Visions, dreams and reality!

My column in the Herald Express 24th December 2013

Visions, dreams and reality! Headlines these days too often tell of the dreams and visions publicised by our political leaders offering the promise of a better future. It’s worth thinking about that as we let 2013 slip into history and look forward, hopefully with excitement, to 2014.

Keeping with the theme of dreams and visions it is also worth remembering the prophets throughout history who attempted to foretell or foresee the future. Many carried a mystical message from God whilst others simply looked at the world around them and said all this will end badly boys and girls if you don’t mend you ways!

Thinking about the historical prophets foretelling the future I was once told by a wise abbot (or at least I thought him wise) that I seemed to be a something of a modern day prophet. For a brief moment I thought that sounded quite nice but then he reminded me that things tended to end badly for prophets! A little bit of research confirmed the shocking truth that the community didn’t always want to hear the message and the easiest way of dealing with that was by lopping off the head of the prophet. Hmm.

I guess what I am saying is that whilst the dreams and visions can be fascinating we must not lose sight of the here and now.  That simple act is not quite as simple as it may seem. In these days of constant media input with twenty-four hour news and the casual spinning of truth things often are not quite as they seem. Not only that but there is a tendency to take for granted the antics of folk who continue to take more than their fair share. You will not have to stretch your intellect too far to find numerous examples where the gatekeepers of power seem to benefit disproportionately.

It is important for all of us to take note when the rhetoric of dreams and visions blows warm. That warming wind can mask the true nature of what is likely to happen or perhaps more worryingly might never happen. Does the dream work for the greater good or is it simply a money making event for the few. It is a duty for all to take notice and call to account. Not that I have anything against dreams and visions but I do worry about scary nightmares!

In a previous column I mentioned the Mayor’s Budget meeting at the Riviera Centre and the little questionnaire doing the rounds during the evening. I also said that there would be another chance to attend a similar meeting during January 2014. At the time the meeting was to be in a room at Paignton Library but that has now been changed to Thursday 9 January at the Redcliffe Hotel  (7-9pm). The Redcliffe Hotel is on Paignton’s lovely seafront. The sea actually washes against the wall of this atmospheric hotel. How nice is that!

If you can find the time it really is worth attending this meeting and making your feelings known. At the very least you might get a better understanding of reality. Having said that many of us have already become very aware of the economic here and now as the austerity cuts slice through so many things that we had taken for granted.

When you read this Christmas will have come and gone. Hopefully for you it was a joyous occasion and perhaps captured something of the simplicity of a traditional Christmas. I have always loved Christmas Day, starting with the first church service of the day, heading home for breakfast and presents before gathering for a traditional lunch.

This weekend is New Year’s Eve with a ring of endless fireworks around the world. A time for New Year resolutions which hopefully will contain a little more than simply wearing a tracksuit and staggering to the gym!  One resolution that we might all share is to make an effort to make this curious world of ours a better place. To do that we really must help each other and keep a careful eye out for those who might slip between the cracks as the austerity screw turns ever tighter. This is your time and your community.

But whatever you do for the new year please start with a smile!

Keep the smile.

Find ways to building rather than knocking down...

My words in the Herald Express Thursday 12th December 2013......Curiously since writing this I've bumped into a voluntary organisation struggling to cope with the sudden influx of folk seeking help as those most vulnerable take the pain of this fiscal mess.....

One of the things that you get to do when constructing a questionnaire is to select the questions that you want to ask and leave out the ones that you don’t want to ask. When you get to fill in a questionnaire you don’t have that luxury!

Why am I telling you this? Well recently I popped over to the Riviera Centre, also known as the Riviera International Conference Centre, to a very crowded Mayor’s Budget proposal evening. I estimated that around five-hundred people had braved the cool night air to hear about the pain that this budget is likely to inflict. That for Torbay, I have to say, is a very good turnout.

Most of us were sitting around tables with a councillor and an council officer to mentor. We were all clutching a questionnaire that offered the opportunity for us all to ‘have our say’ on the ‘tough decisions’ that have to be made in order to set a balanced budget. I’m not going to labour the point here but the lady sitting next to me must have been reading my mind and immediately made a comment about the questions being asked!

I did ask the council officer on my table what would happen if Torbay set a negative budget. It seems that cannot happen because it would be illegal! Hmm. That didn’t really answer the question but in many ways it was a rhetorical observation. But here’s the thing. How far can you push a population with draconian cut after draconian cut? One immediate call was for an increase in council tax. Explain that to a low wage family facing huge increase in utility bills, rising food prices and a complete tsunami of other soul destroying fiscal onslaughts! Of one thing there is no doubt and that is that the gap between those that have and those that have not is getting worryingly wider by the day.

You can have your say by filling in that questionnaire, by making contact with your councillors, by attending the next public meeting at Paignton Library on the 9th January 2014, by chasing your member of parliament or indeed simply becoming more aware of what is actually going on. You have a voice and you have a vote at the next election.

I have always had in mind that story about a frog in a bowl of water and suddenly these days I am feeling very frog-like! You see if you placed that dear little chap in water that was too hot he would simply hop out at speed. But if the water is cool then he is a happy-chappy and doesn’t notice that the water is heating up. Eventually the water becomes too hot leaving our sad little frog with no energy left to hop. Do you get the picture?

I’ve written about the nature of our social landscape before and at that recent meeting it was obvious that those who would feel most of the pain would be the vulnerable. Many of those folk do not attend public meetings as a rule and often have little or no access to computers. If you have a social conscience that must be a worrying concern.

I did make a note of a number of comments made by Gordon Oliver during the evening which included “I share your view completely” “I share your emotion” “With your help we can do it” “We’re very happy to listen – but the reality is!” “Let’s continue to talk” “It’s not my decision!” Against that backdrop were the comments of people who bravely attended having been homeless and sleeping rough. As one man said “These cuts to organisations helping those with little will result in deaths!” Certainly the loss of support to places like Factory Row will be catastrophic for many of our most vulnerable citizens.

I would like you to think about something. We constantly bang on about cutting spending and say very little about generating income. That doesn’t mean selling off assets because you can only do that once! What it does mean is looking very carefully at cleverly creating income from the assets that we have, both in terms of facility and community expertise. A number of folk are already working toward that and we need to build the portfolio. We have amazing skills within the community and need to liberate that energy. So let’s start looking and find ways to building rather than knocking down.

Ultimately it will be about working together for the good of all and whilst we probably know this it still seems a hard thing to make happen. So when it comes to building a questionnaire you might now think of a few more questions that you might want to ask!

Keep the smile.

