The latest news as it happens across Barnstaple Torrington & surrounding North Devon areas important updates and local opinions from Barnstaple Find leisure and lifestyle news from Barnstaple All the latest uplifting news from Barnstaple Torrington & surrounding North Devon areas from our local reporters property sales & property of the week in Barnstaple 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 Glorious sunshine added an extra sparkle to Great Torrington’s annual Mayfair celebrations kicking off on Thursday (May 1) for the traditional opening day country dancing and entertainment from Torrington Cavaliers and the Littleham Howlers began a busy programme of events in the town square culminating in the Proclamation of the May Fair and the crowning of the May Queen crowned by Coral Guppy and joined by heralds Reuben Pascoe and Tanner-James West standard bearer Oscar Bidwell plus attendants are Isabel Armstrong Above: Great Torrington May Queen Olivia Perry is crowned by Coral Guppy Friday saw the popular Round the Tree Race in the town with 2.75 mile races for seniors and 1.75 miles for juniors then on Saturday it was the turn of the Torrington Fancy Dress Music Festival This event has for now replaced the traditional carnival and has also proved popular with more than 30 performers at 11 venues around the town from the afternoon onwards Plenty of costumed characters took to the streets on Saturday for the Torrington Fancy Dress Music Festival There was a fancy dress walking carnival in the evening with a variety of costumed characters from Mario Bros to an Avatar duo and the Ghostbusters to Hillbillies taking to the streets See more pictures courtesy of John Insull in our gallery above " + $(".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 Torrington Mayfair brought plenty of splendid costumes – and sunshine – to the 2025 instalment of the traditional event Young revellers and the iconic Ilfracombe May giants arrive at the seafront for Ilfracombe's Jack-in-the-Green 2025 Hele Cornmill at Hele Bay in Ilfracombe is taking part in the Ilfracombe Art Trail on Saturday and Sunday Bubbles the Pixie entertained the crowds with a bubble blowing extravaganza The rediscovered bell in ‘the cupula’ at Barnstaple Guildhall – thought to date from the early 18th century 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 Great Torrington Mayfair returns this Thursday Great Torrington Mayfair is back this Thursday (May 1) with a host of activities in the days ahead fancy dress the and the popular Round the Tree Race People are expected to flock to the town square for start of the annual May celebrations traditionally held on the first Thursday in May since Victorian times but the revels are thought to have started way in the Middle Ages Thursday in the square begins with a short open air service at 9.45am followed by country and floral dancing from Great Torrington Bluecoat Primary pupils from 10.05am floral dancing for all from 10.30am and entertainment including the irrepressible Torrington Cavaliers and the Littleham Howlers Wheelchair users are asked to be in the designated area of the square by 10am to ensure safe access Local Road closures will be in place throughout the week at various times The Proclamation of the May Fair will be read out at noon followed by the crowning of May Queen Olivia Perry The royal p[arty includes crwoner Coral Guppy heralds Reuben Pascoe and Tanner-James West The afternoon will see more entertainment in the Square Fairground rides from Rowlands Amusements are at Barley Grove Car Park throughout Fair Week Friday will see the return of the Round the Tree race organised by Torrington AAC and the Mayfair Committee The race starts and finishes in the square with a 2,75 mile race for seniors and a 1.75 mile race for juniors (minimum age 11 years) Registration is from 5.30pm with all under 15s setting off at 6.45pm then at 7.15pm senior female racers plus under 17 females At 7.30pm the male under 17s and seniors will set off Registration is on the evening or you can register in advance and find out more at www.torringtonaac.co.uk/round-the-tree get ready for the Torrington Fancy Dress Music Festival which follows on from the success last year and will see more than 30 musical acts and performers spread across 11 venues in the town Entry wrist bands for the day can be purchased at £2 per person These can be purchased from the music venues and many of the local shops The music will pause at 6pm for the popular fancy dress parade setting off from outside the Pannier Market led by Torrington Silver Band and the Mayfair procession then up to the Fair and back down the Pannier Market Then the music and entertainment continues from 8pm until late Keep up to date with everything going on at the Great Torrington Mayfair & Carnival Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/greattorringtonmayfair plus a year-round array of creative workshops and half term holiday saviours this way Read our review Just 15 minutes from the Atlantic Highway is the Royal Horticultural Society’s Devon outpost: RHS Garden Rosemoor the horticulture would knock the socks off a Chelsea Flower Show judge: garden highlights include Rose Gardens plus The Hot Garden and The Cool Garden designed by Jo Thompson Even the non-green-fingered will find their garden mojo here Book in for one of their many classes and workshops here’s the perfect cross-generational family crowd-pleaser there are two dedicated play areas suited to young and older kids; the Brash has a slide or pack them off to The Copse to make ‘beautiful’ music on the spiro giro musical pipe or if it’s parents who’re not so good on their pegs you’re worried about head to one of the many shelters to scoff your picnic or take a load off in one of their three eateries You don’t even need a ticket to access The Garden Restaurant (or the brilliant Garden Centre for that matter) Rosemoor’s Vegetable Garden informs the menu which changes every two weeks using fruit and veg freshly picked from the greenhouses fruit trees and bean-covered wigwams of their kitchen gardens You can get hitched here and exchange vows in one of seven romantic venues you can stay for a sleepover in a choice of three apartments located in the original Lady Anne Palmer house giving you free range around the garden from sunrise to sunset Check out the many membership benefits and then add these must-do dates to your diary: Glow the Christmas light trail is stunning; the annual Flower Show in August; Vintage Weekend in July for classic cars and lindyhop; and Festival of Flavours in October Website: rhs.org.uk/gardens/rosemoor Email: rosemooradmin@rhs.org.uk Open in Google Maps 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 The latest news as it happens in Dartmoor covering Okehampton important updates and local opinions from across Okehampton Cycling and more local Dartmoor Sports News property sales & property of the week including Okehampton house prices and opinions on Dartmoor's property market including Okehampton Local area spotlights & features across Dartmoor Dartmoor national park is 368 miles of beautiful English countryside find out what green issues are affecting Dartmoor here at The Moorlander Get local news & council updates for across Dartmoor including Okehampton Showcasing and celebrating the incredible independent businesses of Dartmoor Ashburton & Surrounding areas from the local community & our reporters Get your local Dartmoor traffic & travel reports In a decision that has sparked widespread debate a 70-acre solar farm in northern Devon has been granted planning approval on appeal despite concerns that it contradicts both local and national planning policies an area known for its distinctive culm grassland and high-quality agricultural land.Planning Inspector T acknowledged that the solar farm and its associated battery storage facilities would introduce "uncharacteristic industrial-esque development" over a relatively large area the development would lead to the loss of valuable farmland which falls under the 'Best and Most Versatile' (BMV) agricultural land category This category is typically protected by government policy to preserve high-quality farmland for food production.Despite these concerns the inspector found that Torridge District Council was 'entitled' to conclude that the harms of the development outweighed the benefits the inspector ultimately determined that the project should proceed citing the growing demand for renewable energy as a key factor in the decision.The solar farm will have a nominal capacity of 28 megawatts (MW) the project includes a battery storage facility with two dozen 40-foot containers filled with lithium-ion batteries designed to store the energy generated by the panels.The site is situated on land historically known for its culm grassland a rare and species-rich habitat unique to North Devon and North Cornwall More than 92% of this habitat has been lost since the mid-20th century making its preservation a critical concern for conservationists.Devon CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural England) has been a vocal opponent of the development The charity has expressed its disappointment over the decision which it describes as a "death knell for democratic planning." Steve Crowther argued that the ruling undermines local planning processes stating: "The North Devon and Torridge Local Plan was eight years in the making and sensitivity."Crowther also criticised the decision for suggesting that local plans could be bypassed claiming that the outcome of the appeal was influenced by national policy priorities the Planning Inspector has indicated that the Local Plan can be bypassed at will," Crowther said "The ‘material considerations’ referred to appear to be that Ed Miliband wants more solar also raised concerns about the reliability of the solar farm's output "The Inspector ignored all the valid information provided by objectors and is deluded in stating that the proposal will ‘provide a secure Nothing could be further from the truth; there is nothing secure or stable about the output of intermittent solar power even with associated batteries."Critics also pointed out that the UK’s potential for solar power is relatively low compared to other countries The World Bank's 2020 ranking placed the UK as the second-worst country in terms of solar power potential Crowther highlighted that this decision could pave the way for further encroachments on valuable agricultural land citing the loss of over 40,000 acres of top-grade farmland in the UK since 2010 leading to a significant reduction in food production.As the solar industry continues to expand in the UK the case has sparked a broader debate about the balance between renewable energy development and the preservation of rural landscapes and agricultural land.The decision on the solar farm appeal can be reviewed under reference: APP/W1145/W/24/3353044 © Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service Facebook page Catherine Leeves with the real-life ‘Mischievous Mabel’ the border terrier who inspired her debut children’s book series Reach out for help: How drug and alcohol recovery services could work for you or a loved one VE Day celebrations in Barnstaple on May 8 Credit: Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon Communities across North Devon and Torridge are gearing up to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day and the end of World War Two in Europe with a range of events and celebrations 1945 following the unconditional surrender of Germany and bringing to and end the war in Europe after five years of conflict that claimed tens of millions of lives While the war with Japan continued until VJ Day on August 15 VE Day in Europe sparked mass celebrations as nations rejoiced at liberation from tyranny and the unending toil of years of war the 80th anniversary will be marked with events right across the UK and Europe with most towns and parishes in North Devon and Torridge hosting various celebrations from street parties to music and lighting beacons The North Devon Gazette has collated some of the main events, but in case we’ve missed yours, please do email us the details at newsdesk@northdevongazette.co.uk or post on our Facebook page and we will add