Tributes pour in for funny man Robin Williams: Star found dead in apparent suicide

Authored by Marc Astley
Posted: Tue, 08/12/2014 - 12:46pm

Tributes have been flooding in for actor Robin Williams who was found dead in an apparent suicide.

The alarm was raised at the 63-year-old's California home yesterday.

Everyone from the US president to stars of stage and screen have been paying their condolences, a selction of which appear below:

"Robin was a lightning storm of comic genius and our laughter was the thunder that sustained him. He was a pal and I can't believe he's gone." - Film director Steven Spielberg

"Robin Williams was an airman, a doctor, a genie, a nanny, a president, a professor, a...

Hidden Florence revealed through App

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Tue, 08/12/2014 - 12:44pm

An opportunity to experience an unseen side of Florence is now possible via a new smartphone App which brings the past to life through the eyes of an ordinary 15th century Florentine. In the Italian Renaissance city of Florence, tourists often take the well-trodden routes of seeing the iconic artworks of Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and Michelangelo’s David.

Now, this free history App is available providing an unconventional tour in which you walk in the footsteps of wool worker Giovanni, hunting for statues, street tabernacles and piazzas whilst being told vivid tales about the...

This family are taking part in the Great West Run and the reason will touch your heart

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Tue, 08/12/2014 - 12:29pm

This Exeter family together hope to raise £50,000 by taking on Exeter’s Great West Run in a bid to help four-year-old Sophie Joy walk unaided for the first time.

The team is made up of Sophie's father Daniel Case, Deborah Down, grandmother and Jade Down, auntie.

Sophie has battled Spastic Diplegia Cerebral Palsy from a very young age, and despite the tireless efforts of her parents to support her with as much physio at home, she will only see her condition improve significantly with an operation called Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy.

Sophie’s mother Gemma was fortunate...

Jason is Folk Festival's step dance champ

Authored by Newshound
Posted: Tue, 08/12/2014 - 12:07pm

Jason Rice beat 15 other contenders at the Step Dance Championship held at the Dartmoor Folk Festival to take home both trophies.

Jason, originally from Copplestone, who lives and works in Exeter, said that he has been step dancing since he was in his late teens.

He previously won in 2001 and 2010 and was delighted to take the title again at the weekend.

Some years ago Jason travelled to the USA to demonstrate the traditional dance which is danced on a 15 inch square step, with a routine similar to line dancing.

Jason is also a member of the Dartmoor Pixie...

EDDC to check Council Tax claims

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Tue, 08/12/2014 - 11:04am

East Devon District Council is carrying out checks to make sure that residents who currently receive a Council Tax reduction are still entitled to it.

Council Tax payers who receive a 25 per cent discount on their bill as single occupancy residents will be reviewed to make sure the reductions are correct. The checks, using sophisticated data-matching technology, form part of the council’s measures to prevent and detect fraud and protect the public purse.

Over the next couple of months the council will check around 3,000 households to see if the person is genuinely living...

New business offers companies debt advice

Recently launched, 4Squared South West is a new business with its head office in Exeter, offering debt advice and insolvency solutions to companies across Devon, Cornwall, Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire.

Although the 4Squared team specialises in helping all types of companies deal with debt and insolvency, they are on a mission to prevent such companies from getting into trouble in the first place.

Whilst working with individuals and sole traders to partnerships and limited companies, the 4Squared team has all too often witnessed people leaving it far too late to save their...

Match preview: Exeter City v AFC Bournemouth

City’s recent record in the Capital One Cup has rarely seen them get past the first round – that comes as little surprise though, considering the opposition that they faced since being back in the League.

Southampton, QPR (twice), Ipswich, Liverpool and Crystal Palace had been the six teams that have knocked out City since 2008 – taking the Tractorboys to extra-time was as close as City have got to causing an upset.

And now it is AFC Bournemouth that the Grecians face. In the past that prospect would have been a lot less daunting, but the sudden surge that the Cherries have...

Devon winner reflects on NHS Leadership award success

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Tue, 08/12/2014 - 10:25am

Assistant director for health and social care, Keri Storey was crowned a national winner at the NHS Leadership Academy’s recognition awards in February, winning the category of NHS Partnership/System Leader of the Year 2014. Her win followed on from success in the same category at the South West regional awards.

The National NHS Leadership Recognition Awards celebrate leaders at all levels of the health service, and where they have ultimately improved patient care and patient experience of the NHS. Entrants were nominated in nine categories, with 83 regional winners then going...

Wiggins to race in Tour of Britain

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Tue, 08/12/2014 - 10:21am

Team Sky boss Sir Dave Brailsford says Sir Bradley Wiggins will attempt to retain his title at this year’s Friends Life Tour of Britain, which returns to Devon on Thursday 11 September.

Wiggins, who won the Tour de France in 2012 and won a silver medal in the team pursuit at the Commonwealth Games last month, will lead Team Sky at this year’s Tour of Britain, Brailsford confirmed in a BBC interview. Other riders who will be competing are expected to be named soon.

The Devon Stage, hosted by Devon County Council and sponsored by South West Highways Ltd, will cover 110miles (...

First World War memorial website launches

An online memorial to the fallen men of the Clinton Devon Estates communities has been launched.

The website, www.devonremembers.co.uk was created from information gathered by volunteers from across the Estate's towns and villages.

The event was attended by key people from the Estate, local media and the volunteers and historians that tirelessly researched and compiled the stories of those who fell during the war.

People are invited to add their own stories and photographs on the site, or by emailing mail@devonremembers.co.uk .

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