Budget cuts always seem to hit the most vulnerable hardest

MY STUFF IN THE HERALD EXPRESS 28th NOVEMBER 2013

 

Vince Cable (Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills) came to visit South Devon the other day and amongst other things spoke to the local business forum at the end of a busy day. For all sorts of reasons I didn’t attend that gathering but was fortunate enough, thanks to Adrian Sanders MP, to spend a little time with Dr Cable during the late afternoon. I’ve always been a supporter of Dr Cable and really enjoyed reading his excellent book ‘The Storm’ about the financial crash, published in 2008.  But although I have admired his work I did have a problem with some of the changes in direction once he joined our coalition government. I reminded about his potentially being included in the 2012 Olympics as a member of the fiscal gymnastics team with backward somersaults as a particular skill. Those adjustments are of course a consequence of endless policy trade-offs in any coalition which is why our present political leadership has been a worry for me. Anyway it was a pleasure to meet him and I do recommend his book to you as we battle through this age of austerity.

I did raise an eyebrow recently, something that I seem to do a little too often these days, when HRH Prince of Wales called the three main political party leaders to Buckingham Palace to debate voluntary service for the young. Doubtless the meeting will result in numerous focus groups, assorted projects and the usual myriad of quango style organisations. Thinking about the financial action of the Coalition I felt a certain empathy with Prince Charles’ obvious concern for our young people. We should, of course, all be concerned because this is about the building blocks of a cohesive functional community and given the high level of young people without jobs this has to be a worry.

I do wonder whether our local political leaders had any of that in mind when setting the budget for Torbay in particular. Did you notice the Mayor’s budget detail or did it get lost in the swirl of political rhetoric that always makes any sort of reasoned analysis problematic? I did take a long hard look, as did a friend who made the following comment, “Have you looked at the Mayor’s budget on the website? There are so many cuts to services for the most vulnerable! SHOCKING!!” Curiously that comment was brought into immediate focus later that same evening when I bumped into another friend working for Torbay Council and lightly asked the question, “Still got a job?” Her face dropped and I realised immediately that I had asked the wrong question. It seemed that she had received her notice that afternoon. My reply was, “But you work with very needy young people!!” Given that she has always done much more than was required for her post, had supported so many marginalised young folk and helped in ways that I cannot even start to list the loss to Torbay will be huge. That’s the point really. It’s not just what folk do for a job it is also a matter of understanding what they also do through goodwill. Expecting the voluntary sector to pick up the slack is it seems to me wishful thinking!

Budget cuts always seem to hit the most vulnerable hardest. This budget is going to impact upon us all and so how about making your view known? Why not attend the Mayor’s Budget Event on 2^nd December at 6.30pm at The Rivera Conference Centre (also known at the ERC, on Torquay seafront). The event is open for us all to attend! If you have computer access then do take a look at: http://www.torbay.gov.uk/index/yourbay/events/budget where you will even find an interactive budget simulator to see how you might allocate the meagre funds available! You will also find a questionnaire allowing you to have your say about the Mayor’s proposed budget.

You have the chance here to participate in local government and the ability to engage gets even better because now Torbay Council will be streaming many of their meetings. What does that mean? Well this is a computer based facility that will allow you to watch proceedings live!  You can join, via the Internet, a full Council meeting live on 5^th December simply by clicking on: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHy8b6V-_QE

Of course if you don’t have computer access you can read about these events in the Herald Express! You can also attend as a member of the public and watch our elected councillors in action although you cannot actually participate.  The meeting will be in The Forum at the Riviera International Conference Centre on the 5^th December starting at 5.30pm.

Goodness, we are all going to be busy bunnies!

Keep the smile!

 

 

 

 

 

Stranger danger in your own home

My words on the Herald Express 14th November 2013

 



 

 

I happened to notice a poster the other day whilst researching changes in the local government landscape. The headline message simply asked the question 'Whose coming into your home tonight to talk to your children?" The little poster showed two young children cosily looking at a shimmering computer screen. Intrigued I read rather than skimmed the information. You might, as I did, raise an eyebrow at that because we tend to know exactly who is coming into our homes! But do we always know? This campaign is about the Internet and what we allow, perhaps unwittingly, our young people access. If you have children and allow them to access the Internet then you really really should read what the Virtually S@fe team have to say!

 

If you read the Herald Express regularly then you will have been aware of the consequences of unpleasant people using social media platforms online to work against the good of a community. As a parent we always want the very best for our children and therefore take as much care as we can to keep them from harm. I guess that is why this little poster made me shiver. The thought of some unpleasant character having a conversation in the bedroom of a young person is horrible and yet that is exactly what evil predators attempt to do via the Internet.

 

The Internet is of course the most wonderful creation and has probably made the world a smaller place. I love it and spend many useful (and not so useful!) hours each week communicating, learning or simply being entertained by this magical invention. But as with most things unpleasant folk tend to spread their darkness causing mayhem and harm. That is sad and also a worry which is why this campaign by Virtually S@fe caught my eye. Virtually S@fe is a project delivered by Devon and Cornwall Police, Hele’s Angels and Safer Communities Torbay with funding from the Torbay Safeguarding Children Board. You can find them at http://www.torbayvirtuallysafe.co.uk/  by phoning 01803 207263 or 207262 or email scatt@torbay.gov.uk  

 

Having said all that we must remember that true friendship is such a precious thing and good friends bring warmth into all our lives. Friendship is a two way process and not a function that should ever carry a score card. To be there for another without counting the cost is a huge thing and too often lost in our fast moving confusing world. Being there for a friend at a time when help is needed doesn't mean that a credit has been added to some emotional balance sheet to be claimed at a later date. Being there for a friend when it matters is a special gift and provides a spiritual lift to both! Friendship builds healthy communities!

 

A few weeks ago I mentioned loneliness and the curious fact that even though we have wall to wall methods of communication social isolation seems to be on the increase. It is a particular problem amongst the lonely as the nights get longer. Even though we may drift around Facebook and other social media platforms it cannot replace the energy of being physically present! Meeting friends and making new friends, it seems to me, is increasingly important to our community as the social landscape changes. It is actually hard work to keep in regular contact with friends in this busy world but worth the effort.

 

The regular meeting places and community hot spots must be developed so that we do as a community pull together. Perhaps as a consequence of these hard economic times there is an increasing potential for greater community action and I have been very aware of new social enterprises developing. There are some very good people doing wonderful work and we must do all we can to support them. One such organisations is Aly Lazell’s Future Shores, a new non-profit project which has just registered with Companies House as a community interest company looking at collaboration for social change with young people in Torbay. They share their skills as professionals with young people to support them to build the projects which they believe will make a difference to their lives now and their futures. They work with the arts, education and enterprise and want to try new ways of working to make positive experiences happen. Projects already include Agatha's Closet (working with fashion, young women and enterprise to create creative industry and event opportunities), Make Music Now (working with young people to create a music offer that is relevant to what they want) and In-Tent (re-homing festival tents to families who need to get some time out and organising some amazing events so they can do just that).

 

I guess that where I am going with all this is the continued need to keep our eyes open and engage with the community. By working together we can make the world a better place that really is in the interests of all rather than just a few.

 

Keep the smile.

