The Crier is produced 10 times a year on behalf of the community, by The Crier Community Interest Company. 5900 copies are distributed throughout Great Torrington and the rural district.
If you don’t normally get the Crier delivered, you can now view the latest issue and back issues online, including all adverts, which can be clicked on to visit their websites.
Would you like the Crier delivered in your village?
Editorial Enquiries: Becky Huxtable, 07443 491 972
E: torrington.crier@gmail.com
Copy deadline: Second Thursday of each month, 12 noon. We prefer all submissions and enquiries to the email above but handwritten articles can still be handed in at the Library. All articles are subject to editing, particularly those over 300 words, it is not possible to inform contributors of this prior to publication. Submission does not guarantee publication.
Advertising/Accounts: Esther Williams, 07912 693 858
E: torrington.crieradverts@gmail.com
Costs & sizes: Small advert: 9cm wide x 5cm deep, £28 per issue. Large advert: 19cm wide x 5cm deep, £54 per issue. 10% discount for a run of five adverts. All adverts are accepted in good faith. Single adverts to be paid in advance, please.
Postal address: The Crier, Castle Hill, Torrington, EX38 8AA.
Website: www.great-torringtoncrier.co.uk
Proof reading: Sam Williams
Town Distribution: Esther Williams
Rural Distribution: Torrington Library & the community
Printers: Hedgerow Print, Crediton
Volunteers collect Criers from the Library each issue and drop them off in various villages. If your community doesn’t receive the Crier but would like to, and you can help, please contact Becky on 07443 491972, torrington.crier@gmail. com, or call in to Torrington Library.
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Bespoke • Alterations • Sewing
Personal fittings • Tailored to fit
21 Chingswell Street, Bideford EX39 2NF
Monday-Tuesday - 10am-1pm 2-3pm
Thursday - 10am-1pm 2-6pm Friday - 10am-1pm
07885 440 143 (text only) ...and Cinderella shall go to the ball
Celebrating tradition, community, and the joy of coming together.
We’re entering that joyful, timehonoured time of year – Mayfair. Rooted in history and rich in community spirit, Torrington proudly leads the way in keeping this beautiful tradition alive. From the crowning of the May Queen and the colour of the Maypole dancing, to live music, the Round the Tree Race, Carnival and fairground festivities, Mayfair remains a highlight of our town’s calendar.
We are delighted to welcome the Mayor and Civic guests on Mayfair Day. Proceedings will begin with the formal Mayfair Proclamation in the Great Hall – a moment that marks the beginning of this much-loved celebration.
At the heart of the action, the Tavern at the Town Hall has become a firm favourite in recent years. Whether the sun shines or the rain makes an appearance, you’ll always find a warm welcome. This year, we’ll once again be serving a carefully curated selection of real ales, draught ciders and lagers, alongside other refreshing drinks. Every penny raised supports the Town Hall charity, and we are incredibly grateful for your continued support.
A special thank you must go to our dedicated volunteers, whose hard work and enthusiasm keep the Tavern running so smoothly throughout the festivities. Round the Tree Race
One of Mayfair’s most anticipated
events, the Round the Tree Race, will see Torrington Athletics Club registering runners at the Town Hall on Friday 8th May. Do come along to cheer them on –and perhaps enjoy a drink at the Tavern while you wait for their return. After all, it seems only fair to have something cold ready for the runners!
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
17th May, 2:30pm Two Rivers Wind Ensemble
A relaxed, family-friendly concert – a wonderful afternoon of music with young children very welcome.
Beginners Makaton Workshop
Learn about this unique communication programme using signs, symbols and speech. For further details please contact Hannah on 07837 525126. 28th May Psychic Supper with The English Psychic Company Call: 07793 241555 for more information.
17th June WeBuyVintage
Sell unwanted jewellery, antiques or valuables and meet the experts. For more info contact WeBuyVintage.co.uk/ items-we-buy COMMUNITY AND CREATIVITY
We are delighted to welcome The Torrington Players, who now call the Town Hall their home for meetings and workshops. Following the success of their 2025 Mystery Murder Play, and under the guidance of their new Chair, Val Howes, the group is exploring fresh ways to welcome new members aged
18+. Visit their Facebook page or get in touch to find out more.
MARK LIFE’S IMPORTANT MOMENTS
The Town Hall continues to be a special place for life’s meaningful occasions. From weddings and vow renewals to wakes, we offer a beautiful and flexible setting to suit your needs. Whether you’re planning an intimate ceremony in the elegant Oak Room or a full-day celebration using the whole building, our team is here to help create a truly memorable experience.
LOOKING AHEAD
We extend our sincere thanks to The Torrington Town and Lands Trust for their generous grant towards a new lighting system in the Great Hall. This improvement will enhance the space while respecting its historic character, while also improving energy efficiency and helping with running costs.
For bookings, events or general enquiries: 07944 639739; admin@ greattorrington-townhall.org.
We look forward to welcoming you soon.
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ur activities over the past few weeks have focused primarily on preparation for our first public running day of the year - the Easter Eggspresson Saturday 4th April, which was a great success. Our DMU Rod Garner was once more used for passenger carrying duties, following a three week deep clean as it had been out of action since last October. However, with just two weeks to go it was discovered that new batteries would be required and, thanks to a donation at our AGM, we were able to purchase the necessary specialised batteries and get the locomotive running in time.
Across the site, we have completed work on the new roof for our 20’ container to prevent an unwanted leak, cleared much of the embedded tree roots on the cattle dock, finished work on the new wooden gates for our brake van, tidied and painted the door and window frames of the block house and restocked our shop; as well as inspecting the track and moved our rolling stock around as part of the ongoing maintenance requirements for a heritage railway. There is always much to do for the volunteers. Why don’t you join us? Just come down on a Thursday or on one of our monthly Saturday working days for a chat and to find out how you can help. You may even get a cup of tea! We would love to see you.
Weekly progress reports and photographs can always be found on our Facebook page showing how our various projects are moving forward. Please also visit our website www.tarkavalleyrailway.org for much more information on our history, rolling stock, and our schedule of events and running days for the rest of the year.
Robert Martin, Tarka Valley Railway
Friendly professional lawn mowing and general garden maintenance.
Cutting, pruning, planting and weeding.
Garden waste removal and jet washing services also available.
Would you like friendly company, a comfy chair and tea or coffee and biscuits for £1? Then come in and see us, we cater for more senior members of the community. We serve tea and coffee from 10am-12pm six days a week, but the centre stays open until 4pm so if you need a rest you are welcome.
We are situated just below South Street car park, on the opposite side of the street, for those of you who may be new to the town. Maybe you have passed the centre and wondered what it was, come in and give us a try.
We also hire out the centre for meetings.
e will be having a Light Lunch on Tuesdays at 12.30pm until about 2.30pm. There will be a suggested donation of £2. Anyone looking for lunch and some good company is welcome.
We now have a recycle point for your old ink cartridges. Please bring in your cartridges, we will recycle them and donate to Little John’s House. Thank you.
The Clinton Hall Merton Sunday 31st May 10am - 2pm
Free parking & entry
Refreshments available
If you would like to trade with us, email iamcarrieann29@gmail.com
Eight stone-built holidays cottages • Pretty countryside open gardens setting• Comfortably priced • 1-5 bedrooms • Spacious indoors & out • Somewhere for everyone to enjoy. couples, families, family celebrations • Outdoor summer pool, small animal farm, games room, playroom, fast wi-fi
Torridge House Cottages, Little Torrington 07807 698 224 • www.torridgehouse.co.uk
What’s On:
Create a Still Life – Painting Workshop Monday 11th & 18th May 10am-1pm
Join art tutor Bill Bromfield for a two-part guided workshop exploring how to compose and paint still life.
Come & enjoy the magic of Zumba!
Dance , exercise & most of all have fun! It’s more than a workout! You will leave feeling happy & energised. It is for all ages & fitness levels, you don’t need to be able to dance...
First Class Free - no tie in Thursday 6.15pm-7.15pm
Contact Wendy to book your free class t: 07787 607 322 e: wendy.cox@btinternet.com Scout Hall , Gas Lane Torrington EX38 7BE
The mornings will include arranging objects, studying lighting, relationships between objects, texture, form and colour. Bill will demonstrate how to work in both watercolour and acrylic mediums.
Please bring your paints and brushes. Some watercolour paper will be provided. Beginners – improvers - all abilities welcome.
Booking essential for this popular course. £35 per person which includes both sessions.
Meet the author: John Hedge Thursday 21st May 2pm
Local author John Hedge will be here talking about his new book: ‘I Ni Che, Friendships with Mali’. The book gives a personal insight into the charity Mali Development Group (MDG) and its work with partners in Mali. Compiling this publication involved John in looking back over many documents from the last 25 years. It includes a great deal of personal memory and, of course, the recollections of many of the people involved, including his closest Malian colleagues.
“It is a beautiful book about grassroots efforts to help people to help themselves. It is a great description of bottom-up development.
John Hedge has written an inspiring as well as an informative book. It describes how volunteers are offering their time, resources and love in the service of a community." From the renowned ecologist Satish Kumar. Booking essential. £3 per ticket. Some of our regular events:
Craft Club Thursday 14th & 28th May 1.30-3.30pm
Bring along your craft projects to share with like-minded people over a cuppa. £1 donation appreciated.
Elevenses Saturday 2nd, 16th & 30th May 11am
Join us for a chat about what you’ve been reading, your favourite authors, and general book talk! If you would like to chat about a particular topic, please let us know in advance and we can prepare for it. A free cuppa and cake will be on offer. Open to all.
Baby Self-weigh Tuesdays 11.30am-4.30pm
The weighing scales are available every Tuesday for you to use to weigh your baby. No need to book, just drop-in. We can give you a quick demo on how to operate the scales if necessary.
Not a library member? Come in and join us – it's FREE! Support your local library – it’s a real community space. For assistance with any queries or to book tickets please contact us by emailing torrington.library@librariesunlimited.org.uk or telephone 01805 622107.
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to find out about library events and information. We post regularly so it’s a good place to look and share with your friends. @TorringtonLibraryDevon
Libraries Unlimited is a registered charity 1170092. Librariesunlimited.org.uk
3rd May 2026
We are nearly there, for another Great Torrington Cavaliers
Massive Ping Pong Ball race down Mill Street, on Bank Holiday Sunday, 3rd May.
Smytham Manor will be tipping all of the balls out of a fore end loader on their tractor at the top of Mill Street, and we have suggested that all residents in Mill Street put up a bit of bunting and make an afternoon of the event. Last year we released over 2000 ping pong balls and had great day.
The event will start at 3pm at the top of Mill Street and end at the Torridge Inn, which will be open all afternoon. The first balls to reach the bottom will receive prizes. Which ones get there first is completely random, with some getting caught up early, and then getting swept up, and may be overtaken by others, it is all chance.
You can purchase your ball numbers from most local shops and pubs around the town for £2 each. The first prize is £200, second £100 and third £50. As with last year the more balls we sell, the more cash prizes there will be. All winners will be contacted by telephone, and they will be announced on our Facebook page. All funds raised will go towards the Cavaliers’ next big bonfire, The White House, which we will burn on the 28th August 2027. More details are available on our website.
If you need any information, please contact me by email chris.tattersall@ hotmail.co.uk.
Buy your balls early, and come along to Mill Street on the day to cheer your balls along, have fun, and help the Cavaliers.
Chris Tattersall
May Fair is a time for celebrating traditions – and even we would have to admit that baseball is not (yet) a Torrington tradition.
The Torrington Riptides are in our second season representing North Devon in the South West Baseball League – and we’d love you to join us.
If you’ve never even seen a game of baseball, why would you want to play it? Here are five reasons:
1. Build fitness and strength. Baseball involves a range of different skills – hitting, catching, throwing, running. If one of your goals is to get a bit fitter, or build core strength, baseball is a fun and easy way to help reach those goals.
