Devon

It’s not every day you hear your little‘un announce: “I’m off to school to have the best day EVER!”

For the parents of one lucky child, this will be music to the ears if their son or daughter is the winner of the Tesco Back to School Competition. And not just that, they’ll also be the most popular person in their class – as the prize is not just for them, but for all their classmates too! How cool would it be for the kids to have a dance class with JLS boy band member Aston Merrygold? He’s certain to get them all up and on their feet busting a few moves on the dance floor - and if...

Creative youngsters began their two-week intensive Summer School at the Exeter Northcott Theatre this week. From 12-24 August participants, aged between 13 and 18, will be working with Devon Youth Theatre's Artistic Director Erin Walcon and a skilled team at the Exeter Northcott to develop a professional piece of theatre culminating in two performances at the theatre on Saturday 24 August.

“We spent the first day creating mini devised pieces. Our young participants have looked into notions of trustworthyness, white lies and awkward truths. We’re so excited about what the rest of...

An opportunity to experience the unfolding excavations at the largest Roman village ever found in Devon is open to members of the public on Sunday 18 August, at the site near Ipplepen in South Devon. The site is of tremendous importance and has produced excitement in the archaeological world and beyond. The systematic excavation of the site originally began in the summer of 2012. Previously unknown, the Romano-British site was discovered as a result of metal detected Roman coin found by Mr. Phillip Wills and Mr Dennis Hewings which was recorded with the Portable Antiquities Scheme. A...

New data from research company ICM reveals that 57% of young people in the South West would choose to do an Apprenticeship if one were available. Nationally, the numbers of young people who would like to do an Apprenticeship rises to 56% of those who are already university students and 66% of those who are already employed, but receiving no training. The increasing popularity of Apprenticeships among young people comes after previous business research, released earlier in 2013, showed that employers find apprentices 15% more employable than young people with other qualifications. In the...

Entrepreneur, Business Consultant, Author, Speaker

Peter Thornton is the proprietor of Peter Thornton Associates, a consultancy business which does work for family business and non-family business at a strategic level. He is the author of ‘Thorntons – My Life in the Family Business’, a book which covers his life story, his whole experience in the family business and the story of the family business from its foundation in 1911 until the date that he left in 1987. Most recently, he has launched Dermatuff Ltd, which develops, manufactures and supplies Thin Skin Protection Socks and...

A charity bike ride across six countries from Denmark to Devon will finish in Exeter Cathedral Green on Saturday 10 August.

Richard Cowie is cycling from Odense in Denmark to raise money for Ewing’s Sarcoma Research Trust. Richard was inspired to raise money for ESRT when his university friend Tim Woollcott died earlier this year. The 1500km ride began on July 23 in Odense where Richard studied as part of his Swansea University degree, and the ride ends in Tim’s home county of Devon.

Tim, who was from Dawlish Warren, also studied at Swansea University and attended Exeter...

Police are seeking witnesses after a Good Samaritan was assaulted after going to help a woman in trouble in Newton Abbot. The 25-year-old man went to the aid of a woman who was having a heated argument with a man in Forde Park. But when he intervened the other man became aggressive and struck him across the forearm several times with a metal object, possibly a knife. The victim, from Newton Abbot, sustained scratches to his arm but defended himself and the offender fell to the ground. Police are now appealing for information about the assault which happened on Thursday 1 August between 10....

A newly formed local company is to provide a ground-breaking health screening service to clients across the South West. Exeter-based business partners Terri Bainbridge and Lisa Portman have launched Thermalogica, providing revolutionary Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging (DITI). A sophisticated camera is used to detect heat in order to measure the physiological activity, creating a map or thermal fingerprint of the infrared patterns of the body.

Still relatively new to the UK, DITI is widely established throughout America and some parts of Europe and is supported by 30 years of...

Devon has been selected to host this year’s national Rural Health Conference, being held at Sandy Park, Exeter, on Friday, 18 October.

Organised by the Rural Health Network, and supported by Devon County Council, the theme of this year’s conference is “Challenging Times – One Year On” – working together to deliver effective rural health services.

Councillor Andrea Davis, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member for health and wellbeing said: “It’s an honour to be hosting this event, which is highly significant for Devon and its population, as one of the largest rural...