Torbay music man's big birthday bash(es) raises hundreds for charity

Music impresario, businessman and all-round Torquay legend Lionel Digby decided to push the boat - and a Rolls Royce or two - out to celebrate his 90th birthday.

A grand party at Torquay’s Victoria Hotel with more than 90 guests from all over the UK and world was part of the celebrations.

But Lionel also took to the stage for a retro show at the Lyceum Theatre in Abbey Road.

His ‘Life’s Journey’ epic raised more than £1,300 for the Children’s Hospice South West.

Lionel is renowned for his retro music links and the days when he brought fledgling pop bands to venues like Torquay Town Hall in the 70s for them to go on and become world famous and household names. 

Musicians from over the years performed at the Lyceum show.

He is also well-known in business and community circles in the Bay where he ran a fancy dress and costumes business in Market Street, Torquay. Some of the costumes ended up being used by actors in blockbuster movies like Zulu.

Lionel is proud of his military career and was in the Life Guards between 1953 and 1956.

He was invited to Buckingham Palace to watch King Charles present a new Standard to the Life Guards just a few days before the regiment escorted the monarch to and from Westminster Abbey in the King’s procession for his coronation.

Lionel moved to the English Riviera aged just 10 when his parents moved to Torquay to go into the hotel business.

He is a well-known veteran in the Bay. He was the standard bearer for the local Normandy Veterans’ Association before it folded and carries the Union Standard for the Torquay Royal British Legion, playing a leading role in Remembrance services and D-Day landings memorial events.

Lionel says: “It was a great party with family and friends and some VIPs and councillors. There were some old friends going back to the 1940s and from the Battle Reenactment Group of which I am a member and going back 50 years, musicians and members of the British Legion.

”The first half of the show at the Lyceum was all about rock ‘n roll and music. 

“The second half was me and a slide show about my journey. It must have been okay because nobody fell asleep.

“The musicians gave their services free for the event. A big thank you to them, the theatre staff and everyone that came to the event. It was a full house and successful.”

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