At the recent Exeter Diocesan clergy conference our three Bishops participated in a panel answering questions from the floor on a variety of contemporary topics. One of those raised was, ‘what are the greatest social challenges facing the people of Devon who we seek to serve at this time ?’ The Bishops responded with helpful comments such as our ageing population, new housing developments, pressures on land-use and the future of farming, as well as health concerns including dementia, loneliness and mental well-being. Their replies prompted me to think about my own response and, whilst not...
The Devon County Show's Prince of Wales Award has its first urban winner, in the shape of Park Life, Heavitree, in the heart of Exeter. The award, which carries a first prize of £1,000, is given each year for community projects which build local sustainability, which is what Park Life is all about.
It was set up five years ago by three local families with the aim of using Heavitree Pleasure Grounds to bring local people together to have fun, get to know and help each other and lead more fulfilling lives, all in the beautiful setting of Exeter's largest green space. As well as...
A leading nature charity is planning to reveal the secrets of the South West’s wonderful marine wildlife at a special event being organised for recreational boat owners and the wider public.
The event, entitled ‘Life Beneath the Keel’, is being staged by Devon Wildlife Trust at the Mount Batten Centre, Plymouth, between 10am and 2.30pm on Saturday 16 April.
Life Beneath the Keel is free to attend and open to everyone but has a focus on the boat owning community. Mike Elsey, Devon Wildlife Trust’s Corporate Relations Officer, explained the charity’s thinking. Mike said:...
As a world leader in providing weather and climate services, the Met Office employs more than 1,700 people at 60 locations around the world.
It is recognised as one of the world's most accurate forecasters and is at the forefront of climate research. But have you ever wondered just what goes on behind the scenes at the Met Office? Helen Chivers, Head of News and Social Media, will give a personal view of the Met Office, from working in the forecasting centres around the UK to the challenging role of heading up the press office. Helen was a Met Office operational meteorologist for...
The University of Exeter has cemented its position among the very best universities in the world for Life Sciences.
The subject now ranks 82nd in the prestigious Times Higher Education (THE) Life Sciences Rankings 2015-16, up from 99th last year – a climb of 17 places. Exeter ranked at number 15 in the UK, up two places from 17, in a year when the country topped the national tables for the first time.
The Life Sciences ranking assesses the top 100 Universities in the world in this field. They are analysed across 13 performance indicators in a wide range of activity,...
I grew up in a society where our values – the principles which influence and shape our relationships – were determined in general by education. For my generation, the learning which took place at home, school, or in church and college, for example, was formative in developing who we have become as human beings. In this environment, we learned that personal bonds and friendships offered us boundaries in which we could give and take.
Furthermore, we were aware that who we were also partly determined who other people were too, whether in nearby communities or distant countries. We...
When considering the various things that can save a life, most may not think to turn to their kitchen, purse, or pocket. However, it’s very likely that everyone carries at least one life-saving product on a regular basis without even knowing it.
Who knew items like dental floss, bin bags, and credit cards could save lives – read on to find out how.
1 - Glasses
Survival is one situation where being called “four eyes” may come in handy. Glasses can be used to start a fire and create distress signals. To start a fire, begin by collecting tinder, like lint or Spanish...
I’ve found myself thinking about things I take for granted recently, writes our blogger, Ali.
As I write that, I realise that in that one sentence I have both started and concluded my blog. I mean, if I am thinking about them now, I can hardly claim to be taking them for granted, can I? Oh well – short and sweet. View this saved time as a reward for getting through my other musings!
As if you would get off that lightly! No, you’re here for the duration so here goes.
I guess the first thing that made me think about it was joining a sign language club at my work. We...
Last week I wrote about how unemployment had affected me and how I got through it. One further thought came to mind in terms of survival techniques. Over the last year I have come to realise how critical it is for me to find ways of testing myself.
After years of the 9-5 (and in truth many more of the 8-7) I was looking for a bit of excitement and in the last year I’ve found a variety of ways to spice things up.
I guess the first example of this was going travelling by myself. About 2 days into my redundancy I was whinging to a friend about how bored I was...
