Exams joy, new swans and a Big Thank You

IN spite of all the disruption to their academic studies, pupils across Teignbridge collected some magnificent A-Level and GCSE results.

Against such a backdrop of turbulence and uncertainty they did the district proud and are a credit to us.

In his final year as principal at Newton Abbot College Paul Cornish said: ‘This year’s results are in many ways so much more precious, due to the adversity everyone has faced together in achieving them. Staff, students, and parents working so hard together as a community with a single unified aim. I am so lucky, and feel so proud, to have been principal of such an amazing learning community.’

This was true of all our schools and colleges. The Mid-Devon Advertiser salutes the college staff, parents and of course the students themselves for such an amazing effort.

We highlighted the remarkable work of campaigning Margaret Brokenshaw. She has spent the last 11 years making sure people who have had a heart attack have the best chance of survival. We were delighted to report that Shirley and her team at Teign Heartbeat have been responsible for getting 48 defibrillators up and running around Teignbridge. She is pictured with one of the latest machines in Teignmouth.

TRADERS in Newton Abbot declared the new RingGo parking system was too complicated and was ‘driving shoppers from the town’. Percy Kendall, of Percy’s Haberdashery, and Brian Bailey, of The Express Pasta Company, both reported customers having problems. Town Centre development manager Sally Henley added: ‘Since the old system of pay on exit was removed from our three largest car parks I have received many complaints from businesses and visitors.’

A Teignbridge Council spokesperson, however, said they had received very little negative feedback, adding: ‘By using RingGo shoppers can extend their parking time remotely giving them the flexibility to shop as long as they want.’

DAWLISH held a spectacular day of thanks for its lockdown heroes and the volunteer and NHS staff heroes who made the vaccine programme happen for the people of the town.

The Great Big Thank You event was held in a marquee on The Lawn in honour of the people who had turned up day after day to ensure people got to their vaccination appointments at Dawlish Hospital.

The day saw presentations to many of them and the NHS staff who kept working through the pandemic.

NEWTON Abbot said a sad farewell to its first ever Honorary Freeman, Henry Cole, who died at the age of 90.

A true civic champion, the former mayor was a familiar face around town, often seen greeting coach visitors from the seat of his flag-bedecked mobility scooter. Many tributes were paid to this remarkable man.

Newton Abbot Mayor Cllr Mike Joyce said: ‘There are very few people who have given as much to our town as Henry. His was a life well-lived and we are so thankful for all he did.’

Teignmouth Community School’s principal, James O’Connell, said: ‘can be. Thank you also to our staff who have also had to be immensely flexible and worked tirelessly to ensure students had the opportunities to earn these grades.’