2. Anyone can play. We welcome anyone aged 15 and up, men and women, all abilities. We’re a friendly and inclusive team.
3. It’s rewarding to play. Nothing beats the feel of making a big hit or a crucial catch. The more you practise and play, the better you’ll get, and the more you’ll enjoy it.
4. Represent Torrington. We play against teams in Plymouth, Exeter and Cornwall, and we’re proud to fly the flag for Torrington and North Devon.
5. Do something different. Sometimes it’s great to try something completely new and unfamiliar. And it’s a real conversation starter. Tell your friends you’re playing baseball and we guarantee they will want to know more.
Our first two home games of the season are in May, so if you’re curious to see what it’s all about, come up to the Rugby Club and watch us play – and feel free to come and have a chat with us if you are interested in joining the team. We’ll be playing the Plymouth Mariners on 10th May and the Cornish Pioneers on 17th May. Matches start at noon.
Riptides bring home Torrington’s first baseball trophy
At the end of March, we spent a weekend in Plymouth competing against all our league rivals in the annual Clash at the Coast pre-season tournament. We went as underdogs but returned home as champions, beating the Plymouth Mariners 13-7 in the final.
Come and join us to help us win more trophies or sponsor us so we can afford a trophy cabinet!
For more information, head to our website - torringtonriptides.co.uk – or find us on Facebook.
To join or sponsor the team, email Jess at torringtonriptides@gmail.com.
Open for takeaway & eat-in
Monday 5-9pm Tuesday to Saturday 12-2pm, 5-9pm
Open on Bank Holidays
NEW MENU AVAILABLE!
Phone orders welcome!
Torrington Bowling Club is holding another Charity Challenge on Sunday May 31st starting at 10am. Last year was a stunning success and if you haven't joined the Bowls Club after that day out, then please feel free to enter again. The event is restricted to just twelve teams, and I know some teams missed out last year by applying too late. The cost is £10 per person in teams of three. This includes lunch and tea and provision of bowling woods. You will get an hour to practice before the competition takes place. All the entry money will go to a charity that is nominated by the winning team. Closing date for entries is Sunday May 10th and contact numbers are listed below.
Bob Brewer, President 01805 624495/07530 829 777 Colin Sowden 07748843450 Andrew Smith 01805 624231
Photos for 2027
We are looking for high quality and high-resolution pictures of landscapes, wildlife, buildings, landmarks and anything that captures the beauty of Great Torrington and the surrounding area.
Please submit your entries by 31st August 2026. Please email them to gtcalendar@hotmail.com.
Taffs Fish & Chips shop providing quality fish & chips since 1958. Thank you for your continued support.
Open daily from 11am
Wednesday Curry Night 6-8pm • Sunday Roast 12-2pm
Takeaways Available Function Room available for all occasions
SKY SPORTS • TNT SPORT • RACING CHANNELS • POOL DARTS • LIVE MUSIC • QUIZ NIGHTS
For bookings please contact: 01805 622280 or via Facebook
This month you will find various articles from the Conservators as well as my usual bits. I hope you enjoy reading them.
The car boot sales started on 5th April. It was a bit wet that day, so it was a little quiet, but there is a long way to go until the end of September. The car boots are a great opportunity for you to have a clear out and make a bit of money. The pitches will continue to be £7 as they were last year. All the proceeds will go towards looking after your Commons. Hockings ice cream will be there as well as Janola’s, the hot food and drink van, and the conveniently placed toilets.
We have received stacks of stuff to sell on our stall so please come along and have a look. We always have room for new donations of books, DVDs, CDs, records, jigsaws, stamps and coins. It’s a great opportunity to ask us questions about the Commons. You may also want to ask us about what the Cavaliers are building as their next bonfire. We can now also take card payments on our stall.
Dartington Crystal has sold thousands of books for us over the last three years. If you are down that way, please go and have a look. They are all priced at £3 or less and there is a great range of titles and subjects to browse through. They have recently been getting quite a lot of coaches visiting them, so our books are going all over the country. So this is fundraising and recycling all in one go.
If you are looking for local interest books, then we have a selection in Collectability in Well Street.
To raise money to pay for looking after your Commons we have the Torrington Commons 365 Supporters group, which continues to grow with more members signing up each week.
Please, consider applying to be a Commons 365 Supporter if you can, the funds will be used to continue our goal of maintaining, improving, and protecting the Commons.
As a Commons supporter you are also able to be a Town supporter by using your membership card to get a discount or other benefit when you shop at the participating businesses.
The 365 Supporters just pay a £2 per month or a £24 annual donation which can be increased with Gift Aid by 25% if you are a taxpayer. You can let us know at the application stage if this applies to you.
Joining the 365 Supporters group is simple:
Option 1: visit the website www.torringtoncommons.org and navigate to the 365 Supporters page where you can apply online. Here you have the option of paying by PayPal or standing order annually or monthly. You can also print an application form to post in with a cheque.
Option 2: You can email andrew.giles@torringtoncommons.org or phone or text 07956 366 390 and I will get an application form to you.
Last year we arranged for local specialised scythers to help us on the Commons, as we addressed an overflow of bracken within a designated area. It is important to undertake this work, as the bracken has the potential to smother rare acid-rich grassland which would be detrimental to the Commons. We do this work in conjunction with Devon Wildlife Trust (DWT). This year, we will be having another event, working with DWT and using the traditional method of “hand scything”. This work is planned for early June.
Whilst we have experienced scythers, we are in need of some volunteers to help rake the cut bracken. Would you like to get involved? We would love to have you join us if you are able. Dates will be confirmed in the near future, but if you are interested please let us know now and we will liaise with you further nearer the time. Please send any expressions of interest to the Clerk at clerk@torringtoncommons.org – we hope this will be a great opportunity for local people to help look after our wonderful Commons. Please keep an eye on Great Torrington Commons’ Facebook page for more information.
If you are interested in volunteering for Torrington Commons at any other time, please e-mail the clerk and we will start a conversation with you.
Torridge Ramblers are a friendly group of walkers who originated in Torrington 40 years ago and now walk Torridge, North Devon and occasionally Exmoor and Dartmoor. More information and contact on our website – www.torridgeramblers.co.uk.
Upcoming walks
Saturday 16th May - Withypool and Tarr Steps 9 miles.
Sunday 31st May - Parkham 3-4 miles.
Torrington Commons Conservators
Andrew Giles, Chair Great
House Clearance • Office Clearance • Garage Clearance
Garden Clearance • Scrap metal clearance
For any kind of clearance, please call, text or pm anytime for a no obligation quote. Thank you!
Collect from Torrington, Bideford, Barnstaple, & surrounding areas
Contact James on 07714 819 415 Licensed Waste Carrier No: CBDU269392
s I write this on a chilly April day, spring seems to be taking its time to get here. But it will be worth the wait I am sure. Over April and May we see beautiful splashes of pink blossom in many places on the Common – reminders of long discarded apple cores! Remember the spot and you can pick some delicious apples later in the year. Collingham’s orchard, opposite the corner of the cemetery wall, is also well worth a visit at this time of year.
The frothy, white May blossom on the hawthorn trees will be out in time for Mayfair. This has a strong scent, loved by some, but hated by others. The aim is to attract pollinating insects in the spring, and the tree has soft berries called haws for the birds in the autumn, and it is also armed with sharp thorns. These provide protection for many nesting birds including blackbirds, chaffinches, and wrens.
The native bluebells can be found in Furzebeam woods at this time of year. They can be distinguished from the more common garden escapes, Spanish bluebells, often found nearer town. The natives are slenderer and drooping and rarely any colour other than blue (you may spot the odd white one, never pink). They have creamy coloured pollen rather than blue and are sweetly scented.
The flat area next to the river is a sea of wild garlic, with its pretty starry, white flowers. The young leaves are good to eat, but please don’t pull the bulbs up!
Also, along the river paths can be seen Early Purple orchids and yellow archangels, interspersed with dog violets and stitchwort. All making May one of the loveliest times to walk the Commons, so please get out there and enjoy!
Mandy
Harrison
During March the Rangers finally finished cutting back the zig zag paths on Castle and Limers Hill. They were both in need of attention and if left another spring, the paths on Castle Hill would have been impassible with some of the gorse stems nearly five inches wide. At Limers Hill, the brambles would have crossed the road! The Monument Path has also been cut back, especially Millennium Path end.
The Ranger has finally managed to unblock the drain by the sewer entrance. When Western Power put in their new pole, the shingle they disturbed washed down and filled up the drain. The final block came because of the constant rain we've had, which washed in mud. The Ranger had to dig down over two feet to clear it, but thankfully, it is now all working.
There have been several new benches installed across the Commons, including at the Old Bowling Green and on Castle Hill. We hope you enjoy sitting on them taking in the views. Others are also in the process of being repaired.
Volunteers will help paint the bollards at the Old Bowling Green very soon - talking of volunteers, one of them, Wayne, has been busy re-painting the path signs ready for spring!
A shout out of thanks to the Town Council who have donated some tree guards to the Conservators. These will come in extra handy as we look to plant more trees.
All garden & landscape work undertaken, large & small, by experienced & qualified landscaper & designer, plus
LOGS FOR SALE
Tel: 07971533 235
As the days grow longer and temperatures begin to rise, many of us are making the most of the outdoors with our pets. Whether it’s longer walks, time spent in the garden, or trips into the countryside, spring and early summer are a wonderful time to get outside together.
However, this seasonal shift also brings an increase in parasites such as fleas and ticks - something veterinary practices commonly see more of at this time of year. While they may seem like a minor irritation, these parasites can cause significant discomfort for pets and, in some cases, problems for owners too.
Fleas: Small but Persistent
Fleas are one of the most familiar parasites for pet owners, and unfortunately one of the most troublesome. Even a small number can cause intense itching, and some pets develop an allergic reaction to flea bites. This can lead to sore, inflamed skin, hair loss, and ongoing discomfort.
Fleas spread easily between animals, but the bigger challenge is often within the home. Flea eggs are shed into carpets, bedding, and soft furnishings, where they can lie dormant for weeks, or even months, before hatching. This is why infestations can be so difficult to fully eliminate once established.
A few fun flea facts:
• Fleas can jump up to 200 times their body length (equivalent to a human jumping over a 30 storey building!).
• They can jump around 30,000 times without tiring.
• A single flea can lay up to 50 eggs per day.
It’s no surprise they are such successful parasites.
Ticks: The Quiet Hitchhikers
Ticks are another common concern, particularly for dogs (and adventurous cats) spending time in grassy or wooded areas. Unlike fleas, ticks don’t jump. Instead, they climb to the tips of grasses and wait for a passing animal, a behaviour known as questing.
Once attached, they feed on blood over several days, gradually increasing in size. Many owners don’t notice them until they are already well attached.
Ticks can carry infections such as Lyme disease, although this is fortunately rarely diagnosed in North Devon. More commonly, they cause local irritation or mild skin infections at the site of attachment.
The good news is that there are simple and effective ways to reduce the risk of parasite problems.
• Check your pet regularly, especially after walks in long grass or woodland.
• Remove ticks promptly using a proper tick hook, your veterinary team can show you how.
• Keep bedding clean and maintain good household hygiene.
Prevention
Preventative treatments remain the most effective way to protect your pet. Modern products are highly effective, often killing fleas within a few hours and ticks within 12 hours, significantly reducing the risk of disease transmission.
An annual parasite prevention review with your vet is important to ensure your pet’s protection is tailored to their lifestyle and risk. For example, pets that swim will be prescribed oral treatments, which avoid contamination of waterways.
The key message at this time of year is simple: prevention is far easier than cure. Once fleas become established, they can be much more challenging to manage, both for your pet and your home.
