The final day of term at Isca Academy ended on a high as staff from across the school came together to perform a festive Christmas pantomime for students.
Teaching staff, support staff and senior leaders swapped classrooms and offices for the stage, delivering an Isca-style take on classic pantomime stories.
The performance was packed with audience participation and jokes, including playful nods to school routines, busy corridors between lessons, and the traditional cry of “oh no it isn’t!”.
Students filled the hall with laughter as staff embraced the spirit of...
At the golden age of 81, former Exeter News and Photographic Service reporter Fay Knowles (nee Johanson) has announced the launch of her first children’s book - “Island Surprise: A Bahamian Adventure”!
Action packed and heart-warming, Fay says children will love and learn from this fun adventure story of family togetherness, simplicity and resilience!
“Island Surprise: A Bahamian Adventure”, a fully illustrated chapter book, tells of two young Bahamian boys, who are thrilled when their parents decide to take them to remote Coco Plum Island, to surprise their grandparents...
Christmas magic well and truly arrived in Exeter, where local business-owner Lee Dart (55) celebrated after winning a spectacular £1M top prize on The National Lottery’s ‘£30M Christmas Extravaganza’ Scratchcard.
Lee, who owns his own sign-making company, had popped into his local shop where he decided to treat himself to a festive Scratchcard. His tactic when it comes to picking Scratchcards was to select them completely at random, and this time it proved to work well for him. After scratching it there and then in the shop, it quickly dawned on him that this was not just any...
Businesses in and around Exeter have rallied to help the Exminster-based charity Westbank Community Health and Care to deliver 50 hampers to support local families this Christmas. A huge donation of children’s toys were a last minute addition to the food hampers - a special donation from Cars and Cuppas, which runs monthly events in Exeter.
Numerous organisations donated festive fare and their time to ensure Westbank’s hampers were packed full of goodies to bring some Christmas cheer to the local community. Volunteers from NatWest’s Exeter branch helped wrap gifts and prepare the...
Portakabin launches school library initiative as children’s reading enjoyment hits its lowest level in two decades
Aligning with the government’s pledge to provide a library in every primary school, Portakabin will deliver a fully equipped library building to one school, shaped by the winning design.
The competition invites primary school pupils and teachers to imagine and design their dream school library, supporting a UK-wide effort to address the shortage of library spaces in primary schools.
The initiative follows Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ recent pledge to...
Beautiful Betty has been searching for a new home through Blue Cross for over 200 days. This Christmas, the charity is appealing to the public to help find this friendly cat a new purr-fect home.
Betty was admitted to Blue Cross Devon in May and has been patiently waiting for a loving home ever since. The five-year-old Tortoiseshell cat is described as a sweet girl that would love to live in a quiet home. She is sociable around people and loves brushing herself against legs for fuss and attention.
Annaliese Langworthy, Centre Manager of Blue Cross in Devon, said: Betty...
Big-hearted students in Exeter brought Christmas cheer to dozens of local families after hosting a festive community dinner filled with music, laughter and generosity.
Students at St James School in Exeter, part of the Ted Wragg Trust, welcomed families from across the city for their annual Christmas community celebration, spreading festive spirit through song, food and warm hospitality.
Performing Arts students set the tone for the evening by singing seasonal favourites such as ‘Last Christmas’ and ‘We Wish You a Merry Christmas’ as guests arrived . And as the 85 guests...
The RSPCA is inviting animal lovers across Devon to pick up their knitting needles and crochet hooks to help pets in need this winter, as part of its Big Give Back to Animals appeal.
The charity is appealing for handmade blankets that can offer comfort, warmth and security to animals - at a time when the ongoing cost-of-living crisis is leaving many families struggling to keep their pets warm. Blankets will be distributed through the RSPCA’s Pet Food Bank Partnership, which works with food banks and community groups nationwide to provide essential items - including food, toys and...
Stagecoach South West has launched a new campaign to recognise the everyday heroes who have made a difference in their communities this year, often quietly without expecting anything in return. The bus operator is calling on residents from Exeter, East Devon, Mid Devon, Torbay, Teignbridge, Plymouth, North Devon to nominate someone whose actions have supported others, strengthened their neighbourhood or contributed to community life.
From offering support to vulnerable neighbours and volunteering with local groups to raising awareness for good causes or keeping community projects...
Work to remove a set of bollards that risked the progress of extension work at an Exeter doctor’s surgery has finally got underway after months of back-and-forth.
Pinhoe Surgery has been approaching a vital deadline with building materials for its extension works due to be delivered next month.
But it has needed a set of bollards removed to enable the goods to be delivered.
The bollards are essentially part of the highway, meaning Devon County Council has responsibility for them, however, they are positioned...
