Access to Community Education
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20th September: Wildlife from your wheelchairPhil Page, who lives on Dartmoor and has been the warden of Yarner Wood Nature Reserve for 20 year arrived with a car full of plant cuttings, fungi and lichen. Our volunteers brought round each specimen as Phil told us their name and points of interest. We were able to examine each one and sometimes taste the fruits also learning about their value to wildlife. Phil answered all of our questions and then, in four teams, set us a quiz to test our knowledge. ACE members are so competitive and the scores were very close. I’m glad to say my team won.He donated some cuttings from the Spindle plant, which I hope will take for it has some lovely flowers. Phil truly brought the wonders of Dartmouth into our classroom. 27th September: Dogs for the DisabledTo days talk was by Nikki Stewart and her daughter Kirsty, who is in a wheelchair, about Kirsty’s dog Paddy, a Black Labrador.After a brief introduction, Nikki ran a DVD through the television showing specially trained dogs helping people with disabilities. I found the skill of the dogs amazing and the bond between them and their companion very emotional.Nikki related their experience in obtaining Paddy and how he helps Kirsty in her daily life. Paddy then demonstrated helping Kirsty to take off her slippers or gloves, to push down the foot rests on her chair, opening doors and drawers, fetching the telephone or collecting the post from the door. Paddy responds to voice commands and to the sound of one specific whistle only. Kirsty explained how Paddy had given her the confidence and independence to go out together and feel quite safe. Paddy is trained to bark on a hand command from Kirsty to summon help.Paddy’s training is long and expensive but it is well worth it when you see the happiness he has brought to this family. 28th September: Opening of the ACE Garden extension by Mr Anthony Steen MPMr Steen, together with Mrs P.Denham, Assistant Principal of South Devon College was met by Mr Chris Turner OBE, Principal of Brixham College, Mrs Jenny Harriman MBE, Head of the Adult and Community Learning Centre at Brixham College and Mrs Chris Wardley Chairman of ACE. By now the sun was shining, after a wet start to the day, as they were shown the garden in all its splendour and introduced to the ACE gardeners.
4th October Slimming World (SW)"If you are over weight and you would like do something about it then join Slimming World," was the message from Susie. Susie related the history of S W and the various plans they promote to help with weight loss. Basically by eating a balanced, healthy diet and following one of the SW eating plans it is possible to loss weight. It requires you to eat wisely, however, as there are lots of temptations to go the other way.Susie discussed the many reasons that people have for wanting to lose weight and the many success stories to be admired and emulated. Our Thursday tutor Kay is presently attending SW and succeeding. How many will follow her lead? 11th October: Greenway Mansion by John RisdonJohn is a local historian from Galmpton and he is involved in the restoration of Greenway. He has previously spoken to ACE members on the life of Agatha Christie and during Adult Learners Week he spoke on Torbay’s application to become a National Geopark, which has recently been granted. John started his illustrated talk with beautiful aerial views of the River Dart showing the greenery of the hillsides and their reflection in the river, from which Greenway gets its name. Today, Greenway Mansion is famously known as the home of Agatha Christie, but there is lots more to its history.The first Greenway Mansion was built, in Tudor times by Otho and Katherine Gilbert from Compton Castle to house their large and famous family. It included Sir Humphrey Gilbert who founded the first English colony of Newfoundland for Queen Elizabeth 1st and Sir Walter Raleigh who established the colony of Virginia in North America.Also, Sir John Gilbert, the Vice Admiral of Devon fought the Spanish Armada with Sir Francis Drake. Drake captured the only galleon during the battle, which was later anchored at Greenway where it’s crew worked as gardeners. In 1780 Mr Roope Harris Roope a rich merchant built the present Greenway Mansion and he included the bathing house