The Town Council is hoping that shop keepers in the town will help us celebrate Christmas by entering our Christmas Window Dressing Competition. We invite all businesses to create a beautiful window display with a Christmas theme, the Mayor will judge them on December 3rd.

For further information or to confirm your entry please contact us at the Council offices on 01805 626135 or email [email protected]

All window displays should be complete by Monday 2nd December, judging will take place on Tuesday 3rd December. All shop windows that have been decorated will be judged, but if your shop is in a location that isn’t in the main trading area of the town do let us know you are taking part, as we don’t want to miss any displays.

We look forward to seeing the town decorated for Christmas.

O Little Town of Great Torrington…

Join us in the town centre on Saturday 30th November 2024 from 5:30pm for this year’s

CHRISTMAS LIGHT SWITCH ON!

Come along and celebrate the start of Christmas as the Mayor Phil Cloke officially switches on the Christmas lights in the town centre.

Our Christmas Light Switch On event is scheduled for Saturday November 30th, from 5:30 until 6:30pm.

It will be full of Christmassy cheer, and people of all ages are invited to join us for a Christmas themed fancy dress competition and some carols. Torrington Silver Band will be playing some festive tunes, and there will be entertainment from local band Absent Minds who will be playing some Christmas classics to sing-a-long with. So, if you don’t want to join the fancy dress competition just pop on your favourite Christmas jumper and enter into the festive spirit.

Hot and cold drinks will be available to purchase for a small sum from the Town Hall Undercroft. There will also be popcorn and candy floss available to purchase plus Beatz Kitchen and Fudge Devils will in the square to cater for you.

We would welcome any traders to stay open a little later than normal if they would like to join in the fun. Just get in touch and let us know.

For further details please look out for posters and check our social media nearer the time.

Come along and join in the festivities as we once again light up the town centre in readiness for this special Christmas time. You never know, it might even snow!

Are you concerned about speeding in your neighbourhood? Did you know you can work with Devon & Cornwall Police to set up a Community Speedwatch? Volunteers from the community use detection devices to monitor local vehicle speeds. They receive training, equipment and support from the local neighbourhood policing team.

To get started you need to have a team of 4 people, one of which will need to be the Group Co-ordinator. If you are concerned about driving speeds in a particular area in Torrington and you have a small group of volunteers, then please sign up using the following link to the appropriate website.

https://www.devon-cornwall.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/wsi/watch-schemes-initiatives/speedwatch/community-speedwatch/

Please see below information about the vacant shop in Torrington Pannier Market including an application form (a Word document format is also available via the link at the bottom of the page):-

Application Shop 10 Torrington Pannier Market

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• Home Instead Charities

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• Tabhair Trust

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• NGS Community Garden Grants

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The Mayor, Councillor Phil Cloke will hold his Civic Service at St Michaels & All Angels church, New Street, Great Torrington on Sunday 22nd September 2024 at 10:00am.

Councillors, and local community representatives have been invited to attend and will parade from Sydney House Car Park to the church, they are requested to assemble in Sydney House Car Park outside the Castle Hill building at 9:15 am.

Members of the public are welcome to come and watch the parade and to attend the church service.

Yoga in Nature:

The Council were pleased to support Helen Amey of Elska Yoga to provide six free Yoga in Nature sessions in June/July.

The sessions were held at Torrington Rugby Club and were extremely popular, with participants reporting a variety of positive outcomes as a result of attending. Over 55 people accessed the course across the six weeks with the average number being 26 each week, 60-69 was the average age of participants.

Quotes from participants:

“I didn’t know I needed Yoga in Nature until I did Yoga in Nature”

‘So relaxing, truly wonderful experience forever grateful for the chance to take part. Wonderful group of people and Helen is truly amazing’

“The classes are really good and improves general well-being’

“So much better being outside, the sounds and space were lovely’

‘Thank you so much Helen. I really enjoyed the experience of outdoor yoga’

‘A great introduction to yoga, something that I had thought of trying for a long time. free sessions made all the difference’.

Helen Amey said ‘I would like to say a massive thank you to the Councillors for sponsoring this project. It was wonderful to see so many people coming together and enjoying and benefiting from this experience, outside in nature. The sense of community was evident to see and people’s enthusiasm each week was quite special. I felt honoured to lead this project.’

Woodland Adventure Sessions with Richard Irvine & Jen Howard:

On the first Friday of the summer holidays Great Torrington Town Council organised a morning and afternoon woodland activity session in Trafalgar Drive play park; facilitated by fully qualified forest school teachers Richard Irvine of Richard Irvine Outdoors, and Jen Howard. A total of 22 children attended the sessions and took part in den building, they also made wooden Olympic medals (which involved helping to use the saw) with the highlight of the day for many participants being making a campfire and cooking popcorn.

Many thanks to Richard and Jen for providing an engaging day of woodland entertainment.

Summer Music Programme:

Great Torrington Town Council have supported the summer street music programme again for 2024.  Thank you to all the performers who entertained us all on Saturday mornings throughout the summer:

• Sticky Flaws – David Wenman
• Roger Colome
• The HooDoo Man – Ian Kevern
• Tuppence Ha’Penny – Jacky Dando
• Dogleg -Tracy Dipper
• Mary and the Medics – Mary Davies
• Calypso Jack – Mark Knott
• WD40+ – Ange Wilson-Duffy