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New report reveals UK's happiest places to be a dog

Exeter comes 9th in Dogs Trust's Happy Place Index, but we all have room for improvement

For dogs, a happy place can be somewhere physical, like cuddling up next to their owner on the sofa, dozing by the fire or rolling around in a muddy puddle. But it can also be a feeling, like the excitement of a new toy, the comfort of being with their favourite humans, or the relief of just being somewhere safe.

To examine the various factors that contribute to a dog's satisfaction, an academic has developed a new formula – the Canine Happiness Score (CHS).

The new scoring system...

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Campaign tackling seasonal loneliness helps record numbers

Record numbers of older people worried about being alone over Christmas have already contacted older people’s housing and care charity The Abbeyfield Society as its Coping at Christmas campaign gets into full swing.

Since the campaign launch in November, Abbeyfield has handled hundreds of calls from isolated older people who face being alone over the extended Christmas period. As a result, over 400 older people who would otherwise have spent the Christmas period without company are being welcomed into Abbeyfield houses the breadth of the country to enjoy festive events ranging from...

A Christmas Message from Bishop Robert

Millions of us will take to the roads, seas and skies over the next few days to try and get home to be with loved ones over Christmas. It can be a lengthy and stressful experience with crowded trains, coaches and airports to contend with.

Of course, we aren’t the only ones journeying. Tens of thousands of others aren’t travelling home this Christmas, but are treading perilous paths to find somewhere safe, a sanctuary for their families. Harrowing pictures of the plight of refugees have filled our television screens: the toddler washed up on a beach in Turkey or the father whose...

Outstanding researcher recognised through fellowship

A Senior Research Fellow at the University of Exeter Medical School has been awarded a Fellowship from the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy in recognition of her excellence in research, education and partnership working.

Dr Victoria Goodwin works for the South West Peninsula Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Research and Health Care (PenCLARHC) and is an Honorary Physiotherapist for Torbay & South Devon NHS Foundation Trust.

She was nominated for the accolade by colleagues who highlighted her commitment and achievements in advancing the physiotherapy profession...

Teign leisure centres to open bank holidays

Newton Abbot Leisure Centre, Broadmeadow Sports Centre and Dawlish Leisure Centre will open their doors on bank holidays from now on, giving people more choice about when they visit the centres to use the gym, swim or take part in fitness classes.

Cllr George Gribble, Teignbridge District Council’s Executive member for recreation and leisure, said: “We are delighted to offer the extended service which will help members stay healthy and achieve their fitness goals as well as getting even better value for money. Our memberships are reasonably priced and with a wide range on offer,...

Sanctuary staff raise thousands for charities

Staff from Sanctuary Housing in Exeter have shown their charitable spirit in 2015 by raising more than £2,000 for two national charities. Employees from the leading housing provider’s Exeter office teamed up with colleagues across the South West at a series of events to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support and Cancer Research UK. Since the beginning of the summer, activities have included an auction, Macmillan Coffee Mornings and an office bake-off where staff pitted their cooking skills against each other and enjoyed some tasty treats. A team of staff also raised £600 at July’s Race...

Chiefs bring Christmas cheer to Bramble Unit

Exeter Chiefs may be gearing up for a busy festive period of fixtures, but today members of the first-team squad took a morning out to pay a special festive visit to the Bramble Children’s Unit at the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital.

First team stars Haydn Thomas, Ben Moon, Brett Sturgess, Gareth Steenson, Michele Campagnaro, Ollie Atkins, Don Armand, Jack Yeandle, Matt Jess, Tom Johnson and Olly Woodburn, along with our very own Big Chief, took on the role of Santa Claus for one very special day and made their annual visit to the local hospital to spend time with youngsters who...

Walks from the Avocet Line

A new leaflet of walks in and around the Avocet Line from Exeter to Exmouth has been launched at Exmouth station.

Called “Avocet Ambles 2”, the free leaflet has been produced by the Avocet Line Rail Users’ Group with the help from the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership and brings together a selection of three self-guided walks, all starting from and ending at Avocet Line railway stations. Included are walks from Exeter Central, Exmouth and Exton stations, all devised by members of the Rail Users’ Group committee.

Funding for the leaflet has also come from the Designated...

New research boosts antibiotic hope

Research carried out at the University of Exeter has advanced understanding of how some damaging bacteria behave and may pave the way for new and more targeted antibiotics.

A study led by Dr. Nicholas Harmer, Senior Lecturer in Structural Biochemistry at the University of Exeter, published today in the journal Chemistry and Biology, provides new information about the way bacterial cells build up a defensive sugar coating and how that process can be interrupted.

In the study, funded by the Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council and the Royal Society,...

Expression swings for East Devon play areas

The huge smile on two year old Seraphina Hancock’s face says it all, as she and her dad, Andrew Hancock, sit opposite each other on an Expression Swing – an innovatively designed face-to-face swing - which East Devon District Council has had imported specially from the US and recently installed at Willow Walk play area in Honiton.

“She absolutely loves this swing,” said Andrew, who as Service Lead for East Devon District Council’s Streetscene Service, is responsible for providing and maintaining East Devon’s 70 play areas and equipment.

“It’s brilliantly designed as it...

Rogue traders ripped off elderly in Devon

Three men have been found guilty of conspiracy to defraud the vulnerable and elderly following an eight-day trial at Exeter Crown Court.

Thomas Maughan, 26, and Thomas Mahon, 45, both of Princes Paddock, Farringdon, pleaded not guilty to the charge brought by the Devon and Somerset Trading Standards Service.

A third man, Matthew Latham, 35, of the same address, pleaded guilty to the same offence.

During his summing up Judge Erik Salomonsen, who bailed the men until sentencing on 4th February 2016, warned them that they could all be jailed.

A fourth man,...

Local News

New report reveals UK's happiest places to be a dog

Campaign tackling seasonal loneliness helps record numbers

A Christmas Message from Bishop Robert

Outstanding researcher recognised through fellowship

Teign leisure centres to open bank holidays

Sanctuary staff raise thousands for charities

Chiefs bring Christmas cheer to Bramble Unit

Walks from the Avocet Line

New research boosts antibiotic hope

Expression swings for East Devon play areas

Rogue traders ripped off elderly in Devon

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