 

The end of an era - kind words from Mr Parker

Jim Parker's words in the Herald Express 31st October 2013

"THE shutters will finally come down on 35 years of history in Paignton at the weekend. Harbour Sports Paignton will sadly be no more.
Well-known businessman Frank Sobey has tried to keep the business afloat after more than three decades in the town, but he has been left with no option but to throw in the towel.
What do those TV property programmes say? It's all about 'location, location, location'. The truth is Paignton harbour just isn't the location it used to be for Frank.
That, along with the general market, decreased footfall and, according to Frank, making the harbour as un-user friendly as possible with a raft of rules and regulations, has persuaded him to say enough is enough.
He used to run the harbour outlet and other shops in the city centres of Plymouth and Exeter under Harbour Sports Limited, but the plug was pulled on that company via a creditor's voluntary liquidation just over a year ago.





Since then Frank has been running the Paignton shop as part of a partnership and using the name of the business which has been well known in town for such a long time.
The idea was to make a go of it and then look to sell on the business. It hasn't happened and a recent half price 'all stock must go' sale was the beginning of the end.
Frank says: "We carried on eventually for another year as a partnership using the name Harbour Sports in the hope someone would pick up the torch.
"The shop in Plymouth became a cycle shop/cafe and the one in Exeter is now a Children's Hospice SW charity shop.
"We've had several people express an interest, but sadly nothing came of that and Harbour Sports on Paignton Harbour will slip into history.
"It is a shame but that, sadly, is the landscape these days."
The harbour is seen by many as Paignton's hidden gem. It is one of the most charming places in the country yet it appears somewhat cut off and isolated from the main town centre.
It doesn't sit within the Paignton BID area where traders are given the opportunity to invest, and have a say, in improving their trading environment.
There have always been concerns about a lack of sign posting trying to encourage locals and visitors to walk the whole length of the prom and then see what lies beyond the harbour arch.
I can remember several conversations with the inspirational ladies who run TJs down there. By the way, it was brilliant to see them pick up an award in recent South Devon and English Riviera Tourism and Hospitality awards.
They are battling through but for Frank the fight is over.
He says: "These are hugely difficult times. The harbour is such a lovely place.
"It has not become a user-friendly harbour in so many ways with things like regulations and conflicting use.
"It comes down to footfall.
"The sadness is that the harbour is dislocated from the town. It has lost its way."
He can remember the days of teaching wind surfing from the harbour back in the late 1970s when it was 'vibrant' and not constantly blown out of the water by red tape and health and safety.
Frank says: "Poles and wires have been put up to stop people fishing off the harbour. It must have cost thousands of pounds.
"People see people fishing down there and they are told 'you can't do that'. They no longer come.
"Evidently, there was one incident where one man hit a passing boat. It is called life."
Somebody showed their disdain for the fish ban wires by hanging their washing on them. Wonder who?
Frank adds: "People are told 'you can't park here and you can't do that'. There are so many prohibition signs.
"We have a by-laws sign at the top of the slipway. We are saying 'welcome to Torbay — here's what you can't do'".
The changing face of the harbour is not the only reason he has decided to call it a day.
The limited company went under as it got caught in the harsh times in the High Street.
"The limited company went because we got caught in the changing market place down here," said Frank.
"The biggest thing was getting caught in the high street in Plymouth and Exeter. It was too expensive.
"When you walk down the high street it is like somebody who cannot afford good dentistry — there are gaps all over the place.
"People are milling around but they are not carrying shopping bags. There are so many empty shops."
He recognises there are many success stories out there and is not the sort of person to sit back and just moan and groan.
But there was one moment back at the harbour shop which has stuck with Frank as the clock ticked towards closure.
He says: "Some people are talking up activity (in the town centres) and people say they want to see independents.
"But people are using us as fitting rooms. We had a family of four in here looking at wet suits for an hour. Then the bloke took out his mobile device in the shop and ordered the wet suits on line," says Frank.
He adds: "We were hoping somebody would take on the sports business. We had four or five people who were keen, but they never got far enough to putting ink on paper." He says one interested party was an outdoor centre business offering services including corporate body boarding. They walked after discovering it would cost £5 a time to launch a kayak...
Frank tells me Harbour Sports will become a new shop focussing on chandlery and shellfish. Good luck to the new business, but Paignton harbour just won't be quite the same."

Fuel poverty is a worry in hard times

My words in the Herald Express 31st October 2013

The South West Energy Centre

 

 

When our political leaders suggested the other day that we all shop around for the best energy prices I wanted to shout at the television screen. That may sound pathetic but that is exactly how I felt. Every year as the shadows lengthen the utility companies bump up the price of energy and we all shiver at the thought of yet another squeeze on the family budget. These are hard times and fuel poverty is a worry. It’s especially worrying for those who already struggle with crippling debt.

So what advice do we get from the House of Commons? Shop around for the best price! Great! Step number one is to make sense of the tariffs that they all punt. That is far from easy.  Comparison websites help as do numerous energy advisory folk wandering the streets, waiting to pounce once the call centre has caught another hapless shivering citizen. It’s all so confusing.

Of course getting your deal is a little like attempting to locate a pea as the thimbles move mercilessly around. Have you played that frustrating game? You do of course assume that there is actually a pea under one of the thimbles.  Hmm. It takes time and computer knowledge if that is how you plan to search for the best energy deal. It’s harder to do if you don’t have the required computer skills or indeed a computer. It must also be remembered that, despite the pressure to launch us all into cyberspace, many people still don’t own a computer and so shopping around for a better price online simply isn’t an option.

There are those who might argue that the essential utilities should not be in private ownership and looking at the huge profits combined with soaring energy bills you might raise an eyebrow. But they are privatised and political options for price control seem limited despite the rhetoric.  Oh yes we can all wear and extra jumper, heat only one room and limit the amount of light we use during the long dark hours but that doesn’t take away the pain of energy price increases on already staggering bills.

All this is not helped when we hear about the mis-selling of energy deals and doubtless a number of you reading this will have a certain empathy with that! So where do you get unbiased energy advice and information about avoiding fuel poverty? Well locally we now have a wonderful new facility just off the Brixham Road in Paignton called the South West Energy Centre. These folk have been tasked with helping us all to make the best of what is available in these troublesome times. If you are worried (why would you now not be worried!) about keeping warm, getting the best energy prices and avoiding fuel poverty then give them a ring on 01803 540 725 or if you have computer access look at www.southwestenergycentre.co.uk .

For those of you who follow my rambling rhetoric you will know that community cohesion is something that lights my fire. These long winter periods of darkness leave many folk alone and isolated. How well do you know your neighbours? Think about those who might be living alone and vulnerable. As we push more and more onto the Internet the daily meeting points, like the local Post Office, have disappeared. Even regular trips to local shops seem to be slipping into history. It therefore means that more and more of us communicate via social media whilst waiting for the knock on the door as the supermarket delivery van arrives.

