This week, the residents at Angela Court Nursing Home had a wonderful visit from Archie the dog. Archie is a beautiful black ‘Heinz 57’ who is more than happy to receive cuddles and strokes from the residents and staff. His calm temperament means that he loves spending time with people and was a huge hit with everyone at the home.

Using animals as therapy for those living with dementia is a very important activity, research shows that having animals around can have several beneficial results - animals can improve mood and behaviours as well as providing a calming influence. The...

Buckfastleigh’s time-capsule tourist attraction, the Valiant Soldier, has organised events to mark the centenary of World War One.

Art, artefacts and a moving parade of school-children all feature in a summer of remembrance under the banner of Buckfastleigh Remembers.

At the end of May an exhibition of World War One artefacts opens at the Valiant Soldier. The exhibition will feature photographs, objects and memories from the period. The exhibition is due to run for four years, with displays changing every so often and a rolling selection of pieces on view.

In...

Friends and family raising money in memory of Sharon Bridgman, a Devon woman killed while on a round-the-world cycle challenge, are close to raising their £10,000 target.

Sharon, 38 from near Okehampton, was cycling in Bolivia with her husband Tim when she was struck and killed by a motorist. The couple, were in Boliva as part of a two-year journey that had already taken them from Norway across Europe and Africa to raise money for a disaster relief charity. To commemorate Sharon’s memory, friends of the couple have decided to try and reach the couple’s original fundraising target...

New Measures designed to help home and business owners protect their properties from future flood events were approved by East Devon District Council’s (EDDC) Cabinet meeting this week.

Cabinet Members agreed to give delegated authority to the Chief Executive to administer the East Devon elements of a scheme that forms part of a nationwide Government initiative prompted by the devastating storms and floods experienced during the past winter.

Councillor Jill Elson, Cabinet Member for Sustainable Homes and Communities, said: “This scheme will in a modest way help our...

Devon Stonemason Matthew Hurley has just launched a new local business called Hurley Marble, selling luxury handmade pietra dura marble tabletops, marble and stone fireplaces and bronze sculptures for high-end interiors. Hurley Marble’s objective is to combine one-off designs with exceptional craftsmanship using only the finest rare materials. He hopes to offer a reminder of past splendour, imbued with individual style.

Pietra dura is the Italian art of hard stone inlay. It is essentially marquetry in stone, usually depicting flora and fauna, with appropriate marbles chosen for...

It all starts with a 100m tape, paper plan, old roadside boards cut up into 8” squares, bags of 6” nails, a hammer, marker pen, two energetic men and the passion and determination of the many volunteers who are involved with putting on the Devon County Show. Show Secretary Ollie Allen is overseeing the marking out the site for the Devon County Show, held on May 22-24, at the Westpoint showground near Exeter. From humble beginnings, a tented town ready to accommodate more than 30,000 exhibitors and visitors every day will rise up from the grass into a traditional vista of billowing canvas....

Heavy rain expected to cause issues for the organisers of this weekend’s Ten Tors challenge. As a result of the recent rain, concerns have been raised over the state of several car parks near the starting line in Okehampton, making them unavailable for spectator’s vehicles. With spectators and the family members of more than 2,400 young people taking part in challenge hoping to support the teams at the starting line, the limited car parking is likely to be significant disruption. Brigadier Piers Hankinson, the Director of Ten Tors said this morning: “I have conducted a further assessment...