Bowjangles, the magical quartet that have played, sung, danced and charmed their way into the hearts of Dartmouth will be returning again this year. With wonderful musicianship and athletic dance moves, along with a touch of vaudeville and four part harmonies, they will once again perform a dazzling stage show. Others on the classical programme include The Little Opera Company, the Britannia Choral Society, noted organist Andrej Kouznetsov, Voices 7 Choral sextet and the Bellringers of St Saviour's Church. Performers at the festival are too numerous to list but will include: The Devon Youth Jazz Orchestra, The Dave Hankin Big Band, James Harris’ Beatbelt, Louise Parker, Maggie Reeday, Ruarri Joseph, The Bucket boys, The Bounce, and favourites such as the Red Bullets, Sax Appeal, the Quails, the Tickle and Urusen.
A full list of performers can be found by clicking here.

2.  New pottery courses starting at Coombe Farm Studios

Jill Fanshawe Kato reports:   I am a Japan-trained potter who has had more than 40 exhibitions of my ceramics in Japan and many more in the UK and internationally. But my roots as an artist are in Devon. I grew up in Kingskerswell and went to Torquay Girl's Grammar School. My pottery is all influenced by the natural world, thanks to growing up in glorious Devon. Though I now live in London, Devon continues to inspire me. I will be exhibiting in 'Echoes' at Torre Abbey from May 1- June 30 this year.

Students on my courses at Coombe will draw inspiration from the beautiful nature of the area to create imaginative pottery. A pottery course for all levels in early springtime in Devon, which is the time of year when life returns to the earth and the hedgerows are fresh with bracken fronds, new leaves and wild flowers. This five-day course offers students a great opportunity to improve their skills in a more relaxed environment than is possible on shorter courses. The emphasis will be on simplicity and good design inspired by nature. Starting with hand building methods, students will create useful pottery for the table. They will progress to coiling large bowls and lidded pots and also try throwing on the potter’s wheel. Those who wish can progress to more individual sculptural forms.

3.   HMS St Albans to sail into Dartmouth

A Type 23 frigate HMS St Albans will sail into the River Dart for a three day visit from March 18-20. The ship will be anchored off Dartmouth for this short visit, but will open her gangway to visitors, with free entry and boat transfers to the ship available from Town Quay.

Open from 10am-2pm on Saturday March 19, HMS St Albans is looking forward to welcoming local people on board – tickets, which are free, can be obtained from Dartmouth Tourist Information Office. Access will only be via ticket.

In addition to opening to visitors, the ship will also host a capability demonstration for invited guests on Saturday evening, as well as a lunch on Sunday. St Albans’ visit is part of her Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST) assessment, which ensures that the exacting standards expected by the Royal Navy are met throughout the ship and her crew.

“Part of the FOST assessment is about how the ship is managed with guests on board,” explained the Commanding Officer, Commander Tom Sharpe. “And we are looking forward to plenty of visitors to St Albans on Saturday March 19. “It’s always a great pleasure to bring the public on board a warship – my crew is certainly looking forward to welcoming Dartmouth residents, showing them around the ship and chatting to them about life in the modern Royal Navy.”

Powerful and versatile with the capability to operate anywhere in the world, the Type 23 Frigate is the mainstay of the modern surface fleet. The effectiveness of these ships is enhanced by their stealth design, which significantly reduces their radar signature. In addition to the war fighting roles described above, the ship is trained to conduct a wide range of other tasks. These include embargo operations using boarding teams inserted from the ship's boats or helicopter, disaster relief work and surveillance operations. HMS St Albans is the 16th and final ship of the Type 23 Duke Class frigates.

4.   Small News

• Sarah Hanafee from Bellini’s Piano Bar reports: This Saturday we have a really good female jazz singer in the bar from 8pm.  Becky Brine is a sultry jazz and blues singer and performs jazz standards and swing classics from artists such as Peggy Lee, Dinah Washington and Frank Sinatra.
   

• The Church is addressing some current issues click here to find out what they are ?
   

• Dartmouth dot TV is not remotely political, our aim is just to Keep Dartmouth Special,  but  we must thank our local MP Sarah Wollaston for her recent work in Dartmouth, click here if you are curious?
   

• The Dartmouth dot TV crew are always available to help festivals in Dartmouth and can often provide completely free main websites for worthwhile causes. Oh, and professional photography too!   So when we heard a new manager was needed for the Royal Regatta website we offered to do it for free; however we were told someone had already been appointed.  We have a considerable library of photography of previous Regattas taken with the help of past Chairman Basil Williams and others.  So if anyone knows the new person that is providing the: design, makeup, photography and hosting all for free, just let us know and we will be there to help.  Click here if you know or want to join in.
   

• Our MD Dave Cawley has been selected to lecture to the United States Department of Commerce in March on remote sensing in Third World Countries.  A UK organisation is picking up Dave's expenses, a report is bound to follow!

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
   
• Shopping in Dartmouth click here
   

Images copyright  Dave Cawley,  Andy Kyle,  & others.