A little piece of Torbay’s history will be on view to the world shortly following the discovery of………. a window shutter!!

But this is no ordinary shutter but one which had been signed by airmen who had been staying at the Rosetor Hotel on Torquay seafront during World War 11 and which will now be making its way to the Imperial War Museum in London.

The Rosetor Hotel was demolished back in 1979 to make way for the Riviera International Conference Centre which has appropriately named one of its main functions rooms the Rosetor.

The signed shutter had been found during the demolition by BBC cameraman Ian Sanford who has only just come across it and decided to research its history.

Ian managed to track down and make contact with a Wing Commander Starr who acknowledged his own signature and confirmed that the shutter came from Room 40 which had been called the Rosetor Room and airmen who stayed there were all asked to sign it.

Ian has now decided to ensure this little piece of history is preserved and has presented the shutter to the Imperial War Museum through Wing Commander Brian Wills-Pope of the Devon and Somerset Air Training Corps.

The Riviera International Conference Centre managing director Barry Cole said: “The Centre is one of Torbay’s best known landmarks but many of us will remember the former Rosetor Hotel which stood on the site. That too was a famous  landmark which is why we have always called one of our main function rooms the Rosetor and we are delighted to play a part in this very special chapter of Torbay’s history.”