Think for a moment about those outside of that world. Think about older people living alone who might not see anyone for days and have no one to have a conversation with. As the days become colder the worry about heating might cause anxiety. Cold can kill as can solitude, loneliness and isolation.

Thinking about solitude in our lives it is interesting to reflect upon the seeking of a quiet place by design and the sadness finding yourself thrust unexpectedly into a lonely place. They are very different, seeking solitude and being lonely, and in this age of amazing communication social isolation, or so it seems to me, is rapidly growing.

Please take the time to look around and look for the lonely and the vulnerable. Seek out those who might slip below the surface as the cold winter nights drag endlessly on. Often all that is immediately needed is a friendly smile and a cheery greeting. Don’t be frightened to engage with local councillors and members of Parliament. They are human and would love to hear from you! You have a voice and you have a vote. Use both for the good of all and to lift the spirit.

Keep the smile.

 

Being quiet is the best option

 

 

A couple of things happened today that made me raise an eyebrow.  It seemed to me that they were connected and I therefore came to a conclusion. Later in the day I found that there was absolutely no significance in the coincidence. Too often, or so it seems to me, we attempt to look for significance in random coincidence with curious outcomes! In our sound-bite world this seems to be becoming a regular occurrence. The worry is that things are then said in error which can be hugely damaging.

As we rocket toward 2015 the war of words has already started as our political leaders attempt to score points over those opposing them. We all tend to only loosely listen to what is being said which inevitably links coincidental events to which we attach unwarranted significance. In a world crowded with social media it is so easy to hear bits of a conversation rather than the whole thing and judgements are then made without the luxury of firm knowledge. That judgement can launch damaging comment and once the words are out there attempting to pull them back is almost impossible!

All I am saying really is that once the political rhetoric heats up we must listen with care and keep the spiteful comments at arm’s length. To be quite honest if you don’t have something nice to say about someone then being quiet is probably the best option. If you do have a criticism to make then at least ensure that it is understood and balanced.

I don’t know whether you have stumbled across J K Rowling’s new book ‘A Casual Vacancy’ which is very different from the often dark Harry Potter stories. It was for me a fascinating read because it captured the essence of a community and demonstrated how words can skew a point of view. It doesn’t take much for negative comment to grow into something quite harmful. As the politicians both local and national seek election those social divisions can become very complicated with quite often unintended consequences.

One activity that I have always felt an excellent platform for social cohesion is the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and recently the 500^th Gold presentation ceremony took place in London.  There is an increasing need, in my opinion, to encourage young people not in full time education to use the DofE to develop skills to provide a life platform that will both build their skill portfolio and also help bind a community together. Please ask your local councillors what they are doing to support the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award amongst those not in full time education or part of a youth organisation.

Talking of community cohesion I was really pleased to see so many people pitch up to the Oldway Mansion open afternoon the other Saturday. The tour of this crumbling building was actually quite exciting because we got to see parts that have never been open to the public. I gather from the developer that nothing much is going to happen for at least a year and that given the poor state of the fabric the whole project is going to be very challenging. Torbay Council, in these cash strapped times, must be really pleased that this money bucket is off their hands. At least I think that it is off their hands.

The weather this summer has been fantastic and the sunshine continued into September. That warm weather was good news for one young couple who decided to hold their wedding reception at the Red Rocks Beach Café on Goodrington seafront. Always a worry when you are that close to the water because if the wind comes blasting in from the sea accompanied by lashing icy rain then the whole event can become a washout. But their evening went well and the Red Rocks Beach Café throbbed with an eight-piece band hammering out toe tapping music.

It is very easy to say negative things about our tourism offering and yet there really is so much to do. For anyone wandering along Goodrington seafront and Young’s Park that evening it must have seemed quite atmospheric. I loved it and can still feel the tingle today.

In a little while the clocks change and the sun continues to head south. Thankfully this year we have all be buoyed by some lovely weather which has made the English Riviera sparkle. The thing is that the sunshine days kind of seep deeply into the spirit and allow you to almost radiate through the short winter days.

I guess that is one way to keep the smile!

 

 

Don't take the NHS for granted

My words in the Herald Express 3rd October 2013



IF you happen to be reading your Herald Express over a Thursday morning cup of coffee, then spare a thought for me because I will be waiting to undergo a minor surgical procedure at Teignmouth Hospital. I don't live in Teignmouth, but that is where South Devon Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has sent me. So while you are tucking into a second piece of buttered toast I will be flicking through the pages of the Last Train from Liguria by Christine Dwyer Hickey while waiting for my surgeon to do his thing. All part of that rich tapestry of daily life of course, or so we believe.

The National Health Service is the most wonderful thing and was coincidently launched one month after my birth in 1948. Not that I have had too many occasions which have required immediate medical attention, but the fact I have always known access to a physician has been freely available is a precious thing.

It therefore worries me when I see huge cracks appearing over the surface and the exhausted looks on the faces of those holding together the frontline services. That has to be a concern for all of us.
I don't know whether you watched the London Olympic opening ceremony last year, but if you did then you must have been impressed by Danny Boyle's breath-taking pageant charting the history of these Sceptred Isles. He paid a stunning tribute to the National Health Service by underpinning the fact universal healthcare is indeed a core value in our society. Although a core value we should never, ever take for granted. These are curious times and we must all pay attention when various changes occur which might threaten that freedom of access to medical care.

We all need to pay careful attention to the words spoken by our political leaders as too often casual comments suddenly become policy. Keep the things which we take for granted very much in mind because local councillors will now be looking carefully at the funding cuts which threaten many of the services that all expect. It will be the discretionary spending which will too often quietly disappear.
One local service under threat is funded school transport and comments from struggling parents of children at St Cuthbert Mayne in Torquay made me raise an eyebrow. It wasn't just the words, but the wide-eyed facial expressions as the impact of additional outgoing on an already beleaguered family budget hit home. My children have grown now, but during their  school years we did benefit from subsidised school transport which, of course, allowed a parental choice as to where our young were schooled. Of course, many might argue if you want choice you should pay for it and while for many that is of course possible, for others it is not.

Sadly with these often very subtle funding cuts it is the most vulnerable groups in society who tend to feel the pain first. If we really want to be a caring community we really must look out for each other in these troubled times and not simply say it's not my problem.

What follows may be seen as a ray of sunshine perhaps.

If you take the time to struggle through my fortnightly contribution you will know the apparent development at Oldway Mansion has made me question progress. On Saturday from 2pm until 4pm there is an open event at Oldway to update the community about progress to date and the anticipated start date, which apparently is later this year, for the resurrection of the mansion as a premier hotel. How exciting. In the words of Paul Hawthorne, chairman of the Friends of Oldway: "We have worked consistently on getting a fair and viable solution for the Oldway Estate over the last four years. Our initial reservations have been addressed, and I believe we are indeed on the way to achieving a future for the house and gardens which our members and the wider circle of people of Torbay can be happy with."

