Christmas and Panto
Zumba
The good news is that zumba classes started in mid January and will run for 10 weeks. The cost is a pre-payment of £50 with no refunds for missed classes. There are a few spaces left, so anyone who couldn’t make the taster session, but would like to try the real thing, please contact Tricia on 752495 for details.
Remembrance Success
Following the excellent remembrance service in the church, then at the slipway, in November it is good to report that £595.39 was collected. £297.23 came from the collection in the church and the rest from seven collecting boxes. All money was to go to the British Legion.
Historians
‘A Victorian Christmas in Torquay’ was John Risdon’s theme for November’s Historians’ talk. A well-attended meeting heard John in the first half of the session talking about Christmases long ago from the point of view of the newspapers of the time and, more especially from two significant diaries of the time. One was from a member of the Mallock family of Cockington, the other from an American lady’s point of view; this lady wintered in Torquay over the Christmas periods during the late nineteenth century and gave a unique slant to what she saw and marked. John has become a friend of the Historians’ group and was very well-received as always.
John Risdon has made a very generous gesture on behalf of the Galmpton Historians by inviting us to an historical walk around Galmpton in 2012 when they will be pleased to tell us all about Galmpton. This is to be followed by we Kingswear Historians who will invite a return match, telling the Galmpton folk about our village’s history a little later on. Doubtless research into historic inns may form a part of these eagerly-anticipated events, purely in the spirit of completeness you understand.
After coffee the AGM was held when the finances of the group were shown to be in good health, the committee re-elected unanimously and this led to a report on the progress made to renovate the lime kiln in the creek. There was a positive and helpful dialogue about the restoration which will commence as soon as possible.
Don’t forget to bring your money with you over the next meeting or two because it is subscriptions time again – but we’re such good value after all. Prices stay the same as last year. Possibly the only prices in the world not to go up!!
January’s meeting was to have been a talk on the history of Berry Head but the speaker unexpectedly retired early from the Torbay Coast and Countryside Group and had to withdraw. Edgar Lawrence from Brixham manfully stepped in to the breach and gave us a fascinating talk on the arrival of Napoleon (1st) in Torbay. In the event the talk was a much fuller explanation of what led to the conquering hero’s fall from grace and power and indeed what happened to him once he was let out of our clutches. Edgar answered questions with ease and completeness and the talk was enjoyed by all. We hope to see him again – perhaps with a summer tour of Berry Head to hear its history on the spot.
Yacht Club Christmas Fair
Saturday 3rd December saw the annual Christmas Fair at Royal Dart Yacht Club. There was a good turn-out and a large number of stalls. Much hard work had gone into the craft and baking sides to the event. For many it was the first taste of mince pies and mulled wine in the season. Well done all.
WI Christmas Fair
This eagerly-anticipated cake-fest was a howling success as usual with the village ladies manning the goodies during a sort of culinary scrum-down, when certain bachelors of the parish (and others) bought the sweet and tasty stuff like it was about to go out of fashion. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a cake stall evaporate so quickly. Overall there was an excellent turn-out and nearly all the craft and food items were sold, helping the ladies (and Harry) to collect a most creditable sum just a little short of £1000. Well done indeed, ladies, who have worked hard all year to make the fair such a success.
Another feather in the ladies’ collective hat was the very successful pudding evening in early February when over 50 of us enjoyed a ploughman’s lunch (there must be some very hungry ploughmen around Kingswear at the moment because their lunches are forever being nicked!). More to the point there were 13 puddings to go at, and they were gone at – in a big way.
This was a cracking evening and I am sure those who were on the eating end of the event would like to thank the ladies very warmly for their splendid cooking. Thanks are also due to Jan Trevorrow who worked very hard to provide a series of sociable quizzes which amused all the tables well. These things do not happen by magic.
Choir Concert
Brixham Orpheus Male Voice Choir are giving a charity concert in aid of the National Coastwatch Institution watch station at Froward Point (Kingswear) on Saturday April 14th at 7:30 pm. The soloist is Margaret Johnstone (soprano), their guest choir The Welsh Boys and the compere Captain R. Curtis. (Capn Bob)
The venue is Kingswear parish church, St Thomas of Canterbury’s, and the doors will open at 7:00pm. Tickets cost £7.50 (to include refreshments) and are available from Kingswear post office, Kingswear village stores and from Lynda on 01803 833944.
Best Frocks
Kingswomen had a very good response to the ‘Posh as you Dare’ evening held at Tricia Daniels’ house on Wood Lane in December. Although the evening was wet the red carpet was literally out for the ladies to be photographed by the press on their arrival. Maximum vanity was in evidence as flatties were removed on arrival and wholly unsuitable high heels substituted for the posing. There was much hilarity and lots of naughty things were said to the butler (Greg Cattell scrubbed-up for the night) and as for poor Father Christmas who put in an early appearance, well, it was enough to make all his reindeer noses to glow red, never mind just Rudoloh’s! Wonderful stuff wine!
There was a feast of canapés which were supplied by Jan Cattell and Sandra White which the ladies enjoyed with gusto – and fingers – and freely-flowing wine to ensured that the gloom of the night outside was soon forgotten and a good time was had by all. Thanks were due to all who organised and hosted the event. The ladies seemed to think this was one to be repeated.
