No Red Arrows, but anticipation builds for classic car show

Mike Dibble Picture: contributed (Image: Picture: contributed)

The Sidmouth Air Show this year was excellent but obviously the cancellation of the Red Arrows was a major disappointment for most of the attendees.

I only heard about the cancellation when we were parking cars on the cricket ground and I must say that the vast majority of people attending were very understanding about the late withdrawal.

At the time of writing I am not aware of the financial arrangements that The town council had with the Red Arrows but it would be good to think that they’ll be returning next year.

There has been a lot in the press nationally about the morale within the team and there’s no secret that they are performing with just seven jets due to the unavailability of some pilots. Hopefully they’ll return to their full complement next year with nine jets.

Preparations are ongoing for the Sidmouth Classic Car Show which is due to take place on the cricket ground on Saturday, September 17 from 11am.

The weather has been very kind to the event over recent years and let us hope that trend continues.

The event is organised by Sidmouth Chamber of Commerce expertly led by Mike Lavers.

The team involved put in a huge amount of hard work and donations received on the day are hugely important for raising valuable funds within the town.

Please support the event if you’re able to. All car spaces have been reserved so it will be a cracking display.

It is a serious matter for any business to be short of employees but when it is your local doctor’s surgery the circumstances become that much more urgent.

Let us hope the surgery can soon find the four new GPs that they are advertising for as soon as possible.

This will not only take the stress off the other doctors but also it is likely to improve the morale at the practice considerably.

It seems that every business in the land is currently short of employees and with the national strikes currently taking place it will be a hard task for the new prime minister to deal with early in their period of office.

You may have read that East Devon District Council are due to undertake works on the Jacob’s Ladder seawall from September 19.

Apparently this will restrict public access along the Millennium Walkway and Undercliff path for several weeks. The works are due to be completed by the beginning of November.

On the sporting front, Sidmouth CC 1st XI had a much needed win last Saturday at Hatherleigh.

Experienced players such as Anthony Griffiths, Luke Bess, Charlie Miles and Will Murray made meaningful contributions.

This means that they go into the final round of Devon Premier League fixtures this Saturday with a 13 point gap between them and the relegation zone.

Sidmouth are at home to bottom club Plymouth so hopefully will secure the eight points needed to avoid relegation.

Hatherleigh themselves have a tricky away fixture at North Devon which they have to win to stand any chance of survival.

Sidmouth 3rd XI also had a vital win last Saturday at Bradninch and the 2nd XI, without several regular players, were beaten by Uplyme.

On the football front Exeter City drew 0-0 last Saturday at Accrington Stanley.

This weekend they are at home to Milton Keynes Dons. On the rugby front Sidmouth RFC start their league fixtures this weekend on Saturday against Newton Abbot at The Blackmore.

Kick off is at 3pm. Exeter Chiefs start their league campaign on September 10th with a home game against Leicester Tigers.

Finally I have had two people approach me this week asking me to publicise local charity initiatives to help the homeless and also to help provide a meaningful Christmas for those in need.

I hope to be able to provide more information about these good causes in future weeks.