That view is echoed by head of Akkeron regeneration, Mark Jones, who said: "We are pleased to be working towards starting work on the hotel. We are looking forward to the open day on October 5, to show everyone interested in the project the history and current condition of the buildings along with plans."

I have always loved Oldway Mansion with its beautiful gardens, bowling greens and tennis courts. It really is my hope the outcome will be for the greater good of the community and encourage you to visit the open event to gain a better understanding of what is happening.

Keep the smile.

Boost your career with Channel hop



BUENOS Dias! What a sparkling way to start the day and the echo somehow captures the magic of a sunny atmospheric Barcelona, which coincidentally happens to be the home town of my Spanish visitor.

Law student Valenti Sabate is with me for a month and our time together started with a thrilling conversation about Spanish writer Carlos Zafon's book 'Shadow of the Wind'.
Also with me is Matthias Feuerstein from Germany and therefore English is our common language.
I have to say these young folk from Spain and Germany plus the many others who visit bring a special energy to the English Riviera. Of course, the hundreds who make the trip also boost the economy!

Many local employers offer work placements and benefit hugely from the expertise they bring.
It has always made me a little curious as to why our young folk don't seem to head in the other direction for work experience since the placements are funded in the same way.

On Friday morning at a Cockington Court breakfast event hosted by the Torbay Development Agency, I bumped into Nadine Stroud from the Training Partnership Torquay who tells me it is indeed difficult to get our young folk to hop across the Channel.

Then Nadine told me of something I thought very exciting and wanted to share it with you.
It seems there are 20 fully-funded, 10-week work placements being offered to graduates in the south west to boost their career, gain vital European work experience and develop language skills.
Please don't let a lack of language knowledge put you off because there is a three-week preparation course in Torquay.

All you need is a very basic knowledge of French or German. How good is that? Give Nadine a ring on 01803 321210. Placements are on offer in Lyon and Bordeaux in France, and Magdeburg and Leipzig in Germany. There are also other funded opportunities for those who have not gone to university.

It seems to me sometimes we all need to step outside our comfort zone for a little while.
Let's start to make the world a smaller place.

Still thinking about the next generation you may have recently attended one of the many roadshows touring South Devon promoting the new South Devon University Technical College which is scheduled to open in 2015/16.

If you did then you will doubtless share my enthusiasm for this exciting development.
The SDUTC will be the area's first university technical college and is going to offer a whole new way of learning for up to 600 young people aged 14 to 18.

It will be built in Newton Abbot and recruit from across the region including Teignbridge, Torbay, Exeter, Plymouth and the South Hams.

The academy school will have a unique focus in engineering, water and the environment, reflecting both the natural environment in Devon and the needs of employers in these industries where there is a lack of technicians available.

It is interesting to note that locally, apprenticeship numbers in science, engineering and manufacturing are half the regional average and nationally the technician deficit is estimated to reach 450,000 by 2020!

That has to be a worry. It seems to me this exciting development is a very good thing indeed, especially so when I chat with work experience people from Germany where a greater emphasis is placed on vocational education to meet the needs of industry.

Now I have some homework for you.

Roman governors in ancient times used to symbolically wash their hands when they wished to disengage from a thorny topic. It seems to me that habit is popping up again in our Big Society and that worries me. The handing back of quite often essential services to the community is all very well if we have a structure to ensure those most in need don't slip through the gaps.
I worry that all too often the structure simply isn't there but once the service has been handed over it will take time to see whether the baby has gone out with the bath water.

As you know, if you read my words from time to time, I keep banging on about community engagement and part of that is making contact with your local councillors. This need is increasingly important it seems to me. So here are a few questions you might want to ask them.

The first one which springs to mind is about the redevelopment of Oldway Mansion. When will the new hotel open? I will not mention the 12 closed tennis courts. Oops.

The second is about community engagement at the exciting Parkfield Centre with its huge BMX track, climbing wall, skate park, sports hall and other goodies which should by now should be captivating Torbay. Have they, the councillors, engaged?

Finally, rather than overloading you, can you please get an update on the Torquay seafront balloon debt and the future of that weed-covered plot from our political leaders?

Keep the smile!

Brave decision to vote against Government

My words in the Herald Express 5th September 2013

The South Devon Energy Centre

One of the problems, or so it seems to me, of our modern age is that things can seem so close at hand while being so far away.

The news of events that happen far away once took months to reach us but today streaming images allow us to share the picture, though not the adrenaline rush, of actually being there.

I don't know whether you watched the Syria Debate on the BBC Parliament Channel, but I did. I've never been to Syria although its history has always interested me for many reasons not least of which is that it is the meeting place of the three great Abrahamic traditions.

A few years ago that interest was heightened by acting as a business mentor for a lovely man who imported floating soap from Aleppo in Northern Syria. From Alan I gathered huge amounts of current information about this intriguing country and its diverse population.

Two of our local MPs didn't vote with the Government and I listened to their balanced arguments. It was brave of Sarah Wollaston and Anne Marie Morris to stand against the PM on this issue. Adrian Sanders was in South Africa and couldn't return for the vote.

Whatever the eventual outcome of this conflict, what is happening is a great sadness and, as always, it tends to be the innocent who get hit the hardest. Of course in the minds of many will be the dreadful consequences of Iraq and Afghanistan.

It is not my place to offer an opinion on Syria and I have no right really to do so here. What I do want to say is that it is the duty of all of us to be aware of what is happening at home and away. It is all too easy to let the streaming images pass before our eyes as a sort of fiction. Perhaps we see it as something that doesn't really concern us or as something that we would rather not acknowledge.

Both Sarah Wollaston and Anne Marie Morris said that they had listened to the voice of their constituents and voted accordingly. Too often those we elect follow the party whips and vote as requested by political leaders. That has its place, of course, otherwise things would move very slowly. But there are times of conscience and common sense, or so it seems to me.

Tell me, do you make your views known to members of parliament and local councillors? When the time comes to vote do you join the queue and select the person that you want to represent your community locally and nationally? Hmm.

Meanwhile here in South Devon the shadows lengthen and the sun heads south after a simply wonderful summer. After six successive soggy summers this has been a real tonic. The boost to the local economy has been huge and many beleaguered tourists businesses have been buoyed at last by wall to wall sunshine. I live not too far from the beach in Paignton and listening to the laughter from the crowded seashore has been a tonic. Although I am writing this wearing a pair of old board shorts I am aware that winter is just around the corner.

I don't know about you but I am battered on a daily basis, or so it seems, by telephone calls offering me cheap energy prices, free boilers, cavity insulation, loft insulation, solar panels, energy assessments and goodness knows what else. It's mind blowing, confusing and potentially very expensive when you find that what you thought you were getting didn't turn out to quite what was expected as many folk have found when they have attempted to sell a house that had free solar panels fitted. You can, therefore, imagine my joy when I went to visit the new South West Energy Centre which has opened just off the Brixham Road near South Devon College.

