24th May 2020

24th May 2020

While on my way back to my house after a short walk one evening a few days ago I bumped into Nick Pascoe and we had a long chat. He lives just around the corner from me and his older brother Chris was in the same year as me at Torquay Boys Grammar School. Nick was also at the same school. This reminded me of an old photo when Nick and myself took part in a WH Smith sponsored walk along the Newton Road in Torquay. We walked from Torquay to Newton Abbot and then back along the same route to Torquay. This was probably sometime in 1979. We talked about several things including supporting Torquay United and I mentioned my songs about our local football team. Nick said that he was at Plainmoor with his brother to see the game against Cambridge when Pat Kruse scored the record breaking own goal. Nick said that they didn't see the first goal at the game because it happened so quickly but he does remember the second own goal. He'd forgotten that Torquay scored all four goals in the 2-2 draw that day.

Ian Sponsored walk WH Smiths late 1970s

Since talking to Nick I have remembered one funny event at a grammar school assembly when the school governors attended. One boy called Morris, had cellotaped down all of the keys of the piano so that when Mr Hopkins' hands descended onto the instrument it resulted in a most horrible cacophony ringing out. There was a huge roar of laughter from all of the school children whereas the teachers, especially the headmaster did not look amused at all!

I had another idea for a tune last week which turned into another song. I was plucking two strings in unison on my guitar but not using the fingers of my left hand on the fretboard. It provied me with an interesting melody in E minor. It sounded a bit medieval and I'd been waiting for something like this to come along to me so that I could write a song about Torre Abbey. 


An abbot from Welbeck Abbey

Arrived on the shores of Torbay

William Briwere had gifted some land

Thanks for the safe return of his son


For the monks Torre Abbey was made

And throughout the day they prayed

Many gifts and bequests were received

And their faith in God they truly believed


On the west side a cruciform church

The buildings around a courtyard

Built on a Benedictine plan

Beer limestone used for the arcades


For the monks Torre Abbey was made

And throughout the day they prayed

Many gifts and bequests were received

And their faith in God they truly believed


The monks made sure that the poor were fed

Looked after the folk in Torbay

A genuine holy cast of mind

Destroyed by a tyrant King


Because of King Henry the abbeys dissolved

To take all their wealth he was resolved

King Henry the Eighth the great evil King

Great misery he would surely bring

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