and excess stomach I was instantly snapped up by the village cricket team as these defects seemed less
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important to them than a willingness to buy a round at frequent intervals. The seasonʼs needle match is always against pub team Cringeworthy Old Spots; no holds are barred. Last yearʼs clash at their village was marred by claims of sedatives in the Victoria sponge though I rather suspected our disappointing innings after lunch was due more to the presence of Farmer Sethʼs ʻSobriety Freeʼ Scrumpy in their bar. There were also claims of box tampering but I feel sure that even Cringeworthy* would consider that below the belt. Though some distance from the sea Flatbeare boasts its very own regatta in which customised poohsticks compete in the Flat for the coveted Tarquin Dimble Memorial Trophy. Donʼt be alarmed; Mr Dimble is still very much alive and kicking but he thought it would be cheaper if the trophy didnʼt have to be re-engraved upon his eventual demise. Rules are strictly observed to prevent any recurrence of weight modifications, illegal launching methods or design irregularities. The surviving sticks later bring the day to a fitting and very moving close in the procession of gaily decorated and illuminated floats. In the next issue I hope to regale you with holiday photos and tales from mysterious Kernow unless of course the editor decides he simply must squeeze in an article of his own instead. Iʼve heard heʼs been surreptitiously skulking around gardens taking photos of the more unusual specimens. So watch out for: ʻFishing Gnomes: Their Origins, Historical Importance and Relevance to Modern Day Devon.ʼ Enjoy a lovely summer, whatever day it falls on this year.
(*Pronounced ʻCrinklyʼ around these parts)
27
W
olf, Storm, Trojan, Revenge, Vixen, Hope, Fury, Volante, Bolt, Joker, Morgan, Wasp and Lightning. These are names of brightly coloured wooden pilot gig boats rowed by gig clubs around the Cornish and Devonshire coastline. Gig rowing is allegedly “the fastest growing sport in the Southwest”. It is a sport that evokes the spirit of seagoing traditions: of working boats rowed out of these coastal areas in times gone by. Pilot gig boats are open rowing boats with fixed seats for six oarsmen and a cox to steer the way. There are currently over fifty gig clubs in existence and 7,000 active rowers involved: from the Isles of Scilly, along the Cornish and Devon coast, Dorset, the southern coast and beyond to Holland and the USA. Gig clubs are communities within coastal communities. Gigs are rowed by ordinary local people. It’s great to see the boats out training from the shore. The sport offers people living by the sea an opportunity to benefit from, and make use of their immediate environment. It brings people together. Men, women and children of all ages row: aged from eight to ninety. They row competitively, for fitness, for fun, or to be a part of an active social
ROW YOUR BOAT
Gig boats racing up and down the coast - it's an inspiring sight, teams of people wrenching oars in sync, crashing through the waves Sarah Acton discusses
community. One rower summed up why the sport is so popular, “It’s about being on the sea, being a part of something with an amazing historical feeling to it, and it is a thing of beauty. There is just nothing to beat it.”
Gig racing was born out of competition between villages to get pilots onto incoming sailing vessels
SOUTH DEVON
HISTORY
Gig racing was born out of the competition between villages to get their pilots onto incoming sailing vessels approaching the Isles of Scilly, and win the job of guiding them into harbour. Gigs had to be fast and light, and long and flexible to withstand rowing in heavy seas. As gig boats are so seaworthy and speedy they were also used for occasional smuggling, lifesaving and salvage adventures. Gigs were rowed for recreation from the 1920s, but became more popular after the 1950s. At first the original pilot gigs, saved from destruction or rot, were rowed by the Newquay Rowing Club and a smattering of other clubs. The sport gained popularity and many clubs started up. It was after the World Pilot Gig
Coast & Country
Championships started in 1990 in the Scillies that the gig rowing really took off in coastal communities and spread up to Bristol and Dorset. The Championships are the highlight of the gig rowing calendar, and this May over 132 boats jostled on the start line. The Cornish Pilot Gig Association (CPGA) oversees organisation of the sport, co-ordinating the racing programmes and controlling measurement rules and new boat construction. The designs of Treffy, a boat built in 1838, are still used today to build new gigs. I visited gig rowers in Salcombe and Dartmouth; two of the South Devon clubs. There are also clubs in Paignton, the Yealm river, Brixham
28
A race underway, the backdrop is the Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth
and Teignmouth. I discovered that gig rowing is fun, but it also brings participants something deeper: something that comes from being connected to the sea. Salcombe Estuary Rowing Club http://www.salcomberowing.co.uk The Salcombe Estuary Rowing Club has a history of being a tough competitive crew, but when I interviewed ten or more rowers from the Club one April evening, the word that cropped up most was
