2015 Agatha Christie Festival: Day 4 - Birthday Celebrations and Burgh Island

Burgh Island

Day 4 (15/09/2015)

Today would have been Agatha Christie's 125th Birthday!! I wonder what she'd have thought about a festival all about her. According to her grandson, Mathew Prichard, Agatha was a very shy private lady so she probably wouldn't have wanted a fuss.

And Then There Were None

Today was the annual Burgh Island Agatha Christie luncheon. We dressed up this time, I wore a 1920s flapper-style outfit and my husband wore a dress suit with a white dinner jacket and black bow-tie! The weather forecast initially didn't look good for today, but when we arrived in Bigbury-on-sea, the clouds parted, the sun came out and it turned out to be a glorious day.

The tide was out this time, and as soon as we arrived we saw two Range Rovers set off from the island and head towards us - how they knew we'd arrived, I don't know, but it was quite nice. They took us across to the island so we didn't need to walk across the sand. No sea tractor this time. Although, that was good in a way, last year my hair was all over the place after travelling across on the tractor - it was a good experience though!

Evil Under the Sun

We had cocktails when were arrived - I had a Burgh Island Breeze, followed by a Strawberry Daquiri - which were both very nice (and I think quite strong!). Gary 'McBar' was there again, he amazes me, he recognised us from last year and called us by our first names all through the day - he did this with everyone and there were about 50 people there. How he remembered everyone's name, I'll never know.

All the tables were named after books this time, we were on the Seven Dials Mystery table. There was a 1930s authentic menu. For starter, I had Coquilles St Jacques, Sole-Suchet for main followed by Charlotte Russe for dessert. The food was lovely, the scallops were cooked to perfection, so was the sole. I couldn't eat all of my dessert.

After the meal, Gary McBar took everyone on a tour of the island. We gave it a miss this time as we went last year (and I'm not too keen on heights). This gave us time to enjoy the hotel a bit more before heading to the Pilchard Inn for one last drink before we headed back.

Burgh Island is at truly is an amazing place, and I can understand why Christie spent time here.

Torre Abbey Gardens

In the evening, we headed back to Torre Abbey for the 125th Birthday Celebrations. The grounds were beautifully lit up. There were a few entertainers, and characters from Agatha's books - Miss Marple, Hercule Poirot.

We were guided through the gardens and made our way to the main grass area, where there was a cake made by the students of South Devon College. We all sang Happy Birthday to Agatha Christie, and then Mathew Prichard cut the cake - and we all got a piece - it was a very tasty cake.

Another fantastic day! Here are a few more photos...

Dressed up ready for Burgh Island

Burgh Island

Our table, Burgh Island

125th Birthday Celebrations, Torre Abbey

Tomorrow is going to be a very busy day with a couple of talks, afternoon tea and a trip to Greenway!! I can't wait!!

Agatha Christie on...Burgh Island

Burgh Island

'They came up over a steep hill and down a zigzag track to Sticklehaven - a mere cluster of cottages with a fishing boat or two drawn up on the beach. Illuminated by the setting sun, they had their first glimpse of Indian Island jutting up out of the sea and to the south.' (And Then There Were None)

This is the description of Burgh Island in And Then There Were None. Although it's called 'Indian Island' in the version of the book I have. Burgh Island a lovely place set on its own tidal island in Bigbury-on-Sea. Standing on the island is a beautiful art-deco hotel. Agatha Christie spent some time here and it gave her the inspiration for two of her novels - And Then There Were None and Evil Under the Sun. In the hotel, there's even a Christie room you can stay in.

And Then There Were None is one of Agatha Christie's most successful novels. Ten strangers are invited to an island and then one by one they are murdered! It's a very good novel and one of my favourites!

This year for the Agatha Christie Festival, the Agatha Christie Theatre Company will be doing a production of And Then There Were None at the Princess Theatre.

I read an article earlier saying the BBC are going to film another version of And Then There Were None - I hope they film it in and around Burgh Island. It's due to be aired in time for Agatha's 125th birthday this year - we'll probably be down in Torquay, so it would be great to see it while we're down there (as long as we're not already out and about!).

So, there lots going on for And Then There Were None this year!

