The latest news as it happens across Torquay Find out what is happening & the latest breaking news in Torbay important updates and local opinions from Torquay Paignton & Brixham at the Torbay Weekly News Torquay United FC match reports & opinions and other Local sports news days out for the kids and amazing holiday ideas in Torquay Your source of news from beyond the bay covering Devon News and UK News The Torbay Weekly Business awards celebrates the accomplishments of Torbay based Businesses and brings together the Torbay Business community Paignton & Brixham from the local community & our Torbay based reporters property sales & property of the week in Torquay Get your local Torbay traffic & travel reports and airport departures in and around Torquay Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter Support our mission and join our community now you can subscribe for as little as €0.50 per week which will also give you access to all of our premium content and archived articles Thank you for supporting Ireland's best local journalism but I am one of those people who feels so much better when the sun is out feeling motivated to do anything can sometimes be a struggle I think that spring is probably my favourite time of year For me, it is a time of hope a time to look forward to all the things that are possible in the next six months There can be walks on the beach in the sunshine and maybe this year will be the year I get round to swimming in the sea on a regular basis I love to see all the flowers out and how green everything still is Spring fills me with hope of good things to come Thanks to the new Mindful Photography group which meets on a Monday at 11:30 (contact Si Langridge on 07821666322 or myself for more information) I have been spending some more time using my camera recently and focusing on nature I took the photos that accompany this article on a recent trip to Cockington The great thing about this group is that you don’t need a fancy camera; the camera on your phone will do just fine and you don’t need to have any skill in taking photos There are people who will help you if you need it or you can just enjoy being outdoors and taking the time to pause and enjoy the scenery I hope to start a wellbeing walk around the bottom of the Willows soon; I am just waiting for a couple of things to happen before I start It would be a short walk and can be adapted for any ability contact me or keep an eye on social media and the Willows notice boards for more information I am also working on a community magazine for the Willows and would love for residents to be involved The first edition should be coming through your doors at the beginning of June and I am looking for volunteers to help me deliver it The other thing I have been working on is setting up a bereavement and loss support group This will meet every Wednesday at 2pm in Barton Baptist Church and is open to anyone who has lost someone and wants to meet with other people who understand and are in a similar situation and the format will be guided by the people who attend If you are interested in being involved in any of the things that I have mentioned, then please get in touch. My contact details are – Beth Upham, Community Builder for the Willows. 07548704876 or bethupham@torbaycdt.org.uk " + $(".testo_articolo").html().replace(//g please subscribe and support local journalism Subscribing will allow you access to all of our premium content and archived articles To continue reading this article for FREE,please kindly register and/or log in Registration is absolutely 100% FREE and will help us personalise your experience on our sites You can also sign up to our carefully curated newsletter(s) to keep up to date with your latest local news Ella when she tried her hand at radio for the first time The sky will look like the chart on May 5 at 9pm and again on May 21 at 8pm And four minutes earlier on each successive night e.g To use the chart hold it over your head facing south Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez Image: Al Macphee / Miracle PR and Event Photography Subscribe or register today to discover more from DonegalLive.ie Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm I’m trying to think of ways to keep it spooky to bring a touch of the traditional Christmas ghost story to people’s pre-holiday celebrations.  When my advert came to the attention of the Cockington What's On page via Facebook they said if I ever did plan on holding any events in the area they would happily help promote them.  I began to think of stories I could add to such a venture.. Cockington Court itself is best known for the ghost of a cavalier looking out across the grounds from one of the windows.  before being forced to sell the property to the Mallock family after being fined for his part in supporting the return of the monarchy after the English Civil War.  but he pleaded that the impetuousness of youth had allowed others to force him to become a Royalist.  His remorse secured him the return of his property but with hefty fines imposed on him instead.  his continued support of the rightful king of England brought with it more crippling fines which he couldn’t afford to pay without selling the family estate When we made enquiries with current staff members about any ongoing ghostly activity the response we got was that whatever is there is benign and is continuously looking out for the well-being of the building and all who work there.  I will never forget the day I first met the ladies in charge and the reaction I got when I first proposed doing something there for Halloween several years ago on the very day that they had been discussing plans for the spooky season expressing how funny it would be if someone into ghost hunting were to turn up.  enquiring about the very same thing...sadly we haven’t as yet been able to work together Upon one of my recent visits to Cockington with David Hammond where we often go to make recordings for his radio show he introduced me to some of his friends who run a business out of one of the old stable blocks.  Above: Part of the allegedly haunted stable block behind Cockington Court  They told us that they definitely feel a presence in their workshop just possibly a bit mischievous by moving things around.  They even admitted to having something similar in their house but it’s not unknown for dead spirits to follow the living home.  it has now made them firm believers in the paranormal Other workshop owners have told them that they have also experienced unusual activity in their workspaces if I ever get the chance to hold events around the grounds I definitely have to include the stable blocks Other sightings we’ve been told about include monks seen scurrying around near the church which is quite feasible from an historical point of view they would have been around overseeing its construction as it was part of their patch we once had a visit to one of our TIP (Torbay Investigators of the Paranormal) Monday night meetings from the resident organist who wanted to share a spooky experience with us.  he was in the habit of practising on the organ during the evenings and on certain nights a friend of his would come and fetch him to go for a pint at The Drum.  he heard a loud tapping on the window panes nearest him Taking this as a sign from his friend that he was here heading out to greet his friend...but no one was there.  