I spent a morning looking around this wonderful £5.6 million development with Paddy McNevin.
Paddy is the man at the sharp end and featured in last week's Herald Express business section. I've known Paddy for a number of years and his intriguing soft Irish accent always warms my spirit. I was completely captivated by the new South West Energy Centre and really think that it is a stunning community asset.

Now the nice thing, for me and I suspect for you, is that the SWEC staff are not selling a product or pushing a contract into your unwilling hands. Their mission is to make us all more aware of what we can do to be energy smart. As Paddy says "It's about behaviour change and making people think about the energy they use. Little things like not filling the kettle when you only want one small cup of coffee." Almost everything about the SWEC underlines that simple message. So before you sign up to anything to do with energy and fuel go and see these folk and be educated! That way your eventual decision will be a balanced one.

One feature of the SWEC that really captivated me was the wonderful little Passivhaus. What is a Passivhaus? Well I think that you need to visit and see for yourself but as a taste I can tell you that Paddy says "Passivhaus buildings achieve a 75 per cent reduction in space heating requirements compared to standard construction for new UK buildings." That is amazing.

While drifting around the building something else came up in conversation that bothered me. That worry was a passing comment about more and more people falling into fuel poverty. Terms like fuel poverty slip all too easily from the tongue and can mask huge social problems.

Sitting here on a warm late summer morning the cold winter days seem so far away. But then I suddenly remember the horror of my gas bill arriving after a particularly cold period last winter.

That's made me shiver.

Keep the smile!

Keep Smiling And Make A Difference

My words in the Herald Express 22nd August 2013




COUNCILLOR Alison Hernandez posted a quote on Facebook the other day which simply said "You can make a difference!"
I know that Alison believes this to be an essential truth and it is certainly something that lights my fire.
We live in busy and confusing times with so much going on that too often seems to leave us breathless.
One consequence of that breathlessness is the feeling that nothing that we say or do will make any difference but that is simply not true.
Paulo Coelho (author of The Alchemist) said recently: "Someday everything will make perfect sense. So, for now, laugh at the confusion, smile through the tears and keep reminding yourself that everything happens for a reason."
It was the 'laugh at the confusion' bit that caught my attention because usually the last thing that you want to do is laugh or smile.
But here is something to think about. I have always been a little cynical about some of the antics of the social movers and shakers.
It seems to me that when confusion becomes the norm it too often appears to be a way of protecting the guilty while leaving the innocent bewildered!
By rolling over and saying that you simply can't make a difference you allow those not working for the greater good to flourish and that can't be right.
I've been wearing a bright yellow polo shirt recently with the words PAIGNTON REGATTA printed on the back.
There are numerous other folk wearing the same style of polo shirt and they all have one thing in common.
The common link is giving up time to make the annual Paignton Regatta a success. It's a community thing and happens because folk feel that they can make a difference.
My contribution is organising the Round the Pier Swim, which is a fun event.
Charles Easterbrook started the pier swim and handed it over to me three or four years ago.
It made me smile when I noticed his son Roger, on holiday from London, race into the ocean last week wearing a pair of baggy shorts!
Guy Henderson's wife Lorraine handed out foil blankets to shivering swimmers although she did say how disappointed she was that Mankini Man didn't show this year having been photographed previously wrapping him in silver!
Councillor Dave Thomas dished out free hot chocolate to all after the swim, rounding off a quite special fun time.
It's not just about the yellow shirted committee members though.
Every year the 6th Torbay Britannia Sea Scouts provide safety cover on the water. That is no easy task since they have to pull together at least two powerboats and numerous kayaks.
Local lifeguards and first aiders from the Redcliffe Hotel also pitch up to help. This is truly a community working together and underlines Alison's observation that we all can make a difference!
So many community activities require continual stimulation otherwise they tend to become sluggish and ultimately cease to function.
A recent Twitter posting, or tweet if you like, made me smile. It came from Parliamentary hopeful Kevin Foster and was about a lively Peter Larkin sermon at Saint Matthias in Torquay.
At the time I had just listened to an equally captivating and well-argued sermon from Guy de Gaynesford at the Sacred Heart in Paignton.
That caused me to reflect upon the nature of the church as a gathering place binding a community together.
The famous Tony Blair comment about not doing god rather reduced, in my opinion, that rich tapestry of art and literature. The book by philosopher Alain de Botton 'Religion for Atheists' is worth reading because it offers a completely secular view of something that might be all too easily lost in these turbulent times.
"Where's he going with this?" you might ask, if you have read this far! My point is that for a community to function for the good of all we must accept that we can all make a difference.
The uniqueness of life is amazing and acknowledging the colourful fabric that potentially binds us all together is stunning.
But you need to engage and to bring your uniqueness to the table rather than simply sitting back and saying 'what can I do?'.
One starting point might be seeking out the positive rather than bleating about the negative. Look for good things to say rather than the spiteful.
My day starts with a meditation and even when feeling battered by 'stuff' I still attempt to produce a positive platform in my mind.
Sometimes that is hard work but the fact that my spirit feels low is not a reason for allowing the negative to dominate!
Seek out what matters and hang on to the things that will bring all sections of our community together. It is worth the effort.
Keep the smile.

A Future Without Hope Is Dangerous

My stuff in the Herald Express 8th August 2013

Being tagged as NEET is not neat. Not neat at all. But what is a NEET? A NEET is a young person who is not in employment, education or training and the fact the numbers are growing is a huge worry for our society.
The thing is that if our young folk are not in some meaningful employment, full-time education or training then what ARE they doing all day?
The number of NEETS in the south west has increased by 61per cent during the past 10 years and the estimate is that more than 84,000 young people fall into this category — 84,000 young people in the south west.
I don't know about you but I find that really shocking.
So what are they doing all day if they are not in employment, education or training?
If you don't know the answer then perhaps it is time to find out before this social problem gets out of control.
A future without hope is a dangerous condition emotionally.
Of course, the numbers will fall as the post-16 landscape changes.
From this summer, our young folk will be required to continue in education or training to the end of the academic year in which they turn 17.
Then after the summer 2015, they will be required to stay until their 18th birthday.
Of course, they do not have to remain at school although full-time education in an educational institution is an option.
The other two options is an apprenticeship or part-time accredited learning if they are in full-time employment or volunteering.
The question is does that solve a problem or simply push the problem to a later date?
The old saying about taking a horse to water comes to mind as does the concept of wilful blindness.
Ultimately it will be about the provision of jobs and that, in my opinion, is about a re-balancing of the economic landscape with a more equitable sharing of wealth. Hmm.
Still keeping the NEET situation in mind, by a curious twist of location I found myself on a sunny afternoon wandering around the refurbished Torre Abbey with Gordon Oliver, Mayor of Torbay, and Steve Parrock, CEO of the Torbay Development Agency and now also Torbay's chief executive officer, as 'tour guides'.
They did an excellent job and I was completely captivated by what has been achieved.
Torre Abbey has now been re-opened to the public and I really would recommend you spend a day wandering around the abbey plus the stunning gardens.
Of course, the 'tour guide' bit was a little extra because my meeting with Gordon Oliver was very much about our young people and, in particular, the future use of the Parkfield Centre on Paignton seafront plus the development of the Duke of Edinburgh Award (DofE is the new brand name) for those outside the school / college world.
I guess, therefore, in many cases this will be about the NEETS and finding a way of making a better road for them.
Gordon Oliver and Steve Parrock seemed very supportive and that rounded off a quite atmospheric afternoon.
Thinking about Torre Abbey and the magical way in which the refurbishment has captured the rich history of Torbay, it made me reflect upon the many wonderful assets that we too often take for granted.
There are so many things that we too often fail to notice and yet are simply captivating.
We have beautiful woodlands, stunning gardens, endless beaches, splendid harbours, ancient houses, atmospheric coastal walks, deep caves and so many other wonderful attractions.
To say that there is nothing to do in Torbay is simply not true.
Why not start with a visit to Torre Abbey and take a walk through history?
Pause for a while in the gardens and touch the walls which once supported the abbey church hundreds of years ago.
Take yourself to the deepest part of prehistoric Kents Cavern and place your hand on the cave wall which was once touched by our cave-dwelling ancestors.
Why not simply take a walk in a part of Torbay you've never been to before?
This is our community, these are our towns and this is our time.
Let's share it and celebrate.
Keep the smile.