The other Agatha Christie novel that was inspired by Burgh Island is Evil Under the Sun. In this novel, Hercule Poirot goes over to the island on the recommendation of his doctor, for a little relax and recuperation. However, as always, a murder occurs - the murder of Arlena Stewart who is a famous actress (the more cynical person may suspect Poirot, he's always around....).

The 2001 t.v. adaptation with David Suchet was filmed on Burgh Island and includes many of the places we visited last year. In this adaptation, we see Hercule Poirot boarding the sea tractor over to the island! Although, I don't think he enjoyed it as much as we did!! (Season 8, Episode 1).

So, Burgh Island is definitely on the list of places to visit. We'll hopefully be going to the Agatha Christie Luncheon again this year so should be able to take in the sites while we're there.

Something a bit strange, while writing this I've been watching Death in Paradise (Season 1, Episode 5) - and what would you know...Agatha Christie is mentioned! The episode is very much like an Agatha Christie book - the murder takes place on a boat (so there's a closed pool of suspects), the victim is a criminal handcuffed to a police inspector, and everyone on the boat has a potential motive for killing him. There's even an 'interfering, amateur sleuth' trying to help out the police. Remind you of anyone...!? The plot thickens!

It just goes to show how popular and well-known Agatha Christie is.

Here are a few of our photos of Burgh Island from our visit last year...

Sea Tractor, Burgh Island

Burgh Island

Palm Court Bar

Pixy Court

Burgh Island & Bigbury-on-Sea

2014 Agatha Christie Festival: Part 3 - Burgh Island

Burgh Island

There have been some changes on the Agatha Christie Festival website, still no programme - but it looks like it's almost ready!!! Almost! So, while I wait, I'll carry on reminiscing about last year...

Burgh Island hosted a costume-themed luncheon on the Tuesday. Agatha Christie stayed on the island and there's even a room named after her! A couple of my favourite books were based here - Evil Under the Sun (1941) and And Then There Were None (1939).

Burgh Island is quite far from Torquay. It took us about an hour to drive there - down country lanes and back roads. It seemed like we were driving forever. At one point I was sure we were going round in circles! But we finally emerged from the country roads and up ahead saw the beautiful white art-deco hotel gleaming in the sunshine, surrounded by the glistening blue sea.


Sea Tractor

The tide was in when we arrived so we had to catch the sea-tractor. It was pretty slow going but it was fun. We could feel the waves beating against the sea tractor but we didn't get wet - although it was a bit windy so my hair was all over the place when we arrived!

Once we got there, we were taken up to the hotel which was behind large gates. Members of the public aren't allowed into the hotel grounds but they are allowed on the island, and to go to Pilchard Inn. We were buzzed in through the gates and we walked up the driveway to the hotel with some of the other guests...





Palm Court Bar

The inside of the hotel has been done out in art-deco style - it was like stepping back into the 1930s! We went to Palm Court Bar where Gary McBar, the 'unflappable barman' served us cocktails before we headed into the dining room for our lunch.

All the tables were named after Agatha Christie characters - Letitia Blacklock, Hastings, Miss Marple, Patrick Redfern, Justice Wargrave and Poirot. We were on the Justice Wargrave table!

The menu was based on 1930s dishes - I went for Pressed Chicken and foie gras terrine for my starter, Sole Veronique for my main course and Chocolate bombe for my dessert. The food was good. Served alongside, were wines that complimented the meal. I was driving so couldn't sample them, plus I'm not a big fan of wine- but apparently they were very nice.



After lunch Gary McBar took us on a walk around the island. He took us to Pixy Cove - which was the inspiration for the place where Arlena Stewart was found murdered in Evil Under the Sun. I'm scared of heights, so I was a little bit nervous being that high up. I couldn't bear to walk to the edge of the cliff and look down. I was pleased when we headed back down the hill. We walked down to where the tennis courts used to be - also mentioned in Evil Under the Sun.

Sadly, it was then time to leave. On the way back to the car, the tide was out so we had a lovely stroll along the sand bank to the shore. It was such a nice day and we have some good memories...

Also, my tea arrived today from my tea club!! This month's tea is Jin Shan Tien Hua. It's made of green tea and white chrysanthemum flowers, and when you add it to the hot (not boiling) water it unfolds! It's a very delicate tea and quite refreshing. Here are some photos...

Jin Shan Tien Hua

Just added to the hot water

About 2 minutes later

About 4 minutes later