Efford

“When you retire,” said my better-off friends, patronisingly, “you can sell your little house in Efford and move to somewhere nice, maybe out in the countryside.” To which my reply was, “Not a chance. I’m here where I really want to stay - why on earth should I move?” How little my friends understood about life in our community.

OK, some years ago the area had a reputation for being a bit wild – a bit rough around the edges; there were issues of vandalism, alcohol and drug abuse, and the occasional confrontation between the Efford Boot Boys and their counterparts in Swilly; but by and large families in the neighbourhood looked after one another and were proud to be living on top of the highest hill in the City, even if most Plymothians knew it only for the cemetery and Crematorium.

In the 1930s my father used to come here from Devonport for Sunday walks ‘in the open country’ – enjoying the views out towards the moor, the river estuary and Saltram, and (being an engineer) the Great Western Railway depot down at Laira. Now Efford is largely built up – some 2000 and more homes, mostly since the Second World War – but the views are still there, as well as a very high proportion of green spaces and woodland right on our doorstep.

Towards the end of the century the neighbourhood had become neglected and run-down, our pub – The Royal Marine – and most of the shops on Torridge Way had gone out of business. Efford Secondary School, and local sports facilities closed – to become new housing estates. Both primary schools were struggling with worn-out and unsuitable buildings. Out on the edge of the city, it seemed nobody knew we were here; the world was passing us by.

Then, after years of lobbying, came the Building Communities Initiative – to put the heart back into the centre of the Efford neighbourhood. From the start local people had a big say in every aspect of what went on, particularly identifying and addressing the needs of young people, of more healthy living, developing our green spaces – especially the Valley – and promoting better employment and social opportunities.

This led to the TakeAPart community arts programme for more and more people of all ages to get involved in an ever wider range of events and activities. All alongside physical improvements along and around Torridge Way – High View School, St Paul’s Church, St Paul’s Court and Efford Library, new housing in place of Paternoster House and, soon, on the site of the Royal Marine pub, and in Unity Park opposite the Cemetery.

What a change! Now why should I ever want to live anywhere other than here in Efford!