Boreham Wood will hope to return to the National League a year after being relegated Torquay United's hopes of promotion from National League South have ended after they lost 1-0 to Boreham Wood in their play-off semi-final Matt Rush's goal after an hour was enough to knock out the Gulls who finished second in the table on goal difference behind champions Truro City Lirak Hasani went close with a long-range effort for Torquay after 26 minutes before Gulls goalkeeper James Hamon made an excellent close-range save 11 minutes later But Rush struck after the break as he got on the end of a cross from the left at the near post to net what proved to be the winner Matt Jay went close for Torquay with an effort nine minutes later before Hamon saved superbly from Jon Benton at the other end in the first minute of stoppage time Jordan Young forced a superb save from Boreham Wood's goalkeeper in the final minute of stoppage time as the majority of the 5,721 crowd went home disappointed will face either Eastbourne Borough or Maidstone United in the final next weekend with the winners getting the second promotion place to the National League "There's a tremendous amount to be proud of but it's very difficult to see it at the minute," Torquay manager Paul Wotton told BBC Radio Devon "When you're a winner and you've lost it's a punch in the stomach "We've got a lot of work to do in the summer because we've got to better everywhere - I've got to be better everything's got to be better and it starts with me "It's raw - the elation that Boreham Wood are feeling and the deflation that we're feeling is one of the horrible sides of football." 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Boreham Wood are still catching their breath - their late renaissance at home to Dorking kept their promotion hopes alive but things get no easier - they head to Torquay United next Torquay came within a few goals of taking the title from Truro City on a nervy final day but it wasn’t to be The Gulls finished level on points at the top and a mere two goal difference separated the two sides - but finishing second means they have the chance to play both play-off games at home But they’ve got to get through this one first Boreham Wood completed what is one of the best comebacks in their recent history mid-week scoring three goals in the last 13 minutes including a last gasp 96th minute winner But how much have they got left in the tank Torquay United:Cody Cooke 20Jordan Young: 10Matt Jay: 7 Boreham Wood: Kwesi Appiah: 24Matt Rush: 17Erico Sousa: 8 Head to head:23/11/24: Boreham Wood 0-0 Torquay United01/03/25: Torquay United 2-2 Boreham Wood Torquay United: “We're on a tremendous run of form We’ve still got a great chance of promotion “The fans will come and pack out the stadium we love playing at home and we don't fear anyone here “Anyone who finishes in the play-offs has had a tremendous season and this is going to be a big test.” Boreham Wood: “There's bits like the defending that's not good enough we need to be better in those scenarios and duels because if we defend like that against any one of the remaining teams then we're going to be in trouble “But to go and score three goals like we did from the 82nd minute is great resilience and character ”We got straight down to work as soon as the Dorking game finished Pitch Hero Ltd Registered in ENGLAND | WF3 1DR | Company Number - 636 1033 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 4 MAY 2025BookmarkColour My Street brings festive fun to The Strand (Credit : Grace Clifford)Torquay’s Harbourside was transformed into a lively celebration hub as crowds gathered to mark the official opening of a new public realm space with two days of free activities The Colour My Street event brought a burst of colour to The Strand, offering an array of family-friendly experiences designed to entertain and engage. The programme, commissioned by Torbay Council and delivered by Tonic Creatives featured everything from street performances and interactive art to live music and community workshops Visitors were also invited to contribute to a Doodle Wall, while other art installations celebrated the colour and spirit of the seaside. Live entertainment came in the form of Spike Bones, a traditional Punch & Judy show, and costumed stilt-walkers Octopus and Lobster, who mingled with the crowd. A harbourside quiz encouraged families to explore the area and learn more about its history, while a sea shanty singalong on the slipway brought Easter Monday’s events to a rousing close. Attendees relaxed on the new public seating, taking in views of the waterfront while enjoying the final performance. All activities were offered free of charge, with the event running from 11am to 3pm each day. Organisers noted a significant increase in footfall to nearby shops and cafes as a result of the festivities. Adding to the attraction was a new Agatha Christie sculpture by artist Elizabeth Hadley, now a popular fixture at the Harbourside. The statue, which includes the author’s beloved dog Peter, drew steady queues of visitors keen to pose for photographs. Organisers said the weekend was designed to celebrate the harbourside’s renewal and foster a deeper connection between the community and their surroundings. Colour My Street brings festive fun to The Strand (Credit : Grace Clifford) CommentsColour My Street brings festive fun to The Strand (Credit : Grace Clifford) The latest news as it happens across Torquay Find out what is happening & the latest breaking news in Torbay important updates and local opinions from Torquay Paignton & Brixham at the Torbay Weekly News Torquay United FC match reports & opinions and other Local sports news days out for the kids and amazing holiday ideas in Torquay Your source of news from beyond the bay covering Devon News and UK News The Torbay Weekly Business awards celebrates the accomplishments of Torbay based Businesses and brings together the Torbay Business community Paignton & Brixham from the local community & our Torbay based reporters property sales & property of the week in Torquay Get your local Torbay traffic & travel reports and airport departures in and around Torquay Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter Support our mission and join our community now you can subscribe for as little as €0.50 per week which will also give you access to all of our premium content and archived articles Thank you for supporting Ireland's best local journalism A new restaurant is opening on Torwood Street in Torquay on Thursday, 1 May, offering fresh, locally sourced cuisine inspired by flavours from around the world. The Globe, located in the former premises of Bianco’s—sister restaurant to Amici—is the first independent venture by husband-and-wife team Milan Lackovsky and Emily Ward Lackovsky. The pair bring plenty of industry experience. Milan has worked as a chef for 15 years, while Emily spent nine years in a management role at Amici. Although opening a restaurant has long been a shared ambition, they jumped at the opportunity to take over Bianco’s due to its prime central location—on a street that’s fast becoming a bit of a