so he was forced to conclude he was either playing a joke on him or he’d headed off to the pub Above: Cockington Court preparing for an open air production of Hound of the Baskervilles  there was still no sign so he ordered a pint adamant that he hadn’t visited the church previously that evening but passing it on his way to the pub now he realised it was empty as the lights were off The next time the organist was at the church he noticed the height of the window he had heard the tapping on and realised that it was too high up the wall for anyone to reach to do so.. who or what had been trying to get his attention that other evening which would make a great venue for one of my pre-Christmas storytelling evenings as it contains the most famous Cockington haunting of all thanks to Michael Aspel and his Strange But True TV programme It’s haunted by the ghost of a local motorcyclist tragically killed in an accident that severed his head He had connections to the pub and was captured on CCTV walking around the cellar area This footage was shown on national television the biker chose to appear with his helmet on When David and I visited recently to enquire about the possibility of an evening there the current staff had no unusual activity to report and had only heard vague tales of their resident ghost from customers but those of us of a certain age know he exists If you would like to find out about my plans for walks and talks or storytelling evenings before Christmas or into the New Year, then please contact me directly on my email address davidtiptrips@gmail.com  it’s my second favourite time of the year when I get to let my imagination run riot to bring you some offerings of a more spooky nature ghost stories loosely based on my own experiences meant for sharing around the fireside at Christmas.. The ad-free version is ready for purchase on iOS mobile app today we couldn't find that page";var n=e.querySelector("h2");return n&&n.remove(),{staticContent:e,title:t}},d=function(e){var t=document.createElement("button");return t.innerText=e,t.classList.add("error-page-button"),t},f=function(e){var t=document.createElement("div");t.id="recirculation-404",t.classList.add("brand-hint-bg");var n="\n \n \n Tick here if you would like us to send you the author’s response after a collision occurred before 2pm this afternoon (Monday Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, which was deployed to the scene alongside Nottinghamshire Police explained the road closure would be in place for some time "Road closures are currently in place whilst we deal with an RTC involving a lorry in Bilbrough," a spokesperson said "Trowell Road is closed from Cockington Road and will be for a considerable amount of time and avoid the area where possible." Nottinghamshire Live understands the road had reopened by around 5pm this afternoon Bus operator Trentbarton said its 'two' service was unable to serve its usual Sandringham Crescent "We have just been informed by Nottinghamshire Police that the A609 Wollaton Road is between Cockington Road & Glaisdale Drive West due to a road traffic collision," a representative said This was a breaking story - you can recap our latest traffic and travel updates as we got them below Nottinghamshire Live understands the road has now reopened Thank you for following our coverage this afternoon This image shows a closer view of the crash involving a lorry and car in Trowell Road. Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service and Nottinghamshire Police have been at the scene this afternoon The crash involving a lorry and car is pictured below as recovery continues at the scene in Trowell Road The road remains closed as rush hour approaches this afternoon which has been deployed to the scene alongside Nottinghamshire Police reads: "Road closures are currently in place whilst we deal with an RTC involving a lorry in Bilbrough "Trowell Road is closed from Cockinghton Road Google Map's traffic functions shows that drivers have been slowed down by the partial closure of Trowell Road The red marks show where people have been slowed down the most when compared to the normal driving conditions Nottinghamshire Police has confirmed officers were called at 12.24pm to a stretch of Trowell Road where a lorry had been involved in a crash with a car A spokesperson explained the car had seemingly been parked on the road where a lamppost and garden wall had also been damaged There have been no injuries as a result of the collision Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service are also helping at the crash scene Traffic monitoring service Inrix has outlined that drivers are being delayed by the road closure In a recent update the site said: "A609 Trowell Road in both directions closed a lorry involved between Cockington Road and A6002 Bilborough Road." Earlier this afternoon a spokesperson for Trentbarton said: "We have just been informed by Nottinghamshire Police that the A609 Wollaton Road is between Cockington Road & Glaisdale Drive West due to a road traffic collision "During this time thetwo is unable to serve these stops: Sandringham Crescent Patrick the Pony with TV legend Alan Titchmarsh Torbay's famous Patrick the Pony is in line for a piece of Christmas TV stardom The self-proclaimed 'Mayor of Cockington' has been invited to go on Love Your Weekend with the legendary Alan Titchmarsh The programme airs on Sunday December 22 on ITV1 at 9.30am It's Alan's Christmas Special so Patrick will be taking his place alongside some celebrity guests grew up watching Alan Titchmarsh on TV with his Granny Dot who was a big fan and learnt many useful gardening tips from his shows Patrick will be wearing his Mayor's uniform and gold chain of office to appear on the programme.  hence his name and is six years old.  He was voted The Mayor of Cockington in July 2022 after hundreds of people signed an online petition He made history by becoming the first UK pony Mayor of a village.  As part of Patrick’s Mayoral duties he has opened the Devon County Show with The Lord Mayor of Exeter and Celebrity Chef Michael Caines He was also one of the judges at The Totnes Show.  Patrick is also known for being a 'therapy' pony and will be working alongside Mindmaps Wellbeing to encourage people to open up and share their story to support others and give hope to those that need it.  Patrick is also the official Mascot for The War Horse Memorial We have waved farewell to winter and welcomed spring with open arms I have always liked how symbolic this season is as this time of year really puts a spring in your step People have been marching on throughout March making the most of our beautiful surroundings here in Torbay The Big Tackle event by Rowcroft Hospice was awe-inspiring again this year as over one thousand local people took to the streets to raise vital funds for an instrumental charity that is so close to our hearts An enjoyable day out was had by many as they walked drank beer and watched the Six Nations rugby back at Torquay Rugby Club Tremendous work by the Rowcroft Team and all involved in this special event The Big Tackle is certainly one of my favourite annual events it provides a gentle reminder to us all about the benefits of being outdoors The Torbay on the Move challenge has also been a huge hit this month with teams joining the big challenge and recording their steps as they cover the walking distance of the United Kingdom speaking as someone who has put in a considerable number of steps this March as I aim to improve my general fitness The virtual map also shows you UK landmarks along the route We have a range of activities and events going on this year Please do reach out to me and other local community builders to get a feel for what is on offer I am very passionate about exercise for many different reasons I love the social aspect of building relationships through exercise as being active allows you to destress and think clearer and this makes you feel far more confident in yourself connecting actively with nature has benefits galore I am looking forward to the rollout