With a little awareness and the right preventative care, you can ensure your pet enjoys the warmer months comfortably, without any unwanted hitchhikers along the way.
Ruth Ferguson, Brannam Vets
Established for over 50 years, McBain Domestic Appliance Repairs is a trusted, family-run business based in Fremington, proudly serving North Devon and the surrounding areas. We specialise in the repair, servicing, and installation of a wide range of domestic appliances.
As dedicated service engineers for many leading manufacturers and insurance companies, we are committed to delivering reliable, high-quality workmanship every time. Our services cover most household appliances, including gas cookers (natural gas and LPG), fridges, freezers, washing machines, tumble dryers, dishwashers, and cooker hoods. We also supply and fit spare parts for most major brands. In addition, we provide tailored repair and maintenance solutions for landlords, letting agencies, and property management companies, ensuring appliances remain safe, efficient, and fully operational.
Our friendly office team, Emma and Anita, are always on hand to assist with enquiries, whether you need spare parts or want to arrange a repair or installation. Supported by three experienced engineers covering the North Devon area, we pride ourselves on offering a prompt and dependable service. Contact us today to find out how we can meet your domestic appliance needs.
Please see advert below.
You can now check out a blood pressure monitor from Torrington Library with your library card!
We have partnered with Devon County Council Public Health and NHS Devon to bring blood pressure monitors to all the libraries in Devon. The kits can be borrowed for up to three weeks and include a monitor, a simple instruction leaflet, a blood pressure diary to record the readings, and advice on what to do if numbers are high.
Held on the second Saturday of every month from 9:30am-12pm.
An opportunity for you to treat yourself to a delicious breakfast bap, hot drink and/or home baked cake. Free on-site car park, disabled access and parking. Books and jigsaws are available to borrow. Visit our website for details of all our events www.beafordvillagehall.com.
Tel: 01271 371774
Email: mcbain@live.co.uk
Established for over 50 year, McBain Domestic Appliance Repairs, is a family run business based in Fremington, offering first class customer care across North Devon and surrounding areas.
Comprehensive repair service for: • Gas Cookers • Fridges • Freezers • Dishwashers • • Washing Machines • Tumble Dryers • Cooker Hoods • www.mcbaindomesticappliancerepairs.com
If you've reached pension age and find daily tasks like dressing, washing or staying safe more difficult than they used to be, you could be entitled to Attendance Allowance - up to £110.40 per week, tax-free. Your income and savings don't affect your eligibility.
The problem? The application form is long, complex, and easy to get wrong.
Many people miss out simply because their form doesn't describe their needs strongly enough. CAB and Age UK can help - but their waiting lists mean you could lose weeks of payments you're owed.
That's where I come in.
I'm Sally Burnet from Care Talks. I personally complete your Attendance Allowance form for you, making sure your care needs are described accurately and compellingly - giving you the best possible chance of success.
No jargon, no stress – I handle everything.
A reasonable fee, fully refunded if your claim is unsuccessful, very local, friendly and experienced.
Ready to find out if you qualify?
Visit caretalks.co.uk or call 07395 141 349 for a free, no-obligation chat.
Round the Tree is back for 2026 as part of the Mayfair celebrations – Friday 8th May. Registration will be open in the Square/Town Hall from 5.30pm.
All the details, race start times and prizes are on our website – www. torringtonaac.co.uk/round-the-tree - you can download the registration form and avoid the queues on the night.
As usual, men’s, women’s and children’s races (Year 7 and older) for the range of age categories, and NEW for 2026, walking groups can enter and take part too. Please bring cash on the night, exact money appreciated.
A HUGE thank you to Diana and Nigel at Oak Park Farm for exclusive use of their land (and tree!) for this community event.
If you’re taking photos, why not say you’re ‘Going’ to our Facebook event and upload them - fb.me/e/5yPn8xyrE or tag us www.facebook.com/ TorringtonAmateurAthleticsClub.
Other news…
TAAC on Tour – some runners went to Prague for the Half Marathon on Saturday 28th March, well done to Bridget, Darren and Ian who completed the run. Special congratulations to Bridget for running five Superhalfs (Valencia, Copenhagen, Lisbon, Cardiff and Prague) and being proudly awarded her medal, alongside her husband Wayne.
Our Couch to 5k group led by Mags is striding forwards and making excellent progress, with a celebratory graduation Parkrun (and coffee, of course) in May. If you’re thinking of running with us, you should be able to run 5k/3 miles nonstop at ANY pace. We meet on Wednesdays 6.15pm at GTS carpark for a warmup and a planned run by the coaches and run leaders. Try us twice for free before you sign up, get in touch.
We are a small but friendly, supportive and inclusive club for all ages and abilities.
www.facebook.com/TorringtonAmateurAthleticsClub torringtonathleticsclub@gmail.com
After the Maypole country dancing club at Torrington Baptist Church Hall from 3-5 pm every Sunday afternoon. Live music and recorded. Under 16s must bring a responsible adult with them. All welcome.
Musicians are very welcome too! Join and play with others for dancing. Perhaps a ceilidh band could grow... Contact Lucinda on 07851 006 111.
EX38 8AL top of Mill Street.
Our regular services are on Sundays at 10.30am. Evening Worship 6.30pm via Zoom, email sarahrichards185@gmail. com to request link.
Warm Welcome: second Saturday monthly, enjoy homemade soup, cake, meet friends old and new, all at no cost. (Under 18s must be accompanied by responsible adul.).
Bacon Butty Coffee Morning third Saturday monthly 10am to noon. Our premises are available for hire. Various rooms, Wi-Fi, screen mirroring/projecting. See website or phone Sheila 07579 058 284. Blessings from us all, hope to meet you soon.
At the time of writing, the rising cost of vehicle fuel has become a real concern for many households. Surveys have consistently shown that 60% of journeys under two miles are made by car, so switching to cycling and walking for some of these shorter journeys may be a good way to reduce our dependency on increasingly crippling fuel costs. This option can seem daunting with concerns about safety, load carrying and weather often being perceived as obstacles. Let’s look at each of these in turn in the context of Torrington.
Safety: While we’ve often referenced the multiple hazards of the main travel axis through town (essentially Calf Street, New Street and Station Hill), with care and suitable guidance for younger cyclists, most other routes around town can be negotiated quite safely. From Burwood and locations on the east side of town, Watery Lane and Dick Hills Lane provide good routes towards the town centre - the planned pedestrian crossing of New Road at the Well Park/Dick Hills junction will greatly enhance this option.
Within the town centre, relatively low traffic volume and vehicle speeds (with the odd exception) are manageable for most cyclists, with cycle rails available for parking (free) by the clock tower, opposite Sandfords and at both car parks, so no excuse for chucking your bike on the pavement outside Co-op!
Journeys to and from the town centre in a westerly direction are quite feasible via Rack Park and Warren Lane, from where there are options to the top of Limers Hill then on the path adjoining Station Hill down to the Tarka Trail.
While none of these possibilities are yet designated cycle routes and may have points where you need to dismount, they are forming a basis for a planned network of continuous signed active travel routes in the future.
Loads: Whether it’s a weekly shop, young children, or lighter loads of tools and materials, cycle accessories or
specialized bikes/trikes are now able to accommodate a wide range of loads. A rear cycle rack and panniers provide a good 50 litres of load space with the option of strapping light, bulky stuff on top, while a front rack and panniers can allow extra capacity. Trailers are quite cheap and great for shopping, small children or dogs. Cargo bikes, usually with electric assistance, are increasingly used in cities for ‘last mile’ deliveries, shopping, family transport, school runs and by tradespeople for carrying lighter tools and materials. While quite expensive new, used models do come up. The monster illustrated here was bought from a Bristol courier company who were changing their fleet. Charged from off-grid power, it has more than paid for itself in fuel savings and avoiding parking charges.
Weather: When you cycle regularly, it doesn’t rain as often you might imagine, and with the right gear, it doesn’t really matter.
While we usually think of the Tarka
Trail as a recreational facility, increasing numbers of cyclists are now using the trail as a commuting route between Torrington and Bideford, and indeed to Barnstaple. As well as avoiding road closures, roadworks delays, congestion and pothole damage, the savings on fuel and car repairs are an added bonus –and for some reason, arriving for work or college after a ride through nature puts you in a great mood for the day. While switching to the bike for some short journeys isn’t an option for everyone, even small changes can yield multiple benefits in addition to helping with stretched household finances: traffic reduction can ease congestion and free up road-space for those who need to drive; cycling becomes safer if drivers are more accustomed to interacting with bikes; and regular cycling has been shown to significantly enhance mood and well-being.
David Job, Torrington Active Travel davidjob49@icloud.com
Fabulous Freddie here, back with all the K9Focus news.
Well for once it was a quieter month in April, with regard to animals coming into rescue. The enquiries to help are still flooding in, but with no kennel spaces or free fosterers we are struggling to help. Our recruitment days in February and March did bring forward a few new volunteers, but most have their own dogs or are only able to take small dogs, and many of the dogs we are being asked to take really need to be an only dog or are larger dogs like German Shepherds. We have, however, managed to place a few of these with our partnered rescue – Battersea Dogs & Cats.
able to take them in.
One lucky dog found his forever home last month: Charlie the husky and one lucky cat called Tabby. Sadly, however, Poppy and Pixie the Shih Tzu x Pugs are still waiting for their new home and are still in foster. Charlie, Poppy and Pixie all came to us following the death of their owner and they were fortunate that at the time we had a free kennel, together with a free fosterer, and were
However, one of the big issues when owners sadly die or are taken ill and in hospital is who is going to look after their dogs/cats, especially when there are no relatives. We do of course help where we can, but often do not have space, leaving the only alternative of putting them into commercial kennels. This presents a problem, as more often than not the animals are either not vaccinated, or we are unable to trace confirmation of vaccination, which means that boarding kennels are unable to take them. Just a thought for everyone to remind you of the importance of yearly booster vaccinations, and of keeping the vaccination card somewhere accessible.
Preparation for all our annual dog shows are well underway and, as mentioned last month, the first one is on 25th May at Braunton Fayre which is always a popular venue – let’s hope for some sunny weather. There will be 10 fun categories plus Best in Show and we are looking for sponsors for each of the categories: all sponsors will be
mentioned in our running order flyer together with mentions over the PA system and social media. If you are interested, then please email: eventsk9focus@gmail. com.
Our Torrington shop continues to produce much-needed funds for the rescue and so Aunty Lynne would like to thank everyone for the lovely donations that continue to be brought in. We are often being asked if we can take duvets and/or towels for our dogs, but sadly we are unable to accept these as they cannot be used and we are then charged to dispose of them, so just wanted to say please do not be offended if we say no to these items.
Right, that’s about it from me other than to say have a lovely May Bank Holiday and hopefully see you on the 25th May.
Woofs & licks, Freddie
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March has been another busy month across Devon, and I am now also extremely busy with lambing on the farm and so grateful for the lovely weather these past few days. Here’s a round-up of the key updates from my work at Devon County:
Supporting Children and Foster Families
Devon continues to urgently need more foster carers, with 810 children currently in care. A recent fostering event in Exeter brought together experienced carers and those interested in learning more about fostering. I personally found this event incredibly moving, and it really highlighted the amazing work our foster carers do every day. If you’ve ever considered fostering, even on a shortterm or weekend basis, it can make a huge difference to a young person’s life. We are investing in more support for foster carers, and local businesses can also sign up to become ‘fostering friendly’ employers to support staff who foster. Please get in touch if you’d be interested in finding out more.
Celebrating Our Young People
It was wonderful to attend a fantastic celebration at County Hall marking the first year of Devon County Council’s ‘Places to Go, Things to Do’ youth grant. This has been an incredibly successful initiative, with £160,000 awarded through more than 100 small grants to projects across Devon, supporting young people in both urban and rural communities.
