31st May 2020
I have been reading Agatha Christie's autobiography and found two excellent sections about her life in Torquay at the turn of the 19th into the 20th century that gave the inspiration for two more songs. It's a really interesting read, especially when she talks about swimming from Meadfoot beach to the large rock that I can see just about every day when I take the opportunity go for a walk near my house.
One of the songs is about the wedding of her sister at the church in Torre in which Agatha was the chief bridesmaid, There was no reception after the marriage service in the church because they were in mourning for the death of her father the previous year. Elaine wrote most of the lyrcis for the second song but I did change a few words as I wanted to include the reference to how Agatha, as a child, would start saving money in May for the eagerly anticipated fair which was part of the regatta in Torquay at the end of August each year.
The Torquay Regatta
1st chorus
It's the regatta in Torquay
The thought of it brings such glee
With yacht racing in the bay
Money for the fair saved since May
1st verse
On the switchback you'll lose your bearings
Come and buy some dainty fairings
Try your luck on the coconut shy
Bid for nougat please come and try
2nd chorus
It's the regatta in Torquay
The thought of it brings such glee
The horses on the roundabout
The strangest shows without a doubt
2nd verse
Penny monkeys in every hue
Pin your coat with one or two
Can you pitch a ping pong ball
A goldfish prize for one and all
Middle bit
Out in the bay the yachts race by
From Haldon pier you can watch them fly
Brittania sighted up goes the cry
Beneath the blue August sky
Last chorus
It's the regatta in Torquay
The thought of it brings such glee
With yacht racing in the bay
Money for the fair saved since May
I had never heard of fairings until I read about them in Agatha Chrisitie's book. They were given away as prizes at fairs and were very popular in the Victorian era up until the start of the First World War. There is one in my dining room that used to belong to my grandmother and I never realised it was a fairing until I looked up some information about them on the internet.