With several viral internet hits, appearances on Mock The Week, a debut performance on Comedy Central Live and an upcoming debut on 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown later…

An exciting new early years reading programme with stickers to collect has been launched in libraries across Devon and Torbay, aiming to inspire a lifelong love of reading. Libro’s Friends is an extension of Libraries Unlimited’s hugely successful The Secret Book Quest, which was launched in 2021. Both programmes have been created as part of Libraries Unlimited’s drive to boost the reading skills of children in the county. The Secret Book Quest uses a free sticker collection book to set older children a 50-book goal and takes them on a journey through topics ranging from space to animals. With Libro’s Friends, under-5s will get a similar sticker book and the chance to collect eight unique stickers to find out where Libro the Cat’s animal friends are hiding. Libro is an established character in The Secret Book Quest, created by the illustrator, Emily Fox. Emily is an acclaimed children’s book illustrator whose has created artwork for the covers of children’s classics as well as a compilation of writing edited by award-winning author, Katherine Rundell. Children who go to their library with their parents or carers and sign up for Libro’s Friends will get the sticker book…

The Music in Devon Initiative (MIDI) are announcing the first wave of live bands across two stages for the 2024 Poltimore Music & Arts Festival on Friday 22nd March and that tickets are now on sale: https://www.fatsoma.com/e/yay1hd0p/poltimore-festival-2024 Held in the grounds and the inside of Poltimore House over two days on May bank holiday Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th May, the live band line-up on the Main and Acoustic Courtyard stages will be: The Main Stage; Sat 25th May Drea and the Pandas 1-1.45pm To be Announced 3-3.45 Pattern Pusher 5-5.45pm Haytor 7-7.45pm Free’Minds 9-9.45pm The Scribes 10-10.45pm The Acoustic Courtyard Stage; Sat 25TH May 3 Days of Wonder 12-12.45pm Rosy Grace 2-2.45pm Soot Sprite 4-4.45pm Bradley the Busker 6-6.45pm Kid Hyena 8-8.45pm   The Main Stage; Sun 26th May Billie Bottle 1-1.45pm The Upper Hand 3-3.45pm Twilight of the Pleasure Gods 5-5.45pm Rameagle 7-7.45pm Moriaty 9-9.45pm Datura Roots Collective 10-10.45pm The Acoustic Courtyard Stage; Sun 26th May Jacob Terry 12-12.45pm Sonyechko 2-2.45pm …

Creative thinkers in and around Exeter are being invited to “put their own stamp on the city’s future history” as part of a What’s in a Name? competition – and be in with a chance of winning a cash prize. The UK’s leading developer and manager of retirement communities,McCarthy Stone, is challenging locals to come up with a name for its forthcoming Retirement Living development on Topsham Road, which will comprise a stylish collection of one- and two-bedroom apartments exclusively designed for the over 60s. The winner of the What’s in a Name? competition will receive a cash prize of £200 and see the development bear the chosen name when it opens. To be in with a chance of naming McCarthy Stone’s new Exeter development and winning £200, simply emailmccarthyandstone@mccann.com with your proposed development name and the reason behind it. Please include your name and contact details in the email and add ‘Exeter naming competition’ in the email subject header. The competition is open to people of all ages from the local and surrounding areas, and the deadline for entries is 22nd March 2024 Nicki Beswarick, Divisional Marketing Manager for McCarthy Stone, said: “Our latest development in Exeter will offer a unique opportunity for…

A Devon-wide organisation is presenting its third event this Winter, to usher in the coming of spring. Anyone with a love of jazz will find a rich tapestry of music, woven by a master of the genre. The Piano and Me will feature Mike Westbrook and is being produced by the Devonshire Association’s Music and Folklore Section (DAMFS) which is a new organisation amalgamating two established groups. It is hosted in association with The Bridge Inn, Topsham which is a recognised venue for high quality music events. Mike is taking a break from his larger gigs to present an up close and personal experience, talking us through his lifelong relationship with the piano and providing copious illustrations. You are invited to come and spend some time experiencing the skill of this extraordinary musician in a beautifully informal and intimate environment. The venue is The Bridge Inn, Topsham, who are providing a selection of excellent real ales and bar facilities. The event was initiated by DAMFS committee member Robin Wootton who said: “We are delighted Mike has agreed to play for us: the wonderful quality of the piano at The Bridge Inn together with this genius jazz…

Exeter’s Tyler Grange names Jon Berry as Managing Director, as Simon Ursell moves to Chair   Exeter-based B Corp four-day week firm environmental consultancy Tyler Grange has appointed Jon Berry as Managing Director….