them to our online listing Barnstaple has plenty going on over several days starting with a flag raising ceremony at Rock Park on Thursday From the Thursday to Saturday there will be free showings of a new commemorative film about WW2 and North Devon VE 80 craft activities and historical talks at Barnstaple Pannier Market The Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon has a VE Day 80- commemorative display running from Thursday to Saturday entry is free and it is an opportunity to discover more about the town during WW2 with a variety of pictures and artefacts Above: A VE Day street party at Belle Meadow in Barnstaple on May 8 The museum will be hosting a day of VE Day celebrations on Saturday (May 10) from 10am to 4.30pm with free drop-in children’s art and craft activities (10am-12pm and 1-3pm) period vehicles outside the Museum on The Square (tbc) bunting throughout the museum hand-crafted by volunteers plus traditional treats and cream teas for sale in Bromley’s Tearoom Various events and exhibitions and a cream tea dance are expected around the museum and Queen Anne’s Café on The Strand May 11 the Veterans Charity is hosting a day of entertainment The VE80 Festival will be the finale of several days of commemoration and celebration across Barnstaple starting on the 80th anniversary of VE Day a VE Day Street Party is also taking place inside the market from 12noon to 2pm with the market decorated especially for the occasion People are invited to bring their own foods but crockery and cutlery will be provided The aim is to create a ‘traditional British street party’ and there will be live music and entertainment during the event There will be two punch and Judy shows plus magic from local performer Dave Hendy South Molton has a day of events around the town on VE Day itself starting with a flag raising at the Pannier Market at 9am The market stays central to events through the day including a special VE Day Market with raffle and live music from 8.30am to 1pm plus at 2.30pm a plaque will be unveiled honouring all who served and died for their country It will be unveiled by Paddy King-Fretts and the Mayor together with choir performances by local schools The South Molton Assembly Rooms are hosting Tommy Tea form 1.30-5pm An afternoon of 1940s nostalgia with live artists At South Molton Community College from 5.30-8pm there will be food and music with The Singing Ringers and Barnstaple Ladies Choir plus a performance by college students The town church bells will ring out at 6.30pm and a beacon will be lit in the town Square at 9.30pm Ilfracombe Town Council is hosting a shared moment of celebration and reflection to look back on the 80th anniversary of VE Day on Thursday People are invited to gather from 10.50am for an 11am start on the Clapping Circle on the seafront the Right Reverend Mike Harrison will lead a service at St Peter’s Church a display created by crafters from the village and around the world The cascade will be a central feature of the village VE80 Commemoration on Thursday St Peter’s Church will host a Memories Exhibition photos and excerpts from A Schoolgirl’s War by Mary Smith The Thursday Café in the Village Hall will extend its hours from 2–5pm offering special refreshments and war-era songs a 7pm concert by The Jubilee Singers and the lighting of Bratton Fleming’s Lamp of Peace at 9.30pm Combe Martin Parish Council is encouraging villagers to decorate their house with flags and bunting from the weekend of May 3 A ‘best dressed house’ competition will run for the duration The council will also be unveiling a Royal British Legion ‘Unknown Tommy’ statue the town council will be hosting VE Day celebrations at the Pollyfield Centre on Thursday leading up to the lighting of a beacon at 9.30pm The bells of St Mary’s Church will ring out to kick things off while at the Pollyfield Bideford Youth Pipe Band will play with performances from Tamsin Ball plus Bideford Town Band playing music from the 1940s.  At 9pm the Town Crier will read out a proclamation followed by the reading of the names of the fallen from the Borough of Bideford Roll of Honour 1939–1945.  After the beacon is lit a tribute will be read followed by the band and Tamsin leading a rendition of ‘I Vow to Thee My Country’ There will be a buffet during the evening and CMC Productions will also provide musical support Great Torrington Town Council is hosting a VE Day 80th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday May 10 at the Town Hall and Pannier Market There will be free dance workshops at the hall with Step into Swingtime at 1-2.30pm (swing jive) and 3.30-5pm (Linfy hop) That should help the feet move freely for the live 1940s music from 5.30-9pm in the Pannier Market with The Hummingbirds and Torrington Silver Band May 3 is VE Day-themed and the fancy dress competition for ages three to 16 will see plenty of 1940s attire Holsworthy Town Council is also hosting a day of VE Day celebrations on May 8 with a 9am proclamation and flag-raising outside St Peter’s and St Paul’s Church followed by an Act of Remembrance at the Tree Memorial in Stanhope Park at 11am A Street Celebration is being held in the Square from 5.30pm with a ‘free’ fish supper and family entertainment before a tribute is read at 9pm and a beacon will be lit a three-show production called Let’s Celebrate has been created by Holsworthy Amateur Theatrical Society and will play at their venue in Bodmin Street at 7.30pm each night on the Thursday It is a lively show with a cast of more than 40 people with ages ranging from eight to the mid 70s and reflects the life and times of Holsworthy folk who lived through the war years Tickets are available from www.holsworthytheatre.co.uk or Ticketsource on 0333 666 3366 Buckland Brewer is staging a VE Day Family Fun Day on Saturday May 10 at the village playing field from 2-6pm with 1940s and wartime dress greatly encouraged The Buckland Brewer History Group is also curating memories and memorabilia from parishioners of WW2 The collection will be exhibited in the Parish Church from May 1 until May 19 and the church will be open daily between 10 am and 4pm and until 7pm on VE Day when the History Group will be in attendance all day Once the exhibition has been dismantled the group proposes to create a permanent exhibition space in the church to honour the contribution Buckland Brewer people have made to all global conflicts If you have items that commemorate a person, civilian or military, or an event, relating to Buckland Brewer during the time of war and you would like it to form part of the permanent display, get in touch via the group website at https://bucklandbrewerhistorygroup.wordpress.com Ashreigney is hosting a barbecue with free entry in the village on Thursday A bar and hit drinks will be available plus a beacon will be lit at 9.30pm a short display of low noise fireworks will conclude the event The venue will be clearly signposted but an approximate postcode is EX18 7NE A British-themed Sunday roast with beef or nut roast trifle or apple crumble for afters will be held on Sunday The Singing Ringers will perform during the afternoon and there will be a tombola Tickets (£15 adult) and more information are available from Katherine Cole by emailing ashreigneyparishcouncil@mail.com or call 07817 230815 All proceeds from both events will be donated to SSAFA (The Soldiers Airmen Families Association) and the Ashreigney Village Hall Restoration Fund Keep up to date with more VE Day 80 events in Torridge via https://www.torridge.gov.uk/veday80/localevents North Devon’s events listing can be found on the district council website at https://www.northdevon.gov.uk/council/ve-and-vj-day-celebrations-2025 If we’ve missed out your VE Day event, please email us at newsdesk@northdevongazette.co.uk and we’ll add it to our online listing cliffs and National Trust properties to see these blue beauties at their best this spring Kids holidays covered! Local summer camps to book now Hoe down! 10 reasons to hotfoot it to Toby's Garden Festival Bank Holiday sorted! What's on around Devon this Easter weekend 30+ cracking things to do with kids locally this Easter Bank holiday bangers! 20+ things to do this weekend Way-hey it's May! 40+ things to bring the joy this month Brilliant Devon pubs right on the beach Here comes summer! Your culture guide has landed Ed Wilmott batting for the Riptides against the Cornish Pioneers Photo by Daniel Owen In only the third fixture of their first season the Torrington Riptides baseball team secured their first ever victory winning the second of two home games against the Cornish Pioneers a strong pitching performance from the Pioneers’ Dan Kitts helped to give the more experienced visitors a clear advantage Ed Keech pitched all five innings of the game Ed Wilmott hit the only home run of the day and Keech batted in two more runs in the third inning The fifth and final inning saw the Riptides get six hits – including from Joshua Owen and Fred Batt – to score four consolation runs to finish the first game with Ed Wilmott allowing Cornwall to score just one run in the first inning and none in the third and made a succession of great fielding plays to enable Ashley Hendy to tag another five batters out at first base “This is a huge moment for this new team,” said Riptides player-manager Jess Cooper after the game “We’re excited and proud to get our first win under our belt but the whole team pulled together brilliantly.” After the weekend game at home (Great Torrington School) against the Exeter Spitfires the Riptides travel to face the Newton Abbott Brewers on May 11 To join or sponsor the team, email Jess Cooper at torringtonriptides@gmail.com Images from the greens of Great Torrington For the latest in our new series for the North Devon Gazette we are following the age-old mantra that a picture tells a thousand words we head to the greens of Great Torrington Bowling Club While the action has moved indoors for the winter season there is plenty of work going on to prepare the surface for 2025 after a superb summer for the club If you would like a picture page from your local sports club, adult or senior, please just drop us a line at tim.herbert@clearskypublishing.co.uk 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 The Town Lands and Almshouse Charity in Great Torrington has waved goodbye to its long-standing steward Ian steered the charity through a period of significant modernisation minutes and accounts were still handwritten including the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic helping ensure the charity’s ongoing success in its mission to support residents in the town He was gifted an engraved decanter from Dartington Crystal presented by mayor councillor Phil Cloke and the charity’s chair saying: “Ian’s commitment to our community will be very much missed.” Paul added: “Ian’s leadership and dedication have been invaluable We are grateful for his years of service and wish him all the best in his retirement.” Residents of Great Torrington continue to benefit from the charity’s work which includes a voucher distribution day and ongoing grant-giving initiatives Supporters are encouraged to consider donating or leaving a legacy to the organisation More information about how to contribute can be found at townlands.org.uk or by contacting the charity directly via admin@townlands.org.uk or on 01805 623517 Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right Great Torrington's Annual Christmas Fair attracted a large crowd on Saturday 16 November with the town's Town Hall and Pannier Market filled with local traders and visitors.  The event was organised by volunteers Lucy and Sam from South West Event Management Solutions CIC featuring more than 80 stalls offering a diverse range of products noting the vibrant atmosphere and the significant funds raised for local charities.  