that is still visible beside the river next to the boathouse. Here, he and his guests, could take the waters for it was believed the health giving ozone of the sea would ward off consumption known as Tuberculosis today. In 1860 the new owners Richard and Elizabeth Harvey rebuilt the village of Galmpton, which formed part of their estate, with more hygienic houses.In 1938 Max Mallowins and his wife Agatha bought Greenway for £6,000.It was requisition by the US Navy during the war and one of the officers painted a diary of their actions on the ceiling that has been preserved. Greenway Mansion now belongs to the National Trust and is being restored at a cost of £5.5 million: to be open again to the public in 2009. The extensive gardens are also very special because of the unusual geology that supports Camellias, Azaleas and Rhododendrons. 18th October: Melanie and DannyWhat a marvellous variety of speakers we are blessed with at ACE.Melanie and Danny, who are members of The Torquay Writers’ Group and have just competed in the recent Torquay Poetry Festival, treated us to some of their own work. We heard poems on seagulls, June the Tease, local love poems, a biting flea, a rap poem, Dartmoor and a boomerang. Some of the readings required us to become involved like the Rap poem or others with a chorus or repetitive versus. My favourite was about a young family that couldn’t afford a holiday abroad so they built it all in their back garden with lots of imagination and their holiday lasted all summer.They finished by answering our questions on how to get started as a writer or poet. 'Animal Magic'Simon Kite and his marvellous menagerie visit ACEOn the 1st of November the Thursday ACE group welcomed Simon Kite, his wife, baby Oliver and a whole range of pets and furry friends. Simon used to work for Paignton Zoo, but now runs his own business, taking various small animals into local residential homes, as a therapy for many elderly and disabled residents. We were very fortunate that Simon was able to fit us into his schedule. What a treat we had, Simon is a real authority on animals and he gave us a really interesting presentation, that was a combination of Simon talking, very knowledgably about his animals, and us having a real ‘hands on’ experience. Simon told us about the various breeds he had bought in, gave us information on their natural habitats and details of how he looks after them. It was really enjoyable and very interesting. The students had an opportunity to handle and pet the animals. It was great to see so many smiling faces around the room. Margaret was thrilled holding one of the guinea pigs. Paul and Alan were delighted when the small creatures they were holding, were so comfortable they feel asleep, and Grahame look a tad worried whilst holding Stuart the Snake! I’m sure that everyone, would like to join me in saying a big thank you to Simon, Bruno and Poppy the dogs, Guy and Madge the rabbits, Harry and Hermione the Leopard Geckos, Bill, Ben, Rusty, Una and Nelly the guinea pigs, Chimmy and Charlie, the Chinchillas and not forgetting Stuart the snake for such a lovely morning. 22nd November 2007 Question Time with Brixham Town Councillors (BTC)The following is a summary of the proceedings chaired by Mrs Jenny Harriman MBE: Jackie Stockman (Vice Chairman), Peter Killick, Mike Morey, Gordon Boote and Chris Lomas are members of the newly formed Brixham Town Council who visited ACE to answer questions and update us on their progress. Why stand for election? Collectively they said,” As residents of Brixham they wished to be part of Brixham’s regeneration and see it thrive - local people to solve local problems”. They explained that the Brixham Town Council (BTC) is funded by £29 added to each Local Council Tax bill. They employ a Town Clerk but the councillors are voluntary. At present the BTC has limited duties: allotments, Christmas lights and planning decisions but their combined voice can influence Torbay Council. Devolvement: In time Torbay Council may wish to devolve more duties to the BTC such as responsibility toilets. This would not however incur extra cost, as any devolved duties would bring a portion of council tax funding. Toilets: Although these are not a stipulated BTC responsibility they are a high priority for the community and Peter Kinnick has been given the responsibility of making improvements. When