

Newton Abbot Town Council to provide free family fun for the Coronation weekend
LIVE music and free family-friendly activities will be at the heart of Newton Abbot’s celebration of the King’s Coronation weekend.
On Saturday May 6 Courtenay Street will host morning performances by The Hot House Combo, a much-loved four-piece whose repertoire features foot-tapping jazz and swing from the 1930s.
In the afternoon the equally popular Cahoots will take to the stage while walkabout characters will mingle with the crowds and free balloon modelling can be enjoyed.
St Leonard’s clocktower will be royally equipped and open for ‘Coronation selfies’ with visitors also able to sign the book of congratulations for King Charles and the Queen Consort.
On Sunday May 7 the festivities will move to Courtenay Park with a 12 noon – 4pm Party in the Park featuring a band concert, face painting, magical bubbles, balloon modelling, make and create children’s activity stall, Coronation selfie frame and free giveaways.
Families will be encouraged to bring picnics in line with the Coronation Big Lunch theme and there will also be a cocktail bar and ice cream van.
All the attractions, except the refreshments, are being provided free of charge by Newton Abbot Town Council.
Mayor Cllr Carol Bunday said: ‘A Coronation is a rare event in our national life and we want to ensure that the people of our town have the opportunity to share the experience.
‘The beauty of modern technology means we’ll all be able to watch the events at Westminster and Windsor Castle at a time of our choosing yet also come together to enjoy the party atmosphere.
‘And we’re fully aware of the tough economic times which is why we wanted to create a truly affordable weekend with no charge for any of the activities.
‘We’ve also learned from our Jubilee celebrations last year and booked an extra face painter as it proved to be so very popular then and we don’t want any disappointed children this time.
‘We hope, of course, for good weather and to see Newton Abbot coming together to experience this wonderful milestone in our country’s history.
‘God save the King!’
Date: March 10 2023
Newton Abbot Town Council to provide free family fun for the Coronation weekend
LIVE music and free family-friendly activities will be at the heart of Newton Abbot’s celebration of the King’s Coronation weekend.
On Saturday May 6 Courtenay Street will host morning performances by The Hot House Combo, a much-loved four-piece whose repertoire features foot-tapping jazz and swing from the 1930s.
In the afternoon the equally popular Cahoots will take to the stage while walkabout characters will mingle with the crowds and free balloon modelling can be enjoyed.
St Leonard’s clocktower will be royally equipped and open for ‘Coronation selfies’ with visitors also able to sign the book of congratulations for King Charles and the Queen Consort.
On Sunday May 7 the festivities will move to Courtenay Park with a 12 noon – 4pm Party in the Park featuring a band concert, face painting, magical bubbles, balloon modelling, make and create children’s activity stall, Coronation selfie frame and free giveaways.
Families will be encouraged to bring picnics in line with the Coronation Big Lunch theme and there will also be a cocktail bar and ice cream van.
All the attractions, except the refreshments, are being provided free of charge by Newton Abbot Town Council.
Mayor Cllr Carol Bunday said: ‘A Coronation is a rare event in our national life and we want to ensure that the people of our town have the opportunity to share the experience.
‘The beauty of modern technology means we’ll all be able to watch the events at Westminster and Windsor Castle at a time of our choosing yet also come together to enjoy the party atmosphere.
‘And we’re fully aware of the tough economic times which is why we wanted to create a truly affordable weekend with no charge for any of the activities.
‘We’ve also learned from our Jubilee celebrations last year and booked an extra face painter as it proved to be so very popular then and we don’t want any disappointed children this time.
‘We hope, of course, for good weather and to see Newton Abbot coming together to experience this wonderful milestone in our country’s history.
‘God save the King!’
For more information please email [email protected] or call 01626 201120.
Organisation: Newton Abbot Museum
Salary: £32,909 – £34,723 per annum
Grade: SCP 26-28
Hours: 37 hours per week
Flexible working is preferred including occasional weekends and evenings to support events. This includes monthly Friends of the Museum evening talks. Time off in lieu will be given.
