Devon News

Devon’s local heroes recognised by King Charles

Devon’s local heroes recognised by King Charles

Royal NavyAngie Cheal, pictured encouraging a fellow sailor during a recovery triathlon, described the honour as "incredible"A number of people in Devon have been honoured by His Majesty the King in the 2025 New Year Honours List.Among those recognised is Angie Cheal, a Royal Navy Warrant Officer, who has been appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her dedication to helping sailors and Royal Marines recover from serious illness and injury.The Plymouth-based 51-year-old…

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Josh Hodge: Newcastle re-sign England A full-back from Exeter

Josh Hodge: Newcastle re-sign England A full-back from Exeter

Hodge, a former England Under-20 international, has scored 29 tries in his 89 appearances for the Chiefs.As a product of the Newcastle academy, Hodge's homecoming represents a turning of the tide of recent seasons, with the club's sporting general manager Neil McIlroy keen to see the deal as a statement to their emerging talent."There's understandable frustration around the number of players who have developed in Newcastle's academy, but who have moved away to fulfil their ambitions," McIlroy said."We…

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Decline in adoption rates at Devon animal rescue group

Decline in adoption rates at Devon animal rescue group

An animal rescue centre said less people have been adopting its dogs due to animals' behavioural issues.Gables Cats and Dogs Home in Plymouth said some dogs in its care were "difficult" and had certain requirements, making it harder to find their forever homes.General manager Claire Sparkes said a lot of the rescue dogs were bought in during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown and had not been socialised or trained. She added that some dogs also suffered from separation anxiety,…

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Greg Fisilau: England ‘can’t ignore’ Exeter centre – Dave Walder

Greg Fisilau: England ‘can’t ignore’ Exeter centre – Dave Walder

With Exeter's marquee summer signing Len Ikitau ruled out until March with a shoulder injury, the Chiefs turned to Will Rigg at inside centre.The 25-year-old made his first league start of the season and impressed in defence as well as making a number dangerous breaks in Exeter's win over TigersWith Tamati Tua out for the season with an Achilles injury, the former Coventry back laid down his credentials to try to fill the number 12 shirt in Ikitau's…

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Hormone therapy has “no impact” on dementia risk, study finds

Hormone therapy has “no impact” on dementia risk, study finds

There is "no evidence" drugs used to treat menopausal women either increases and slashes the risk of dementia, researchers have said.A study conducted by University College London, with support from the University of Exeter, reviewed whether hormone therapy - also known as hormone replacement therapy or HRT - impacted the risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI).The findings, which were part of a larger review commissioned by the World Health Organisation, suggested there was "no significant association" between HRT…

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Kate Bush ‘heartbroken’ over friend missing at sea

Kate Bush ‘heartbroken’ over friend missing at sea

AFPKate Bush said Matthew Upham was kind, thoughtful and a great deal of funSinger-songwriter Kate Bush said she was "heartbroken" after her friend went missing during a Christmas Day swim in Devon.Ms Bush said Matthew Upham, a local antiques dealer, was one of her "very dearest friends" who she had known for 30 years. The 67-year-old Running Up That Hill singer said Mr Upham's family and friends were "heartbroken" by the news.Emergency services were called to Budleigh Salterton…

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The story of the buried whale’s head

The story of the buried whale’s head

BBCExcavating the whale's head took some heavy equipmentEarlier this year, I found myself standing in a field, watching, as a digger lifted the remains of an enormous fin whale's head from a resting place few people knew about. It was the culmination of an investigation into something I initially thought may be a myth but turned out to be true - a whale's head being buried somewhere in my hometown.On Valentine's Day 2020 the crew of a former…

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Record-breaking silk dress on display in Devon

Record-breaking silk dress on display in Devon

BBCArtist Kirstie MacCleod estimates there are between 1-1.5 million stitches on the dress, which took 10,000 hours of workA red silk dress embroidered by 380 people in 51 countries over the course of 14 years has gone on display at Killerton House near Exeter.The Red Dress Project, which saw 87 panels created and stitched together between 2009 and 2023, was begun by Somerset-based artist Kirstie MacCleod. She said: "What I really love is that probably the women and…

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The Prem: Exeter 24-10 Leicester Tigers: Chiefs go second in table

The Prem: Exeter 24-10 Leicester Tigers: Chiefs go second in table

Exeter: Woodburn; Feyi-Waboso, Slade, Rigg, Ridl; Skinner, Varney; Sio, Dweba, Tchumbadze, Jenkins (c), Zambonin, Hooper, E. Roots, Fisilau.Replacements: Yeandle, Goodrick-Clarke, J. Roots, Tuima, James, Chapman, Haydon-Wood, John.Sin bin: Tuima (76)Leicester: Steward; Radwan, Perese, Kata, Hassell-Collins; Searle, Whiteley; N. Smith, Blamire, Heyes, Henderson, Chessum (c), Moro, Reffell, Cracknell.Replacements: Theobald-Thomas, Haffar, Hurd, Thompson, Williams, Van Poortvliet, Bailey, Hamer-Webb.Sin bin: Williams (51), Searle (62)Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe. Source link

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Retirement flats planned for school playing field in Exeter

Retirement flats planned for school playing field in Exeter

Retirement flats could be built on the site of an old school playing field if plans go ahead.McCarthy and Stone has submitted plans for 36 one and two-bedroom apartments on the old playing field of Bramdean School, in Exeter, which closed in 2020.The developers said there was a "real need" for the accommodation in Exeter "with an ageing population and limited specialist accommodation for local older people to downsize to".More than 120 people have objected to the plans,…

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Police investigate unexplained Christmas Day death near Chudleigh

Police investigate unexplained Christmas Day death near Chudleigh

An investigation has been launched after the death of a man at a rural property on Christmas Day.Devon and Cornwall Police said officers were called to the property north of Chudleigh, in Devon, at about 10:50 GMT over concerns for a man.The force said a fire was thought to have occurred but was out when officers arrived, and a man aged in his 80s was found in the property and pronounced dead at the scene.Police said the death…

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Therapy goats in Devon “bring a bit of something different”

Therapy goats in Devon “bring a bit of something different”

BBCRon, the pygmy goat, visits care homes, schools and youth clubs with his playmates Bonbon and PercyPygmy goats are among the therapy animals being taken to care homes, schools and youth clubs in Devon, to foster well-being and combat isolation.Tim Sheppard set up the not-for-profit business Tavistock Therapy Goats in 2024, to bring a sense of the outdoors to people who can struggle to access to the countryside.Mr Sheppard has other animals at his smallholding, and sometimes brings…

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