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Great Torrington Town Council

Mayor’s Civic Service – Sunday 22nd September 2024

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.

Summer Events brought to you by Great Torrington Town Council

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

Updates from the Environment Committee – Recycled Poppy Wreaths:

Don’t forget Great Torrington Town Council are encouraging organisations to use a recycled poppy wreath for Remembrance this year.

All organisations who laid a wreath last year have received an email with details of how this process will work. If you haven’t yet responded do please get in touch 01805 626135.

We will be organising collection of the wreaths and donations for the Poppy Appeal from Torrington Museum bookshop on Saturday mornings in early November, please contact us for further details.

Remembrance Sunday Parade and Service – 10th November 2024

This year Remembrance Sunday falls on the 10th November 2024.   Great Torrington Town Council and our local branch of the Royal British Legion will hold a Remembrance Ceremony at the War Memorial in the Cemetery, commencing at 10.50am.

The Parade: The parade will assemble (like last year) in the driveway at Woodland Vale Care Home and parade up and across a short stretch of New Street to the Cemetery.

Please note: There will be NO VEHICULAR ACCESS to Woodland Vale Care Home. LIMITED PARKING will be available at the Old Bowling Green; however, we encourage all participants to walk to the event if they are able to do so.

Dismissal at the end of the Service: Following the National Anthem at the end of the service, the Mayor will thank the Parade, who will then be dismissed in the cemetery.  The order for dismissal will allow for those at the back to be the first to leave.

Standard Bearer’s Practice: Will take place at the Howe Concert Hall (Torrington Silver Band’s room) in Castle Street on Friday 8th November 2024 at 6pm.

Wreath Laying: This year, the Town Council and the Royal British Legion are encouraging organisations who would usually lay a wreath to use one of our recycled wreaths from last year’s Remembrance Sunday service.  If your organisation hasn’t yet ordered their wreath and you would like to lay a recycled one and give a donation to the Royal British Legion, please contact the Town Council on 01805 626135 or [email protected] by Tuesday 15th October so we can organise this for you.  If you would like to order a wreath direct from the Royal British Legion you can contact them on 0345 845 1945 and they will post one out to you.

Monday 11th November 2024: Everyone is also welcome to attend a short remembrance service in Great Torrington Cemetery at 11am on Monday 11th November 2024.

A familiar face re-joins Great Torrington Town Council

At the June Full Council meeting we welcomed back Councillor John Insull to the Town Council. John was co-opted following a brief interview and fellow members are extremely pleased that he has decided to return. Cllr Insull is looking forward to getting involved in local issues once again:

‘It was as if I had never been away when I attended the June Great Torrington Town Council meeting and was accepted as a Co-opted Town Councillor after an absence of three years.

I had been encouraged to return to this role and recently worked closely with Torrington 100, reconnecting with several friends and colleagues from my previous tenure. I look forward to supporting our Great Torrington Community. I hope to help develop initiatives that I had previously worked on together with leading on new ideas. I hope this will enhance the health and well-being of our residents and maintain the biodiversity of our immediate rural environment.’