Sporting Gold

Our own Red Carpet treatment was laid on for the Teignbridge Sports Personality Awards 2009 at a glittering Ceremony at the Langstone Cliff Hotel, Dawlish Warren. Compered by Palm FM's Ben Moseby and accompanied by the beat of MUSE latest Album, the packed audience enjoyed a stunning video presentation of sporting success within Teignbridge over the past year. Nominations were announced in nail-biting order until the winner in each category was revealed. Awards in all categories of sport included Junior and Senior, Team, Coach/Manager, Volunteer and a special Award for sporting achievement for disability. A new Award, the David Vine Award for good sports reporting of Club activities was won by Graham Penn of Teignbridge Trotters. The late David Vine, BBC Sports Reporter lived in Newton Abbot. The Overall Sports Personality Award was won by David Swift the Bob Skeleton Champion and a front runner to be chosen for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Pictured receiving the Trophy on David's behalf is Coach Janice Hindle.

Photolink:http://www.ppauk.com/teignbridgesportsawards2009/ Information from Nikki Taylor nikki.taylor@teignbridge.gov.uk

pictured right with team member Laura Cooper

Celebrating a Hospital's Birthday

From three terraced houses to a new purpose-built community Hospital! A special service in Dawlish to mark the 10th Anniversay of the building of the new Dawlish Community Hospital, a project many years in the making and driven to a successful conclusion by determination and fund raising by the Hospital League of Friends. Opened by The Princess Royal the new Hospital and the Health Centre next door provide a primary care service for the health needs of the local population, greatly appreciated by doctors, staff and patients.

Teignmouth in Concert

Teignmouth, a small seaside resort in South Devon has over the last few years gained a reputation as the place to be for music, classical, rock, big band, jazz, folk, samba and choirs. The Big One this year was A Seaside Rendezvous when MUSE came for that unforgettable weekend in September. A recent benefit concert for Teignmouth Museum saw the town welcoming back the International professor of Harp, Florence Sitruk and Cellist Christoph Bunzendahl who gave virtuoso performances of the works of Bach, Mendelson, Buccherini and of course Teignmouth's own famous Elias Parish Alvars (1808-1849). The Annual Teignmouth Jazz Festival brought in the crowds. Always a big draw for parents is the performance of the Devon Youth Jazz Orchestra, the Carlton Theatre was packed to hear the instrumental talent of the young musicians. Jazz enthusiasts were treated to a packed weekend of traditional, mainstream and easy listening jazz on offer throughout the town in pubs, cafes and the Glorious Chorus Gospel Choir at the United Reform Church. This friendly festival grows each year and is a big boost to business in the town, but it doesn't stop there. Throughout the year Jazz Workshops and Night Club programmes keep the music playing.

Lest We Forget

Remembrance Day was observed in towns and villages throughout Teignbridge.
I attended the Service at the War Memorial in Newton Abbot, the centre of our District and joined Veterans, service representatives and a larger than usual crowd of people of all ages gathered to pay their respects to the dead of two World Wars. The ceremonies this year were particularly poignant following the news of the loss of more of our servicemen men in Afghanistan, including the murder of five soldiers who lost their lives in a senseless shooting by an Afghan policeman in training. The presence of so many young people at the Service on Remembrance Day reminded everyone of the terrible consequences on service families, particularly children who lose their fathers in wars far away. Do they understand?

The Doddi Show

Not what you think! Doddi is not the home of the Diddy Men but is the venue for a unique Art Show in a small village primary school in the Teign Valley called Doddiscombsleigh. The village is also famous for it's treacle mines, but no one will tell you where the mines are to protect the treacle! Every two years at half term, the school undergoes a massive transformation as classrooms are emptied of all things educational and replaced with some of the most stunning art, sculptures and pottery to be found in Devon exhibited by over 50 artists in the South West. Patrons are Michael Morgan and Jonathon Porritt and over £30,000 has been raised over the years for facilities in the school grounds which this year saw the opening of an award-winning sustainable covered play area. Clearly, this is a remarkable school greatly loved and cherished by the local community. Oh!.... by the way. The village pub is called The Nobody Inn..................... but that's another story! http://www.doddiscombsleighartshow.co.uk/