foodie haven. Between them, Milan and Emily have visited 55 countries over the past nine years. Describing themselves as "food travellers", their vision is to bring a global palate to Devon using local, seasonal produce. “We want to bring different cuisines to Torbay,” said Emily. “For us, the main concept is to serve completely local, seasonal produce from the farm, fishmongers and local suppliers—but with a world fusion twist. “We’re turning Devon produce into world cuisine.” Practised at avoiding tourist hotspots, the couple say their favourite food experiences have come from exploring backstreet restaurants abroad. “We want to bring those elements here but then also mix different elements together to create different fusions,” Emily explained. “It could be a Moroccan dish with a Mexican twist.” Their eventual ambition is to introduce a new menu item every week so that diners can try something new each time they visit. “You can eat here five days a week and try each dish,” Emily said, “but I promise you, by the time you come next Monday, there’ll be at least one different dish you haven’t had before.” A global approach also extends to drinks. The beer on tap is from Prague, while the wine list includes bottles from countries such as Austria and Romania. They also plan to serve organic cava. Despite only getting the keys on 1 April, Milan and Emily were determined to open in just four weeks—a turnaround they admit is unusual in the industry. “Everyone told us we were crazy. No one opens a restaurant in four weeks,” Emily said. “But we knew we wanted to open on the first of May.” The journey to opening has been bittersweet. Emily’s father, a builder, was due to lead the renovation but sadly passed away unexpectedly eight weeks ago. A photo of him now sits beside the till, watching over the restaurant’s transformation—completed by the couple and their family. The booths that once lined the restaurant have been replaced with tables and chairs, and the interior has been given a contemporary facelift. An upstairs dining area also remains in use. Although the past month has involved 14- to 15-hour workdays, Milan and Emily say they’re excited to welcome guests. " + $(".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! John Tompkins festival director. Image: Kemp Digital Photography Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez Symptoms can all affect our daily lives, but treatment is available! Image: Al Macphee / Miracle PR and Event Photography Photography and videography: Superb, www.wearesuperb.com ARC Inside one of ARC's 1.5m reef cubes. Images: James Harris Subscribe or register today to discover more from DonegalLive.ie 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. Paul Wotton is in his first season at Torquay United having joined the club from Truro City last summer Torquay United manager Paul Wotton says his side will not be affected by their narrow title loss as they go into the National League South play-offs The Gulls lost out on first place in the division to Truro City last weekend and face Boreham Wood on Saturday in the play-off semi-finals A win would secure a home final against either Eastbourne Borough or Maidstone United next week "There is not one ounce of negativity that should be portrayed going into this game," Wotton told BBC Radio Devon "We've finished as the second-best team in the league "There'll be a lot of people think Truro weren't the best team in the league - they were we've got a sell out we're fully aware we're playing an excellent team Wotton's side were 4-1 winners at Hemel Hempstead on the final day of the regular season and go into the play-offs in great form They have won 10 and lost just one of their last 11 games since a 2-2 draw with Boreham Wood on 1 March including 1-0 away wins at Truro and sixth-placed Dorking Wanderers "I'm clear in my head of the team we're going to play and the way we're going to play," added Wotton "It's a game of football we need to win "You could sit there and go through all sorts of formations A bit of both with some decisions so we'll see." Founder Sam Webber at That Crafty Stitch in Madrepore Road An independent yarn shop has opened in Torquay town centre offering a creative space for both experienced crafters and complete beginners It joins a growing number of small businesses aiming to revitalise the high street at a time when many town centres are experiencing increasing vacancy rates and changes in shopping habits “I want to be part of the positive change in Torquay,” says Sam “I believe the future of high-street retail is local independent businesses others will feel encouraged to do the same But we need the local community to support us to make it work.” The shop stocks a wide range of knitting and crochet supplies including yarns in contemporary and traditional colour palettes offering guidance to newcomers and inspiration to more experienced makers Crafting has seen a resurgence in recent years particularly during the Covid-19 lockdowns Some research suggests these activities may help reduce stress improve focus and support mental wellbeing That Crafty Stitch hopes to tap into this growing interest by offering a welcoming environment for all ages and skill levels “We see a wonderful mix of people,” Sam says while others have only just picked up a hook or pair of needles That’s what I love about this craft — it’s never too late to learn.” hoping the shop can help shape a town centre of  unique independent stores rather than rows of empty premises That Crafty Stitch is located at 3 Madrepore Road, Torquay, TQ1 1EY. It is open Monday-Saturday between 10am and 4pm. More information is available at www.thatcraftystitch.co.uk.  Two landmark locations along Torquay's prime waterfront are being earmarked for game-changing regeneration projects to help turn the tide in the Bay. The latest news as it happens across Torquay, Paignton & Brixham. Find out what is happening & the latest breaking news in Torbay. Get the latest in Local News, information, important updates and local opinions from Torquay, Paignton & Brixham at the Torbay Weekly News. Get the latest on Torbay sports news, Torquay United FC match reports & opinions and other Local sports news, pictures and scores across Torbay. Find the best places to go, local theatre times, incredible attractions, days out for the kids and amazing holiday ideas in Torquay, Paignton & Brixham. Your source of news from beyond the bay covering Devon News and UK News. The Torbay Weekly Business awards celebrates the accomplishments of Torbay based Businesses and brings together the Torbay Business community. Find and view pictures of Torquay, Paignton & Brixham from the local community & our Torbay based reporters. Get the latest Weather news, official weather advisories, warnings, and severe weather alerts for Torquay, Paignton & Brixham. View the latest Torbay property news, opinions, property sales & property of the week in Torquay, Paignton & Brixham. Get your local Torbay traffic & travel reports, road closures, train delays, and airport departures in and around Torquay, Paignton & Brixham. 