Herald Express

Friends, family and war veterans have said a final farewell to a true hero and D-Day landing veteran.

About 100 people yesterday joined together for a requiem mass and to pay tribute to Gerry Taylor, a decorated Normandy veteran who passed away on August 25, aged 85.

Military music welcomed mourners into Our Lady help of Christians and St Denis Roman Catholic church in St Marychurch, Torquay.

Mr Taylor's Union Flag- draped coffin was then carried into the church to the singing of the Jerusalem hymn. Members of the Normandy Veterans Association's South Devon branch stood inside the church to pay their respect to one of their own.

In his homily, Father Jonathan Shaddock said Mr Taylor, who was born in 1924, and moved to Torquay more than 20 years ago, "lived on in our memories of him".

In a heartfelt tribute, Mr Taylor's grandson, Dani, said his grandfather was a "genuine hero who served his country and was a hero in other countries".

Mr Taylor earned the Polish equivalent of the Victoria Cross. He received his medal for braving rifle fire to help a Polish tank crew during fighting in Holland.

A SOUTH Devon telephone engineer who was going through an acrimonious divorce killed himself on the fifth anniversary of his father's death, an inquest was told.

Paul Phipps changed from a cheerful, outgoing man to one who was depressed and hard to talk to, a coroner was told.

Mr Phipps, 45, was found by colleagues hanged at a telephone exchange on February 25 — five years to the day after his father died.

Mr Phipps, lived and worked in Kingsbridge until the break-up of his marriage, when he got a BT transfer to Cheltenham.

After the inquest, his mother Shirley said he was a very popular man and hundreds of people had attended his funeral.

She had earlier told the coroner that he was married but going through a difficult divorce from his wife Jacqueline.

"It was causing him severe stress and mental problems and he was on antidepressants and also having hypnotherapy," she went on.

"When he left the marital home in Devon he came back to Gloucestershire.

"He also found the death of his father very difficult to deal with.

"The loss of his 'ideal' life in Devon, the divorce and the death of his father all played on his mind."

She said she had found a note in her son's handwriting among his effects.

Gloucestershire Coroner Alan Crickmore said Mr Phipps had been a well-liked and happy character until matrimonial difficulties changed his life.

"The note found by his mother may have been written some time before his death, but was an indication of an intent to take his own life," he said.

Mr Crickmore recorded a verdict of suicide.

VISITORS can pick up some unusual ice cream flavours in Torquay this weekend including penguin, herring and chilli and seaweed and sea salt.

The unique varieties have been created as marine aviary Living Coasts launches its inaugural ice cream weekend.

Events co-ordinator Kate Hall said: "It may be the end of the school holidays, but this weekend will be one last taste of summer at Living Coasts. Ice cream is the taste of the coast — and we have some crazy flavours. Everyone should give them a go — you just don't know until you've tried them."

The new range has been devised on-site by Living Coasts chef Tony Perkins.

"I've used seaweed because a gum extracted from seaweed, called carrageenan, is used in some ice creams as a thickening agent.

"The penguin flavour is made out of a certain brand of chocolate biscuits and not actual penguins."

There will be taste tests at the Living Coasts Seal Amphitheatre between 11am and 3pm tomorrow and Sunday.

The ice creams will be served in cones or tubs. In addition, there will be a special seaweed touch tank.

Other, rather more conventional. ice cream flavours will also be available on site over the weekend.

Tony said: "I'd like to try fish and chips and macaroni, although both potatoes and pasta contain starch which means they can't be used to make ice cream.

"Other flavours I fancy making are strawberry, chilli and pepper, lemon meringue, and rice pudding and jam ripple."

PAIGNTON Women's Institute held a garden party with a difference — a visit by beauticians Jacqui Smart and Kelly Barlow.

Jacqui and Kelly, who have gone into business together to open The Retreat wellness and beauty salon in The Willows, gave free taster sessions in reflexology and aromatherapy to the WI women at their annual fundraiser.

WI president Carol Greechan said: "We like to do something a little different, so when Jacqui and Kelly came up with the idea, we jumped at the chance.