Dirk Whottington
What can you say about the pantomime – without getting lynched!? Seriously though it was great fun and gave four full houses great entertainment, made a shed-load of money for Cancer Research UK, brought lots of people close together, boosted the Ship’s profits and gave a well-deserved mental breakdown to producer and director both. Quite an achievement! The prompter is to be presented with the Queen’s Award for Industry for services above and beyond the call of duty to pantomimes and kindred forms of village entertainment. (Voice now almost back to normal through overuse)
The rumour that there is a price out on Charlie’s head from the Dutch Government is merely speculative, a Dutch Dick prostrating himself before a British audience is well within the tolerance of our North Sea neighbours. And he knew his lines, bless him, which is more than you could say .......... No, that’s not fair, several others knew their lines, more or less. Much humour came from lines such as,”As you said earlier...” , “Meanwhile, back at the script.........!” and “Whisper, whisper, whisper” (largely but not always inaudible mumblings into fellow actors’ ears.) It was wonderful. In fact a mole from Dittisham wanted to travel the show up river to entertain the Dittsumians. What an accolade.
Let’s hope that the momentum created by the panto will encourage Adrian Fabian and Lynne Maurer to rise to the occasion next year to surprise and delight us all over again. Well done all, including the sound, lighting, catering and front of house crews, because the amount of work to get a show on the road is, frankly, unbelievable. David Murphy, who wrote the original script, is rumoured to be typing away again. Ah! That’s why no-one’ll speak to him!
Kingswomen Spring(ing) Activities
Zumba and Yoga have been the focus for active women in the village during the dark freezing days of February. Gill Davies’s gentle Hatha Yoga workshop encouraged a number of ladies to venture across the river to Thursday morning drop-in sessions at the Flavel. (11am-12-30pm for anyone wanting to join in). There was also a Mamma Mia Fun Night on February 22nd for those who wished to fling a towel on a deck chair. The March meeting will take place in The Sarah Roope Trust Room on the 14th and will feature a quiz and jewellery and accessories swap-so bring your bling and your brain to that one.....
And for crafty ladies there will be a regular workshop starting on Monday February 20th at 2pm in the Trust Room for those who would like to come along for a knit and a natter over cake and coffee (for a small donation to cover room rental and heating). You can join in an organised activity or bring your own project. Expertise, ideas and enthusiasm all welcomed. There is no membership fee for Kingswomen so please come and join the group if there are activities that appeal to you.
Council Matters
Please note that there is to be a new parish council newsletter which will be appearing as a supplement in By the Dart soon. The first is likely to be in the May issue and will tell you all about Damond Jubilee celebrations, progress on Lighthouse Beach, the state of the lime kiln. Don’t leave the country! At the moment the Lighthouse Beach situation is that there will be a public enquiry held between November 13th and 16th later this year. Fund-raising will be taking place to support this effort to maintain the beach as a public space, but this is a month or two off at the moment. In July there is to be a pre-enquiry meeting to clarify the terms of the enquiry. The coming newsletter will tell you more so keep your eyes on May’s issue.
The progress on restoring the limekiln at the head of Waterhead Creek is good. A mason has been engaged and he will start work some time in later March in arresting the building’s decline, consolidating the walls and building steps up the side to enable access to be safe and easy. In due course there will be a path laid to reach the kiln and when you get there a seat will hopefully be in place, kindly funded by Don Collinson, to enable you to enjoy the peace of the creek. There may even be an information board.
Jubilee Mugs
Our very own DLC (Dear Little Children of 11 and under) and those of Dartmouth are to receive a jubilee mug in June. The mugs are to be a joint venture between the communities so that the purchasing power will keep down the price. If you have a fed up older child who wants a mug it is likely that some will be on sale at the usual outlets in the village. Anyway these will be the collectors’ items of the future so maybe you should buy one so that your grandchildren can flash it around in the Antiques Roadshow of 2065.
Carlow Bequest Lunch
This took place at the Royal Dart Yacht Club in January and was hailed a success, although rather less diners were present than is usual. The food was declared good and the venue appreciated.
Tree Fellers
Well, two, tree, four, who knows, but some people with cutting gear will soon be thinning some of the trees which have sprung up along the side of the creek, spoiling the outlook of some creekside houses. The residents are pleased.
Open Garden
Sunday April 1st, 2.00 – 5.00 pm. Major and Mrs David Malloy are once again kindly opening their wonderful garden at Mulberry House, Ridley Hill, in aid of the Save the Children Fund. The garden is especially beautiful in the spring with camellias and spring-flowering shrubs. Come and enjoy the garden, the views over the Dart, the cream teas and home made cakes. There will also be a tempting plant sale.
Miscellaneous
The Save the Children Fund Committee invites you to an Indian Evening in the Village Hall on Saturday, 17th March at 7.15pm. Peter and Sarah Dingley Brown will tell us about their recent cycling tour in Rajasthan, a part of India still relatively untouched by the 21st century. Their photographs will take us a world of colour and spectacle but also of disturbing contrasts between luxury and extreme poverty. This will be followed by a supper of Indian food prepared by the committee. Wine and beer will be available from the bar. Tickets cost £13.50 and are available from Kingswear Post Office and the Village Store.
First published March/April 2012 By the Dart
