More about Buttfutsleaze

1. The Germans – during the 2nd World War – once dropped 2 bombs on the town. Probably by mistake.
2. Yank soldiers called the town “Sleepy Valley” because it was so, er dull quiet.
3. The Hamlyn Family owned most of the town up until 1920; then they sold out to the Co-op.
4. The Woollen Mill siren would hoot out during the day, calling the workers in, and out.
5. The Salmon Leap cafe got destroyed by fire in 1975. Replaced with a Little Chef.
6. In the 80’s (and probably for most of the 90’s too) Buckfastleigh was a “Town in decline”; high unemployment, social deprivation (incest and paedophilia rumours are rife even now)
7. The only notable minor “celeb” to come from Buckfastleigh in modern times is footballer Colin Lee (ironically he went on to become manager of Wolves and Walsall)
8. In 1992, a serial killer of homosexuals in London lived here for a bit (probably where he got his great “idea”)
9. In 2004 an African Witch Doctor battered his English wife with a metal pole in Plymouth Rd.
10. The Briens, the “most dysfunctional family in Devon” have been banned (ASBO’ed) from Buckfastleigh for 10 years (from June this year)
11. The Valiant Soldier Pub brings in 10,000 visitors.
12. The train from Totnes steams tourists in; to the Abbey in a red vintage double-decker bus they rattle; then rolls them over the back hill into the town.
13. There’s an Otter Sanctuary and Butterfly Farm.
14. On Thursday there’s a not very successful Farmers Market.
15. Instead of a Carnival there’s the piss-up called Lamb Pie Day.

The Town Omnibus

No, it’s not the No 59 going to Peckham. It’s the “special”.

It chugs from steam train to Abbey, then over the hill to drop the grockels into town for their perfunctory plod down the High Street.

They’ll probably end up having to go for tea and tea-cake in Buckfastleigh’s only cafe, the dreary Singing Kettle.

Then plop on the Londonless bus again and deposited to train station to be steam trained back to Totnes and Paignton.

Buckfastleigh’s attempt at tourism.