Private sector activity in the South West continued to rise in May, according to the latest PMI® survey data.
The rate of expansion remained relatively strong but eased to the weakest since February, mainly reflecting the slowest growth of new business since April 2013. Charges for goods and services rose slightly, having declined in March and April, but overall inflationary pressures remained weak.
The seasonally adjusted Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking South West Business Activity Index fell for the second consecutive month to 55.1 in May, from 56.0 in April, indicating...
August is just around the corner and with that comes the annual Topsham to Turf Ferryman’s Swim which is now in its 10th year.
As we celebrate the first decade of the swim in recent times and its annual return appearance in the local calendar, a little reminder on its history.
Named in recognition of Topsham’s Ferryman Mike Stevens who resurrected this swim back in 2006 after discovering that the swim was a regular event for people in Topsham in the 1930s the last one being swum in 1938.
Being no stranger to endurance water events; 27 years ago Mike had held the...
Children had lots of fun in Exeter’s Princesshay on Saturday (6 June) as they baked muffins in a free charity cookery workshop.
After donning chef’s hats and aprons they got stuck in, a shaking and a baking, making new friends and listening to the crazy instructions from head chef Joe Mann who runs Fun Kitchens.
Joe was working in partnership with local charity Hospiscare to promote the Big Devon Bake Off, September 12-20, when people are encouraged to bake cakes, invite friends and family around for a bit of a do and put out a donation bowl. A simple fun way of raising...
‘Transport for Your Community’ is co-ordinating its second Community Transport Awareness Week across Devon next week (Monday 8 June – Sunday 14 June).
Community Transport helps people across Devon, especially those in rural parts of the county, that may live miles from the nearest bus route, or are unable to afford taxi fares or are physically unable to use the public transport services provided.
Transport for Your Community, which is made up of local Community Transport group members across Devon, can provide transport to health appointments, services, shops and leisure...
With the alterations under-way, Exeter Golf and Country Club has opened the first of the re-developed holes which is part of the new golf course design.
Golf Captains, John Fairman and Jackie Follett opened the new golf hole on Friday 5th June.
The hole will be played as the 16th this season and measures at 146 yards with a large, new teeing ground, renovated bunkers and widened green, which modernise the hole, demonstrating how length is not the only factor in creating a demanding par 3.
The hole will then become the new 14th at the start of the 2016 season. The...
An opportunity to share memories of going to the cinema in the UK during the 1940s, 1950s and 60s is being provided on 13th June at the University of Exeter’s Bill Douglas Cinema Museum between 2pm and 5pm.
Members of the public are invited to attend the free event, and after a brief presentation, to reminisce over tea or coffee about films seen and enjoyed during this period. To recall favourite stars from Elizabeth Taylor to Gina Lollobrigida, and to share their general experience of going to the movies.
The information gathered from the event will add to research being...
The £380,000 Fatherford bridge, east of Okehampton, provides cyclists and pedestrians with a safer crossing over the railway line than the existing road bridge over the railway line.
Although the existing bridge has footpaths on its approach, the structure itself is narrow and does not have a path.
The new bridge separates pedestrians and cyclists from road traffic. As well as improving safety it will also enable further development of land east of the bridge, allowing the creation of a safe crossing point across Exeter Road (B3260) for the Granite and Gears Cycle route...
While Zimbabwe collapses economically and socially, dedicated conservationists continue their battle to save the country’s wildlife. This tiny antelope – an orphaned Sharpe’s grysbok – is being cared for at Dambari field station, near Bulawayo, after it was found orphaned near Hwange National Park.
You might expect the Director of the Dambari Wildlife Trust, vet Verity Bowman, to have bigger things to worry about than this fragile fawn. She spends her working day guiding her charity through the stormy seas of Zimbabwean life and trying to combat the latest rhino poaching atrocity...
This month sees the biggest change to driving licences in almost twenty years.
From 8 June 2015, the paper counterpart to the photocard driving licence will not be valid and will no longer be issued by DVLA.
There will be no change to the current photocard driving licence or paper driving licence.
Any paper driving licences issued before the photocard was introduced in 1998, will remain valid. If you need to update your name, address or renew your licence, your paper driving licence will be replaced with a photocard driving licence only.
The final episode of a three-part BBC 2 TV drama-documentary series Armada: 12 years to save England - Endgame will feature a University of Exeter medical historian on Sunday 7 June at 9pm.
Dr Alun Withey will share his knowledge about the role of the barber surgeon on board ship and the sorts of things he had to treat in battle and the sorts of instruments he used.
Elizabeth I played by Anita Dobson shows the monarch as politically astute and presenter Dan Snow takes to the sea to tell the story of how England came within a whisker of disaster in summer 1588. He explores...
