🌻 Dear Devon Lovers,

We thought we’d share the results of our ongoing reader survey which we invite you to complete from time to time (it’s at the bottom of this newsletter).

When asked how satisfied you are with Go Devon! an amazing 96% of you who responded gave a 5-star rating.

wilko61 said: ““Plenty of varied and interesting events and lots of relevant info.”

It’s good to know that allowing us into your inbox is worthwhile!

If you havn’t already, please let us know what you think. Thank you for your support.

See history and tradition in colourful new Brixham town murals

A stroll around Brixham has become a lot more colourful following completion of 15 wall murals.

From the harbour, through the town and up to Bolton Street, massive artworks above shops and on the sides of buildings illustrate the history and culture of the fishing port.

They’ll soon be part of a formal walking trail but are already making an impact, with many having a story behind the picture.

• The Angel Wings on King Street is a nod to local women, the “Brixham Angels”, who in 1866 during the Great Gale guided their loved ones home to port by building fires on the shoreline.

• On Bolton Street, you’ll find a stunning piece of art based on a depiction of Frederic Leighton's “The Fisherman and the Syren”.

• The largest collection is on Fore Street, with a pirate, a pirate map and sailing trawlers featuring the famous Brixham red sails.

• The side wall of Dobles the Jewellers has been decorated with a treasure map.

Various artists take the credit including Mrs Murals, Urban Gypset and Brixham illustrators Flossy and Jim.

Debbie Harris plays Debbie Harry

Even the original Debbie Harry has given her blessing.

After forming tribute act Bootleg Blondie 20 years ago, Debbie Harris (real name) has created a watchable replica of the iconic singer of the 1970s.

The band is a great substitute for the real thing but over the years they have also actually played with two former Blondie members.

Debbie Harris was picked from 15,000 applicants to represent Debbie Harry on the BBCs “Even Better Than The Real Thing” show.

The Reviews Hub said: “It’s rare, indeed, to see a tribute band with this degree of constructed authenticity, combining looks, voice, attitude, and body language.”

You can judge for yourself.

Bootleg Blondie are playing at the Palladium Club in Bideford on Friday 1st December. Tickets £15 in advance or £17 on the door.

The true and moving cost of war through the eyes of one soldier

War is all around us, but how often do we stop to examine the individual human cost?

Battle Cry is a solo play at the Theatre Royal Plymouth that does just that.

Based on the true story of a former soldier, Adam, struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), we see him recount his experiences in war, the horrors he witnessed, and the heavy toll this took.

There’s strong language, adult themes, sounds of war and explosions, real life stories and details of PTSD and addiction, so not suitable for U16s.

The play is on from Thursday 2nd to Saturday 4th November, with an after-show talk on the 2nd. Theatre Royal Plymouth PL1 2TR. Tickets from £12.

Make your own leather sneakers like these, or in any colour you like

Apparently the most difficult part is choosing your colours.

You can have low or high rise with many options to make your sneakers unique including a range of leather and printed hides (all ethically sourced, salvaged or rescued) not to mention choice of laces.

The “soleful” shoemaking experience takes place at Make Southwest, (formerly Devon Guild of Craftsmen) a crafting workshop in Bovey Tracey, on Friday 3rd November.

You’ll be guided by Tracy Watkins from Coterie Leather, cutting, preparing, hole punching and hand stitching your sneakers. No previous skills are necessary.

Make Southwest, Riverside Mill, Fore Street, Bovey Tracey TQ13 9AF. Tickets £155.

Try a snifter at the oldest working gin distillery in England (1793 to be precise)

There’s a choice of 3 tours at the historic Plymouth Gin Distillery, and if you’re into history as well as alcohol, you’re in for a treat.

The distillery’s Barbican building dates back to the early 1400s, having been a monastery, debtors prison and church before becoming a drinks factory in 1793.

There’s even a connection with the Pilgrim Fathers, who apparently stayed on the site before taking the short walk to Mayflower Steps to set off for America.

Today you can take a classic tour for £15, a Connoisseur’s Tour with dedicated tasting for £35 or a Master Distiller’s version for £55 where you get to distil your own tipple.

And of course there’s a bar for sampling the original, Navy Strength and Sloe varieties that have made Plymouth Gin so well known.

60 Southside St, Plymouth PL1 2LQ. Tour details and booking.

The gallant and unassuming star of Exeter’s blue plaque trail

Who knew there was a pigeon among the soldiers, writers and composers celebrated by blue plaques around Exeter?