Twelve UK gas hob manufacturers have been working with the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) to undertake a corrective action programme to make certain gas hobs safe.   An estimated 100,000 gas hobs sold in the UK may be fitted with a connector that is at risk of failing whether the hob is in use or not. Should this occur, it could lead to poisoning, burns, a gas leak or fire.   This corrective action programme affects certain models of the following brands of gas hobs:  · Belling / Stoves  · Cata / Culina  · Caple  · Comfee  · Cooke & Lewis  · Cookology  · Electriq  · KitchenPlus  · Russell Hobbs  · Samsung  · Statesman  · Swan  Should your model be included above, or if you are not sure of your gas hob model, please contact the Freephone numbers below, where an adviser can assist with checking your model and providing further information between 8am – 6pm BST 7 days a week.   All of the companies included in the corrective action are committed to ensuring people’s safety, which is why they are notifying customers…

The world’s largest garden wildlife survey returns this month, with hundreds of thousands of people watching and counting the UK’s garden birds over the last weekend in January for the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch. Over half a million people took part in 2023, counting more than nine million birds. In Devon, nearly 10,900 people took part, with the House Sparrow taking the top spot as the most commonly seen bird, followed by Blue Tit and Blackbird.  This year’s event takes place on 26, 27 and 28 January 2024. People in Devon are asked to spend an hour watching and counting the birds in their garden, balcony or local park, then send their results to the RSPB. This year’s event marks 45 years since the first Big Garden Birdwatch. Starting in 1979, it has since become a much-loved annual citizen science event, that gives the RSPB a valuable snapshot of how garden birds are doing in the UK. Over that time, 185 million birds have been counted and nearly 11.5 million hours spent watching and counting garden birds. Beccy Speight, the RSPB’s Chief Executive, said: “By taking part in the Birdwatch you are joining hundreds of thousands of people…

Local homeless charity Julian House announces the return of the annual Big Exeter Sleep-Out event at St James Park Football Stadium, in partnership with Exeter City Community Trust. The event takes place on the 22nd March 2024, and the charity is inviting members of the public to sleep outside for one night; to help support those forced to sleep out every night in the city and across Devon. Julian House is a South-West-based charity that helps vulnerable, homeless, and at-risk people get back on their feet and rebuild their lives. The charity operates over 40 distinct projects, accommodation sites, and social enterprises across South-West England, extending a lifeline to over 2000 individuals annually. This year, an enduring housing crisis and escalating living costs mean the call for their life-saving services has been louder than ever. The charity urges individuals, student groups, corporate teams, and families to take part in the event. It’s suitable for anybody who is concerned about the issue of homelessness in their community and is looking to take some action and raise funds for a worthwhile local cause. Annabelle Lowes, Senior Community and Events Fundraiser at Julian House, said: “We are thankful that…

The run-up to Christmas has been busy for local health and wellbeing charity Westbank Community Health and Care, with a full calendar of events for members of its community and its team.  The festive celebrations got off to a heartwarming start when Year 2 children from Exeter Pre-Prep School visited Westbank’s Day Centre at Exminster to sing a melody of Christmas songs for regular clients. The following day, the Royal Oak in Exminster kindly hosted a 3-course meal for fifty of Westbank’s clients to mark the end of a year of fantastic support from the pub.  Westbank’s Head of Fundraising and Marketing, Katie Elliott, who attended the Christmas lunch, says, “The Royal Oak pulled out all the stops again this year, providing our clients with a delicious meal, much enjoyed and appreciated by all who attended. The pub was beautifully decorated, and the food was plentiful! Many thanks to Mel and the team for making it such a lovely event.  “Thanks also to all our wonderful volunteers who came along to help. One of our volunteers donated a beautiful Christmas hamper that was raffled off over lunch and raised over £100 to support Westbank’s work in the community.  “The icing on…