The StopPress Archive

2006 - 2008

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Issue 27: December 2008

• News: ... including a review of LAL's pantomime.
• Who is Father Christmas: A look at the folklore behind this jolly chap.
• English wine: No, don't laugh - it's actually rather good!
• Christmas Carols: Including 'Good King Wenceslas'..
• Making a stir: A class describes making a Christmas pudding in their lessons.
• Grammar Spod
• English howlers
• What's on in Torbay & full theatre listings

Issue 26: November 2008

• We regret that technical issues prevented production in November 2008, but StopPress returned in December.

Issue 25: October 2008

• Dartmouth: historic harbour.
• Ghosts and our staff: the strange experiences of LAL staff.
• The Westcountry: an introduction.
• Agatha Christie Week: a review of the week's events.
• Grammar Spod
• Richard Strauss
• English howlers
• Idioms of the month: sport
• Puzzles & Brainteasers
• What's on in Torbay & full theatre listings

Issue 24: September 2008

• Dartington: Historic house and gardens.
• BBC Proms: famous concerts in London.
• Agatha Christie Week: celebrating the Queen of Crime throughout Torbay..
• The English language: earliest beginnings.
• Grammar Spod
• A fur-fox's story
• Anniversaries
• Idioms of the month: sport
• Puzzles & Brainteasers
• What's on in Torbay & full theatre listings

Issue 23: August 2008

• Bog Snorkelling A crazy British sport.
• The Olympic Games From ancient games to modern spectacle.
• Ocean Wanderer LAL Torbay's Reservations Manager takes to the seas..
• Torbay Week A new event for the bay.
• Grammar Spod
• Leonard Bernstein
• Anniversaries
• Idioms of the month: sport
• Puzzles & Brainteasers
• What's on in Torbay & full theatre listings

Issue 22: July 2008

• Torre AbbeyTorbay's historic house and gallery re-opens.
• Dartmoor legendJay's Grave.
• Midnight Myrie/STRONG>Lorraine Myrie's midnight walk.
• Grammar SpodDr Lingua looks at the second conditional.
• A brief history of English part one.
• Anyone for tennis?
• Music-themed poems
• Idioms of the month: music
• Puzzles & Brainteasers
• 4-week Excursion planner
• What's on in Torbay & full theatre listings

Issue 21: June 2008

• Bath: We look at one of Britain's unmissable cities.
• "St Tropez it ain't": We resopond to the latest 'Rough Guide to England'.
• Messing about in boats: Britain's love of boating.
• Shakespeare's music.
• Grammar Spod: Dr Lingua looks at 'would'.
• Recipe: scones.
• That Summer: A little-known film that was filmed in Torbay.
• This month in history: Interesting anniversaries.
• Idioms of the month: travel and transport
• Puzzles & Brainteasers
• 4-week Excursion planner
• What's on in Torbay & full theatre listings

Issue 20: May 2008

• Honda Power Boats: The largest off-shore power boat series returns to Torbay.
• Crocodile Swamp: Paignton Zoo's newest attraction opens to the public.
• Power of music: Two extraordinary youth orchestras.
• Sports: Cricket.
• Grammar Spod
  The G-Team look at the modal verb 'will'.
• Dartmoor legend: The hanging stone.
• Mifnigyt runner: An LAL Teacher prepares for a sponsored midnight walk.
• This month in history: Interesting anniversaries.
• Idioms of the month: clothes
• Puzzles & Brainteasers

Issue 19: April 2008

• Cream Tea Festival: Celebrating the best of British.
• Compton Castle: A hidden gem not far from Torbay.
• Jury Service: Lorraine Myrie shares her experiences of a British court.
• Sports: Horse racing.
• Grammar Spod: Flash Grammar returns to look at the Past Perfect.
• British icon: The Morris Minor.
• British tradition: Morris dancing.
• Music: Holst's Planets Suite.
• Ancient tales: St George and the Dragon.
• This month in history: Interesting anniversaries.
• Idioms of the month: play
• Puzzles & Brainteasers

Issue 18: March 2008

• Exploring Torquay: A walk along the coastal edge of Torbay's largest town.
• Hot Cross Buns: A traditional treat at Easter.
• Music for films: Kevin Ryland looks at the music that accompanies motion pictures.
• Sports: Jolly hockey sticks.
• Grammar Spod: Baroness Von Grammar looks at the Present Perfect.
• Local legend: Torquay's haunted organ.
• Ancient tales: The Great Bell of Peking.
• This month in history: Interesting anniversaries.
• Spod Spy: What's wrong this month.
• Idioms of the month: play
• Puzzles & Brainteasers

