Visitors to Torrington Common will now have somewhere to sit, thanks to a donation from The Great Torrington Cavaliers.

The Commons Conservators, who look after the common, have just received four brand new picnic benches from the Torrington Cavaliers. The benches, made by local craftsman Mark Hooper of Torridge gates www.torridgegates.co.uk, will be put to good use on the Old Bowling Green, a popular recreational spot with both visitors and locals.

Cavalier chairman Chris Stacey said: "We wanted to say thank you to the Conservators for all their help with our castle bonfire, so this was a practical and useful way of doing that."

"Our friend Mark Hooper who made them for us did a great job. We hope they'll be enjoyed by the visitors for years to come."

The cheque presentation was held in Great Torrington School`s new drama studio. It was very well attended and all the Cavaliers presented at least one cheque. This event is the highlight of the whole project and what the Cavaliers are all about.

Below are all the beneficiaries the top 2 being our main Charities who eached received 25% of the total, every group or organisation who applied received a share.

• Children`s Hospice South West
• North Devon Cancer Care Centre Trust
• North Devon Hospice, Barnstaple
• Samaritans (North Devon)
• Home Start Torridge, Bideford
• Fire Benvolent Fund
• Police Benevolent Fund
• North Devon Womens Aid, Barnstaple
• Motor Neurone Disease Association
• Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide
• Red Cross Therapeutic Care (Mike Sampson)
• The Store Homelessness Project, Bideford
• Devon Disabled Holidays, Barnstaple
• Forum for Autism & Related Behaviours
• Families in Grief, Bideford
• Torrington St John Ambulance
• Forget-Me-Not Project, Barnstaple
• Westleigh Life Aid, Bideford
• Disabled Christians Fellowship, Shebbear
• Amigos, Barnstaple
• Cinterandes Foundation
• Little Johns House, Romania (Kimbers)
• St Giles Church (Freda Palmer)
• Taddiport Church (Mrs Mitchell)
• Bideford Methodist Circuit
• Northam Methodist Church
• Langtree All Saints Church Organ Fund
• Littleham Church
• Torrington Army Cadet Force
• Duke of Edinburgh Award Group, Torrington
• Torrington Girl Guides
• Torrington Scout Group
• Streetz Dance Crew, Torrington (Amy Avery)
• Torrington All Star Majorettes
• World Scout Jamboree (Jacqui Watson)
• World Scout Jamboree (Ben Cowan)
• Charlotte Broadhead, High Bullen
• The Plough, Torrington
• Torrington Senior Citizens Club
• Estuary Theatre Group, Appledore (via Pirates)
• Great Torrington Commons Conservators
• Woodland Vale
• Torrington Town Hall Project
• Torrington CDT (Helen Rumbold)
• Bickford Rest Centre, Torrington
• Torrington Museum
• Torridge Community Transport Association
• Torrington Silver Band
• Mrs Whittall, Bideford
• Sir Nicholas Slanning Regiment of Foote
• Torrington Town Traders
• Hartland Wildlife Rescue
• Panamart, Torrington
• Merrion Hingley, High Bullen
• Pathfield Special School, Barnstaple
• Northam Lodge
• Torrington Junior School PTFA
• Rainbow Pre-School, Merton
• Bishops Tawton Primary School PTFA
• Little Frogs Pre-School, Torrington
• Great Torrington School
• Torrington Junior School (Headteacher)
• Torrington Rugby Club
• Colts Team, Torrington Rugby Club
• Kenwith Archers
• Torridgeside Youth Football Club
• St Giles Cricket Club
• Langtree Reubites Netball Club
• Torridgeside Amateur Swimming Club
• Shebbear Football Club
• Dolton Rangers Football Club
• Bideford & Appledore Junior Football Club
• Weare Giffard Cricket Club
• Barnstaple Pilot Gig Club
• Appledore Pilot Gig Club
• Bideford Pilot Gig Club
• Winkleigh Bowling Club
• Monkleigh Village Hall
• Dolton Village Hall
• Weare Giffard Village Hall

PRESS RELEASE

A massive thank you is going out to sponsors, visitors and local businesses who supported last month's medieval castle bonfire in Torrington.

A total of £55,000 has been raised through the charity event, which saw a 100ft castle, built by fundraisers the Torrington Cavaliers, burnt to the ground.

50% of the money raised will now be split between the Children's Hospice South West and the North Devon Cancer Care Centre Trust. Meanwhile, the remaining 50% will be distributed to a number of other smaller local charities.

Cavalier Secretary Nick Hallam said: "We are absolutely over the moon with the amount raised, and everyone who supported our event deserves a massive thank you. It really makes all the hard work worthwhile.

"As well as supporting our two main charities, we distribute half of the money raised to smaller local charities and good causes. Therefore, if anyone has a specific project that they'd like to be considered for a small donation, please write to us."

To submit a donation request, please write down the full details of your cause/fundraising project and send to:

Torrington Cavaliers (Bonfire Fund)
36 Rosemoor Road
Torrington
EX38 7NB.

All requests received by 15th October will then be considered at a special meeting. A cheque presentation event will be held in Torrington towards the end of the year.

Below are some links to Video footage on YOUTUBE.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrnvIvFatwM&feature=fvst
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwGCYolUIIs

WOW! what can I say. It was a fantastic day the weather was perfect, the crowd was massive and the atmosphere electric.