Appreciation was expressed for the organisers' ongoing support in making the fair a success Lucy of South West Event Management Solutions CIC said: “It’s fantastic to see the Town come alive The Annual Christmas Fair is a fantastic whole Town event with Castle Hill Creatives and the churches putting on amazing events collaborating to become the biggest Christmas Fair in the area with over 80 stalls for visitors to browse and a wonderful array of beautiful shops and eateries in the Town Centre South West Event Management Solutions CIC is set to host several upcoming events including the Bideford Wedding Fair on Sunday 24 November from 10am to 3pm at Bideford Pannier Market the Bideford Christmas Light Switch On on Sunday 1 December visit www.southwesteventmanagementsolutionscic.co.uk Ian Newman at his retirement send-off with charity chair Paul Cockman A dedicated charity steward who has served people in Great Torrington for more than a decade has retired Ian Newman worked for the Town Lands and Almshouse Charity for 13 years until his retirement on March 25 The charity supports residents in the town through grant giving Voucher Distribution Day and providing affordable housing and almshouses the team were still handwriting minutes and accounts Ian modernised operations and guided the team The charity said his efforts helped to ensure its continued success over the years Ian was presented with an engraved decanter from Dartington Crystal The presentation was made by Torrington Mayor Councillor Phil Cloke and the chair of the charity Above: Ian Newman with Torrington Mayor Phil Cloke on his retirement from the Town Lands and Almshouse Charity Cllr Cloke praised Ian's dedication and said: “Ian's commitment to our community will be very much missed Mr Cockman added: “Ian’s leadership and dedication have been invaluable you can consider donating or leaving a legacy which will help the residents within the Great Torrington Parish For more information on how to contribute, please contact the Torrington Town and Lands Office on 01805 623517 or email admin@townlands.org.uk staff and visiting Torridge District Councillors at the democracy event Students at Great Torrington School have been pitching ideas on how to make their town a better place to live as part of a democracy event – but their ideas could bear fruit too The Torridge District Council event for Year 11 students at the school on Monday (March 17) was intended to give them an insight on how democracy works on a day-to-day basis followed by a prioritisation task focusing on topics including housing active transport and opportunities for young people.  With an assigned hypothetical budget of £10million the teams had to consider the different people in their communities and their various needs to provide a balance between the two The activity sparked a spirited and engaging series of debates among the students each contributing their own perspectives and insights The council said the ‘mind maps’ and suggestions generated by the students will be shared with Great Torrington Regeneration Board – so there’s every chance that some proposals could become a reality one of the students attending the event said: “It was nice to have our views listened to because there’s so much that needs to be done in Torrington.” said: “It is extremely important that we engage and listen to the youth of today The students spoke with passion and clearly had masses of pride for their local area “They debated with skill and pitched some fantastic ideas relating to the different ways they could make their town better I would like to thank the staff and pupils of Great Torrington School for taking part this event and we hope that we can hold further sessions in the future.” who is the TDC ward member for nearby Shebbear and Langtree as well as lead member for community and culture said; “The students I spoke with were really keen to improve the appearance of the town centre while keeping the historic feel “They also thought large murals would be a relatively easy low-cost solution to give the area a creative boost Others spoke to me about the need for a youth centre and dedicated sports centre to improve provision here “High quality restaurants were also a point of conversation and they were very supportive of the Globe Hotel project It’s so important to have input from our young people and I hope some of them will consider becoming councillors in the near future.” concluded: “It was really interesting for pupils to have the chance to experience democracy at a local level with a real-world application that was meaningful to them “The ideas for regenerating the Torrington area were both inspiring and controversial; I think they came away with a sense of hope and optimism to think that their opinions do matter and their voices are heard.” one of the shops targeted in the series of break-ins Police are urging residents to check their CCTV and doorbell cameras after a series of burglaries and attempted break-ins at shops across North Devon Police told the Gazette that four businesses in Great Torrington and Umberleigh were targeted between 22 February and 23 February with cigarettes and vapes stolen from two premises while unsuccessful attempts were made to enter the others The first incident took place at M&S Simply Food at Barley Grove Service Station in Great Torrington where three suspects smashed a window between 12.20am and 12.30am on 22 February but fled when it failed to break Morrisons Daily on New Road was broken into.  Three suspects forced entry through a smashed window and made off with a quantity of tobacco and vapes in a dumpy bag an attempted burglary was reported at Fishleigh Rock Garage in Umberleigh Three men tried to force open a shutter door but were unable to gain entry.  all wearing face coverings and hooded tops burglars smashed a window at Spar Stores in Broad Street before ransacking the shop for alcohol and tobacco.  Three male suspects were seen fleeing down the alleyway towards the pannier market Police are investigating all four incidents and are urging anyone with information or CCTV footage to come forward Anyone who can assist the investigation is asked to contact police online or call 101 New dawn for the diamond game in North Devon Torrington Riptides team photo for first game 6 April 2025 For all but three members of the new Torrington Riptides team the two home games at Great Torrington School against the Taunton Pistols on Sunday were the first baseball games they had ever played While the scorelines reflect Taunton’s greater experience – they won 11-1 and 17-8 – there were many positive highlights for Torrington as they start their first season 16-year-old pitcher Josh Owen struck out two batters – one of them on just three pitches – and grew in confidence throughout the game while Ed Keech also struck out two pitching in the second game There were strong fielding performances by the whole team including a stunning catch by Ed Keech (playing at shortstop) in the second inning of game 1 while standing on first base in the third inning of game 2 caught out the batter and a base runner simultaneously in a rare occurrence of what’s called an unassisted double play It was Torrington’s batting that stood out in game 2 with three-run home runs – from Jess Cooper in the first inning and Rob Tratt in the third – giving an indication of the team’s hitting potential The Riptides face the Pistols again next weekend (Sunday April 13 at Taunton Green) before welcoming the Cornish Pioneers to Torrington on April 27 To join the team, email Jess Cooper at torringtonriptides@gmail.com North Devon baseball club improving rapidly The Torrington Riptides baseball team played their first away games on Sunday visiting the Taunton Pistols who they had faced at home to open the season Torrington showed how quickly they are developing as a team after their heavy defeats against Taunton the previous weekend although the Pistols chalked up another two wins the scorelines – 5-4 and 19-15 – showed how much tougher to beat the Riptides have already become There was clear improvement in all aspects of Torrington’s game Torrington’s pitching and fielding worked well to minimise Taunton’s run-scoring opportunities Ed Wilmott was impressive on the pitcher’s mound There were strong fielding performances from Jess Cooper as catcher Ashley Hendy on first base and Rob Tratt on third base Torrington’s teamwork prevented Taunton from scoring in both the third and fourth innings – shutting a team out in two consecutive innings for the first time although the Riptides got 15 hits (to Taunton’s 10) the visitors couldn’t quite get the runs they needed to draw level Torrington’s batting strength was on display in game 2 Ed Wilmott and Rob Tratt powering the team to an early 9-5 lead by the middle of the second inning Both teams kept up a fierce hitting pace until a scoreless third inning for Torrington left them with too much to do to catch up The Riptides returned home feeling confident that their first win is closer than ever Their spirits have been boosted further by the generous donation of baseball gear by Artie Herbert who was in the Great Britain national team for the 2022 European Women’s Championship and founded the South West Serpents the first women’s baseball team in the region Their next two games are at home (at Great Torrington School) against the Cornish Pioneers on April 27 which is set to undergo a community-led renovation The Globe Hotel project in Great Torrington has received a significant boost as part of the Government’s Community Regeneration Partnership Scheme with the announcement of £520,000 in Levelling Up funding.  This award comes as part of a larger £20.7 million capital investment with £250,000 in revenue funding allocated to various community projects across Torridge District now has the opportunity to be revitalised and reopened The money will be unlocked once the Globe Hotel project successfully completes its Community Share Issue and raises the necessary funds to purchase the historic building from local benefactors who stepped in to save the building last year Project Manager Rachel Kelly highlighted the importance of community involvement stressing that the share issue must be successful before the project can access the £520K funding.  She said: “We still absolutely need the community to rally around the Community Share Issue – as we need to buy the building before we can access the £520K The Globe Project now has the potential long-term security to allow it to proceed through the conveyancing process; to exchange and to insure the building.” we can then launch the Community Share Issue to raise the monies to complete the purchase and then unlock this Levelling Up funding The funding is earmarked for the immediate works and will stop the building falling into further disrepair We can then develop our full refurbishment plans to RIBA stage 3 and get planning permission ready we can apply for capital funding; this all takes time and we imagine we will be opening the doors to the fully refurbished building in two years’ time.” noting the community's involvement in the hotel’s future.  “Our organisation is a Community Benefit Society – a community cooperative – owned and controlled by its members We’ve used this structure because it gives us the power to offer private individuals the chance to be part-owners of The Globe Community Shares are a simple way for supporters to buy into community assets such as local pubs or shops – and in this case The Globe Hotel project aims to revitalise the building in the heart of Torrington The renovation will create around 20 new year-round jobs and boost the local economy by attracting longer tourist stays.  the project plans to establish a training facility and form partnerships with regional and national providers along with collaborations with local attractions like The Plough The community's response is expected to be strong given the building's importance to Torrington and the closure of the hotel back in 2018.  