IN DEFENCE OF TORQUAY
Sta,—After reading the brilliantly gloomy article (oh splendid wisdom!) of Mr. James Pope-Hennessy in your issue of August 1st, I should wish personally, and at the request of several residents of Torquay, to ask you to permit me to " Stand for the defence! "
I used to come down here to stop with my grandmother seventy-five years ago, at her house called Frognal, just above us on one of the Seven Hills with which Torquay is blessed. We live half-way up it from Torwood Gardens, from whence we have a marvellous view across the town, through lovely trees right across to a pretty bay lying just below the Grand Hotel. When I bought this house three years ago, after living at Dartmouth for twenty years, we found the garden an absolute jungle, but my wife, who is a great gardener, has, with the kindly advice of Mr. Quant, the eminent chemist, transformed it into what is, I think, universally acclaimed as a terraced garden of great charm. Everything grows here luxuriantly. I used to love the Frognal garden in the old days, just as I loved her little " Midge " brougham in which she drove about Torquay. The barouches, Victorias and landaus driven by grand coachmen were sights in those days, when there were very few hotels here and very few boarding-houses, and .the summer crowds of visitors had hardly begun to make their yearly assault on Torquay. By the way, of these latter people, I for one have nothing but praise to give, for, although crowded and often worried about food, I must own that I do not see them, as does Mr. Pope-Hennessy apparently, looking miser- able, discontented and apathetic, but happy and restful and enthusiastic.
Of course, there are several cinemas affording plenty of pleasure, as well as the Pavilion, providing charming amusement and interest, with brilliant performances of comedies by talented companies such, for instance, as the Malvern Players afford. There is a good Municipal Orchestra playing at the Pavilion. There are endless charabancs, giving everybody a chance of visiting the gorgeous Dartmoor, Buckfast and numerous beauty spots which surround us ; race meetings galore at Newton Abbot a few miles off, at Buckfast, Churston and other very get- atable places ; tennis courts, putting greens, bowling greens and first-class hotels, among which is at least one unrivalled in London. And there are hundreds of lovely gardens all around us, although I can only wish they were more visible from the roads and not hemmed in by the stone walls as they are, but more exposed and more helpful to the beauty of the place as they always are in America and in Canada. There is a mar- vellous Zoo here, too, in which children take a great delight. It is sometimes a comfort to feel that we have a beautiful hospital here, too, which was founded and richly endowed by that wonderful lady, Dame Violet Wills. And we can boast of possessing a great band of doctors. There are some very interesting debating societies here. I have been president of one for the last twelve years. We have also a most interest- ing museum. There arc congenial yacht clubs, too, full of good fellows who can relate many a tale of thrilling adventure both at sea and in many a land which can boast a happier life than we can ourselves nowadays.
No, Sir, I do not feel that Torquay lacks any of the " gusto " of the Victorians as does Mr. Pope-Hennessy! No, Sir, in spite of the dreary days in which we are now existing, there seems to me to be plenty of joie de vivre in Torquay. And the beauty our visitors contemplate as they wander about over our hills and dales probably keeps them from talking much or even bursting into song!
Of course, there arc endless streams of people thronging the front and the shopping centres, and hundreds of motors positively lining the sides of every street ; but the people do not appear to me, as they seem to in the eyes of clever Mr. Pope-Hennessy, as a " shambling lot of folk wandering aimlessly about." So come back, Mr. Pope-Hennessy, and bring your rose-coloured glasses when you wander around our pleasant
places.-1 am, Sir, yours faithfully, CYRIL MAUDE. Dundrum, Lower Woodfield Road, Torquay.
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