of events this year The Torbay Half Marathon and many more to get people moving You are most welcome to join a walk from Torquay Train Station which takes place every Friday from 10.30am; just contact me on 07754609494 and I can add you to the group’s WhatsApp for updates Please do check out Cockington from this Easter as well for some awesome prehistoric trails Leading firm of Building Surveyors has set up shop in Torquay everyone from property owners and home buyers through to architects and developers in Torbay and the surrounding areas will have a brand-new local option when it comes to multidisciplinary building surveying engineering and consultancy services.Earl Kendrick is an award-winning firm of chartered building surveyors with offices throughout England They pride themselves on having a brilliant team that’s just big enough to provide everything that their clients require while being small and boutique enough to offer a personal service The company already has a presence in the southwest with an office in Bristol The opening of the new Torquay office is testament to the success the company is enjoying in the wider region The Torquay office is led by Dean Kelly MCIOB a Chartered Project Manager with a background in contracting and consultancy.He has worked for a variety of prestigious clients in the area DfE and Cornwall Council.At a launch event held at the Drum Inn Earl Kendrick Group Managing Director Julian Davies explained how the idea for the new office had come about Julian is a local boy who grew up in Torbay and still enjoys visiting regularly He was introduced to Dean via a mutual friend who realised they both had sons of the same age And it was while on a dog walk in Cockington Country Park that they came up with the plan for working together The rest is history.Earl Kendrick’s Torquay office is now open for business serving all sectors and offering a turnkey solution Dean and his teams combine local knowledge with the ability to draw on the specialist expertise of a leading national firm making  Earl Kendrick a great fit for any project The office can be found at 4 Cockington Court Torbay AAC members running in Newquay and Cockington Three Torbay AAC athletes ran The Fairytale of Newquay 30mile Ultra Marathon organised by Purple Gecko Events The runners took o an out-and-back course starting on Porth Beach Newquay and heading to Harlyn Bay and back again all along the north Cornish coast path.  Hayley Ratcliffe ran the 15-mile long half and Mark Luscombe made his Canicross debut on the Long Half Marathon A challenging course but the weather was kind apart from the biting wind.  Results on the day: Ultra Marathon Gemma Radcliffe 7:38:56 course PB by 1hr 40mins Long Half Hayley Jeffery 3:01:49 Mark Luscombe 3:35:35 the long awaited Cockington Christmas Caper was finally able to take place The race had been rescheduled after Storm Darragh this race is a firm favourite on the local running calendar.  The morning was mild with a cold breeze but the low winter sun shone brightly in the blue sky The conditions out on the course were good and the finish line welcomed the athletes with Christmas cake and a Caper mug Torbay AAC Results:  25 Sarah Harrison 1:25:57 (1st fv50) 39 Rebecca Niles 1:31:55 41 Nick Robinson 1:32:41 44 Deb Webber 1:34:15 (1st fv55) 86 Steve Cooney 2:07:24 my talks as part of this year’s Agatha Christie Festival will be done and dusted and I will now be gearing up for my weekend of paranormal offerings the whole of that busy week still lies ahead and I’ve been trying to carry out some last-minute promotional work to help boost ticket sales I also feature on my friend David Hammond's Thursday morning radio show Although we had a recording ready to air on the Thursday before the festival I felt we were missing a trick by not giving it one final plug asking if it would be possible to pull forward our planned recording session on the Saturday the festival starts He said he could make either the Monday or Tuesday depending on which day he wasn’t going to the cricket in Taunton.. so we were destined to meet on the Tuesday I like to take us to the places where my stories happened As we were just doing a piece about my talks I guess it didn’t matter where we perched to record so I decided to make a return visit to Cockington as it was where a young Agatha Christie spent a lot of time with her good friends the Mallock family so it seemed as good a place as any to head for when Covid restrictions were still in force I wanted to see if it has one of my newly discovered features Having found no sign of a blocked-up door on the outside I have a soft spot for ornately carved rood screens it even has the traditional carving of the crucifixion on top but this remains historically accurate as this would have been carried out when Queen Elizabeth I banned them from being used when Protestants took over the churches from the Catholics Our search for the Devil’s Door proved in vain but fortunately I did pick up one of the guidebooks Imagine my excitement when the guide’s author mentions a bricked-up door in the north wall as the rise in the floor level over the years has partially concealed it Another visit to collect photographic evidence is therefore needed The guidebook also confirms what a noticeable presence monks would have had in Cockington as they would have been called upon to conduct services explaining the sightings of ghostly monks in more recent times I took us around the workshop areas in the old stable blocks to see if there was anywhere else to display publicity Not only did they share their own experiences from around the court and the workshops They then suggested we go and speak with other members of staff why I was there and that the court was featuring in my talks all the time she had an odd smile on her face and who had come in to work on what was supposed to be her day off they had been discussing potential plans for Halloween and had expressed a wish that what they needed was for someone who did ghosts hunts to come along... a mere four hours later I walked through their door We were then treated to a personal guided tour of the building where both ladies shared their various experiences which includes a sense that someone is watching over them answering their prayers when they have needed help several visiting mediums have confirmed this to various members of staff while a local historian has possibly provided a name who died young in childbirth whilst living in the court Her son took over the ownership of the property when his father died and it would be fitting that the spirit of his mother watched over him during that time as she is certainly continuing to keep an eye on the place now Maybe the young Agatha might even have been aware of Mary herself as she played with her friends in the rooms and corridors of such an atmospheric old building Some of the details I learnt that day will have made their way into my talks during the festival It was most certainly a very bizarre case of being in the right place at the right time and I very much look forward to working with the ladies of Cockington Court in the future and they kindly shared some stories with David’s listeners Pack your scotch eggs and lashings of ginger beer – I’m heading to these lovely outdoor beauty spots across Devon to enjoy lunch al fresco Hop to it! 5 Easter events that sell out fast Local libraries' costume swap for World Book Day 2025 Fabulous family-friendly self catering stays around Devon 50+ rainy day things to do around Devon Kids holidays covered! Local summer camps to book now 30+ cracking things to do with kids locally this Easter Egg-cellent Easter choccy gifts handmade locally Free outdoor adventures to do with kids locally