Walk from Higher Darracott back to The Plough Arts Centre, Great Torrington

Thursday June 8th

August 23rd note : this page is still being updated, some new photos have only just arrived,
so please excuse the fact that it is incomplete and may have errorrs in it.

Thursday morning just after nine in Potacre Street, Great Torrington. Coming back from the newsagents I met Anne and David Guy, old friends from the time when I lived in Torrington. They own one of my first paintings. When I told them what I was doing, they gave a thumbs down to wind farms.	Clarissa drove me out to Darracott Reservoir - because of the ankle it wasn`t wise to walk both ways. We walked over to the field beside the reservoir where the turbines would be put, then back again to the car. These daisies were on the bank.
Across the water, we could see irises on the bank. The turbine field is just behind. You can see more photographs of it on the page about Friday`s walk (June 9th). Clarissa left me, and I was on my own again. It was lovely to be alone in the quiet countryside, walking again, this time in sunshine. I was sad that the ankle had been a problem and the last but one leg had had to be done on the bus, but resolved to walk it later, when the ankle was fully recovered. To my great releif, once I began walking it was a lot better, and for the first time since the accident I could walk without limping.	How different it was from May 13th, at Brent Tor, when it had been grey and cold. The gorse had been in bloom then, with primroses and bluebells. Now there were foxgloves on the banks, with cow parsley still, and also I saw the first wild roses, and elder flower blossom.
It quickly became hot. The little road was empty of traffic, and Torrington was ahead of me. I could see the spire of St. Michael`s church. Walking along in a peaceful dream I actually missed my turn, and had to retrace my steps, feeling very silly (having lived in Torrington for twelve years I did know my way, just wasn`t paying attention)	This is the little bridge where I stopped to wait for Jeremy Gibson and the Seven Stones Media crew who were going to film me walking into Torrington. This was more amusing and less anxiety provoking than I had imagined! After taking several shots as I walked up and down, I was wired up and followed into town, making my own commentary. It was so quiet by the bridge, yet in about quarter of a mile we were past the Catholic Church in Gas Lane and onto the busy main road. We crossed at the crossing by the playground. I waved to Gabriel Hummerstone (another Art Trek artist) at the Vicarage gates, then we were up Potacre Street to the finish.
	On the left, in Potacre Street. walking stick by John Wray, outfit by Splash Clothing, camera man from Seven Stones Media, bandage as advised by Phil Hancock! Above: the finishing tape.
The finish of the walk, outside the Plough Arts Centre. Many years ago, when I was a volunteer at the Plough in the late 80`s I did a sponsored run from Bideford to Barnstaple to raise money for the Plough which was in financial difficulties at the time. Never in my wildest dreams would I have imaged then that one day I would be walking through a finishing tape at the doorway of the Plough, and met by a crowd that included John Constable (pink shirt), Henry Lewis and the actors in the Wind Thing, supporters from groups as far afield as Okehampton and Tiverton way, and TV Cameras (ITV and the Documentary crew)	It was very exciting, and hot, and wonderful to see so many friends there at the finish. I spoke to Naomi Dymond (ITV) and Mark Clough (Western Morning News) and hope that I made sense. They asked what I had gained from the walk. maybe it is enough just to scroll back up to the photos above, of the wayside flowers, to be reminded of what it was all about. Ashley Gray (Two Moors Way) and Muriel Goodman (North Tawton) spoke to the cameras as well. Looking at these photographs now (August 23rd) brings back the euphoria of those moments at the finish, and the excitement of the two evenings that followed. The walk had a serious purpose, but this was fun. My part was mainly over, and I could just enjoy myself..
Henry Lewis and John Constable. Between them, in the dark blue shirt, is Richard Woldfenden-Brown, director of The Plough, who chaired the debate with scrupulous fairness and a good sense of humour. The bunting was I think left over from the Mayfair Celebrations. At Mayfair, the whole town is shut to traffic and you can barely move in the Square.	The cast of The Wind Thing, all smiles. Behind them is Sandford`s Bakery. Torrington has several small bakers, greengrocers and butchers shops. I lived in Torrington from 1986 until 1998, and I still think it is one of the best small towns in the world. It has a fantastic community, a brilliant Arts Centre, I could go on and on... and you are never more than a few hundred yards away from open countryyside, with stupendous views.