The share offer gives residents a unique opportunity to reclaim ownership of the building and restore pride in the town’s heritage Rachel Kelly encourages local residents to get involved adding: “Please sign up on our website to pledge your support and you will be sent all the paperwork and information once it is accredited and ready we are looking for members of the community to be involved in three panels which will act as sounding boards for the team Please email me to find out more at manager@theglobetorrington.co.uk.” The Community Share Issue is expected to launch in April 2025 offering residents the chance to contribute to the future of The Globe Hotel and its vital role in Torrington's regeneration North Devon club entering the SW baseball league with a new team set up to compete with rivals across the South West the team was founded by Devon baseball fan Charlie Capener who previously played for the team in Newton Abbott The Riptides have been training every week at Great Torrington School and are keen to recruit more players They have entered the South West Baseball League and will be playing against teams from Exeter “I really wanted to see North Devon included in the South West League,” Capener said It would be great to see more people keen to get involved and support their local team.” Torrington residents Dawn and Mike Curtis joined the team when it was first proposed in October and have been attending the weekly training sessions on Monday evenings and we wanted to try something different,” they explained We’re really excited to be playing against other teams and to keep developing our skills.” will be on April 6 at Great Torrington School with the competitive season running to mid-August Team membership is open to men and women of any age (over 14). Contact Charlie Capener torringtonriptides@gmail.com for more information A fire in Great Torrington that spread to the roofs of two properties was caused after a fire pit in a garden got out of control Bideford and Torrington worked on the incident on Sunday The fire pit initially set a shed on fire and then speed to the roof space of adjoining properties Firefighters removed some roof tiles before it was put out The children's centre is at the primary school site in Great Torrington There are concerns in Great Torrington that a plethora of support groups for young families could diminish in a radical shake-up of children’s centres in the county Ten new family hubs will supersede children’s centres of which there are 27 in Devon Whilst Devon County Council’s children’s centres have catered for families with children up to eight since 2018 family hubs will support those with children up to 19 or 25 if they have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and the council is proposing to have a number of outreach hubs in smaller communities some in existing children’s centre buildings In Great Torrington the plan is to offer the children’s centre to the primary school for the development of childcare or early years provision It has raised concerns that weekly groups who meet there from baby weigh-in clinics and other post natal support to mother and toddler sessions and fathers’ group Who Let the Dads Out may be under threat if alternative sites cannot be found A drop-in session as part of a consultation by Devon County Council raised more questions than answers said Torridge District Councillor Chris Bright (Lib Dem “The county council does not seem to be aware of what groups meet in there It’s a really good facility for new parents and everything is in one place “To find accommodation in other venues will be difficult as most places do not have the space or the storage capacity “Whilst I understand that having more childcare places for two year olds at the children’s centre which is on the school site makes sense and the additional SEND work would be good there doesn’t seem to be a plan for everything else.” The nearest family hub to Great Torrington will be Bideford Devon County Council says it is consulting parents and carers on proposals for how they would like to use the children’s centre buildings in a new network of family hubs across Devon and that no decisions have been made yet The move from children’s centres to family hubs is a national one with the government announcing the transition in 2021 Local councils across the country have since been making the transition with Devon agreeing last year to the development of family hubs in the county “Family hubs are different and broader in scope than previous children’s centres supporting a wider age range of children and young people and linking-in with the many existing local groups to offer a wider range of family support,” said a spokesperson “The proposals that we’re consulting on right now are just proposals.  No decisions have been made yet and won’t be until we’ve heard what parents and carers we want to keep family hub services available in Great Torrington and there’s no intention for families to have to travel to Bideford.” which are run by Action for Children in Devon on behalf of the county council have traditionally been through referrals by health professionals but you will not need a referral to attend a family hub The county council says it adopted the family hub model of working in April and is now supporting families of this wider age range of children and young people New leader of the council James McInnes recently told the local democracy reporting service that the authority needed to be more effective in supporting children particularly those with SEND after it ran up an overspend of more than  £100 million The council was able to do a deal with the government before the general election meaning that £95 million will be paid over a number of years to reduce the SEND burden We need to continue supporting our children but we need to be more effective in how we do that some areas spend a lot less money so there is a lot to learn from what others do and best practice,” he said Devon County Council’s cabinet member for children’s services (Con said he was excited by the family hub proposals but it was early days “We’ve done a lot of engagement work with families so we feel we know pretty well what families want,” he said Conservative County Councillor for Torrington Rural Andrew Saywell said he did not wish to comment whilst the public consultation was ongoing To see the consultation and have your say go to: https://www.devon.gov.uk/haveyoursay/consultations/childrens-centre-consultation/ It will support the redevelopment of a derelict hotel, offices and a new agri-centre. TORRIDGE is getting a £21-million shot in the arm to support “transformative” projects across the district. The money was announced by the former Conservative government two years ago, but plans stopped and started a number of times mainly because of national events such as the general election and last October’s budget. Now the government has confirmed that funding is secure, and district councillors have praised officers for “getting it over the line”. Twelve schemes under the newly named Torridge Community Regeneration Partnership were selected by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local government after being put forward by the Torridge Place Board, a group of representatives from local businesses and services including the district council. Bideford Business Park and Hatchmoor Industrial Estate in Great Torrington will get cash to develop high value manufacturing and engineering facilities. Retail and professional space will be developed at Holsworthy Agri-Business Park. Additional funding will go to the Appledore Clean Maritime Innovation Centre. There will be money for an agri-tech nutrient pilot scheme to reduce pollutants going into rivers and the installation of a water quality monitoring buoy at Westward Ho! to provide real-time water quality data for beach users, tourism businesses and for managers of environmental systems. Bideford Pannier Market will be modernised, a community health and wellbeing hub created at Bideford Hospital and work will begin on the derelict Grade II listed Globe Hotel in Torrington to redevelop it into an 11-bedroom hotel and restaurant – in a town with neither – with a strong training presence. New homes will be built at Cleave Wood, Bideford and the energy efficiency rating of 57 social housing properties will be improved. Holsworthy Manor Offices will also get a redevelopment including decarbonisation and remodelling to increase opportunity for flexible community space and co-working and improve accessibility. Leader of the council Cllr Ken James (Ind, Milton and Tamarside) told an extraordinary meeting full council meeting this week that it was fantastic news for Torridge and testament to the hard work of council officers and members of the place board. “This will fund transformative regeneration projects across the district. The breadth and scope of projects will enable us to work along alongside our partners and key stakeholders to make a real long and lasting difference to the people of Torridge.” Chair of Torridge Place Board Paul Coles said there had been a difficult backdrop to securing this money and the team was “punching well above its weight” to get this result. The government cash has to be spent by the end of March 2027. Half the projects will delivered by the council and half by external partners. “Let’s hope this will go on to create many, many jobs for the good people of Torridge and offer new skills opportunities,” said Mr Coles. Cllr Annie Brenton (Lab, Bideford West) said she would like to see dental provision at the new health hub in Bideford, as people are waiting up to two years for check ups in the district. Councillors raised concerns about the lack of staff resources to do the work but were told there would be some external input. Cllr Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin (Lib Dem, Shebbear and Langtree) said she is pleased the Globe Hotel is on the list, as Great Torrington feels it is often forgotten. “This reaches a wide area of the district, and is not just focused on Bideford which is how we often feel. This will be a great project for Great Torrington.” More details of the projects will be revealed at a later date. Torridge is one of 20 areas to receive a total of £400-million in a levelling up partnership programme with the government to help areas improve pay, attainment and life expectancy. Comments Tel: 01566 778213[email protected]Follow us Further Links Owned or licensed to Tindle Newspapers Ltd | Independent Family-Owned Newspapers | Copyright & Trade Mark Notice & 2013 - 2025 A once-grand hotel left to gather dust is set for a revival thanks to a hefty slice of Levelling Up funding and a passionate community with big plans and even bigger heart The Globe Hotel in Great Torrington is set to benefit from a £520,000 investment as part of the government’s Community Regeneration Partnership Scheme, administered by Torridge District Council earmarked for emergency repairs and refurbishment planning will be released once the building is purchased by the community through a share offer The funding is part of a wider £20.7 million capital and £250,000 revenue package allocated across the district aimed at reinvigorating key local projects said: “The Globe Project now has the potential long term security to allow them to proceed through the conveyancing process; to exchange and to insure the building we can then launch the community share issue to raise the monies to complete the purchase and unlock this Levelling Up funding “The funding is earmarked for the immediate repair and will stop the building falling into further disrepair We can develop our full refurbishment plans to RIBA stage 3 and get planning permission ready Once planning permission is achieved we can apply for capital funding; this all takes time and we imagine we will be opening the doors to the fully refurbished building in 2 years time Depending on levels of monies raised through the share issue we may be able to plan a more staged opening and allow for some of the building to come into use earlier – but this will all be dependent on the level of work required to make the building safe.” The purchase of the building will be made possible through a Community Share Issue with the community poised to reclaim the site from private ownership who bought the building last year to save it from falling into commercial hands have ensured it remains available for local stewardship The ultimate goal is to transform The Globe into a thriving hotel The initiative is expected to generate around 20 full-time jobs and boost the town’s tourism economy by extending visitor stays The project has already garnered widespread local support, bolstered by planned collaborations with RHS Rosemoor, The Plough Arts Centre A full refurbishment is expected to take two years although a phased reopening could occur sooner depending on the extent of necessary safety works and funds raised The hotel, which closed in 2018, currently stands derelict in the town centre, but community members are hopeful it will once again become a source of civic pride. Those interested in supporting the project can pledge via www.theglobetorrington.co.uk where they can also sign up to join three advisory panels focused on business Great Torrington’s historic Pannier Market is undergoing improvements with Torridge District Council (TDC) carrying out essential works to enhance the Market Hall.  