camaraderie. The Club is driven by a large healthy membership of enthusiastic rowers who travel from villages surrounding Salcombe to be a part of the action. It was established in 1992, and has a full diary of training for squads, social rowing, and events throughout the week all year round. The Club operates both in and outside the town of Salcombe, taking advantage of the beautiful Salcombe estuary to find training
spots for all weathers as well as rowing over the bar to sea. The crews train hard, but I spoke to a mixture of rowers at different levels; even the less obsessed rowers described gig rowing as an addictive lifestyle sport. The keen rowers train hard off the water too: down at the gym or for a pint at the pub. I asked if there was a club house but from the Fortescue in Salcombe to the Malborough Royal Oak, the crews travel together
and move around. It’s easy to see why the sport is so appealing. You get fit, make friends, and become part of a team. As many gig rowers will testify, camaraderie is central to gig rowing. You need six people to row a gig boat, you can’t row a gig alone. “You row as a team, with the thrill of all 6 oars working as one.” The competitive element of the Club is ambitious to do well in their league and the national fixtures, but it is a pro-active wider community of rowers and friends of rowers, and the key focus is “rowing for all”. The training is accessible, and by all accounts, addictive. I spoke to Madie Steer, Club Secretary and women’s A crew member, who tells me that she feels lucky and privileged to have the gig club on her doorstep. “When you get in the gig boat you have to think about what you are doing, there and then. It’s a pure release from everything else” and of course, the added bonus is that being out on the Salcombe Estuary in all seasons is “just stunning”.
A great way to work up a thirst, and keep fit at the same time, pull!
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I spoke to the Ladies C team en mass and they told me why they are so taken with gig rowing on the sea: “You share the natural environment we live in, getting out on the water is part of why we live on the coast.
29
ROW YOUR BOAT
We are connected to our natural environment when we row.” “You also see the town from a different perspective when you are out on the water.” “There is a calming experience of being out on the water that you take from the boat into your normal days and your working life.” No one seems to dwell too much on the cold training sessions held throughout the winter, the rain, and the blisters. It’s a chilly April evening when I speak to the ladies in the Gig Club Shed in Shadycombe Car Park. Snow flurries unseasonably outside
the window, and yet they come off the water full of smiles and laughter. Must be the endorphins, but the warmth is catching, and I notice that everyone I interview smiles and sighs when they talk of being out on the sea. Simon Hurrell has been rowing for five years. He tells me “You also get to travel around the coast with the teams if you do get competitive and its great fitness.” Gig rowing embraces all age groups and abilities. You don’t need to own a boat. You join and pay a membership fee of around £70 for the year then you sign up to the beginner sessions
SOUTH DEVON
I like the buzz of rowing at sea, the excitement, the fresh air
and get going. You don’t need any special kit so it’s a cheap way of getting fit. Coxes coach the teams and teach the novices the technical aspects of rowing, but fitness and stamina develop naturally along the way.
Coast & Country
The benefits for the town community are positive too. It is a cheap form of exercise for locals, and brings people together, old and young. The Club has great resources. Children can start rowing ages around 7 in smaller skiffs, then work up to the gigs when they are strong enough to lift the oars. After you train up, you chose to row at competition level, or as a leisure sport. The competition levels go through from the juniors (11-16s) to Vets (over 40s) and Super vets (over 50s). Stuart Williams (35) started rowing a year ago. He is smitten. “I like the buzz of rowing at sea, the excitement, the fresh air, the
30
as a celebration of their maritime heritage in Dartmouth. The Club is well resourced, with 4 wooden gigs, 2 brand new. They also have a wealth of experience and sea skills between them, and hope to build up the Club’s membership and train up new members this summer. I meet some of the Dart gig club rowers in a café in town, to talk about what makes rowing so popular. I get the feeling that the Club is as good at throwing a picnic party as organising one of its popular regattas, and team spirit is in plentiful supply on and off the water. Clare Thorp, Club organiser and rower, tells me that people join the Club for all different reasons, some are looking for something, and some want to lead an active lifestyle and get fit, or want to meet new people. Regattas and training in the gig boats adds life and colour for spectators along the river Dart. For the participants, gig rowing is an opportunity for those who do not own a boat or sail to get on the sea. In addition to the benefits to the rowers, the Club’s regatta events are good for business in the town too. The club rows up the Dart River and occasionally out of the mouth of the Dart if the winds are right. I asked the rowers if it is dangerous rowing in the sea, but they laugh, the boats were built for it, and the rowers seem to relish the buzz they get from being out at sea in a sturdy seagoing boat. Not that they take any chances though.
commitment the discipline, and bouncing around in waves.”
for a ride, but as it is, I take his word for it and go for a pint.
