May 11, 2022
Brixham will be going back to the Fifties in style to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in June. Organisers working with Brixham Future have revealed their programme for more than 40 free events in the port to celebrate 70 years since Queen Elizabeth II’s reign began.
People joining the five-day party are being invited to don 1950s fashions for the occasions, with “full skirts for the ladies and leather jackets and slicked-back hair for the gents” the order of the day. John Brennan, who chairs the Brixham Future Community Interest Company, said: “It was such a significant historical period, with the highlight of The Queen’s coronation signifying a new age of optimism and post-war reconstruction.
“We will be delivering 40 free public events and activities including parades, exhibitions, displays, concerts, music, dancing and church services to inform and entertain locals and visitors alike. It is an opportunity for everyone to celebrate the best in our country.”
The main arena for the celebrations will be the Brixham Town Square directly behind the town’s main bus station. Mr Brennan added: “It was originally funded as a Town Square by European Regional Funding and is the only site in Brixham with capacity to entertain large crowds in a safe and secure environment.
“We are dependent upon our Brixham Lottery income, sponsorship and public donations, and are grateful to everyone who contributes in any way small or large. We anticipate expenditure of around £10,000, raised from local people and organisations.”
The formal launch event will be on Wednesday, June 1 with a social gathering at Brixham Yacht Club from 5.30pm followed by a quiz on the 1950s. The Brixham Community Parade will take place on Friday, June 3, assembling at 10am at the Man and Boy statue before marching via Fore Street to the Town Square.
The Parade will be led by the Exeter Pipe and Drums Band, and there will be a service of thanksgiving and community singing in the square. Other events include free concerts in the Methodist Chapel in Fore Street on Friday and Saturday at 4pm to 5pm when the Riviera Singers will perform.
Each day will also have different activities in Fore Street, Prince William Square or at the Old Fish Quay, with smaller entertainment or static displays such as 1950s vehicles. The Women’s Institute have committed to providing the 1950s Fashion Parade in the Town Square at 2pm on the Friday.
There will also be a range of activities at the Shoalstone Pool Green on Saturday June 4. Frances Robinson of Brixham Future added: “On June 4 there will be a 1950s Dance in the Scala Hall from 7.30pm.
Original story on DevonLive
May 4, 2022
Brixham-based mussel farming company and chamber member Offshore Shellfish Ltd, together with its Dutch processing partner Krijn Verwijs, won two special Seafood Excellence awards at Seafood Expo Global in Barcelona, Spain recently. The Expo is the largest seafood show in the world.
The awards recognise the best seafood products in several different categories. The competition is judged by an international panel, who mark each product on its eating experience, innovation, health and nutrition profile and market potential.
Under the Premier Seafarmers brand, the partnership’s new products, launched in October 2021, scooped the prize for Best Seafood Product Line and Best Retail Packaging.
The initial range includes Bangkok – Fresh Sauce with Lemongrass and Ginger, Classic – Fresh Sauce with Thyme and Rosemary, and Avignon – Fresh Sauce with Wild Garlic. The dishes offers a new vision for rope grown, pre-cooked mussels, which require just a few minutes in a pan or microwave to produce a restaurant-quality meal.
John Holmyard, MD of Offshore Shellfish Ltd said: “We are thrilled to have won these awards for our new products, which recognise the skills and hard work of our crew in producing the world’s best mussels in challenging conditions, 6 miles offshore in Lyme Bay. The processing excellence of Krijn Verwijs is also key to our success and we are delighted to partner with them in our joint venture, Premier Offshore.”
“We had hoped to be able to process our award-winning mussels in a unit based in Brixham, but we were unable to secure the necessary shore-side space, so we took our business to the Netherlands, where we were welcomed with open arms,” he added.
The judges were particularly complimentary about the product range, praising the quality of the mussels, the consumer appeal of the chef-prepared sauces, and noting that the eating experience was comparable to a dish prepared with fresh live mussels. The use of eye-catching designs and fully recyclable packaging also gained their approval.
The mussels have Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certification and Soil Association organic certification and are undergoing audit against the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) standard this month.
Sarah Holmyard, Head of Sales and Marketing said: “Winning the prizes gained us a high level of interest from European retailers, and we are also very keen to see the products represented in the UK. We are sure that consumers will find our new ‘no hassle’, ready to heat and eat mussel range an exciting way to enjoy our shellfish with ease and confidence.”
