Tag: Plymouth

#1304 theoldmortuary ponders.

On By theoldmortuary.designIn Drawn to the Valley, Drawn To The Valley Artists, SerendipityLeave a comment

theoldmortuary took a trip to The Old Morgue yesterday to see the work of Drawn to the Valley artist Mary Toon as part of the Open Studios Event.  The Old Morgue is just off Plymouths famous Union Street, which gives visitors the chance to see Urban Street Art, something that flourishes  in this historic part of Plymouth.

Mary’s feltwork is always vivid and fascinating.

I bought one of her felted bead necklaces. I have no idea what was in her mind when she created this but for me it sums up the magic of the creativity that the Tamar Valley and the borderlands of Devon and Cornwall inspire. For me it is about the sheep of Dartmoor and the higher reaches of the valley and the pebbles beneath my feet on my local beach. Mary and I had a serendipitous meeting at Tranquilty Bay a few years ago. Mary along with other talented singers were performing Sea Songs on the beach. Calling to the Sea as the tide came in. The sounds drifted towards us as we did our evening dog walk. The whole experience was ‘other worldly’ as the sea wall hid them from view until the last minute. It was easy to imagine the Oceanids were, somewhat implausibly singing in Stonehouse. These woolly baubles will keep that lovely moment in mind.

©Mary Toon

Hard at times to imagine,  but bustling, urban and sea-facing Plymouth is a vital part of Drawn to the Valley. Home to a large concentration of members, who meet regularly and support and galvanise one another to be experimental and collaborative in their work and their group  exhibitions.

Mary has chosen a fascinating place to invite art lovers and visitors to. A brilliant choice of venue for Drawn to the Valley to show how diverse and fascinating members are.

#1273 theoldmortuary ponders.

On By theoldmortuary.designIn Family, Gardens and gardeningLeave a comment
Smeatons Tower, Plymouth Hoe.

Yesterday was a day of peaks. Fitting a lot of local tourism into a day and achievements of different sorts all slotted into the day like pieces of a jigsaw.

I would like to say we peaked early in the day calmly by taking down the marquee at the Tennis Club. Our family of tall and fit individuals were invaluable.

But just before that, I had hit a peak of stupidity and miscalculated who was where and had house keys. Neatly managing to lock the house with no keys on the outside. Luckily I had managed to only lock the front of the house. Just a twelve foot stone wall to clamber.

Luck was with me, as it was for the whole day. I had also locked out a former Welsh Guard who did a very athletic vertical wall climb to save the very early part of the day.

Dilly Dallying firmly behind me , the marquee was taken down and we visited our Canadian Cohorts Airbnb to see very familiar sights from a different perspective.

Their accommodation was over our favourite coffee shop.

Then with peak efficiency we hit our Family Gathering Brunch exactly on schedule.

Entertained vividly by the RNLI we posed by an old crane.

Then straight off to Tinside for a swim.

Although that particular peak experience was to swim in the sea so we were a little to the left of this picture.

Then up to the Hoe for some posing and musing about the Beatle Buttock print sculpture nearby.

And just like that the last schedule of the day was on the horizon. Dinner at Nora”s with Norah.

But while we were busy being peak performing tourists something funny was happening.  This blog started reaching a record number of views. Peak viewing.

The wonderful thing about hosting out-of-town family is that we fill the day with lovely things. So much so that locking everyone out of the house is just a minor inconvenience.

#1101 theoldmortuary ponders.

On By theoldmortuary.designIn Plymouth Sound1 Comment
Sutton Harbour

Our dusk/ dark walks are taking us away from our home streets at the moment. Last night we did a circuit of Sutton Harbour and the Barbican. Just an hour’s walk on the eve of Remembrance Day.

All the bustle of bars opening and cafes and shops closing reflected on still waters.

The Barbican has set its normal illuminations to Red for Remembrance.

Remembrance Day in Britain feels like the last full stop before the run up to Christmas. The beginning of noticeably shortening days, colder weather and rampant consumerism.

At home we are still in a flurry of redecoration and reorganisation.  Every trip to a charity shop or scrap store feels like a minor victory against ‘stuff’. I am having to channel my creative energies into tidying and sorting, ignoring the itch to put paint on paper or canvas.

But today our busy domestic schedule will stop for a while to observe and consider the costs of war to the community we currently live in.

#1087 theoldmortuary ponders.