Let's Celebrate The Positive!

My stuff in the Herald Express 25th July 2013

 

Within our local community we all have a duty, in my opinion, to contribute personal energy. Let us celebrate the positive rather than the negative and not to be knocked down by nasty spiteful comments. Oddly enough the recent fine weather has brought a smile to many weary faces who thought that hot summer days locally were simply a distortion of ancient memory! When we look back the sunny days do tend to dominate.

 

As I start to write I suddenly noticed that my mobile device has less than 3% power left and the power source in another place. The summer sun has yet to climb over the distant horizon and yet the day is already very warm making me feel a little like my mobile device waiting for energy boost to kick in. Every two weeks, usually in the early morning light, I gather an eclectic mix of local happenings to shape what I want to share on this platform.

 

That made me reflect upon the energy levels within our community and what we have that provides the much needed power boost to drive us all forward. The phrase "What floats my boat" comes immediately to mind because it is so much easier to travel with the things that bring us joy rather than the things that, like a Harry Potter Dementor, suck at the very spirit mercilessly.

 

You would have to been in an isolated place for the past six or seven years not to notice that for the majority of us these have become difficult and very challenging times. I say for the majority because there are quite a few who cruise on regardless not challenged by the fiscal twists and turns that have reduced the energy levels of so many. I've spoken before about the words of the Lakota Indian philosopher Joseph Marshall and his simple yet energising message that we must all keep on going. But what keeps us going when the gradient is painfully steep?

 

Years ago my doctor decided on a new course of medication for me. I queried why I would want to take them. His answer was that they might make me live longer. Of course I questioned why that mattered to which he said that it would help my natural curiosity as to what comes next! That is a truth for all of us and is a reason for keeping energy levels high by greeting each day with enthusiasm. That is hard to do at times but attempting to keep a smile when you really don’t want to is a good starting point!

 

Three things brought a smile to my craggy face recently. On a sunny Saturday morning recently I found Paignton’s family friendly beach packed with rowing gigs from all over the South West. Hundreds of people watched enthusiastic teams rowing close to the beach under the banner of Paignton Gig Regatta. Torbay was at its sparkling best that day with a clear blue sky and wall to wall hot sunshine. Paignton Rowing Club appears to be attracting increasing numbers of folk on the water and it is an absolute joy to see so many local young people participating. There has been much talk recently about the Olympic Legacy and it has to be said that it is very much alive and kicking at Paignton Rowing Club.

 

Other refreshing experiences included a visit to the Robert Owen Communities team based on Steamer Quay Road in Totnes. ROC is a unique organisation doing some wonderful work. In their own words say “ROC exists to help as many people as possible, throughout the UK, who have learning or similar disabilities to be who they want to be. ROC believes all people with a learning disability should have the chance and the support to be able to do what they want to do. ROC will work towards making this happen. ROC will do this by valuing and supporting all people who use our services, and those who support them.” For me the phrase ‘To be able to do what they want to do’ is such an important message for all of us.

Sometimes things happen that really do inspire and recently I was asked to present certificates at the annual presentation for the learning opportunities students at South Devon College. They had all worked so hard to achieve awards and to see so many also getting DofE Awards (Duke of Edinburgh’s) had me smiling for days. Wonderful achievements and the celebrations were really inspirational. I was certainly inspired!

It is all too easy these days to look at what isn’t going too well and decide that the whole world is in much the same state. But it isn’t! By all means point out constructively things that seem not to be for the greater good but we must constantly seek the exciting and innovative work being done quietly by so many locally.

Keep the smile.

Wilful blindness is a worry

The South West Energy Centre on Long Road Paignton



My stuff in this week's Herald Express.

SOMETIMES I do find myself scratching my head and wondering whether I have missed something or perhaps, like a Philip Pullman story, I have simply cut a slit in the fabric of time and dropped neatly into another world. Philip Pullman is the author of the Dark Materials trilogy the first book of which (Northern Lights) was made in to a curious film starring Nicole Kidman called the Golden Compass. Read the book and give the film a miss.

It may well also be that we have all dropped into the wise monkey world where we see no evil, hear no evil and say no evil, or in this case simply not wanting to see a truth, hear something we don't want to or not speak out when we should. More worryingly perhaps we may have adopted what Margaret Heffernan refers to as wilful blindness. Wilful blindness is a worry because, despite the fact you can probably see the truth, you simply don't want to acknowledge it and carry on as though nothing has changed. That tends to be a more comfortable option in our increasingly restless world.

Let me give you a couple of examples.

This is the English Riviera and has always been a major tourist destination. We spend hundreds of thousands of pounds promoting tourism. Despite a run of several years of lacklustre weather we have been blessed recently with a few sunny days. Back in the dark winter days the local council announced cuts to beach services and as a consequence deckchairs, sunbeds and beach attendants had hours reduced. One local hotelier a few weeks ago was jumping up and down in red faced anger as he looked across a packed seafront without the usual infrastructure. It's a little like having Santa's Grotto at Christmas and telling Father Christmas he's not needed at the moment.

With such an obvious contradiction you would have thought that the announcement of closure of services outside the school holidays would have had folk doing cartwheels down the promenade but it didn't.
Having said that, my hotelier friend did do a very good impression of an Olympic high jumper as he bounced up and down pointing angrily at the seafront!

The other day I had to nip into Torquay to collect something. It was midmorning on a Saturday and the town was curiously quiet despite wall-to-wall sunshine. My short stop cost me £1.30. Again, we are spending hundreds of thousands of pounds promoting town centres and then bang parking meters all over the place to extract cash from short-term visitors. The parking meters have become a 'cash cow' for councils but I rather suspect that a law of diminishing returns will result.

