Devon

Firefighters become a pet’s best friend

Pets across Devon and Somerset have a better chance of surviving household fires – thanks to new oxygen masks for animals being carried on selected fire engines.

The funding for the sets of specially-designed masks has been provided by Pets at Home through its instore reward scheme.

Eight fire stations in the Devon and Somerset area are to benefit from the scheme: Barnstaple, Bridgwater, Brixham, Burnham-on-Sea, North Tawton, Ottery St Mary, Topsham and Wellington.

Station Manager Dean Hastie, of Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service, said: “I appreciate...

Remembering every man who fell on the first day of the Battle of the Somme

More than 394 soldiers from The Devonshire Regiment will be individually remembered in a unique and historic centenary art project commemorating the fallen of the Battle of the Somme.

The 19240 Shrouds of the Somme commemorates all 19,240 allied soldiers who fell on the first day of the battle which began on July 1st 1916.

Exactly 100 years to the day later, at the same time as the whistle was blown to ‘go over the top’, 19,240 hand-stitched shrouded figures representing every soldier have been revealed, laid out in Exeter’s Northernhay Gardens.

The names of the...

Enjoy an Ultimate Crisp Sandwich in Exeter

This summer, Devon-based artisan hand-cooked potato crisps company, Burts Chips, is determined to get Brits enjoying their favourite crunchy snack in sandwich form. The Ultimate Crisp Sandwich campaign is encouraging foodies to get creative and liven up dull lunchtimes by enjoying some delicious crisp sandwiches. Burts has partnered with TV chef Dean Edwards, who shares South West roots, to create recipes using Burts’ core range or eight bold flavours. The recipes range from a variation of a Sunday roast, the Beef Yorkie, to a spicy Firecracker Lobster Prawn Cocktail, and are all available...

Devon primary pupils get their hands dirty with Manna from Devon

After two days of muddy hands, stomping feet and plenty of smiling faces, David Jones of Manna from Devon Cooking School, along with the pupils of Collaton St Mary Primary School have created the school’s first wood fired oven, ready for outdoor learning, Forest School activities and food education classes, PTFA fundraising and social events.

Lottery success for Citizens Advice Exeter

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Thu, 06/30/2016 - 12:30pm

Leading local advice charity, Citizens Advice Exeter, is celebrating a lottery award of £9,187 from the Big Lottery Fund.

The charity, which won the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service earlier in the month, will use the lottery funding to build capacity for its information and advice services through the purchase of new equipment and delivery of training. The grant will also provide adapted equipment for volunteers with additional requirements.

Steve Barriball, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice Exeter, said: “We are very grateful to the Big Lottery Fund for making this...

Beacon Heath Summer Fete

Event Date: 
02/07/2016 - 12:00pm
Venue: 
St James School, The Beacon Community Centre and The Beacon Nursery

Go along to the biggest and best ever Beacon Heath Summer Fete on Saturday July 2 from 12pm to 3pm.

The fete takes place at St James School and the neighbouring buildings, The Beacon Community Centre, formerly the Knight Club and The Beacon Nursery.

Lots of local organisations are taking part and it promises to be a great day out. There will be a bbq, live music, birds of prey, traditional fete games, Newtown Choir, coconut shy, face painting, craft stalls, refreshments, model trains, archery, bowling, table tennis, sock puppets, ice cream vans, smoothie bike, treasure hunt...

Baxter reacts to Champions Cup draw

Authored by Mark Stevens
Posted: Thu, 06/30/2016 - 12:03pm

Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter is expecting another "exciting" European Champions Cup campaign after his side were pitted against familiar foes in Pool 5 of this season's tournament. For a second successive season, the Devon club will again lock horns with French Top 14 rivals Bordeaux-Begles and ASM Clermont Auverge, as well as Pro 12 opponents Ulster Rugby following Wednesday's eagerly anticipated draw in Switzerland. Drawn as one of the five Tier One clubs, the Chiefs will be hoping to replicate their fortunes of last term when they advanced through the pool stages past Bordeaux-...

Best ever Beacon Heath Summer Fete

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Thu, 06/30/2016 - 11:15am

Go along to the biggest and best ever Beacon Heath Summer Fete on Saturday July 2 from 12pm to 3pm.

The fete takes place at St James School and the neighbouring buildings, The Beacon Community Centre, formerly the Knight Club and The Beacon Nursery.

Lots of local organisations are taking part and it promises to be a great day out. There will be a bbq, live music, birds of prey, traditional fete games, Newtown Choir, coconut shy, face painting, craft stalls, refreshments, model trains, archery, bowling, table tennis, sock puppets, ice cream vans, smoothie bike, treasure hunt...

Post Brexit property market in Exeter shows no sign of cooling

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Thu, 06/30/2016 - 11:13am

In a post Brexit update local property expert, Roger Wilkinson, says the property market in Exeter shows no sign of cooling.

Mr Wilkinson, MD at Wilkinson Grant & Co, said: "In the five working days following the EU Referendum result we have experienced very much 'business as normal' with 114 days viewings booked, five sales agreed, numerous offers and healthy levels of fresh applicant enquiries.

"The post Brexit property market here in Exeter shows no signs of cooling.

"Indeed, several of the offers coming in have been from London and South East homeowners who...

Exeter pupils' poetry selected for literary festival

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Thu, 06/30/2016 - 10:30am

The work of three Exeter School poets has been selected for publication by the Budleigh Salterton Decorative and Fine Arts Society.

The collection of poems will be published in September as part of the Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival and the work of five other pupils will also be on display.

The Year 10 pupils were invited to write poetry on the themes of poaching and conservation as part of a Budlitfest creative writing project during their English lessons.

English teacher Ben Masters said: "After a week of lessons discussing, amongst other issues, the plight...

Pages