Term: Minimum of 6 months, maximum of 12 months maternity cover
Location: Newton Abbot Museum, Newton’s Place, Wolborough Street, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ12 1JQ.
To commence: mid to late April 2023
Closing date: 12 noon, Monday 13th March 2023
Interviews will be held on: Monday 20th March at Newton Abbot Museum
Newton Abbot Museum opened in October 2020 as part of a National Lottery Heritage Funded project to relocate Newton Abbot Town Council and the museum to the former St. Leonard’s Church. The project saw the restoration of the Victorian church and the addition of new community rooms. With the Pandemic lockdowns and restrictions the museum was able to re-open without bookings in July 2021. Since then, we have been working on creating a range of events, exhibitions and exciting activities to engage the community.
We are looking for a Curator to oversee and manage the museum and the medieval St. Leonard’s Tower for up to 12 months of maternity cover. This role involves looking after the collection of 16,000 objects, running the day to day operation of both sites, and managing a small team of staff and a team of 60 volunteers.
We are seeking someone who is flexible and proactive, and who can work effectively as part of a small team. You should have experience of curatorial processes, procedures and current museum standards, experience working with collections, conducting research, creating displays and working with a team of volunteers. We will consider applicants with Curatorial Assistant experience.
The museum team is comprised of a Curatorial Assistant, a Community Engagement Officer, an Administrative Assistant and a team of enthusiastic museum volunteers.
To download further particulars and the application form please visit: https://museum-newtonabbot.org.uk/vacancies/
CVs will not be accepted.
For informal enquiries please contact the Curator, Dr Charlotte Dixon:
Email Charlotte: [email protected]
You can also contact us by phone: 01626 201121.
Newton Abbot Town Council silenced on huge development plans
NATIONAL planning rules are preventing Newton Abbot Town Council from representing residents and businesses who face huge changes in the shape of thousands of new homes and other developments.
The claim has been made as the March 13 deadline approaches for consultation on the draft Teignbridge Local Plan 2020 – 2040.
The scheme would result in large swathes of countryside being lost to housing, plus extra building on the livestock market and town centre car parks.
Teignbridge District Council, as the authority charged with drawing up a Local Plan, has been encouraging the public to have its say on the proposals.
Town and parish councils have also been asked to comment but have discovered rules which prevent any meaningful exchange of ideas.
Newton Abbot Mayor Cllr Carol Bunday said: ‘There are many aspects of the draft we want to share our thoughts on but we’re simply not allowed to.
‘For example, we cannot express our opposition to the loss of town centre car parking or make a call for infrastructure to come before housing.
‘Instead, we are only allowed to say if we believe the consultation has been carried out in accordance with national policies and that the plan’s proposals are lawful.
‘We’re being silenced, prevented from speaking up on behalf of residents and businesses whose futures will be changed forever.
‘And if it’s difficult for us as a council with our knowledge of local government legislation to make any meaningful representations, how on earth are members of the public going to fare?’
Cllr Bunday added: ‘We’ve been told that this latest consultation has to be conducted in this very dry manner and that we ought to have made our thoughts known in the first round more than a year ago.
‘But back then, very few of the details were available, so really we’ve been given no chance at all.
‘And with only nine of the 47 district councillors representing Newton Abbot it feels like we’re having a scheme imposed on us by people who won’t have to live with the consequences.
‘The process is neither transparent nor fair.’
HMS Triumph will exercise its Freedom of the Town of Newton Abbot on Saturday 1st April. There will be a parade of crew members, accompanied by TS Ramehead Sea Cadet Volunteer Band, starting from Victoria Gardens and passing through Courtenay Street.
The procession will finish with a ceremony near St Leonard’s Tower, Wolborough Street, after which there will be a reception at Newton’s Place where the Mayor will perform the official opening of this community building, museum and town council offices.
HMS Triumph is Newton Abbot’s affiliated submarine. She is a Trafalgar Class, the seventh and final example of her type, and the tenth vessel and second submarine to bear the name. She is the Navy’s nineteenth nuclear-powered hunter-killer submarine.