THERE was a big row in Teignmouth back in the ’70s when the resort’s largest hotel, the seafront Royal, began specialising in holidays for the mentally handicapped.

Some shops and pubs banned the guests, citing anti-social behaviour, and when MENCAP boss Brian Rix spoke at a public meeting he was jeered.

The national press branded the town heartless. 

But a gesture by another hotelier showed that Teignmouth did have a heart.

Ray Shirley, owner of the Knoll Hotel in Winterbourne Road, gave a free holiday for a week to a group of the handicapped.

MENCAP was delighted with the offer and spokesman Alan Leighton declared: ‘All is forgiven Teignmouth.’

The hotel hosted 18 handicapped and six helpers from Slough in Berkshire.

Mr Shirley said: ‘I know Teignmouth has taken a battering over the whole saga, but really the town has never been against the handicapped. It was just that there were so many of them and maybe the wrong types were chosen for the holidays.

‘I can see both points of view. I have had mentally handicapped guests staying here in the past past, and this summer I was particularly impressed by a couple who had a handicapped 13 year-old daughter.

‘The father told me that since leaving the army he had devoted his life to to helping the handicapped. I thought this was so marvellous that I told him to send a party from his centre down for a week at the end of the season free of charge.

‘We have had a good season and when I told the staff about it, they volunteered to come in for nothing. All the guests are having a great time.’

The holiday, worth about £1,500, was praised by Mr Leighton, director of marketing for MENCAP in London.

‘I am sure it will go a long way to restoring the image of Teignmouth, which was tarnished over the Royal Hotel affair,’ he said.

Brian Rix wrote a personal letter to Mr Shirley thanking him for his gesture, saying: ‘I am sure you will find it a very happy occasion and your guests will be very appreciative of your generosity.

‘Thank you and your staff for giving them this chance.  I hope you all have a wonderful week together.’