"Everyone who wanted to had a free taster session and they thoroughly enjoyed themselves. There was a real buzz around the group."

Kelly said: "We open at The Retreat on October 1, and we thought this would be a great way of introducing ourselves to some new friends.

"We're hoping that word of mouth will help spread the news that we are opening up — and what better networking organisation than the WI?"

Jacqui said: "Everyone really enjoyed themselves and said what a treat it was. We had some really great feedback and we're looking forward to seeing some members when we open."

As well as the treatments, Jacqui and Kelly gave each of the women a goody bag of Dr Belter beauty goods and cosmetics.

Carol Greechan said: "It's been a great success and makes a change from our usual garden parties. This is going to be a hard act to follow next year."

HE may have little legs, but four-year-old Percy showed his rivals a clean set of paws to win top prize in the amateur dog races at Staverton's Elizabethan Fayre.

The plucky Jack Russell is the pet of Evie and Aggy Matsambanye who came from Zimbabwe to start a new life in South Brent with stepmum Emma.

They saw the dog racing advertised while they were at the fayre and decided to let Percy have a go.

He was one of 42 eager pooches straining at the leash with owners able to have a flutter on an efficiently run tote.

Percy sailed through his heat and won by a nose in the final to take the "fastest short dog" award.

With the sun shining all day the village playing field was a blaze of colour for the event which drew large crowds from a wide area.

Some arrived by steam train at Staverton station which, with a real ale festival also in session, was kept busy all day.

The arena at the fayre had continuous music and entertainment all afternoon with a variety of events ranging from Punch and Judy and elegant Rennaissance dancing to an ingenious dive bombing competition, in which competitors operated a remote control to release a "bomb" from an aircraft — all to the strains of the Dambusters March.

The fayre, which has been a tradition for many years, is a combined effort between Staverton and Landscove and all the profits are shared between the village churches, schools, clubs and other organisations.

THE ANCIENT tradition of inspecting Newton Abbot's watercourses has been carried out by the Court Leet and Court Baron.

The annual view of the waterways attracted scores of local dignitaries.

The age-old tradition dates back to Medieval times when the Court Leet, on authorisation of the King or Queen, dealt with matters relating to local people.

Among the responsibilities of the role was to make sure bread and ale was worthy of sale and that local boundaries were not being encroached upon.

The waterways inspection covered a course of two miles starting from Steppes Meadow past parts of the River Lemon and Bradley Mill Leat to Puritan Pit where a short dedication was performed by the Rev Roger Whitehead.

The gathering continued to Ogwell Mill and Bradley Woods ending at the leat bridge at Bradley Manor where refreshments were provided by Aileen and Peter Carrett.

It was attended by Newton Abbot mayor Councillor Carol Bunday, Newton Abbot crier Eveline Davies and Court Leet Portreeve Michael Davies.

Spokeswoman Wendy Smith said: "While the official purpose of this medieval custom is to check that the watercourses are not obstructed, considerable fun was had on the way.

"This is a great family event in which anyone can join, no age limit. This year our ages ranged from 17 to 86 and people needed only a bit of stamina and stout shoes for the muddy parts of the route."

The next event is the autumn litter pick on Saturday, September 18, starting from Hero Bridge, Newton Abbot, at 10.30pm.

WHAT will it take to get the message across about the misery brought on by alcohol?

Over the past few years much time has been dedicated and much money spent on trying to educate the public over the dangers of excess drinking.

In moderation, alcohol is relatively harmless.

But in excess, its effects are devastating. One morning spent in a local magistrates' court would open anyone's eyes to the carnage caused by excess drinking.

According to a new report, 293 people in Torbay were taken to hospital with alcohol related injuries and illnesses in a single year.

It compares badly to other parts of the West Country, with only Bristol genuinely worse that the bay.

Licensing authorities are not happy with the figures, which also reveal 219 alcohol-related crimes.

It is too naive to believe that the problems are clear-cut and easy to define.

The licensed trade has a role to play and, by and large, plays it well, So, too, does the retail sector.