These upgrades include the installation of new safety systems additional electrical points for food vendors and redecoration to make the space more attractive and practical for both vendors and visitors As part of the plan to revitalise the market the Market Hall will be temporarily closed until early April.  the market will be rehomed in Great Torrington Town Hall ensuring that the popular event continues without disruption who are working with TDC to bring new life to the market shared their gratitude for the support of local partners.  A spokesperson said: “Torridge District Council are planning some improvements to the Market Hall Plans mean that the Market Hall will be out of use until early April The Arcade Shops will be open for business as usual We would like to extend a huge thanks to TDC for partially funding this temporary change who stepped in to provide the space to keep the market going while work is being completed We couldn’t do this without their support.” the market will take place in the undercroft of the Town Hall operating every Friday and Saturday from 10am to 2pm.  The relocation ensures that visitors can continue to enjoy the vibrant atmosphere of the market while the improvements are underway The market's move to the Town Hall is expected to make the space more suitable for food vendors as the upgrades will allow for hot food to be produced indoors.  This improvement is a part of the larger plan to modernise the Market Hall and attract even more visitors once the works are completed Beat the dark nights at a festive light show which the whole family can enjoy including twilight funfair and train rides an afterdeck zoo and a very miniature Christmas Fancy festive afternoon teas around Devon Review: Cinderella at Northcott Theatre, Exeter Festive fancy dress swims around Devon Time for a spruce up! 11 Christmas tree farms near you Fabulously festive family meet-ups for Christmas & Betwixmas Party poppers at the ready! See in 2025 at these local NYE do's All the festive fairs and Christmas markets near you updated Jingle all the way! 40+ things to do in December *updated* Supporters of Great Torrington’s arts centre have celebrated a landmark moment after The Plough was given the keys to the building trustee of the Great Torrington Town and Lands Charity handed over the keys to The Plough trustee Penny Maisey and artistic programmer Richard Wolfenden-Brown A spokesman for The Plough said: "We at The Plough are so grateful to Steve for being the driving force behind this generous gift "Managed by a group of trustees since the reign of Queen Elizabeth I the Great Torrington Town and Lands Charity plays a significant role in the housing and welfare of the inhabitants in our Great Torrington community "Some of the benefits originally given included maintenance of bridges over the River Torridge distribution to the elderly and infirm inhabitants of the borough with the income generated providing local housing and support to people and organizations in Great Torrington "With this generous gift of a building steeped in history and sold to The Plough at a peppercorn price The Plough has also recently achieved funding from Arts Council England "Now approaching its 50th anniversary as an arts centre, The Plough will be even better placed in continuing as a vibrant hub for performance, entertainment, creativity, and community spirit – ready to make a greater and more positive impact on the lives of those in our Great Torrington and North Devon neighbourhood For more information visit www.theploughartscentre.org.uk or pop into 9-11 Fore Street during opening hours Image courtesy: Great Torrington and District Community Development Trust A project in Torrington is seeking funding to reduce carbon emissions in the community Planning permission was granted recently for a new building which will be called the ‘climate changing room’ and sit in the grounds of the town’s Castle Community Centre Volunteers will run the facility which aims to give facts about climate change with input from local organisations plus the North Devon Biosphere Reserve and Petroc University Centre The project is the brainchild of the Great Torrington and District Community Development Trust which wants to help people feel part of a collective response to the challenges of a changing climate and motivate individual and community action Trustee Phil Topham said a big gap needs to be filled between sustainability events like beach cleans and the Devon carbon plan and climate adaptation strategy A survey of local residents showed more than 70 percent of respondents are interested in knowing more about climate change and adapting to its impact.  There is a lot that could be done on a local level with minimal cost “I started thinking about it when we had a heatwave a couple of years ago and it was 42 degrees at the front of my house which is south facing I wanted to try and find ways of cooling the house down “There are many home hacks that you can do and we want to share them and engage people We would like demonstrations about heat pumps and electric cars with all the pros and cons provided there is a lot of misinformation out there “We hope to get an image of what a sustainable Torrington looks like.” The trust has had £20,000 in grants but needs around £50,000 more to build the climate changing room and is preparing a crowdfunding campaign More than 70 applications have been made for external funding The Castle Community Centre also houses the town council a café and there is garden space for public enjoyment and contemplation Devon County Councillor for Torrington Rural Andrew Saywell (Conservative) said the project would not only help people to learn more about the impact of climate change but help with practical advice such as improving home energy use “It is these small but practical measures we can take that will help us offset some of the more negative consequences of climate change I will be looking to give a grant to the project from my locality budget.” To learn more go to https://www.facebook.com/climatechangingroom North Devon will be marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day with events around the region Events will be held across North Devon this June to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day and commemorate the Allied invasion of Normandy which turned the tide and brought about the end of World War Two in Europe Beacons will be lit around the county and the UK on Thursday to honour that ‘day of days’ eight decades earlier when the largest seaborne invasion ever landed on the French coast The historic occasion will be marked by various events in communities across our region – and North Devon played a key part in the build up to D-Day with thousands of Allied troops billeted and trained in the area in the countdown to the invasion Saunton and Croyde as well as Instow and Braunton Burrows and was known as the Assault Training Center Above: Training for D-Day on the 'rocket wall' at Braunton Burrows To commemorate sacrifice of so many thousands involved in the D-Day landings in the fight for freedom beacons and Lamp Lights of Peace will be lit across the UK Isle of Man and UK Overseas Territories - plus a Lamp Light of Peace will be lit on each of the five beaches in Normandy to coincide with the lighting of beacons everywhere Town criers will be reading out the Town Crier Proclamation at communities across the land – see below for local details June 6 there will be American WW2 vehicles soldiers and living history groups plus a tea dance on the Square between 9am and 11am before an 11am memorial service in Rock Park led by the Reverend Dr Ben Williams There will also be a Digital Heritage Trail for people to discover the stories and significance of the town during the war years Bideford Town Council is hosting an evening of commemoration at the Pollyfield Centre on June 6 from 6.30pm with performances by Bideford Youth Pipes and Drums and the famed Liberty Sisters singing popular 1940s songs There will be tributes to the heroes of D-Day and a beacon will be lit at 9.15pm There will be a Town Crier’s Proclamation and the Piper’s Lament The town clerk will recite The National Tribute and the Mayor of Bideford will read out the town’s own special Roll of Honour of those who lived locally and were involved in the D-Day landings A special commemoration event is taking place on Appledore Quay on June 6 organised by Northam Town Council and Appledore Visitors Association from 7.30pm There will be music from Appledore Band together with a barbecue and other refreshments and a beacon will be lit at 9.15pm Those attending are invited to bring their own chairs Great Torrington will be remembering those involved in the D-Day landings with a programme of events on June 6.  The Town Crier Proclamation will be read out in the Town Square at 8am with the bells of St Michael and All Angels Church ringing out for peace at 6.30pm Then from 8pm Torrington Silver Band will be playing at Torrington Rugby Club before the lighting of a beacon, built by Torrington Cavaliers at 9.15pm, while the Mayor reads out The International Tribute. There is no parking at the rugby club site – if people have special access needs, please contact the town council on 01805 626135 or email admin@great-torringtontowncouncil.gov.uk Great Torrington Town and Community Hall is holding a D-Day Lunch on June 6 from 12noon to 3 pm Food will be cooked and served by ‘Land Army’ girls Rosie There is roast beef and Lord Woolton Pie and pudding available if you have room June 8 the hall is hosting Boogie in the Bunker from 7.30pm a 1940s-themed dance to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of D-Day with free entry thanks to sponsors The Torrington Masonic Lodge There will be live music by the Hummingbirds and a swinging vintage DJ -The Sultan of Swing who has been organising the event with the help of fellow trustees said: “We are busy transforming our majestic town hall into a 1940s venue complete with a bar Although period dress is optional we hope people will get into the theme of the evening and enter our best dressed competition to win a prize We particularly welcome veterans past and present to come along and join us.” former town crier Roy Goodwin will be coming out of retirement for a special reading of the D-Day proclamation on the clapping circle by Capstone at 11am on June 6 with others attending to honour those who trained for the landings in North Devon there will be a service and wreath laying at St Brannocks Churchyard at 3.30pm on Thursday June 6 at the American Tree in the churchyard Many Americans were based in Braunton while training for D-Day and on June 5 1944 there was a ceremony in the churchyard when the Americans planted a tree The next day they left for the beaches of France The tree is still going strong and has a plaque beside it with the D-Day landings still commemorated at the tree each year South Molton Pannier Market will be marking the occasion on June 6 from 10am to 1pm with a full market plus seating on the square for visitors to enjoy a performance by South Molton Town Band The square will also be decorated with Tommy soldier statues and a 1943 WW2 original Willy's Jeep will be present Kenwith Castle care home at Abbotsham near Bideford is holding an afternoon of reminiscence with a street party and live entertainment on Thursday June 6 and is inviting local veterans who may be alone on the day to join the care home residents for their special event Some of the residents are armed forces veterans or have family or relations who served who celebrated his 100 birthday earlier this year but places must be booked in advance by Monday Beaford Village Hall is hosting two events June 6 from 7pm with the lighting of a