More than twenty members of the Mid Devon health and fitness group, Way to Fitness, grabbed the opportunity to get naked and raise funds for Exeter-based FORCE Cancer Charity. Emma Healey, Fitness Instructor and Personal Performance Coach with Way To Fitness and Shine Brighter Coaching, put out a call for volunteers after a suggestion from a member. ‘We only had three weeks to put everything together because everyone has such busy schedules,’ explained Emma. Crediton photographer Andrea Wyatt stepped in to take the pictures while the calendar was Art Directed by Rachel Vowles, formerly at Exeter’s Northcott Theatre. Once FORCE was decided on as the charity they put the team in touch with Brightsea Print Group who were enthusiastic to continue their generous support. Over one very busy weekend a wide variety of props were gathered and the photographs were taken in Sandford Parish Hall and Scout Hut. The resulting collection features everything from a winter wonderland to springtime frolics in the hay, surfing and picnics in summer, harvest time and on to unwrapping Christmas presents around the tree, all in varying degrees of nudity! But it is not all naked ladies… October features six stalwarts of Emma’s Monday Men on…

Quayside Distillery, a leading name in artisanal craft spirits, is thrilled to announce the winners of their much-anticipated Still Naming Competition. The competition, which invited the people of Exeter and beyond to name the stills at their prestigious distillery, has concluded with two creative and meaningful names chosen by the distillery’s owner, George Nightingale: “Temperance” and “Clarence.” The competition garnered an enthusiastic response from the local community, as participants became eager for the chance to leave an everlasting mark on the distillery and its legacy. The winning names were carefully selected for their historical significance and deep connection to the local heritage of Exeter. The first name, “Temperance”, pays homage to a pivotal moment in Exeter’s history. It is a tribute to the last witch, Temperance Lloyd, to be executed in the UK, an event that unfolded right in the heart of Exeter’s city centre. The second winning name, “Clarence,” stands as a heartfelt tribute to the Clarence Hotel on Exeter Cathedral Green. This historic establishment, which tragically met its fate in a devastating fire in 2016, holds a special place in the hearts of locals and visitors alike.  In addition to the honour of naming…

Experts will use magic tricks to explain human actions and to illustrate how they help people to make sense of the world as part of the British Science Festival in Exeter. The event, held at the Exeter Phoenix, will showcase University of Exeter research on how entertainment magic can help explain the fallibility of perception and reasoning. Brian Rappert, a sociologist from the University of Exeter, and Gustav Kuhn a psychologist from the University of Plymouth, will perform sleight of hand tricks and illusions. The audience will be able to ask questions and will be given a chance to perform themselves!  Professor Rappert, who is a member of the Magic Circle said: “Magic offers a method for understanding ourselves, our relations to others, and how we make sense of the world around us. “We make assumptions all the time about what we think we see, and our thought processes, when we may not be right. The art of magic is based on deception, sleight of hand and illusions that exploit our blind spots, psychological biases and social conventions. Studying these bases can do more than just create entertaining experiences that defy what we believe to be possible….

ENJOY the very best music, song and dance from Dartmoor and beyond at the forthcoming three-day Dartmoor Folk Festival. A beautiful little festival in the heart of Dartmoor, it will take place from Friday, August 11 to Sunday, August 13. The villages of South Zeal and South Tawton play host to top local and national folk artists at the 46th annual event. The festival includes a packed programme of events and activities, some free-of-charge and others at reasonable prices. There will be hotly-contested competitions, one involving dancing with a broom and the other with a 15-inch square board!  Small and family friendly but with a big line-up, many of the artists appearing this year will be well-known. The fabulous Dartmoor Pixie Band, with caller Sarah Bazeley, the host band, kick off the first night with a ceilidh. Doors open at South Tawton Primary School at 7.30pm with dancing from 8pm to 11pm. There will be a full licensed bar. JIM CAUSLEY There will also be a concert with Sykes Martin and Jim Causley. Jim hails from the village of Whimple in East Devon, he was born in Exeter and is…

Shop with a clear conscious at Worth The Weight, Exeter on Sunday 23rd July. Next weekend Worth The Weight is returning to The Corn Exchange, with nine tonnes of handpicked vintage and pre-owned stock to have a rummage through.  There will be 60 rails of clothing, where shoppers can pick and mix from the best Denim, Sports, Ladies fashion, Men’s fashion, Outerwear and accessorises and pay on the scales at the end. It costs £20 per kilo, with prices starting as little as £1. It’s a cost-effective way of getting bulk sustainable clothing and helping the environment at the same time. Based in Sheffield, Worth the Weight was founded in 2018 as a way of fighting fast fashion. Since its inception, the company has taken the UK by storm travelling the length and breadth of the country with tonnes of amazing vintage stock every weekend. Chris Davies, Worth the Weight Organiser, said: “We’re excited to be coming back to Exeter next weekend as we know that the area is full of eco-conscious fashion lovers.” Worth The Weight will return to The Corn Exchange next Sunday 23rd July from 10am until 4pm. Entry is £3 for early…