But there is little being done about the easy availability of ridiculously cheap booze.

You can buy litres of very strong 'cider' for less than the price of a loaf of bread, and even the most prominent supermarkets make a great play of selling beers and ciders at extremely cheap prices.

There is a culture in this country of buying cheap alcohol in large quantities and consuming it to the point of intoxication. No-one seems quite sure exactly when this became such a fundamental part of the British character, but there is no doubt that it has.

And as long as that continues, there seems little chance of decreasing the number of problems caused.

THERE is a kerfuffle in the drawing room at news of dastardly deeds upon the internet.

Someone out there in cyberspace has let slip the best-kept secret in theatre — the name of the murderer in Agatha Christie's long-running play The Mousetrap.

How frightfully beastly of them.

At least we now know one thing for sure — the butler DIDN'T do it!

A GROUP of adventurous friends have completed the first of 22 fundraising challenges in 12 months to raise money in memory of a friend — and have already raised half their £5,000 target.

The group will run, walk, cycle and drive to raise money for muscular dystrophy in memory of their friend Bertie Brookman, who suffered from the disease and died in April at the age of 23.

The first event saw the friends kayaking from Brixham to Torquay and back again before a launch party in Torquay.

They have also cycled and rowed the equivalent of Devon's circumference on exercise machines and completed the Torbay Regatta 10k.

Team member Richard Moore said the events had been a huge success.

"People are always eager to jump on board and do what they can to help. Through the website, social media and word of mouth, we have raised a high level of interest in the campaign and already reached half our target of £5,000."

Another team member, James Harbottle, said: "We don't plan on stopping at £5,000. We are already in the process of increasing our target to £10,000 and the campaign is showing no signs of slowing down.

"This is just the first of many events. It was tiring to get through the kayak, but the result was definitely worth it."

Team organiser Joe Venton said the events had gone well despite bad weather.

Team member Rob Tupman said: "Bertie was an infectiously positive guy with a personality that showed no limits despite his condition."

The lads' next challenge will be a 70km bike ride from Honiton to Teignmouth.

Other remaining events include a John O'Groats to Land's End cycle, walking Hadrian's Wall, the Plymouth Triathlon, the National Three Peaks Challenge, a car rally across Europe and an organised track day, featuring Bertie's race car — something he was passionately enthusiastic about.

For more information or to make a donation, visit www.bertie23.co.uk

A COUPLE who had been due to enjoy their wedding reception at a Torquay bar which closed suddenly had the time of their life — next door.

Nathan Paull and his Spanish wife Cristina Vega were left distraught when they discovered that their reception would not go ahead after Churchill's bar and hotel on Babbacombe Downs shut and the American licensee left.

The couple, from Churston, had been due to get married on Saturday. Two days before their wedding they arrived at Churchill's to put the final touches to their big day — only to discover the doors chained and locked and a note warning that the bar was "closed until further notice".

Mr Paull, 40, an architectural designer with Bay-based Kay Elliott, said: "I can't bear to think what would have happened if we had turned up on the day with all our guests only to find the place locked.

"We've lost £180. It could have been much worse if we'd paid for food too."

It is understood Churchills licence-holder, Arizona-born businesswoman Melanie Davies, left last week.

However, Mr Paull's wedding party went smoothly when Good Samaritan publican Martyn Strange stepped in.

The owner of the Babbacombe Inn and the Royal at Babbacombe broke his rule not to hold wedding parties at Bank Holidays weekend because he felt for the Paull's and their 80 guests.

He said: "We heard about the wedding next door.

"We felt we had to contact the people with the wedding to see if we could help them out."

Mr Paull and his wife tied the knot at Oldway Mansion register office in the morning with their daughters Sienna, five, and Gina, three, as bridesmaids.

The family and guests had lunch at Living Coasts before making their way in stretched limos to the Royal for the evening party.

Mr Paull added: "Everyone had a great time.

"My band the Dodgy Practice took turns to play bass as I couldn't play at my own wedding."

Mr Strange added: "We don't have functions on bank holiday weekends because we're too busy.

"But this was someone's wedding. It's a major event.