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. To continue reading this article, 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! Alternatively, you can pay €0.50 per article, capped at €1 per day. Thank you for supporting Ireland's best local journalism! The hotel plan for Torquay harbour Pic Torbay Council Preliminary plans for a £70 million, high-class hotel have been unveiled for the former Debenhams department store site on the main harbourside. And within days came news of a potential new tenant for the closed former marine aviary Living Coasts attraction just a stone's throw away at Beacon Cove with a world-pioneering marine restoration company in the frame to use part of the site. There is also even hope there may be some movement at last on the future of the Pavilion which would make it a hat-trick of unrivalled regeneration projects. Torbay Council leader Dave Thomas said: "The harbour and waterfront have always been thought of as Torquay's jewel in the crown. The pieces are finally being pulled together." His deputy Chris Lewis said: "This could be a life changer for Torquay and Torbay." They say the scheme would create year-round employment and boost the local economy, providing about 80 full-time equivalent jobs, £32 million in wages and 86,000 visitors over a 30-year period.  A sweeping staircase would better connect the harbourside with The Terrace above. The 0.91-acre site overlooks the south-facing picturesque harbourside, offering views of the inner harbour and beyond. The partnership says: "It is this unique selling point that makes the scheme an attractive proposition for an investor or developer, to deliver a 154-bedroom hotel with ground floor space for commercial use, promoting the best of Devon. The delivery of the scheme, estimated to be in the region of £70 million, would significantly increase the appeal and land value of other town centre opportunities and developments, and attract new visitors." ARC marine, a leader in marine habitat restoration and subsea and coastal protection technology, has been identified as one of the potential new partners for the Living Coasts site. They signed an exclusivity agreement with landlords Torbay Council and current tenants and Paignton Zoo owners the Wild Planet Trust. It is being seen as the first major step towards transforming the former attraction into a state-of-the-art Marine Restoration Centre.  All parties have now instructed legal counsel to negotiate lease terms for ARC marine to take on the closed site. The company has secured significant investment to redevelop the location, which will serve as both its operational headquarters and Research and Development hub for ocean conservation and habitat restoration.  The planned Marine Restoration Centre will focus on cutting-edge research, innovation, education and outreach, helping to restore marine ecosystems while supporting sustainable blue economy initiatives. ARC marine is already delivering large-scale marine restoration projects in the UK, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, and this new facility will provide a unique and purpose-built space as a dedicated base for its expanding international operations. Tom Birbeck, Founder and CEO of ARC marine, said: “This is such an exciting milestone for ARC marine, and we are glad to work alongside Torbay Council and the Wild Planet Trust to bring this vision to life. The former Living Coasts site is the perfect facility for us and all of the infrastructure is already in place to carry out testing and development on our nature-based solutions.”  The tenancy is expected to bring significant benefits to the region, boosting Torbay’s position as a centre for marine research and conservation while creating skilled jobs and opportunities in the local community. Most of the ARC marine team are local to Torbay and have attended South Devon College, University of Plymouth or Exeter and are keen to remain in their hometown but still pursue a career in the marine industry.  It is believed that ARC would only take up part of the Beacon Cove site - still paving the way for a leisure-type use for what is left. Cllr Lewis also hinted there may be some progress on finding an 'end user' for the Pavilion which is about to be boarded up while experts assess the cost and extent of damage caused by years of closure. He said: "At the moment it is still very early days, but we are looking at a heritage, arts theme for the Pavilion. We are talking with the Arts Council, Heritage Lottery and other people to get the finance to be able to produce some kind of heritage/arts hub." On the harbour scheme, Stuart Harris, CEO for Milligan, said; “The Willmott Dixon Milligan Partnership is incredibly excited to unveil our vision for this landmark scheme, which will redefine Torquay’s harbourside and create a dynamic, vibrant destination.  This is more than just a regeneration project - it’s about delivering something truly special for the town, blending high-quality design with exceptional experiences. "One of the key design features is a striking new staircase, which will enhance the public realm and provide a seamless connection between the harbourside and The Terrace improving connectivity to the Hilton, Premier Inn, and car park. "From the boutique hotel to the thoughtfully curated commercial spaces, every aspect of this development is being shaped to celebrate Torquay’s unique character and waterfront setting. We look forward to working with the community to bring this vision to life and make The Strand a place that residents and visitors alike will enjoy for generations to come." Chris Wheeler, Regional Head of Land Development at Willmott Dixon, added: "We’re proud to bring forward these bold concepts for the regeneration of the harbour. Working with stakeholders throughout the process has highlighted the positive impact these proposals will have on the local economy and wider bay.” As part of the evolving design process, the design team will be looking at how historical elements of the former Debenhams building, for example the canopy, can be incorporated into the final design.  Detailed plans are expected to be available for public consultation during the summer of 2025.  