I ask what makes a good team. Kevin Pyne published poet and Club member tells me “People who like each other and have a laugh.”
Rowing at sea in the gig boats “teaches you about yourself. How to keep going. How to push yourself when times get hard in life as well.” “When you get out on the water and away from the land: it’s like a different world. You leave your troubles behind. You row out and you take your top off when you’ve warmed up, and you’re bobbing around for a few minutes. You look around, and it makes you feel just lucky to be alive.”
Dartmouth Gig Club http://www. cpga.co.uk/clubs/dart-pilot-gig-club The Dartmouth Gig Club is another established Club, formed in 1996. The members take pride in rowing
“At the beginning of the Club, it used to be that you would sing some and have a few pints and step in the gig and be a first rate team.” Most competitive crews take their
training more seriously these days, training up to 10 times a week. Even so, team spirit is essential. Clare has coached beginners and competitive crews, she tells me that "you really have to work hard to produce a good team, but there is room for all types of rower here in Dartmouth." Rowing is a quick way of making friends in the coastal communities, which can be disparate. Dartmouth has a good mix of social and competitive training, with the natural advantage of the river being accessible in all weathers, plus the advantage of a quick bolt out to sea. “there is nothing quite like being involved and getting out with a crew who know what they are doing and the oars are all cleaving in together and the boat is flying” Kevin tells me. Clare adds that “Even with novices, everyone is happy when they can make the boat move, then they crack it and really get the bug.” Clare also discovered an added benefit to gig rowing. “It brings an element of competition into life that you haven’t even thought about before.” I’m impressed and touched by the warmth and passion that gig rowers have for their boats and their Club. It sounds like there are lots of positive reasons to support your local gig Club and get involved. So, if you are in Salcombe town, or Dartmouth, give the pilot gig rowers a wave, or pop down to the Shadycombe car park or the Tea Hut in Dartmouth and have a chat. For opportunities of how to get you and your family out on the water for a taster session with these or the other South Devon clubs, contact the clubs directly on their up to date websites. Sarah Acton
If it hadn’t been an unusually cold April evening, I would have gone out with the gig and sat in the pilot seat
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31
hatch bridge on the river avon
River Avon Walk at Loddiswell
South Devon Coast & Country
L
ast year I undertook one of the prettiest walks I think I've ever taken in Devon, down through the fields from Loddiswell and on to Hatch Bridge and then upstream along the river. What was striking about this walk were the views - totally unspoilt in every direction. This walk is an absolute delight, you walk from Loddiswell which is fairly elevated, affording panoramic views across the valley and downstream, where you can see the bridge at Aveton Gifford. What's amazing about the river Avon is the clarity of the water and also the riverbed, which was unusually clean. Many riverbeds get silted up (a result of intensive farming), but the river on the day we visited positively glowed. The pebbles on the bed of the river range from toffee to golden yellow to dark brown in colour. It's great to sit next to the river and just stare into the water, quite
mesmerising and relaxing, especially on really sunny days when the river bed is illuminated. Rivers are our sparkling treasures, both mercurial and ephemeral in nature, hiding a wealth of wildlife treasures that are submerged within. Walking up from Hatch Bridge, it was great to see some marshy land alongside the river with Yellow Flag growing vigorously. So much marshland has been drained for farming that many marsh/bog species have all but disappeared. If you're visiting in mid to late May, you'll also be able to enjoy the Hawthorn blossom which is one of my favourite sights in early summer as well as vast swathes of pink campion in the hedges. It's interesting to note the name Avon (or otherwise known as the Aune) is said to derive from the Celtic - Afon (meaning river in Welsh).