this spring Don't already know how splendiferous we are? Read the Muddy Stilettos story We love to connect with like-minded brands and clients. If you’re interested in working with us click here for national and regional contacts. Whether you want to leave your feedback, ask a question or need help - click here to get in touch with us Reader Treats Terms & ConditionsRead our Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions here can no longer visit his ‘interaction pen’ in the garden of The Drum Inn for a pint of Guinness Name: Patrick the pony mayor of Cockington This is going to require a little unpacking You haven’t been following the story of Patrick the pony mayor of Cockington and his run-in with the local pub I can’t say that I have. OK, we’ll start at the beginning. Do you know Cockington, the village in Devon residents recently elected a four-year-old Shetland pony called Patrick as mayor Patrick the pony is the mayor of Cockington and so a pony was elected to take his place Patrick was a much-loved figure around the village visiting various recovery groups in the community and could often be found grazing in an “interaction pen” in the garden of The Drum Inn Patrick has now been banned from The Drum Inn The local council decreed that the pen required planning permission and had to be taken down the area would need to be reclassified from “garden” to “official grazing land” But what makes this especially upsetting is that Patrick really loved drinking Guinness Patrick the pony mayor of Cockington is far from the only non-human elected official in the world Really? Of course! Bosco the dog was mayor of Sunol, California, for 13 years. In 2018, Sweet Tart the cat was elected mayor of Omena Lincoln the goat became mayor of Fair Haven I feel like this actually makes things worse why wouldn’t you want a cute animal as your mayor Although the council will rue the day they decided to cross Patrick the pony mayor of Cockington Do say: “Patrick the pony has been banned from the pub.” Don’t say: “Maybe the council was afraid he’d make a foal of himself.” The Shetland pony and (unofficial) mayor of Cockington was cruelly banned from his Devon local – but has now taken his show on the road Patrick the pony is making the most of his fameThis article is more than 2 years oldThe Shetland pony and (unofficial) mayor of Cockington was cruelly banned from his Devon local – but has now taken his show on the road No political story this year hit quite as hard as the news that Patrick, the Shetland pony mayor of Cockington in Devon, had been barred from his local pub The outrage over this injustice ripped through the media; first local it is finally time to ask: has Patrick recovered The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. and he’s enjoying still being the mayor of Cockington,” says his owner noting with pride that “he’s gone pretty much worldwide in the media He’s been on German TV several times now.” Patrick – whose role as mayor is unofficial largely limited to “opening shops by biting through a ribbon with his teeth” – had been a regular presence at Cockington’s Drum Inn where he acted as a therapy animal in his own special “interaction pen” His owners originally began taking Patrick to the pub to get him used to being around people The official Patrick the Pony Facebook page has more than 16,000 followersBut a week after Patrick was elected mayor the local council received a strongly worded complaint regarding planning permission for the pen For all the novelty of a pony mayor being banned from a pub the decision to remove the pen had heartbreaking consequences it was devastating when we had to take it down,” Petrakis says because the last person who went in the interaction pen was a child who was terminally ill It really was a huge deal to some families.” But out of this tragedy came glorious redemption Patrick might have been effectively exiled from Cockington but this has only broadened his field of support Patrick now works as a therapy animal at Rowcroft Hospice in nearby Torquay effortlessly brightening the day of whomever he meets And by the time you read this, a new interaction pen will already be up and running. Better yet, this one will be mobile. If you live in Devon there’s a very good chance that Patrick will be coming to your neck of the woods soon which ended with Andi Peters dropping his jaw in amazement as Kirk spontaneously performed a song about what a lovely pony Patrick is Don’t think you’ve heard the last of that song “We’re working with this guy called Rod Davis who is a friend of Hannah’s dad up in London,” Kirk says “He used to play with John Lennon in the Quarrymen and he’s kindly helped us put the music together for the song A lot of people are saying that it could be Christmas No 1 because it’s so catchy.” May we all learn to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat with the elegance of Patrick the pony mayor of Cockington Owners of tourist attraction say they ‘deeply regret’ incident and their thoughts are with those involved The owners of a miniature-themed tourist park have said they “deeply regret” the derailment of their miniature steam train Cockington Green Gardens, a tourist attraction in Canberra featuring miniature buildings said that a small steam train that circles the park derailed just after 9.30am on Thursday The derailment caused minor injuries to four people They were taken to hospital with what were described as “non-life threatening injuries” “Cockington Green Gardens first thoughts are with those who were involved in the incident and deeply regrets this incident which is now the subject of police and WorkSafe ACT investigations,” the owners said in a statement “The attraction remains open although the miniature steam train will not operate until further notice.” Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup Police are now seeking witnesses and any mobile phone footage of the derailment They say it is not yet clear whether ACT Policing will investigate the incident or whether the inquiry will be handled by WorkSafe ACT “Anyone who witnessed the incident or who may have mobile phone footage or photos of the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or on the Crime Stoppers ACT website,” police said in a statement Miniature buildings at Cockington Green Gardens in Canberra Photograph: Xinhua/AlamyCockington Green is a privately owned tourist park which describes itself as “one of Australia’s most charming and unusual tourist attractions” Free daily newsletterOur Australian morning briefing breaks down the key stories of the day telling you what’s happening and why it matters The steam train carries visitors across the grounds and around the displays which feature miniature replicas of buildings from 30 different countries The spring school holidays are a busy time for the park coinciding with Canberra’s largest tourist event Cockington Green had taken the train offline for two days about a month ago for “pre-Floriade maintenance” “We regret this necessary inconvenience however it is important that the train is able to cope with the expected increase in demand with the upcoming Floriade and school holiday period,” Cockington Green’s owners said at the time “The safety of visitors and staff is the most important consideration in the operation of our beloved miniature steam train.” Moving to the country and opening a tea shop has never looked more appealing than at Rose Cottage Tea Gardens in a lovely village just outside Torquay yes — no sniggering in the back there Cockington is indeed the sort of village where a large number of postcards are probably sold to the easily-amused and their friends And while the saying 'all publicity is good publicity' has clearly