Andy is quite simply extraordinary. A presenter for Radio One and latterly Radio Three, for over 15 years, Andy is also a journalist, and no ordinary traveller. Now his autobiography “No off switch” underlines that this is a man living multiple lives. He has visited 97 countries, many I would consider dangerous, and has a CD and LP collection weighing 7 tons. He became the presenter of the Old Grey Whistle Test quite by accident, was Billy Bragg’s roadie and tour manager, has reported on three civil wars and a volcanic eruption for the BBC.

Andy worked for the Rolling Stones in 1982, and alongside John Peel for over 10 years. Amazingly, he once rescued Mike Tyson and was a central figure in the popularisation of world music. He spent a week riding as a hells angel; turned down £50,000 to appear on I am a celebrity; has met Nelson Mandela; and made four visits to North Korea, the world’s most secretive society. Neil Kinnock invited him to discuss what young people want; and he secured the first ever British TV interview of Bob Dylan by giving Bob a jar of jam! Andy has also made a number of trail blazing travel programs for Channel 4.

So where will Andy Kershaw take us? Well, to many interesting places, full of energy and a touch of his unique perspective on life adding insight, wit and pace across his hugely diverse journey so far.

Not to be missed. There will be pre show suppers too! Booking by clicking here or telephone the box office 01803: 839530

2.  Meet the Chef &The Angel Dartmouth

Joanna Bulmer reports: I’d like to introduce myself and my husband, chef Stephen Bulmer. We have just taken over running Restaurant Angelique for the 10 in 8 Fine Dining Group. It’s been a whirlwind couple of weeks, having only moved to Devon at New Year, so please excuse me if our paths haven’t crossed yet.

We are delighted to be in Dartmouth and are looking forward to running a restaurant with such a famous heritage. Steve has worked for a wide variety of chefs – including Raymond Blanc, Georgio Locatelli and Simon Hopkinson – so has re-designed the menu to reflect his breadth of experience. He plans to offer good value, carefully-prepared dishes featuring the best local, seasonal produce and has enjoyed meeting all the local fishermen and growers while putting it together. As well as our A La Carte menu, we are offering a set price lunch and dinner menu with two courses for £18.50 and three courses for £22.50. In coming weeks, we will also ‘beef up’ – pardon the pun – our Sunday lunch menu, so you can enjoy a relaxing and satisfying brunch or lunch on a Sunday. Please click here to see the website  for our current menus and more details about Steve.

Just as the menu features local and seasonal produce, so the restaurant interior now reflects its beautiful waterside location, with the colours of the sea and the work of local artists helping to create an informal, relaxed environment. We have put the tables and chairs back on the ground floor so guests can see Steve and his team at work in our open kitchen, as well as enjoying breathtaking views across the estuary. Our first floor room is also open for those who prefer it.

Given all the above, we also felt it was appropriate to change the name. This last decision was not taken lightly, as we are aware there have been several name changes in recent years; but we feel it is important that our name better reflects Steve’s more relaxed and informal style. Therefore, we will shortly be changing our name to ‘The Angel, Dartmouth’, repainting the exterior frontage and updating our website in coming weeks.

We would welcome some feedback on our changes, so please come and see our new look, try our new menu and meet our new chef. You’ll find that Steve is a lively Yorkshireman who enjoys a chat, so don’t hold back! With this in mind, we are giving you a special Dartmouth News advance warning of an offer we have created, to encourage people to come and try us out. Called ‘Meet the Chef’ this offers a 15% discount on lunch and dinner bookings up to 15th March inclusive. We will be publicising this widely in a couple of weeks time, so please come soon to avoid the rush! (Terms and Conditions: This offer ends 15/03/12 and excludes the dates 11/02/12 and 14/02/12. It is not valid in conjunction with any other offer. Please quote AD15 when booking, to ensure you receive your discount.)

3.   Newcomen 300 Celebrations

2012 sees the three hundredth anniversary of the Newcomen Engine. The first engine in the world and the engine that changed the world. Thomas Newcomen was a Dartmouth resident and one of only three surviving engines is on display in the Tourist Information Centre, ask them to switch it on! It's big, very big.....

Run up Events
Feb 16th 5.30 pm Launch at the new Community Bookshop, of ‘Thomas Newcomen of Dartmouth’ a book written by local historian Eric Preston.
Feb/May Royal Avenue Gardens restructured and repaved around the Engine House to create a lasting memorial to Thomas Newcomen’s engine. Also painting, refurbishing display boards and re-signing of Engine House
March 29th ‘First Bus Company’ create a Park & Ride bus with Thomas Newcomen name & logo
April 7th Bridgetown Brewery put ‘Newcomen Atmospheric Ale’ on sale in Dartmouth (4.7% proof)
May 22nd Media Launch (national & local) at refurbished Engine House
July 2 to July 30 Exhibitions at Dartmouth Library & Flavel Centre

Celebration week Activities for July 9 – 13
Monday, July 9 - Children’s Day . A day of fun activities for 6 to 10 year olds from local schools:  Dartmouth Players produce a play called ‘From Flood Defend’ 7.30 pm at Flavel:
Tuesday July10 - Dartmouth Players: ‘From Flood Defend’ 7.30 pm at Flavel:
Wednesday July 11- Film and talk on the Industrial Revolution by Adam Hart-Davis at The Flavel
Thursday July 12 - 3.00pm Celebration service at St Saviour's Church
7.00pm Kingswear steam train/boat ride & reception 
Friday July 13 - 10.00am Newcomen Society Laying Chaplets at Memorial Stone
11.15am Lecture 1. Brian Corfield “Newcomen the Man”
2.00 Lecture 2 David Hulse “The Newcomen Engine”
4.00. Lecture 3. Prof David Perrett “The Archaeology of the Newcomen Engine”
Saturday July 14 - Steam Fair by South Hams Vintage Steam Club

4.   Small News
 

• Wednesday 8 Feb 6:00pm The Guildhall Planning meeting:  A presentation by GM Planning Services on proposals for the former St John's Ambulance Station, this is right on the river front, you need to be there!
   

• Harry Escott reports: we have arranged a talk in aid of the RNLI at the Dartmouth Yacht Club on Wednesday 29th February at 1930. What will make it very interesting if that the illustrated talk will be given by Paul & Rachel Chandler, of Somali pirate fame. Tickets will be available from DYC and the Royal Castle Hotel at £5 each, limited numbers, first come etc. Tickets ready from 30th January.
   

• Jill Brook reports: Little S.O.D.S. (the children of Stoke Fleming Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society) are putting on the musical "Gel" at Stoke Fleming Village Hall on Fri 3rd and Sat 4th Feb. With 56 children aged between 6 and 15 this uplifting show will kick start your year! Saturday evening tickets are sold out but some are available for the Friday from Lesley 01803 770071. All seats £5.
   

• Wally Fleet reports: The Castle Cove Campaign Group has after over eleven years of campaigning to restore full access to the cove, finally been obliged to call it a day. The campaign group were successful in obtaining a grant which, with other promised funding, would have enabled us to re-establish the path to the platform. Unfortunately as the cove is now under the control of the District Council a licence to construct the path is required.
   

• Tuesday 7 February: Christian Aid Lunch in St Saviour's Church 12 noon
   

• Join our Dartmouth News Facebook page and read things  you never knew about Dartmouth!  Click on the logo or click here.  Or if you are travelling it's simply www.facebook.com/DartmouthNews  nothing more !

Someone said the treasure at the end of the rainbow this week was the Guildhall, what do you think?

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.