yellow flag found in river marshland SOUTH DEVON
Coast & Country
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Yanston Farm
P + 196 B3
Loddiswell
SCHOOL
Avon Hill
River Avon Weir hedges
Newmill Bridge B319 6
pink campion in abundance in late may
New Bridge
Walk Info
1. Walk distance 2 miles. 2. Parking - either in Loddiswell, or
Hatch Bridge
by Hatch Bridge. Alternatively, if
Aune Valley Meat Shop & Cafe
you're stopping for refreshment, there's off road parking at Aune Valley Meat Shop & Cafe
B3 19
River Avon
6
(see bottom page 39). 3. Dogs - please take your lead as livestock are in fields. 4. Footwear - the track is decent along most of the route, trainers should be fine.
hawthorn in bloom, definitely not to be missed
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33
riding bliss
the walk down to the valley bottom and river avon
SOUTH DEVON
Coast & Country
34
above - a lovely scene - unspoilt south devon countryside
playing in the river avon
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35
above - swathes of pink campion and cow parsley
SOUTH DEVON
below - the 15th century bridge at aveton gifford
Coast & Country
36
the crystal clear waters of the avon
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SOUTH DEVON
Coast & Country
38
left - loddiswell
above - golden, silver water
bottom left - glowing river
bottom far left - chewing the cud
below - new bridge - old mill in the background
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39
D.C.B. Photography © 2013
Tales of a Yokel
Yarns from the inimitable FCR Esgen
Bankruptcy By FCR Esgen George gazed at me across his kitchen table, leant over his mug of tea and confessed depressingly that he had just gone bankrupt for the second time. I asked if his condition was moral or financial. This seemed only to make matters worse as George put his head in his hands and bemoaned that it was financial. Secretly I was slightly jealous, as in my limited experience of the Micawbers of this world, the condition of bankruptcy had always looked like a road to Damascus type of experience. I remember being in another friends kitchen a few years ago as the last rites of their bankruptcy order was taking place right before my eyes. The two bailiffs, who had been sent by the court to remove any possessions from the house worth selling, had given up trying to find something of value and were refreshing themselves with some of my friends home brew. It was pointless to warn them that it would have been a
safer bet to fly to NASA and ask them for a few pints of rocket fuel as when I walked in the house they were already the worse for wear. I myself had been on the wrong end of my hosts parsnip wine some weeks earlier and had paid dearly for the experience. We reached the point of no return somewhere in the early afternoon when the children started squirting their water pistols at the two men and the dog succeeded in removing their shoes. Later as my friends wife kindly served me with my third cup of good Italian coffee and the two bailiffs slid under the table unconscious, I mused that bankruptcy was indeed a stupefying experience. © 2013
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At DEAN COURT FARM SHOP you will find quality local food at affordable prices. Our butchery department sources top quality Pork, Lamb, Beef and Chicken from local farms where possible, do not miss the large choice of home made award winning sausages. In our café we serve delicious home cooked food.
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Inspiring young people The Prince's Trust The Prince's Trust is about inspiring young lives, about giving young people opportunities, believing in them and giving them support to help to change their lives.
Life Matters Balancing the stresses of work and living with health and relaxation
Life Matters Editor - Averil Quinain coaching@gmail.com tel: 01395 513383 07891 447710 Averil is a Personal Life Coach and Business Development Coach. She works voluntarily for the Princes Trust as a mentor for young people, and for Oxfam as a school speaker. With a passion for inspired and responsible living, she also runs an organic natural remedy business. Averil trained at the internationally renowned CoachInc.com and is a member of the ICE.
Do you have anything interesting to tell us about? We re particulary
keen to hear es and voluntary
from local chariti
organisations abo ut the good work they carry out in the community. We d also like to hear from practitioners in the South Devon area about their treatments and services.
A group of adventurous folk taking part in the last Wild UK Challenge - this year it's taking place in Devon!
Youth is such a vibrant time and with the right focus and support should be the springboard to the rest of our lives. Yet for some it can be a dark and very tough time. A difficult home life, problems at school, abuse or bullying, learning difficulties, unemployment, a life brought up in the care system for example, as well as social pressure and all the physical and emotional changes whilst growing up, it really can be the most confusing time of all. Under pressure or without opportunities it can be easy to turn to less healthy sources of stimulation, distraction or entertainment. It can also be a time when anxiety, depression and helplessness can really set in.
• The Enterprise Programme provides money and support to help young people start up in business. • Team Programme is a 12 week personal development course, o f f e r in g wo r k e x p e r ie n c e, qualifications, practical skills, communit y project s and a residential week.