"We felt something had to be done .

"I'm glad we were able to help even at the last minute."

THE Countess of Wessex is set to open Dawlish's new state-of-the-art youth centre.

Prince Edward's wife, Sophie (pictured), will unveil a plaque to mark the official opening of the £2.4million Red Rock centre next Friday.

She will be the VIP guest at the event ahead of the centre throwing its doors open to the public the following day after an 18-month long programme of construction.

The Countess will be joined by local dignitaries and those involved with bringing the dream of a new youth centre to fruition.

The vision to provide Dawlish with its own youth centre has been in the offing for eight years and represents years of hard work by charity Dawlish Action for Youth and local authorities.

Dawlish Action for Youth chairman Wally Protheroe said: "This is very exciting. We have been working on this for over 12 years and it seems very strange to be at this point, but we can now say that we have one of the best youth centres in the country."

The centre boasts modern facilities for young people aged between 13 and 19. It has a recording studio and editing suite, a games and social area, dance space with DJ booth, IT suite, offices and purpose designed suites where young people can learn vocational skills such as carpentry and general building.

There is also a hair salon, catering room and a restaurant that will be regularly open to the public.

Red Rock will also act as a hub for services such as health advice and will provide sessions for children aged between 10 and 13.

The building was constructed on land provided by Teignbridge District Council.

Funding was gained from Devon County Council, the Big Lottery Fund, Government programme MyPlace and Dawlish Town Council.

Dawlish county councillor John Clatworthy said: "This flagship centre will provide them with opportunities for training, education and socialising in a stimulating and supportive environment, as well as provide the local community with a superb 21st century facility to offer much-needed meeting and conference facilities in the town, and boost the local economy.

"I hope that the community will make full use of it.

"These opening events mark the culmination of a lot of hard work and dedication by a number of key organisations and individuals.

"It has been many years in development, but I'm sure that when everyone sees the excellent facilities on offer they will agree that it has been well worth the wait."

Devon County Council's Cabinet member for schools and skills Cllr Christine Channon said: "The town's young people have been instrumental in turning this long-awaited dream into a reality.

"Through Devon County Council's Youth Service and Dawlish Action for Youth, they have been involved at every stage of the planning and design of the centre: conducting surveys and providing feedback, raising funds, meeting with engineers and providing ideas on the design and equipment.

"They will even be involved in staffing the centre once it opens."

There will be a grand opening for the public on Saturday, September 11, at 10am, followed by a music event with local bands from 7pm until 10pm.

The event will include tours of the building with members of the youth work staff on hand to answer any questions.

There will also be the opportunity to talk to young people involved in the project about its benefits.

TORBAY has one of the worst records in the West Country for alcohol-related hospital admissions, new figures have revealed.

According to a new report 293 people in Torbay were taken to hospital with alcohol-related injuries and illnesses.

The Bay was only behind Bristol with 296 alcohol-related hospital admissions and the Isles of Scilly with 294, which was a statistical blip according to the experts.

Neil Stanlake, a licensing officer with police in the Bay, admitted alcohol-related incidents were a problem.

He said: "We are not pleased with these figures. We are working hard to reduce the problem."

The report, released by the North West Public Health Observatory, also reveals there were 219 alcohol-related crimes in the Bay last year.

A spokesman for South Devon NHS Trust said: "Previous health profiles have shown Torbay to have a higher than average number of alcohol-related admissions to hospital and work is continuing locally through the trust's alcohol harm reduction strategy, both to prevent alcohol misuse and to ensure services and support are easily accessible within the community.

"This has included the development of a community-based alcohol action service to reduce the demand upon hospitals, the development of online support for members of the public, including information and advice to help people self-care and to access local services. We also have a hospital-based alcohol team in Torbay."

The health service spokesman added: "Torbay is a popular destination for those seeking to enjoy the local nightlife and, unfortunately, a minority of these visitors will require medical attention as a result of excess alcohol.

"Those attending A&E will be assessed in the same way as other patients, to ensure that patients with the most urgent need are seen as a priority."