On By theoldmortuary.designIn Plymouth, Serendipity2 Comments
Dai Pullen Juliet Cornell

Here is the blog I didn’t feel I could write . It wasn’t quite my story to tell. Early in September two old school friends went to a football match. Nothing unusual about that,except 50 years has passed since we were at school in Essex, and now we live on opposite sides of the world.  When I moved to Plymouth 35 years ago, I visited the local museum and noticed a Plymouth Argyle player in a 1928 team line-up with the same name as my school friend. The two men also looked similar  Our letters, emails and nattering has taken all that time to come to the point when we were both at the same Plymouth Argyle match. It turned out to be quite the day out. The sun shone, we were treated like V.I.P’s and the team won a spectacular match.

@theoldmortuary guest writer Dai Pullen will take over from here.


My grandfather Jack Pullen played for Argyle a hundred years ago. To some, that might seem like nothing more than ancient history. but for the club, it is a history about which it is both very proud and respectful. I got to experience this first-hand recently when I was invited to visit the Home Park  while I was staying in Plymouth on holiday from Melbourne Australia. My visit was hosted by Paul Hart (Forever Green Ambassador), Bob Wright (Greens on Screen official photographer), and Matt Ellacot (curator of the Plymouth Argyle Heritage Archive). It is impossible to imagine any club in the land having a nicer, more enthusiastic and dedicated set of representatives totally committed to collecting, preserving and archiving material which illustrates, the club’s long and distinguished history. They also want to acknowledge and celebrate players who have represented the club throughout its history, by creating a community of former Pilgrims who will continue to be welcomed to and be included as part of the club long after their playing days are over. To quote Paul Hart, “We want to make sure that everyone who has worn the green and white will have access to care, training and support should they need it.”

It is this level of genuine commitment and inclusion which helps set Argyle above and apart from the rest of the pack. My day at the club was absolutely  outstanding, I was treated to lunch in Thatcher’s Sports Bar where I was seated with a group of true club legends, Duncan Neale Martin Phillips, Steve Davey and Marc Edworthy. I’m not sure what they put in the water down in Devon, but a nicer, more charming collection of lunch guests would be hard to find.  But wait, there was more. Paul escorted me down to the pitch where he presented me with a Forever Green collection of items celebrating my grandfather’s Argyle career and in return I donated a number of precious items of memorabilia to the care of the Plymouth Argyle Heritage Archive.  This included the champions medal he won as a member of the team which finally won promotion to the second division in 1930. There was also the shirt he wore when selected to represent Wales in an international against England in 1926, along with the Welsh cap he was awarded for this appearance. These items had been in my possession since I was a boy, and it had been a difficult move to offer to donate them to the club. Having met those charged with managing the Argyle Heritage and its artefacts, however, I was left in no doubt that I’d made the right decision. This is an organisation which honours and respects its past, while simultaneously looking ahead to an even more glorious future.

Even then my day, wasn’t quite over, there was a home game against Sunderland to be played. There were a few things about present day Plymouth which my grandfather would not have recognised. The refurbished stadium, for example., and the bowling green-like pitch. The giant video screen would have blown his mind. The one thing, though, that would have been instantly recognisable was the roar and full-hearted support of the home crowd. What an atmosphere there was in the stadium that afternoon. And when Joe Edwards, scored the winner, in the final minute I swear I felt the spirit of old Jack right there with me in the stand. What an experience, what a club.

Best day at the football, ever!

Giddy with excitement, I then paid a call to the club shop and spent a fortune on merch. But never mind. I was feeling Gert Lush. And impatient to do it all again. A huge thanks to everyone who made my visit to Home Park so memorable. Forever Green? really how could I not be.


Jack and Dai discuss tactics.

#1025 the old mortuary ponders.

On By theoldmortuary.designIn Serendipity2 Comments

This headline popped up on my newsfeed last night. For us, in the South-West of England we have one more week until we see our last 8pm sunset. Our house lies in a perfect East/West position so sunrises are observed from the main bedroom and sunsets from the kitchen and studio. Both are easily viewed by walking the dogs at the right time of day. The sun rises over the sea and sets as we look up the river. 