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Around one in five young people in the UK are not in work, education or training. The Princes Trust is there to offer practical and financial support to the young people who need it most, and run the following programmes ~
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Development Awards are small grants to enable young people to access education, training or work. Xl clubs give 13-19 year olds who are at risk of truanting, exclusion and under achievement a say in their education. They aim to improve attendance, motivation and social skills.
for an informal chat during which we will discuss their needs and work together on a development plan. Over the months we will build up a relationship that aims to provide that person with a role model whom they can turn to for support, encouragement and inspiration during a period of transition as they move on from one of the Princes Trusts programmes, towards finding their way into work or further development. I love being part of this fantastic charity and knowing that the work I do can have such a positive impact on the future of youth in our area is extremely rewarding. Another way to support the Princes Trust could be taking on an annual Adventure Challenge, where you visit a remote
Both Jade and Duane have set up their own successful businesses with the help of The Prince's Trust after going through tough teenage years and young adulthood
•
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For anyone interested in supporting the work of The Princes Trust, there are many really exciting opportunities to get involved through volunteering or participating in a fundraising activity, to actually training to become a Mentor for example. I joined The Trust a few years ago as a Progression Mentor as I wanted to reach out and help young people in our area. As a mentor it is my role to encourage and assist a young person to map out and take steps towards achieving their personal goals - helping them on towards employment, training or education opportunities. A typical mentoring relationship will last for 6 months. After initially being matched with a young person, I will aim to meet up with them a couple of times a month
for What's On, visit: southdevonhub .co.uk
part of the world for a life-changing opportunity. In September every year Wild UK teams complete a 2 ½ day challenge to Trek/ orienteer, cycle, and kayak 100 miles of terrain from West Somerset to South Devon in a race to reach the finish line on Exmouth Beach. The Wild UK Challenge promises to be unlike anything you have ever done and your sense of fulfilment will be incredible. Whether you want to be the first across the finish line or to win the fundraising trophy, your own life and the lives of many young people in the UK could be changed forever. Dates for this year are 6th - 8th September. Money raised from events like these goes towards helping young people in the area. To help and for further info visit the website or speak to a Prince's Trust advisor on 0800 842 842
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But here’s the thing... Devon’s Rembrandt re-discovered A 17th CENTURY OIL PAINTING on view at Buckland Abbey, the former home of Sir Francis Drake, has been identified as a self-portrait of the artist Rembrandt, with a nominal value of £20 million. For the last 40 years the painting’s provenance has been shrouded in mystery after Rembrandt specialists had earlier concluded that it was produced by one of Rembrandt’s pupils. But now, after years of studying the Dutch Master’s style, and following a new investigation of the painting by the world’s HMC Valiant
Fast Forward
leading Rembrandt expert, the painting has been reattributed as being a self-portrait of the artist himself. (Photo courtesy NASA)
Later this year it will leave Devon for further
with Royal Navy warships and aircraft for any necessary back-up.
is still a chance to see for yourself what
worth slipping in a brief update on the subject
Each cutter carries a rigid hull inflatable boat
ponder over why he seemed obsessed with his
of today’s ‘water guards’ and ‘preventative
which can carry five crew and a coxswain for
own image. He produced nearly 50 paintings
officers’ you may spot this summer as they
boarding duties. The 7.4-metre Delta-built craft
of himself, 32 etchings and an untold number
patrol the coasts of Devon and Cornwall.
is driven by an inboard diesel engine powering
of drawings during his 63 years, before his
a water jet and is launched down a slipway in
death in Amsterdam in 1669.
W ITH A LL TH IS TA LK OF DEVON SMUGGLING in this issue (see Accidental Death of a Devon Revenue Officer) it’s probably
The Inland Revenue and HM Customs and
Rembrandt looked like, aged 29, and perhaps
the stern of the cutter.
Excise Departments merged in 2005 to form HM Revenue and Customs, and from this
examination and cleaning. Meanwhile there
For opening times and details of Buckland You can learn more about their work – or even
Abbey’s other treasures go to
time customs cutters changed their prefix
about a career with the UK Border Agency at:
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/buckland-abbey
from “HMRC” (Her Majesty’s Revenue Cutter)
www.ukba.homeof fice.gov.uk/aboutus/
to “HMCC” (Her Majesty’s Customs Cutter).
organisation/cutters/
JOHN FISHER
Following transfer to the UK Border Agency this was shortened to the current “HMC” (Her Majesty’s Cutter) and a new livery applied to the fleet.