Mr Stanlake said government officials were now considering putting up a proposal to "tweak the licensing laws" so the health service can be involved when licensing applications are dealt with.

He added: "Police and the NHS are dealing with the problem, but the main players, the licensees, need to take greater responsibility. They have to work harder to tackle underage drinking and better deal with people who are already drunk.

"Alcohol-related incidents will otherwise continue to have an effect on the health service and hospitals."

Between 2003 and 2008/09 there has been a 65 per cent increase in the number of people admitted to hospital in England and Wales because of alcohol — 606,799, an increase of more than 240,000 people.

Anyone concerned about their drinking can visit www. torbayalcoholservices.nhs.uk or call 01803 604334.

WORK has begun on turning the 50-year-old loss-making Totnes Civic Hall into a sun- fuelled eco powerhouse — which will pump electricity into the national grid and help slash taxpayers' bills.

More than 70 photovoltaic cells are being fitted to the south-facing roof of the town centre hall as part of a major scheme to cut the old building's carbon footprint.

The work is costing £50,000 — part of Totnes Transition Street's project which won a £500,000 Government grant to fund innovative ways to make the whole Totnes community more eco friendly.

Totnes Town Council, which owns the hall, is pumping in another £15,000 to overhaul the building's old electrical system to enable to eco power scheme to go ahead.

The work on the hall began a fortnight ago and is expected to be completed by Saturday, September 18, when it is planned to hold an energy fair from 11am until 4pm at the hall and unveil the new power system.

Totnes Mayor Tony Whitty said: "The aim is to have a community building which would have a reducing carbon footprint.

"The civic hall is now 50 years old and is a concrete block that is incredibly inefficient."

He said the town council had tried for several years to find ways of improving or redeveloping the hall but had recognised that in the current financial climate, it was likely to be at least another decade before anything could be done.

Until now, the hall has cost £5,000 to £6,000 a year to heat and light — part of the £20,000 a year Totnes taxpayers hand over to keep the building going.

It is hoped that income from selling power generated by the cells to the National Grid will help cut the bills and pay for future improvements.

The Transition Streets project driven by the Transition Town Totnes organisation has involved groups of people in various parts of the town become more eco friendly by using solar cells, insulation and even changing their lifestyles to lower their carbon footprint.

On September 11 and 12, people will be able to visit 13 homes in the town to see how they have made the significant eco friendly improvements.

A Transition Town Totnes spokesman said: "This is a great opportunity to see what people have achieved."

Eleven of the properties are refurbished homes and demonstrate just what can be achieved in homes ranging from Victorian farmhouses to modern buildings.

Visitors can also see the thatched cob cottage under construction in Dartington and the hydro-electric generator installed in Dartington Tweed Mill.

The spokesman said that visiting times varied for each location so people should visit http://totnes.transitionnetwork. org

POLICE in Buckfastleigh are on the look-out for a stolen Inspector Morse-style maroon Jaguar.

The £4,000 car, similar to the one used by John Thaw in the famous television detective series, was stolen from Weir Farm near the town between August 21 and 28.

Thieves broke into a barn where the classic car was kept, got into the vehicle and pushed it down the lane to the road.

In a bizarre twist worthy of a Morse mystery, police say the culprits called a recovery vehicle and the car was then dropped at an undisclosed location, in a rural part of the Kingsteignton area. It has not been seen since.

A police spokesman said: "Police are appealing for anyone who may have been approached and offered the car, which has the registration mark DLK810C, or who has any information whatsoever to please call us."

Contact police on 08452 777 444 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 quoting crime reference JS/10/852.

THE grand industrial-looking building is now complete and its green and white lines stand proudly where there was once a series of red brick warehouses and a car park.

Once the glass doors open, a cafe space stands to the left while the library itself is on the right.

A reception desk will welcome visitors. It will be home to library staff and community police officers.

Beyond the cafe, a Connexions desk is being readied and two glass-walled offices will soon welcome members of the community with queries relating to Torbay Council's services.

The library opens up on to two floors. It is light, airy and spacious.

