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

Thursday June 8th, 2006

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). I had to go back because Jeremy Gibson and his crew had arranged to meet me at a particular place. They were going to follow me into Torrington.	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 Clarissa`s son Gabriel (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: looking towards 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 near Tiverton, 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.
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. Paul and Muriel Goodman put them up at Nichols Nymet House, North Tawton, while they were down in Devon. Before they went away, I took them to look at the view from Castle Hill that is loved by everyone in the town ( a painting in the Queen`s Exhibition is a memory of this view, that day.
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)	Looking at these photographs now, a year later, 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..

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