The event itself was full of energy, creativity and talent, showcasing just how much of a difference this funding has made and what it is supporting: from youth clubs and sports activities to creative arts, music, wellbeing programmes and safe spaces for young people to connect and thrive. It was so brilliant to see the amazing DJ performance from our very own Archie Scott, who comes from right here in Great Torrington; this was a proud moment for our community! I also want to say a big thank you to Paula Fuller
and Torri Youth, who have been using this grant to run youth outreach sessions in local villages, bringing access to activities and support to young people in our rural areas.
This success is also thanks to the incredible work of Devon Youth Council, who helped design the fund and played a key role in awarding grants where they were most needed. Even better news is that, following such a successful first year, the youth grant will be running again, with another £160,000 committed, so we can continue building on this brilliant work and supporting young people across Devon.
The national Household Support Fund from central government has now come to an end and will be replaced by a new Crisis and Resilience Fund (CaRF). Devon will receive £8.4 million per year from 2026 to 2029, although this is a reduction compared to previous funding. The new approach will focus on targeted help for those experiencing a financial shock, including emergency payments, housing support, and services to build long-term financial resilience.
It’s important to recognise that rural communities often face hidden challenges, such as higher fuel and transport costs. I continue to push for fairer, long-term support so that rural households, farmers, and small businesses are not overlooked.
Future of Local Government in Devon
A Government consultation on how local councils in Devon should be structured has now closed. Devon County Council has proposed creating a single unitary authority for the whole county, which it believes would be the most efficient and least disruptive option. Other proposals have also been submitted, and we now await a decision from central government.
New Laws to Protect Livestock
New legislation came into force on 18th March to tackle livestock worrying and attacks, an issue that causes real distress and financial loss for farmers
and their animals. I have worked with the police to put out a joint statement welcoming this.
The new law strengthens protections by: extending offences to include incidents on roads and public rights of way, recognising animals such as alpacas and llamas as livestock and importantly, giving police much greater powers, including the ability to seize dogs and gather DNA evidence. There are also unlimited fines for these offences. With many public footpaths crossing farmland in our area, this is a very welcome step. Dog owners are urged to keep their pets on leads near livestock and act responsibly.
Standing Up for Rural Communities
I have written to the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, highlighting the growing pressures on rural households and businesses. The significant rising costs for heating oil, LPG, red diesel, fertiliser and fuel, driven in part by global events, are hitting rural areas particularly hardas we all know as we live it every day. Unlike urban households, many of us rural residents do not benefit from energy price caps, which is simply not fair. I will continue to press for better, more equitable support.
A new four-year strategy (2026–2030) has been approved to improve support for people experiencing domestic abuse. This includes increasing safe accommodation, expanding access to specialist support, and ensuring help is available to those who may face additional barriers. It forms part of a wider commitment to protect and support vulnerable individuals across Devon. If you have any questions about these updates or need support, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Cllr Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin Cabinet Member for Rural Affairs County Councillor for Torrington Rural
Email: cheryl.cottle-hunkin@devon.gov. uk
Contact no. 07495367801
Facebook: Cllr Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin for Torrington Rural
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s the spring term comes to a close, Beavers have been making the most of the nicer weather - getting out and about in the community. They completed their Explorer Badge, where they went and found as many features of the town as they could, including the park. Their following meeting they were out and about again, but this time on an Easter picture trail on a quest to find the very important chocolate, a quest they were very successful in.
This term, Cubs have been busy doing their Fire, Home and Personal Safety Badge. To finish they learnt about what to do in a fire emergency, how to keep safe around strangers and some basic first aid skills as well. Cubs also got the opportunity to do the Easter trail, although a tight call, just about made it back in time and found their well-earned chocolate.
The Scouts have also been busy. They had a two-part meeting where they made stop motion videos of well-known children’s stories, some with a slight twist. They then practiced skills in preparation for an upcoming expedition on the North Devon Coastline. For this they practiced putting their tents up (easy inside with no wind), made themselves hot chocolate on trangia stoves and had a refresher on their map skills. All of which will be needed for their expedition. The Scouts finished the term off with an Easter trail, though theirs was not as easy. They had to work their way through a series of riddles, finding locations around town to then locate their chocolate, although a little tricky when it got dark, they were indeed successful.
If you are interested in joining or helping out, please contact Jordon (Group Leader) on jordon.whitear@gmail.com for more information.
This month sees our first trip of 2026 to Padstow on Tuesday 19th May. New members are always welcome and can pay subs, collect pamphlets and buy tickets at Whiskers Pet Stores. We have kept the cost of subs and tickets the same as last year.
At our AGM in March, we thanked Jackie Hughes for all her work as Treasurer over many years. We welcome Mike Ferry as her replacement. Beryl Oke/Chair and John Pitts/Secretary were re-elected. Members were informed of our new Safeguarding Policy and its processes.
Our other trips are: 16th June Dartmouth: 14th July Newquay; 15th September Torquay; 10th November Taunton.
We are hoping for favourable weather. Fingers crossed.
John Pitts, 07986 586 799.
There’s plenty happening at St Michael’s, and everyone is warmly invited to join us:
May Fair Flower Festival
Join us from Thursday 7th to Saturday 9th May, open daily from 10am to 6pm in the Church. Come and enjoy beautiful floral displays, with refreshments available throughout the event.
Midweek Said Mass
Please note that our Midweek Said Mass will now take place at 10.30am on Wednesdays, instead of Thursdays, starting from Wednesday 6th May. Summer Fair
Looking ahead, our Summer Fair will be held on Saturday 13th June from 10am to 2pm. All are warmly welcome.
Monthly Pancakes
Don’t forget our regular pancakes on the last Saturday of each month from 10.30am to 12 noon, which are incredibly popular - offering a wonderful opportunity to meet both old and new friends.
We look forward to seeing you!
Drain clearing
CCTV surveys
Drain clearing CCTV surveys
Repairs/Relining
Repairs/Relining
Septic Tank and Treatment plant installation
Septic Tank and Treatment plant installation
Tel: 07794 586039 or 01271 440251
I’ve met very few people over the years I’ve been gardening and selling plants who don’t like pansies and violas, with their bright colours, some with cheeky ‘faces’ and their wonderful perfume. They are a huge genus of plants, possibly some 500 different species of annuals, perennials and even sub-shrubs which can be found across the globe, from the mountains of New Zealand to the sub-arctic.
They are fairly easy to grow from seed, although can sometimes be slow to germinate, or from cuttings. Sow seed in early spring with some warmth in a good general compost and once the seedlings are large enough to handle, prick them out into trays or small pots. Once they are large enough to plant out, either in the garden or pots, baskets or containers, keep them well watered and feed regularly. It is important to deadhead regularly to prevent violas from going to seed, then you should be able to keep your plants flowering well into autumn.
Many violas will root readily from little cuttings, even if left in water, and this is an excellent way to increase your supply. Try not to take a stem that has flower buds forming and keep the cuttings cool and out of direct sunlight.
Here in the UK, we have several beautiful species from which many cultivars have been bred over the years.
Viola arvensis (of meadows or open
land) is our lovely little Field Pansy which can flower from spring through to autumn, having dainty little creamy coloured flowers often blotched yellow or violet. It will seed itself if it likes your garden.
Viola cornuta, the Horned Violet, is a little cottage garden plant from which there are now dozens of cultivated forms, many of which have a lovely perfume and come in myriad colours and patterns.
Viola tricolor is the true wild pansy, often called Heartsease and can be found growing along meadow edges or hedgerows. Again, it flowers from spring into autumn and the colourways of the wild form can be variable in shades of yellow and blue-violet and sometimes with pretty markings. Again, many modern cultivars originate from this species.
Viola canina/riviniana, the Dog or Heath Violet is native right across Eurasia and is a low growing, often spreading perennial with mauve, blue or sometimes white flowers. It can be invasive when grown in the garden where it can spread via runners.
Viola odorata needs no explaining, is the beautifully perfumed Sweet Violet which on a warm day can fill the air with a rich, intoxicating scent. It is well known that the flowers and petals are edible and are often candied. In fact, most viola flowers are edible and make a pretty
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addition to a summer salad. If you are growing this species from seed you need to expose them to frost before they will germinate (ie, in a little pot at the back of the fridge!).
Viola palustris, the Marsh Violet, commonly found in marshy areas in lime poor soils, has quite distinctive long thin flowers which are lilac with purple veins.
Viola x wittrockiana is the Pansy, much larger and bolder than other violas in all kinds of colours, plain or blotched. There are even ‘winter flowering’ forms which can be in flower during December/ January given a sheltered spot. Perhaps the ‘Swiss Giants’ cultivars are the best known of all the pansies.
Lastly, the native violas are an important food plant for the now quite rare Fritillary butterflies, so always keep a few in your garden to encourage these beautiful insects.
Sunday 17th May Rosemoor
The Dark Weir, Canal Basin and Limekilns
Walk Leader: Michael Elliott
The walk starts from the end of the new extended car park at RHS Rosemoor Gardens near Great Torrington. This is an opportunity to walk beyond the public gardens through attractive woodland to Darkham Weir on the River Torridge, from where the waters to feed the Rolle Canal were taken. Then follow the Mill Leat to the recently cleared Canal Basin, effectively the terminus of the Rolle Canal. Here the old lime kilns can be seen as well as the foundations of a Tucking Mill. Meet in the overflow car park at Rosemoor by 2:30pm.
Sunday 14th June
Annery Kiln to Ridd Inclined Plane
Walk Leader: Tony Nicholls
Starting from Annery Kiln by Halfpenny Bridge on the Bideford to Weare Giffard road, see the site where tub-boats were hauled up an incline from the river level to the canal summit level. Part of the underground water-wheel chamber is visible beside the Tarka Trail. Also, an opportunity to see recent restoration work on the incline and the remains of the Hunters Inn. Distance less than 2 miles. Please note that the route includes 100 metres walking over rough meadow grass which may be wet after rain. Meet at Annery Kiln by 2:30pm.
Sunday 12th July - Sea Lock
From the temporary car park next to the Annery Lime-kilns walk along the canal to Sea Lock. This is an opportunity to see the restoration work on the lock where in the nineteenth century river barges could enter the canal basin from the tidal Torridge estuary. A specially constructed traditional canal-side building houses an archive of photographs and canal artefacts. Distance less than 2 miles. Meet at Annery Kiln by 2:30pm.
Sunday 16th August
Staple Vale to Beam Aqueduct
Walk Leader: Ian Harrison
Start from the Puffing Billy (old Railway Station) and follow the Tarka Trail (old railway line) to where the Rolle Canal skirts Furzebeam Hill. Here the towpath leads to the Roving Bridge behind Beam House and on to the Aqueduct over the River Torridge. The Tarka Trail then leads back via Beam Weir to the start point. The walk may include part of the route of the canal by kind permission of the landowner. If part of the footpath at Furzebeam is still closed, the route will be diverted along the Tarka Trail. Length a little over 2 miles. Meet at the Puffing Billy car park by 2:30pm.
Individuals take part in Rolle Canal Society walks at their own risk and must take responsibility for their own safety at all times. Please remember to wear suitable footwear, as at times it can be muddy or wet!. The income from the small charge of £2 per person
on the guided walks makes a valuable contribution to the Society's work in improving access along the canal and providing interpretation of the major features.
For further information please email the Society Chairman, Ian Harrison: halehillfarm@gmail.com
Atraditional service of Holy Communion using the Book of Common Prayer is now being held each week at 8am in the beautiful village church of Alverdiscott.
There is a sermon but no hymns. Anyone who appreciates the rich spirituality of the old 1662 service and King James bible, or anyone who has never used it but would like to give it a try, is invited to attend.
Wine & Wisdom Quiz Night with guest quiz masters at the Victory Hall, Little Torrington on Saturday 30th May. Doors open at 7pm for 7.30pm start, £8 per person to include a bottle of wine, bread, cheese and nibbles per table, maximum six per team. Bar and raffle, cash and cards accepted.