been rendered hopelessly out of date by the social media generation there's probably something to be said for a quirky USP that puts you on the map Especially when that USP is literally printed on the map is one thing — keeping them amused is another but luckily Cockington delivers on far more than just its amusing name It's 'effectively a country village within a town yet just a mile from the centre of Torquay,' according to agents Jackson-Stops with its lovely old high street of quirky shops Rose Cottage Tea Gardens is one of the staples of Cockington village life and very much lives up to the definition of a picture-postcard setting. The sort of place, in other words, that people dream of when they think about moving to the country and running a lifestyle business. And at an asking price of £995,000 we’d imagine there will be no shortage of people looking to swap suburban lives for the different pace of Devon The main accommodation is Rose Cottage itself which offers four bedrooms and two reception rooms under its beautiful sloped roof the house is an ideal mix of the period and the contemporary with a new kitchen proving a particular highlight the 1½ acres of gardens and grounds are a joy to behold and lawns so manicured you could set your watch to them The Tea Gardens are fully licensed and can cater for 185 visitors the pianist who plays during opening hours sadly is not Rose Cottage and Tea Gardens are for sale via Jackson-Stops at £995,000 — see more pictures and details but what makes these rural hotspots so desirable We recommend heading to the seaside town of Salcombe Lincombe Keep was designed to blend into its unique surroundings in turn designed to make the most of the spectacular Winter Gardens have had a difficult late 20th century What lies ahead for these extraordinary architectural creations Toby KeelToby Keel is Country Life's Digital Director, and has been running the website and social media channels since 2016. A former sports journalist, he writes about property, cars, lifestyle, travel, nature. Four years old and standing just over 2ft tall at the shoulder, miniature Shetland 'therapy pony' Patrick is the unofficial village mayor of Cockington, Devon. After being inaugurated at local pub, The Drum Inn last month - neigh-sayers have now barred Patrick from its garden over planning permission rows. Villagers have since blasted the local council after the pint-loving pony, who even had his own grazing pen at the pub, was banned. We’re joined by Patrick, alongside his owner Kirk Petrakis from their home in Torquay, to find out why they think the ban is a load of pony. Don’t fall for crypto scams featuring Martin Lewis! He joins us with his invaluable advice incase you do. Jo Good is back with her ultimate guide to denim for every age and budget. With less than two weeks to go until this year’s Eurovision grand final, we’re joined by the UK’s entry, girl band ‘Remember Monday.’ The latest news as it happens across Torquay, Paignton & Brixham. Find out what is happening & the latest breaking news in Torbay. Get the latest in Local News, information, important updates and local opinions from Torquay, Paignton & Brixham at the Torbay Weekly News. Get the latest on Torbay sports news, Torquay United FC match reports & opinions and other Local sports news, pictures and scores across Torbay. Find the best places to go, local theatre times, incredible attractions, days out for the kids and amazing holiday ideas in Torquay, Paignton & Brixham. Your source of news from beyond the bay covering Devon News and UK News. The Torbay Weekly Business awards celebrates the accomplishments of Torbay based Businesses and brings together the Torbay Business community. 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Alternatively, you can pay €0.50 per article, capped at €1 per day. Thank you for supporting Ireland's best local journalism! Photographer Stephen Coombes visits Cockington Village, Torquay: " + $(".testo_articolo").html().replace(//g, ' To continue reading this article, please subscribe and support local journalism! Subscribing will allow you access to all of our premium content and archived articles. To continue reading this article for FREE,please kindly register and/or log in. Registration is absolutely 100% FREE and will help us personalise your experience on our sites. You can also sign up to our carefully curated newsletter(s) to keep up to date with your latest local news! The sky will look like the chart on May 5 at 9pm and again on May 21 at 8pm. And four minutes earlier on each successive night e.g. 8.56 on May 6. To use the chart hold it over your head facing south. Symptoms can all affect our daily lives, but treatment is available! Photography and videography: Superb, www.wearesuperb.com ARC Inside one of ARC's 1.5m reef cubes. Images: James Harris Buy the e-paper of the Donegal Democrat, Donegal People's Press, Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles. Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm. The famous horse and carriage rides are back at Cockington. TDA and Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust invited offers from businesses interested in operating the horse drawn carriage service around the grounds and picturesque estate. There was interest from several different companies. Following the tender process, C and C Carriages have now taken over the reins. Council leader Steve Darling said: “It is great that a new operator has been found and that the heritage that comes with seeing horse and carriages at Cockington can be restored. We wish C and C carriages every success in their new business venture.” Corinne Jefferies and Carolyn Wood-Pulham from C and C Carriages said: “We are very excited to have been chosen as the new providers for the horse and carriage rides. We can’t wait for everyone to meet our horses and to see our selection of carriages for all weathers and occasions. We have lots of exciting plans, so watch this space”. Marissa Wakefield, director at Cockington Court, said: “We are delighted to have found a long-term partner in C and C Carriages and are looking forward to seeing horses and carriages full of happy visitors around the estate once again.” Damian Offer, chief executive for TCCT, said: “We are delighted that C&C Carriages are taking on the carriage service in Cockington and would like to wish them every success.” C and C Carriages are operating from the stables, located at the rear of Cockington Court. Patrick was given the special title at a ceremony in the Devon village on Saturday (23 July) The therapy pony lived in the village for about two years - travelling to nearby hospitals mental health wards and schools to support people in need Despite having since been moved away due to a lack of suitable winter grazing fields he still makes regular trips back to Cockington with his owners Kirk and Hannah Petrakis Patrick is even known to enjoy a drink of Guinness at The Drum Inn where a special space for him has been made He has been given the mayoral role after his fans started a tongue-in-cheek petition to online Now a mayor-making ceremony has taken place with MP Kevin Foster and local councillors Andrew Barrand and Hazel Foster among the well-wishers in attendance Warning issued after reports of people feeding seals in Devon Patrick's owner Kirk Petrakis told ITV News West Country: "Patrick's fans thought that he deserved a title for all his hard work and jokingly suggested that he could be mayor Kirk and Hannah even made him a special chain of office with Kirk describing the ceremony as a "really lovely occasion" Alien eggs have landed in Torbay in time for an Easter egg hunt with a twist painters and artists have created a range of alien-inspired