As well as the obvious book shelves, it has comfortable chairs and studious armchairs with fold-away tablets which are perfect for laptop and note-taking.

A teenagers' area is tucked in a corner and computers and game consoles have been installed.

As you walk through the library's ground floor, you come across the children's area and its "reading tower".

Features designed to intrigue and entertain youngsters have been dotted around the area.

Head librarian Katie Lusty explained how the features of the new library had been designed with the community's input.

She said: "Every step of the way we've had members of the community give us ideas of what they wanted.

"It is a library the town can be proud of and which will hopefully be used by the community."

Mrs Lusty said the consultation process on a new library for Paignton started in 2006 when the National Lottery announced it was making funds available to build new libraries.

She added: "If we hadn't seized such an opportunity then that would have been it. We wouldn't have a library now."

The library is next to Paignton's transport hub. It will be able to hold 20 per cent more books than the current 18,000 and will still employ seven staff when it opens to the public in mid-September.

Mrs Lusty said local history was a subject that a lot of people were interested in and more local interest books will now be housed upstairs along with a copy of parish records, microfiches of local newspapers and large scale Ordnance Survey maps of the area.

As we survey the quiet room in which no computer nor WiFi capability will be available, Mrs Lusty said: "It was one of the things the community wanted. Our first design was for a big open plan room but they insisted on a quiet room."

The upstairs area will be equipped with train seats from an old train which used to travel through Paignton. It will help reflect the town's heritage and industrial past.

Mrs Lusty said the artwork lighting features had been commissioned from Creative Torbay and were designed by Georgia Scott.

The autumnal leaves or shrimps hanging on crystal threads are rather striking and provide a focal point inside the library. Other lighting features look like snow-covered leaves falling down and the entrance hall is lit by lampshades which look like cotton statues.

"It definitely has the wow factor," Mrs Lusty said. "We'll stick comments people make about books on the glass banisters.

"We'll have glass cases with arts and artefacts and local artworks on the walls. We want the community to take ownership of their library."

Paignton Library will be more than just that. It will have a large meeting room which can be used for conferences or divided into three smaller rooms.

Already the cinema club and game club and other groups have asked if they can use it.

Also on the top floor, will be the offices and admin spaces as well as a media suite.

The library will open on Monday, September 13.

A TOTAL of 12 people were arrested in a 48-hour police blitz on hard drugs dealing in Torbay.

Operation Tucker ended yesterday with a further six people being detained in Torquay and Paignton.

Some 50 officers took part in the two-day sweep aimed at disrupting the local supply of hard drugs like heroin.

Five of the arrests yesterday were made on the street.

The one house arrest was in Winner Street where a 30-year-old man was taken in for questioning.

A 40-year-old man was arrested in the same street.

Other arrests in Paignton were in Cecil Road where a 29-year-old man was detained and Torquay Road where a 35-year-old man was taken away by officers.

In Torquay a 33-year-old man was arrested in Fleet Street and a 39-year-old woman was detained in Castle Road.

All the arrests related to offences of supplying drugs or being concerned in the supply of them. Each was later being quizzed at Torquay Police Station.

Four of the six people arrested on the first day of the operation were sent to court while two were bailed.

Det Insp Dave Thorne, who headed the operation, said: "We've been very pleased with the way things have gone. Our efforts to stifle drug supplies locally will continue."

A BRIXHAM man has been acquitted of drunkenly assaulting a teenager with a knife.

Mark Thompson, 36, walked away from Exeter Crown Court a free man following a three-day trial.

The jury took less than an hour to find him not guilty of one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and two lesser counts of assault by beating.

The trial had been told by the prosecution that Thompson, of Overgang, pulled a nine-inch kitchen knife on the youth and told him 'Go on, be a man'.

It was alleged the two scuffled when the younger male, who cannot be named, tried to stop an argument between Thompson and a woman at her address.

Thompson did not deny there had been an argument or that he had smashed a mirror at the address, but said the youth had started the fight by making threats and pulling the knife.

The defendant admitted that earlier that day, known as Trawler Race Day in the town, he had been drinking in pubs.