Yesterday was International Day of the Dog, and it is the dogs that have made me much more aware of sunrises, sunsets and all the natural changes that occur in landscape. Hugo arrived 11 years ago and with his arrival came the daily habit of walking the dog. A three times a day, wander for about twenty minutes minimum, wherever we happen to be. If I had never owned a dog I would never have known the pleasure of small changes and repetition. Before Hugo I would have said I was a keen walker, someone who liked to go for walks when I had the time, was on holiday or some other delightful reason.  Before Hugo I probably had specific clothes and shoes that I knew were comfortable/ appropriate for walks.  Now I never mention walking as a quasi hobby, I do it in whatever I happen to be wearing and I do it whenever it is needed. In all weathers.

Walking is the beginning and the end of my day. I had no idea what I was missing before I owned a dog.

I realise that I could easily do frequent daily walks without a dog . Just as I could write daily without a blog. But I doubt I would do either without a reason.

#995 theoldmortuary ponders.

On By theoldmortuary.designIn Serendipity1 Comment

There was a planned blog for today, but then gorgeous  sunshine, on our early morning dog walk, and this descriptive sign, knocked the other blog off the page. The sign is actually a pub sign but describes exactly the route of our walk.

Today was a chore day, random jobs etc. But we knew the weather was going to be fab, so an early morning dog walk was planned for the start of the day.

Plymouth Sound has recently been designated the first British Marine Park.

https://www.heritagefund.org.uk/projects/plymouth-sound-national-marine-park

After a year or so of no obvious changes we are beginning to see things happening. A fair bit of building work, scaffolding and construction paraphernalia obstructs some views.

No perfect view of the 1930’s Lido currently.

But the sunshine gave us lots of visual treats.

And so after lovely views we achieved the away from home chores. Then some Olympic excitements. Mountain Biking and Hockey. Soon to be followed by yardening in full sun. Sunny day Sunday

#926 theoldmortuary ponders

On By theoldmortuary.designIn Drawn to the Valley1 Comment

Yesterday wasn’t all about orange art. There was a huge amount of talking about art and, for half an hour, nipple tassels.

The morning started with a wonky moment.

I had read on instagram that the panorama setting on a camera phone could be used in an up and down motion rather than from side to side. As I arrived at the exhibition venue the perfect subject,a clock tower, was adjacent to the car park.

Now I think I may need to read a little bit more about this technique.

I watched a run through of the 360 degree projection of our art work. It is genuinely thrilling to see a small piece of my art projected as an immersive experience. These next two photos are a bit rubbish but I was lost in the moment. I will get better ones today.

Stonehouse Fruits ( Fig and blackberry) projected on a massive, 12-foot by 12-foot, scale.

My Cold Water swimmer was even bigger. Caught at the exact moment the projection beam was between her knees.

Normally the dome is filled with bean bags for comfort, but this was only a run through so this is how we did it.

Another wonky moment, as laying flat on the foor in varifocal glasses with 360-degree film projection is less than ideal.  Below is a tiny video. There is a soundtrack of birdsong and tinkling water.

https://videopress.com/v/oWeQR31h?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true

That was a lot of excitement for one day.

#903 theoldmortuary ponders.

On By theoldmortuary.designIn Serendipity, Street Art1 Comment
©My Dog Sighs Graffiti

Getting our backyard into shape after a long wet winter/spring involves little tweaks of DIY and trips to my favourite hardware store. A store that has been in the city since 1927 when Union Street was very posh. The street is a lot less posh now but as I love a bit of faded glamour it is a good place for an urban dog walk when I need to visit the store.

Not all the faded glamour is all that glamorous. This street was once infamous as the Red Light District and bustling hub of the city’s nightlife. The street art in some of the less-than-salubrious nooks and crannies is wonderful though.

And if I needed any illegal drugs this would be just the sort of place to find them.

I just find street art so fascinating. I love this eye because, reflected in it is another piece of local art. A sculpture by Antony Gormley which is at West Hoe.

Look II by Antony Gormley. (Rusty Reg)

While fact checking this blog I was charmed to see that google maps use the ‘ local’ name rather than the official one

In some interesting digital circularity I created this image.

The Buddha I was refurbing*, hence the trip to the hardware store, got a brief moment of wide- eyed giddiness when I superimposed street art and Rusty Reg over contemplatively closed eyelids.

*https://theoldmortuary.design/2024/05/02/902-theoldmortuary-ponders-2/

All this arty pondering and I have not mentioned the really puzzling thing about my city walk.  There was deer poo on the grass at the back of Union Street. What on earth was a deer/deers doing in the city centre? So unlikely I am at a loss to even ponder such a thing.

Do deers slip into the city to buy illegal drugs?, Do they attend live music gigs? Do they do DIY ?Do they like Street Art?