Mary of Exeter was a homing pigeon awarded the Dickin Medal for animal gallantry during the Second World War, when she carried top secret messages on behalf of the British government.

The plaque at 6 West Street commemorates Mary and her owner Cecil “Charlie” Brewer, at the house that was his home, workshop and pigeon loft.

It is Exeter Civic Society’s first blue plaque to mark a partnership between an animal and its owner, and one of an impressive 40+ plaques in the town.

Follow the online guide to visiting them and learn the links between Exeter and, among others, Charles Dickens, General Charles Gordon of Khartoum and Franz Liszt.

🏆️ Win Devon Prizes

We find prize competitions so you don’t have to. Entry is free unless stated.

Closing dates are in brackets.

You could win:

🐎 A family day out at World of Country Life, Exmouth worth £70 (27 Oct)

New! 🍻 1 of 10 Devon rum & beer bundles (29 Oct)

☕️ A coffee maker and 3 bags of coffee (30 Oct)

⚽️ Family tickets to England mens and womens football matches at Wembley, an EA Sports FC 24 game and £10 Amazon vouchers (survey required) (31 Oct)

🏖 A fabulous short break in Torquay (31 Oct)

New! 🐯 1 of 5 family tickets to Dartmoor Zoo, worth £52. (2 Nov)

New! 🎉 A 2-night luxury stay for 1 person at Gara Rock Hotel, near Salcombe (10 Nov)

🎭️ A big night out in Plymouth for two people: theatre, meal and hotel (26 Nov)

New! 🪙 A £200 voucher to spend at Exeter shops and restaurants (1 Dec)

⭐️ A “Golden” ticket to Devon attractions worth £1,500 (1 Dec)

Terms and conditions apply. See individual websites.

Got a competition? Let us know.

Listings

🌊 North Devon

OCTOBER

Fri 13th to Sun 29th

ASTRONOMY | ⭐️ Exmoor Dark Skies Festival | A two week celebration of the night sky, with dusk wildlife safaris, planetarium and astrophysics lectures | Multiple events on Exmoor | Details and prices here

Sat 21st to Tuesday 31st 

HALLOWEEN | 🎃 Be a student at the School for Witches and Wizards | Learn to cast spells, brew potions and take halloween rides | The Milky Way Adventure Park, Bideford EX39 5RY | Tickets £16.95 for children 3 years and up

Sun 22nd

FOOD FESTIVAL | 🧁 North Devon Foodfest 2023 | Showcase of the finest local produce | The Pannier Market, Butchers Row, Barnstaple EX31 1SY | Free

Tue 24th

MUSIC | 🎙️ ABBAMANIA | “Europe’s best” ABBA tribute band comes to Barnstaple | Dance, sing and celebrate the band’s iconic tunes | Queen’s Theatre, Barnstaple EX31 1SY | Tickets from £31.50

Wed 25th

TALK | 🎙️ The Wildlife and Ecology of Our Rocky Shores | Learn all about the ecology of North Devon’s coastline from a local marine biologist | Braunton Countryside Centre, Caen Street, Braunton EX33 1AA | Tickets £4

LITERATURE | 📖 Spend an evening reading and writing poetry in a workshop hosted by Heart and Wild Poetry | 74 High Street, Bideford EX39 2AD | Free

Thu 26th

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES | 🌳 Volunteer with the National Trust at Morte Point | Take part in “Bash and Burn” as you help to cut back vegetation to enable rare species and wildflowers to grow | Woolacombe | Free | For more details email [email protected]

NOVEMBER

Fri 3rd

THEATRE | 🎭 Little Murmur | Dance and theatre exploring story of a young boy and his struggle with dyslexia. | Heywood Hall, Chulmleigh College, Chulmleigh EX18 7AA | Adult tickets £7.50, U16s £5.

Sat 4th

BONFIRE NIGHT | 🎆 Woolacombe Bonfire and Fireworks Night | An evening of fireworks, drinks and delicious food | The Meadow, South Street, Woolacombe EX34 7BB | Adult tickets from £6.60, U16s £5.50

Sun 5th

RUNNING CHALLENGE | 🏃‍♀️ Bideford 10 mile 2023 | Run along the beautiful estuary whilst helping to raise money for North Devon Hospice | Riverbank Car Park, Bideford EX39 2QS | Registration

Mon 6th

SOCIAL | 🥣 Join a Eat, Meet and Make session at Studio KIND and get to know people in the local area | Studio KIND, Unit 3 Velator Way, Braunton EX33 2FB | Free

Fri 10th

HORROR | 👻 Learn how to hunt for ghosts in the Second Stage Pub, Ilfracombe’s most haunted location | Second Stage Pub, Wilder Road, Ilfracombe EX34 9AJ | Tickets £30.

