Exeter resident Josh Ellis has been awarded the title of the South West’s 2015 VQ Learner of the Year, in recognition of his outstanding achievement following a vocational qualification in Plumbing at Exeter College. Josh, 21, won the gold medal at the World Skills competition, with his work deemed ‘near perfect’ by the judges. Josh has since progressed to a Level 3 Plumbing qualification and become the main installer for his company due to the exceptionally high standard of his work. He is successfully juggling a very high demand for his work with his further studies at college. He has...

The largest ever survey into crime and anti-social Behaviour (ASB) in rural areas has been launched in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to find out how the police can better serve rural communities.

The survey, launched by the National Rural Crime Network (NRCN), is calling for people who work or live in rural areas to come forward and give their views on policing in their community, the impact crime and ASB has on them and their neighbours and to ultimately help shape the future of crime prevention and rural policing.

Anyone living or working in rural areas is being...

THE Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust is pleased to confirm the reappointment to the board of Tim Douglas-Riley CBE and Nick Lewis MBE as non-executive directors.

Tim Douglas-Riley has been reappointed for a further two years, until May 2017.

He joined the board in May 2013 and chairs the quality assurance and organ donation committees.

He is the Trust board champion for safety and quality and for safeguarding adults, a member of the safeguarding adults board and also a trustee of the Charitable Fund.

Tim is a qualified doctor who spent his professional...

The world’s first team training programme using aviation techniques and including unique psychological management and performance skills has been launched in Devon.

The course is aimed at businesses who want to develop their teams and is run by fully-qualified, experienced, pilots working with ex Team-GB rower and lifestyle coach Ben Tipney.

“We are the only people in the country who own our own simulator and own cabin, our own flight staff and crew and we have the skills to put that together,” said Captain Andy Wilkins, a commercial pilot who set up The Virtual Jet Centre...

A national competition for the best undergraduate essay on any aspect of the American experience has been won by a University of Exeter, Humanities student.

Third-year English Undergraduate, Alice Spencer, succeeded in winning the prestigious British Association for American Studies (BAAS) / United States Embassy "Ambassador's Award".

Spencer’s winning essay was a coursework submission from her third year option, The American Novel Since 2000. The essay was entitled: "Anyway, I asked, what was wrong with sympathy?”Joyce Carol Oates's Black Girl/White Girl as a...

It seems hard to believe that it is a year since Velo Vintage was last in Exmouth.

Since then they have held their unique cycle events in Exeter and also in the north of the county in Barnstaple, but Exmouth has always felt like the home of Velo Vintage and where the first Occasion & Ride took place.

Rumour has it that this next event on Saturday 13 June, which is the eighth, is going to be rather different and as well including many of the excellent cycle paths, they will also be spending some time relaxing over a picnic and watching some cricket, all very British. The...

Ring & Ride services in Devon celebrated their 25th anniversary at a special event on Sunday 17 May.

More than 200 guests who are involved with the service were invited to a Silver Jubilee celebration which was held at Seale Hayne in Newton Abbot.

Ring & Ride was set up in response to new legislation at the time which gave local authorities powers to meet the travel needs of elderly and disabled people, and in April 1990, Honiton became the first market town in Devon to launch a Ring & Ride service.

Ring & Ride offers door-to-door transport in a...

Air Cadets from Devon and Somerset Wing Air Training Corps have donated £515.00 to Dartmoor’s £ for the Park initiative. A cheque was presented by Squadron Leader Terry Ancell to Dartmoor National Park Chairman, Peter Harper at Ten Tors 2015 last weekend.

Each year the Wing runs a training programme for the Ten Tors Challenge. Starting in January, the team conduct eight training weekends, many of which are within Dartmoor National Park, progressively developing the teamwork, leadership and technical skills, together with the physical and mental strength necessary for completing the...

With his grizzled looks and deadpan demeanour, Rich Hall doesn't look like the sort of guy who's going to split your sides.

But last night at Exeter's Corn Exchange, the American funny man demonstrated why he is one of the best comedians on the UK circuit.

Prowling the stage like a bear that has just woken from its winter slumber in his native Montana, Hall makes Jack Dee seem positively joyful.

But his acerbic wit and keen observation of British culture ensures his audience has plenty to smile about.

With topics as diverse as gun control to the horse meat...

With thousands planning early summer holidays abroad over half term, health professionals are reminding the public to enjoy the sun safely while they make the most of their holiday.

Devon has some of the highest rates of skin cancer in the UK, with over 300 cases of malignant melanoma per year and 40 related deaths.

About 80% of skin cancer cases could be prevented through avoiding overexposure and staying safe in the sun.

Receptionist Sue Foot was diagnosed with a melanoma four year ago, after seeing her GP about a mole she was concerned about.sue foot1

“I...