Skip to content Skip to left sidebar Skip to footer

Great Torrington Town Council

Special Guest at Mayfair 2024

As well as the fabulous 2024 May Queen with her entourage and their families, we welcomed another special guest at the Mayfair lunch this year.

Our guest, Mrs Pat Martin made the outfits for the May Queen and her entourage from 1969 until 1992. Yesterday there was a small selection of these outfits on display, and a handful of the people who loaned us their historic costumes came together for a photograph with Mrs. Martin.

Thankyou to everyone who helped to make it a special day for Mrs. Martin, people were so happy to share their outfits and their Mayfair stories.

D Day 80 – June 6th 2024

The commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the D Day landings is on Thursday June 6th. There is a national programme of events and Great Torrington will be joining in with these where possible. The Town Crier will begin the day with a proclamation at 8am in the Town Square. The bells of St Michael & All Angels will be heard as part of the national Ringing Out for Peace initiative at 6:30pm.

We are working with the Cavaliers to organise the lighting of a beacon on the evening of 6th June and would like to encourage all members of the community to come along to this. We would especially like to invite veterans of all conflicts who are based in Torrington to attend this event so if you or anyone you know is a veteran, please do make contact on 01805 626135 or [email protected] to discuss attending. Torrington Silver Band will be playing before the beacon is lit between 8-9pm to mark the anniversary of this important date in our history.

Please see posters and social media nearer the time for further details.

Mayfair Proclamation Ceremony 2024

Many visiting dignitaries and invited guests attended the Proclamation of the Fair at the Town Hall on May Fair Day which this year fell on Thursday 2nd May.

During the Proclamation a number of guests made speeches about celebrating Great Torrington and it’s Fair and to thank our visitors for joining us on this special day.

Fairings were also offered during the speeches which represent titbits originally offered to entice people at the Fair, this year these were in the form of handmade shortbread biscuits.

Co-Option of Town Councillor

The Town Council has vacancies for 2 Co-Opted Councillors to join us. 

Becoming a Town Councillor will give you the opportunity to get involved with various projects and interests within the community of Great Torrington.  If you are passionate about the town, prepared to get involved, and meet at least one of the criteria below, we invite you to contact us to discuss the application process. A written form is available on our website and encourages you to demonstrate why you are interested in volunteering to become a Town Councillor and what you believe you can bring to the role. If you are interested but a written application or form filling is a barrier to applying, please get in touch (01805 626135). 

If the answer to at least one of the below statements is “yes”, you are eligible to apply to be a Town Councillor: 

  1. I am registered as a local government elector for the parish; or 
  1. I have, during the whole of the twelve months preceding the date of my co-option, occupied as owner or tenant, land or other premises in the parish; or 
  1. My principal or only place of work during those twelve months has been in the parish; or 
  1. I have during the whole of the twelve months preceding the date of my co-option resided in the parish or within 3 miles of it. 

Application forms can be obtained from the Town Council office or downloaded here.

Cllr Dave Parish says, “I am proud to be a Town Councillor I immensely enjoy the experience and I’ve learnt so much in the process. 

It is a pleasure to work with a truly dedicated team of Councillors who volunteer their time to contribute to making Great Torrington a ‘Great’ place to live. 

There is so much more we can do. Be part of the future, ‘Come and join us.”

For an informal chat with one of the team, please call the office on 01805 626135. 

Applications can be posted to or dropped in to our offices: Great Torrington Town Council, Castle Hill, Great Torrington, EX38 8AA or sent by email to [email protected]

Jennie Smithson, Town Clerk 

Evening Food Concession Opportunity

Just started a new business❓

Own an existing business❓

Torridge District Council is inviting business owners to register their interest in an evening food concession for the upcoming spring and summer season!

????Three temporary pitches have been made available – Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity!

???? Bideford Quay (Opposite Post Office)

???? Great Torrington South Street (Sydney House) Car Park

???? Holsworthy Manor Car Park

???? The concessions will be let from April to September with a license to trade running from Monday to Sunday between 4pm and 9 pm.

Click on the link below to apply, or call the Council Estates Officer if you would like to know more:

????www.torridge.gov.uk/lettings

☎️ 01237 428738

Applications close on Monday 11th March.

New Member Joins Great Torrington Town Council

At our first meeting of 2024 members welcomed Councillor Jason Isaac to Great Torrington Town Council. Jason has been working on the Regeneration Strategy for Great Torrington since September 2023, and has been a key local representative. He then applied for a Co-opted seat on the Council in December. Members voted unanimously in favour and were keen to welcome Jason with his broad local knowledge and experience.

Councillor Isaac said “As someone who both lives and works in Great Torrington, I am deeply invested in our town’s success. I’m driven by a strong desire to ensure Torrington doesn’t lag behind neighbouring towns but prospers equally.

My focus includes fostering economic growth, attracting businesses, promoting tourism, and safeguarding our unique natural environment and historic character. Together with fellow councillors and the Mayor, I am dedicated to advancing Great Torrington’s interests and ensuring our town flourishes alongside our neighbours.”

There are still two vacancies on the town council so if you are interested in becoming a councillor, please contact us on 01805 626135 or [email protected] to find out more.