A Very British Day in Lyme Regis

I visited Lyme Regis yesterday which had a particularly British feeling to it as the Queen was celebrating her diamond jubilee. Here's the photographs (click on them for larger)...

There was a tea party going on at Marine Parade

With lots of cakes

Next to that was a best scone competition the 'Great Scone-Off'

The Judging...

 A tough job, but someone had to do it!

The winner is announced, it was Mulberry Manor

Then some Chelsea Pensioners turn up and get in on the scone action!

Those winning scones

After all the scone excitement I went for a stroll around the Cobb and took a couple of net shots

A great view from the Cobb back to Lyme Regis town

Part of the Jubilee celebrations was the lighting of the beacon and lots of boats took to sea to take part

and people took positions to watch the boats

but it was all too much for some people

On the way back to Exeter I saw the Queen and Prince Phillip in field!

Olympic Torch Relay Exeter

The evening of Sunday 20th May 2012 saw the arrival of the Olympic flame in Exeter, it stayed overnight and left from the quayside early on the 21st.

These photographs cover a handover in Topsham Road on Sunday and the lighting of the first torch on Monday morning at the quay.

Yvonne Budd from Exeter Gymnastics club waiting with anticipation and excitement

Being given instructions and told what to expect

Incoming

What has become known as the Olympic Torch 'Kiss'

Next morning on the quay, I don't think the first torch bearer,  Paul Giblin co-ordinator of the Exeter Respect Festival, could have been more happy!

Guarding the flame

Last minute instructions

Tricky operation

and it's lit!

Last shot before the flame heads off out of Exeter

Banksy Origami Bird Lyme Regis Dorset

Very excited today to discover a new Banksy an origami bird perhaps a crane or stork? A really great piece, which is well executed and in a great location, Coombe Street, Lyme Regis. Apparently it's been there since February! It looks bigger in the flesh than these photographs suggest. Given that Banksy is famous for doing stencil rats quite amusing to photograph a real rat next to a Banksy street work (last photograph).

UPDATED 10th April 2012 with a few new photos that I took on 9th April

UPDATE 23rd May Confirmation it is a crane and a Banksy now on his website... http://www.banksy.co.uk/outdoors/crane.html

Please note that I am the owner of the copyright on these images please don't use them anywhere else without asking me first, thanks.