IS IT or ISN’T IT? Yes, it’s a Rembrandt and it’s on view at Buckland Abbey
Today the UK Border Agency’s fleet of five patrol boats – still known as ‘cutters’ - operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. They detect prohibited and restricted goods, and prevent tax fraud, by searching all types of vessel. Most of the time they are deployed on a riskled or intelligence-led basis to control general maritime traffic throughout UK waters but they have also responded to deployments as far afield as the Baltic and Mediterranean. What looks like a gun on the foredeck is in fact a water hose for tackling fires at sea. Today’s ships and crew go unarmed but work closely for What's On, visit: southdevonhub .co.uk
45
CAUGHT RED-HANDED smugglers were either fined or imprisoned but this didn’t prevent the worst of them from murdering any poor Revenue officer who stood in their way. With any luck a jury could be made-up of the accused’s neighbours whilst the magistrate assigned to the case was more than likely a customer and quite possibly one of the players in the smuggling network itself. In the 17th and particularly in the 18th and 19th centuries, European wars kept import duties high on tea, wines and spirits, laces and tobacco: smuggling therefore became a lucrative means of income for many, a tempting sideline for half-starved fisher-folk and not so half-starved farmers and other landowners along the coast to whom it became a way of life over generations.
Accidental death of a Devon Revenue officer Murder excluded, there were 139 crimes you could hang for in Georgian England – but smuggling wasn’t one of them, writes John Fisher
Five and twenty ponies, Trotting through the dark Brandy for the Parson, 'Baccy for the Clerk; Laces for a lady, letters for a spy, And watch the wall, my darling, while the Gentlemen go by! But especially favoured was French brandy in handy two and four gallon kegs. Once
shoreline and carry them quickly inland. The pretence for keeping these droves of pack animals was that they were used exclusively for bringing up bags of kelp and sea sand from the beaches to dress the land. Hardest to convince of these claims were ‘the preventative men’ or ‘picaroons’ to use the derogatory nickname given them by the smugglers. Amongst seafaring men ‘picaroon’ was a term of low abuse meaning rogue or villain. These much-maligned men were the forerunners of the Customs & Excise Service of yesteryear (nowadays the UK Border Force) and were actively employed on land and sea to check the trade.
Just about every family in East and South Devon would have had some knowledge of where to source the things they needed from this black market or had friends or a family member ‘in the trade’ itself. Every coastal village, every lane and footpath had its lookouts, many cottages, farms, barns and parsonages their hidey holes. Once out of sight of land, Devon fishermen who chose would stow away their nets and head out across the Channel (Cherbourg and Roscoff were the most favoured ports of call) bringing back everything Rudyard Kipling’s famous poem A Smugglers Song catalogues:
Writer - John Fisher
The Branscombe cliff murder of 1755 pictured by Victorian artist, Charles Dixon
landed these were roped together and thrown over the backs of men or ponies waiting to lift their illicit cargoes off the beaches by dead of night. If danger lurked the barrels could instead be lowered over the side, just out of reach of low tide, when heavily weighted nets were used to sink the ‘catch’: at other times heavy anchors kept lines of kegs hidden. The location of the contraband was marked with corks and recovered - when the coast was clear - by men in
SOUTH DEVON
Much of popular literature and later Hollywood portrays these Revenue men as the spoilsports in the drama whilst the exploits of the smugglers themselves, sometimes led by that supersuave swash-buckler Stewart Granger, are romanticised.
rowing boats using grappling hooks. This practice, which continued well into the 1850s was called ‘sowing the crop’.
Waiting the arrival of the smugglers on shore were farmers, who kept long trains of donkeys and mules to move the barrels and bales from their hiding places along the
Coast & Country
Hollywood’s view of a Devon smuggler in action
46
Unlike piracy, smuggling was not a capital offence yet many a good revenue man lost his life ‘by accident’ in pursuance of his duty whilst there are accounts of others who were kidnapped and tortured to death by the gangs of heavies or ‘batmen’ smugglers employed as guards to do their dirty work for them. Blackest of these was the villainous Hawkhurst gang which operated along the south coast and as far west as Dorset and Devon. Their bloody careers climaxed in 1747 when ‘for sport’ they seized a preventative officer, an elderly man, one William Galley, whom they buried alive in a fox-hole. His travelling companion, Daniel Chater, a shoemaker by trade, was a witness in a forthcoming smuggling trial and had been under Galley’s protection and actually sharing a horse at the time they were attacked. This poor unfortunate they kept chained in a shed and tortured with knives over several days before finally putting him out of his misery by throwing him down a well and pounding him to death with rocks. So much for the romance of smuggling.
