On Merchant Navy Day, 3 September, Exeter City Council will fly the Red Ensign at the Historic Guildhall to raise awareness of the UK’s ongoing dependence on Merchant Navy seafarers

Exeter City Council and the Lord Mayor of Exeter Councillor Olwen Foggin are supporting a nationwide call from the Seafarers UK charity and the Merchant Navy Association for the UK Merchant Navy’s official flag to be flown on public buildings and landmark flagstaffs.

The charity’s president, HRH The Earl of Wessex, has endorsed the campaign, saying: "On this Merchant Navy Day, I very much hope...

Your guide to what’s on in and around Exeter this weekend (21-23 August).

THEATRE

Playback Youth Theatre: Ghost Train - An Original Musical Friday, Barnfield Theatre, Exeter Shady passengers use the near-abandoned train service to Berney Arms at four in the morning. What are they up to? Why is the train still running? And why are there signs of life at the old abandoned fairground? With a cast of talented young performers, a live band and an original, spooky story, Ghost Train promises to be a treat for all the family! Shows at 4pm and 7.30pm. Tickets £6 (Concs £4). For...

Hugh Courtenay, the 18th Earl of Devon, has died at the age of 73.

The Courtenay family said in a statement: “Hugh Rupert Courtenay, Earl of Devon, died peacefully on 18 August.

“Adored husband of Diana and father of Rebecca, Nell, Camilla and Charles, and beloved 'Grumpy' to eleven grandchildren.

“He enjoyed a life devoted to family, friends, Powderham Estate and Devon.”

A private funeral will be held, followed later by a thanksgiving services, the details of which are to be announced.

The family have asked for donations to St Clement’s Church,...

Positioned in the heart of Devon and enjoying a prime location in one of England’s most historic cities, Mercure Exeter Southgate is the gateway to the South West neighboring the famous Exeter Cathedral and historic Quay whilst providing the perfect break en route to the Cornish coastline.

The interior of the city centre hotel is transformed including a redesign of the reception, Gate House restaurant, bar, lounge, terrace and all 156 bedrooms. Mercure, a locally inspired brand, has drawn influence for the hotel’s new interior design from Exeter’s rich Roman and Medieval history...

Pret A Manger will be opening the doors to its westernmost UK shop next month; a spacious corner site on Exeter’s High Street. Due to open mid-September, the new shop is creating up to 20 new jobs, which the company is currently finalising recruitment for. To celebrate the opening, Pret will be holding a two-day party outside the shop on 19 and 20 September, offering free hot drinks from a special Pret coffee van, and entertaining customers with a band, kids’ entertainer and face painter. The event will be held from 11am – 3pm on both days. Inside the shop, customers will be welcomed by...

Recycling road shows are being held in Feniton and Exmouth (The Colony) over the next few weeks to help householders with the new improved recycling collection service which is being trialled in these areas by East Devon District Council from mid-September.

Recycling officers will be on hand to explain the trial where, for the first time, residents will be able to recycle cardboard and mixed plastics which will be collected from the kerbside every week along with their food waste. The officers will also be able to help householders with any questions they may have on what else they...

Exeter School pupils, parents and staff are celebrating another round of consistently excellent GCSE results which have set a new record in excellence.

A record 83.4% were A* or A grades, compared to last year’s 82.5%, and 50.6% of all grades were A*.

99.3% of grades were A* - C.

There were many high achievers across the range of 21 subjects with 78 pupils attaining eight or more A* or A grades.

Forty-five pupils scored 10 A*/A grades or more.

Among the high achievers, all rounder Eka Barker-Privalova attained 12 A*s. Talented strings musician and...

Massive barrel jellyfish have appeared in record numbers for a second consecutive year, whilst in July huge numbers of mauve stingers were reported off Guernsey, and the potentially dangerous Portuguese Man O War has been washing up on beaches in the South West.

The rise of jellyfish in UK seas can no longer be ignored, and that more dedicated research and monitoring is needed to understand these apparent increases and what they mean for the state of our seas.

“Our National Jellyfish Survey suggests significant recent rises in the numbers of some jellyfish species in UK...

Small and medium sized businesses in the South West believe future success relies on their ability to recruit so-called millennials – those born between 1980 and 2000 – but recognise that they need to do more to attract them, according to new research by Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking.

More than three quarters (79 per cent) of SMEs across the region said that the growth of their business relies on their ability to recruit millennial talent. In fact more than a third (35 per cent) said they want a millennial to take over their business one day.

It is estimated that...

Blundell’s School is thrilled with the excellent provisional GCSE results achieved by their Year 11 students. In a year group of 101, there was a 30% increase on last year in the number of A* grades, with an A* rate of 26%. More than half the year group gained the highest grades with an impressive A*/A score of 54% and nearly 40% of the year group gained 8 A*/A or more.

Twenty pupils gained 6A* or above with the following pupils gaining a tremendous 11A* or more: George Hill, Francis Huntingford, Hannah Le Gassick, Ennea Miller-Hunt, Caspar Montgomery, Harriet Nash, Rosalie Sanders...