"Murder" in the former Grand Hotel, and a gun salute planned to welcome heroes

It's The Beagle: all that's going on around Plymouth Hoe and the waterfront: Friday November 28 2025

Gun salute for Richmond homecoming

After eight months away, the Royal Navy’s centrepiece deployment of 2025 concludes on Sunday when HMS Richmond returns to Plymouth.

She will reach the Breakwater at 1330 before conducting an 11-gun salute off the Hoe at around 1345, passing Devil’s Point at approximately 1400 and berthing at Devonport by 1430.

The Navy task group included HMS Dauntless and HMS Prince of Wales, and covered more than 40,000 nautical miles, with around 4,000 sailors, soldiers, aviators and marines involved.

HMS Richmond is now 30 years old. When she first set sail it was the middle of the Cold War and there was a real need for a vessel to face down Russia and hunt submarines. Nowadays, she is just as likely to be found in the Middle East shooting down drones as she is prowling the frozen waters of the north Atlantic.

Richmond was the last warship to be built by Swan Hunter Shipbuilders in the North East.

Appeal after assault outside kebab shop

Police are appealing for witnesses and information following an assault in Union Street.

The incident took place at around 9.50pm on Sunday 16 November outside Dillan Kebabs.

It was reported the victim became involved in a verbal disagreement with a passing motorist. The motorist then got out of the vehicle and punched the victim, causing him to fall to the floor. The victim was then taken to Derriford where he was treated for a head wound which required a number of stitches.

The suspect left the scene.

Officers investigating the incident are appealing for anyone who witnessed the assault, or who has relevant footage or information to get in touch via 101 or police website quoting 50250295237

‘Murder’ in the former Grand Hotel

The address is 24 Elliot Street. But most Plymothians will know it better as the Grand Hotel, the iconic apartment block that dates back to the 1800s, and which in its hotel heyday looked after guests including members of the Royal Family, The Beatles and Laurel and Hardy.

Prime Minister William Gladstone addressed a crowd of more than 10,000 from the hotel balcony in 1889. It was ravaged by fire in 2003.

But, so far as The Beagle is aware, it’s never seen a murder…… until now.

Death at 24 Elliot Street is a new crime thriller by author Tom Wall, who has an apartment in the building with his wife Diane. She was born here - her Dad was a harbour pilot in the Sound.

It’s Tom’s first book - and it was snapped up by publisher Olympia.

It tells the story of Jack Sinnott, an accidental detective with a keen eye for detail and an intriguing past, who is embroiled in a building dispute at the former Grand Hotel. Sinnott was born in Ireland as a descendant of freedom fighters, but he later served with distinction in the British Army and as a British spy in Asia. His investigative instincts are aroused as he sets out to solve the crime using contacts from his undercover past.

Tom has clearly drawn on his own life experiences to create Sinnot. He was born in Wexford in south east Ireland, joined the British Army’s Intelligence Corps - seeing active service in Borneo - then declined an invite to serve in the Diplomatic Corps to pursue a career in business that took him to Singapore and Japan.

“I’ve been very fortunate in life,” he tells The Beagle

from his Grand apartment on a stormy Plymouth evening. “And this building is fantastic. We gather in the Gladstone Room, the former lobby - it’s the perfect location for a plot. And my experiences around the world helped me write.”

The book was penned during the Covid lockdowns. “A friend helped edit it and it was accepted by the first London publisher I approached,” he said.

It’s for sale now through Amazon, and can be ordered through Waterstones and other booksellers. And Tom is busy on a second novel - which he’s admitted probably won’t be set here.

Order the book from Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Death-at-24-Elliot-Street/dp/1835438369 or why not pop into Waterstones.

No water, then brown water

People living in PL1 woke to no water supply on Tuesday morning (if they were early risers).

South West Water’s emergency control centre received multiple reports from around The Hoe at around 5am that supplies were cut.

Engineers had responded to a leak in Union Street three hours earlier.

It is not known if the two incidents were connected.

Water supplies seemed to be restored at around 06:20, with heavy discolouration for a time.

One Beagler was told by South West Water that she could consider making a compensation claim.

Elsewhere in the news (we trawl the papers so you don’t have to)

Waterfront skyscraper and development plan halted

Plans to build flats and commercial units at Sutton Harbour have been halted due to a lack of interest from potential buyers - with the state of the local and national economy blamed.

Full story from Business Live here

Anti semitic stickers condemned

Antisemitic stickers on lampposts and signposts - including close to Plymouth Synagogue - have been condemned by Plymouth Council. A Plymouth City Council spokesperson, said: “We are appalled by the antisemitic signs that have been displayed in our city. It is hateful and discriminatory behaviour and we condemn these actions in the strongest possible terms.”

More big chiefs as council deals with finance pressures

Two new senior management posts have been created by Plymouth City Council commanding salaries of up to £122,000 each. The service director posts will be in growth and children’s services.

Festive market is open

Plymouth Christmas Market is now open in Armada Way, with more than 50 stalls selling unique gifts, handcrafted jewellery, clothing, artisan crafts and food. There’s also a full entertainment programme and a giant snow globe for capturing festive photos with family and friends. The market runs until Sunday 21 December.

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