Wet Picnic
Wet Picnic
Actually the sun was full-out, boiling the waves but I say ‘wet’ because we were ten boats all afloat off-shore from Lighthouse Beach. The idea was to draw attention to the efforts being made to save Lighthouse Beach in Kingswear from closure. In this we were successful as not only Kingswear crews turned out but those from Dartmouth and Dittisham too, thanks be to all.
Some food was enjoyed, lusty toasts were made in wine, cider, beer and coffee, a song was sung by all calling for the return of the beach and all was generally of good cheer. There had been a plan to use the boats to stretch across the Dart from shore to shore with the aid of bunting but the harbour master wasn’t as keen on the idea as the rest of us so we did not do this, although some frustrated bunters did bunt their boats up a bit and it all looked very jolly. Honestly we weren’t going to stop shipping, just pose for an historic photograph.
The pre-enquiry meeting of the Lighthouse Beach campaign has been held in the village hall and it proved very interesting. Issues resulting from this meeting and subsequent meetings with the barristers on both sides bring up issues which cannot at this stage be fairly discussed here without possibly prejudicing events. (I just realised that this last sentence could have been spoken by Sir Humphrey himself as a masterful way of saying nowt whilst appearing to be important!) As soon as there is news, worthy of relating, I will fill you in.
Church Concert
A very enthusiastic audience of about seventy or so people turned out on a beautiful warm sunny evening on Saturday 21st July to attend a concert at Kingswear parish church. This was a remarkable event, largely organised by Pat and Chris Cox of Wood Lane and their talented son, Mike, a professional flautist of great talent. Mike had engaged the services of his own son, Tristan, who is an oboist and clearly in the same stamp of excellence as his father, his wife Ros, who was a cellist and Tristan’s oboe teacher Richard Simpson who is also a family friend. On the piano we were treated to the skills of Janet Simpson who is senior keyboard player with the Halle Orchestra.
It must first be said that the quality of playing was breath-taking, I noticed a number of musicians in the audience who were either pale with shock or shaking their heads gently in admiration. The light and summery programme was varied from Bach and Beethoven to Faure and Godard. There were some rare and lovely combinations of instruments which sounded rather gorgeous in the fine echoes of Kingswear church. One such was played by cor anglais and oboe and it was a delight.
Later, refreshments were served by The Ship at the back of the church and everyone enjoyed a sociable end to a delightful evening. Many thanks to the talented Coxes and their friends, we look forward to seeing and hearing you again if possible.
‘Signal Box’
The signs are that not much is happening at the moment. The members of KAARD presented their case to the parish council recently and explained that communications were in place with South Hams about the legitimacy of the office building constructed at Kingswear station without planning permission. Considerable dialogue has taken place with legal counsel and the results of this are now with the district authority.
Knowledge from College
Well, muscles to be more precise, and lots of them. On Saturday 21st July 18 fine cadets came over to Waterhead Creek on an outreach programme from BRNC in order to help clear the place up and take the work forward on the lime kiln.
Our division was’ Victorious’, and victorious they turned out to be, working with energy and enthusiasm to wreak miracles on the creek. We now have the makings of paths down to and around the kiln, the area at the bottom of the new steps is re-profiled and all the vast amounts of undergrowth and tree trunks have been cleared away. There was much rubbish from generations past and a vigorous bonfire consumed much scrap wood. Know anyone who wants a rotten ancient Morris Minor bonnet do you? Broken fish boxes anyone?!
It is now our pleasant duty to contact Lt. Comm. Lacey to thank her for the loan of her energetic young folk and to publicly say a big, big thank you to all the cadets who worked so hard on that Saturday
Adrift?
Just a reminder that there are still several moorings available in Waterhead Creek if you have the need. Since Emma, our parish clerk, is on holiday soon it would be best to contact me, Mike Trevorrow on 01803 752928 since I have some application forms.
First Published August 2012 By The Dart