Again for me the whole parking meter fiasco is another obvious contradiction and while most of us can see that we simply plough on. For those of you that sympathetically read my words, you will know that I worry constantly about the cohesiveness of our local community in these increasingly complicated times. We all need to keep an eye on what is happening around us and that doesn't mean attacking every change! We can also act in a very positive way is supporting the things that need a helping hand.
Seek out the community projects but remember to speak out when things are not for the greater good. It is much better to head silliness off before it becomes an unwelcome reality. Now here is some good news. I am sure you have received the cheerful call centre messages which make you wish you hadn't picked up the phone. You may have pointlessly requested that cold calls should not be made to your home number.

One tedious message doing the rounds just now is the friendly voice tells you you probably qualify for the Green Deal and other energy saving money off deals. It just so happens they have a lovely agent not far from your house and an assessment visit is free. Sadly by the end of the visit you can be hundreds of pounds out of pocket for information which was available locally for a fraction of the cost or freely available in the public domain.

So now here is some good news for those of you who like me have been hammered by that intrusive call centre onslaught. The new South West Energy Centre is about to open on Long Road Paignton. The SWEC will offer free, impartial, no-nonsense expert advice on how to cut your business energy bills.

I love this SWEC quotation 'community engagement is a big part of the South West Energy Centre. Everyone wants to save energy and working together as a community can be a great way to reduce everyone's fuel bills and energy use, but it's not always easy to know how best to go about it. Although there are plenty of options — solar power, wind generation, insulation, energy saving devices and the like — it's difficult to find an organisation which supports saving energy as a community in the South West. Coming together to work for the common energy efficiency goal can produce very strong feelings of community cohesion. With good planning, an energy efficiency project can also be an important vehicle for social inclusion too'. The first community open day is on Saturday, August 31. This is a really good thing for South Devon given the need to think green and popping along to the open day sounds like a plan to me.

Keep the smile.

We Can All Make A Difference

My stuff in this week's Herald Express

Marco Cova and Luca Bridgada Villa

 

CHARISMATIC singer Freddie Mercury, while holding the attention of countless thousands in the palm of his hand, hammered out the words 'Nothing really matters anymore!' Perhaps if you are, as he was at the time, sitting on a low wall on the edge of eternity that might be true, but the truth is that things matter very much. The fact that they matter means that it simply isn't good enough to sit back and not pay attention. You see we can all make a difference if we pay attention to what is happening around us and engage rather than disengage. Flopping back in a chair and submitting to the soporific impact of endless streaming multi-channel television while leaving reality outside the front door is dangerous.

Of course, these days there is a temptation to ask: "What can I do?" as the movers and shakers trundle unchecked. The truth is that you can make a difference by simply paying attention and speaking out rather than letting the political gatekeepers remain unaccountable. That speaking out need not be in opposition since it is probably as important to make your views known when support is needed. For example, you will I am sure have been aware of the heated exchange of words over the recent Miss and Mr England competition hosted on the English Riviera. MP Adrian Sanders felt the event degrades the image of our tourism dominated community while Torquay hotelier Linda Hill thought the competition added value.

What did you think? Many folk worked very hard to make the event the success that it was and the English Riviera International Conference Centre was packed to the rafters. Personally, having watched them film the promotional video on Paignton beach in the middle of winter and make it look like a hot summer day, I thought that the whole thing was a boost for our beleaguered tourist industry.

While on the topic of beleaguered places, I happened to walk around Oldway Mansion the other day. It was here that I remember watching the film 'Churchill. The Hollywood Years' while hoping to catch a glimpse of the stunningly beautiful Neve Campbell. I don't know whether you have walked around the central stairway area of Oldway Mansion but it truly is breathtaking. It was until recently a popular tourist destination with coaches regularly dropping folk off to enjoy the atmospheric magnificence of the stairway.
Sadly, Oldway Mansion is closed for redevelopment although nothing seems to be happening at the moment. There was a half-hearted attempt to keep the stairway open this summer by providing access via the small tea room door on the side of the building. That attempt, in my opinion, was pathetic. It isn't just the building, sadly.

As the world fixates on the annual Wimbledon tennis championships, Oldway Mansion's tennis courts have been closed. What happened to the vision of an Olympic legacy? For those who were engaged in community change words of protest sounded, but not loudly enough to challenge the closure it would seem. Does it really matter anymore? I think that it does.

For the past five weeks we've been whooping it up with the Italians at my house. Luca and Marco have been staying with us while on work placements arranged by the Training Partnership in Torquay. The influx of foreign students is, in my opinion, a wonderful thing for South Devon. They bring a much-needed cash boost to many host families, a tingle to the community and, of course, make the world a smaller place.
During a conversation with Marco and Luca one evening, we stumbled upon something almost mystical.
There is a number that connects the whole of the English Riviera. That number? It is the number 12. "How do you get to Brixham?" asked Marco? On the Number 12 bus. "How about Newton Abbot?" asked Luca. On the 12 bus. What about a visit to Torquay? Hop on the Number 12. Paignton Zoo and South Devon College? This time you need the 12a.

So now, thanks to these two vibrant Italian young men, we have found a number to connect our community and all we now need to do is translate that into a cohesive strategy. How good would that be as joined up thinking in action? Like the 12 bus route and bus routes in general, we need something which will connect all parts of our sprawling community. Finding that common unity or identity theme is something for us all to seek. The thought immediately lifts my restless spirit.

Keep the smile.

Whooping it up with the Italians – Part 2 Super heroes!

Luca Bridgada Villa and Marco Cova

For Marco Cova and Luca Bridgada Villa their English Riviera five week adventure continues! Both are really enjoying the work placements arranged by Torquay’s Training Partnership.

The evening meal at the Sobey house last night was a riotous affair as we were joined by son Sam and his fiancé Sophie for a huge baked ham feast. Our evening meals with our two Italian super heroes always seem to last for hours and it makes a refreshing change to live life at a more Mediterranean rate!

We had a surprise the other day when Marco's parents (Paolo and Marinagela Cova) and sister (Francesca Cova) arrived for the evening. They had flown from Turin on the Sunday then came to see us on Monday evening before hopping back on a plane to Italy on Tuesday. They are wonderful people and we loved meeting them.

Both Marco and Luca have taken an active part in life on the English Riviera including having a traditional cream tea at Cockington Village.

Of course what we didn't know is that they are both super hero characters which is obviously good news for local residents in need of cosmic help!

For anyone thinking about offering accommodation to overseas students I would certainly recommend it. In these lacklustre times they bring a special vibrancy to the area and much needed boost to the beleaguered tourist industry.

Marco is working at Preston MOT and joined his new friends last Friday for a lunchtime chip butty.  Now that really is super hero food! Luca's placement us at It's Your Money in Torquay and he says "They are really nice. I like it there."

frank sobey