Anyone going to the south coast of Devon this May would be advised to be prepared for some swashbuckling as pirates will be everwhere; from Brixham to Plymouth, stopping off for a knees-up at Exmouth Rugby Club.

Scrumpstock, a cider festival which celebrates keeping Devon’s apple varieties and traditional pressing methods alive, will join in the notorious seafarers’ fun with its own Pirate Day on the final of three days of music, family entertainments, activities and opportunities to discover an ever-expanding selection of ciders.

Young pirates, who may not have waged...

Hospiscare provides palliative and end of life care for Exeter people but would like to do more if funding allowed.

The local charity was responding to a new report which says the UK's care system for dying patients with terminal illnesses is lacking and needs a major overhaul.

According to London School of Economics researchers, more than 100,000 people a year who would benefit from palliative care are not getting it.

Tim Harlow, Hospiscare consultant said: “Hospiscare’s recognises that there is much to be done and we would like to do more locally.

"It...

Michael Gunn, a member of St Luke’s Church at Newton Poppleford, one of the first people to cash in his pension under the government’s reforms, has donated a sum of it to the church building repair fund.

Mr Gunn, 57, received his funds yesterday (April 7) under the new scheme allowing over 55s to cash in a defined-contribution pension fund. He will also pay for his daughter’s wedding and take his wife on a cruise.

Churchwarden Haylor Lass explained that, following a fire in 2011, the repair plans have been slow and that Mr Gunn’s donation will give them the “kick-start”...

Out of nearly 100 applications, Jessica Abigail from Exeter has been selected to attend the semi finals to fight for her place at Le Cordon Bleu London as scholarship winner. The UK’s leading culinary school has only one place for a winning candidate to study for a Diplôme de Cuisine, followed by a three month Diploma in Culinary Management. Jessica said:: “I am shocked and very happy, I feel so grateful and honoured that Le Cordon Bleu London chose me to go to the semi-final. I know that this is the start of my culinary journey.” The prize is worth in excess of £35,000 and includes...

There were rapid takings at River Dart Country Park’s end of season paddler’s party hosted last month, as kayakers came together and raised a staggering £1,420 for local charity, Dartmoor Search and Rescue Ashburton.

The annual event, this year sponsored by South Coast Canoes, played host to an array of kayaking entertainment. Fundraising events such as raffles and sponsored challenges, including races across the park’s high ropes course, helped to raise the impressive sum.

The River Dart runs right through the middle of River Dart Country Park and is a kayaking hotspot...

Glenn Cosby, a contestant in the 2013 series of BBC TV’s Great British Bake Off, is the guest speaker at the first of Exeter Racecourse’s series of ‘Business Breakfast’ networking events, which takes place on Friday, April 17.

Cosby was head of the sixth form at Teignmouth Community School at the time of his Great British Bake Off success. Now he is immersed in the food industry with his new company, ‘Bake It Big Productions’, which lives up to its name of big baking cookery demonstrations having toured the country and also run the month-long Edinburgh Fringe festival.

He...

Leading Security Solutions experts Gunnebo UK has joined forces with the country’s largest uniformed locksmiths network, LockRite Locksmiths, to provide powerful additional services to customers.

It is a natural alliance for the two companies, which both have big name customers that prize excellent service, products and delivery.

“Strategic partnerships are an extremely valuable way of expanding the range of quality services offered by Gunnebo. I am therefore particularly pleased to announce our alliance with LockRite, who share our vision for quality and customer service...

Honesty, compromise – and at least two TVs in the home have been named among the top secrets to a happy marriage, a study has revealed.

Researchers polled 2,000 happily married Brits and found that alongside the more well-known tips, these couples also suggest having two cars, two toilets or bathrooms and at least one night a week away from computers or tablets.

Getting on with each other’s friends and family, having no ex-partners on your Facebook friends list and separate bank accounts also feature in the top 50 secrets.

Blissful couples also say trust,...