beacon by a local veteran The Last  Post played by a local resident on her bugle a barbecue and bar and in the background Churchill’s speeches and 1940s music June 8 from 4pm the hall will host a 1940s Dance to the Hummingbirds trio plus the arrival of a fabulous Rols Royce Phantom 1 whose claim to fame is Churchill and Roosevelt used it many times a beacon will be lit on the Lundy South lighthouse by Trinity House which oversees lighthouses around England and Wales to mark the occasion and also honour the Trinity House vessels and crews who worked tirelessly before and after D-Day to support the invasion Because many surviving veterans and living history groups will be in Normandy itself there is no Devon D-Day event on Saunton Sands this year June 15 it will be possible to see a convoy of wartime vehicles setting off from Braunton’s Sandy Lane car park at around 10am organised by the Friends of the Assault Training Center The convoy will makes its way to the concrete landing craft on the dunes Barnstaple-based The Veterans Charity will be unveiling a new memorial to the first allied soldier to die on D-Day on the Landing Zone at Pegasus Bridge in Normandy The memorial was made in North Devon by Simms Fabrication Ltd If you have a D-Day 80 public event and we have missed you out, please email us on newsdesk@northdevongazette.co.uk and we will add your event to the online round up A CALL has gone out for volunteers to step forward to secure the future of Great Torrington’s famous Mayfair The town is gearing up for its annual extravaganza With festivities spanning from Wednesday May 1 to Saturday May 4 this cherished tradition is a highlight of the town's calendar drawing residents and visitors together in celebration From the crowning of the May Queen to the lively May Pole dancing performed by local school children the Mayfair promises a delightful array of events for all ages this year's festivities are tinged with concern as organisers grapple with challenges that threaten the event's future chairman of the Mayfair committee said: “Mayfair events are said to be dated from the 1550s and apparently have only ever been cancelled due to the war and then consequently two years running during the covid pandemic During those two years we held a virtual Mayfair and people still came together to enjoy the day said: “Mayfair has been something I look forward to each year But the reality is that we are struggling to maintain the event due to a lack of volunteers We implore those who cherish Mayfair to lend a helping hand and ensure its continuation for generations to come.” Keeley also said: “Mayfair is an important tradition for Torrington Despite worries about the future of the Great Torrington Mayfair the event is packed with fun activities for locals.  From May Pole dancing by local school children to Country Dancing and performances by the Torrington Cavaliers and Littleham Howlers there's entertainment throughout the day.  a fair will be held at Barley Grove Car Park from Wednesday offering even more entertainment for attendees.  The highly anticipated Round the Tree race is scheduled for Friday promising thrills and excitement for participants and spectators alike.  organisers have announced that this year's carnival will see a departure from the traditional format Citing the success of last year's walking carnival and a shortage of volunteers a Fancy Dress Music festival is set to take over the town square on Saturday with a diverse lineup of musicians performing across various pubs and clubs throughout the town A school in North Devon has taken the decision to switch to remote learning for the rest of the week in order prevent ongoing transmission Based on the number of pupils now not attending in person Great Torrington School has moved lessons from the classroom to remote learning for all students Year 10 pupils had already been asked to self-isolate along with several groups of children in Years 7 Now headteacher Andy Bloodworth has asked all pupils to stay home until Monday to create a five-day break to reduce ongoing contact Children of key workers and those considered vulnerable are continuing to attend school while they show no symptoms of the virus he said that if the move to remote learning is to be effective it is important requests are based on absolute need Devon County Council and Public Health Devon are working closely with schools following a rise in cases across all ages but predominantly among Devon’s younger population Most people are isolating ghaving been identified as contacts to people who have tested positive for coronavirus Infection rates across Devon are highest still in those aged 20-39 they have risen from seven per100,000 at the start of June to 83/100,000 now People aged 60+ have not seen a rise in infection rates and West Devon have infection rates highest in those aged 0-19 with infection rates in that age group in Torridge currently as high as they have ever been during the course of the coronavirus pandemic Mr Bloodworth said: “We have continued to work with PHE we have been unable to prevent ongoing transmission within the school community We believe this decision will give us the best chance of protecting the health of all our pupils “To provide consistent education to all pupils we will be providing 'live” 'lessons via OneNote as before and pupils must follow their timetable and the timings of a normal school day We will remain open to those children of key workers and vulnerable children who are not required to self-isolate where this is absolutely necessary but if the move to remote learning is to be effective it is important these requests are minimised and based on absolute need.” He added: “I would like to take this opportunity to encourage all pupils to remain stringent with hygiene and social distancing measures and to continue with regular LFD testing to help reduce the risk of any transmission in line with updated Public Health guidance I would encourage all pupils who have been identified as close contacts to access PCR tests via the usual channels." added that by looking at clusters of cases how they are likely to have occurred it is the behaviours outside of school which are putting people at much higher risk of catching and spreading the virus rather than the classroom environment where transmission is more likely to have occurred “It’s important to see this in context but it’s unfair to identify them as the necessary cause of the spread,” he said “We monitor all positive cases of coronavirus in Devon and by looking at clusters of cases how they are likely to have occurred the transmission has been through social contact most likely outside of a classroom environment “What it tells us is that behaviours outside of school – socialising all of this is putting people at much higher risk of catching and spreading the virus.” is to not allow yourselves to be distracted from what is still a very real pandemic “We are likely to see case numbers continuing to rise in Devon for weeks yet to come but it needs all of us to make that happen  We have not advised schools to make additional restrictions to those in place nationally but we are monitoring the numbers and will intervene location by location should additional restrictions be required temporarily.” The old derelict Torrington Creamery building is set to be raised to the ground at last The derelict Torrington creamery building is set to be demolished this month after 30 years as an infamous eyesore in the town The redevelopment of the site is scheduled to begin in November with and eight to 10 month demolition with the work to be carried out by DES Ltd The project is being carried out by the Joint Administrators of Waterside Construction Southwest Limited and Valley Estates South West Limited (in Administration) The creamery has been a source for irritation for most in Torrington The demolition project is being carried out by the Joint Administrators of Waterside Construction Southwest Limited and Valley Estates South West Limited (in administration) It has with the support of Farm Finance Limited and assistance of Torridge District Council (TDC) and Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service the site is expected to be marketed to secure a developer to deliver a mixed-use scheme of housing The former Dairy Crest site has had a chequered history since its production facilities were closed in 1993 and while there have been a number of false starts over the years Torridge District Council has said there is renewed confidence in the latest proposals The demolition will be carefully planned and phased to safely address the less stable buildings and removal of contaminated materials The first phase will involve an environmental clean and then the buildings will be reduced to ground floor slab level Phase two will involve more contamination assessments before removal of the ground floor slabs and sub structures The emergency services and the demolition company have asked that people to keep their distance from the site during demolition to allow the works to be completed TDC leader Ken James said: “I’m really glad that there are now some firm plans to begin the redevelopment of this historically important site in Great Torrington and to ultimately bring forward some much needed local housing “I know it will be very welcome by residents and blue light services who have had to put up with significant disruption from anti-social behaviour and fly tipping over the years This has been a real team effort to initiate the demolition and we would like to thank Chris Stevens and Steven Williams of FRP Advisory for their help and committing the necessary resources to enable the project.” Police Inspector Ewan Seear added: “While recognising the dairy has played a significant role in the history and community of Torrington and Taddiport in recent decades the site has become a significant danger to the public and a hotspot for antisocial behaviour “The police are pleased to now be able to work collectively and constructively with the new management for the site to assist in making the location safe and ending the antisocial behaviour that has so badly affected the local community “We would stress the buildings are a hazard to human health and would urge the public and especially parents to ensure that children do not trespass upon the buildings The local policing team will be visiting those most immediately affected and we will be assisting in putting together a forum for residents and those involved in this project to keep the community updated as the works progress.” Barnstaple Group Commander for Devon and Somerset Fire Service said in his 29 years of service the old creamery had been one of the most dangerous derelict sites he had ever experienced He said: “Over the years we have dealt with numerous fire and rescue incidents at the creamery many of which have placed fire personnel at significant risk including a recent fire in which a firefighter was taken to hospital “On another occasion in May we required 19 fire appliances and around 70 fire personnel to deal with a large fire involving a considerable amount of fly tipped rubbish and old polystyrene cold storage panels “Most fires have been started deliberately and therefore put all blue light personnel that attended at unnecessary risk while also diverting important resources from elsewhere to deal with them “I’m very encouraged by the new management teams’ commitment to help prevent us being needed here and I look forward to working closely with them and our partners to finally make this a safe place for us and the community.” A little ‘bracing dampness’ didn’t deter the crowds who turned out for the annual crowning of the May Queen and plenty of festivities as Great Torrington Mayfair 2024 got into full swing yesterday (Thursday) The showcase day of Mayfair week saw the revelry under way in the town Square in the morning with English and country dancing from local schoolchildren followed by the Littleham Howlers and then more howling at the antics of the annual Torrington Cavaliers comedy and music performance Above: Maypole dancing in Torrington Square. Credit: John Insull At noon the Proclamation of May fair was read out – continuing a tradition dating back to the Middle Ages – before the crowning of the May Queen with heralds Rupert Thorne and Tyler Batty while the May Prince (and Standard Bearer) was Alfie Rollins Attendants were Ruby Bristow and Rita Coysh Ezri Bott and Ariyah-Jane Dodge plus Millie Barrow and Sophie Pett Above: Merriment and mayhem from Torrington Cavaliers. Credit: John Insull The fun continues this evening with the popular Around the Tree Race setting off from the Square from 6.45pm and organised by Torrington Amateur Athletic Club with a Fancy Dress Music Festival hosted in the town centre throughout the afternoon and evening starting at 2pm and featuring a huge range of local singers and musicians with Big Al and the Wild Strawberries bringing the house down at 9pm there will be a Fancy Dress Parade at 6.30pm setting off from the entrance to the Pannier Market at 6.30pm but entry to the Fancy Dress Music Festival is only by obtaining a postcard from one of the shops said on behalf of the Mayfair and Carnival Committee: “It was such a wonderful day Hats off to the children in the morning who braved the awful weather but we were so pleased when it cleared in time for the May Queen and her entourage to enter the square “Our thanks go to all the volunteers who help to make the event and success and a calling goes to those who wish to see Mayfair continue We desperately need volunteers to keep the tradition going for next year and anyone wanting to help can contact us on our Great Torrington Mayfair & Carnival Facebook page.” Click on our gallery above for more pictures courtesy of John Insull. A selection of pictures are available to download from £3 at johninpix.picfair.com.  *** Stay up to date with all the latest Torrington Mayfair news and events, plus Saturday’s music line-up and much more on the Great Torrington Mayfair & Carnival Facebook page. Epic Events is bringing a roster of Autumn events to two amazing local venues Bideford Pannier Market Hall and Great Torrington Town Hall Starting with their first Wellbeing Weekender - Nourish - which is being held next weekend - Saturday 2023 - Great Torrington Town Hall from 11am to 3pm and Sunday September 24 - Bideford Pannier Market from 11am to 3pm Lucy from Epic Events said: "We believe that everybody should be able to positively nourish their mind body and soul - and we are looking for businesses that offer products and services that do just this!" Nourish provides an opportunity for local businesses and organisations to show potential clients what you can offer and to demonstrate how they can compliment their clients physical and spiritual well-being The event features a free yoga session; Helen from Elska yoga Celia Lancaster will be running Mandala workshop taster sessions on Saturday the Sunday of the event will feature a performance from the Sea Shanty Singers the benefits that exercise can have on mental and spiritual well-being The whole day is intended to be informative and enlightening with opportunities to experience some therapies on the day and we are excited to reveal that Reiki Rebel will be offering their customers the chance to win a Spanish Retreat Experience October sees the return of Wedding Fairs in both venues With a cast array of local wedding suppliers the venues will become a one stop shop for a couple's every need for their Big Day Lucy said: "We have suppliers offering everything from cake to photography The Wedding Fairs both feature a 1pm Catwalk Show from Devon Air Ambulance where the charity will showcase their gorgeous selection of pre-loved gowns Great Torrington Wedding Fair at Great Torrington Town Hall will run from 10-3pm on Saturday October 7 and Bideford Wedding Fair will run from 10-3pm at Bideford Pannier Market on Sunday If you would like a space at the event please email lucyloweevents@outlook.com for more information Rory scored the maximum possible score of 162 on the Cattell III-B test a 12-year-old boy from Great Torrington has been invited to join Mensa after scoring within the top one per cent of the population on his IQ tests Rory Bidwell recently achieved the maximum possible score of 162 on the Cattell III-B test – a score similar to legendary minds such as Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking the largest and oldest high-IQ society in the world It is a non-profit organisation open to people who score at the 98th percentile or higher on a standardised supervised IQ or other approved intelligence test.  Rory sat a two hour Mensa test in Exeter Rory approached the tests without any prior awareness of Mensa or the purpose of the assessments reducing anxiety and completing them unprepared said: "He even took a leisurely stroll to the toilet during one section!" His impressive performance led to an invitation to join Mensa within days solidifying his place in the top one per cent of the population a Year 7 student at Great Torrington School displayed early signs of his exceptional abilities at just two-years-old when he independently completed 100-piece puzzles and mastered Year 7 algebra in Year 2 His passion for learning has extended to various subjects consuming all seven Harry Potter books during the first eight weeks of the Coronavirus lockdown of 2020 he is currently reading Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and Rick Riordan's The Heroes of Olympus earning accolades such as winning Player of the Year for Torridgeside football team Rory remains a typical 12-year-old who enjoys spending time with family which saw him devouring Harry Potter during lockdown He is also an avid Bristol City Football Club supporter describes him as "blessed with an incredible brain capable of working things out and memorising information." he's still a regular 12-year-old who occasionally needs reminders to focus on his learning Work has begun on 58 new affordable homes at Hatchmoor in Great Torrington The properties are being built by Clayewater Homes in partnership with housing association Aster Group and Torridge District Council Site clearance and construction for the new development has begun this month and it will offer 22 homes for affordable rent and 36 to part-own through a shared ownership scheme Astor chief executive Amanda Williams said: “We have a vision that ‘everyone has a home’ and we hope that the new 58 affordable properties coming to Great Torrington will make a big difference to the local community “Whether looking to rent or part-own through shared ownership three and four-bedroom homes will cater to a range of people enabling them to live in an area they love The 4.2 acre development will include mid-terrace It is due for completion in the spring or summer of 2024 and will also include public open space and a children’s play area for residents and the community to use The land is also part of a wider plan including the widening of the nearby highway will help with connections for pedestrians bicycles and motor vehicles between the development added: “We have built a reputation for taking on projects that meet challenges be that sites with limited access and space simply responding to the critical need for greater supply of affordable new homes in the South West “We are delighted to be partnering with Aster Group for the first time an organisation that shares our vision of providing much needed affordable housing.” Torridge District Councillor Rachel Clarke said: “We’re excited to see this project starting to come to fruition and look forward to the realisation of the additional units of affordable housing the site promises to deliver “The demand for affordable housing has never been greater as the housing crisis in the area we’ll see more schemes like this coming forward in the future and look forward to working with developers to deliver more housing for those that currently find themselves priced out of the market.” A remarkable and unsettling true story of public shaming is the inspiration for a North Devon author’s latest historic novel – The Ordeal of Lucy Jones Well-known author Liz Shakespeare was fascinated to read of an 1879 incident that saw the effigies of two local people tarred feathered and burned on Torrington Common by a mob of 3,000 people – this episode of public shaming was a huge event in the town and featured in newspapers across Britain said: “I was fascinated by a report of the event in a 19th century newspaper She explained how incidents of ‘rough music’ were not uncommon at the time when a crowd would gather outside the houses of those they believed had committed an offence against society Often it would be an illicit affair and the mob would set about making ab huge racket with pots but the event in Torrington was huge – what could have prompted such a gathering Liz learned one of the effigies was Miss Lucy Jones the daughter of a Torrington doctor who lived in Castle House so when someone claimed to have seen him and Lucy ‘acting improperly’ together on the Common the people of Torrington seized an opportunity to be rid of him and at Lucy’s expense too culminating in the burning of the effigies was reported in no less than 52 newspapers throughout Britain and all included the name of Lucy Jones “It would have been a terrible time for her,” said Liz “The investigation into Reverend Francis’ behaviour was reported in great detail in the local newspaper and although there were plentiful reasons for his unpopularity I am convinced that Lucy was innocent of any wrongdoing.” Liz’s novel draws on extensive historical research to tell the story from Lucy’s point of view Lucy Jones liked to walk on the Common and to take excursions by train to Bideford and Instow and the novel describes Torrington and the surrounding area as it was in the 1870s Reverend Francis had to leave the town as a result of the scandal Liz added: “But after the burning of the effigies Knowing that her name would be forever associated with the scandal she despaired of ever being able to marry her childhood sweetheart.” Torrington is famous for its hugely successful bonfires organised by the Torrington Cavaliers which raise many thousands for local charities - and take place on the same spot as the burning of the effigies in 1879 Liz Shakespeare has been writing for more than 30 years and this is her seventh book All her books are set in North Devon and are based on true stories Liz will be speaking about the background and writing of the novel at Torrington Library on Thursday She will also be book signing at Walter Henry’s Bookshop in Bideford on Friday, May 24 from 11.30am to 1pm as well as signing books at Clovelly Seaweed Festival on Sunday The Ordeal of Miss Lucy Jones, priced at £10.99, is available from local outlets or ordered free-post from www.lizshakespeare.co.uk. Cheques for £10.99 made payable to Letterbox Books can also be sent to The Old Post Office, Littleham, Bideford EX39 5HW. " + $(".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! Torrington Mayfair brought plenty of splendid costumes – and sunshine – to the 2025 instalment of the traditional event. Credit: John Insull Young revellers and the iconic Ilfracombe May giants arrive at the seafront for Ilfracombe's Jack-in-the-Green 2025. Credit: Tim Lamerton Photography Hele Cornmill at Hele Bay in Ilfracombe is taking part in the Ilfracombe Art Trail on Saturday and Sunday. May 10-11. Credit: Viral PR Bubbles the Pixie entertained the crowds with a bubble blowing extravaganza. Credit: Graham Hobbs Symptoms can all affect our daily lives, but treatment is available! The rediscovered bell in ‘the cupula’ at Barnstaple Guildhall – thought to date from the early 18th century. Credit: BTC 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. CloseA group of volunteers have built a life-size replica of the Mayflower - but only so they can burn it down for charity The Great Torrington Cavaliers will have spent five years on the project when they set fire to it next year Next year is the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower taking the pilgrim fathers from Plymouth to the US and the bonfire is one part of planned celebrations in Devon Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRead descriptionEditor's recommendationsThe replica Mayflower being built to be burned 00:01:08The replica Mayflower being built to be burned 1:08Up Next Merz defeat 'an obstacle not a catastrophe' Video 00:01:05Merz defeat 'an obstacle not a catastrophe' 1:05Watch: BBC reports from pier 33 - the gateway to Alcatraz 00:01:44Watch: BBC reports from pier 33 - the gateway to Alcatraz 1:44Watch: Prince Louis steals the show as royals mark VE Day 00:01:25Watch: Prince Louis steals the show as royals mark VE Day 1:25Watch: How Lady Gaga's record-breaking concert almost ended in disaster Video 00:01:21Watch: How Lady Gaga's record-breaking concert almost ended in disaster 1:21'Trump was the game-changer': Three things to know about the Australian election result 00:01:20'Trump was the game-changer': Three things to know about the Australian election result 1:20Prince Harry 'can't see a world' where his family will visit the UK 00:02:54Prince Harry 'can't see a world' where his family will visit the UK 2:54Watch: Key moments from the local elections.. 