General Discussion
return of the buffoons
As I went for my daily early morning walk along the front this morning (Dawlish to the Warren and back everyday for the last lord knows how many years), I suddenly realised it will soon be time to fly the flags and sound the hooters. Yes, the lunatic asylum, or its other name "the rest of the world" is ready to unload its outpatients. Or by their other name "Tourists". Yes April is approaching and the buffoons will gradually start to descend on my lovely Dawlish with their white socks and jesus creepers sandals on their feet. Clogging up the Strand and acting as if the creamery belongs to them. Bellies hanging out, ice-cream in one hand, a bottle of cripple cock in the other. My family has been in Dawlish for generations now, and I firmly believe that these people should fit in with me, rather than I fitting in with them. Go to Torquay, go to weston-super-mare, go to newquay, go to exmouth. BUT PLEASE LET ME BE.
Bob, do you really exist or are you a product of someone's warped imagination?
Remember, them there tourists are this town's bread & butter.
Are you really saying you are not in any way inconvenienced by the influx of tourists. Why do so many people come on here and dictate to the world that dawlish needs this, dawlish needs that. Why can't we be a quaint little town that just happens to be by the sea. We dont need skate parks and mammoth superstores and the like that these places attract. Also, please dont question my being. Whenever I talk to people when out on my various walks, I rarely meet anyone that does'nt agree with most if not all of my thoughts. So please just let me enjoy what i have
Couldn't agree more Bob with your sentiments, unfortunately buffoons do not only arrive here to see what we have, some are resident here.
I have read many of your previous posts Viaduct and I think that it just goes to show that there are many like minded people in Dawlish. Like me, you seem to share the general opinions of the real old school born and bred Dawlish folk. Obviously one or two buffoons enter this forum with their lily-livered views intent on destroying our beloved town. At least we can appreciate what we have before its gone!
Hope neither of you dare have a holiday you would be bigger& better buffoons than any who visit us
I love having holiday makers here the town becomes alive
more the merrier
Well done "Don't Care". It goes without saying that those two don't take holidays. Well......doesn't it?!
Bob, I see you are old school Dawlish born and bred although funnily, I had already guessed. In fact Bob, your sister told me you were the best shag she ever had.
Annon Bob is probsbly a product of keepit in the family.
I have no idea why the man/woman lives here all he does is criticise
We have never thought of ourselves as buffoons but perhaps we might be.I thought we were 'Hampshire Hogs'.
Since 2000 we have visited about 18 times to Dawlish, some times for a weekend, normally for a week. We always stay in Dawlish, eat out in Dawlish, and buy stuff in Dawlish, and I reckon therefore that we have pumped £1000's into the local economy over that time.
I don't begrudge any of this because its our choice. We like the place.
We are down at the end of April so we will where shirts with 'Buffoon' across the front so you will know that we are visitors only.
Well its a good thing you do holiday here. If we had no holiday visitors, there would be no call for shops. You've seen the fuss about Tesco, if it is used by locals that will go down in history! it is expected that people here will still travel outside to shop. Strange people Devon.
If people dont like holidaymakers why live in a town which relies on them.
Maybe if all these miserable so & so's left Dawlish would be a happier place
I agree with Bob do we want a load of moorons visiting us.
We get the kiss me quick hat brigade here.
If we had a beter class of grockles it would
be a whole new kettle of fish.
I live in an upmarket seaside down hope none of you toffee nosed lot come to us.
We like those who can have a good time
a beautiful morning i encountered today as i again walked from dawlish to the warren and back again. on my return i made acquaintance with a young couple and their two nippers. very pleasant folk and more than welcome in my dawlish. it just goes to show that not all tourists are the kiss me quick, cripple cock swilling buffoons we get during the summer months! i even gave them a tea and barley water beverage in my seaview garden.
bob sinkerson said, "i even gave them a tea and barley water beverage in my seaview garden.".
You mean to say you can earn enough here in Dawlish to give away tea and barley water.
Get real. Most of the tourist stay at the Warren not a place the more discerning visitor would want to stay.
if everyone treated dawlish as their own i feel the town would be a much more loved and cared for place to live in. im afraid there are too many people in society today that dont give a damn about their neighbours or other peoples property. i make no apology for calling this place my dawlish.
Look, as an outsider, Dawlish is not an up market town.
That's partly the reason we keep returning.
It is what it is, why try to change it?
Its relaxed and easy & comfortable, a bit like an armchair.
We don't bother anybody, and nobody bothers us when we visit, thats the way we like it.
It has everything we need, (well,nearly everything.)
Leave it alone, and we will keep returning until eventually we move to Dawlish wholesale.
Guba Guba said: 'Most of the tourist stay at the Warren not a place the more discerning visitor would want to stay'.
I think he puts his finger here on the potential conflict to be found between the 'cheap and cheerful' Warren, and Dawlish itself, which is now gearing up for Regeneration, which effectively means moving upmarket. Given that many of Dawlish Town's visitors are those at the Warren who probably would hate the idea of upmarket, there is an incompatibility between the current customer base and future aspirations. Presumably if Dawlish Town becomes unattractive to the Warren holidaymakers, they will be less likely to come to the area. An upmarket Dawlish would seek to attract a new, and possibly better heeled, set of visitors. So good for Dawlish interests could mean bad for the Warren.
