Following the success of last year’s Celebrating Torbay calendar, Torbay Council libraries services have now released one for 2017.

The calendar, which is now available to buy for £5 from all Torbay Libraries, features 14 rarely seen photos of bygone Torquay, Paignton and Brixham. These photos have been chosen from the council’s archives, and you, or someone from your family could be featured in it!

The calendar, which is part of the Year of Local History: Celebrating Torbay project, has gone on sale in time for the Christmas rush. It celebrates Torbay’s history by displaying a picture for each month of the year.

Executive Lead for Business, Councillor Richard Haddock, said: “The 2017 Celebrating Torbay calendar is a fantastic addition to any home, and as it may even include a picture of you or a family member, it is a great memento to keep for your children and grandchildren. The Year of Local History project wants to unite the community in learning about Torquay’s fascinating past and I would urge everyone to help to spot relatives or friends in the photographs and to become involved with future projects.”

Torbay Libraries’ Year of Local History: Celebrating Torbay is funded by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund with the aim of engaging local residents in learning about and researching Torbay’s rich history.

Over the course of the past year, local and family history groups have been established at Brixham, Paignton and Torquay Libraries and new members are always welcome to join - it’s free, and previous experience of local or family history is not required. The groups meet at the following days and times:

• Brixham Family History group meet on the second Monday of the month at Brixham Library, 10 am to noon
• Torquay Family History group meet on the first Wednesday of the month at Torquay Library, 10 am to noon
• Torquay Local History group meet on the third Saturday of the month at Torquay Library, 10.30 am to noon
• Paignton Local History group meet on the first Tuesday of the month at Paignton Library, 2 pm to 4 pm

The Celebrating Torbay 2017 calendar is available from all Torbay libraries and costs £5. This also includes a reinforced envelope for postage.

For regular updates on the Celebrate Torbay project, follow Torbay Libraries on social media at www.facebook.com/Torbaylibraries and on Twitter @TorbayLibraries.

Mayor showing the Celebrating Torbay calendar