To book, please phone/text/WhatsApp 07527 190 756. Everyone welcome, we look forward to seeing you.
Recent events have shown that we cannot be sure of anything. The knock-on effects of the Ukraine-Russia war, the Middle East ‘conflict’ and the US/Isreal - Iran war can be seen in rising prices for fuel and food. Burning fossil fuels damages the environment, it is also a limited resource and so will continue to rise in cost. Currently we have to use these fuels because the alternatives have not been developed enough, particularly in rural communities like ours. But do we have to take the kids to school by car every day, do we have to have to use the car to travel to the shops? Could we walk, cycle, use the bus (if it runs), or car share?
Water prices are rising and will continue to do so; it’s another limited resource. On average we are still using 140 litres per person per day. The government is trying to get that down to 100 litres but 80 should be the target. Saving water isn’t just about what happens in your own home, it plays a bigger role in supporting your whole community. When we reduce unnecessary water use, there is more available for everyone, including those who rely on it most, such as older people, children, and vulnerable households.
Climate change, global conflict and population increase is affecting food supplies, but we still continue to waste an enormous amount of food. A household of four throws away, on average, £1,000 of good food each year. We're talking here about stopping avoidable food waste, but it is of course crucial to make sure you only eat older leftovers when it's safe to do so. Food with a 'best before' date – which concerns food quality and not food safety – should be safe to eat after the stated date, although it may not be at its best quality. Consumers can use sensory cues to determine whether the food is suitable to eat, be that looking for visible mould on bread, tasting to see if biscuits or crisps are stale, or smelling some dairy products (with 'best before' dates) to see if they have soured. Don't eat food that's past its 'use by' date though, as it could make you ill, even if it looks and smells OK. Avoiding wasting food avoids wasting water given the amount of water required to produce food.
The higher prices should encourage us to think what we can do to reduce our consumption and also reduce waste. This kind of thinking has to become a habit we need to change our behaviour and use the 5 R’s of waste reduction:
1. Refuse: means actively saying no to products or materials that generate unnecessary waste. This includes avoiding single-use plastics like straws, disposable cutlery, and plastic bags, as
well as declining promotional items, junk mail, or excessive packaging. By refusing items you don’t need, you prevent waste at its source and reduce environmental pollution while also saving money.
2. Reduce: focuses on minimising the amount of waste you generate. This can be achieved by buying only what you need, choosing products with minimal packaging, purchasing in bulk, and planning meals to avoid food waste.
3. Reuse: involves extending the life of products instead of discarding them. Reusing reduces the demand for new products and prevents materials from entering the waste stream prematurely.
4. Repurpose: means creatively finding new uses for old or unwanted items. For example, an old t-shirt can become a cleaning rag, or cardboard boxes can be used for storage.
5. Recycle: sits at the bottom of the hierarchy, and all of your efforts should be placed in attempting to ensure as little as possible reaches this stage.
The 5 Rs can help to mitigate climate change though the conservation of energy and resources. Put simply, the less we consume and subsequently waste, the fewer carbon intensive materials are created from virgin resources, an approach that brings benefits at all links of the chain, from manufacture to disposal.
Contact us @ gtwaterforum@gmail. com; ww.facebook.com/great torrington water forum; www.linkedin.com.
Aslightly quieter month to report on is welcomed, as I'm sure next month, with Mayfair, will make up for things!
On Saturday 14th March, my consort Elizabeth and I, joined many other local Mayors in attending Bideford's historic Manor Court celebrations. This was followed by an evening invitation to attend the Torrington Police Amateur Boxing Club's tournament, which took place at the GTS sports hall. Fellow councillors Dave Parrish, Sue Mills, and Jason Issac, joined me in an incredibly spirited, and professional display of amateur boxing throughout the evening. Thank you to all who contributed to this very successful evening, it was an honour to present trophies to all participants!
On a completely different note, on Wednesday 18th March Great Torrington Town Council held its Annual Parish Meeting, which invites members of the community to have their say on local issues, and is an opportunity for the council to update on current
projects. It was good to see the Great Hall in the Town Hall full of people from various groups and individuals from our community. The displays within the meeting room were both well-presented and informative, and I believe gave an excellent overview of our Council's work, priorities, and spending over the past year. There were a variety of excellent presentations ranging from Martin Rich's guidance on Community Emergency Planning and Charlotte Kirby's explanation of Local Government Reorganisation, through to Cllr. Jason Isaac's plans for a Tarka the Otter and Friends family trail. The evening concluded with a very positive questions and answers session, during which students from GTS eloquently put forward their views and questions. Their presence, and contributions, really added to the evening's format. My thanks go to Great Torrington Town Council staff Jennie Smithson, and Charlotte Kirby, (Town Clerk and Deputy Clerk), Kate Cooper, Sharon Lambert and all who made the evening such a success.
On Thursday 26th March I attended the South West in Bloom Spring Seminar at Rosemoor Gardens. Elizabeth and I were very pleased to attend and give support to Torrington in Bloom who do such an amazing job keeping Torrington looking
so beautiful. Congratulations to the team from T.I.B, led by Richard Wilson, who received an Outstanding Award for the work they have done in Rack Park.
And so, into April! One of my named charities, Torrington Rugby Club, organised a family-based Bingo Evening on Friday 3rd March. The club, which is like a large extended family, has kindly offered to give all profits to my charities for this year. What can I say apart from a huge THANK YOU! We all had an amazing time at the event, the prizes for both the bingo, and raffle were outstanding, and for this, I thank all those local businesses that donated. Thanks also to Zak Sawyer, our super caller for the evening, and his wife Bethamie for checking the winning lines, running the kitchen, and basically keeping everything in order!
Well, I'm fast approaching the end of my time in office as Mayor, with just one final Crier to write, but before I disappear into the distance, please remember to either join me, or give support for this year's Round the Tree Race. Also, hopefully there will be a Just Giving Facebook page for final donations towards my charities, coming soon!
So, as usual, take care, and thank you for your continued support.
Phil Cloke, Mayor of Great Torrington
Thursday 7th May
The official Mayfair Proclamation is read out in three locations around the town on Mayfair Day, shortly before the arrival of the May Queen and her entourage in the town square.
The wording of the proclamation itself is written in very traditional language, so here is a basic attempt at giving it some modern meaning. It begins with the Mayor, on behalf of the King, giving notice of the annual fair in Great Torrington. It goes on to say that ‘all persons, and person whatsoever to observe and keep the peace of the kingdom.’ This is setting out general expectations of behaviour during the fair, and that people should clearly follow the law.
The proclamation also refers to people selling goods during the fair:
‘buyers and sellers do use true balances, weights and measures, and truly do pay their toll, custom, coveridge and other duties as they ought to do. And all manner of victuallers bringing any kind of victuals to this fair to be sold, do see that the same be good, lawful, and wholesome for man’s body, and to sell the same at reasonable prices.’
In modern terms, tradesmen and
shopkeepers should sell good quality goods as advertised and pay all taxes and charges due.
It goes on to talk about behaviour in more detail:
‘And that all manner of persons do use, and behave themselves quietly, and orderly according to the laws.
And do not make any assault or affray, riot, rout or unlawful assembly, within this fair.’
A modern translation would be that the expectation is that all people attending the fair do so peacefully, without violence and without causing injury, harm or stress to others, and that people of all ages do not display any behaviour which could be described or interpreted as antisocial.
Finally, it makes reference to reporting bad behaviour:
‘If any injury or wrong be committed or done to any person within this town during the fair, upon complaint thereof made, it shall be reformed according to justice by God’s grace and assistance.’
So, if there are any problems during the fair, please report them to the police. If incidents are not reported it is hard for the police to build up a picture of the resources required both at Mayfair and throughout the year.
The language used today may have changed dramatically over the years, but general expectations of what is fair and lawful behaviour and acting in a way which allows everyone to enjoy living peacefully in Great Torrington, without fear of violence, assault or antisocial behaviour both during our fabulous Mayfair celebrations and throughout the year, remains unchanged.
If you are reading this before the annual Mayfair celebrations, please do consider coming along to the short Mayfair proclamation ceremony which will be held in Great Torrington Town & Community Hall. During the ceremony the Mayor and visiting civic guests make short speeches, and people in attendance are offered a drink for the toasts, and small, sweet treats - traditionally known as fairings. Members of Great Torrington community are very welcome to attend the ceremony, so if you would like to come along, please let us know by Thursday 23rd April so as we can cater accordingly. Call on 01805 626135 – email admin@greattorringtontowncouncil.gov.uk.
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Wednesday 18th March 2026
This year's Annual Parish Meeting was extremely well attended by Councillors, grant recipients and members of the public.
The Mayor Cllr Phil Cloke gave a brief report on his highlights from the previous year and those in attendance were able to see displays of things the council has supported over the past year, as well as a financial report.
Great Torrington Town Council welcomed several guest speakers from partner organisations throughout the evening.
Questions were invited from registered electors and after the formal part of the evening everyone enjoyed a cup of tea, while guests were encouraged to view the various displays available and provide feedback on current issues being considered by the Council, including parking bays, double yellow lines and CCTV. There was also an opportunity to speak with councillors, staff, and other community representatives.
Thank you to Martin Rich from Devon Communities Together and representatives from Torrington Fire Service for speaking about emergency planning, Emma Marston from The Plough Arts Centre, our own Charlotte Kirby for presenting on Local Government Reorganisation, and Cllr Jason Isaac for speaking about the Tarka Sculpture Trail. Also, a big thanks to the Town Hall for hosting the event.
It was great to see even more members of the public attending this year, including members of the Junior Leadership Team from Great Torrington School, who made some interesting and valuable contributions.
It would be great to see even more people there next year: the Annual Parish Meeting provides an opportunity to find out how the Town Council works, and have your voice heard on local issues – so please do look out for the date for the next one in 2027.
A New Adventure for Great Torrington
This May half term, something a little special is happening in Great Torrington.
Many of us grew up with the story of ‘Tarka the Otter’. It’s part of our landscape, our rivers, and our identity. But this time, Tarka isn’t just in a book… he’s coming into town.
Over the past few months, the Great Torrington Regeneration Board has been working to create a new family trail based at and around Castle Hill. It brings Tarka to life through a series of beautiful handcrafted wooden carvings, including two otters, two owls, a fox, a frog, a dog and a squirrel. Each one adds a little moment to the journey and gives families a reason to explore, take their time, and see Torrington from a fresh perspective.
To make it even more fun for children, there will be a small activity pack available for around £4. This includes a story book, colouring pages, rubbing paper, crayons and stickers, giving them something to enjoy along the way and take home afterwards.
Now I’ll be honest with you, this isn’t just about a nice walk. It’s about giving people a reason to visit Torrington, to stay a little longer, to wander into our shops, grab a coffee, and rediscover what we’ve got right on our doorstep. If we want a thriving town, we have to create reasons for people to come here. This is one of them.
We’ve designed the trail so it works for everyone. There’s a shorter, easier route that takes around 20 to 30 minutes, perfect for younger families. And for those who fancy a bit more of an adventure, there’s a longer trail of around an hour that finishes at one of the best viewpoints in North Devon.
The final stretch is a bit of a climb, but nothing you can’t take at your own pace, and there’s always the shorter route if that suits you better. Both routes start and finish at the same point, so it’s easy to choose what works for you on the day.
Local businesses are already getting involved, which is exactly what we hoped for. The aim is for this to become more than just a trail, but a townwide experience. Something that grows year on year and gives our kids something to be proud of.
This is just the beginning.
If you see families out exploring over half term, give them a smile and point them in the right direction. If you’ve got a business, think about how you can be part of it.
And if you’ve got ideas, come and have a chat.
