Salcombe Local wins British Marine Federation Training Award

Trainee/ Apprentice of the Year Award

Robert Hitchen, who studied at The Boat Building Academy in Lyme Regis won this award.

Rob worked as a Fisherman in Salcombe but wanted to work as a Boatbuilder. He renovated and sold his fishing boat to finance his Boatbuilding course and went on to complete a City & Guilds Level Three certificate in Boatbuilding at Boatbuilding Academy. Since completing the course he has set up a company to build Salcombe Yawls and within twelve months expects to be in a position to employ another boat builder to work alongside him.

I went to School at the same time as Rob (a few years above) and he was an excellent sailor and a half decent rugby player. Add in the fact that he was also a nice bloke and it seems a great reward for his work.

Anyone who continues the local boat building trade deserves a reward, if only for the very reason that it means there should be one less location for a restuarant or clothes shop!

New Lifeboat For Salcombe

Yesterday saw the arrival of Salcombe's new lifeboat, the Baltic Exchange III. Capable of 25 knots and costing £2.5m the new boat is the latest state of the art all weather version. Tamar Class Lifeboats are already on station at: Tenby, Wales - Padstow, Cornwall - Peterhead, Scotland - Longhope, Scotland - Cromer, Norfolk with a further lifeboat in the relief fleet.

The naming continues to represent Salcombe's close relationship with the Baltic Exchange in London.

Celebrity Chefs for Salcombe and Kingsbridge

Rumour has it that not only is Gary Rhodes gong to return to the Marine Hotel, Salcombe after it's imminent reincarnation but that John Burton Race is about to take over the Crabshell! Add to this rumours that Gordon Ramsey is to reopen the New Angel in Dartmouth, previously run by John Burton Race, and it seems Devon has an influx of celebrity chefs on its hands!

Competition Time....win a Devon or Salcombe T-shirt

Ok it's competition time on OODevon...

Win a "OODevon T-shirt" in a colour of your choice, with either Devon or Salcombe on the back. There will a prize for the first correct answer and a prize for the name drawn from a hat of all other entrants.

To enter all you have to do is email OODevon with your answer the following Question:

Who wrote this famous poem when crossing "The Bar" into Salcombe:

Crossing the Bar

Sunset and Evening star,
And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar,
When I put out to sea,

But such a tide as moving seems asleep,
Too full for sound and foam,
When that which drew from out the boundless deep
Turns again home.

Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell,
When I embark;

For though from out our bourne of Time and Place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When I have crossed the bar.