Well, it couldn't have been a better day for queuing!  Warm sunshine and the magnificent venue of Britannia Royal Naval College greeted the crowds when the Antiques Roadshow came to town last Friday.  As usual there was much speculation about the value of various objects, and it is quite true that everyone gets to see an expert, even if, like the Dartmouth dot TV crew, your 'antique' is not a valuable heirloom!  We saw lots of interest in paintings, clocks, books and historic items from the Naval College and are looking forward to the autumn when the series will be broadcast to find out which of them is included and how much they are worth!

Amidst all the treasures on show, presenter Fiona Bruce declared one of the College beagle puppies to be "the best item in the show!"

2.   Dartmouth Art & Craft

Last Saturday and Sunday saw the annual Dartmouth Art and Craft weekend in aid of the Children's Hospice South West.  Again, brilliant sunshine for this event meant plenty of people took the opportunity to watch the artists at work and buy directly from them.  At the time of writing we are waiting to hear how much was raised for this local organisation providing specialist care for 400 terminally ill children and their families from the South West.

3.   Wilder than a wild day this Saturday

26th June - Wilder than Wild Day at Woodlands Family Theme Park.  Join in the hunts, trails & quizzes on the Devon Wildlife Trust’s Road Show.

Examine animal skulls, pull an owl pellet apart, follow animal tracks and other wild pursuits with the Barn Owl Trust and Badger Watch. Enjoy this special day in the Woodlands wildlife & conservation calendar.  For more details click here.

4.   Browns and Dartmouth Caring

From James Brown:  Browns have teamed up with Dartmouth Caring to provide you with a great way to help one of Dartmouth's most amazing charities, whilst still buying wines at prices to match or beat the best prices on the internet.

Each month we will select a series of wines in a variety of price brackets to be our Dartmouth Caring wines of the month. 5% of the price you pay will be given to the charity.  We aim to maintain our commitment to match or beat the prices of the same wines on the internet, or pay you the difference.

Clos Marguerite Sauvignon Blanc 2008. This is arguably one of the best New Zealand Sauvignons available in the UK! Don't take our word for it, have a look at what New Zealand's leading Master of Wine has to say on his website by clicking here .  This is a tiny winery making about 3,500 cases a year.  "Clos Marguerite blends influences from both the old and the new world. The vineyard sits on a gravel terrace of the Awatere River in Marlborough and takes advantage of a terroir undiscovered until recently. Viticultural practices from 'old world' traditions include high density planting, Guyot pruning and a low, controlled yield, while the new world has influenced our cool fermentation methods in stainless steel" It is subtle in flavour yet offers a complex and balanced experience in every glass. Designed to complement your food, not overpower it, this wine works perfectly alongside many different dishes. Clos Marguerite is available by the glass at Browns if you would like to try it. Bottle Price £10.99 Case/Loyalty card price £9.99

5.   Dartmouth Shakespeare Week

It’s that time of year again and August sees The Inn Theatre Company presenting Dartmouth Shakespeare Week for the eighth consecutive year. This year is no different to the previous seven in that each year seems to see a larger cast and more ambitious production. We’ve seen comedy and drama, ballet, magic and even a galleon built on stage for The Tempest; not to mention the authentic rain and wind machines, similar to those used in The Globe in 16th and 17th centuries, built especially for The Tempest as well!

This year, the infamous Scottish Play, ‘Macbeth’, will be happening at Dartmouth Castle from 3rd to 7th August – and it’s set to be the largest, most spectacular (and the darkest) play the Company have attempted yet. And, as usual, it couldn’t be achieved without all the hard work that all the volunteers put in. From acting to make-up, costumes to sound and light, set-construction to special effects, everyone involved gives of their time freely. Students at Dartmouth Community College are constructing huge lanterns to represent spirits and we have folk from every walk of life treading the boards, many of them appearing on-stage for the first time and ‘doing’ Shakespeare for the first time as well!
If you’ve never been to see one of Dartmouth Shakespeare Week’s open-air performances, treat yourself! It all started in 2003, with ‘Twelfth Night’. Then followed ‘The Taming of the Shrew’, ‘The Merchant of Venice’, ‘Romeo & Juliet’, ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ (with the ballet!), ‘The Tempest’, ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ last year and now ‘Macbeth’. A return to comedy in 2011, with ‘As You Like It’; the Company are nothing if not adventurous! Accessible, that’s the watch-word; fun, entertaining, spectacular and even ‘Macbeth’ has a few laughs!

Look forward to seeing you up at the Castle. Get your tickets from the Dartmouth Tourist Information Centre – 01803 – 834224. And why not bring a picnic to enjoy up at the Castle, before the performance? The Castle Tea Rooms will also be open for tea, coffee and a glass of wine or beer, if that takes your fancy!

6.   Small News

• The Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta 42nd Annual Tennis Tournament Open Event runs all Regatta week from Monday 23rd August to Saturday 28th. Full details can be found on the website by clicking here , including entry forms for both the Open and Closed events.
   

• Phil Watson reports: The BRNC Volunteer Band will be taking part in the Royal Navy Volunteer Band Festival in Portsmouth on Sat 3rd July. The Band will be performing a 'dress rehearsal' in The Royal Avenue Gardens on Thursday 1st July from 7.30 - 8.30 pm. We will be doing a bit of marching followed by a short concert - to give Dartmouth a PR boost after the dreadful fire.
   

• News from the Royal Castle Hotel.  On Thursday 1st July we will be having our monthly Rijstafel night. The menu is priced at £18.00 for four-courses and each course is made up of several dishes. Rijstafel (literally, rice table) is an array of many dishes in small portions that cover the whole table. Although it is a Dutch idea the origins are clearly Indonesian and it was known at one time as Makan Besar. Indonesian people traditionally take a meal from a central plate of steamed or fried rice with other dishes arranged around it - usually including fish or meat, a vegetable dish and a sweet and spicy sauce. To book you table please call 01803 833033
   

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

The Flavel, Dartmouth’s exciting venue for theatre, cinema and the arts, is currently looking to recruit the following permanent part time position "Weekend Duty Manager and Marketing Assistant. Working 16 to 24 hours per week to assist with the smooth running of the Flavel Centre. Duty Management responsibilities include overseeing events and film screenings, room bookings, Box Office, customer service, running the bar, cashing and locking up and supporting volunteers. The Marketing assistant role involves working within the Marketing Team on the promotion of out arts programme and audience development. For more information or to apply, please contact John Severn at The Flavel, Flavel Place, Dartmouth, TQ6 9ND 01803 839530  If you mention Dartmouth dot TV they will know you keep up to date with Dartmouth!

Images copyright Dave Cawley & others.