Jason Isaac, on behalf of Great Torrington Regeneration Board
For information:
The introduction ceremony for the new Mayor of Great Torrington Town Council will be held on Wednesday 20th May 2026 at 7pm at Great Torrington Town and Community Hall.
Members of the public are very welcome to attend but we do need to know numbers for refreshments, so if you are planning to come along, please let the Town Council know by 5pm Tuesday 12th May 2026. Contact us on 01805 626135 or e-mail admin@great-torringtontowncouncil.gov.uk.
Central Heating & Plumbing services Boiler Service/Installations/Maintenance Work
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Roger Blake of Railfuture spoke to Torridge's External Overview and Scrutiny Committee at the beginning of April, to present the results of a feasibility study into reinstating the railway line between Barnstaple and Bideford. Reporting on this meeting has sparked interest from residents across the district, with a poll being run to gather views from the readers of the North Devon Gazette. Back in 2024, in response to the number of consultation responses received from residents in support of looking into re-establishing the rail link, TDC included in its 2024-2029 Strategic Plan that it would "investigate with the relevant partner organisations [...] the appetite to jointly commission and fund a study to evaluate the economic and environmental benefits and impacts of reestablishing the rail link," and this report to the committee was to present the results of that study which was partly funded by TDC via the Shared Prosperity Fund. You can look at the documents referred to in this meeting via TDC's website and watch the meeting on the Council's YouTube page if you want to find out more. It is worth saying at this point, that this is a feasibility study only, with an incredibly long way to go and a huge number of questions to be answered before any development would be realised, if indeed it is ever to happen.
The Castle Hill Work Hub's new booking system has just gone live so if you have been considering using this great facility in the centre of town then now is a great time to get signed up. Get in touch with Anna and Adrian at Castlehillhub@torridge. gov.uk to find out more and arrange a visit.
The 2025-2026 window for applications to receive Councillor Grant funding has now closed and we have been delighted to be able to support Torridgeside AFC, Great Torrington Town Council, Torrington Library and Tarka Valley Railway. We will have new funding (£3,000 in total) available soon for 2026-2027 and we encourage representatives of local community groups and charities to contact us as early as possible about making an application so that we can support lots of great projects that will benefit the town.
Cllr Doug Smith, Councillor.smith@torridge.gov.uk, 07970636199
Cllr Chris Bright, Councillor.bright@torridge.gov.uk, 07936325909
Cllr Lauren Bright, Cllr.laurenbright@torridge.gov.uk, 07595659310
Buckland Brewer Toddler and Baby Group Mondays term time at Buckland Brewer Methodist Church 9.30am to 12noon. £1.50 per family. Dave Watson 07484 223 515
Coldridge Village Hall, 9.45-11.45am every Friday (except 1st Friday of the month) £2 per family.
High Bickington playgroup Mondays 9.30-11am at High Bickington Community Centre. £2 families, £1 for singletons under 6 months.
Petrockstowe Community Church Tea and Tots coffee morning, for mums, dads, grandparents, carers, babies and toddlers together for a drink and a chat. Mondays 9.15-11am in the school room of the Chapel. Kate Cutter entertains with songs and stories.
Parkham Allardice Hall Wednesdays 9-11am. £2 per child includes a snack
Torrington Babies and Toddler Group Baptist Church, Thursday mornings term time, 9.30-11.30am. £2 per family, includes a cuppa for parents/carers, healthy snack for the children.
Castle Community Centre Tuesdays Busy Bees 9.30-10.15am (babies 6-15mths) Caterpillar Club 10.4511.30am (babies 6wks-6mths)
Torrington Children’s Centre, ‘Noah’s Ark’ Fridays 9.15-10.45am, run by Grosvenor Church Tim Gilbert 07798 670 754.
Another Helen We watch September Bideford with visiting the UK. Barnstaple supported Gang” tradition kind as the declaration Fair was formal finished, It was frock’ ‘South We still day to and delighted that the won silver). traders hard Great the opportunity to find – our Our
CHURCH STREET STORES
Families Welcome
Cash Bingo on Mondays • Darts • Pool
DOLTON EX19 8QE
Tel: 01805 804205 Open
Skittles • Snooker • BT Sports & SKY
Large function room for parties/weddings
Merton 01805 603924
Monday to Saturday 6.30am - 8.00pm Sunday 8.00am - 7.00pm
Check out our Facebook page for dates of upcoming live entertainment
Contact Sharon 01805 622543
www.themaltscoop.co.uk/info@themaltscoop.co.uk
Excellent home-made food served every day 12-2pm/6-9pm
Personally Supervised by Andrew & Janice Gist 01805 622364
Great selection of wines, real ales, ciders Open fire and snug rooms
Please check our website northdevonramblers.org.uk for any changes to our programme. All are welcome on our walks, please wear suitable clothing.
Saturday 2nd May: Take a “Long Slow Walk” over Exmoor. A circular varied and moderate 9.5-mile, leisurely walk taking in Ilkerton Ridge, Caffyns Cross, Martinhoe Common and Woolhanger. Meet on the A39 near Lynton. Please refer to our website for detailed instructions. Start time: 10.30am, estimated finish: 4.30pm.
Tuesday 5th May: Time out Tuesday, Ilfracombe. A 4-mile circular stroll around Ilfracombe. Meet at the Jonathan Edwards mosaic on the Promenade. Start time: 6.30pm, estimated finish: 8.30pm.
Wednesday 6th May: Exploring Lee and Lynton. A linear walk from Caffyns Cross to Lee Abbey and Valley of the Rocks to Barbrook. Meet at Barnstaple Bus Station at 9.50am, estimated finish: 3.30pm.
Saturday 9th May: Walk around Braunton. A circular walk with a mix of lanes, ancient cart tracks and field crossings. Meet at Braunton Academy. Start time: 10am, estimated finish: 4pm.
Sunday 10th May: Classic Exmoor. A 10-mile circular walk along the River
Barle and Two Moors Way crossing the ancient Tarr Steps. Meet at Winsford car park. Start time: 10.30 am, estimated finish: 4.15pm.
Tuesday 12th May: Time out Tuesday – Bideford. A 4-mile circular evening stroll around Bideford. Meet at Tarka the Otter statue on the Quay. Start time: 6.30pm, estimated finish: 8.30pm.
Wednesday 13th May: Woody Bay to Hunters Inn. A 5-mile circular moderate walk from Woody Bay through Martinhoe to Hunters Inn and back to Woody Bay. Please note: all dogs must be on leads 1st March-31st July on open access ground. Meet at Woody Bay lower car parking area. Start time: 10.30am, estimated finish: 2pm.
Sunday 17th May: Hillsford Bridge to Countisbury and Lynton. A 7-mile circular walk to Watersmeet and Countisbury with one steep ascent. Meet at Hillsford Bridge National Trust car park. Start time: 10.30am, estimated finish: 3pm.
Tuesday 19th May: Time out Tuesday – Braunton. A 4-mile circular stroll around Braunton. Meet at the Countryside Centre in Caen Street car park. Start time: 6.30pm, estimated finish: 8.30pm.
Wednesday 20th May: Walk in the footsteps of Hope Bourne. A 6-mile guided circular walk with the Exmoor Society. A chance to learn about the life of Exmoor’s famous recluse Hope Bourne. Meet at Withypool car park. Start time: 10.30am, estimated finish:
3pm.
Thursday 21st May: Landkey to Barnstaple. A Thursday chat, stroll and coffee. Bus to Landkey, walk the Tarka Trail back to Barnstaple with coffee in the Museum. Meet at Barnstaple Bus Station. Start time: 9.45am, estimated finish: 1.30pm.
Tuesday 26th May: Time out Tuesday – Barnstaple. A 4-mile circular gentle stroll around Barnstaple Meet at Barnstaple Railway Station. Start time: 6.30pm, estimated finish: 8.30pm.
Saturday 30th May: Mortehoe Circular. A circular 8-mile walk from Mortehoe along the SWCP towards Woolacombe and inland through Twitchen. Meet at Mortehoe car park. Start time: 10.30am, estimated finish: 3.30pm.
There are also several Two Moor Ways 50th anniversary walks during May led by Two Moors Way Assoc. Please refer to our website for more information.
Walks every Tuesday and Wednesday, a variety of routes at different levels each lasting about an hour.
Free walks led by trained walk leaders, full details are on our website torridgewalkandtalk.co.uk. Or contact Steve on 01237 421528.
orrington Memory Cafe has been running for 13 years. It meets every second Thursday of the month. The cafe is entirely free to all who have memory issues and/or carers. Please come, join us and share the supportive, friendly atmosphere. New faces are always welcome. Perhaps you may wish to volunteer?
More information from Lorraine Pearce (Leader) 07377 363 477 or John Pitts (Secretary) 07986 586 799.
Do you know what is inside Alverdiscott Hall? If not, why not come and have a look? On Saturday 9th May from 2-5pm, we are opening the hall to show off our facilities. Come along for a complementary afternoon tea and see what goes on. The hall is located at Stony Cross, EX39 4PZ.
Information from groups that regularly meet at the hall will also be available, with representatives from some groups there to talk to you. This will include North Devon Canine Association, Country Music Club, Two Rivers Wind Ensemble and the Company of the Lamb.
We are looking for volunteers to help us organise events. If you think you might be interested, come along and talk to one of our committee members.
The event is open to everyone. Even if you are a regular visitor to the hall, come along, enjoy a complimentary afternoon tea and tell us what you think of our facilities and events. Let us know what you would like to see at the hall.
If you can’t make this event but would like more information about our hall please contact our Secretary, Dave Potter on 01271 858534, davep.potter@btinternet.com.
Losing your sight can mean that other things go as well, the ability to keep up to date with your community, reading the obituaries, and the more joyful things in your area, and you can feel increasingly cut off.
The Torridgeside Talking Newspaper provides a free service to people with sight loss, sending a memory stick with extracts from the North Devon Journal and the Gazette each week. Each week a group of volunteers gather to read from the papers, we admit that there might be a bias, two of us always read anything to do with the lifeboats, and another always reads anything to do with the museum. Near election time, we read out all the statements in the papers from the candidates and do this without comment.
If you, or someone you know, would like to try our service, please contact Shirley or Alan on 01271 861032. The service is free, but you will need a device which can take the memory stick, Alan is happy to give advice about this. Registered Charity No 289676
The winner of this month’s crossword will receive a free month's membership to the 24/7 gym at Clinton Hall, Merton. Please send your completed crossword with contact details to The Crier, Castle Hill, Torrington, EX38 8AA, or email to torrington.crier@gmail. com. The winner for the last issue is Julie Hayman. The winner for this issue will be picked at random from correct entries. Deadline for entries is Thursday 14th May.
Located within the grounds of The Clinton Hall in the village of Merton, just a few miles south of Torrington, Your Local Gym has become a valued part of the community. Run by volunteers as a not-for-profit fitness centre, it offers a friendly and relaxed environment where people of all ages and abilities can feel comfortable beginning or continuing their fitness journey.
Accessibility is central to the gym’s ethos. With 24/7 access, members can exercise at a time that suits their lifestyle, making it ideal for those balancing work, family, and other commitments. The gym provides a wide range of modern equipment, including treadmills, cross trainers, rowing machines, and weighttraining stations, catering for both beginners and more experienced gym users.
Affordability is another key benefit. Memberships start from just £12.50–£14.50 per month, with no joining fees and no minimum contract, offering a flexible and cost-effective way to stay active and improve wellbeing. As part of The Clinton Hall’s wider community activities, the gym is located within a welcoming hub that hosts events and gatherings throughout the year. For more information, contact info@ clintonhallmerton.co.uk or call 01805 603300.
Ahuge thank you to Mary Harrington, our new Poppy Appeal representative, for organising the collection for Great Torrington and the surrounding area. The amount raised for the 2025 Appeal was £5,608.42. Mary has asked that all poppy collectors complete the forms that will be in their poppy boxes for the 2026 appeal. If anyone needs to contact her, her email address is: torringtonpoppies@gmail.com.
