On Friday 7 February, the Rt Hon Hugo Swire MP visited the WESC Foundation in Exeter to say a special thank you to one of the learners at the Specialist Centre for Visual Impairment. Jacob Towner, aged 14, was the lucky learner whose Christmas card design was chosen by the Member of Parliament for East Devon to send out his Christmas wishes.
The challenge was presented to the learners just prior to the Christmas period to come up with a suitable card design, and so Hugo was charged with the difficult decision of choosing a winner. Jacob was thrilled and proud to learn that his...
Escape the miserable weather into a wonderful alternative universe of animation this half-term.
Animated Exeter will be screening over 100 animated films from the UK’s young animators, UK graduates and stunning selection of independent talent from around the world in addition to screenings of big movies: from Studio Ghibli’s ‘From Up Poppy Hill’ to ‘Frozen’ and ‘The Wolf Children’.
The international competition ‘Wide World’ to find the best animation for children had an enormous response the results of which audiences of all ages will enjoy on Monday and Wednesday.
As floods continue to inflict damage and disruption across the region, South West MEPs are being accused by Greens of voting against important measures to prevent and tackle flooding proposed in the EU in 2012.
An EU resolution in 2012 built on directives (EU law) that called on Member States to, ‘draw up maps identifying all areas posing a risk of flooding… and the potential damage for local populations, property and the environment’. EU law has also said that National States must ‘prepare and implement flood risk management plans for each river basin district’ and ‘consider where...
Heavy rain and gale-force winds continue to batter Devon. Severe amber warnings for wind and rain have been issued by the Met Office with exposed areas of coast set to be the worst affected. Several homes and business in Exmouth have again been damaged by the storms for the second time in the recent round of storms. There were also reports of snow on both Dartmoor and Exmoor earlier today further adding to difficult driving conditions in the area. Strong winds reaching up to 80mph in some areas are expected to hit Devon from 6pm and remain until the early hours of the morning.
RHS Garden Rosemoor will be bursting with blooms this March when it hosts its first Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Spring Flower Show and competition, on 15–16 March.
The inaugural show focuses on camellias, including the RHS Early Camellia Competition, early magnolias and rhododendrons as well as classes for ornamental shrubs and the RHS Rosemoor Daffodil Competition. Visitors can view the exquisite displays of top quality blooms from competitors from all over the South West.
Trade and advice stands in the show plus a superb range of early spring shrubs and flowering...
If you want to entertain your young ones this half term look no further than Animated Exeter.
Take the kids to Moshi Monster Sunday, which includes a special festival screening of the new ‘Moshi Monsters: The Movie’ and a ‘Make a Moshling’ workshop.
Have some fun learning to animate at one of many workshops aimed at different age-groups and abilities; make characters from your favourite C Beebies programme, Mike the Knight and bring them to life at Exeter Cathedral on Monday; discover how scrap meets animation to make weird creatures come to life; visit our exhibitions, see...
Devon county council may raise its council tax for the first time in four years in an effort to protect its services against further cuts. Despite a budget cut of £100 million in the last four years the Council has to find another £110 million by 2017 with several non-statutory services already under review. The council’s cabinet met on Wednesday and agreed to 1.99% increase to the current council tax levels forgoing a government grant for freezing the tax for another year. Council leader John Hart explained the decision “If I accept a council tax freeze grant from the Government this year...
A major campaign to highlight the effect smoking has on loved ones has been launched by Devon County Council, in line with a regional campaign by Smoke Free South West.
Smoking is the single greatest cause of preventable illness, premature death and health inequality in the County, and 1,200 people die prematurely each year from smoking-related illnesses such as coronary heart disease, stroke and many cancers.
The new campaign, being launched to coincide with Valentine’s Day, gives smokers the opportunity to pledge their commitment to quit in a Valentine’s card to their...
The Met Office warned that hurricane strength winds of up to 80mph will hit the South West again today to again test the regions already battered storm defences.
In the fifth consecutive day of extreme weather conditions the public has been told to prepare for even more flooding, transport disruption and power outages across Devon.
The winds will reach their peak at mid-day today as the weather system pass over the county but potential hail storms and heavy rain can still be expected until much later in the day.
The rising number of assaults against frontline staff has seen the Ambulance service re-commit to a zero tolerance approach to abuse. The South West Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) reports that there were 104 reports of physical abuse against frontline staff in the last 12 months. 73 of the reported assaults were referred to the police with 22 incidents leading to the abusive patients to be arrested. There are a number of more serious cases awaiting a court date as a result of these reports. Anne Payne, Health, Safety and Security Manager with SWASFT, said: “All reports of...
