Devon Life - August 2022

204 Pages·2022·154.4 MB·English

The Strictly stars on iris = =
life suits them down to the ground

LYNMOUTH LOOKS BACK

Remembering the 70th anniversary —
of the town’s devastating flood

Onl her Sper Things =

_ suecessandenjoying = PERFECT PAIGNTON
og home herei in Devon ee

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= “Why the

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Hearing. Technology.

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EDITOR'S COMMENT

Surt’s up ahead...

ook away now if you're

a fan of surfing —- and

I know there are

thousands of you out
there — but I have never really
been an enthusiast. Correction,
actually: I have never really
understood the appeal. Perhaps
I have never been properly
educated in the rite of passage
that is becoming a surfer.

Maybe it’s how I look ina
wetsuit — think mono Michelin
Man - or the fact when I do find
myself striding into the briny
with a bodyboard (which I
appreciate is NOT a surfboard)
I can’t even get the hang of
‘catching a wave’ with a piece
of balsa wood in my hands.
The thought of sitting up on
something bigger and trying to
look elegant and stylish fills me
with dread. And don’t even get
me on standing up on the darned
thing...you are looking at aman
who fell off his paddleboard last
summer and drew blood above
his eyebrow by headbutting it on
the way down.
Or perhaps it’s the language

surrounding surfers which
puts me off. When people talk
of ‘groms’ or ‘hanging tight’
or ‘wipeouts’ I feel like a High
Court judge confronted with a
discussion about TikTok videos.
I’ve vaguely heard of it and
nod along gently but in reality,

Andy has a picture in his own mind
of how he might look if he takes up
surfing in later life.

I have no idea what anyone is
going on about.

Frankly, I really SHOULD be
a fan of surfing as I was lucky
enough to move to North Devon
over 30 years ago and find
myself surrounded by beaches
where striding into the waters
board in hand was as natural
as taking a bucket and spade to
the sands. That was my chance
to really get into it and make
myself at least passable at a
pastime I understand brings
so much pleasure to so many.
But somehow, I didn’t grasp the
opportunity.

Allis not lost, however. There
is still time for me to make up
on this yearning gap in my life’s
experiences. As I stood in the
car park at the ever-wonderful

Putsborough recently and saw
the youngsters about to take their
first surfing lesson I realised it’s
about time I took the plunge,
literally and metaphorically.

As aman mellows into late
middle age it feels like he starts
to tick off all the things he really
should have done and has not yet
accomplished. And learning to
surf feels pretty near the top of
my ‘to do’ list.

I am not going half measures
on this though. As the sunset
of retirement starts to move
inexorably close to my horizon,

I have decided it’s got to be all
in when I do this. That’s why the
chap pictured sharing this page
with me here may well be my
role model for when I finally find
the time to hit the water. The
hair, the physique, the tatts...

all something to aspire to for
someone who will absolutely
refuse to go gracefully into that
good night. Wish me luck in my
eventual endeavours.

Until next time...and enjoy the
magazine.

010d YDS AWEIY :0}04d

ANDY COOPER,
Editor, Devon Life

07785 629293,
[email protected]
You can follow Andy on Twitter
y» @DevonLifeEd

drizzleditch A tale of two trees in a big wide wood
Indeed, I can honestly say

I have never seen so much
beauty in the hedgerow at
this time of yean

T do believe the inclement
weather has actually been
beneficial to woodland
growth this summen

£

© Steve Evans 2022

STE/G/ANZ

You're right. This is a
more civilised way for
a tree to drink.

|/

www.planetlifeart.com

Devon Life: August 2022 ¢ 7
12

Surf’s Up

North Devon has been
named as the 12th World
Surfing Reserve, joining an
exclusive list that includes
Australia’s Gold Coast.

INSIDE

August 2022

The Lynmouth Flood
August marks the 70th
anniversary of the Lynmouth
flood disaster. We look back
on a terrifying night the
North Devon coastal town
will never forget.

24 Hours in Paignton

Kate Williams takes a
wander through the
charming seaside town of
Paignton and discovers there
is plenty to see and do, from
flume fun to bistro dining.

IOD

Competition

A fabulous bumper prize

of the county’s best food
and drink must be won in
our competition, run in
association with Food Drink
Devon.

0}0Yd420}S1/saBewy| Aj@9 :0}0Ud

8 @ Devon Life: August 2022
Kate Bush

Her global fame has ramped
up to another level after one
of her songs was used in the
soundtrack for a worldwide
smash TV series... and yet
Devon remains the place
where Kate Bush retreats

away from it all.

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Devon Dogs

World renowned dog trainer
Lauren Langman helps pets
and their owners achieve
remarkable things. We pay a
flying visit to Devon Dogs in

Okehampton.

POOMAeH UAASIS 10]0Ud

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Jimi and Flavia

Flavia Cacace and husband
Jimi Mistry tell us why they
have swapped the Strictly
Come Dancing ballroom for
the good life in Devon.

ON THE COVER

Our photograph showing surfers
walking towards the world-class
waves at Saunton Sands in North
Devon was taken by Nigel Hicks

POOMAeH UAAays :0}0Ud

re 1

' Subscribe and get a £10 |
be

rs

“ WATERSTONES
e-Gift Card

~SSA

PLUS

44

100

103

115

124

134

144

148

153

163

183

187

Honiton
Saddle up at Devenish
Pitt Riding School.

Gardens
A fairy trail to follow
at The Garden House.

Walk
A stroll from Lee Bay
in North Devon.

Nourish Festival
How to eat your way
around Bovey Tracey.

Specials board
Dining out with
Andy Cooper.

Cooking with fire
Keep it simple,
says Luke Mackay.

Art Life
Artists and exhibitions.

Cultural Life
Our guide to Devon
events in August.

Books
Authors, festivals
and reviews,

Fashion Life
We visit a popular
Totnes boutique.

Antiques
Motoring memories.

Health
The benefits of
moving well.

Education
What next after
the A-levels?

Objects of Desire
The Stove Company.

Property of the
Month

Westwell Hall,
near Ilfracombe.

202 My Devon

Police and crime
commissioner
Alison Hernandez.

To order next month’s issue
go to magsdirect.co.uk
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10 ¢ Devon Life: August 2022

EVONLIFE

devonlifemagazine.co.uk

EDITOR
Andy Cooper
07785 629293 / [email protected]

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