14 May What’s on in your part of Torbay?

It is often said that nothing is happening in Torbay for those who live here. Not true.

It is a charge levelled often at our Community Builders, but luckily, they are best placed to prove the naysayers wrong.

We have recently started including listings on our Torbay Communities website, where the Community Builders provide information on a range of things happening on their patch, which is updated quarterly.

Just go to www.torbaycommunities.com/builders/, find your local builder, and you will be in for a surprise by the plethora and variety on offer.

Take Brixham, where Community Builder Helen Ambler has compiled a comprehensive list of just short of 100 things happening in the town across the week, covering everything from craft and friendship groups to rugby clubs and from pub gigs to Scrabble clubs.

That is in addition to the one-off events, like the recent Pirate Festival and VE Day Celebrations or the up and coming St Mary’s Big Bowls weekend, Sun 25^th May from 10am, when you can have a go and get free tuition.

On Gill Knight’s patch, which takes in Paignton South (Goodrington, Roselands, White Rock, Hookhills, Broadsands, Galmpton and Churston there are listings that take up eight pages of closely typed A4, including whist drives, a bird club, keep fit classes and a new club called CAMEO (Come and Meet Each Other).

If Hele, Watcombe and Barton and the Willows that is of interest then Si Langridge, Theo Tanser and Beth Upham have compiled and extensive guide to their patches where you can find a Mindfulness Photography Group which meets weekly or you can opt for a T’ai Chi, take your puppy along to training classes or if that doesn’t float your boat there is always Zumba, badminton or even Bujinkan classes (a form of martial arts).

In Wellswood, Marianne Parker provides information on a wide range of groups that meet regularly, including the Angels and Mavericks Choir, a book club, a German club, and line dancing and ballet for children (not together). These are just a few examples of the many things going on across the week.

Joanna Reynolds and Leah Whitcher are passionate about promoting their area, which takes in Paignton town centre and Clifton with Maidenway. It is not surprising, given that among the many listings are an Italian-speaking social group, a Scrabble club, a junior chess club, a Brush Strokes Art and Craft Group, and Circle Dancing.

In neighbouring Preston, Community Builder Nina Cooper has compiled a wide and varied set of activities, including Menopause Mondays,  Litter Picking, an Evening Meal Group, Spoon Carving and Whittling and coming soon, an LGBTQIA+ whittling group at People’s Parkfield.

Sarah Greener’s area of Kings Ash and Foxhole has lots to choose from, including Disco Yoga, Nature Walks, a knitting group, the Cycle Torbay Maintenance Workshop and a Wellbeing Café.

Shiphay, where Marina Zapata is the Community Builder, is another hive of activity with lots of bingo sessions, an amateur dramatics club, as well as a ladies’ club and regular coffee mornings.

Tracy Pleece’s area of Torre and Upton boasts a Local History Group, as well as two green spaces and gardening groups alongside table tennis and Freemoovement.

Into Torquay Town Centre, where Ceri Silk has pulled together listings that include a Gilbert and Sullivan Society, a digital skills class and a choice of Scottish Country Dancing or Belly Dancing.

In St Marychurch and Babbacombe, Jennie Langridge provides information on the Small Dog Lovers coffee morning, the popular afternoon disco, and regular community lunches.

Joey Damiral has Cockington (along with Chelston and Livermead) in his area, so there is always lots going on such as art and pottery workshops but also on his patch is the intriguingly named Crap Film Club along with Open Mic Nights and lots of sports and hobbies.

Ellacombe is vibrant with Usha keeping everyone abreast of what goes on, including skittles at Boots and Laces at Torquay United and the opportunity to get involved in producing the Ellacombe and Plainmoor magazine – you too can be an editor, writer or photographer.

Space prohibits me from listing everything happening in the Bay, and the above is just a selection, but suffice to say it is a lot, and if you are prepared to travel, then you will never be bored. Check out the listings today.