Colin Firth, star of the film ‘A Single Man’, is one of the many notable stars and films to be screened as part of the Dartmouth Film Society’s (DFS) 2010 autumn/ winter season.

Commencing at 7:30pm on Thursday 16 September, in Dartmouth’s Guildhall, the screening of ‘A Single Man’ will be an opportunity for non-members to join the film club at a discounted rate of £8.50 for the remainder of 2010.  Membership provides free access to the different films that are screened every second Thursday. The films reflect a variety of genres including biography, comedy, drama, thriller, mystery and music.

Notable films to be screened over the next few months are: the comedy ‘Conversations with My Gardener’ (Sept 30); the war-time story of ‘The Boy in Striped Pyjamas’ (Oct 14); the Israeli film drama ‘Lemon Tree’ (Oct 28); a drama set amidst the July bombing of London in ‘London River’ (Nov 11), and the comedy based on a true story of the triumph of a Russian conductor demoted to the role of janitor and the concert he organises in ‘The Concert’ (Nov 25).

The final film for 2010, planned to be screened at the DFS Christmas Party on December 16, is the wonderful film of ‘The Illusionist’.  Each Guildhall screening commences with doors opening at 7:30pm and includes an intermission when drinks and snacks are served. The evening concludes around 10pm.

Separate/Guest tickets can not be purchased at the Guildhall but can be purchased on the night of the screening at The Windjammer pub in Victoria Street, Dartmouth for £3.60 per film, between 7.30 – 7.55 pm. New members can join at the door on any screening night.  For further information contact: Clive Osborne on 079-6802-6449

2.  BRNC Volunteer Band special performance

A favourite with many locals, the fledgling BRNC Volunteer Band is set to win even more fans with a special performance at the Flavel Centre on Thursday 7 October at 7:30pm.

Having won many fans when they performed at the Dart Music Festival earlier this year the band has enjoyed further success with performances around the district. Started at the request of the Royal Navy in 2009 to provide a Royal Naval Volunteer Band as a musical presence in the Britannia Royal Naval College, and also to provide musical support to Dartmouth and throughout the district, the band performs primarily as a concert wind band. It has also performed in smaller groups for RN Officers Mess functions and various charity and civil events.  The band has also been quick to attract up to 45 musicians into their ranks - many being ex-services personnel. This made the band an obvious choice to lead the Royal British Legion Remembrance Parade through the streets of Dartmouth last November and to perform in the bandstand at the 2010 Dart Music Festival.

Pam Braakenburg, Chairman of the Dart Music Festival said: "It’s great to see the local band coming out to support and help raise funds for the Music Festival. It’s a great opportunity for the community to see, hear and support our local big band. It is a very special group.  The band is made up of mainly civilian musicians, with just a few serving personnel, with about 50% of the band members having been ex-service musicians."  "The band will be playing a variety of pieces including marches, solo items, music from the shows, light classical and easy listening music and much more. "

Tickets can be purchased from The Flavel office for £8, or online by clicking here.

3.   Dartmouth Gardner wins award

Adrian Booker, who is also President of Dartmouth and Kingswear Horticultural Society, has won a Silver Medal at the Devon and Cornwall  Chrysanthemum and Dahlia Society show.

His exhibit, a basket of nine dahlias, (see attached), attracted the judges for the quality of the blooms and precision of presentation.

Adrian intends to show more of his dahlias at the Dartmouth Show at Townstal Community Hall on Saturday 11 September. The show opens to the public at 2.30 pm and all are welcome.

4.   Golden Feast @ the Dartmouth Food Festival

The Floating Bridge in Dartmouth is hosting a Tutored Tasting and Ploughman’s Lunch on Friday 22nd October (12:30pm – 2:30pm) to celebrate Dartmouth Food Festival (20th – 24th October). The event will feature tastings of Sharpham’s ‘Savour’ Cheese and Quercus Brewery’s ‘Natural Beauty’ Beer, both created to mark the 50th anniversary of South Devon being designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Author and Poet James Crowden, who was brought up near Dartmouth, will lead the event describing a day in the life of a South Devon farm worker over 50 years ago and explaining the history of the ploughman’s lunch.  Mark Sharman of Sharpham Estate and Pete Walker from Quercus Brewery will also be at the event to describe how the local landscape contributes to the uniqueness of ‘Savour’ Cheese - a creamy textured cheese with both goats’ and cows’ milk - and ‘Natural Beauty’ Beer, which uses malting barley grown at Salcombe.

Tom Woods, Dart Marina’s newly appointed Head Chef, comments: “There’s always a real buzz in the air, as well as mouth watering aromas, during Dartmouth Food Festival, and it’s really exciting to see the town become a hub of local food and drink. We have so many expert food producers on our doorstep, and we are really looking forward to welcoming Mark Sharman from Sharpham Cheese and Pete Walker from Quercus Brewery to The Floating Bridge.” Click here to see more.

Tickets are £12 each and must be booked in advance from the South Devon AONB office 01803 861384

6.   Small News

• Chris Ryan reports: the date of Kingswear Regatta is 23rd/24th July 2011.  This got this year's Dartmouth dot TV 'Small Regatta' Award!
   

• Don't forget, Farmers' Market this Saturday: fresh local produce in Dartmouth's Old Market
   

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.