eye-catching eggs that have been hidden around Cockington Court buildings and craft studios Visitors who pick up a £2 trail sheet from the Manor House and hunt down the extra-terrestrial creations in the family-friendly Easter Egg trail around the Cockington Court estate will be rewarded with a special chocolate treat Cockington Court Director said: “Our community of locally based makers and artists have created a truly unique and out-of-this-world Easter Egg trail designed for the whole family." The trail runs from 11am to 4pm daily between Saturday Horse-drawn carriages will run in picture-postcard Cockington again this summer despite the bitter wrangle which saw the previous operators leave the village Kirk and Hannah Petrakis of K&H Carriages pulled out last year after an angry row over grazing land for their horses They said the grazing land offered to them was not suitable and mounted a campaign to make their landlords change their minds and Mr and Mrs Petrakis and their horses moved out of the village The keys to their stables have since been handed to an animal charity But now offers are being invited for new people to operate the horse and carriage business at Cockington Court Read more: Red Arrows announce five Devon displays for 2022 - here's where you can see them Torbay’s development agency the TDA and Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust on behalf of Torbay Council are inviting offers from businesses interested in entering into a lease to operate a horse-drawn carriage service around the grounds and picturesque estate Horse and carriage rides have operated around Cockington for decades and have become a major tourist attraction said: "The carriage operation at Cockington is an opportunity to continue a very special sense of heritage at the site The provision of carriage rides around the Cockington estate and grounds is well-loved by visitors and locals alike so we look forward to hearing from interested parties." As Torbay Council’s appointed operators of Cockington Court TDA says it appreciates the heritage of horse and carriage rides at Cockington Court and is keen to continue it Plans are to have a horse and carriage operator in place ready for the main 2022 summer season said: "TCCT very much values the presence of a carriage operator working onsite In order to provide the much-loved tradition of horse and carriage rides at Cockington we are now accepting invitations of interest to run the operation We’re looking forward to securing a long-term partner so that we can once again enjoy seeing horses and carriages full of happy visitors around the estate." The premises available to let include one stable block and storage facilities both situated at the centre of the Cockington Court estate with the lease being offered for a period of up to five years but the successful bidders will have to make their arrangements for grazing at other times of year Interested parties are required to provide a business plan and show evidence of previous experience Bids will be assessed on the strength of the business plan with particular focus on the sustainability of the business and the standard of operation Tender documents will be required to be signed no later than April 29 Anyone interested is asked to call 01803 926310 You can stay up to date on the top news and events near you with DevonLive's FREE newsletters – enter your email address at the top of the page or go here Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right [email protected]SPREAD THE NEWS + 1 (View All) Director Marissa Wakefield and Phil Dixon, curators of the trail, with fellow sculptors Cockington Court’s space-themed sculpture trail is showcasing the work of local Totnes artists such as Malcolm Curley, who is known for displaying his animal sculptures around Totnes. The trail, which leads visitors around the grounds of Cockington Court and into the Manor House, opened on July 29 and will run until October 29.  Thousands of people come to see the trail each year, and it features 29 unique sculptures created by local artists and sculptors. One of the star features of the trail this year is the Tardis – the Time Lord’s iconic police box time machine.  A spokesperson for the court said: “This particular Tardis was created in 2015 during the Christopher Eccleston Doctor Who reboot and used at various red-carpet events and in the BBC Studios tour. Over the years, it also featured in several Doctor Who episodes during the reigns of David Tennant and Matt Smith as The Doctor.” Malcolm has five pieces on display on the trail, some of which are permanent. These include sculptures of the characters Yoda and Mekon. Cockington Court Director, Marissa Wakefield, said: ‘‘The aliens have landed at Cockington Court this summer! There are dozens of spaced themed sculptures hiding around our grounds, waiting to be discovered by intrepid explorers. The free sculpture trail is one of the key events in our calendar and is a wonderful way for people of all ages to access and enjoy art. ‘‘We’re also thrilled to be displaying our very own Doctor Who Tardis. The police box time machine has become iconic in British popular culture and fits in brilliantly with our space theme – a wonderful addition to this year’s trail which we hope visitors will enjoy.’’ To take part, visitors can collect a trail map from inside the Manor House. The trail marks the start of summer activities at the Court which include outdoor theatre productions. Comments Tel: 01548 853101[email protected]Follow us Further Links Owned or licensed to Tindle Newspapers Ltd | Independent Family-Owned Newspapers | Copyright & Trade Mark Notice & 2013 - 2025 Win HappyPremiumSearch Rayogreatest hitsdevonnewsPatrick the Pony to become Mayor of Cockington after a petitionPatrick the Pony will become the mayor of a Devon village this weekend A popular therapy pony - known for enjoying a sip of Guinness in his local pub - will this weekend be made the mayor of Cockington The non-official position being given to Patrick the Pony is the result of more than 200 people signing an online petition The village is overseen by Torbay Council and the mayoral idea is to help boost tourism to the well preserved quintessentially English village While Patrick will not have any decision-making power - or attend meetings - the ceremonial role will see him attending civic functions In March The Drum Inn created a special area for Patrick to enjoy his favourite tipple - after the closure of the local horse drawn carriage business which owned him Before that almost 4,000 people signed a petition calling for help to save the business and the family of the former owner Rick Passmore - dubbed 'Mr Cockington' - also backed the campaign saying he too spent every day battling to keep the horses in the village A vet's report suggested the winter grazing land being offered has become unsafe for the horses - and advised K&H Cockington Carriages to find an alternative site Patrick remains a therapy horse and is still looked after by the former K&H carriages owners Kirk and Hannah in the Torbay area The Mayor making ceremony takes place on Saturday night Click here for more about Patrick The Pony Company number 01176085; Bauer Radio Limited Company number: 1394141Registered office: Media House Peterborough PE2 6EA and H Bauer Publishing Company number: LP003328; Registered office: The Lantern London NW1 2PL All registered in England and Wales VAT no 918 5617 01H Bauer Publishing are authorised and regulated for credit broking by the FCA (Ref No: 845898) 20 DEC 2021BookmarkCockington Primary School in Torquay (Image: Google Street View)A 19th Century school building in Torquay is to be converted into houses and flats Cockington Primary School on