Key roles confirmed at East Devon District Council Annual Meeting

A senior councillor with a wealth of experience in local government has been elected as the new Chairman for East Devon District Council for the next year.

Councillor Andrew Moulding, who represents Axminster Town ward, has served in local government for more than thirty years with the district and Axminster town councils. He has also represented Axminster – the town where he was born – as a Devon County councillor for eight years and was its Chairman for a year before standing down earlier this month.

Cllr Moulding was elected at East Devon District Council’s annual...

Co-op tackles death taboo at Devon County show

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Fri, 05/19/2017 - 2:37pm

Figures published by Co-op Funeralcare reveal a worrying gap in end of life planning across Devon, with as many as 91% of adults in the region yet to create a funeral plan and almost a quarter (21%) yet to communicate their funeral wishes to anyone. The findings come as Co-op embarks on its annual tour of the UK’s County Shows, kicking off with Devon County Show, which takes place at Westpoint until Saturday (20th May). Seeking to close the gap in end of life planning, Co-op Funeralcare’s stand will feature an alternative tandem cycle hearse, a picture coffin and a range of other funeral...

Time's up for 'branded' tobacco sales

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Fri, 05/19/2017 - 12:07pm

Devon, Somerset and Torbay Trading Standards Service are reminding tobacco retailers that the time is up for old stocks of branded products.

When the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016 came into force last year – introducing “plain packaging” for cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco – retailers were given 12 months to sell old stock.

That deadline expires tonight and from 20 May 2017 it will be illegal to sell packs that do not comply with the new rules.

Other changes in relation to tobacco are:

• The health warnings are increased in size • Packs...

Ottery Food & Families Festival launches

Authored by Sue Cade
Posted: Fri, 05/19/2017 - 12:02pm

The 2017 Ottery St Mary Food & Families Festival has been officially launched with an event at Tickety-Boo in the town centre.

Festival organisers, sponsors and friends gathered to toast the fifth annual festival, to be held on Saturday, June 3.

Each year, the town becomes a melting pot of producers, traders, chefs, young cooks, real ale fans, locals and visitors, enjoying a day of celebration of all that is good about East Devon food.

This year, the festival features cookery demonstrations from The Deer Park Hotel, The Pig at Combe, Exeter Cookery School, Tina...

May half-term fun at Castle Drogo

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Fri, 05/19/2017 - 11:47am

This half-term there are lots of family events on at Castle Drogo including crafty castle capers, a bird detective trail and meet the builder’s day. On Saturday 3 June from 11am-4pm Castle Drogo will be giving visitors the chance to get hands on and learn more about the ongoing building work to make the castle water tight.

In 2013 one of the largest projects ever undertaken by the National Trust began at Castle Drogo. The castle has suffered major structural problems ever since completion which has resulted in serious leaks and water penetration throughout the building. If...

Exeter healthcare worker says research changed her life

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Fri, 05/19/2017 - 11:38am

An Exeter healthcare worker says her life has been positively transformed since she took part herself in a clinical research study into high blood pressure treatment.

As well as pro-actively identifying patients of St Thomas Health Centre who were eligible to take part in the DASHER clinical research study, Health Care Assistant Julie Main has also discovered first-hand the benefits of taking part in this trial for her own health.

Julie, aged 57, said: “I cannot tell you how amazing this study has been for me. I have had the most thorough check-up which I would otherwise...

SMEs and mid-market business leaders reveal what ignites their ambition

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Fri, 05/19/2017 - 10:06am

In today’s challenging climate, it’s essential for SME and mid-market business owners to have the ambition and drive that it takes to survive in tumultuous times.

A new report has revealed what has helped successful decision makers in business to develop ambition and help them achieve their goals, with half (50 per cent) claiming that supportive friends and family were their biggest drive to be ambitious.

The findings are part of the Ambition Index Report, produced by the Lloyds Bank National Business Awards . The report reveals what 309 SME and 301 mid-market decision...

Action day to End Youth Homelessness

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Fri, 05/19/2017 - 10:02am

The Exeter branch of Yorkshire Building Society will be holding an action day on Thursday, May 25, in support of its charity partnership with End Youth Homelessness (EYH).

Colleagues at the branch on the High Street will be selling cakes, holding a guess the sweets in the jar competition and selling EYH trolley coin key rings in support of the partnership.

Other Society colleagues around the UK are cycling, rowing, running and walking to raise funds for EYH as the Society takes up the challenge of travelling 83,000 kilometres over their three year partnership – one...

From guide dog to school dog! Meet Nula, the Maynard’s newest recruit…

The Maynard School in Exeter welcomed a new recruit this week with the arrival of Nula, a former working guide dog who has recently retired from service and is looking for a more relaxed lifestyle.

“The Junior School girls absolutely adore her and she has settled in just brilliantly,” said Keagh Fry, Year 4 teacher and official guardian for Nula. “Being an ex-guide dog means she is impeccably well behaved and she is just lapping up all the fuss and attention from everyone at the School. It couldn’t have worked out better!

“Each class takes it in turn to walk her during...

Newbie runner aims to raise £10k for Hospiscare and Derriford ICU

Authored by Hospiscare
Posted: Fri, 05/19/2017 - 9:26am

After unexpectedly losing his sister to an accident in 2003 then his brother from cancer in 2010, Iain MacDougall has decided to raise £10,000 for the organisations that looked after his siblings in their final days.

In order to get fit and raise money, Iain chose this year to start running. But this isn’t just your average fitness regime. Iain decided that he wanted to quite literally go that extra mile and spend two years working his way up to running a full marathon. Along the way he will be running 5k and 10k races and a half marathon.

The £10,000 that Iain hopes to...

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