Cody Cooke's hat-trick was not enough to send Torquay top of National League South Torquay United missed out on the National League South title despite winning 4-1 at Hemel Hempstead on the final day of the season Truro City’s 5-2 win over St Albans City meant the Gulls ended the season in second place Paul Wotton’s side missed out on goal difference - their record was two goals worse than their Cornish rivals The result means the Gulls will have home advantage throughout the play-offs as they look for a return to the National League Jordan Young gave the Gulls a 29th-minute lead before Cody Cooke made it 2-0 five minutes later made it 3-0 12 minutes after the break before Mazeed Ogungbo pulled a goal back Cooke secured his hat-trick with 18 minutes to go but despite piling on the pressure Torquay could not find any more goals that would have gone towards toppling Truro Rex Features"The boys have done their job it was never in our hands," Wotton told BBC Radio Devon "We were always clinging on to Truro not doing their job and they've done it and congratulations to them "They were 3-0 up after 10 minutes and we kept going and going and going "We haven't lost the title on goal difference today but it's a hell of a season and we've still got a chance of promotion "It's really important we remember that we're guaranteed a home game and the boys gave everything." Torquay's Pavilion could be transformed into a word-renowned Agatha Christie Research and Visitor Centre It was revealed today that key partners have been in discussion about the Pavilion becoming the place to showcase the life and work of Torbay's most famous daughter Since taking back the ownership of the Pavilion at the end of 2024 Torbay Council has started the process of identifying the works needed to make the waterfront building safe and water-tight and the requirements that will be needed to bring the building back into a usable state It is estimated that this work will take place over the next 12 to 18 months.   an appropriate end use of the building will need to be considered and developed. A first meeting of the council's political Leadership and senior officials a member of the Agatha Christie family and potential funders was held on March 27 This included attendees from national heritage and culture bodies a representative of the Agatha Christie Festival and Agatha Christie Limited.   The council says that whilst there is still a long way to go the parties present have agreed to look at the opportunity that the Pavilion provides to be the home for an Agatha Christie Research and Visitor Centre and its potential to be developed and anchored around the utilisation of the Agatha Christie Archive as well as the relevance of her works to Torbay This significant step would build upon the legacy of the world-renowned author and will be further considered as an opportunity for the use of the Pavilion building.  said; “Agatha Christie is undoubtedly the most famous former resident of Torbay Her contribution to the literary world is unparalleled with much of her work taking inspiration from her experiences in and around the area Showcasing her life and works at the Pavilion would not only honour her legacy but provide a glimpse into the woman she was.  “With the newly unveiled statue nearby on Torquay’s harbourside we hope this is the start of a new era of celebrating Agatha Christie to local At this time the council does not know when discussions are likely to conclude and would be subject to competitive bidding processes and commercial deals.  " + $(".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 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 Royal Navy ratings dressed as prehistoric men for the Peace Day Celebration Carnival in Torquay in 1920.  Two later died when their costumes caught fire Torquay Library discovered this 100-year-old story and postcard image while searching through their archives and kindly shared it with us as part of our new partnership The image shows a group of Royal Navy sailors dressed in costume for a prehistoric-themed horse-drawn float during the Peace Day Celebration Carnival in Torquay a “deplorable and lamentable accident” led to the deaths of two of the men pictured within the week that the carnival had been a “successful effort marred by a terrible accident” Above: Torquay Library discovered this 100-year-old story and postcard image while searching through their archives The parade, held the previous Saturday to mark Peace Day and raise funds for the new Torbay Hospital featured displays from ships of the Atlantic Fleet which were lined up in the bay awaiting judging designed by crew members of HMS Royal Arthur while others lay on blocks of granite or at the entrance of a prehistoric hut on the float Judges were moments away from awarding it a “blue card” for creativity when “a shout went up from someone in the surrounding crowd that the car was on fire” Witnesses quickly realised it was not the float but one of the sailors who had caught fire he had accidentally ignited the “picked rope” he wore as part of his costume The Torquay Times said: “For a moment the poor fellow looked like a human torch on the car with two or three of his comrades following.  “They too caught their inflammable garb alight in the endeavour to smother the flames with coats handed to them which seemed to feed the flames as it ran into the tow eventually succeeded in putting out the burning tow that had caused them agonies of pain.” Cook’s Mate Florence and Able Seaman Stonel Florence died of his injuries on Monday morning Those who witnessed the scene were reportedly horrified and unable to enjoy the rest of the celebration which featured around 40 entries in various classes Tragically, the day saw another accident. In a separate article, the Torquay Times reported a “sad accident” in connection with the carnival. Several spectators had been allowed onto the balcony over the entrance of the Carnegie Library in Castle Circus to watch the procession. The public library had been built by Andrew Carnegie, the son of a poor Scottish weaver. Carnegie found great wealth in America and believed that free public libraries would provide opportunities for self-education, helping the poor to break free from poverty. According to the Devon Heritage website: “He donated the money for Torquay’s library on the condition that the Corporation provided the land and added a further £1,400 to his original gift for the purchase of books. The library opened to the public in October 1907 with a stock of almost 7,000 books.” The main part of the building, the Town Hall, was not constructed until 1911 and was completed in 1913. The current library on Lymington Road was finished in 1938, at which point the original Carnegie Library moved and became fully integrated into what is still Torquay’s Town Hall today. Miss Emma Grant, 63, of St Margaret’s Road, St Marychurch, was among those watching from this historic balcony. The Torquay Times reported: “In the centre of the floor of the balcony is a glass dome that lights the entrance hall below. By some means or other, Miss Grant slipped and fell onto this.  “The glass shattered, and she plunged through to the floor of the vestibule, a distance of twenty feet. She was rendered unconscious by the severe shaking she received and was also badly cut about the face. The unfortunate lady was conveyed to Torbay Hospital.” We welcome any insight from our readers as to whether Miss Grant recovered from her injuries. Gulls welcome Boreham Wood for the semi-final Torquay United's Yellow Army. Pic from PPAUK Torquay United manager Paul Wotton says that, whatever the result, Saturday’s National League South Play-Off Semi-Final against Boreham Wood will be ‘a great spectacle’ (writes Dave Thomas). Plainmoor will be packed when the Gulls take on old foes Wood after missing out on the title on goal-difference to Truro City (3pm). Despite winning 4-1 at Hemel Hempstead Town last weekend, United couldn’t quite chase down their Westcountry rivals, but Wotton is confident that his players have shrugged off that disappointment. Everyone was slightly deflated at the final whistle, but Wotton insisted: “The feeling was more frustration than anything. “The boys were soon back to normal. They were the same as ever on the coach coming home, and they’ve been bright as always this week. “I’ve said all along that they’re a resilient group.” Wotton made a point of watching Wood’s dramatic 4-3 Eliminator win over Dorking Wanderers in person on Tuesday night. He also stayed to the end as Wood came from 3-1 down with eight minutes to go to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. “On the night, both sides were excellent, and we’re in for a tough test,” said Wotton. “I learned what I needed to learn from it.” Centre-back Jordan Dyer is not expected back from a hamstring problem, although United hope that he might be available if they reach the Final. Should they prevail on Saturday, the Gulls would meet the winners of the second Semi-Final, between Eastbourne Borough and Maidstone United, at Plainmoor on Sunday, May 18. Both Torquay and Wood, who drew twice during the league season, are in good form. United have won nine and lost only one of their last eleven games. Wood, whose record includes defeats to strugglers Aveley, Weymouth and Salisbury, have rediscovered their ‘mojo’ and have won six on the trot. Leading scorer Kwesi Appiah (24gls) has returned from a spell of injury, but he can’t get back in the starting XI because Matt Rush, bought from Sutton in mid-season, and promising ex-Millwall starlet Abdul Abdulmalik have been playing so well. Veteran left-back Femi Ilesanmi, who scored two own-goals and then the winner against Dorking, is one of the enduring characters of National League football. At 34 he’s seen it all, and some, and his likely duel with United winger and Player Of The Year Jordan Young could be one of the key match-ups. Having restricted the subs benches to five during the regular season, the NL suddenly allows seven in the POs – work that one out! But Wotton would not be drawn on whether he will include Hull City goalkeeper Owen Foster, who was signed on loan in March for just such an eventuality but has not figured so far. Saturday’s referee is Phillip Eddie (Royal Navy). Older Gulls fans will be sad to learn of the death of former United player John Durham at the age of 59. Yorkshire-born Durham scored three goals in 28 appearances under Dave Webb in the mid-1980s after moving from Rotherham United. He settled in South Devon after his Plainmoor days, became a popular figure in local football, both as a player and coach, and he will be missed by everyone who knew him. Matt Jay's goal ensured Torquay United got a third 1-0 win over Truro City this season after previous wins in the league and FA Trophy Torquay United kept their National League South title hopes alive as they won 1-0 at top-of-the-table Truro City Matt Jay’s second-half strike was enough for the Gulls who move up to third in the table with two games to play They are now a point off new leaders Worthing and level on points with Truro Just two points separate the top five sides in the league - 10-man Worthing drew 1-1 with Eastbourne Borough who drop to fifth after Dorking Wanderers were 4-2 winners over Hampton and Richmond In difficult conditions neither side could break the deadlock before the interval as Luke Jephcott and Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain had chances for the hosts while Jay twice went close for the Gulls but it was Torquay who had the first decent chance after an hour - Ryan Law’s mistake let in Jordan Young but he and Cody Cooke got in each other’s way and the opportunity went begging A great challenge from Jordan Dyer denied Truro’s Jaze Kabia soon after before Torquay took a 65th-minute lead in front of a record crowd of 3,306 at the Truro Community Stadium Jay showed excellent footwork on the edge of the area before the former Exeter City player curled a left-footed effort into the top corner Cooke blasted over from close range seven minutes later before Truro top-scorer Tyler Harvey saw a good chance saved by James Hamon with nine minutes to go Truro went close from a stoppage-time corner but they could not find a way past their former goalkeeper Hamon as the Cornish side lost for just the second time in 16 games Truro City manager John Askey told BBC Radio Cornwall: "It's obviously very disappointing "We've played a lot better than that and we probably got what we deserved today "We just huffed and puffed and allowed Torquay too much time on the ball on a couple of occasions and they've taken one of them "It's disappointing as we had so many supporters here and if we'd have got a result today we'd have been in a great position because results on the whole have been decent for us." Torquay United manager Paul Wotton told BBC Radio Devon: "It's three points away from home against the league leaders before the game "I thought first-half was really cagey I thought we were a bit edgy and sloppy on the ball "At half-time it was just a case of saying to the boys,'calm down if we lose we've got a chance of the play-offs' "We had to play with the positivity of trying to win it wouldn't have defined anything because we're having a great season anyway." The English Riviera Film Festival returns for its 10th anniversary with a special screening at Torquay Museum’s Pengelly Hall on Saturday 10 May 2025 Launched in 2015 as a one-day event for local filmmakers and enthusiasts the festival has since grown into a year-round programme of screenings attracting filmmakers from around the world The 2025 International English Riviera Film Festival Awards took place at the Royal Lyceum Theatre in Torquay on 15 March with attendees travelling from across the UK and the United States many award winners have gone on to work in film and television across the UK A follow-up event celebrating South West filmmakers was held the following week at Paignton’s Projection Room Above: The film festival awards took place at the Royal Lyceum Theatre in Torquay on 15 March The anniversary screening at Torquay Museum will feature a morning of documentaries including Alone Across Gola by Jude Kriwald—winner of both Best Documentary and the Audience Award at this year’s ERFF Awards The film follows one man’s solo journey through the African jungle as he confronts his past The afternoon programme will spotlight UK and international animation and live-action films Screenings include Burnt Offering by Deb Cordon Poisoned Honey by Kate Stubbs—partially filmed in Paignton—and The Hag Stone by Marie Macneill which tells the story of a beach café owner whose fortunes change after meeting a local forager a multi-award-winning film from Chichester-based Jonathan Paul Brooker The story follows a mysterious girl found in 16th-century dress who doesn’t appear to age The film’s development was supported by actor Kate Winslet Many of the filmmakers are expected to attend offering audiences a chance to engage with the creative teams behind the films and learn more about film production in the South West Tickets are on sale now via the Torquay Museum website