Issue 17: February 2008

• Alex Perkins: We talk to the new MD of LAL Schools.
• Travelling in Europe: One of our students tells us about his travels.
• Valentine's Day:For love or for profit?
• Grammar Spod: Baron Von Grammar looks at the Past Continuous.
• Sports: Football crazy.
• Music: Wise words on musical matters.
• Traditions: Cornish Hurling.
• Argentina: Students tell us about their home towns.
• Trago Mills: There's nowhere like this shopping and entertainment complex.
• Dartmoor legend: The little drummer boy.
• Idioms of the month: food
• Puzzles & Brainteasers
• 5-week Excursion planner
• What's on in Torbay & full theatre listings

Issue 16: January 2008

• Brixham: Torbay's smallest town.
• Sir Edward Elgar: One of Britain's most famous composers.
• Robert Burns: The man, his poems and the Scottish celebration of his life.
• Grammar Spod: We introduce Dipthong Girl.
• Pub games: Traditional entertainment down the local.
• Idioms of the month: fish
• Puzzles & Brainteasers
• 5-week Excursion planner
• What's on in Torbay & full theatre listings

Issue 15: December 2007

• It's a cracker 160 years of Christmas crackers.
• Kents Cavern From the oldest human remains in Britain to the world's first archaeological excavation.
• Christmas Traditions Five students tell us about Christmas in their countries.
• Grammar Spods 'Flash' Gordon Grammar and Lex Lingua join forces to describe the past simple tense.
• Holiday in Thailand: Simon Nelson reports from an exciting trip.
• Idioms of the month: fish
• Puzzles & Brainteasers
• 5-week Excursion planner
• What's on in Torbay & full theatre listings

Issue 14: November 2007

• Operation Tiger The extraordinary tale of disaster on a south Devon beach.
• Bridgewater Carnival A big spectacle in a small Devon town.
• Walter Raleigh Elizabethan seafarer, Queen's favourite, and pirate?
• The Poppy Appeal Why poppies are worn in Britain in November
• Grammar Spod 'Flash' Gordon Grammar talks about the Present Continuous tense.
• British Icon: Bonfire Night
• Idioms of the month: time
• Puzzles & Brainteasers
• 5-week Excursion planner
• What's on in Torbay & full theatre listings

Issue 13: October 2007

• Alex Perkins: We speak to the Managing Director of LAL Torbay - as he becomes acting Director of LAL Schools.
• Exeter: Devon's historic county town.
• Berry Pomeroy Castle: The local landmark which is supposed to be the most haunted castle in England.
• One year of StopPress: It's our first birthday!
• Grammar Spod: We introduce Dr Lex Lingua.
• British Icon: Cheddar Cheese
• Idioms of the month: the weather
• Teacher training at LAL Torbay
• Apple days
• Puzzles & Brainteasers
• 4-week Excursion planner
• What's on in Torbay
• Puzzles & Brainteasers

Issue 12: September 2007

• Agatha Christie's Torbay A look at the town where Agatha Christie was born and lived.
• Greenway Gardens Agatha Christie's Devon home.
• Agatha Christie Week A Festival to celebrate the Queen of Crime.
• The Mousetrap55 years of this popular play.
• Who was the real Agatha Christie? The great Dame's troubled childhood and mystery disappearance.
• British Icon:The clocktower of the Houses of Parliament
• Across the pond: Momentarily
• September facts
• Puzzles & Brainteasers

Issue 11: August 2007

• The South West Coast Path A 630-mile path right round the West Country
• Coleton Fishacre Historic house and sub-tropical gardens
• Literary Devon Famous authors and their Devon connection
• The Red Arrows Britain's top aerobatic team
• Home and Away Our students tell us what they think of Torbay, and a little about life overseas
• Torquay United FC Trouble at Torquay's football club
• Westcountry Icon: The cream tea
• Across the pond: Bill & check
• August facts
• Puzzles & Brainteasers

Issue 10: July 2007

• Paignton Zoo The great environmental park right here in Torbay
• Tony Blair Britain's longest-serving Labour Prime Minister
• Kevin Ryland Colourful LAL Torbay teacher
• England has gone smoke-free The ban on smoking in public places that began in July
• Tintagel Is this King Arthur's castle?
• Silly signs When English standards slip
• British Icon: 999 - the world's first emergency phone service
• Across the pond: Suspenders
• July facts
• Puzzles & Brainteasers

