Dartmouth's latest 'must be seen in' venue opened last week just in time for Easter.  Bellini's Piano Bar is in the former auction rooms in Hauley Road which have been transformed into a comfortable, modern wine and cocktail bar, with the added attraction of visiting pianists to add atmosphere.  We wish owners Kevin and Sarah Hanafee (Danielli), every success with this new venture.

2.  Mark Lobb @ Browns

James Brown reports: Mark Lobb @ Browns Thursday 15th April He's coming back.....for a third time!

Mark will recreate his fish market stall @ Browns. You choose what you want to eat from a wide selection of fish bought at Brixham Market that morning. We then cook your fish in a variety of styles. We cooked 15 types of fish at the last event - crazy busy in the kitchen! This is all about tasting different types of fish cooked simply. The price of the event is £19.50 which will include side dishes. We will offer a small selection of fishy tapas starters and a range of desserts for additional cost.  We had a waiting list of 8 tables for this event at the Food Festival. It really is worth booking early!

3.   The flowers of Dartmouth

All these photos here and the one at the top of this news were taken within a 5 minute walk of the town centre and all taken yesterday (Wednesday 7 April).  Can you resist Dartmouth? the weather is warm, the Chardonnay is cold and the river is deep blue!

4.   Graham Gooch

Appearing at the Flavel, Dartmouth on Sat 24th April at 7.30pm

Graham Gooch was the most prolific run scorer top-class cricket has ever seen.  After he retired in 1997, the statistician Robert Brooke calculated that he had scored 21,087 in one-day cricket at first-class level, which added to his 44,841 first-class runs, put him ahead of Jack Hobbs. It was an amazing achievement.  Graham Gooch was awarded the OBE for his services to cricket in 1991.

He was raised in East London and it was here that his potential was developed at the Ilford Cricket School by Bill Morris. Gooch made the Essex 2nd XI in 1969, in 1973 he made his first-class debut. He was soon in the runs, and he made his maiden ton a year later. 1975 was the breakthrough year. He played for the MCC against the touring Australians. He made 75 and was soon picked for the Edgbaston test. Whether it was too early for him, or the pressure was too much, Gooch failed and made a pair. He was subsequently dropped and it was only in 1978 that he made his comeback. A year later Gooch was instrumental in Essex capturing their first trophy in 103 years of the club.  The most controversial aspect of Gooch’s career came in 1982 when he decided to lead the first England rebel tour of South Africa. He was subsequently banned from test cricket for three years.

1990 was a great year in Gooch’s career, he averaged over 100 with the test match at Lord’s
against India being the highlight. In this one match Gooch hit the world record test run aggregate (456), he became holder of the highest score at Lord’s (333), he was the first ever player to score a triple-century and a century in a match, he took the record for the highest test score against India and achieved the highest score by an England Captain. Of all his great test innings one stands out in particular, at Headingley against the West Indies in 1991. Gooch carried his bat for a score of 154 not out, out of a total of 252 on a green wicket which was regularly enlivened by the damp weather. This was against an attack comprising of Ambrose, Walsh, Marshall and Patterson.  In all Gooch led the England side 34 times and was captain in the 1992 World Cup final defeat by Pakistan. He played in two other World Cup finals in 1979 and 1987. Currently he is England’s leading test run maker with a total of 8,900 runs and 20 centuries.

Tickets £15, conc £14 from the Flavel Box Office 01803 839530 or click here.

5.   An Education Tonight

Dartmouth Film Society's film for tonight: An Education is set in 1962; the heroine is 16-year-old London schoolgirl Jenny Miller (Carey Mulligan), the only child of conventional, lower-middle-class parents, and the film's title has a double meaning, one scholastic, the other sentimental. First, it refers to her sixth-form work at a Twickenham girls' school, the prize pupil of Miss Stubbs (Olivia Williams), her intense English teacher, and the imminent prospect of winning a place at Oxford that will transform her life. It also refers to the dangerous relationship that begins when David (Peter Sarsgaard), a seemingly wealthy charmer, gives her a lift home in his Bristol sports car one rainy day and that threatens to deflect her disastrously from this liberating future.

Films are screened at the Guildhall, Victoria Road, Dartmouth, unless otherwise stated. The bar is open from 7.30pm and films start approx. 8pm.  Guest tickets can be purchased on the night at a cost of £3.50 each from:  “The Windjammer” Victoria Road, between 7.30pm and 7.55pm only.  (No guest tickets will be sold on the door.)  For further information call Rob Bird on 01803 835849

6.   Small News

None this week!

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

Images copyright Dave Cawley, Tony Pike & others.