It will be interesting to see how someone like Councillor Protheroe, who I believe sits on the Regeneration Committee, perceives such conflicts.
Totally agree that if Dawlish town regenerates and in doing so goes upmarket so must the Warren.It isn't impossible and the two rely on each other. Warren golf club is already there. The nature reserve is already there.As Martin says the campsites could reinvent themselves and have lodges instead of caravans. The shop/pub/amusement part of the Warren would have to adjust (or go) accordingly. Not too sure dodgems and the like would go with this new clientele. If bike path can get built then area could become a centre for biking/walking/bird spotting holidays around the Exe and the Teign? Anyhow if Sainsburys gets built at Shutterton Bridge I think lots of the little shops in the Warren will close anyway.
And the problems with this? Well, notwithstanding the problem of where would the money come from to help reinvent/reimage where would those who presently holiday at the Warren go for their holidays?
Dawlish & Dawlish Warren must work together on regeneration. The 'bigger' picture must be looked at.
I like Dawlish as it is. It's like a favourite aunt who may be a bit past it, but still has a twinkle in her eye.
Admittedly, Dawlish is a bit scruffy in places and can do with a scrub up, by why change the tone of the town? Why make it just another generic sea side town?
Dawlish has history, it has character, it doesn't need fat cats trying to make it what it is not, and doesn't want to be.
A lick of paint and a bit of a tidy up is all that's needed. We're not the English Riviera and we shouldn't try to be.
The English Riviera isn't my idea of upmarket. With the exception of Brixham I think it's awful - even Torquay is run down.
Agree that Dawlish mustn't lose its 'essence' but the least it needs is a wash and brush up. By moving into a different tourist market it won't necessarily become the same as other seaside towns. Other seaside towns have changed their image/clientele very successfully and there is no reason why Dawlish can't be similarly successful.
It just needs strategic handling and marketing.
We dont want to be like Torquay it has a lot of crime and a big drug problem and the same sort of visitor as we get.
People come here for what it is a quiet seaside town.
Why change, what is working well.
British resorts are fighting the ever growing package holiday, which are often cheaper than say a caravan at the Warren. Upmarket holidays would cost even more
No amount of art gallerys theatres etc would make Dawlish what it isnt.
It isnt steeped in history has no historical landmarks people go to Totness Topsham etc for that.
It does have a good community a great carnival week is a safe place for visitors and locals
Dont Spoil Dawlish
You don't have to spoil what Dawlish has got - just a wash and brush up here and there would at least be a start - Dawlish has already got a lot that it doesn't market well enough and, yes, that might well bring in another type of visitor. So?
Dawlish needs to pull up its socks. If it doesn't, it could well go into terminal decay.
Which isn't to say that Dawlish doesn't already have a lot going for it, it does, (see the other thread about positive things in Dawlish, n)but it needs to market those things, to a targetted market, AND undergo improvements in other areas.
That may well change the type of visitor who comes to Dawlish.
Lost under a lot of the cheap and cheerful, but not irretrievably so, is a distinguished architectural history. Just check out Pevsner. So we're starting with a lot going for us, not just 'any old resort'.
been visiting Dawlish for the last 20+ years, usually 5 or 6 times a year.
We now regularly stay in the Warren out of season due to the improved lodge accomodation that is offered. 5 years ago you struggled to find anywhere in winter, now numerous holiday parks are open and the clientele has changed.These are people with money, who eat out at night, pay to visit the local attractions.
In the late 80's Dawlish had become a run down tip(although it was better than Teignmouth), the Warren was even worse(old caravans).Since then Teignmouth has become a gem due to the huge investment. Dawlish has also improved 10 fold, but as you live their maybe you dont notice it.
Many of the buildings have had a lick of paint.Numerous buildings have been converted.More and more shops and cafe's are open all year round(some of this due to the amount of people staying in the warren in the winter.)
My 1st winter visit i remember struggling to find a shop open in the warren. Now 3 or 4 are. You also struggled to find somewhere for lunch after a nice stroll into Dawlish. Now apart from the Greek mafia place they are all open, with most of the serving good food at decent prices. Ok so its a bit more of a struggle at night but theirs always the pubs.
so far been for short breaks in jan and march and this buffoon will be returning with numerous family members for a week in May,June and July.
Maybe its time some of you appreciated what you have.
Dawlish attracts a low quality tourist because of its low quality facilities, tacky shops and greasy food. If Dawlish traders were to raise their game, then the town would attract higher spending visitors and be a far nicer place to live. Unfortunately, the town is being held back by the these traders and the holiday parks. Until they raise their standards the town will continue to attract your so called 'baffoons'. You are however, seriously backwards in believing that everyone from outside this town is some kind of low life. Perhaps you should get out more - to places that don't attract such a standard of visitor as Dawlish.
What is wrong with the people who come to visit Dawlish?
They are mainly families who come to enjoy the beach etc.
This seems to me like some kind of inverted snobbery.
Would like to know what type of visitor you would prefer?