#839 theoldmortuary ponders.

On By theoldmortuary.designIn Art for sale, Serendipity1 Comment

Playing the parking lotto got me a big win yesterday. But I have to play against my better judgement. Normally I am an early bird shopper, but if I need to park in the old part of the city the parking charges work against me. Arrival before 9 pm and the meters are still on the overnight tariff. Rather expensive. Arrive soon after 9, and everyone is in a parking mood. The best plan is to arrive mid-morning after the first wave of early birds is done. I am an early bird, leaving things until mid-morning is not my thing.

Yesterday at 11 am I got a two hour, FREE, parking space next to the printers who were printing my C*****mas cards. Two hours free for a five minute job is a fabulous achievement. I was giddy with excitement. Even better I had done all the domestic admin prior to my arrival. What a gift.Time on my hands with no ticking meter. The sun was out and the dogs needed a walk.

Which took me to a Plymouth institution for lunch. Cap’n Jasper’s and their famous 1970’s smoked glass mugs.

The mugs disappeared for so long after Covid, I worried that they had been replaced forever by something less iconic. A twenty pence deposit is returned when you take the mug back. Albert gave me a look and the 20 pence was not returned to my pocket.

Tea finished.

And it was time for the main event. A bacon butty with fried onions.

An unexpected lunch out and still an hour of free parking left. I figured I could walk to my next planned destination, an art materials shop and the library. The sun was out, it was a bit of a walk, but both of the destination tasks were quick.

Back to the car with five minutes to spare…

The parking spot was only actually free for an hour. Who’s the idiot now.

But I had not been caught.

Oh frabjous day! Callooh! Callay! * I chortled in my joy.

I had saved £3.60 and spent £20, 2 hours of unexpected pleasure in the sun. A lovely bit of old boat on the way.

And still some afternoon printing achieved.

* words of celebration from Jabberwocky by Lewis Carol.

#814 theoldmortuary ponders.

On By theoldmortuary.designIn Serendipity2 Comments

After a weekend of wallpapering and ongoing DIY projects this image seems a funny one to start the week. It is a back staircase in an old cinema built in 1931.

Odeon Plymouth

34-36 Union Street, Plymouth, PL1 3EY

Unfavorite

Odeon Plymouth

Located in the Stonehouse section in the west of the city centre. Built on the site of the 1,500-seat Andrews New Picture Palace, which had opened in 1910, and was demolished in 1930. The Gaumont Palace was opened on 16th November 1931 with Jack Hulbert in “The Ghost Train” and Sydney Howard in “Almost a Divorce”.

The imposing brick building had a white stone tower feature in the central section above the entrance. Seating inside the auditorium was provided for 1,462 in the stalls and 790 in the circle. The internal decorations were carried out by Clark & Fenn of London. It was re-named Gaumont in 1937.

The Gaumont was closed on 2nd December 1961 for sub-division, with a dance hall occupying the former stalls area, and a 1,043-seat cinema in the former circle area, which had been extended forward. This opened as the Odeon on 10th September 1962, a day after the town’s previous Odeon on Frankfort Street had closed.

The Odeon continued until closing on 9th April 1980, and in December 1980, it was converted into a roller disco in the former stalls area. From 1987, it became a nightclub and rock music venue, last known as ‘The Boulevard’ the building then stood empty and unused. I believe the former circle area containing the Odeon cinema remained closed and unused during this time.

In the summer of 2013, it was converted into a religious broadcast studio.

It is currently on the Buildings at Risk list and is part of the local Conservation Area. In June 2021 it was announced that new owners had taken over the building with plans to convert it into an entertainment centre which will also be programmed as a concert and live performance venue. Renovations began in May 2022.

Contributed by Ken Roe © https://cinematreasures.org/theaters/33729

I have no personal connection with this building beyond frequently walking past . I took the photograph a few years ago when the dark and dank building was used for an art installation and open to the public.

This was a back entrance stairway and it was pretty grotty. Predictably it smelt of pee and mildew. But just tweaking the digital image a bit, brought out both the original colours and the acquired colours of neglect. These secret, neglected corners of previously glamorous places fascinate me.

Not completely unrelated to our redecorating efforts I needed to search out this image to turn into a print for one of our refurbished rooms.

Diving into my digital archive always throws out a photographic nugget or two. This is one of my favourites.

So much going on in one forgotten, dirty space.