‘The Gentlemen’ silencing Daniel Chater, a would-be witness Fourteen perpetrators of that particular wickedness were eventually brought to justice. Not so those who threw another ‘picaroon’ off a Devon cliff one dark summer’s night long ago. Dark because smugglers preferred the darkest nights in the lunar calendar to make their runs. Thus the Riding Officers who patrolled the lonely shorelines of South and
East Devon knew exactly when trouble was brewing. The smugglers waited for the darkest nights and the highest tides: nights when the wind blew from the south or south west were most favoured. This enabled the smugglers to sail straight into the cove or inlet chosen for the drop without the need to tack. To tack meant to zig-zag towards a destination and this made the smugglers vulnerable to interception by one of the patrol vessels operated by the Revenue out of Plymouth, fast and well-armed cutters.
clear sighting of the two signal fires that would be lit by their cronies on shore to enable them to steer safely between them and as far up the beach as their momentum allowed. The night of 9th August, 1755 was perfect for the trade. Black as pitch. A high tide. A steady, on-shore breeze and a one-day old moon. The only fly in the smuggler’s ointment that night was John Hurley. St. Winifred’s, Branscombe Hurley was a Riding Officer 45 years old, married with
Revenue cutter in pursuit of a smuggling lugger. Before firing the cutter was bound to hoist its Revenue colours - both pennant and ensign—no matter whether day or night.
Many were armed with ‘smashers’, the deadliest weapon in Nelson’s navy: these were short-range carronades mounted in the bows. They fired a massive 68lb cannon ball, a single hit from which would turn a smuggler’s fishing boat into matchwood or punch a hole through both sides of a well-armed French privateer. The mere appearance of one of these vessels on the horizon therefore was often sufficient for contraband to be quickly jettisoned whilst most privateers wisely preferred to turn on their heels and try their luck another night.
children and lived in a cottage in the village of Branscombe. It would not be hard to imagine his wife’s final words of caution to him as he saddled his horse and rode out into the darkness of that fateful night. It was the last time she was to see him alive. His battered and broken body was later brought back to her in a cart with the tale of ‘a terrible accident’ having occurred. John Hurley’s burial place is in St. Winifred’s churchyard, Branscombe, and if you read between the lines of his epitaph chiselled into the side of his tomb - and still just about legible - you too may conclude that he was murdered.
And luck was what smugglers needed most - along with a
for What's On, visit: southdevonhub .co.uk
Or is it an epitaph? It reads more like a warning to anyone else sticking their noses into other people’s business. This is what it says: Here lieth the body of Mr. John Hurley, Custom House Officer, of this place. As he was endeavouring to extinguish some fire made between Beer and Seaton as a signal to a smuggling boat then off at sea, he fell by some means or other from the Top of the Cliff to the bottom, by which he was unfortunately killed. This unhappy accident happened on the 9th of August in the year of our Lord 1755 Aetatis Suae (age) 45. He was a brave and diligent Officer, and very inoffensive in his life and conversation Precisely how many other revenue men were murdered by smugglers in Devon in the 18th and 19th centuries we will never know. The names and service records of many of this gallant band of men were destroyed in a fire at the Customs House In London in the mid-1800s. continued overleaf
47
market in contraband was given a sudden and dramatic boost as Great Britain declared war on France - this time for siding with the American revolutionaries.
Devon’s most famous smuggler
To support his poor mother Jack’s amanuensis tells how he seems to have spent most of his days - along with most of his nights - hauling contraband along the South Devon coast and trying, without much success at times, to keep one jump ahead of the Revenue as he learned ‘the trade’ the hard way.
Beer’s Jack Rattenbury in retirement
Twice press-ganged by the Royal Navy, once in Plymouth (pictured) and once in Lyme Regis, he both times, somehow or other, made his getaway. He was also captured three times by the Revenue in mid-smuggle but twice escaped, like a will o’ the wisp - the third time by walking out of the magistrates court scot-free when the case against him failed to hold water. Or should that read brandy? Back door brandy back-handers were perks for beaks in Georgian Devon.