Old Mill Road is will become five houses, one flat and one maisonette after getting the nod from the planning committee of Torbay Council Two dilapidated temporary classrooms will be destroyed to make way for four new terraced homes Two of 16 parking spaces will be equipped with electric charging points Read more:Paignton's Waterside Holiday Park set for ambitious upgrade The steering group of the Torquay Neighbourhood Forum are concerned about insufficient parking which they think could lead to residents parking cars on the road director of the architecture company that drew up the plans cycle and public transport links make up for the parking shortfall Wellswood) said: “I think it’s a very attractive scheme in terms of maintaining a building that may not be listed and may not be in a conservation area but I think is a very attractive building that’s very much a part of the character of the area.” A similar application to convert the old primary school buildings was approved in 2019 but a mix up between planners and the council meant that planning permission did not actually match the buildings wanted by the developer Preston) said: “I consider this a tidying up exercise of the 2019 application “It now confirms what it says on the tin rather than the tin saying something else.” Planning permission was approved unanimously Want our best stories with fewer ads and alerts when the biggest news stories drop? Download our app on iPhone or Android Photographer Stephen Coombes is out and about around Torbay and South Devon: His focus is on covering news and politics in Texas as well as other general news across the United States James joined Newsweek in July 2022 from LBC and previously worked for the Daily Express You can get in touch with James by emailing j.bickerton@newsweek.com either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content A row has broken out in a picturesque English village after the mayor was removed from a local pub following a complaint to the council was made unofficial mayor of Cockington in Devon at a ceremony attended by local Conservative MP Kevin Foster The pony holds court from an "interaction pen" built in the garden of The Drum Inn he was forced to leave after someone complained to Torbay Council who informed the pub owners they needed planning permission for the pen and animal grazing As the owners didn't want to go through the expense of applying for planning permission Torbay Council confirmed it had opened an "enforcement case" after "a complaint from a member of the public." a local resident who used to chair the Torquay Neighbourhood Plan Forum suggested the complaint was sparked by anger at a pony being made mayor Speaking to The Times of London he said: "I'm pretty certain it's all about Patrick becoming mayor I suspect there are a lot of people who have got an ax to grind it's someone who also thinks they are mayor of Cockington and they do have a habit of sticking their nose in "They have made quite anti-Patrick posts on Facebook and barbed comments." who serves as a Home Office Minister in the U.K. has accused the council of "making itself a complete joke" He told The Times of London: "Like most people living in the area I am surprised by the hardline attitudes councillors have decided to take about a pony Patrick's title of mayor of Cockington was a light-hearted move to promote the village Even I did not realize that it would provoke Torbay council into making itself a complete joke." Torbay Council is currently controlled by an alliance between the Liberal Democrat group and an independent group who works as a therapy pony in local hospitals and schools first became acquainted with The Drum Inn during the coronavirus pandemic took Patrick to the pub to raise morale while the world battled the deadly disease with hundreds signing a petition to see him become the village's mayor after Don Mills A Facebook page in his honor titled "The Adventures Of Patrick The Pony," currently has 7,000 likes Comments on the page reveal Patrick has fans from across the U.K and in countries including the United States and Cyprus a spokesperson for Torbay Council commented: "Torbay Council has not banned Patrick the pony from visiting The Drum Inn Public House in Cockington matters relating to the entrance policies of the venue can only be answered by The Drum Inn "We can confirm that following a complaint from a member of the public an enforcement case has been opened into the erection of unauthorised timber fencing and the display of advertisements within the beer garden of the Drum Inn This is in a designated conservation area and is next to a listed building and we need to ensure historic areas like this are protected from unauthorised development "The Council has not received or approved any planning applications for the fencing or the change of use for horses officers have now raised concerns over the suitability of these unauthorised works the potential change of use of land and the impact this has on the conservation area and nearby listed building "We have written to the landlord of the public house advising that the works are considered a breach of planning legislation We are now encouraging them to engage with the Planning Department to find a more acceptable solution to either remove the works or to submit a retrospective planning application." Newsweek reached out to The Drum Inn for comment In other Devon news, Exmoor Zoo is looking for a partner for its female shoebill also known as the "dinosaur bird" due to its distinctive look which is just one of 11 in the world in captivity from Belgium and is the only one in Britain said: "We accepted Abou as part of the European breeding program where there are more boys than girls the idea is if we can keep her well and she thrives then he will also come and join us at Exmoor Zoo." Nearby Cornwall was in the news last year after 400,000 bees escaped after being stolen from Tresillian House Speaking to the local news website Falmouth Packet assistant beekeeper Kathrin Barnes said: "If bees are moved less than a mile they go back to where they were before." ET: This article was updated to include comment from the local council ET: This article was updated with photos of Mayor Patrick the Pony Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground Newsletters in your inbox See all Mark Spacagna is the Conservative councillor for Cockington with Chelston and will carry out the ceremonial non-political role during in this financial year which includes chairing full council meetings Speaking at the council's annual meeting today (Tuesday Cllr Spacagna said he would 'never have dreamt' about occupying the role earlier in his life but he now intends to “grasp [it] with both hands and serve the residents of Torbay to the best of my ability.” His two charities for the year will be Rowcroft Hospice and Torbay Hospital League of Friends Cllr David Thomas proposed his colleague for the role including that he now runs a local taxi firm but initially trained as a chef Highlighting the new mayor’s culinary prowess who was confirmed as the new council leader at the meeting said: “Mark’s favourite dish to prepare is Tuscan sausage with a cheese and creamy sauce served with pappardelle pasta I’m sure there’ll be plenty of us queuing up to eat I’ll be at the front,” Cllr Thomas quipped Cllr Patrick Joyce added: "Cllr Spacagna is a Torquinian born and educated in our wonderful Bay “[He is] also a local businessman and I know that he will put at the front and in the centre of everything that he undertakes in the role to do the very best for Torbay “Cllr Spacagna will be a fantastic ambassador for Torbay and an advocate for all local charities and groups.” Fellow Conservative councillor