https://torquaymuseum.org/events/view/english-riviera-film-festival-10th-anniversary-screening  Papa Johns has confirmed that its Torquay and Paignton branches are among 13 stores to close after it ended its relationship with a franchisee operating across the South West and beyond The Torbay Weekly understands staff were not given prior notice and say they remain unclear about their employment status or whether they will be paid for past shifts A Papa Johns spokesperson told the North Devon Gazette: “We hold all our restaurants to the highest standards and expect our franchisees to operate with integrity and in line with our values we have ended our relationship with this franchisee we are working to secure new ownership and reopen as soon as possible Our priority is delivering quality pizza and a great experience for our customers while supporting our teams through this transition.” Cassie Smitherson, who works at the Torquay branch, told the Gazette: “None of us were given any notice. We’ve had no confirmation about whether we’ll be paid for the work we’ve already done, and we don’t know where we stand. It’s left us completely in the dark and extremely worried.” Mr Mumtaz, a London-based businessman, was reported to have acquired the Devon and Cornwall Papa Johns franchise in late 2023 after the previous operator went bust. The 13 stores currently listed as temporarily closed are: Matt Jay scored for the first time in more than a month to help Torquay to victory Torquay United kept their National League South title hopes alive with a "professional" 2-0 win over 10-man Slough Town The victory kept the Gulls fourth in the table three points off leaders Truro City with three games to play Slough had Guy Hollis sent off after 28 minutes for a reckless challenge on Cody Cooke Torquay got their breakthrough in the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time as Cooke fired the hosts ahead a few minutes after Jay Foulston had hit the bar Matt Jay made the game safe 13 minutes after half-time as he dinked the ball home to cap a dominant performance "To score two goals and keep a clean sheet is always nice," Wotton told BBC Radio Devon "We started the game really positively but that's the only negative I would say "I thought we controlled the game first half and then when they went down to 10 men I thought it was a very professional performance from us." The victory came after a 2-1 loss at home to mid-table Chesham United last week in which Wotton was unhappy with how his side acquitted themselves But he says he saw an improvement against Slough - something they will need to keep up if they are to get a result at his former club Truro "I thought we looked physically strong although I still think we should have won the Chesham game I didn't feel that way last week," Wotton added "So maybe the boys have had a kick up the backside that they needed "But today was important that we won because nothing's changed - we had four games to go now we've got three games to go and we're in exactly the same position as we were before and we've obviously got a monster game coming up." Torquay United have had three attendances this season of more than 5,000 It's the tightest title race in the country With four games left of the National League South season just six points separate the top six as Truro City look to win promotion to the National League for the first time in their history and Torquay United look to edge closer to a return to the Football League Both sides have seen an increase in attendances as fans flock to the non-league scene in increasing numbers BBC Sport analysis shows a 65% growth in average attendances in the top four levels of the non-league pyramid in the lpast decade In the National League South that figure rises to 122% Torquay co-chairman Michael Westcott says more and more supporters are losing faith with the Premier League and want a local connection instead He told BBC Sport: "True football fans are being priced out of league football "A family of four has to spend nearly £200 or more to watch a game in the Premier League but they can come here for highly competitve football - where players give as much effort as anywhere - and have that day out and a fantastic experience with change out of £50 for the family "There's a lot of disillusion from fans at the highest levels and they are finding a local team to follow - people buy into that." BBC SportTorquay were relegated from the English Football League in 2014 and have bounced between the National League and National League South since But Westcott is hoping that they can make the step up again this season either by winning the title or via the play-offs "Twelve months ago we nearly didn't have a football club so it's terribly exciting," he said "We had one player under contract last summer and to be in the mix of arguably the most exciting league in the pyramid - we are thrilled anyone in the top six or seven can win this league with 12 points to play for It has captured the imagination of the wider football family "We are seeing our highest attendances since the 1970s Our ambition is to return Torquay to the Football League where we existed happily for nearly 80 years." Truro City's best crowd this season was 2,818 against Chippenham Town Leaders Truro City have never played higher than the National League South and manager John Askey says the whole of Cornwall is willing them to climb the ladder The club had to play games at Plymouth, Torquay and Gloucester City after selling their stadium in 2020 but are back in the city now and looking for promotion "We weren't expected to be up there," Askey said "We were favourites for relegation but as time goes on you keep looking at the table As soon as someone goes top they seem to fall away I have never known a season with so many teams still in the title race with four games to go "It's our first year back in Truro after a nomadic few years The whole of Cornwall wants us to get to that next step." Truro face Hornchurch on Saturday, while Torquay face Slough - with the two teams playing each other on Good Friday. "That's possibly the biggest game in the club's history," adds Askey A woman who kept her eight cats and five dogs in shocking conditions in a Torquay flat has been banned from keeping animals for ten years. A filthy and stinking room in the Torquay flat Pic RSPCA Tanaya Jade Robins, 26, of Warren Hill, Torquay, was found guilty of an animal welfare offence, following an investigation and prosecution by the RSPCA. Rescuers from the animal welfare charity were called to an address in Temperance Street, Torquay, on March 23 last year after reports a dog had killed another within the property. Inside they found dogs in cages and cats in rooms covered in faeces. There was no food for the animals within the property. RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer Stephen Findlow, who was joined by colleagues and police at the address, described the scene in his statement. He said: “Before entering the door, there was a strong smell of ammonia, urine and faeces. I could hear loud distressed barking by multiple dogs. Robins entered the room first and put the Belgian Malinois into a cage. I entered the room where I was hit with the strong ammonia smell. I saw cats running into hiding spaces. “In the room I saw piles of fresh faeces littered across the whole floor with some trodden into the carpet. In addition, I saw old faeces piled on the floor which consisted of fluffy looking mould. To the right of the door consisted of litter trays overflowing with faeces onto the floor, with old and fresh fecal matter covering the carpet.  “I saw a distressed cat attempting to hide on the scratch post, which appeared to be the only clean area in the property. There was a single bed which was cluttered around it with additional faces and household rubbish on the floor. The Belgian Malinois was distressed next to the bed in a crate. “I was then led up another set of stairs where there were two Huskies barricaded in a large room. Both dogs were very distressed and barking. In the large room, there was faeces scattered on the floor. There was also another room where an XL Bully was locked in.” Police seized the animals and placed them into the care of the RSPCA. A total of five dogs and eight cats were rescued from the property. In mitigation, it was said Robins was struggling with mental health issues and that the dogs have been her support. Alongside the ten year disqualification from owning animals, which she can not appeal for seven years, she was ordered to pay £600 when she was sentenced at Plymouth Magistrates Court. She had been found guilty in her absence at an earlier hearing. Their need for a suitable living environment Their need for continuous access to an adequate supply of clean fresh drinking water.  Their need to be able to exhibit normal behaviour patterns Their need to be protected from pain, suffering, injury or disease  Any need they had to be housed with or apart from other animals.                Contrary to Section 9 (1) of the Animal Welfare Act 2006. RSPCA Beccy Wadey, who investigated the animal welfare offence for the charity, said: “Animals are reliant on their owners to provide a safe and suitable living environment for them. They deserve to be shown respect and kindness and have their needs met. Sadly these animals were neglected without the care they needed or deserved.” Torquay's 24th win of the season ensured they have a chance of winning the title on the final day Torquay United moved up to second place in National League South after a 3-0 win over relegated Weymouth The victory moved sees the Gulls level on points with leaders Truro City with a game to go Torquay's goal difference is two less than their Cornish rivals ahead of their final game of the season at Hemel Hempstead next week They are a point clear of third-placed Eastbourne Borough and fourth-placed Worthing as they look to return to the fifth tier a year after going into administration Jordan Dyer headed home Jordan Young's corner to give Torquay a fourth-minute lead They did not double their tally until midway through the second half when Matt Jay scored for the third successive game as he backheeled Dan Hayfield's pass into the net The win as sealed with 19 minutes left as Jay Foulston volleyed in from close range "We had a perfect start and I thought the first 15 minutes we were electric," Torquay manager Paul Wotton told BBC Radio Devon "I think that's our seventh clean sheet in nine games and now there's no if's and ands it's set in stone what we've got to do next week "For us to be where we are with a game to go after the club nearly went out of existence last year - I've signed 31 players lots of comings and goings and I think to take it down to the last game is tremendous "There's an awful lot to play for and I've said for a long time it can go down to the last five minutes of the last game and it looks like that's going to be the case." Fougou Music presents Shakatak live at The Livermead House Hotel in Torquay in June The 1980s hitmakers will be playing songs you will remember from over the years such as Night Birds and Down On The Street and new material as well Shakatak have enjoyed a level of success and career longevity rarely paralleled in contemporary music – but then Shakatak is a particularly unusual group their fan base is one that is far reaching while always retaining an ‘underground element’.   who are known primarily as serious jazz/funk musicians enjoying both high ‘cult’ status and instant recognition as a household name at the same time After a number of successful top-twenty singles in the UK the band went on to score unprecedented international success with the release of the classic Nightbirds recording and the title track has now become a standard in the popular music repertoire.  This success was repeated with the top-ten hit Down on the Street and the award-winning video established the band’s personnel of Jill Saward(lead vocs) Bill Sharpe(keys),Keith Winter(gtr),  George Anderson(bass) and Roger Odell(drums) With the magic Al Jarreau/Shakatak combination the group went on to record the track Day by Day to further international acclaim Along with this successful recording career Shakatak had firmly established themselves as a vibrant live act combining astute musicianship with a sense of fun that communicated strongly with world-wide audiences.  Their performance in Japan’s Budoken Hall won them a Silver Award at the Tokyo International Song Festival-other awards include the Best Instrumental Album for six consecutive years and other live concerts of note have been the East meets the West Border Concert at the time of German re-unification in 1989 and the open air concert in Cape Town for the Millennium Celebrations in 2000 where they played in front of 250,000 people Shakatak’s sound has evolved over the years They have released over 50 CDs plus several DVDs maintained a dedicated fan base and continuing to perform live shows worldwide along with their ability to blend various genres into a distinctive style has solidified Shakatak as influential figures in the jazz-funk and pop music scenes For live performances the band consists of original members augmented by Jacqui Hicks (backing vocals and sax) or Debby Bracknell (backing vocals and flute) producing a musically dynamic and entertaining show from the six-piece line-up “They are consummate professionals with seemingly unlimited stamina and an instinctive ability to hold an audience…” said BUZZ magazine Tickets are available online  at fougoumusic.com  and cost   £31.50 A large crowd watched and cheered as a star attraction took pride of place on the new look harbourside in Torquay - a statue of Dame Agatha Christie Christie's grandson Matthew Prichard and artist Elizabeth Hadley All pictures miraclePR.com showing Dame Agatha with her best-selling book And Then There Were None and her favourite pet dog was sculptured by Brixham-base artist Elizabeth Hadley who was there to help unveil the piece of work which will now form an integral part of the revamped Strand area which has been recently transformed into a Piazza-style promenade was Dame Agatha's grandson Matthew Prichard who revealed in a witty yet touching speech how Torquay was 'in her grandmother's heart' which has been overseeing the Strand scheme as part of £22million Town Centres funding from the government also welcomed Dame Agatha to her new 'home' TV and radio presenter Jeremy Vine took time out from headlining in the Agatha Christie festival to be one of the first to accompany her on her new bench overlooking the harbour water.  