Ashley Gray, being interviewed by Naomi Dymond, (ITV) Richard Wolfenden Brown in the background again.	Here am I, being interviewed by Mark Clough, from The Western Morning News. He came to the Press launch as well, back in April.
The cast did some more Street Theatre, under the Shambles, in the Square, just round the corner from the Plough. Go to The Wind Thing for more information about the play.	They are performing one of my favourite songs/routines from "The Wind Thing" - "Capitalism is fun". Henry is on the right of the photo, in front of Squires Electrical Stores, another well known Torrington shop.
	On the left, John Constable and his girl friend Chieko. Before they went away, I took them to look at the view from Castle Hill that is loved by everyone in the town.
After John and Cheiko had driven off, I climbed up the mound in the Barley Grove car park. This mound looks down onto the bowling green, but I wanted to look to the north, across the houses in the photo, towards the turbine site. I think it is directly above the third chimney from the left, you can just spot a touch of white (the fleece in the photos you can see on Friday`s page)	This is the small Artists Against Wind Farms that we put up in the Meeting Room..The photo shows a part of the Exhibition, including some scale models of modern turbines (because the scale is accurate you can barely make out the houses and trees at their bases). Paintings on display are by Reg Gale and Brian Bale. Thanks also to Tricia Martin for all her help on the Wednesday night, hanging paintings on the screens.
Another view of the Exhibition, showing the Display about the Fullabrook Down Wind Farm Proposal. On the right, Valerie Wray and Jane Faust enjoying a glass of wine in front of the giant painting from Rose Ash. I had organised a little preview with wine for those who had given me support during the walk. Shortly after this photo was taken the room filled up with people wearing Yes2Wind T shirts, and in came Simon Holt from Npower as well.	Where were our supporters? It suddenly felt a little intimidating, until we discovered that they were all out at the front of the foyer, not realising where we were. Once that was put right, everything became very jolly, and the room was crowded with friends. I was too busy saying hello and offering drinks to remember to take any more photos .
Above, John Wray, with a glass of wine, looking at a Display. I don`t know if anyone was able to take photos as the show was on: I didn`t like to in case the flash disturbed the actors. The TV crew were there filming, and a school near Tiverton had also been given premission to do the same, so some record has been made, but it would be good to have some photos as well.	Comment from Henry Lewis Thursday, the 8th of June, was a hive of activity in Great Torrington, Devon. Street Theatre’s early start to promote the ‘Wind Thing’ had attracted quite a crowd to Torrington Square. Christine Lovelock arrived at 11 am to a heroine’s welcome at The Plough on completion of her marathon walk of 180 miles to highlight the sites in Devon under threat of a wind farm. Her arrival was covered by local newspapers and the local ITV news. In the evening 117 playgoers very nearly filled the raked auditorium of the Plough Arts Centre, as the ‘Wind Thing’ took its audience swiftly through the folly of the wind policy in a spirited revue of sketches and songs. It received curtain calls and an encore. The performance was followed by a debate on the issues between Dr. John Constable of the Renewable Energy Foundation and Ricky Knight of the Green Party. Constable’s disciplined arguments, tethered to the facts, won much praise. All the day’s events were filmed by Seven Stones Media for a forthcoming BBC2 programme about a particular Devon wind farm proposal. It was a good day! H.L.
	The photo on the left shows John Constable, Richard Wolfenden-Brown and Ricky Knight, during the debate. They each had five minutes to speak, and then they answered questions from the audience. More about this to come, and also more about John Constable`s presentation on the Friday night, which was very interesting indeed.

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