Hannah Stevens was elected as the new deputy mayor Outgoing mayor Mandy Darling and her deputy Cecilia Brown were both thanked for their year in the roles SWNSPatrick’s owner said he’d be a great mayor “for being non-judgmental and genuinely caring and supportive to all.” when it appointed a miniature Shetland pony named Patrick as the town’s mayor As Food & Wine reported started taking Patrick around the town and to the local pub early on in the pandemic to acclimate the pony to socializing and since his arrival in Cockington two years ago Patrick became so beloved by the townsfolk of Cockington that they reserved a special space for him at The Drum Inn where he’s been known to enjoy the occasional Guinness along with his carrot The Mail reported on Patrick’s first visits to the pub back in 2020 with Petrakis telling them that the daily pub visits were “a highlight” for the Shetland pony “It is not your usual sight down the local,” he said “It is a bit of fun for everyone and Patrick enjoys it too Some drinkers do wonder though if the beer they are drinking is a bit too strong.” For those interested: According to veterinarians the occasional sip of alcohol is not considered dangerous for horses who have been drinking fermented products for “millennia.” SWNS“The daily pub visit is all part of his routine and is his highlight He likes a sip of Guinness and he has a carrot – that’s it,” Petrakis said Patrick’s pub visits skyrocketed him to local fame and the town held a second birthday celebration for him at The Drum Inn on Saint Patrick’s Day in 2020 Patrick has become so essential to the town they’ve decided to name him their mayor Cockington Village’s previous mayor died in 2019, and since the position hadn’t yet been filled, Petrakis decided to create a petition on Change.org to offer the title to the town’s cherished therapy pony Petrakis admitted that the petition was a tad tongue-in-cheek to start but with hundreds of signatures in support Patrick the pony has truly become the mayor of Cockington Village “People are saying Patrick will do better than the Mayor of London,” Petrakis told Express but you’ve got real politicians who are sitting on the fence The community needs something nice and something you can relate to.” Could a pony really do a better job in public office than a human The villagers of Cockington certainly think so Patrick has been a loving and loyal member of the community Patrick has helped raise money for Ukraine and funds for two defibrillators in Cockington but his generous deeds don’t stop there Petrakis shared the story of Patrick visiting a woman who was struggling with mental health her anxiety so crippling that she feared leaving her house altogether amidst the ongoing pandemic “She walked around the village with Patrick and it really helped her,” Petrakis said and she’s living her life again and that’s because of Patrick there’s a distinct lack of trust nowawadays between humans — especially when it comes to politicians Patrick was the best candidate the town could have chosen Patrick’s mayoral swearing-in ceremony was attended by other public figures including local councilors Andrew Barrand and Hazel Foster and Member of Parliament Kevin Foster Patrick was presented with a light-up mayoral chain Petrakis described the event as “a really lovely occasion.” Hannah PetrakisPatrick’s mayoral swearing-in ceremony in Cockington Village councilor of the Cockington and Chelston ward felt that Patrick’s impact on the community was so great he didn’t see any reason why the pony shouldn’t be given the mayoral title “Patrick has been amazing,” he said “Everyone loves Patrick as he is so easy to get on with particularly for children and old age pensioners here “Everyone is talking about mental health at the moment It should be noted that while Patrick’s ceremony was attended by local politicians his mayoral title is only in an unofficial capacity Patrick won’t be making any policy decisions for the town Still, while we can’t expect to see whether Patrick would vote “yay” or “neigh” on any policies, Petrakis and his wife Hannah are posting regular updates about Patrick’s day-to-day activities on his website and social media accounts Perhaps a human would let the sudden success and social media fame go to their head Patrick seems content simply making people’s days better and sipping on a Guinness After reading about Patrick and his appointment to unofficial mayor of Cockington, read about Sweet Tart, who became mayor of a small town in Michigan. Then, see the one-of-a-kind story of Mayor Stubbs the cat who was mayor of an Alaskan town for two decades Sign up to our free email alerts for the top daily stories sent straight to your e-mail Thank you for subscribing!We have more newsletters A beer-drinking pony who enjoys a pint and lives in a pub has been backed - to become a mayor Miniature Shetland pony Patrick earned celebrity status as a regular at his local boozer where he would pop in for a daily tipple of his favourite Irish-stout Now 130 people have since signed a petition on change.org calling for Patrick to be appointed mayor of Cockington, a village near to Torquay in Devon. It follows the death of unofficial mayor Don Mills in 2019, reports DevonLive Patrick's fame came after owner Kirk Petrakis often brought him into Cockington pub The Drum Inn to try to socialise him for his therapy work during the pandemic He now spends much of his time visiting hospitals Kirk says he always brings comfort to people going through difficult experiences and argues that his role as a community icon makes him perfectly suited to be mayor He said: "Patrick's become such a central part of the community in Cockington that I think they're just quite keen to keep him around Now he's officially a therapy horse we like to walk him around regularly and introduce him to people "We got in contact with Cllr Andrew Barrand from Cockington who pitched the idea to us of making Patrick mayor I think it'd be a really nice and quite fitting for him to be mayor really there are lots of other animal mayors in other countries - I think there's a dog mayor in the US "The locals have become so accustomed to him being around and I think after the death of the previous unofficial mayor We believe Patrick would make a fantastic Mayor of Cockington because of the heritage and history with horses because everyone would love to see him attend events with his chains "He recently attended Armed Forces Day he has done a lot of good things for the community When it eventually happens we'll make sure to get him a nice big velvet rug or something to sit on." You can find out more about Patrick the Pony at his website. If you want to support Patrick's ambitions to become mayor, you can sign his petition here Sign-up to the latest news from Better Homes and Gardens Disclaimer: By joining, you agree to our Privacy Policy & Terms of Use These days, travelling from Scotland to Peru and stopping at more than 30 countries in between seems completely impossible. But this week, Graham’s travelling the world in less than a day – and he’s having an absolute ball. He’s visiting Cockington Green Gardens which is home to a fascinating display of meticulously handcrafted miniature buildings and monuments from around the globe It’s all set within beautifully landscaped gardens and Graham’s stopping by to check out this remarkable place Graham visits Rockford Garden Graham visits Ooralba Estate gardens Graham Ross explores City of Sydney’s flowers Radio broadcaster and television gardening presenter entertained and inspired Australia’s gardening community and aspiring green thumbs during a career that has spanned more than 50 years for your chance to WIN $25,000 cash or curated gift set!