city news

World-leading critical minerals expert awarded OBE

One of the world’s foremost experts on critical minerals and mining, Professor Frances Wall, has been awarded an OBE in the New Year’s Honours List, it has been announced. The Professor of Applied Mineralogy at the Camborne School of Mines, based at the University’s Penryn Campus in Cornwall, received the award for “services to Geoscience and Sustainable Resource Development”. Speaking on receiving the honour, Professor Wall said: ‘I am delighted to have been named for this award. It…

Continue ReadingWorld-leading critical minerals expert awarded OBE

The 12 most important shipwrecks of the South West

The 12 most important shipwrecks of the South West

Rebecca RicksBBC South West InvestigationsPA MediaThe MSC Napoli grounded about a mile off Sidmouth, Devon, in 2007For mariners the waters of the South West have long been a challenging, and historically deadly, coastline. In the days before GPS it was the home of tragedies, disasters and misfortunes with thousands of wrecks now laying undiscovered, plundered or broken at the bottom of the sea. With the knowledge of experts, we examine some of the most notable shipwrecks to come…

Continue ReadingThe 12 most important shipwrecks of the South West

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…

Continue ReadingDevon’s local heroes recognised by King Charles

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…

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

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,…

Continue ReadingDecline in adoption rates at Devon animal rescue group

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…

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

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…

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

Plans to widen Crewkerne level crossing for pedestrian link

Plans to widen Crewkerne level crossing for pedestrian link

A level crossing could soon be widened to provide a new pedestrian link after 145 homes were approved nearby.Network Rail plans to reroute a public right of way over Cathole Bridge Road level crossing near Crewkerne, Somerset.The change would include removing an unsignalised pedestrian route between the level crossing and Crewkerne tunnel, which underwent emergency repairs following a landslip in 2023.It comes after the Planning Inspectorate granted an appeal by Tilia Homes to construct 145 homes at the…

Continue ReadingPlans to widen Crewkerne level crossing for pedestrian link

Cricket club collects Christmas trees to help young players

Cricket club collects Christmas trees to help young players

A Cornish cricket club is offering a Christmas tree collection service to help raise funds for its youth teams.Saltash Cricket Club chairman Shayn Rencher, who has been in his role for two years, said it was the second year the club had offered the service.Last year, the team collected 160 trees, raising about £1,100 for its youth teams through donations."All the team help out and it's quite a fun team building exercise followed by a pint after," he…

Continue ReadingCricket club collects Christmas trees to help young players

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…

Continue ReadingThe story of the buried whale’s head

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…

Continue ReadingRecord-breaking silk dress on display in Devon

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

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