00:01:32Watch: Key moments from the local elections.. 1:32Watch: Reform by-election win raises questions for Labour and Tories 00:01:11Watch: Reform by-election win raises questions for Labour and Tories 1:11Russell Brand's court appearance explained.. 00:00:50Russell Brand's court appearance explained.. 0:50Ros Atkins on.. What's in the US-Ukraine resources deal 1:23Kamala Harris hits out at Trump in first major speech since losing election 00:01:18Kamala Harris hits out at Trump in first major speech since losing election thatched pubs and gay towns are a long way from the nearest turmeric latte What’s going for it? We’re not in Kansas any more, Toto. This is north Devon, deeeeeep Devon. Far, far, far from the nearest motorway. Far, far, far from the nearest turmeric latte. You need resilience out here. Survival skills. Your role model? Tarka the Otter moved here from London to track the tough lives of local otters Poor old Tarka suffers endless iniquities (the loss of his mum fleeing hunts and facing up to his old foe Deadlock the dog) but nothing can break his spirit The case against You’re hardly in the thick of things The nearest train station is 11 miles away in Barnstaple Driving: it’s 20 minutes to the coast or Barnstaple Hang out at… Huddle round the fire at the Coach & Horses in Buckland Brewer, or have a homemade bite at Browns deli in Great Torrington Where to buy Great Torrington is the metropolis straggly streets are packed with stone-fronted or whitewashed terraces The western hinterland towards the coast is most prized with deep valleys dotted with late-Georgian country houses Bargain of the week Four-bedroom listed town house in Great Torrington, needs updating, £180,000, with webbers.co.uk. Read moreFrom the streets Moira Brewer “Great Torrington’s a friendly town home to the Torrington Cavaliers and many other voluntary organisations Phil Topham “Stunning views and 350 acres of common Do you live in Great Torrington and the Torridge valley Do you live in Kirkcaldy, Fife? Do you have a favourite haunt or pet hate? If so, email lets.move@theguardian.com by Tuesday 28 February Chloe said the skydive photos were like being in an action movie An 18-year-old girl from Torrington recently undertook a remarkable solo skydiving challenge to support the cause of Cats Protection.  Despite encountering adverse weather conditions during her initial attempt at the jump when she was 17 Chloe Gough persevered and successfully completed the exhilarating feat on March 3 Chloe's skydiving endeavour faced a setback due to windy weather conditions Chloe remained steadfast in her commitment to raising funds for Cats Protection a charity close to her heart due to her passion for animal rescue and rehoming Chloe told the Gazette: "I chose to raise money for Cats Protection because I want to work in the animal rescue and rehoming industry and I’m very passionate about rescuing animals and ensuring they are kept in correct living conditions.” where she embarked on her solo skydiving adventure with Skydive Buzz.  Despite the nerves that plagued her leading up to the initial jump date Chloe found herself surprisingly calm as the rescheduled date approached Chloe said: "Leading up to the skydive the first time before it being postponed I was very nervous up to a week before the jump overthinking it but the second time leading up when I actually completed the dive I was surprisingly calm." Chloe described the dive as akin to a scene from a movie with the camera capturing every moment of her descent and the tightly packed aeroplane adding to the cinematic atmosphere.  focused on her mission to support Cats Protection and provide aid to vulnerable animals in need Thanks to the generous support of her friends and family Chloe managed to raise an impressive £700 for Cats Protection through sponsorship and donations Chloe said: “Altogether I raised £700 alone for Cats Protection thanks to my friends and family’s generous sponsors.” Aerial view of the castle mound and inner bailey in Torrington - Credit: Great Torrington Futures Group/J Eeles Great Torrington is about to start an exciting community excavation uncovering parts of its lost historic castle the adjacent ‘tump’ and bowling green have disguised the location of a sizable and important castle within the town’s centre the castle is again set to become centre stage when the local community and a group of professional archaeologists take two weeks to dig various trenches and pits to find out if anything remains of the castle’s heritage The dig takes place during September and October and will enable over 100 members of the community and 120school children to get involved in all aspects of a real excavation one of the projects organisers and head of the town's heritage museum has discovered one of his ancestors used to own the castle Local resident Dave Gibbons spent the Covid lockdown hunting down his family tree and found to his amazement that having drawn all the strands together one of his ancestors was lord of the manor of Torrington and at the same time he had just signed up to help organise the excavation of the very property his forebears owned Local resident and lead archaeologist of the voluntary group Emily Wapshott says: "Torrington's Norman motte and bailey castle site has not received much specific research attention in the past and there is much we still don't know about the site We hope to be able to gain a better understanding of what remains of the early earthworks and how they may relate to the areas under the bowling green some parts of which have been previously excavated The castle was the seat of one of Devon's great Norman Baronies Funded with grants and sponsorship from the various Torridge and Great Torrington councils the Dig the Castle admin team have spent 18 months preparing the ground for this ambitious community project With a surge in interest in local archaeology stemming from various TV shows and real life finds said: “The opportunity for the whole of the community to do a bit of archaeology and learn more of the history of the place they live and allied to the recently opened Heritage Trail and website across the town this will provide a legacy for the town’s residents and visitors for the future.” The dig is being run specifically by the community, for the community and is free to participate. For more information visit: www.onegreattorrington.uk/digthecastle/ A file image showing a roadworks sign - Credit: DCC Due to 'drainage improvements' being worked on at Mile Hill in Little Torrington a section of the A386 will be closed for at least two more weeks. The A386 Mile Hill was completely closed to traffic on Monday new gullies will be installed and the road surface will also be patched Advance warning signs about the road closure are located at Inwardleigh the official diversion route is signed via the A3124 Beaford HGVs approaching Little Torrington via the A386 are advised to turn at Gribble Cross junction Doug Smith (far left) alongside other dignitaries at the statue unveiling in London - Credit: TDC Torridge Councillor and Great Torrington Mayor Doug Smith travelled to Wimbledon to unveil a statue to honour Margaret Noble better known as Sister Nivedita Sister Nivedita was a celebrated educator and a champion of the poor in India with strong family ties to Great Torrington where a half-bust statue was unveiled in 2019 Standing at an impressive height of 6.2 ft the bronze statue was fabricated and cast in India by artist Nirjan De Sarada Sarkar of the Sister Nivedita Celebrations Committee The figure stands before Richard's Lodge High School for Girls paying tribute to Sister Nivedita's legacy as a strong and independent woman and champion of educational opportunities for women symbolising the connection between the two regions Margaret Elizabeth Noble was born in 1867 and moved to Great Torrington as a young girl but spent most of her life in India where she gained a reputation as an educationalist and a campaigner for India's freedom movement She met Swami Vivekananda in 1895 in London and subsequently travelled to Calcutta she established a girls' school in 1898 with the intention of providing education to girls who had been deprived of even the most basic education meaning "dedicated to god." During the plague epidemic in Calcutta in 1899 Sister Nivedita was closely associated with the Ramakrishna Mission and later also made an active contribution in the field of Indian Nationalism The impressive memorial in Great Torrington and now also in London will hopefully mean that future generations will be reminded of her remarkable achievements in India and her connection to Torridge and the town of her birth.   Torridge District Council and Great Torrington Mayor said: "The people of Great Torrington are so pleased to be connected to this amazing woman "Her legacy has forged new links and friendships that stretch across many countries and we look forward to welcoming the many visitors that will come to view her grave and memorial as a place of pilgrimage It was an honour to be invited to the event in London and to be welcomed to take part in the unveiling Another fitting tribute to a remarkable woman." The demolition of the disused Torrington Dairy Crest in Devon signaling a clear path for future development once plagued by safety issues and anti-social behaviour is now being cleared to make way for potential housing and retail opportunities led by Waterside Construction Southwest Limited and Valley Estates South West Limited The project is expected to last eight to ten months focusing on the safe dismantling of unstable structures and the removal of contaminated materials the site is anticipated to be marketed for redevelopment into a mixed-use scheme that includes housing This initiative aligns with local demands for new housing and commercial spaces aiming to revitalise the area and address long-standing community concerns has expressed support for the redevelopment emphasizing the need for new housing in Great Torrington has urged the public to keep a safe distance during the demolition works to ensure safety and efficiency The demolition marks the beginning of a new phase for the site with the potential to significantly impact the local community by introducing new residential and commercial developments Complete the details below to receive our daily newsletter highlighting investment and development activity: CLICK HERE to listen to the podcast Local residents were advised to close their windows and asked to avoid the area around the Dairy Crest site on Rolle Road Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue said: "#Torrington 20:00 16/03/23 we are currently dealing with a large fire involving a derelict commercial building in Rolle Road Torrington "Residents are advised to keep windows closed and avoid the area." a spokesperson for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue said: "It is an ongoing fire six appliances along including specialist appliances are at the scene along with four breathing apparatus "Our aerial ladder platform is being set up to take a visual of the building from above." The cause of the fire is currently unknown and there are currently no known injuries the fire service confirmed that operations ceased at 3am and local crew are re-inspecting the site The Dairy Crest has been closed since 1993 and is due for demolition as part of a £42 million development of 173 new homes by developers