On Saturday, 15th November 2025 Torrington Silver Band held a Memorial Concert for Sidney Adams at St Michael and All Angels Church. The proceeds were donated to the RBL Poppy Appeal. At the Torrington Silver Band Concert held on Saturday, 18th April, a cheque for £990.88 was presented to Jo Ashkettle, Membership Engagement Officer for Devon County and our Branch Chairman, Peter Hooper. Great Torrington Branch RBL is a small branch, and we are trying to get an idea of how many ex-forces personnel and families are out there. If you would like to receive information on the sort of things we can help with, or just receive the minutes of the monthly meetings, or you know someone who needs help, then please get in touch, using the contact details below. Or if you are someone who would like to join, you do not need to be ex-forces to join the RBL. We look forward to hearing from you.
We meet on the third Wednesday of each month at 7pm at the Torridge Vale Social Club in town, with the exception of August and December. The dates of the next three meetings are: 20th May, 17th June and 15th July. We would be delighted to welcome you.
Mrs Pat Stark Secretary and Branch Community Co-ordinator Great Torrington Branch, RBL Telephone: 07968 060196, Email: greattorrington.secretary@rbl.community
Come and join us on Friday 29th May for a good old fashioned Torrington Silver Band Quiz Night with Stuart Davey at the Torrington Arms, 7:30pm. Teams of up to 6 players, £4 per person. To book in your team, call the Torrington Arms on 01805 622280 or get in touch with them through Messenger.
We are delighted to welcome the return of the annual Massed Bands Concert with our friends from Bideford Town Band and Appledore Band. The concert will take place on Sunday 7th June, 2:30pm, at RHS Garden Rosemoor. Tickets are already available online from MassedBands.co.uk. Be sure to purchase your tickets early as it is always a popular event, and they are already selling fast! The ticket includes entry into the gardens at Rosemoor from 12pm.
Mini Market and Cafe
Every Thursday 10am-2pm. B and N foods always in attendance selling fresh meat, fruit, vegetables, and bakery goods together with other stalls. More stall holders wanted! Tables £5 please ring Mo if you are interested 07747 453 774. Popular cafe serving breakfast and lunch with reasonable prices. Come and browse and borrow a huge range of books from our community library, use the Milk Cart or facilities from the Post Office van (11.30am12.30pm).
Everyone is welcome to our friendly, growing family church as we journey together to know Jesus and make Him known. We meet every Sunday 10.30am followed by a cuppa and biscuits. The third Sunday of every month is 10.30am Breakfast Church when our time together starts with bacon and sausage butties, vegetarian and gluten free are available, plus fruits, a lot of chatter, and followed by a shorter meeting.
Sunday May 24th 10.30 Pentecost with speaker Derek Andrew.
Mayfair Magic, Open Air Theatre & a Joyful Gallery Reopening at The Plough
May is a truly special time in Great Torrington, as the town comes alive with the colour, tradition and community spirit of Mayfair. We are delighted to be part of the celebrations once again, with a vibrant programme of live events, films, exhibitions and workshops for all ages to enjoy alongside the festivities.
Our Mayfair programme is packed with entertainment to suit every taste. Live music lovers can look forward to The Bluetones on Friday 8th May at 8pm (£28, £26 Supporter), bringing their unmistakable Britpop sound to The Plough. Enjoy mesmerising sci-fi and epic story telling with the film ‘Project Hail Mary’ (Friday 8th May, 10:30am). From the author of ‘The Martian' and Artemis’, starring Ryan Gosling as 6th grade science teacher, 11.9 light-years from home with one chance to save us all! On Saturday 9th at 7:30am enjoy film ‘EPiC:‘Elvis Presley in Concert’, the King sings and tells his story like never before in a new cinematic experience from visionary filmmaker and Academy Award Winner Baz Luhrmann (£8.50, £7 Supporter, £6 U18s).
The month of May is kicked off with some boot-stomping country music as Luke Combs Experience rolls into town and brings the ultimate tribute to one of the biggest names in modern country music! Authentic southern charm, and a full-throttle live band, this is the closest you’ll get to the real thing (2nd May, 8pm, £21).
There is more fantastic live music to look forward to in May as Fleetwood Mac Songbook returns by popular demand on Friday 15th and Saturday 16th May, celebrating one of the world’s most beloved bands (£24, £22 Supporter). On Saturday 23rd May at 8pm, Swing from Paris delivers an evening of dazzling gypsy jazz and vintage swing (£18, £16
Supporter).
Comedy fans won’t want to miss broadcaster and national treasure Janet Street-Porter, who brings her candid and witty show ‘Off the Leash’ to The Plough on Wednesday 13th May at 7:30pm (£30).
This month also marks an exciting new chapter for The Plough, as we celebrate the reopening of our Gallery. Since being closed for essential roof repairs that began in January, we were thrilled to reopen the newly renovated space in April with an inaugural exhibition by local artist Luna North. For the month of May we are delighted to welcome KIN, a striking multi-media exhibition (Sat 9th - Sat 23rd May) showcasing emerging rural artists, exploring themes of identity, place and connection through a diverse range of contemporary works.
The Gallery roof repair was a long and challenging job, and we extend our heartfelt thanks to our fantastic builders, Pearce Construction, led by the extraordinary (and always cheerful) Allan. We are incredibly grateful to our generous community, whose support helped us raise the funds needed to unlock an Arts Council England grant, making these vital renovations possible. Thanks to Allan, Martyn and all the dedicated tradespeople involved, the Gallery is now ready to be enjoyed once more as a vibrant creative space for
exhibitions, workshops and events. Our film programme continues to offer both culture and entertainment this month. ‘Exhibition on Screen: Frida Kahlo’ arrives on Friday 22nd May at 7:30pm (£12, £10 Supporter), offering a fascinating insight into one of the world’s most iconic artists. Alongside this, enjoy NT Live: ‘The Playboy of the Western World’ (tickets £15, £12 Supporter, £12 Under 18s), and for pure feel-good fun, gather your friends for the ever-popular ‘Mamma Mia Sing-Along’. Warm up your vocals beforehand with sensational singer Debbie Kent and sing hits like ‘Dancing Queen’ and ‘Money Money Money’ alongside fellow fans. Costumes encouraged, smiles guaranteed! All singing abilities welcome; this is definitely not a singing contest! (£8.50, £7 Supporter, £6 Under 18s).
Families are especially well catered for during May, with screenings including ‘Bluey at the Cinema: Playdates with Friends Collection’ with stay and play activities after the film (Friday 29th May, 10:30am) and ‘The Super Mario Bros’.
Movie (29th & 30th May 2pm). With both movies the ‘Family Film Deal’ can be enjoyed - 10% off for groups of 4+ (£8.50, £7 Supporter, £6 Under 18s), perfect for a fun and relaxed outing.
Alongside our exhibitions, we continue to offer a range of creative opportunities, including our popular Life Drawing Gym sessions (18th May, 6:30pm). Over at The Plough Arts Centre at St Anne’s in Barnstaple, you can also take part in hands-on workshops including wet felted bag making, seahorse mosaic creation and terracotta dragon sculpture, ideal for anyone looking to try something new this spring. Please be aware of the alternative venues for the St. Anne’s programme while the building is undergoing renovation.
Looking ahead, we are thrilled to launch our Open-Air Theatre 2026 season this May. Kicking things off on Sunday 24th May is ‘Pinocchio’, performed by Illyria at the charming Ashridge Court Farm (£18 advance, £14 child). This much-loved tale opens
Our box Office opens Friday to Saturday 10am - 4pm & 6:30- close. Monday 7-9pm (during term time)
a summer of outdoor performance across North Devon, with an expanded programme of 43 shows in stunning locations. From historic gardens to woodland settings, Open-Air Theatre offers a magical way to experience live performance under the sky. With discounted prices for bookings of 6+ and special prices for Plough Supporters, now is the perfect time to plan your summer of theatre, laughter and shared experiences.
As always, The Plough Café | Bar | Bistro will be open throughout Mayfair, offering a warm welcome and delicious refreshments, ideal for taking a break and soaking up the atmosphere.
From live music and laughter to inspiring art and open-air adventure, May promises to be a joyful and memorable month at The Plough. We look forward to welcoming you.
For full listings, tickets and more information, visit theploughartscentre. org.uk or call 01805 624624.
Our Café | Bar | Bistro is open Wednesday - Saturday 10am - 2:30pm
Please call 01805625925
Visit: www.theploughartscentre.org.uk/
Please note that a 5% fee will be applied to all bookings. Plough Arts Centre April Events
The Plough, Torrington
Friday 1st May
2pm Film: Mother's Pride (12A)
7:30 pm Film: NT Live: All My Sons (12A)
Saturday 2nd May
2pm Film: The Magic Faraway Tree (PG)
8pm Live Music: The Luke Combs Experience
Wednesday 6th May
12:30pm Workshop: Sip N Snip
Friday 8th May
10:30am Film: Project Hail Mary (12A)
8pm Live Music: The Bluetones
Saturday 9th May
2pm Exhibition Opening : KIN
7:30pm Film: EPiC: Elvis Presley in
Concert (12A)
Wednesday 13th May
11am Charles Hanson Valuations
7:30pm Live Comedy: Janet StreetPorter is Off the Leash
Friday 15th May
2pm Film: Midwinter Break (12A)
8pm Live Music: Fleetwood Mac Songbook
Saturday 16th May
10:30am Workshop: Plough Writers
2pm Film: Rose of Nevada (15)
8pm Live Music: Fleetwood Mac Songbook
Monday 18th May
6:30pm Workshop: Life Drawing Gym
Tuesday 19th May
1pm Plough Theatre: Plough Prism: Puss in Boots
Friday 22nd May
2pm Film: The North (15)
7:30pm Film: Exhibition on Screen: Frida Kahlo (12A)
Saturday 23rd May
8pm Live Music: Swing from Paris
Friday 29th May
10:30am Film: Bluey at the Cinema (U)
2pm Film: Super Mario Galaxy Movie (PG)
7:30pm Film: NT Live: The Playboy of the Western World
Saturday 30th May
2pm Film: Super Mario Galaxy Movie (PG)
7:30pm Film: Mamma Mia Sing-Along!
The Plough@St Anne’s, Barnstaple
Thursday 7th May
7:30pm Barnstaple Town & Workhouse Haunted History Tour
The Plough@Barnstaple Guildhall
Saturday 2nd May
10am Workshop: Wild Flower Meadow in Acrylics Workshop
7:30pm Live Theatre: David Mynne presents: Widdershins
Saturday 9th May
10am Workshop: Spring Solstice Goddess Pottery Sculpture Workshop
Saturday 23rd May
10am Workshop: Terracotta Dragon Sculpture Pottery Workshop
Saturday 30th May
10am Workshop: Bags of Fun! Wet Felting Workshop
2pm Workshop: Seahorse Mosaic Workshop
The Plough@Castle Centre, Barnstaple
Wednesday 13th May
10am Wellbeing Wednesday - Beginners
Meditation
Wednesday 27th May
10am Wellbeing Wednesday - Knit & Natter
The Plough@Ashridge Court
Sunday 24th May
4pm Open Air Theatre: Illyria: Pinocchio
• Loose cover specialist
• Bespoke curtains
• Roman blinds
• Cushions
jennynimblefingers@hotmail.co.uk
Free sensible quotes: 01409 281541/07968 678 924
This was an exceptionally good play. It was held at great Torrington school (GTS) and told the story of Oliver Twist (played by Austin Adams) who, after being kicked out of his workhouse for asking for more gruel, travels to London to find his fortune and meets The Artful Dodger (Arabella Knott) before he is swept into a life of crime, led by the nefarious Fagin (Alex Williams). He then gets caught when picking a pocket and is taken in by Mr Bronlow (Charlie Ware) but is soon kidnapped back by the notorious Bill Sikes (Eliot Knight) and Nancy (Florence Whiting). By the end of the story Oliver finds out his wealthy family roots and is adopted by Mr Brownlow, who he finds out is, in fact, his grandfather.
