2019

Tickets to be launched for sell-out ideas festival

Organisers of TEDxExeter, the South West’s leading ideas festival, have announced that tickets for TEDxExeter 2020 are soon to be released for sale. The 9th annual TEDxExeter event will take place on Friday 17 April 2020 at Exeter’s Northcott Theatre and will be simultaneously livestreamed to venues across the city and beyond.

Tickets, which usually sell out in minutes, will be released at 10am on Friday 29th November 2019 via Eventbrite. For those wishing to beat the queues, a limited number of VIP tickets will be available from 10am on Wednesday 27th November.

Claire...

Beauty and the Beast

Event Date: 
30/11/2019 - 2:00pm to 05/01/2020 - 2:30pm
Venue: 
Exeter Northcott Theatre

The Northcott panto is back, and this year it’s bigger and better than ever!

When Belle, the most beautiful girl in Paris, bumps into Prince Valentin in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, love is definitely in the air. Well, until an Evil Enchantress turns up, that is, and everything suddenly gets a bit hairy. Really hairy!

Join Belle’s sister Soufflé, her father Monsieur Marzipan (Steve Bennett) and Dame Betty Bonbon as they team up to free Belle from the clutches of the Beast and save the family business. Will good triumph over evil? Will Betty finally find the sugar daddy...

swcomms’ company secretary Harry Langley presenting an award at last year’s event

swcomms backs Devon Sports Awards 2019

South West Communications Group is backing the Devon Sports Awards for the 6th year in a row as the main sponsor.

Organised by Active Devon, The Exeter Chiefs Foundation and in partnership with Exeter College, the ceremony is an opportunity to celebrate the success of local community clubs, individuals, coaches and volunteers.

There are 31 finalists for 10 categories at the Devon Sports Awards due to be held on Thursday 11 July at Sandy Park.

swcomms is also sponsoring the Devon Coach of the Year and Devon Club of the Year.

Brian Lodge, swcomms’ Managing...

Devon County Show to debut exclusive score by Andrew Lloyd Webber

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Sat, 05/04/2019 - 11:22am

A musical score, written by Baron Andrew Lloyd Webber, is to make its debut at this year’s Devon County Show (16-18 May), in celebration of the Pony Club’s 90th year.

Over 60 Pony Club jockeys and their four-legged friends will take part in a Pageant in the main arena at 4.15pm on Saturday 18th May, the final day of the Devon County Show. It will conclude with a spectacular ride to this piece of music composed exclusively in celebration of the Pony Club’s milestone anniversary by the musical legend himself.

The Pony Club celebrates its 90th year in 2019 and the Pageant at...

RD&E ward visiting times are changing

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Mon, 03/25/2019 - 9:00am

Ward visiting times at the RD&E will change to 10.30am-8pm from 1 April, 2019, following a year-long pilot to test out more ‘open’ and flexible public visiting times.

For several years, public visiting at the RD&E was limited to afternoons and evenings, but in February 2018 the Trust began piloting 8am-8pm visiting, in line with many other local and national Trusts.

Since then we’ve been gathering and listening to feedback on the changes from public and staff. The feedback has shown some real positives from the change, such as relatives assisting in care, easier...

What's new at Devon County Show 2019?

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Mon, 02/25/2019 - 12:42pm

The Devon Cattle Breeders Society National Show

This year, the Devon Cattle Breeders Society returns to its native county to host its national show at Devon County Show 2019. The Devon Ruby, a beautiful breed with its signature deep, rich, burnished red coat is internationally recognised for its ability to produce the very finest marbled beef on a low maintenance diet. The Show is expecting up to 100 Devon Reds on site competing in the show, along with a new young stars competition dedicated to young handlers.

A new Foodwalk

In a bid to take the much-visited food...

How stories from prison help keep families together

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Tue, 12/11/2018 - 12:28am

The pioneering work of a charity based at a prison in Devon is in the international spotlight after a talk from TEDxExeter was selected to appear on TED.com, the 11th TEDxExeter talk to be featured on the global ideas channel.

In a moving talk at TEDxExeter in April, Alan Crickmore explained how Storybook Dads helps prisoners to keep in touch with their children by enabling them to record stories they can listen to at home – and how this benefits society.

“Every year in the UK, 200,000 children experience the shame and isolation of a parent in prison,” he said. “It can...

Food Glorious Food... and even more on the menu to tempt your palate at Devon County Show 2019

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Wed, 11/21/2018 - 12:10pm

Food lovers all over the county will welcome the news that Devon County Show is to increase its food offering to make it an even more mouth-watering experience for 2019.

Aside from the ever popular Food & Drink Pavilion dedicated to West Country food producers, there will be a new Food Walk at show which will be open to national and international food producers. This will be located on Avenue B, alongside the Taste of the West.

New Devon County Show Manager Sam Mackenzie Green explains: ‘Our Food & Drink Pavilion is one of the biggest attractions at the Show with...

Line-up announced for Let's Rock Exeter! 2019

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Mon, 10/01/2018 - 1:21pm

Let's Rock Exeter returns to Powderham Castle for a fifth year on Saturday 29 June 2019.

With a fabulous line-up of artists bringing you the very best of the 80s and an action-packed day of retro madness, there is plenty to do for everyone at this family friendly festival.

Billy Ocean will be headlining, with another big act to be announced before Christmas.

The line-up also includes Belinda Carlisle, Nik Kershaw, Go West, Hot Chocolate, Snap! Thomas Dolby, The Real Thing, Betty Boo, Johnny Hates Jazz and China Crisis. More acts are to be announced in December....