An annual festival to celebrate ageing is going online this weekend (Sat October 24^th).

For the last five years, the Ageing Well Torbay Festival has been held at venues across the Bay, and last year attracted around 1750 people to the Riviera Centre in Torquay.

There had been plans to return to the same place on Saturday, October 24^th, with a huge range of entertainment and activities representing the very best the Bay has to offer.

But when COVID-19 put paid to those plans, the volunteer committee behind the Festival agreed on ambitious plans to put the whole thing online and on Torbay’s community radio station, Riviera FM 107.9,

Organisers have recorded more than five hours of video and audio covering everything from baking lessons, to informative talks by Bay historian, Kevin Dixon who takes us on a tour of Torquay’s nightlife down the ages as well as introduces us to some of the many famous writers of the Riviera.

There are also performances by Brixham’s very own folk singer, Maggie Duffy who presents Devon – Historical and Hysterical. There are trips down memory lane with both dancer, magician and one-time impresario, Anne George and Vivien Lesley who is also joined by husband Barry to reminisce and perform as Twogetherness.

Additionally, in the tradition of the Festival where you are encouraged to try something new, there are bowls lessons from Paignton Bowling Club (check) and an opportunity to try yoga with Victoria Campbell or Tai Chi with Lisa Kay.

And no festival would be complete without music and dance with some provided by Anne George and Claire Parker whose moves cater for everyone whether seated or full energy. And the Torbay Rock Choir belt out a variety of popular numbers.

Many of the acts have been filmed at the Palace Theatre in Paignton to give them all the feeling of being live and Maureen McAllister of Jazz Hands which runs the theatre is at the ready to give a behind the scenes tour remembering some of the top names that have appeared there.

One of Brixham’s hidden gems also takes centre stage with a video tour of the Brixham Battery Heritage Centre, a defensive look out over the Bay since the 16^th Century, with some of the volunteers who bring it to life acting as guides.

There is the opportunity to learn to play the piano with Mervyn Gibbs who taught himself in just a few months, or if you would rather listen to the keys being tickled for you then another Mervin Toogood takes to the organ to belt out a few old favourites.

“We were determined not to be beaten COVID and felt it was important that we still all came together to celebrate ageing. It is a shame we can’t all be under one roof, but we can still have a great time under lots of different roofs,” said one of the organisers.

“We have tried hard to give a flavour of our regular Festival with a bit of everything thrown in. Some of it will be broadcast on the radio but all of it will be on the Ageing Well Torbay website where it will also be available on watch again.”

“It has been a challenge, but one that everyone rose to and we have learned a lot along the way. So it has been fun and an education! We just need everyone to join us on Saturday,” they added.

The full livestream will be available here on www.ageingwelltorbay.com, right on the homepage, broadcast on Saturday, October 24^th from 10am to 3pm. You can also listen in on Riviera FM 107.9. between 11am and 3pm.

While watching and/or listening, don’t forget to get in touch – tag us on social media with #AWFatHome20, or email us at ageingwell@torbaycdt.org.uk

The full programme of what will be livestreamed follows (subject to change) you can also download said programme as a PDF – AWF@Home 2020 Virtual Programme PDF download

9:30am-10am preshow: Yoga with Victoria Campbell

10am: Introduction and welcome

10:02am-11am:

• Performances and singing exercises by Torbay Rock Choir
• Preview of Anne George’s talk – Born into Entertainment (Coming to the Palace Theatre, 1st April 2021)
• Baking cheese scones with Torbay Libraries
• A introduction to bowling, by Paignton Bowling Club

11am-Midday:

• Virtual tour of Brixham Battery Heritage Centre
• Interview and folk rock historical music, with Ian Churchward of The Legendary Ten Seconds

Midday-1pm:

• Standing and seated dance exercise, with Anne George and Claire Parker
• A talk by Kevin Dixon – Writers on the Riviera
• Making 3D paper tulips with Torbay Libraries
• A backstage virtual tour of the Palace Theatre, Paignton

1pm-2pm:

• A talk with folk music by Maggie Duffy – Devon, Historical and Hysterical
• Simple steps to mastering the Piano, with Mervyn Gibbs
• A talk and duet by Twogetherness – A Glamorous Life?

2pm-3pm:

• Mervin Toogood and Keyboard classics
• Dancing through the Decades, with Torbay Libraries
• A talk by Kevin Dixon – The Great Torquay Night Out
• Final message and thank yous
• Tai Chi and Qigong with Lisa Kay

All content mentioned above, along with content we unfortunately had to cut due to time constraints will be archived and available to watch here on the AWT website after Saturday 24th October.