The play itself was very well performed and the actors seemed quite natural in their movements and actions. At many times during the play, it seemed that the actors were genuinely feeling the emotions they showed on stage, and this then helped them present their character convincingly, adding another layer to the play that really the pieced the whole production together.
The costume design was excellent and represented the characters’ personalities well, for example Bill Sikes having a completely black coat and hat, which definitely represented his dark and scary nature. The way that the costumes were easily changeable and could be converted into another character with a simple change of the hat or a different over coat was great way of making it easy for one person to play multiple characters. It was seamless!
My favourite part of the play was when Oliver has a fight with Noah Claypole (Daniel Algar). The lead up was full of suspense, and I could really see the anger building up in Oliver, before he attacked Noah and then the tension building between them as Noah continued to insult Oliver’s dead mother. This scene was done extremely well and the music timed perfectly with how the scene played out, a sort of dramatic tension building, pushing into suspense created by quick tempo music.
If I have one criticism of the production, it is the fact that in certain scenes, if you didn’t know the story of Oliver already (as I didn’t), then it was hard to tell where the scene was set, or who the mysterious character was. In some scenes (such as when Mr Brownlow was introduced), it took a little while to tell who they were or where the scene was set.
The whole production was fantastic overall, and I would definitely go again to watch it; I'm sure the story would still be every bit as suspenseful!
I would like congratulate the whole cast, including the technical team, and thank them for giving us all a great night out!
Sid Goswell, Year 7
A huge congratulations to all our pupils and staff who worked so hard to put on such an accomplished show.
� Property Maintenance
� Renovation & Extensions
� Patios & Decking \/ Roofing
This month saw a fantastic three night of our musical Oliver. We’d like to congratulate all our pupils and staff who worked so hard to put on such an accomplished show, which had live rave reviews from the audience:
“The cast, crew, set, costumes, and direction are all brilliant!” (Mr Bloodworth, Headteacher)
“The pupils are simply stunning; you’ll find yourself singing and clapping along with all those tunes you’ve forgotten you know!” (Mrs Whiterod, INCo)
We sent one Year 7 journalist to the show as a theatre critic to review the performance:
� Pvc Fascias & Guttering � Painting & Decorating � Bathroom Specialists
Sid has been working incredibly hard as a journalist this term for the school newspaper! Here is a 2nd piece from Sid, an opinion piece about ultra porcessed foods: UPFs are poisoning our society
UPFs (Ultra Processed Foods) are increasingly becoming part of our society, something that is completely overlooked by most people. UPFs are industrial formulations, typically with five or more ingredients, that often contain additives (emulsifiers, preservatives, sweeteners) and components not typically used in home cooking. Things like carbonated drinks, sugary snacks, instant noodles, packaged bread, and reconstituted meat products.
They make up over 50% to as much as 70% of daily energy intake in nations like the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada already, and will only increase as time goes by, meaning that in the coming decades the consumption rate will increase by approximately 9% between 2024 and 2029.
More than half of the energy (calories) an average person in the UK eats and drinks comes from ultra-processed foods. That’s perhaps not surprising as they can be convenient, appealing, and are heavily marketed to appeal to us. But researchers have shown that ultraprocessed foods can negatively impact our health.
The government is doing as much as they can, but it still isn’t enough, and it looks like we are fast heading for a world
dominated by UPFs; perhaps we’re there already.
Ultra-processed food (UPF) is directly linked to 32 harmful effects to health, including a higher risk of heart disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes, adverse mental health and early death, according to the world’s largest review of its kind.
UPFs are often much cheaper than healthy food, which is one of the reasons why a lot of huge food companies sell heavily marketed UPFs - to maximise their profits.
Food giants like Nestlé, Coca-Cola & PepsiCo often slip harmful additives into their, admittedly, delicious foods. Compared to ordinary food, UPFs are often much softer and less chewy. This means you can eat large amounts of them quickly before your body catches on to how much you have consumed. This is driving an epidemic of obesity and diabetes.
There are things that we can do to stop UPFs taking over, such as baking our own bread instead of eating storebought bread, making our own pasta sauce instead of buying jars and eating as much fresh food as possible. One reason so many people are not going for
these harder options is that UPFs are easier to afford, which makes the choice between ‘healthy and expensive’ or ‘UPF and affordable’ – well, really not much of a choice.
Studies indicate that for every 10% increase in UPF consumption, the risk of both cardiovascular disease and cancer increases by 12%. These statistics are alarming. The dangerous effects of high UPF consumption are growing much quicker than we can handle, as the world wakes up to the fact that we’ve been poisoned by this enemy for decades. We must find the antidote soon, or we will have to face the fact that it is too late to stop UPFs from continuing to invade the food market, our bodies and our future.
Moira Brewer has published a new book entitled ‘Torrington and its History: Articles from The Crier 2015-2025’. It contains a lot of interesting information about the town and is illustrated by 36 photographs in colour and in black and white.
The book costs £10 and is on sale at: Torrington Jewellers; Duffy’s Home Hardware; Collectability in Well Street. ALL proceeds from the sale of this book will go to the Children’s Hospice South West.
This outreach service is available around the towns and villages of West Devon and Torridge on a regular timetable, offering a free, confidential, and impartial service for people with a hearing and/or sight loss. What does the Sensory Outreach Service offer?
* Trained staff who understand the effects of hearing and sight loss and can provide support and advice.
* Demonstration and short term loan of a wide range of equipment to help with everyday difficulties includinghearing the doorbell and smoke alarm, listening to the television and managing communication on the telephone. Lamps, tactile markers, and talking alarm clocks and watches.
* Manufacturers' contact details and up to date catalogues. Help to order equipment.
* A wide range of information on hearing and visual impairment and services available locally and nationally.
* Information and referral to other services provided by Devon County Council or sources of other professional help.
* Maintenance of NHS hospital hearing aids, batteries and retubing.
Visits The Bickford Centre, South Street. EX38 8AA on the first Wednesday every month: next visit 6th May.
Anne Humphreys, Rehab OfficerHearing Impairment Sensory Team 07966 596881 or 01392 386611
The staff, residents and volunteers are completing a sponsored fancy dress walk to raise funds for a cause close to our hearts. Jenson is bravely battling some serious health issues, and his family are supporting him through this. The family are having to live away from home, which in itself incurs costs and fees and when these are unplanned, can put a massive financial strain on a family.
So, we are going to be walking six miles from The Puffing Billy to Bideford on 16th May, leaving at 10am in fancy dress! We are all dressing as something beginning with the letter ‘J’ for Jenson. With varying ages ourselves and mobility considerations this is a big walk for some of us.
This is a cause close to our hearts at Glen Tor, as it’s incredibly inspiring how hard this little chap is fighting for his health on a daily basis and all at the age of eight. We have a GoFundMe page set up, if you would like to sponsor the team at gofund.me/460bf48ca or please check out our Facebook page Abbeyfield Torrington. You can also follow his journey on Facebook to see the superhero he is first hand.
It is our hope that we can raise £600 for the family to help with costs and to hopefully buy something nice for Jenson. The Glen Tor Family
Last month we celebrated Easter. Good Friday when Jesus died on the cross and Easter Day when He rose from the dead. After His resurrection he appeared to many people, but I want to share with you about four groups and individuals. Early on the Sabbath day, Mary went to the tomb and found it empty. She was crying and overwhelmed with grief.
Jesus saw her and called her by name Mary, she recognised Him at once, she went to the disciples and told them I have seen the Lord! That same evening the disciples were hiding in the upper room, with the doors locked and barred terrified of what would happen to them. Jesus came and stood among them, saying ‘Peace be with you’. He showed them His hands and side. They were overjoyed when they saw Him. All fear left them when they realised He was alive! On that occasion Thomas was not with them, the disciples told him we have seen the Lord. But Thomas said unless I see the nail prints in His hands and put my hand in his side I will not believe. A week later the disciples were once again all together and Thomas was with them; Jesus came and stood among them saying ‘Peace be with you’. He spoke to Thomas and said put your finger here, see my hands, reach out your hand and touch my side. Stop doubting and believe, Thomas said My Lord and my God! On another occasion the disciples had been fishing all night and caught nothing. Early in
the morning
Jesus was standing on the shore, He called to them, ‘Do you have any fish? No,’ they answered.
Jesus said ‘throw your nets on the right side of the boat’ when they did they caught a huge number of fish. Then they realised it was the Lord, directing them and showing them the best way.
So, whatever you are facing today, whatever situation you find yourself in’ the risen Lord Jesus is here for you. Are you distraught and grieving like Mary? He will comfort you and bring you peace. Are you frightened and worried what the future may hold for you, just wanting to hide and hoping it will all go away, like the disciples? He will calm your fears. Are you full of doubts, thinking can this really be true, like Thomas? He will prove to you He is who He says He is. Or are you working hard and getting nowhere, struggling to find the best solution and the way forward? He will guide you and direct your path. You can read more of these accounts in John's Gospel, chapters 20 and 21.
If you would like to find out more about
Saturday 16th May 2026 10am-4pm, Castle Hill Community Centre, Torrington EX38 8AA
Castle Hill Creatives is a wellestablished group of artists and makers known for the high quality of their work. All are locally-based professional artists and much of their work reflects the beauty and distinctive qualities of the local environment. The group’s first event was held in the Autumn of 2020 and there have been two events each year since, held in May and November.
A wide variety of locally made art and craft will be on display from around 20 artists. Ceramics and jewellery will sit alongside glass work, wood and paintings, print and textiles, knitwear and sculpture. You will meet the artists and by ‘buying local’ will have something to cherish from your visit.
For further information please contact either Gill Hedge on gillhedge@gmail. com (tel: 07792 188 128) or Sue Meager on sue.meager@icloud.com (tel: 07834 773 944).
the Lord Jesus and the Christian faith keep an eye out for posters advertising an Alpha course; visit one of our local Churches or you can call Trisha 07866 861 156 or Karen 07890 132 081. God Bless.
May ushers in one of the most exciting prospects for the fruit and vegetable team at Rosemoor; the first harvests of the year! After a winter of hearty crops, there is something magical about the sweetness of the first fresh peas from the potager garden, or the sight of tender asparagus tips pushing through the soil in the vegetable garden. Crisp salad leaves and spicy radishes bring a long-awaited freshness to the gardens (and restaurant!), whilst bright stalks of rhubarb paint a vibrant streak of colour along the borders.
In the potager, we grow three varieties of peas as part of the ornamental edibles area. ‘Alderman’ and ‘Purple Podded’ peas are both reliable tall main crop varieties, which we support with tall hazel poles coppiced on-site and tied into simple obelisks. When planted around the base of the poles, the peas wrap and climb the 6-foot structure with ease, providing visual height and efficient harvests. ‘Kelvedon Wonder’, on the other hand, is a dwarf or bush variety, planted in rows along the back border of the beds, and supported by pushing hazel stems into the soil, twining the ends together to create a tunnel. The organic structure will be obscured completely as the plants establish, providing an internal support that protects the crop from wind damage and reduces congestion.
When growing at home, ensure
healthy harvests by rotating crops and incorporating organic matter into soil during winter to aid in water retention, nutrient levels and drainage. Sourcing seeds from reputable companies helps reduce a number of pests and diseases, and encouraging a diverse ecosystem of natural predators helps tackle aphid and slug damage. Even in limited spaces,
on a windowsill are a cheap, easy and delicious way to usher in the brighter days, and there’s nothing so satisfying as a simple, homegrown salad in spring.
