Well, we all know it's true, "Country Life" confirms that Devon is once again best county overall in their recent survey, reinforcing its 2003 top ranking! Scoring first place for landscape, heritage, green credentials, pubs and food - and in the top ten for health, arts, tranquillity, light and dining, Devon beat neighbours Cornwall (7th), Dorset (5th) and Somerset (4th).

As Country Life says "..few counties can match the variety that Devon manages to pack into its 2,589 square miles .... (it) is the most consistently hilly of counties ... The sight of cows in this dairy paradise makes one's knife hand itch to be folding clotted cream on top of a scone."   You can read the article by clicking here.

And we think Dartmouth is a jewel in Devon's crown so why not come and stay to experience what it is that makes our town and Devon special.  
 

2.   Harpham String Quartet

Catch the last of this year’s Celebrity Classical Series at the Flavel with the Harpham String Quartet at 7.30pm on Sat 14th Mar. The Harpham Quartet is steadily becoming regarded as a formidable new talent. Last year they were selected as Park Lane Group Young Artists and performed at the opening night of the 2008 New Year Series at the Purcell Room.

Recent performance highlights include appearances at the Wigmore Hall, Fairfield Halls, Rachmaninov Hall, Moscow and Cadogan Hall, as 2008 ‘RCM Rising Stars’. Festival appearances include the Harrogate International Festival, Mostly Mozart at the Barbican, King’s Lynn and Chichester Festivities. Having given a successful concert at the Honiton Festival last year, they were invited back to perform with Emma Johnson MBE.

Prestigious performances of 20th and 21st Century works to date have included the chamber music of Mark Anthony Turnage for the 2008 BBC Proms Composer Portraits series, the Malcolm Arnold Festival and the RCM Transcendent Festival: The Music of Helmut Lachenmann, for which their performance of the composer’s String Quartet ‘Grido’, received critical acclaim. In the summer of 2009 they will collaborate with the Medici Quartet in a world premiere performance of Sir John Tavener’s ‘Towards Silence’.

The Harpham Quartet’s training took place at the RCM where they were awarded the Helen Just and Susan Connell Prize for Chamber Music. They attended the Britten-Pears 31st International String Quartet Academy, receiving coaching from Alistair Tate and the Alban Berg Quartet. The quartet has also received guidance from Irvine Arditti and the late Dr Christopher Rowland. They have performed in masterclasses with Gábor Takács-Nagy and members of the Arditti, Keller, Vermeer, Chilingirian, Endellion and Maggini Quartets.

Programme to include:
Haydn – Quartet Op.33 No.3 “Bird”
Beethoven – Quartet Op.18 No.4 in C Minor
Schubert – Quartet in D Minor “Death and the Maiden”
Tickets £15 from the Flavel Box Office on 01803 839530 or online by clicking here.

3.   Cannelloni with Rigoletto

Another sell-out success for the Dart Music Festival occurred on Friday night in Dartmouth, Devon, with acclaimed performances from the talented musical group, Opera on the Run, which accompanied the cuisine of local chef Nick Crosley and his team of apprentices. Visitors from as far afield as Ashford in Kent joined over 100 enthusiasts to pack the spectacular Dartmouth Apprentice Restaurant to enjoy the Opera on the Run group perform favourite operas, and to bid on art donated by local artists.

As well as the feast of musical favourites performed by chanteur Ian Bloomfield and chantreuses, The Aphrodite Sisters, diners enjoyed a superb three course meal of Mediterranean canapés, olives, and pesto dips; followed by chicken, beef or ricotta and spinach cannelloni. The meal concluded with Dartmouth ice cream, tiramisu and chocolate wafer biscotti and coffee. Commencing with a medley of popular operas the night included O Solo Mio; the Flower Song; Don’t Say Goodbye; Rigoletto; Nessun Dorma; along with other favourites such as Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend and Oh What A Beautiful Morning.

Marilyn Bird, Director of the Classical Programme for the Festival said: “It was great seeing the audience enjoy the evening with their Pavarotti inspired napkin waving throughout Nessun Dorma. “I am continually surprised and delighted by the support Dartmouth gives to our fund-raising efforts. From donations for the food through to the volunteers and staff at the Dartmouth Apprentice we are enormously appreciative and thankful for such generosity.”

“Tickets are already selling incredibly well for the Festival performance of Opera On the Run. We expect it to be sold out very soon. This will be a doubly special performance as they will be accompanied by the musical string quartet of Bowjangles in St Saviours.” Tickets for the 7:30pm performance on Saturday 9 May, along with other ticketed events, can be purchased at the Dartmouth Visitor & Information Centre.

4.    Small News

• Dartmouth News
  Our last news was on 19 February, our guys have been working away and our house, as some may know, is in the process of a mini-Grand Designs with nearly all of the front being replaced as well as most of the inside!  Our news will remain patchy until the middle of April.  If you have any news, or you want to invite us to your gathering, just e-mail us?
   
• Sunday Lunch.  "Taylor's Restaurant is now open for Sunday. You can enjoy a 2 or 3 course Set Sunday Lunch for either £13.50 or £15.50, respectively. This includes a choice of two roasts, with roast beef charged at a £5 supplement. Their full a la carte menu will also be available. Check out their website for the current menus by clicking here or telephone 01803 832748 for bookings."
   
• Slipway Opening Ceremony to be performed at Stoke Gabriel Creek by Admiral Sir David and Lady Williams
  at 4:30pm on Sunday 15 March 2009 followed by a Naming of 5 New Club Boats and Cream Tea at the River Shack
  
  A derelict slipway, formerly owned by Dart Harbour, has been transformed and brought back into use by members of the Stoke Gabriel Boating Association. Cadets of the Britannia Royal Naval College have given valuable assistance as part of the College’s Outreach Programme and the National Lottery ‘Awards for All’ scheme provided substantial funding for the new materials.

Yet another day in paradise

Why not come and visit Dartmouth?

• Self catering accommodation click here
   
• Dartmouth B and B  click here
   
• Dartmouth Hotels click here
   
• A Tourist Guide to Dartmouth click here