the Tesco development takes place new toilets will be built with full disabled facilities and with opening times set to balance convenience and security. Shop mobility shop: During the town square development this will be temporarily moved to Oxen Cove. Town Square Development: As part of the Brixham 21 regeneration this development will provide a supermarket, multi-storey car park, town houses including affordable homes and local jobs. Public consultation is presently on going with a public meeting in Brixham College on 6th December at 7pm. The proposed supermarket will be 10% smaller than Sainsbury’s at Paignton and will provide 370 car parking spaces. Its design will blend with the historic seaside port and a traffic scheme is being planned to cope with the increased use of the Square. It will likely include out of town parking with a shuttle bus. How will this development affect other businesses? It is expected that the experience at Totnes when Morrisons was built will be duplicated in Brixham. Shoppers at Morrisons are able to park free for three hours, which provides time to also visit the other shops of Totnes. The Brixham Tesco development will be alongside the present businesses and not out of town. Its size is naturally defined by the space available and cost will restrict the height. Ace members thanked the Councillors for their hard work and their dedication to the town.29.11.2007 Alex Bolton, Marine Ranger, Torbay Coast & Countryside Trust (TCCT)On this grey Thursday morning, Alex brought our local ocean to the very edge of our seats. Her close up pictures and colourful explanations made us feel that we were there on the beach, dipping into a rock pool or diving beneath the waves. She started by explaining her teaching and conservation role where she strives to inspire people of all ages to understand and value our marine environment, hoping that a better understanding of its fragile nature may lead to a more considerate use. Her first slide took us back 375 million years to the Devonian period when Torbay’s warm tropical seas where home to corals and strange Trilobites. It is their fossilized remains, over millions of years, which formed the limestone rocks now seen in the Berry Head National Reserve. She talked about the large animals that can be seen from our shores like dolphins, seals and basking sharks. Recently a pod of twenty dolphins was seen off Hopes Nose. Yes, we certainly talked more about sharks and their fascination but she also made us aware of the danger they face from over fishing. We enjoyed seeing the many plants and animals to be found in rock pools when the tide is out. Many of the seaweeds can be eaten or used in household goods like toothpaste, ice cream, body lotions and beer. We saw different crabs and learnt how to tell the sexes. Hermit crabs make their homes in discarded shells and have a symbiotic relationship with anemones providing a home base, transport and food to anemones and receiving in turn protection from their stinging cells. We saw brightly coloured sea slugs also protected by the stinging cells of the anemones they eat; sea cucumbers who eject their guts to defend themselves; sea horses, which are the most peculiar looking fish and whose males brood the young. The sea horses live in the eel grass beds of Torbay that are subject of voluntary protection and subject of a petition to create full protection within Marine Conservation Areas. We studied items found washed up on our beaches: the back bone of the cuttle fish, the egg case of a dog fish, the egg cases of dog whelk and a variety of sea shells. She revealed a beautiful, complex world to us.
13th December 2007 Christmas Lunch at South Devon CollegeWe were welcomed by Pat Denham the Assistant Principal and then entered the dining room where we had a lovely dinner with all the trimmings served by the students. The food was delicious and the service excellent. After which some lucky individuals were awarded a ‘Pat on the Back Certificate’ from our chairman Chris Wardley for enriching ACE. We then moved on to the College Theatre for a ‘Variety Show’ by 30 to 40 students. We were all very impressed by the acting, singing and dance skills, which made a lovely start to our Christmas festivities.The atmosphere in this new College is studious and friendly. It provides an excellent opportunity for all to study and succeed.