Issue 9: June 2007

• Eden Project The extraordinary, world-beating 'living theatre of plants and people' in Cornwall
• Dean Jones
  The Deputy Managing Director of LAL Torbay
• The Cutty Sark The last tea clipper
• Last cigarette The ban on smoking in public places that begins in July
• Midsummer traditions Celebrations around the world
• Party games Fun for free
• The Common European Framework Standard language levels
• British Icon: The Queen's head stamp
• Across the pond: Fag
• June facts
• Puzzles & Brainteasers

Issue 8: May 2007

• Wookey Hole Some of Britain's most popular show caves
• Bozena Gaye: Bozena tells her class about her life
• May madness: Cheese rolling and worm charming
• Kazakhstan: A student tells us about her home country
• Seaside Holidays: A British tradition
• Ghoti or fish? The roots of English spelling
• Northern Delight: A chance discovery in Alnwick
• British Icon: Bank Holidays
• Across the pond: Jelly
• May facts
• Puzzles

Issue 7: April 2007

• Exeter by train: We explore the Riviera Line
• Frank Mercer: An LAL teacher who's used to going back in time
• Red Nose Day: What went on at LAL Torbay in aid of Comic Relief
• St George: England's Patron Saint
• Earth Day: A worldwide event
• Cockington: Torbay's time-warp
• British Icon: The pub
• Across the pond: Pavement
• April facts
• Puzzles

Issue 6: March 2007

• Totnes: A tour of a Devon town that combines ancient charm with new-age spirit
• Lorraine Myrie: Lorraine tells us about her eventful life
• Comic Relief: What Red Nose Day is all about
• St George: England's Patron Saint
• Borrowed words: How English has absorbed words from different languages
• Quiz masters LAL teachers show their mettle in pub quizzes
• St Patrick's day: Ireland's Patron saint
• British Icon: The bobby
• Across the pond: Knock up
• March facts
• Puzzles

Issue 5: February 2007

• From our foreign correspondents: Reports from India and Argentina
• Shipwreck at Branscombe: The Napoli runs aground off the Devon coast
• Shrove Tuesday: Pancake day - and the Jif lemon
• Two Torbay attractions Bygones & Torquay Museum
• Chinese New Year: The start of the Year of the Pig
• Frequently asked questions Teaching at LAL Torbay
• British Icon: The black cab
• Across the pond: Pants
• February facts
• Puzzles

Issue 4: January 2007

• Plymouth: Things to do if you are fed up with the sales
• Life in Leisure: The amazing life of the Head of Leisure, Simon Nelson
• A shot in the dark: Wassailing
• Ever wondered... what would happen if the moon disappeared
• Fantastic man: JRR Tolkien
• Paignton pier One of Torbay's landmarks
• British Icon: Fish and chips
• Across the pond: Rubber
• January facts
• Puzzles

Issue 3: December 2006

• Christmas-tide: From pagans to performances
• Festive Food: Mince pies and Christmas pudding
• He's behind you: Traditional British pantomime
• Party games: 'Squeak, piggy, squeak' and other diversions
• Hogmanay: Scotland's New Year celebrations
• It's a cracker: very bad jokes
• British Icon: Dinner for One
• Across the pond: Joint
• December facts
• Pagan beginnings: The not-so-Christian origins of Christmas
• Puzzles

Issue 2: November 2006

• Paignton: From grapes to grockles
• Lest we forget: Remembrace Sunday and the Poppy Appeal
• Oldway Mansion: The home of Isaac Merritt Singer
• Guy Fawkes' Night: Remember, remember the 5th of November...
• Shooting stars The Leonid meteor showers
• Torquay: By two of our students
• British Icon: The cup of tea
• Across the pond: Bathroom
• November facts
• Puzzles

Issue 1: October 2006

• Stonehenge: The mystery of this ancient monument
• Isambard Kingdom Brunel: The little giant who changed Britain
• British icon: The telephone box
• Devon Legend: The horrible hairy hands
• Hallowe'en The dark beginnings of a creepy time of year
• Weights and measures: The pint
• Across the pond: First Floor
• If in danger: How to stop a runaway camel
• October facts
• Puzzles