A Twitter campaign has begun - with the tongue-in-cheek hashtag of #FreetheTopsham1 - after the popular local PCSO Sarah Giles, who tweets as @TopshamPolice, was ordered to stop tweeting.
PCSO Giles, who has more than 1,000 followers, was told to close her account after her tweets about covering freshers weekend drew criticism from some quarters. Gareth Oughton, from the university’s Student Guild, said the police were contacted about “the reinforcement of negative stereotypes”.
Despite that belief, sparked by her fact-based comments on student mayhem and alcohol...
A Symphony of Curves is a rare opportunity to see the art of the architectural sculptor at close quarters and learn about the development of the craft of plasterwork over four centuries.
Geoffrey Preston is one of the UK’s most highly-regarded architectural sculptors. He specialises in decorative plasterwork and has created award-winning work for buildings all over the country from his workshop in Exeter.
The exhibition includes beautiful decorative plaster panels together with design drawings and photographs of some of his principal commissions. The centrepiece of...
Exeter’s leading independent financial services company, Cooper Associates, has been busy raising money for charity Dreams Come True by attempting to complete the National Three Peaks Challenge. Lisa Rawle, Group Office Manager at Cooper Associates, recently attempted the Three Peaks Challenge in aid of Dreams Come True, a charity working to fulfil the wishes of children with serious or terminal illnesses. The National Three Peaks Challenge involves a gruelling climb of Britain’s three highest mountains – England’s Scafell Pike, Wales’ Mount Snowdon and Scotland’s Ben Nevis. The challenge...
One of the most thrilling and influential theatre companies to emerge out of the South West made a welcome return to its roots at the end of September, when internationally acclaimed Footsbarn Travelling Theatre performed the Indian Tempest at Exeter's Northcott Theatre to rave reviews.
Having studied The Tempest as part of my Drama degree at University, I was intrigued to see how this multi-cultural, rich and evocative reworking would play out, and I was not to be disappointed. The overwhelming response from the opening night audience was a feeling that we were in the...
University of Exeter scientist Dr Fiona Mathews has discovered one of Britain’s rarest mammals living in East Devon. Members of the public were treated to a surprise close encounter with the Grey long-eared bat, believed to be one of only 1,000 individuals in the country, at an event organised by East Devon District Council’s Countryside Service at the Axe Estuary Wetlands.
The bat evening was part of a regular Wet and Wild Weekend – a celebration of the wildlife of the Axe Estuary Wetlands attracting nearly 500 people. Dr Mathews and fellow bat-enthusiast Adrian Bayley...
Exeter's Real Food Store and Cafe is celebrating on hearing the news that they have reached the final stages in this year's Food and Farming Awards in the Best Local Food Retailer category. This unusual project was started by a group of enthusiastic food lovers who upheld values of sustainability, locality and seasonality. This team also had a wealth of experience in bringing about enterprises that positively impact on both members within the immediate community and non-members alike. The nomination said, “Excellent customer service with knowledgeable staff, and high quality food which...
The Guildhall Shopping Centre is hosting the first markets in Exeter to truly celebrate the innovation and creativity of local designers and entrepreneurs – a concept which mirrors the findings of the Portas Review of the High Street published by Mary Portas late last year. Exeter Innovations Market launched in the shopping centre on Friday 27th April, where it will now be held every month for 3 days on the last weekend of the month. The market will focus on quality, choice and innovation and will be a showcase for creative people to bring new and exciting products, designs and food to the...
Exeter's new designer charity boutique on Paris Street, Sprout, which raises funds for homeless charity Emmaus, will be officially launched on Wednesday 6th October by Terry Waite, the charity's President and former special envoy to the Archbishop of Canterbury who was taken captive in Lebanon in 1987 whilst negotiating the release of Western hostages. The shop was decorated by a team of former homeless people, who rolled up their sleeves for the charity that helped them to get their lives back on track.
Emmaus Exeter will use funds raised by Sprout Boutique to help combat the...
Why would you give up a well paid job and take on a full-on Farm Shop in a recession? Well it has become a family affair - and an obsession to create something special on a local basis - for Mandy Pitts, Shaun Ryder and daughter Ellena, with a little help from a staff of 20 local people. Ryders Bakery took the leap to move its HQ from Dawlish to their farm in Kenn, a purpose-built bakery, trebling its size and opening the door for expansion with access to a quicker road network for better distribution. Mandy, after 30 years in the Recruitment industry, was keen to take on a new challenge...
One of Britain's key marine clothing and footwear brands, Chatham Marine has announced the appointment of two key new members of staff and a considerable promotion. Joining Chatham is new sales director, Ian O’Connor, product and marketing assistant, Kathryn Lythgoe and Alex Peirce, former product and marketing assistant, has been promoted to regional sales manager.
The appointments follow a number of significant launches at Chatham this summer, including an exciting collaboration with leisure brand Raging Bull and the highly successful launch of Chatham’s innovative sail cloth...
