When a Freemasons Lodge was first established in Moretonhampstead a town on Dartmoor in 1932 they purchased the freehold of their present building.
They selected the name “Sanctuary Lodge” after “Sentry Field” where French prisoners held during the Napoleonic War could, if they escaped from Dartmoor prison claim sanctuary and possibly become parole prisoners working for the local gentry of the area.
Due to a large increase in membership from the Tavistock area in recent times, a decision was taken by the lodge members to move the lodge and sell the building, re-establishing...
A Christmas party for children organised by Exeter charity Dream-A-Way was given a festive boost thanks to the local Tesco Extra store. Colleagues from the Tesco Extra Exeter Vale handed over a cheque for £350 to the charity, which helps people with physical and learning difficulties throughout Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Jo Evans, Community Champion at the Tesco Extra Exeter Vale store, and a team of colleagues attended the Christmas party, at Wonford Community Centre & Learning Centre Burnthouse Lane, which provides and keeps open a Community Centre for the benefit of...
Local carol singers fundraising will help bring practical gifts to communities across the world this Christmas. On Tuesday 13 December, a group of carollers and musicians from Blessed Sacrament in Exeter put on a wonderful performance in their local Tesco.
The group of singers were accompanied by a flautist, guitarist and violinist, and returned to the store after performing for Christmas shoppers last year. The performance raised over £275 which they will be donating to aid agency CAFOD and will help to buy practical gifts for communities across the world this Christmas, through...
The University of Exeter’s a cappella band Semi-Toned is topping their win of a nationwide singing competition by releasing a festive medley.
The all-male group, which recently won the BBC2 primetime show The Choir: Gareth’s Best in Britain, is today releasing their charity single A Very Semi-Toned Christmas. It features some of the best known and loved hits of the Christmas season, including classics by Bing Crosby, Mariah Carey, Wham! And Elvis Presley.
The single will raise funds for Order of Malta Volunteers (OMV) which encourages 17-29 year olds to aid those less...
A charity run community café in Exeter will open its doors to the elderly and lonely on Christmas Day.
Café 55, run by national disability charity Sense, will offer a free Christmas lunch, with all the trimmings, for up to 30 people who would otherwise be spending the day alone. Guests will also be treated to some festive entertainment including carols sung by The Rediscover Church choir, and presents and food donated by the Pinhoe and Guildhall Sainsbury’s stores. Café 55’s Manager, Jane Tucker, was inspired to host the event after speaking to a member of the charity’s social...
The Exeter Foundation has donated £5000 to Exeter-based adult hospice charity, Hospiscare, to help fund 60 nurse bags.
The bags, which will hold key pieces of diagnostic equipment, will be used by Hospiscare’s 28 community nurses and bank staff at patient’s homes, nursing homes and at hospices to help diagnose patients more directly.
In addition to the 60 bags, the donation has facilitated the purchase of key equipment including thermometers, stethoscopes, urinalysis sticks, pulse oximeters – which check and monitor changes in pulse rates, and sphygmomanometers – which...
This year’s Lord's Taverners Christmas lunch proved to be another success with 600 business people attending the event at Sandy Park on 6th December.
The fundraising lunch began with a drinks reception, delicious festive meal and the chance to bid in the charity auction. Auction prizes up for grabs included a box at the Exeter Chiefs, party for up to 75 people at Jack in the Green and private meal cooked by celebrity chef Mitch Tonks, with an invite for 4 people to attend the Lympstone Manor launch party reaching a substantial £2900!
Three convertible chairs have been donated to Bolham Ward at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital to enable carers to stay with their relatives if they need to whilst in hospital.
The donation to the Bolham Ward Trust Fund has been made in memory of former patient Patrick Tilbury by local charities The Exeter Foundation, The Exeter Lions and close friend Laura Coniam.
Patrick’s parents Barbara and David Tilbury organised the £4500 donation to the neurological ward where he spent time being cared for earlier this year.
Barbara Tilbury said: “Sadly David and I were in...
Princesshay will host the Farms for City Children Tractor Appeal on Saturday 17th December, with their vintage Massey Ferguson 165 as well as entertainment from local musicians and performers to bring Christmas cheer to visitors in the city.
Farms for City Children have launched their fundraising campaign to raise £20,000 to replace the old worn out tractor used on the farm in Devon.
Founded in 1976 by Michael and Clare Morpurgo, Farms for City Children offers urban children from across the country an opportunity to live and work on a real farm for a week. The charity...
Christmas is the time for giving so pupils from Exeter Deaf Academy have dressed up as ‘Santa’s Little Helpers’ to ask their local community to give the gift of volunteering this festive season.
In the run up to Christmas, Exeter Deaf Academy need volunteers to give just 3 hours to help sell car raffle tickets in Princesshay Exeter on weekdays, weekends or on a Thursday Late Night Shopping evening.
Raffle tickets are sold by volunteers from the Exeter Deaf Academy stand in Princesshay up until Christmas Eve. So far, volunteers have sold over 4,000 raffle tickets, but with...