Offshore Shellfish is currently recruiting, as it starts the latest planned development phase, and has a variety of seagoing positions available. All enquiries to Sarah Holmyard, 07736 045150. sarah@offshoreshellfish.com
May 4, 2022
Sea creatures are beginning to creep along the wall at Shoalstone Seawater Pool, Brixham.
Amateur artist Zoe Curley started creating her hand painted prints of sea creatures since moving down to Torbay 4 years ago. When the first lockdown came about she began ‘Supersizing’ the intricate drawings, adding beach and woodland scenes.
John Brennan of Brixham Future says “Some years ago a plan was laid by the then Board, to deliver several murals over a period of years to establish an eventual Art Trail in Brixham. The project is part of a micro-regeneration strategy which delivers small scale, quick win, low cost projects or events that enhance Brixham, making it a more attractive place to work, reside and visit.
Shoalstone is an attractive venue to display art works in numerous forms as part of the Art Trail and will raise awareness of the need to preserve the pool for future generations as part of our built historic and cultural legacy.
To date we have delivered 6 Murals and hope to deliver 6 more over the coming years. We are trying to incorporate different styles, themes and aspects of our heritage.
The Shoalstone Mural is particularly vulnerable to sea damage but nevertheless is considered worthwhile as will enhance the immediate environment and help promote the pool to a wider audience.
“I saw some of Zoe’s sea life pictures on display at Crafty Cwtch in Middle Street, Brixham and asked her if she would consider working on murals. I was delighted when she told me that she had recently worked on the site hut on Paignton Green opposite the hotel construction site”.
Zoe said “I submitted some ideas to the committee and now winter is over I’m excited to be creating a permanent piece of artwork for the users of Shoalstone Seawater Pool in this special Centenary year. The work should be completed to coincide with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations. The design idea for the wall has always been flexible; while there are some specified elements to incorporate, I’ve been given a free rein to create and allow the piece to evolve as I go. All the work will be carried out in white acrylic pens of varying sizes. It is the detailing that will make this mural stand out as being a little different.“
Volunteers and the Shoalstone team set about preparing the wall as best they can and finished the base colour just in time for Zoe to start on the wall at Easter. Customers at Shoals and passers-by have already started to show an interest in the project and say they will keep track of the mural’s progress. “I asked one young boy what he would like to see on the wall, after thinking about this he came up with Starfish! So watch this space!”
Zoe aims to be working on the mural at Shoalstone Seawater Pool on Tuesdays and at least one day at weekends and is happy to talk to anyone interested in the project – but bear in mind her deadline is the end of May, so let’s hope the weather is kind!!
You can follow Zoe’s progress on Instagram and Facebook @Blue Waters Art and Glass and at www.shoalstonepool.com
Apr 25, 2022
Over the winter months much has been going on behind the scenes at Shoalstone pool including:
- The formation of a Charitable Incorporated Organisation and a transfer of undertakings from the existing Community Interest Company to accelerate fundraising efforts as they will be able to seek new grants only available to those with charitable status.
- The installation of a CCTV system for crime prevention
- General maintenance including stripping render and concrete from the pool wall interior and replacing it with reinforcing steel in a number of areas.
- The recruitment of a full-time Operations Manager to join the CIO and take on the day-to-day management of the pool and its finances.
The pool is scheduled to re-open in May. In the meantime, you can read more of their latest news here or stock up with the new range of Shoalstone merchandise here.
Apr 14, 2022
Despite numerous challenges caused by COVID 19 and associated problems, one of which has been to undertake a slight redesign of the Bell supporting structure, we are delighted that the Brixham Time and Tide Bell will soon be installed on Breakwater Beach.
Local Brixham engineer Roger and his team at RWS Engineering are responsible for manufacturing the steel supporting structure and they have been beavering away over the last few months to ensure that the installation can happen before summer, hopefully by May.
The wooden parts of the structure are now being provided by a local joiner and the green oak is being sourced from Dartmoor. The installation will have its own challenges, one of which is the high tide times but the team are confident we can manage this and the manoeuvring of the large bell into place.
The actual Time and Tide Bell has been delivered to Brixham by the artist Marcus Vergette and is being securely stored.
Nationally there are new bells being installed across the UK and presently there are now 7 bells in situ and another 6 sites more in development.
For more information about the National Time and Tide Bell Art Project visit https://www.timeandtidebell.org
Page 1 of 8312345...102030...»Last »
