1. Gig
racing
2. House
of Sand and Fog
3. Modern
heroes reach for the sky
4. A play about John Hawley
5. Summer in Dartmouth
6. Small News
1. Gig
racing
The top photographs are from last year and the black
and white was taken in 1904.
Kevin Pyne reports on the Gig Racing this Saturday:
The whole thing kicks off at around one. The club is
helped tremendously by the Royal Dart Yacht Club and
the Dartmouth Yacht Club, the former with the
helpful provision of race marks and the latter by
providing their catering facilities. The Harbour
Office is also superb, as are the police and traffic
warden and the district council who help with
parking facilities. The Royal Regatta committee
helps with tents and such, as do various locals with
electric supplies and the provision of course and
safety boats.
The course used is the old around course which was
used by the pilot and boarding gigs until the Great
War brought about their demise! Eddy at the tea hut
will be unveiling his new Mr. Whippy ice cream
machine with his pilot gig special.
This is the tenth in harbour event and the eleventh
gig regatta that the club have hosted.
Although owing to the bad weather recently they have
had to surrender one of their gigs for transporting
to the Isles of Scilly already. Dart's other
gig leaves on Monday morning. The sport is fast and
furious and is enjoyed by spectators and rowers
alike!”
|
The Giggers ascend
It is human propelled power
That takes over on the Dart River
For just a few hours today
As the pilot gigs they race again
As they did on long gone days
They’ll line them up above Eddie’s tea hut
Until the starter drops the flag
And sends them all away
As in a myriad of colours
They race full on fast stroked away
Down past the Dartmouth lower ferries
And down to the estuary
Then it’s around the a mark just above
The one gun cannon
Where Miranda the mermaid likes to be
And then it’s across to the light house
To the second turn and a rhythmic
Long pull home for the girls and boys
Past the Longford marker
Past the Royal Dart Yacht Club
All then passing to starboard
Of the welcoming yellow buoy
And the first one home gets the trophy
The last one gets a clap and a cheer
From beyond that natural maritime amphitheatre!
That is a spectator’s paradise
And the Dart in April so early in the year! |
Come down for the weekend to see them?
2. House of Sand and
Fog
An abandoned wife is
evicted from her house and starts a tragic conflict with her
home's new owners. "House of Sand and Fog" boasts superlative
performances, a fascinating character study, a melodrama of a
script and a compelling score.
Starring Jennifer Connelly (Oscar winner for "A Beautiful Mind")
and Ben Kingsley, "House of Sand and Fog" works and has "epic"
written all over it. Guest tickets for sale in The
Windjammer 7.30 - 7.55 £3.50
Our bar at The Guildhall opens at 7.30 - the film to be shown at
8pm.
3.
Modern heroes reach for the sky
Jack Sparrow and the Sea Dragon are looking for the Sea
Heroes to ride on their boat. Life saving heroes from
Dartmouth's new Lifeboat and hardy Sea Cadets are to face a
44ft high challenge to raise funds. The Mayor of Dartmouth,
Cllr Iris Pritchard is also bringing 30 brave scouting
youngsters to experience a new white knuckle thrill.
The Mayor is to christen the Sea Dragon Swing Ship with
champagne at Woodlands on Pirates' Day, Wednesday 9th April.
The Woodlands' mascot, Seawood the Sea Dragon will be
ushering Dartmouth Councillors, the Mayor of Totnes and
Kingsbridge dignitaries aboard the half million pound ride.
Using his naval skills to cut the mooring rope Lt. (SCC)
Patrick Franklin will send the 18metre ship flying skywards.
Feeling the full G Force of negative 2 the daring heroes and
brave youngsters will be screaming for more.
The rip roaring Pirates' Day will see Pirates flocking to
the park to receive half their entrance back when they enter
the Davy Jones Best Dressed Pirate Competition. The first
riders will receive Pirate Treasure Chests and onlookers
will be showered with champagne, chocolates and surprises.
Families can hunt for golden chocolate loot, solve the
Pirates' Treasure Hunt and win a variety of prizes from a
mountain bike to a flashing cutlass. The Balloon Man will be
making fantasy treasures to take home. Spangles the clown is
the hilarious Master of Ceremonies while top entertainers
Ben and Richie entertain families on the park stage.
All the Pirates Day Celebrations at the 80 acre Park
together with 10 play zones and 16 family rides and the Big
Fun Farm are included in the day out admission.
4. A play
about John Hawley
The Dartmouth Players are making a big contribution to this
year’s Hawley 600 event with a new play about the famous
14th Century Dartmouth ship owner, privateer, politician and
landowner. The play entitled “Blow the Wind Fair” has been
written by Linda Churchill and will be performed on 30th
June and 1st July 2008, at 7:30pm at St Saviour's Church
Dartmouth. It is a fictional play, woven around historical
documentary evidence, taking place in the period when John
Hawley was incarcerated in the Tower of London in 1406.
There are flash backs to earlier periods of his life,
including the famous battle of Blackpool Sands. This is a
theatre production taking place within a few feet of the
tomb of John Hawley who died in 1408. “We hope he approves
of the dramatic slant of the play and refrains from making a
ghostly guest appearance!” says Linda Churchill. “The play
is within the context of documentary evidence but fills in
some gaps to bring him alive to today’s audience.”
The Dartmouth Players, now in their 79th year, welcome all
new members whether you just fancy having a go, or are an
“old hand”. If you are interested in taking part in this
unique performance a reading will take place at St Saviour's
Church, Dartmouth, at 7:00pm on Tuesday 8th April 2008.
Auditions will follow on Thursday 10th April at 7:00pm, same
location. For more information call (01803) 832036 or visit
their web site by
clicking here.
See more about Dartmouth's history by
clicking here. The
Hawley brass shown here can be seen in St Saviour's Church
in Dartmouth
5
. Summer
in Dartmouth
The photographs
here and below were taken here this week, as was the one
at the top of this page by
Tony Pike. You can
see how warm and sunny it is here in our own little micro
climate!
3rd
April 2008
