Exeter

SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity has donated 60 hampers to local members of the Armed Forces community in need this Christmas.

The SSAFA Devon branch has donated 60 hampers and 28 gift cards across the county to those in need this Christmas across the local area.

On Tuesday 10th December, the charity hosted a hamper presentation at the Exeter Guildhall where the Lord Mayor Councillor Peter Holland presented ten hampers to local beneficiaries.

Corporate supporters were also in attendance on the day, including Fraser and Wheeler Estate Agents, Gilbert Stephens LLP...

Stagecoach South West brought Christmas cheer to children this week when its Santa bus visited Children’s Hospice South West in North Devon.

Gary the Rabbit and the Stagecoach elves visited the charity’s Little Bridge House hospice near Barnstaple to hand out festive treats including goody bags and art and craft supplies for the sensory playroom.

Little Bridge House provides respite, palliative, end-of-life and bereavement support for nearly 200 children with life-limiting conditions and their families. Parents can take a break from being primary carers for a few days and...

Election staff had to deal with a particularly prickly ‘voter’ in Exeter yesterday.

A hedgehog turned up unexpectedly at a polling station in the city whilst voting for the General Election was taking place.

The hedgehog appeared at the polling station at the Sea Cadets premises in Haven Banks.

Poll Clerk Maggie Keenan said the visitor caused quite a stir amongst voters, climbing the steps and walking past a teller.

“He casually strolled in and members of the public were very intrigued with him and took lots of pictures,” said Maggie.

The hedgehog...

Castle Drogo will be open for Christmas for the first time since a major conservation project began seven years ago to make the building watertight.

Although the building work now has the end in sight, there is still much work to be done to restore the castle’s grounds and interiors back into the Drewe’s family home, which is likely to continue into 2020. However, the building is now watertight, meaning that Christmas can return to the castle once again.

From Saturday 30 November until Monday 23 December, Castle Drogo will be open and decorated for Christmas, inspired by...

Through its Well Built Community Fund, RGB Building Supplies has already donated £5,000 for groups, charities and schools to spend at its branches this year. It has one last giveaway for 2019 and is calling for nominations for the chance to win £1,000 to purchase building materials or tools.

RGB's Community Fund aims to help groups complete much-needed projects that they would not otherwise be able to.

The donation is to be spent at an RGB branch and can be used to buy materials to complete a renovation project, or perhaps tools that could help with construction trade...

Comedy star Joel Dommett is familiar with challenges after his memorable runners-up spot in the 2016 ‘I’m a Celebrity….Get Me Out of Here’. His most recent challenge saw him go head-to-head with fellow former campmates Dean Gaffney and Rosemary Shrager, not in the jungle but on a Catchphrase celebrity special last weekend.

Joel’s unique humour and quick wit sparkled again as he won £11,200 for charity Brain Tumour Support, a charity that runs support groups in Exeter and Plymouth (see below).

“I can’t believe how much money I won!” said Joel. “Turns out – I’m good at...

An Exeter district nurse is back on the road and completing her essential work in the community thanks to a new fund set up to help those motorists most in need.

Trish Perry is back doing her rounds in her VW Polo after receiving help with her repair bill from the TPS ‘Genuine Parts For Genuine Causes’ fund’.

The new scheme offers individuals, community projects and charitable organisations the opportunity to apply to local independent garages, which have a TPS account, for help with repairs needed to keep their vehicles on the road.

Prior to the work carried out to...