Dozens were quick to follow The Rising Star Award, sponsored by the Princess Theatre in the Torbay Weekly Business Awards 2025 recognises individuals who are rising through the ranks of their organisations the Princess Theatre hopes to celebrate emerging talent across the Bay inspiring individuals to build their careers and share their achievements with the local community Theatre director Annie Mason said: “We are so proud to sponsor the Rising Star award we have a leadership development programme of the same name and it remains one of the company’s corporate social responsibilities and great passions to nurture talent within the theatre industry It’s particularly important that we celebrate those rising stars in the Bay who will hopefully continue to build their careers here in whichever industry they are in and celebrate their achievements in the local area.” who grew up in Ivybridge and always took an active interest in sport A Devon local and former Torquay Boys' Grammar School pupil Ben has gone on to big things since leaving the Bay to work as a sports consultant in London.  he knew that he wanted to direct his passion for sports into a career While many think of geography as revolving around lava flow and longshore drift Ben’s eye was caught by the human side of things.  “It’s a lot broader than you think,” he said “There’s a lot of content that you might think was part of an economics or politics module or class “I’d recommend it for anyone picking their A-levels or IB courses because it can be used for so many different things.” Following his impressive results in the sixth form Ben was granted a place on the geography course at the University of Edinburgh Here he continued to develop his passion for his chosen subject and his love of sports Ben knew exactly the career for him.  “I managed to get an internship at Deloitte which is one of the Big Four accounting and consulting companies the focus of the internship was on financial accounting I decided then that I wanted to go into strategy consulting.” Consultancy is one of the fastest-growing job sectors right now with companies keen to field expert advice and data research on how best to maximise profit and sustainability Sports consultancy focuses on helping sports teams local councils and mult-inational corporations Ben managed to land an interview at a leading sports strategy consultancy known for its high-profile clients and impactful work in the world of sport while having a first from a Russell Group university helped get his foot in the door the employers mainly wanted to gauge Ben’s passion for sports.  “There were a couple of case interview tasks in the later stages but the first interview was mainly just a conversation to gauge my fit with the company and passion for sport It’s important to be able to get inside the mind of a fan “Sports organisations are ultimately geared around making sure fans are happy and hence buying tickets to matches and watching sports online or on TV My knowledge of rugby and cricket has helped me apply this knowledge to demonstrate how a sports organisation may be able to better attract and retain fans.” The interview went smoothly: Ben was made a business analyst and while he was very excited to get going his first few months weren’t exactly a rollercoaster “It was interesting when I first joined to see in practice what a consultant actually does on a day-to-day basis Whilst I had researched and grasped a certain level of understanding nothing quite prepares you for being thrown in at the deep end my role was primarily conducting research and developing PowerPoint decks to support analysis These would then be used to provide insights into clients most pressing problems.” Ben’s big break came in the form of an invitation to work as part of the company’s team in Saudi Arabia This entailed uprooting his whole life and leaving the country for six months to live on a company compound with the rest of his team.  “It felt amazing to immerse myself in a new culture I got to know the team since we all lived together in Riyadh Then we’d fly each week to where the client was based in a rural town in the west of KSA where we would stay in a hotel from Sunday to Thursday.” The client hired Ben's company to revolutionise cycling in the area and see if their success as destinations for cycling could be repeated in Saudi Arabia the town's cycling offering has gone from strength to strength There are 100s of kilometres of dedicated cycle lanes being built a hub for bike repairs and a Tour de France-style competition which attracts global competitors.  Ben was promoted to senior analyst and was set to work on a slew of new projects These included an adventure sports arena on an offshore resort a report into grassroots football in the UK and a socio-economic report for a county-level English cricket club His biggest and most personal project came in the form of the chance to work with the organising bodies of international competitions for his favourite sport: rugby.  it was a great excuse to watch a lot of rugby.” Ben was part of a team which had to negotiate with several countries in order to examine the international calendar for both men’s and women’s rugby They all want a chance to host events and be a hub for the sport but there’s only so much time in the year.” Ben’s next project could take him anywhere – his company has clients in far-flung locations such as the Netherlands and Mauritius as well as how it aligns with his passion for sports because not everyone is going to get to be the England captain At some point you have to decide how else you can use your sports knowledge to make a career “Sports consultancy is primarily involved in the business of sport although we do also touch on these topics depending on the client We’re mostly focused on trying to help clients increase participation and become financially sustainable we can ensure they continue to have a positive impact on people from around the world whether through watching or partaking in the sport.” It’s easy to see how Ben ended up where he is today he benefitted massively from the rich sporting opportunities on offer sports consultancy is definitely an avenue to explore or ‘Jimmy Award’); Sally Allen (Innovation); Inter-Line (Apprentice of the Year); Torquay United FC (Sport and Health and Wellbeing Business of the Year) The Torbay Weekly Lifetime Achievement awards for contribution to business and the community will be announced on the finals night The Overall Business of the Year will be chosen from across the category winners on the finals night and is not a category for entries The deadline for applications has been extended to midnight on Monday June 11 set for the glittering finals night at the Riviera International Centre in Torquay