Exeter

Devon's record-breaking children’s reading challenge

A record number of children in Devon returned to school this year as better readers thanks to their local library. Over 8,000 children participated in the Summer Reading Challenge, which is a massive 30% more than took part last year and a new record for the County.

Councillor Andrea Davis, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Health and Wellbeing, said: “Reading is a vital part of a child’s development and improving literacy levels amongst our children is a top priority so I'm delighted that schemes like this are encouraging more children to read.

“The...

Why Devon needs the Living Wage to boost local economy

118,000 people working in Devon would benefit from the introduction of a Living Wage. Research by the South West TUC released during Living Wage Week (4 - 10th November) shows 32% (15,558) of workers in Torbay, 28% (27,273) in Plymouth and 28% (75,239) in the rest of Devon earn less than £7.20 an hour – the lowest rate that campaigners believe supports a decent standard of living outside London.

Pay campaigner Kit Leary said: “Paying the living wage is good for business, good for the individual and good for society. It would close the gap between luxury pay at one...

Extended opening hours for the Real Food Café

The Open Space evening held at the Real Food Café on the 15th October and attended by around 20 members of the team - staff, volunteers and directors - brought up some fantastic ideas for improving how the team work at Real Food, which they have set about implementing straight away. One idea that was picked up and considered intently, was the possibility of re-opening the Café on Mondays and earlier each morning.

Following three weeks of increased trade in both the Café and Store, it made absolute sense to at least trial this for a period, and so, from 5th November they...

Local band Rat Attack release debut single and Video

Rat Attack is very proud to announce the release of its newest single 'Bad Catholic' accompanied with music video. The music video was made by local TV/Production company Pangaea TV, and once it had reached 500 views the band released a free download of the single through their facebook page.

The band will also be releasing their Peter Miles-produced (Frank Turner, Tellison, We Are The Ocean) eponymous debut EP in February 2013 (date TBC), which will feature the second single ‘Heartbeat’, with guest vocals from Liam Cromby from We Are The Ocean. The whole EP, in fact, has...

Accountants prepare to count the cash raised in Movember!

A group of ‘Mo Bros’ from Exeter-based chartered accountancy firm Simpkins Edwards are preparing for a particularly hairy few weeks as they raise money for men’s health programmes by taking part in ‘Movember’.

Led by Partner Adrian Hemmings, who lost his father-in-law to prostate cancer 10 years ago, the team also includes Jamie Brimblecombe, Jason Chant, Jon Dufty, Nick Feeney, Phill Hargreaves, Mark Simic, Jordan Mitchell, Antony Norman and Richard Holt who are all based at the Exeter office.

Movember is an annual international campaign which takes place...

Six crews tackle fire at city centre office building

Authored by Newshound
Posted: Fri, 11/02/2012 - 8:47am

An investigation was this afternoon underway after a blaze at a three-storey office building in Exeter's Southernhay.

The alarm was raised at 7.30am by a passers by who spotted smoke billowing from the property.

Initially two appliances from Danes Castle and Middlemoor together with an aerial platform were sent to tackle the incident.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus forced their way into the building which was well alight.

At 7.49am they requested a further two appliances, which came from Danes Castle and Topsham, together with support appliances...

Exeter sweeps up at Devon Life Food & Drink Awards

Devon Life announced the winners of the 2012 Devon Life Food & Drink Awards at a glittering black tie event held at Exeter's Sandy Park last night. The ceremony honours the finest food and drink producers in Devon.

The Exeter Daily would like to congratulate all winners and finalists, but especially Exeter's St Peter's School for winning Best School Food Award, Ben Bulger of the Magdalen Chapter Hotel for winning Best Chef of the Year and The Hunstman Inn at Ide for winning Best Dining Pub of the Year. Special mentions also go to the Rodean Restaurant (Best Restaurant...

Top tips for saving energy and money this winter

Following Energy Saving Week (22nd October- 28th October) the UK’s largest home improvement company, B&Q has rounded up their top tips for saving energy and money this winter. B&Q’s eco experts have highlighted the best products and day-to-day tips that will help shrink energy bills in any type of home. Just follow these simple suggestions to a more cost-efficient and comfortable home.

Heating
  • Check that the central heating is on when people are in the house as heating an empty house is a waste of energy and money. For example, set the heating to come on 20

  • ...

Local business offers Father Christmas a helping hand!

A Devon removals company is volunteering its services to the charity Operation Christmas Child for the second year running.

The idea of the organisation is to encourage donations of shoeboxes filled with gifts. These shoe boxes are then delivered around the world to children who without this donation may not receive a Christmas gift. In 2011 Van Man Exeter contacted Operation Christmas Child’s Exeter base to offer our assistance.

We moved approximately 1400 cubic feet of boxes from Plymouth to join the 16,000 shoeboxes to leave the Exeter depot destined...

It's theatre in Exeter… but not as you know it…

Exeter is about to experience a completely different kind of theatre. In You With Me , there’s no stage, no visible actors, no audience sitting comfortably. Instead, this production offers a personal, unique and totally different experience, taking participants on a journey through Exeter and guiding them on a playful adventure in which unexpected incidents cause familiar routes to be seen with fresh eyes.

Participants are asked to meet in a well-known Exeter location. They receive a phone call and the performance begins. For 45 minutes, they talk to a stranger whilst...

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