Palace of Pleasure 1912-2012

The same place as yesterday but a different seascape. Quite a few people were on the beach with metal detectors. Maybe storms reveal hidden treasures. We walked by on our way to The Pavilion, which was celebrating 100 years.

When it was formerly opened in August 1912, contemporary newspaper reports in both the local and national press were enthusiastic. The Pavilion was headlined as 'Torquay's Palace of Pleasure'. Inside there was a foyer and an auditorium, with lounges and a café; an elegant atmosphere prevailed, with oak panelling, moulded plasterwork, a curved balcony, stained glass and potted palms, together with an open-air promenade and tea garden.

The town then founded a municipal orchestra of 25 players, with Basil Cameron as musical director. This was disbanded during the war, but after the war the same musical policy continued. Classical music began to play an increasing part in the life of the town, with morning and afternoon concerts in a 'Winter Orchestral Season'.

Famous conductors, composers and artistes came to The Pavilion, including Sir Henry Wood, Sir Adrian Boult, Sir Edward Elgar, Sir Malcolm Sargeant, Constant Lambert, Dame Nellie Melba, Solomon, Mark Hambourg, Dame Ethel Smythe and many others. The orchestra made its first BBC radio broadcast from The Pavilion at Christmas 1932, and continued to broadcast regularly from then on.

Standards have slipped. Apart from us no one dresses for dinner any more. so in January it will be developed as the basis for a hotel.

It was such a calm day after yesterday we walked to Brixham in the afternoon along the coast path. We saw two seals near the fish quay floating on the surface and being very noisy. It was just getting dark. Magic.