Dawlish News

Two town emblems have turned their back on Teignbridge and swanned off for an 11-mile sea trip and visit to Torquay. The precious black swans, who are unable to fly, made a break for it earlier in the week and were reported missing from Dawlish on Wednesday. Normally found in Australia and New Zealand, they have been Dawlish's town emblem for well over 40 years. Concerned members of the public rang the Herald Express after being greeted by the unusual sight of the birds at Torre Abbey sands. Both were seemingly relaxed and enjoying the sunshine. Dawlish Town Council's waterfowl warden is expected to collect and return the birds today, having left them to get some rest after their long journey. Town clerk John Winchester said: "They were reported missing on Wednesday and our waterfowl warden has been looking for them since. "They can't fly but I'm told their movements may not be unusual for this time of the year as it's to do with the mating season and their hormone levels. "They are large powerful animals. Like a submarine, the top half which people see only tells some of the story, even when they are young. "Eleven miles at sea isn't bad going though. "The warden has been informed and will come and pick them up once they are rested so that they are not stressed." There are records of black swans being on the Brook in Dawlish in the early 1900s. However, some time between the two World Wars the line was lost. In the late 1940s Captain Pitman, employed as a game warden in Uganda, presented a pair of black swans to Dawlish in memory of his parents. His father Charles Pitman CBE had been a county councillor and chairman of the County Education Committee. Charles Pitman and his wife lived at Greystoke in Dawlish and black swans have inhabited the Brook ever since. The 12 birds are now managed, together with other waterfowl, by Dawlish Town Council through the waterfowl warden. A spokesman for Brixham Coastguard said it would have been quite a trip. He said: "They was a light north by east wind behind them as they were travelling. "It's not bad going really and should have been a nice day out for them. "They've probably nipped into Torquay for a bit of shelter." He added: "If they fancy travelling a bit further we'd love to welcome them to Brixham. "There's a lot of bird activity here."