Drake's Island curse, Two Bays in the Sound and more in the Midweek Beagle
News from The Hoe, for Plymouth's Waterside communities including a debut novel from a Plymouth author and the latest update from The Captain...
The Curse of Drake’s Island
Plymouth author Sara Lamerton used to live on The Hoe and loved looking at Drake’s Island - revelling in the mystery of its creepy, dark exterior. After the pandemic lockdown she visited and explored the island’s buildings and landscape - and now she’s about to see her first book released: The Curse of Drake’s Island is a paranormal thriller: “I’ve always loved horror,” Sara told The Beagle.
“When class 8S visit Drake’s Island, little do they know it harbours a dark secret which, once revealed, will change the course of their lives forever. A tragic past possesses the present - and only one girl can set them free.”
Sara used to teach middle grade teens - and the book is aimed them (although she says adults and Harry Potter fans will love it too).
Sara now lives in the Stoke village area of the city and is clearly revelling in the creative process of writing - although she managed to keep her publishing deal a secret for nearly a year. “I didn’t even tell my Mum,” she laughed.
Sara’s always enjoyed writing: she’s a reviewer and blogger for Theatre Royal Plymouth - but says after completing The Curse of Drake’s Island she found the editing process and making her work “publication worthy” a challenge.
Seeing her first novel appear in print after pitching it to various publishers has given her confidence for the future. She’s planning sequels, with more of the south west’s local folklore and mysterious locations set to feature. “I love Devil’s Point. It’s a place I go to clear my head, to brainstorm ideas. And there are so many dark, dank places, I’m spoiled for choice.”
The Curse of Drake’s Island by Sara Lamerton is published on February 13 by Tiny Tree. It’s available here to order on Amazon
Crime wave
Police are investigating a spate of recent car break-ins around The Hoe. The latest was in Holyrood Place last Saturday (February 1) some time between 4pm and 8.45pm. We are being reminded not to leave anything on show in vehciles that might tempt an opportunist to smash-and-grab. Anyone with information that might help the police investigation should contact PC 9019 Blundell, or contact police online or via 101, and quote reference: 50250026723
Merchant of Plymouth
One of Plymouth’s oldest and most emblematic buildings formerly owned by a friend of Sir Francis Drake could be turned into offices after the city council admitted it cannot afford to renovate it. Merchant’s House dates back to the 16th century and was previously a museum, but has been closed for almost a decade.
Plymouth city council last week announced that it was “looking for a dynamic, sensitive and funded individual or organisation” to give the Grade II-listed building “a new and sympathetic lease of life”. Councillor Chris Penberthy, who is responsible for the city’s assets, said the decision had not been taken lightly, but after investing millions in the Box and the Elizabethan House the council could not afford to restore the Merchant’s building.
Smile for the cameras
Plans have been submitted to install a multiplex of CCTV cameras at Tinside Lido as part of the ongoing restoration, renovation and reimagining of the site. The Grade 2 listed building is getting new meeting rooms and social spaces, as well as a facelift. Now the city council has applied to itself for planning permission to install 10 external cameras and 21 internal cameras.
The application states: “There are public benefits that weigh in favour of the application, including securing the site’s optimum viable use as a safe place for recreational enjoyment within a heritage setting. The works allow for a significant improvement and long-term management of this valuable facility. The proposals would have an acceptable impact upon the heritage assets, particularly when the public benefits are taken into consideration.”
Comments to Plymouth Council planners should be made before March 4
Scene on the Sound - by ‘The Captain’, The Beagle’s maritime correspondent
An unusual sight last week – both of the Royal Navy’s in-service Bay-class landing ships were at buoys in The Sound – RFAs Mounts Bay & Lyme Bay.
There were originally 4 ships in the class, built between 2002 & 2007, but the oldest – RFA Largs Bay – was sold to the Australians in 2011 for £65M and is now HMAS Choules, named after Chief Petty Officer Claude Choules, who served in both the Royal Navy and the RAN during his career, and was the last known living Australian participant in World War I. The final ship of the class – RFA Cardigan Bay – is laid up pending refit next year.
The Bay-class are, to use the NATO designation, Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary)s - meaning that they have a dock inside the hull, capable of taking one LCT (Landing Craft Tank) or two LCVPs (Landing Craft Vehicles & Personnel). Acronyms are alive & well in the military!
The Bays displace about 16000 tonnes and are 177m long. Their two big diesel engines give them a maximum speed of 18 knots. As Royal Fleet Auxiliaries, and so civilian manned, they can be armed with self-defence guns. Their armament depends on where they are deployed & what their task is.
In RFA service, their normal crew is 60-70, but they can easily carry 365 troops and 700 in overload conditions. Their strengthened vehicle decks can carry 24 Challenger tanks or 150 trucks or 24 standard 20-foot containers. All this can be unloaded in several ways, including via the stern door, via a ramp onto a jetty or using the ship’s two Mexefloats (a large barge that can be strapped to the ship’s side).
The flight deck can take large helicopters (up to the Chinook), although there is no permanent hanger.
In service, the Bays have proved themselves to be very flexible. They have been used for disaster relief (Largs Bay in 2010 after the Haiti earthquake), as a training base for the rebuilt Iraqi Navy after the second Gulf War (Lyme Bay) and as a mothership for the MCMVs (Mine Countermeasure Vessels) in Bahrain in the late 90s/early 20s, (Cardigan Bay) before she was re-tasked to provide relief off Gaza last year.
All this, as well as providing the Royal Marines & the British Army with support in many amphibious exercises.
It is planned (time will tell…) that the remaining three Bays, RFA Argus, HMS Albion & HMS Bulwark will be replaced by six Multi-Role Support Ships in the 2030s.