No talk of Devon smugglers would be complete of course without mention of the notorious - not to say colourful - Jack Rattenbury (1778 - 1844) the self-styled Rob Roy of the West, although ‘Devon’s-own Harry Houdini’ might be nearer the mark if you ever get to plough through his richly embroidered memoirs ghost-written for him by a local clergyman. John Smith, pastor of the Unitarian Congregational Church in Colyton.
an even more astonishing getaway when as a prisoner of the Revenue he climbed over the side of their cutter and hid amongst the petticoats of a group of ‘wives and sweethearts’ who had rowed out to see their men-folk before they were hauled off to face trial and imprisonment. Lucky Jack.
Washed up in Sidmouth As he got older - and bent on reform he said - he married and tried to settle down and open a pub. But twice he went back to his old ways and with times becoming increasingly hard for an old smuggler past his prime and the pickings getting
Rattenbury relates how he once escaped the clutches of French privateers and made
Rattenbury was born in Beer in the very year that the black
smaller, the cliff paths steeper with every birthday, and the pub failed for good measure and in one final attempt to turn an honest shilling, he became, for a brief while, a contractor for supplying bluelias lime that was used in the construction of the harbour at Sidmouth. “Alas, poor Jack, his story finally ended in 1836 when so little had he profited by his free-trading expeditions, that he was fain to accept a pension from Lord Rolle of a shilling a week. So it can be said of Devon’s most famous smuggler that he died an honest man”. Which quotation, taken from the notebook of a Victorian gentleman writing of the end of the trade in Devon in the 1850s or thereabouts, might have been the end of Jack too save for the good people of Beer themselves - who to this day celebrate Jack Rattenbury Day each year in the village where he was born and drinking to his memory no doubt in - what else but finest French brandy - available (during opening hours) from any good licensed grocer in Devon at £19 per 70 cl bottle - duty paid.
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Do you wish to publicise your organisation's events? There's a website platform that is FREE to use, and is available on desktop, tablet and mobile phone platforms. It's free for any organisation to use, all you need to do is register your organisation. It's called South Devon Hub
southdevonhub NOW OVER 2,100 ORGANISATIONS REGISTERED ACROSS THE REGION
LATEST NEWS on HUB • HUB NOW SUPPLYING EVENT DATA From June the East Devon HUB will be supplying 4 of the East Devon Tourist Information websites with their event information (also Budleigh in Business and Awliscombe & Weston Parish - more planned in future). These will be supplied via an embedded HUB events page. The big advantage is that an event entered by an organisation into the HUB, will also instantly appear in HUB member websites, effectively giving a double marketing hit for minimal effort.
• POWERFUL EVENT CONTENT MANAGEMENT If you're involved with your parish/village website, you are able to take advantage of the embedded HUB page which is free, so that all of your village's events show in this page, allowing organisations in your community to add their events into this themselves - basically, it acts as a content management system for your local events page. If any of your village events are involved with fundraising, then being on the HUB means that your events will also gain extra coverage via East Devon Hub, enabling you to boost attendance at no cost. There are numerous other advantages to your organisation being on the HUB, if you wish to discuss them with us further, call Nigel or Charlotte on 01395 513383 East Devon Hub has been funded and developed solely by East Devon Coast & Country magazine as part of their community initiative to introduce transparency and efficiency to What's On information provision in the region.
• RECEIVE ALERTS ON YOUR FAVOURITE EVENTS Currently, as a member of the public, you are able to receive ALERTS for events, so for instance, if you wish to follow say Art or Jazz, all you need to do is setup alerts for these categories and you'll be notified by email a week before they occur (so you have time to plan in your diary), and then again a day before (as a reminder). • NEW FUNCTIONALITY COMING SOON In the near future, additional functions will appear on the HUB websites. Organisation search and also Keyword search are the next functions to be added.
Your Parish or Village ? • You are welcome to use one of our embedded HUB pages for your parish/village events? • It's free and allows all the organisations in your area to add/edit their events at any time. • These events instantly appear in your parish/ village website and also on South Devon HUB. • Setup is extremely easy and your parish/ village gets login access also. Speak to Nigel or Charlotte on 01395 513383
Powerful Event Promotion - across both high-quality magazine and web media SOUTH DEVON
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regional magazine 49
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