It is the new look front of the Royal Glen, although not for the first time without its ivy frontage. The ivy was dying in patches and looking very sad. Once we had started to cut back the dead ivy it was obvious that there was no quick fix and after more than 150 years its all gone and the much needed renovation of walls and the arches around the windows and small porch have been completed.
Our mascot “The Crane” has returned back in situ beautifully restored and painted by our cousin Linda Beckett. She makes the garden ornaments that are for sale around the pool and Jubilee Patio.more publications.
The ‘Crane’ mascot
Sidmouth ~ An all Year Round Town
2005 has been a successful and enjoyable one for visitors and locals alike with an exciting array of diverse activities continuing throughout the year. Sidmouth is definitely an all year round destination.
January begins with us seeing out the old and in with the New Year with a popular 3 Day Break. 2005/2006 is now booking up with terms from £181.00.
February 1st we are open and welcoming our visitors who enjoy Sidmouth at its quietest perhaps, but with our generally kind climate, walking can be at its best, see our suggested winter walk. Sid Vale Association start their planned walks through East Devon and the Sid Valley. The Acoustic Cafe is held at Dukes on the first Sunday in each month where local amateur musicians meet and perform. Special Winter Bargain Breaks are on offer.
March Local organisations hold talks on a variety of interesting subjects, should anyone be interested in these, there is a publication from our local council ‘Diary of Local Events’ that will be published in 2006. Our Local Golf Club offer reduced Green Fees throughout the year during the week to our Guests.
April The museum opens with Easter. Displays of local lace, costumes, Victoriana, and prints, photographs and pictures of old Sidmouth. Follow the story of the land and man on the World Heritage Coast. Guided Town Strolls run most Tuesday, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
May Annual Play Festival by the Sidmouth Amateur Dramatic Society. Throughout the winter our local theatre is used by local societies. It is only a very short walk from the Hotel, and early theatre dinner is available. The Donkey Sanctuary whilst open all year hold an open week in May. Devon County Show takes place at Westpoint, which is on the Sidmouth road to Exeter within easy proximity.
June Sidmouth Town Silver band concerts commence in Connaught Gardens on Sunday evenings and Ottery St Mary Silver Band weekly on Tuesdays.
July Charles Vance Play Festival daily until end of September. Sidmouth Secret gardens. Annual Exhibition of Paintings by Sidmouth Society of Artists. Lions Annual Duck Derby race. Cricket most days in July & August: Season ticket available at Reception for members enclosure, deckchairs, club house and tennis courts. Stuart Line Cruises run along the Jurassic Coast from Exmouth stopping at Sidmouth.
August Sidmouth Folk Week 4th -11th August 2006. The Sid Valley Horticultural Society Show. Woolbrook Flower Show. Regatta Weekend; Junior sailing races, three legged /swimming/sailing races, family treasure hunt, childrens fancy dress and painting competitions, raft race, lifeboat display, live music, rounded off by a fireworks display. In 2005 we had a marvellous display by the Red Arrows once again.
September Sidmouth Garden Club Autumn Show. Sidmouth Illuminated Carnival Procession part of the East and South Devon Carnival Circuit.
October The Norman Lockyer Observatory is open to the public on specific dates continually all through the year. Autumn Tariff Specials available.
November Visitors are very welcome at many of the local clubs, we have everything in Sidmouth from Bridge, Scrabble, Table Tennis, Folk dance.Don’t forget that we have our own swimming pool to relax or exercise in after a busy day sight seeing or walking the delightful Devon hills and paths. Winter Bargain Breaks begin.
December if you haven’t already done your Christmas shopping then there is really very few places better than Sidmouth with its individual shops and delightful old fashioned service.
Folk Festival Set to Continue
At the end of last years Golden Jubilee, the prospects for any sort of festival looked extremely bleak. But folk music and festival lovers, both locally and nationally, had different ideas.
Despite Folk Week 2005 being much scaled down, the festival retained its vigour and atmosphere. The seafront was once again buzzing with a variety of entertainment by young and old. The town was pleasantly less crowded and there was less queuing at venues. Favourites at Blackmore, Bedford, the Anchor, the Ham, the Manor Pavilion and Bulverton, the Radway, Tavern and Swan continued with new venues at Faulkner, Rugby Club, Sailing Club and at the Woodlands Conservatory that proved very successful. The colourful spectacle of international dance at the Knowle was sadly missed by many. Whether Knowle will be used again remains to be seen. It is the most financially vulnerable aspect of the festival but discussions will continue further. The season tickets absence was sorely missed, organisers are working towards solving this.