31st January 2008 NICK SAYS BYE TO THE OLD TORBAYThe ACE Thursday group was visited on the 31st January by Mayor of Torbay, Nick Bye. The topic for his visit was the regeneration of our bay which, with a growing population close to 138,000 people, is larger than many cities, with all the problems, but few of the benefits, usually associated with city life. Our social deprivation and drug problems rival that of many cities yet we lack the shopping centres, living and entertainment spaces that many of our competitors take for granted. Nick mentioned Taunton, Truro and Yeovil as towns to which Torbay has lost out. The Mayoral Vision launched last July highlighted the needs of Torbay for the future, based on four key themes; improving pride in the bay, developing stronger communities, providing learning and skills for the future and a new economy to underpin it all. To realise this vision, Torbay Council, the Regional Development Agency and Exeter based urban regeneration specialist, LDA have developed a Vision for the future of Torbay. A wide range of building and refurbishment of existing buildings has been proposed plus new facilities for tourists and residents. Log on to the Council website and following the links to the Mayoral Vision where a DVD highlighting the main proposals can be seen: Torbay Council Website Plans being considered include the building of 2-3,000 houses and flats, purpose built up-market hotels and holiday accommodation, larger and better shopping opportunities, a possible University based on South Devon College and built on Clennon Valley to keep young people in the area, a Watersports and Maritime Centre plus a Casino on the regenerated Torquay seafront. After an interesting talk Nick summed up by saying that the natural environment of this area is second to none and his vision aims to make the built environment match it without destroying its beauty. Questions followed: Bob expressed concern that the redevelopment of the Brixham town centre and Oxen Cove would leave insufficient parking places, particularly in the summer, when we are flooded by holiday makers. Elaine raised the perennial question of the long promised Kingskerswell bypass. Nick said that the previous administration had not achieved Government support but that he was confident that it would be forthcoming in the near future. He assured us that there is a better than 50-50 chance that construction of the new road will begin in 2010. Indeed the route has already been planned and compulsory purchase orders have been issued. Debbie was troubled by Nick’s description of the high rise housing included in the Mayoral Vision. Nick said they would seldom exceed six stories and have a high quality of architecture and would be disabled friendly. Our Chairman, Chris Wardley, wanted to know what plans for had been made for Oldway. Nick agreed that it made no sense to continue using it as Council offices as staff were scattered across the Bay and could work more effectively if they were all based in the same building. He went on to say that millions of pounds need to be spent on repairing Oldway and restoring the grounds but that he hoped it would become a visitor and hotel conference centre with leisure facilities and a museum about the life and times of the buildings and the Singer family.27th March 2008 Brown Berry Farm by Nick Davies Two summers ago Nick gave a talk at the Adult and Community Learning Centre, Brixham as part of Adult Learners’ Week about the mussel farm in Fishcombe Bay near Brixham. Later whilst chatting to Jenny Harriman MBE he mentioned that he was researching a lost charity and Brown Berry farm on Dartmouth. Today he’s here to tell us all. Nick quoted the following extract from a Charity Commission document of June 1908 entitled ‘Parish of Brixham’: ‘Robert Lang, of Marseilles, in France, by his will, dated 27th September 1685, after certain legacies, gave to William Lang, his brother, one half of his remaining estate; and he gave the other half thereof for the use of the poor of the parish of Brixham, where he was born, to be laid out in lands for the maintenance of the poor and orphans and the redemption of poor captives, as Edward Yarde and John Upton of the said parish should see fit and convenient with the advice of his said brother, and the church wardens of the said parish. He also gave 20s per annum to the poor of the village of Woodhuish. The reference to ‘poor captives’ relates to the paying of ransoms for people captured by the Barbary pirates from Morocco. The attorney general ordered Mary Lang, widow of William Lang to pay £1500 to Edward Yarde out of the estate of Robert Lang for the poor of Brixham. He subsequently purchased Brown Berry farm within the manor of Lydford and the forest of Dartmoor.
To cut a long story short the farm passed to numerous tenant farmers until the 99year lease ran out and the thread of the Lang’s Gift seemed lost until Mr Anthony Steen MP for Totnes traced its assets of £2000 in Government securities and a small amount of cash through the Charity Commission.
In 1994 the securities were sold and invested in an existing John Michelmore Charity Fund and this investment generates an annual income in the region of £1300. We are grateful to Nick for his determined detective work that has uncover a ‘lost’ source of funds that ACE and other like charities can benefit from. 1st May 2008 Direct Payments
Judy Grant, The Direct Payments Service Manager, Torbay Care Trust, Union House, Torquay. 01803 219782 treated us to a comprehensive talk on Direct Payments and answered our questions. The government provides, via the Torbay Care Trust, Direct Payments to assist disabled people to manage their independent living. Personal assessments are conducted with each applicant to ascertain their individual care plan and whether Direct Payments are applicable. If so the resulting payments are paid into a separate bank account with an expenditure record maintained to enable the Care Trust to ensure correct compliance. Direct Payments are tax-free and do not affect other benefits. The system is designed to assist individuals to fund their own chosen care needs.
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Mr Steen gave a short speech and cut the ribbon declaring the garden officially open. He then socialised and asked numerous questions of us all, especially about the role of ACE, its importance and about the garden. He congratulated us on our successes in both the 