At 1930 our Chairman Chris Stacey took to the mike in front of the dragon on the ramparts and introduced all the builders who did an absolutely fantastic job.

It was then over to Bob Brewer who talked about his book "Built to Burn" telling the story of the cavaliers from 1970 until now. Fraser Moore then took over as master of ceremonies until the first fireworks display. This was to music and was an absolutely fantastic show by Two Tigers fireworks. www.twotigers.co.uk. Thanks Richard and the team. This was just a taste of what was to come!

The Kenwith Company of archers www.kenwith-archers.org.uk and The Kyrton Archers were next , and they fired 4 volleys of flaming arrows into the castle. What a sight that was!

Now it was time to light; Dave kelly, a founder member of the Cavaliers was invited to light the fuse to start the BURN. Once the fire was established, it was hot! the finale display started and this one blew us all away.

Please let us know what you thought of the evenings show by signing our guestbook by clicking the link on the left or following this link Guest Book

We hope you all had a fantastic time and THANK YOU! for supporting us. Once we have a final figure I will post it here and when we have allocated the monies raised I will again post on our website.

Below are some photos of the complete build process, our fun day on the weekend before the bonfire, our Medieval banquet party, the captains party in the great hall of the Castle and the BURN itself. Most of these photos are courtesy of Dave Sanders from www.davespix.co.uk where more photos are available to view or buy. Thank you Dave!

View build photos
View slideshow of build

View Medieval Banquet photos
View Slideshow of Medieval Banquet

View Captain Party photos
View Slideshow of Captains Party

View Funday Photos
View Slideshow of Funday

View Burn Photos
View Slideshow of the burn

Whoops! of delight echoed around the walls of Torrington Castle on the Old Bowling Green when two stained glass windows, recently removed and stolen from the building, were found propped up at the entrance early Sunday 22nd morning. The two windows are part of a set specially made by local doctor Paul Bangay and are set in the front walls either side of the portcullis. The castle, built by the Great Torrington Cavaliers over the last two years, is due to be burned down at 9pm next Saturday the 28th August. It is the latest in their series of bonfires which began in 1970.
Chris Stacey, Chairman of the Cavaliers said “We don’t condone the actions of the thieves who took the windows but, if they had a change of heart, then we have appreciated their return with only minor damage. We would like to think that taking them was in fact just a prank without malice attached. Security teams will be on site during the final week with CCTV cameras operating as we prepare to welcome the usual several thousand strong audience to witness the event”
Tickets to this latest Cavalier extravaganza, which includes a major firework display at its conclusion, can be obtained from any local Tourist Information Centre, most shops in Torrington town or, on the night at the approaches to the bonfire site.

The Saturday prior to the big burn saw the Cavaliers Bonfire 2010 funday which was free to enter and many events / activities within it were also free. It was a thank you to Torrington for thier patience and support over the last 2 years.

There were Kiddies rides, a bouncy Castle, a bale maze, a tug of war, seize the moment, a Falconry display, the police, Streetz, a cake and food stall, ye olde sweet shop, a bar and of course 5 live bands on stage in the evening & Vanamos Samba.

It was very well attended given the forecast and infact at 1610 11mm of rain fell in 25 minutes and the commons was turned into a lake, the power failed, the tents flooded but still people came and a fantastic time was had by all in true Torrington & Cavalier fashion!

View some photos
Slideshow

It was also Del`s (Wolfman) and Emma`s wedding in the banquet hall of the castle!

View Wedding photos
Slideshow

Thursday 19th saw the Dragon lifted into place above the drawbridge of the Castle, guarding the entrance.

KAS crane hire very kindly supplied the crane and driver to lift the huge structure into place. The process was watched by Nick Davey who with his brother Stuart built the Dragon on site over many weeks.

This really is the "Crowning Glory" of the Castle Bonfire.

Pictures courtesy of Dave Sanders of www.davespix.co.uk

View all 4 photos
View slideshow

On the Morning of 14th August 2010 two of the stained glass windows were removed from their fixings and stolen from the Castle Bonfire. These were kindly made and donated by our local Retired Doctor Paul Bangay who put many hours of work into them. It is a great disapointment to us all that anyone would consider doing this as the whole event is to raise money for people less fortunate than us in health. The photos show the missing window frames and a window similar to the ones stolen. One in particular is of a SUPERMAN "S" and will be distinctive if seen.

Our CCTV system (which has excellent night vision cameras)recorded the two thieves walking down New Street / top of Station hill at 02:04 where it appeared that they quickly moved to avoid being seen by a passing car. They then walked onto the commons passing the Chuckwagon site and down to the bonfire. At 02:12 they were seen on the ramparts removing the windows and then leaving the Castle at 02:16 over the drawbridge then turning right to exit around the rear. we have a good shot of one and we are now in the process of identifying them.

If the persons involved return the windows to the castle ASAP there will be no further action taken. If they are not returned the CCTV footage will be handed over to the POLICE.

On the evening of Thursday 19th August from 1900 the massive dragon that has been made By Nick & Stuart Davey will be lifted into place by a large crane from KAS Crane Hire. You are all welcome to attend the spectacle. Photos will be posted on the website shortly afterwards.

Dave Sanders of www.davespix.co.uk will be taking photos and they will be on sale on his website.