Our boy Luke Friend absolutely smashed it on last weekend's X Factor with the judges labelling him the "dark horse of the competition".
It's Big Band week, perhaps not the best genre for Luke, but we have no doubt that he will silence the sceptical and deliver another mind-blowing performance.
It's been an incredibly busy week for Master Friend, having returned home to Exeter on Tuesday he lost an important day of rehearsals so this week's catch up was short and sweet.
OJ - What was it like coming back to Exeter after the journey you've been on so far? LF - It was...
John Lewis has given a preview of its annual Christmas advert campaign today.
The John Lewis Christmas advert has quickly become one of the early signs of Christmas since the 2010 advert featuring a boy who waits all year to give rather than get a presents was a national hit.
This year’s advert continues the theme of the previous years of going the extra mile to get your loved one the perfect gift.
In a classically animated advert the story of best friends, a bear and hare is set to a Cover of Keane’s ‘Somewhere Only We Know’ sung by Lily Allen.
Exeter Axhayes Adoption Centre has launched an appeal for Christmas.
The centre has 200-plus cats and kittens in its care, all looking for new homes. Sadly this means that many cats and kittens have to spend Christmas and New Year in the centre.
This year the Adoption Centre has launch its Santa Paws Appeal.
The idea is a simple one. They are asking that people fill a box, similar in size to a Felix cat food box with cat toys, food, treats, possibly a Christmas card. Then wrap it up and donate it to the centre.
Boxes can be taken to the centre or dropped off...
Sampson Hall recently held a two day programme to develop the understanding of culture, leadership, and strategy with two Independent Schools.
The event was held at the beautiful Dartington Hall, near Totnes. The programme was extremely successful with the participants defining a clear and focused vision for the schools for the next five years. From this they derived clear mission statements which resulted in a detailed and understood plan with clear priorities set for the next two years to drive and align the work streams involved.
The countdown has begun as Choccie Bar gets ready to launch its online boutique at Exeter Castle.
Choccie Bar will be joined by a number of friends for what will be a most unusual launch event during which the company will showcase it’s collection and officially send the online boutique live.
John Sheaves, CEO of Taste of the West will be pressing the Go Live button;
“The Southwest is becoming a well-recognised hub for innovative and excellent food produce and we are delighted to see and nurture new and exciting businesses like Choccie Bar entering the market”, he...
One of West Country farming’s best known personalities, Ollie Allen, organiser of the Devon County Show, has taken over as Chairman of a national organisation, the Association of Shows and Agricultural Organisations (ASAO). Ollie has been the Secretary of the Devon County Show since 1996 and before that earned her spurs in 16 years at the Royal Bath and West. She says that she is hugely honoured to have been given the chance of leading the ASAO, at a time of great challenge and change for agricultural shows. “To have been elected to do this job by one’s peers is a great honour, but also a...
A doctor from Devon has reminded people of the importance of using antibiotics wisely to help prevent the increase in antibiotic resistance.
Antibiotics Awareness Day takes place on 18 November and Dr David Gwynne, a GP from Devon and a clinical lead for medicines optimisation at Northern, Eastern and Western Devon Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), has backed a European campaign that encourages responsible use of antibiotics.
Studies show that patients are less likely to ask their GP for antibiotics if they are advised what to expect during the course of their illness....
FOLLOWING the Council’s decision in July to relocate, four locations have now been short-listed as the possible home for East Devon District Council’s new offices. The short-list was produced by elected Members scoring the 15 possible sites against a set of desired outcomes (see bulleted tick list below).
Councillors were briefed on the locations – Cranbrook, Skypark, Winslade Park and Heathpark – at the end of October and a stakeholder group heard about the options at a meeting today (Friday 8 November).
A Devon based Royal Marine has been found guilty of murder after shooting dead an injured prisoner in 2011. Two other marines were acquitted at the Military Court Centre in Wiltshire. The marines known only as Marines A, B, and C due to an anonymity order placed due to fears for the safety of their family. Two further marines, known only as Marines D and E, had charges against them dropped in connection to the case. The three marines had denied murdering the unknown man while on patrol in Helmand province in 2011. Marine A was convicted at a Military court martial after the prosecution...
Teignmouth and Dawlish have joined the rest of Teignbridge car parks in being free on Sundays.
Teignbridge-owned car parks in the two seaside resorts have re-joined the successful scheme which sees all 35 of the council's car parks free of any charges on a Sunday.
The free parking scheme is aimed at boosting local trade and cutting costs to motorists.
Sundays are free of charge throughout the year for all urban and rural parts of the district. Charges apply through the summer months in Teignmouth and Dawlish.
Now the peak season is over, the two resorts have...