Britain In Bloom
Sidmouth won 2 prizes in this years competition: As well as A Silver Gilt Award at the final the town won a glass bowl as overall winner of its Coastal Resort Category. At Connaught Gardens this year 5 local schools impressed judges with the beds they designed and planted. The Royal Glen and Devoran were awarded Bronze in their respective categories.
The Norman Lockyer Observatory
Situated at the top of Salcombe Hill, from where you can park and incidentally there are some good footpaths, leading to the coast, Branscombe and beyond or inland along the side of Salcombe Hill to Salcombe Regis or Fortescue, Sidford and Harcombe.
World renowned astronomer Dr Patrick Moore is a visitor to the observatory. The observatory has ambitious plans to expand and build a science theatre project. The Observatory possesses some of the world’s most historic telescopes, which were used at the start of astrophysics research. Sir Norman lockyer campaigned for science education and research in Britain and helped bring the Department for Education into being. He discovered helium through solar observations in 1868 and in the same year founded the science journal Nature, which he continued to edit for the next 50 years. He founded the observatory at Sidmouth in 1912 because his views of the night sky from London were regularly shrouded in smog and affected by light spilling off the first street lights. Research continued there until the 1980s. Today, it is managed and run by unpaid volunteers in support of science education for the public, schools and universities.
Walking Groups
There are many walks taking in coastal, countryside, river or town. In September edition of ‘Devon Today’ there is an interesting feature on Sidmouth with some beautiful photographs. We have had successful walking parties staying this year, with more booked for 2006. Special rates may apply for groups out of the main season. We are compiling a walking list of the immediate locality and neighbouring villages.
Bird watching
Dartford Warbler
We are surrounded by areas to enthrall even the most reluctant bird watcher. The Seaton trams take you through the wet lands of the River Axe where migratory birds may be seen. The Warren at Dawlish, Aylesbeare and Woodbury Common where Dartford Warblers, and stonecatchers have been sighted. Buzzards are common in this area. The RSPB run special cruises at Topsham pointing out the various birds, even Ospreys have been regular visitors for the last few years.
Seal of Excellence 2005
We succeeded in gaining our seal of excellence award again this year. Environmental Health Officers routinely inspect all food premises in East Devon, generally unannounced. The inspectors investigate cleanliness, repair of the premises and other aspects of food hygiene. Staff are interviewed to check they have a clear understanding of food hygiene issues such as temperature control, disinfecting, the need for training and keeping up to date with technology and other developments in the food safety field.
Family and news from the wider ‘Glen Family’
We received a a picture of 2 beautiful budgies from their owners Mrs Lamparter and Mr Housum all the way from the USA. They have visited several times and wrote to tell us of their dog named Devon, and Budgies, Glen and Paddy.
Only today we were touched to receive 2 beautiful copies of water-colours done of the view from the veranda outside the drawing room by artist Mr. Chamberlain of Hertfordshire.
A small party was held to celebrate Mr Crane’s 80th Birthday this year. He has now totted up 48 years at the Glen. There is an amusing cartoon in the bar scribed back in 1976 with the words “20 years hence” with Mr Crane running around carrying hot food on roller skates and a walking stick!
Congratulations to Luke Bess, Vivienne’s second son who has been selected to not only play for the Devon Under 15’s Cricket Tour of South Africa, but the West of England Under 15’s West Indies Tour, which he now has to find sponsorship for. He has worked very hard to attain this level.
The team have had a challenging year, in more ways than one. Vivienne and Hilary would like to personally thank everyone for their stalwart support.
Lucienne has had a successful first year as Head Chef. We look forward to congratulating Fran, Angela and Luke on attaining there respective levels in training.
Annual Holidays & Refurbishment
Many of the staff are off on their holidays on January 2nd, but Reception is open Monday to Saturday 9.00am to 4.00pm throughout January. At other times the phone is manned by Hilary and Vivienne except in a few circumstances when you may get an answer machine, but we will return your call as soon as possible. We look forward to hearing from you.
Everything returns to normal on Wednesday 1st February, with hopefully all our decorating projects complete and ready to welcome visitors.
We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous Year in 2006. We hope we may have the opportunity of welcoming you once again.
Mr & Mrs Orson Crane,& daughters Hilary Caldwell & Vivienne Bess
P.S. Watch Out Sidmouth becomes Dillmouth, the setting for Agatha Christie’s Sleeping Murder. The Miss Marple mystery will be screened late 2005, early 2006 on ITV.
