The People's Republic of South Devon

If you wanted to replicated the refined charm of the Continent on a budget, then where better than Torquay? The Persuaders! followed in the footsteps of The Saint in using The Bay as the basis of the South of France " and who can blame them? Continue reading…...

Torquay is home to exotic locations, especially if you're in need to a far flung setting for a TV show on a budget. Torquay harbour doubled as Cannes and a The Bay featured as a 'Sussex yacht club' in TV episodes of The Saint. Continue reading…...

Larry Grayson, who presented The Generation Game on the BBC with Isla St Clair and become one of the faces of 80s television, lived in Torquay for several years Continue reading…...

Paul Robeson " campainger and activist, who was blacklisted during the Cold War for his commitment to political causes " performed in Torquay Continue reading…...

Torbay had its first drugs raid on April 12, 1969. It marked a change in the times, and took place at Torquay’s main hippie pub at the time " the Rising Sun on Belgrave Road (now the Old Mill). Continue reading…...

Torquay's beatnik scene in the early and mid 1960s revolved around two pubs, says Mike Williams in the second of his articles looking back to Torquay's beatnik history Continue reading…...

Torquay's beatnik community, saving some notable exceptions, didn't follow the American example of the beat movement of literature and politics, 'the beatnik lifestyle was mainly one of part-time work, the cheapest possible rented rooms, support from the National Assistance Board, and loafing about...

Torquay Rock’n’Roll is looked into again by Mike Williams in the second of his eye-witnessed series for Torquay's Other History on the PRSD Continue reading…...

Torquay's Rock'n'Roll scene was vibrant towards the end of the last century. Michael Williams shares some of his memories about the some of the bands which were part of that scene which lasted from the '70s through to the end of the '90s. Continue reading…...

Before Buffalo Bill was defunct he brought his Wild West Show to Torquay. Some 560 men of different nationalities with 593 horses took over a nine-acre field on Newton Road. Continue reading…...