Roger's memory lives on as the Green Mile returns

Local sports champion Roger Mann originally came up with a marked area round Paignton Green to people of all shapes and sizes could exercise.
The Mile seemed to have lost its way in recent years but now it is back in memory of Torbay Sports Council chairman and latterly Sport Torbay president Roger who died recently after a lifetime playing and championing local sport.
Local play cafe Hyperspace Paignton has revitalised the former Green Mile around the Green to make this valuable measured mile accessible to all. It was achieved by working with Partington Print and Sport Torbay.
Historically, many locals knew the circumference of Paignton Green to be a mile long. It was first formally marked as a jogging route in 2010. The “Green Mile " is an area of flat land for locals and holidaymakers to exercise on a mapped-out mile route regularly. However, many original sponsors have since ceased trading, and the signage had become dated. New signs feature large clear numbers that are easy for runners to see and for children to identify, along with some fun facts to make the journey more engaging.
Lesley Morrison, from Hyperspace Paignton, was keen to encourage children to increase their exercise when not in the Hyperspace café and felt that it was an opportunity to make the markers more inclusive and engaging. Lesley said: "Small children love seeing numbers and will actively look for the next, encouraging activity. Everyday activities like counting can help children develop early numeracy and maths skills."
She added: "The revised map is marked in memory of Roger Mann who was constantly promoting and encouraging sporting activity around Torbay. Celebrating the memory of Roger Mann, we aim to re-ignite his enthusiasm in others.
“By funding this initiative, Hyperspace aims to free up public funding for other initiatives without losing this valuable community resource. As a small local business, we want to support the wider community. We always seek innovative and collaborative ways to help the local community.”