He said the argument with the woman had started when she spat at him, not because he was being abusive.

It was at this stage that he picked up the mirror and smashed it, triggering the scuffle with the youth.

The teenager suffered cuts to his palm, neck and arm in the fight in June last year.

Thompson was also accused of headbutting and punching a second teenage male who held him in a bear hug.

He denied the claim.

When the foreman of the jury announced not guilty verdicts on each of the charges Thompson held his head in his hands and cried.

A SOUTH Devon amateur dramatic group is taking on its biggest challenge in 113 years.

Torbay-based TOPS Musical Productions has £60,000 behind the make or break production of Beauty and the Beast, which takes place at the Princess Theatre in Torquay later this month.

Three 40-ton articulated lorries will deliver the massive set, costumes and props, which include wigs specially commissioned to the Royal Shakespeare Company. Chairman Jeane Frost said: "At a cost of nearly £60,000 the society has spared no expense in creating a stunning show that has everything the professional version had including the spectacular costumes, exciting lighting, pyrotechnics and a few other surprises.

"It is the biggest event of the year in Torbay's amateur theatre calendar and should not be missed."

Director Sarah O'Connor has pulled out all the stops and has taken the rehearsal process far beyond the norm, to ensure that the end product is as professional and as entertaining as possible.

She said: "This a massive show in terms of its technical requirements. Flying enchantresses and magical transformation scenes, mean that it is probably the most difficult show technically, that an amateur company in Torbay has produced."

The production runs from September 21 to 25.

For more on the massive effort being pored into the show see today's What's On.

AN ELDERLY man who lost a kidney to cancer has become a prisoner in his own home after a large wheeled dustbin was delivered and blocked his narrow gate.

Bill Bowhay was left fuming when the controversial new bins were dropped off at his Hayes Road home in Paignton.

The 80-year-old retired carpenter, who has to care for his wife Moira, a 76-year-old dementia sufferer, said the new recycling contraption was three feet wide and blocked off the small area in front of his gate leading to the 21 steps to his house.

Mr Bowhay said he was all in favour of recycling and doing his bit for the environment, but not at the expense of his liberty and freedom of movement.

The grandfather of five and great-grandfather of two said: "This great big bin was delivered yesterday morning and it takes the whole space in front of the gate.

"I struggle to take my wife out because she requires a lot of care. Now we can't manoeuvre out the front gate. We're being blockaded in our home.

"We used to have the seagull-proof bags which were kept at the back. Why can't we keep the bag and stick with what works?

"I don't want the wheeled bin there."

Mr Bowhay, who had his knees replaced 20 years ago and had a kidney taken out three years ago after a fight against cancer said he contacted the Waste Doctors helpline only to be told the bin would be picked up within 14 days.

Mr Bowhay, who served in the air sea rescue service in Boston, Lincolnshire, said: "I'm all in favour of recycling.

"But I don't want to be trapped in my house for two weeks until they take the bin away."

Meanwhile, residents in nearby Elmbank Road, have left all their wheeled bins in the road.

The bins were used for the last time on Wednesday night but were moved on to the pavement outside the Devonport Arms pub at the junction with Hayes Road.

A spokesman for the pub said: "There are six bins outside my pub windows. They should be outside people's homes. But I guess some of the residents don't want them and put them on the road.

"The council moved them on to the pavement but that's no good. I don't want all these bins outside my pub."

A council spokesman was unavailable for comment.

Letters Extra — see pages 18 and 19.

AN ARTIST was said to be lucky to be alive after he fell 100ft from cliffs at Torquay.

The 53-year-old man, from Orpington in Kent, is believed to have been trying to get down to the bottom of cliffs at Meadfoot to a scene he wanted to draw when he slipped and fell.

He was eventually winched to safety by a rescue helicopter.

Coastguards spokesman Pip Hall said: "The cliff edges are very crumbly and we would advise people to stay well clear.

"This man was very lucky to survive that fall."

Mr Hall said the rescue would have been more difficult had it not been for the helicopter because access to the man would have been much harder.

