Blowing the Trumpet for Torbay

[whole diary]

[REVUpminster]

New rankings show the top secondary schools in Devon

1 Devon Colyton Grammar School      199 pupils 60% of school who go to Russell Group of Universities.
2 Torbay Torquay Boys Grammar        199          43%
3 Torbay Torquay Girls Grammar        127          36%
4 Plymouth Devonport High for Girls   112          34%
5 Plymouth Devonport High for Boys   141          33%
6 Torbay Churston Ferrers Grammar   112           26% My neighbours daughter is at Cambridge studying medicine.

Three out of the top six are in Torbay so it is not all retirees down here. Two of the most sort after primary schools have 700 pupils each

Another survey: Which street has the best claim to be Devon’s ultimate “millionaires’ row”? It turns out there are two.

Ilsham Marine Drive in Torquay and Main Road in Salcombe have both seen nine homes change hands for a million pounds or more over the last decade.

[ellendune]

Not really surprising since they are selective schools.  I guess the non-selective schools in the area didn't do that well on that measure.  But how did they all do on the added value measure?

[johnneyw]

Another survey: Which street has the best claim to be Devon’s ultimate “millionaires’ row”? It turns out there are two.

Ilsham Marine Drive in Torquay and Main Road in Salcombe have both seen nine homes change hands for a million pounds or more over the last decade.

Quite surprised that Main Road in Salcombe was nominated as the really expensive ones only extend along part of the road.  I'm pretty sure that, as an average over time, Sandhills Road takes the prize.  I go along or by  both of them fairly regularly at present so I shall view them with fresh eyes.

[Lee]

Really should learn to read the whole thread when I'm in a hurry...

[REVUpminster]

^ Probably not very covid friendly these days! The point of the post was to say Torbay, the second biggest conurbation in Devon, is very misunderstood. Exeter is catching up fast 129,429 (117,763 in 2011) against Torbay 136,264 (131,193 in 2011)

Ilsham Drive is in Wellswood and the parish church of St Matthais (Kevin Foster MP^▸ (Member of Parliament) church) raised £800,000 in a year to update the church; a figure Exeter Cathedral would struggle to raise. An area where a £60m 5* star hotel is being built and a complex of 90 homes, 68 flats and 22 homes, on a brownfield site of a closed girls school overlooking Ansteys Cove sailed through planning with hardly an objection.

Of course It does have problems with undesirables attracted to seaside towns and are housed by councils in bed and breakfasts because it's cheaper than housing them in their own area. Some family houses have been bought by Birmingham and Liverpool councils for rehousing.

[Western Pathfinder]

Really should learn to read the whole thread when I'm in a hurry...

NICE....

[REVUpminster]

torbay by Robert, on Flickr

Six cruise ships now off Torbay. Very close in. New tourist attraction.

From top in Babbacombe Bay:
Queen Mary 2
Ventura
Azura
From top in Torbay:
Zaandam
Volendam
Westerdam

All the cruise ships have a skeleton crew because it's cheaper to keep them in warm storage (train term?) than shut them down.

Red is a tanker Elandra Denali

[bradshaw]

Other anchorages are available! Weymouth today as on Marine Traffic

[REVUpminster]

Ventura has left for Southampton and the Emerald Princess is heading for Torbay.

This is better than watching open trains.

[bobm]

Bay was still pretty full when looking from the Teignmouth seawall a week ago.

[CyclingSid]

Similar views from Bournemouth/Boscombe over the weekend.