Sat 11th

WILDLIFE | 🦉 Take part in a guided walk around Appledore and learn about North Devon’s winter birds | Appledore Bridge, Appledore, Bideford EX39 1NL | Free

Sun 12th

CRAFT | 🎨 Spend the day learning how to block print with designer Annabel Hill, and create your own personalised printed tote bag | Studio KIND, Unit 3 Velator Way, Braunton EX33 2FB | Tickets £50

Sat 18th

CRAFT | 🎨 Make your very own ceramic Christmas decorations to adorn your Christmas tree | The Burton at Bideford, Kingsley Road, Bideford EX39 2QQ | Tickets £37.06.

🐬 South Devon

OCTOBER

Fri 20th

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES | 🌳 Take part in a guided walk on Dartmoor, collect seeds from ancient trees and learn all about the Woodland Trust’s research | Hembury Hillfort, South Hams, TQ13 7RY | Free, however booking required.

Fri 20th to Sun 22nd

FOOD FESTIVAL | 🌯 Try the best food and drink that the Southwest has to offer at the Dartmouth Food Festival | Dartmouth TQ6 9BH | Free

Fri 20th to Sat 28th

THEATRE | 🎭 Join Alex, Marty, Melman and Gloria as they escape New York Central Park Zoo in Madagascar the Musical | The Lyric, Theatre Royal Plymouth PL1 2TR | Tickets from £18

Sat 21st

HISTORY | 🏘️ Walk through the old town of Tavistock at twilight and learn of its dark secrets | Guildhall Square, Court Gate Tavistock PL19 0AE | Tickets £6.

Fri 27th

CRAFT | 🌸 Create a beautiful and spooktacular Halloween wreath to decorate your front door for trick or treaters with Emma’s Flowers | The Woolwell Centre, Plymouth PL6 7TR | Tickets £45

Fri 27th to Sat 28th

HALLOWEEN | 🎃 Boo at the Zoo 2023 | Wander around Dartmoor Zoo at night and meet some scary characters along your way | Dartmoor Zoological Park, Sparkwell, Plymouth PL7 5DG | Tickets £16.50, U16s £14.85.

Sat 28th

WITCHCRAFT | 🧙‍♀️ Meet Totnes witch Kate Goth and learn the history and magic of witchcraft | Blackberry Barn, Ritson, Totnes TQ9 7JG | Tickets £50.

ANIMAL PARK | 🌔 Explore and see bears, lynxes and foxes at Wildwood wildlife park, under the light of the full moon | Wildwood Devon, Ottery St Mary, Devon EX11 1LU | Tickets £30.

Tue 31st

LITERATURE | 📖 Take part in a creative writing workshop based and influenced by Mother Nature | Exeter Community Centre, 17 St. Davids Hill, Exeter EX4 3RG | Free.

NOVEMBER

Wed 1st

TOUR | ☕️ Visit and learn about the only Devon tea plantation, and try their award winning teas! | Dartmoor Estate Tea, Furzeleigh Farm, Ashburton TQ13 7JL | Tickets £18.50

Sat 4th

FESTIVAL | 🔥 Ottery St Mary Tar Barrels Night | Celebrate the pagan tradition of flaming barrels being carried down the streets | Ottery St Mary, near Exeter | Free

Sat 4th and Sun 5th

COMICS | 🕹️ Plymouth Comic Con and Gaming Festival | Meet a Dalek and experience virtual reality | Plymouth Active, Life Centre, Plymouth PL2 3DG | Adult tickets £11.44, U14s £7.54

Sun 5th

BONFIRE NIGHT | 🎆 Celebrate Guy Fawkes at Plymouth Hoe’s Bonfire Night 2023 | Fireworks, food and fairground | The Hoe, Plymouth PL1 2PA | Free

Sat 11th

NATURE | 🦅 Join a guided bird watching cruise along the river Exe and learn about different winter species that | Stuart Line Cruises, Exmouth Marina, Pier Head, Exmouth EX8 1FE | Tickets £14.

Wed 15th

CRAFT | 🎨 Learn mono printing and create your own unique print with a glass of Prosecco in hand | Ocean Studios, Royal William Yard, Plymouth PL1 3RP | Tickets £30

With love, cream and jam, in that order.

😎 Andy, Esme, Lara and the Go Devon! team

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