Devon

Respect and protect our countryside this Easter

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Tue, 04/04/2023 - 11:16pm

Devon & Cornwall Police are reminding people to respect and protect rural communities and businesses this Easter, when exploring the countryside.

With the tourism season traditionally starting over the Easter holidays, Cornwall and Devon’s population can increase by around a third.

Cornwall’s Rural Affairs Officer for Devon & Cornwall Police, PC Chris Collins said: “We’d like to encourage people to take extra care when they explore the countryside this Easter to help protect our environment, our wildlife and our historic landmarks.

“We ask that people...

South West NHS prepares for Easter visitor demand ahead of strikes

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Tue, 04/04/2023 - 10:59pm

The NHS in the South West is preparing for the start of the holiday season, as the first of an expected 16 million-plus visitors start to arrive, increasing demand for services.

The NHS in the South West is preparing for the start of the holiday season, as the first of an expected 16 million-plus visitors start to arrive, increasing demand for services.

Tourists and local people are being encouraged to make best use of health services, especially as the Easter bank holiday weekend will be followed immediately by a four-day nationwide strike by hospital doctors.

...

Open day for Britannia Project

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Mon, 04/03/2023 - 10:04pm

A rare wooden boat being restored in a Devon village is celebrating its 108th birthday with an open day on 10 April.

The 58ft Britannia is being rebuilt by Sam and Vicki Samuels and a team of volunteers, 20 miles from the sea in the village of Winkleigh. A key part of the project is to train disadvantaged young people in the art of boatbuilding.

Sebastian Dixon, age 19, was unemployed before he joined the team two years ago. Despite having to commute 3 hours a day to get to Winkleigh, he hasn’t missed a day’s work since then and was recently awarded a £500 grant to buy...

Historic landmark church getting a £1.2 million makeover

A major project to refurbish a 160-year-old landmark Exeter church is set to begin in April.

The £1.2 million project to renovate the St Luke’s Chapel in Exeter is due to take around six months to complete.

The St Luke’s Chapel is on the Heavitree Road end of the University of Exeter’s St Luke’s Campus. Built in 1863 as part of the St Luke’s Church of England Teacher Training College, the Chapel suffered a direct hit from a bomb in 1942 and was rebuilt and rededicated in 1952. The Chapel offices are currently the home of the Chaplaincy on the St Luke’s Campus, offering...

You could win a year's free bus travel as Stagecoach celebrates a three-month extension to the £2 single fare scheme

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Sun, 04/02/2023 - 10:26pm

Stagecoach have announced today that over 15 million bus passengers have already taken advantage of the new £2 single fares since the launch of the initiative on 1 January 2023. And to celebrate reaching that milestone, Stagecoach have rewarded one lucky £2 fare customer with a year of free unlimited travel on Stagecoach buses.

Bianca, the first lucky winner, lives in Exeter and already uses the Stagecoach Bus App to buy her ticket in advance of her commute to work. She was delighted with her new unlimited pass and plans to make more adventurous journeys to great new destinations...

Exeter Airport and RNIB lead the way on ‘benchmark’ sight loss awareness sessions

Staff at Exeter Airport have joined forces with RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People) to undertake specialist awareness sessions, aimed at better-assisting passengers with sight loss and reduced mobility.

Around 20 members of the passenger assistance team (pictured) were involved in a series of two-hour practical sessions with the charity, where they wore glasses simulating common eye conditions and used white canes to complete a typical passenger journey through the airport.

The awareness sessions took place in the terminal building, check-in area, security...

Wife running in memory of rugby dad-of-three who never came home  

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Fri, 03/31/2023 - 10:21pm

A mum-of-three is running the 2023 TCS London Marathon in memory of her rugby player husband who died suddenly.

Jill Sims will be taking on the 26.2-mile challenge in memory of her husband, Dave, who died from a sudden heart attack in March last year just moments before he was due to meet up with his three sons.

Jill, aged 55 and from Bradninch, said: “Six months before he died, Dave had gone to his doctor. He’d woken up in the early hours of the morning with chest pains. He was perspiring too and I was worried there might have been something wrong with his heart.”...

Four at Four: SW specialist shares secrets of success

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Thu, 03/30/2023 - 11:54pm

Exeter-based, self-catering specialist, Luxury Coastal , celebrates its fourth anniversary on 31 March 2023 as one of the fastest-growing holiday providers in the south west, bringing 28,741 guests to the region in 2022, and achieving a year-on-year turnover growth of 28%. The Company remains committed to sharing its success within the local community, putting longevity before profit and is continuing to work towards B Corp accreditation over the next 12 months.

Managing Director, Phil Beattie, explains: “At our core is a commitment to support people, businesses and organisations...

The garden is most popular renovation space for South West homeowners

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Wed, 03/29/2023 - 11:04pm

Following a survey indicating that an increased number of people chose to carry out renovations in their homes in 2022, with outdoor areas being the most popular for spend in the South West, RGB Building Supplies is giving advice on budget-friendly improvements people can make in their gardens this spring.

The research, carried out by consumer spending experts at money.co.uk for its annual Renovation Nation Report1, found that from the 2,000 people surveyed, just over 88% indicated they had spent money on home renovations within the previous 12 months. This is an increase of 14%...

Pages