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