Exeter

Browne Jacobson records solid first half financial performance

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Sun, 12/13/2015 - 6:06pm

Browne Jacobson has announced its financial performance for the first half of the 2015/16 accounting year with revenues totalling £30.8m up from £28.6m, a rise of 7.5% on the first six months of 2014/15.

The figures follow on from the firm’s impressive 2014/15 financial year results which saw revenue rise 17.2% to £58.9m with profits reaching £16.2m, a 26% year-on-year increase.

Managing Partner, Iain Blatherwick, said: “We have had a promising half year and these figures are in line with our expectations.

“Growth is being generated across the business with our...

A Birthday Party for Jesus

Authored by Liz Straw
Posted: Sun, 12/13/2015 - 5:18pm

Isca Church held a big birthday party for Jesus!

Children came dressed in nativity costumes, the hall at St James School, Exeter, was decorated with banners and balloons and band members wore Santa hats.

Children joined in the nativity story, sang songs, played a game of pass the parcel, decorated crowns and after the service were given party bags which contained very loud party blowers which of course they loved!

Then it was time to cut the amazing birthday cake made by Heather Knee and tuck into party food brought by the congregation.

On Sunday 20 December...

Cranbrook Railway Station opens

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Sun, 12/13/2015 - 5:04pm

Cranbrook residents celebrated the opening of the town's new railway station yesterday (Sunday 13 December).

The first train to arrive was the 08:46 from Salisbury, which took passengers to Exeter Central before continuing on to Exeter St David’s.

The opening of the new station means residents in the town will be able to travel to Exeter in less than ten minutes.

Devon County Council and the Cranbrook New Community Partners have funded the project, which has been delivered on their behalf by Network Rail.

The single platform station will be served by hourly...

Blog: What's Christmas really about?

Authored by Martyn Goss
Posted: Sun, 12/13/2015 - 3:53pm

Once more our senses are being bombarded with manufactured images and messages of totally irrelevant and mostly unneeded seasonal tat.

It is nigh impossible to escape the Christmas kitsch which pushes us to value ourselves by what we buy, never mind the costs of consumerism to other people, other places or the planet. As long as the tills keep ringing, we can forget the bells.

So what is really at the heart of the Christmas story? In one word - ‘hospitality’.

We have an unmarried pregnant woman, marginalised in her own culture in an army-occupied land which is harsh...

Popcorn fun at The Beacon in Exeter

Authored by Liz Straw
Posted: Sun, 12/13/2015 - 2:31pm

Exeter families enjoyed popcorn and hot chocolate at the first film night held at the city's newest community centre, The Beacon.

They sang carols around the Christmas tree before watching The Nativity Story at the centre in Beacon Lane, Beacon Heath.

The evening was organised by Isca Church.

Watch out for details of the next film night, Sing-Along-A-Frozen.

Police spread Christmas cheer

Officers at Devon and Cornwall Police have been helping to spread some Christmas cheer this week as they pack up goodie bags for vulnerable older people.

Working in partnership with Neighbourhood Friends at Westbank the volunteers put together 140 Christmas goodie bags which will be distributed to some of the most vulnerable people across Exeter, East and Mid Devon.

Donated gifts include Christmas food, toiletries, books as well as crime prevention advice and fire safety information. Police staff, officers and Westbank colleagues have contributed generous hamper goodies at...

The Exeter Nativity brings Christmas to life

Llamas, sheep and a donkey will join actors to recreate the Nativity live on stage at Exeter Cathedral on Sunday.

The story will be told in five short 'family friendly' scenes, along with favourite Christmas Carols at the Cathedral on Sunday 13th December at 2pm.

Children are invited to come dressed in Christmas costumes and join Mary and Joseph, a donkey, the sheep, llamas and angels and form a giant 'tableau' inside, creating a wonderful Christmas scene.

Revd Canon Anna Norman Walker, who organises the Exeter Nativity with the support of churches throughout the...

Hard work but worth it!

Competition in Exeter for your charity pound is fierce.

Raising the £5 million we need each year keeps everyone at Hospiscare under pressure – sometimes I get a little steamed up and ask these questions – out loud in the office!

What if we couldn’t raise the money and Hospiscare closed its doors?

Then I ask what difference would it make to Exeter if other charities closed their doors? Eventually I calm down. I always say that the odd huff and puff does you good, it certainly keeps me focussed on my job.

I’m part of the fundraising team which, along with our...

Why yuletide could be ‘drooltide’ for your dog

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Sat, 12/12/2015 - 12:30pm

NFU Mutual, the UK’s leading rural insurer, is urging owners to put certain foods on the ‘naughty list’ for their dogs this year. Christmas is well known as a time of excess for humans but, according to the insurer, pet dogs are also prone to eating too much during the festive period and sometimes, what they choose to eat could have serious health implications and end-up in an emergency visit to the vet.

NFU Mutual warns that claims for dogs who have eaten weird or poisonous items take on a distinctly seasonal flavour as Christmas approaches and reflect the type of foods...

Christmas fun and fundraising at Blundell’s

Blundell’s pupils have spent time during the run-up to Christmas fundraising for charity and having fun at the same time.

The girls in Year 12 of Gorton House sold a record number of 1,400 candy canes, raising £740 for the Crisis At Christmas charity.

Pupils and staff buy the canes to wish their friends and colleagues a Happy Christmas and write a label with a message. In a real team effort, the GH girls then worked as a production line to tie the labels onto the canes, which were then given out to the lucky recipients.

In another fundraising initiative, pupils...

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