What seaside towns are you comparing Dawlish with?
Be gratefull that anyone comes here with foreign holidays so cheap and guaranteed sunshine.
Strange people Devon people, think they have caught the Cornish bug. Oh to live somewhere where people dont pick at each other and be away from envy.
is bob sinkerson the trampy bloke who walks from Dawlish to the warren every day and then stands over the workmen, pestering them all day long?
Thank goodness there is many of his ilk here
Why pollute the sea French foreign legion probably the best thing
Goodness me, a bit of sunshine and the buffoons are turning out in force. If only I could turn Dawlish into a cul-de-sac! Mind you, that would mean we would be stuck forever with some of the inborn buffoons we seem to have.
And another thing that was pointed out to me the other day Bob. A lady said to her doctor (she started to limp)that she thought she may have the Dawlish disease, he questioned her asking, "what do you mean by that?" well she said," I have never seen so many people as there are in Dawlish with walking sticks, there must be some sort of disease here for that to happen."
I just hope we don't get a bout of woodworm then Viaduct. Could decimate the walking stick population!
Bob......could you clarify one thing for me please....do you walk to the Warren and back everyday???....cos you rarely mention it in your posts!!! ;)
Very true!!....since leaving the UK ive discovered that the best way to really appreciate what this country has is to leave for a while and live someplace else......then you see that Dawlish and the UK in general are not quite as bad as people portray them at times.
I think you will find the walking sticks come out in full force when the benefits are about to be assessed!!
It always goes back to the parents and their lack of parenting skills. Most of these parents are out in the pubs of Dawlish with their offspring getting plastered together. No more role-models, just proof of the dumbing down/celebrity type pit we are spiraling into.
Mr Wardle is however correct in pointing out that, early in the season, Dawlish is full of trippers, and those of us who care to wander from time to time down the Strand had better get used again to dodging the motor traffic which is easier to avoid than the human traffic. I wish the holidaymakers the most wonderful stay here, but WHY FOR GODS SAKE do they have to clutter up the damn pavement so much?
Anon what makes you think Dawlish youth are scum? I totally disagree with you, but if it was the case you would have to look and the parent and grandparens,
I really do not understand why some of you live in a town you detest so vehemently.
the youth of dawlish are not scum. its people like yourself who think that. i personally think old people are a nusense in dawlish with there scooters more than youngsters but old people are dawlish and so are tourists and theres nothing you can do about it.
why do people hate youth? why not help them in some way instead of whine.
Mouse you clearly have no intention of reaching old age, if you do you will think on your words that is if you have a memory by then of course.
Was down in your beautiful town last week. Walked from the Warren to Dawlish a number of times. Greeted each person with "morning Bob" as i walked the sea-wall, but got no reaction.
Shame about the state of Dawlish beach(seaweed after the storm)but it looked alot better after it had been scraped up by the workmen.
Notice the beach next to the Pirates Chest has won an award.
Sorry to have missed you Foxy! I have been out exceptionally early lately and have missed a couple of days as I have had a couple of friends staying over from oxford and they insisted on playing golf everyday. And of course after a few liquid refreshments at the 19th, we were quite happy to retire to the comfort of my conservatory overlooking the sea and talking over old times and a little gentle debate (mainly questioning which was the best vintage!). Post on the forum when you are back down and I'm sure I could be tempted to tip you the wink! A neighbour told me recently that they saw a chap walking along the strand with a printed t-shirt with the logo "bob sinkerson? bob who? on it! It wasn't you was it?
Why does The Fox think a storm brought up the seaweed, what about the trawlers that are seen in the bay frequently. Do they trawl without doing enormous damage to the sea-bed? I wonder if it is you that spreads the rumour that Navy Ships using their sonar clouds the minds of the poor Dolfins and makes them seek unsafe shelter.
Doesnt those selfish fishermen use sonar all the time to track shoals of fish?
i come down dawlish for a holiday every aug for 2 weeks and it is a good place to vist and come from the west midlands
I have to admit Bob, i did get some funny lookswhen i greeted everyone with "Morning Bob".
As for the person, with the T-shirt, sorry that wasnt me. I was the one with pointy ears , long snout and gingery/orange in colour.
In reply to the person mentioning the sea-weed.Whilst having a mug of tea at the Pirates Chest a council workman mentioned that storms at sea usually caused it.As i'm from a landlocked Midlands city, i can only go on what a local workman was telling everyone.
Olive, yes we do know the meaning of buffoon. Jester, Mocker, Stupid person. Oh and by the way, maybe you should invest in a dictionary so you can learn how to spell it properly love
hee hee ! what a surprise! this place would be dead without tourism, just stop to think before mouthing off as if you are the be all and end all...
I have always thought that tourists that come to Dawlish were called 'Grockles', but I am sure that if I am wrong someone will put me right. I for one am grateful for the tourists, I am proud of our town and it is so nice to hear visitors say how much they like it here. They bring much needed revenue into the town and it goes without saying that I take more money in the summer than the winter. We have Dawlish to ourselves for about 8 months of the year so let us be grateful for that. At least we don't have to live in London, Birmingham etc.