The man, who has not been named, is on holiday with his wife and suffered a head injury and a suspected broken arm and broken leg after falling from the cliffs near Kilmorie flats at the Ilsham Marine Drive end of the Meadfoot Sea Road at just after 9.30am yesterday.

Yesterday afternoon he was being treated at Torbay Hospital.

The man's partner watched and was reassured by Coastguards and paramedics throughout the rescue that lasted almost two hours.

Holidaymakers, passers-by and dog walkers gathered on the road and slipway as the red and white Coastguard rescue helicopter from Portland hovered above the injured man.

Speaking from the scene Peter Childs, from Torbay Coastguard, said they had requested a helicopter lift because easterly conditions were 'too unsafe'.

"There is quite a swell and because the casualty had fallen 100 feet we didn't think it wise to transport him by boat and so for his comfort we requested a helicopter lift," he added.

The Torbay RNLI inshore lifeboat with a doctor on board had already reached the injured man and was giving him medical treatment and stabilising him before he was rescued.

The inshore lifeboat peeled away from the base of the cliffs while the helicopter lowered a winchman and a spinal board and equipment to coastguards already working with the injured man.

The helicopter then flew away from the cliffs while the man was loaded on to a spinal board.

It then returned to winch him away from the bottom of the dangerous cliffs.

The man was transferred to Torquay Boys Grammar School playing fields where an ambulance was waiting to then take him to Torbay Hospital for further treatment.

Late yesterday the man was said to be 'stable and doing well' in hospital.

A COUPLE have been arrested on suspicion of importing a powerful drug linked to a secretive religion, following a police raid on a Dartington home.

Officers from the Serious and Organised Crime Investigation Team headed up the raid which seized what is believed to be a quantity of ayahuasca — a liquid which contains the powerful hallucinogenic dimethyltryptamine, also known as DMT, a designated Class A drug in this country.

Police believe the drug was brought into this country from Brazil where it is used as a 'sacrament' in the Santo Daime church – a blend of Christianity and South American and African religions.

The church was founded in South America in the 1930s, but has spread to the USA and Europe where worshippers are believed to meet secretly, often at each other's homes.

This is the first time the drug has been seized by the police in the West Country.

Det Sgt Stuart Gilroy, who led the Dartington raid, said: "As far as we can tell there has only been one other successful prosecution for the drug in this country and that was in another part of UK."

He described the drug as a "psychotropic hallucinogenic" used by members of the religion "to get in touch with their inner selves".

He said that it is believed the drug is used as a sacrament in the same way wine is used in Christian ceremonies.

He added: "It is too early to say if further investigations need to be carried out or other people need to be interviewed."

Four officers from the Serious and Organised Crime Investigation team and another five from the local Tactical Aid Group were involved in the raid which took place at 8.10pm on Wednesday.

Police said a 48-year-old man of UK origin and a 45-year-old female Japanese national were arrested.

The man has claimed to be a senior member of the Santo Daime religion.

Both were questioned at Torquay Police Station before being released on bail to return for further questioning while officers carry out further enquiries.

The drug comes in the form of a brown liquid.

Police have refused to say where they are keeping the drug until it can be analysed.

However it is being stored in special bio hazard bags.

Det Sgt Gilroy explained: "At the moment we don't know how potent it is."

Ayahuasca is a concoction prepared from a specific South American vine mixed with leaves of various shrubs containing DMT.

The hallucinogenic brew was first described academically back in the 1950s by a Harvard scientist.

Apparently, while none of the ingredients causes any psychedelic effect on its own the combination causes a powerful effect.

According to some reports the religion of Santo Daime – which means 'holy give me' - has surfaced in London, Devon and Cornwall as well as Northern Ireland, Wales and Yorkshire, and the number of worshippers is said to be in the hundreds.

The 'church' was born in the 1930s out of the experiences of a Brazilian rubber-tapper named Raimundo Irineu Serra, or Mestre (Master) Irineu, as followers call him.

In 1930 he was given his first taste of ayahuasca by medicine men and supposedly spent eight solitary days and nights in the rainforest, experiencing a series of visions and receiving instructions from the Virgin Mary.