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Award-winning producer Gub Neal returns to the University of Exeter

Award-winning producer Gub Neal returns to the University of Exeter

An Emmy-award-winning television producer has paid a special visit to the University of Exeter to meet students seeking to follow in his footsteps into the creative industries. Gub Neal, creator of the acclaimed television drama The Fall, spent time with postgraduates on one of the University’s flagship film degrees, and students who devote their time to supporting the radio and television stations within the Xmedia societies. Gub, whose extensive credits also include iconic series Prime Suspect, Cracker and…

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Once-extinct European wildcats set to make a comeback in England

Once-extinct European wildcats set to make a comeback in England

Jenny Kumah and Malcolm Prior,BBC News rural affairs teamTom MasonThe South West Wildcat Project hopes to bring back 50 European wildcats across the mid-Devon countrysideWildcats – one of the UK's most critically endangered mammals – could make a return from extinction in England, conservationists say.The South West Wildcat Project hopes to bring back 50 European wildcats, from 2028, after a study found a colony could "flourish" in the mid-Devon countryside.Reintroduction plans follow a breeding scheme to boost numbers…

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Shingles vaccine most promising common drug to potentially prevent Alzheimer’s  – research

A new study has identified three existing medications that could be repurposed to treat or prevent Alzheimer’s disease.  The research funded by Alzheimer’s Society and led by the University of Exeter, is published today in Alzheimer’s Research and Therapy. It found that a shingles vaccine (Zostavax), is the most promising existing medicine that could be repurposed to treat or prevent Alzheimer’s disease. Viagra (sildenafil) and a drug used to treat motor neurone disease (riluzole) also showed strong promise.  …

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Ten-hour mission to excavate huge whale head in Cornwall

Ten-hour mission to excavate huge whale head in Cornwall

BBCThe skull, which was buried in Falmouth, is the length of a minibus The two-tonne head of a whale that died after stranding in Cornwall has been excavated in a 10-hour mission, five years after its burial.As the local community had previously attempted to rescue the fin whale in 2020, a decision was made to keep part of it so it could eventually be displayed as a memorial.Scientist Robbie McDonald said he buried the skull on University of…

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Call for safety measures at Timepiece after Freshers’ Week fall

Call for safety measures at Timepiece after Freshers’ Week fall

Miles DavisDevon political reporterBBCTimepiece said staff did everything needed to get the young woman homeSerious concerns have been raised for students during Freshers' Week after a young woman fell backwards down stairs in a nightclub before she was moved out of the club by security staff.The woman, a first year student at the University of Exeter, was seen on CCTV in the Timepiece nightclub in September coming out of toilets supported by friends before she fell backwards down…

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Magdalen Road Christmas Fair – Exeter Observer

Magdalen Road Christmas Fair – Exeter Observer
Magdalen Road Christmas Fair – Exeter Observer

Good journalism costs money  Upgrade to paid E O Exeter Observer Local news that matters ON OUR RADAR Community-run market returns for thirteenth year with festive food, music and gifts. Leigh Curtis Magdalen Road Christmas Fair returns to St Leonard’s on Saturday 6 December for its thirteenth year. The road will be closed to provide

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St Petrocks Launches Fundraising Appeal As Number Of People Sleeping Rough In Exeter Continues To Rise – Exeter Observer

St Petrocks Launches Fundraising Appeal As Number Of People Sleeping Rough In Exeter Continues To Rise – Exeter Observer
St Petrocks Launches Fundraising Appeal As Number Of People Sleeping Rough In Exeter Continues To Rise – Exeter Observer

Exeter homelessness charity St Petrock’s has launched its 2025 Christmas fundraising appeal with a short film underscoring its mission: that everyone deserves a place to feel safe, supported and connected – especially at Christmas. The sixty-second film, produced by Devon film-makers All Told, features interviews with St Petrock’s client Richard, volunteer Linda and head of

Continue ReadingSt Petrocks Launches Fundraising Appeal As Number Of People Sleeping Rough In Exeter Continues To Rise – Exeter Observer

St Petrock’s launches fundraising appeal as number of people sleeping rough in Exeter continues to rise

St Petrock’s launches fundraising appeal as number of people sleeping rough in Exeter continues to rise

Exeter homelessness charity St Petrock’s has launched its 2025 Christmas fundraising appeal with a short film underscoring its mission: that everyone deserves a place to feel safe, supported and connected – especially at Christmas.The sixty-second film, produced by Devon film-makers All Told, features interviews with St Petrock’s client Richard, volunteer Linda and head of client services, Rowan.Richard says he would have “been in the gutter twelve, thirteen years ago” if not for the charity, which he describes as…

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New data shows how critically endangered penguins are directly competing with fishing vessels for their food

A new study finds critically endangered African penguins are significantly more likely to forage in the same areas as commercial fishing vessels during years of low fish abundance, increasing competition for food and adding pressure to a species already in crisis. The study, led by the University of St Andrews and including Dr Richard Sherley from the University of Exeter’s Centre for Ecology and Conservation in Cornwall, introduces a novel metric called “overlap intensity” which measures not just…

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Flooding from heavy rain closes rail line in Devon

Flooding from heavy rain closes rail line in Devon

A rail line in Devon has been closed due to flooding after heavy rain. Great Western Railway (GWR) said services between Exeter St Davids and Barnstaple have been cancelled and the disruption was expected to last until Tuesday. The closure follows additional suspensions affecting the line between Crediton and Barnstaple last week, again caused by flooding.GWR said Network Rail detected water levels exceeding its threshold for triggering an automatic closure of three bridges and viaducts for the "safety…

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Devon and Cornwall trains cancelled due to collapsing badger sett

Devon and Cornwall trains cancelled due to collapsing badger sett

Train passengers have been warned of disruption between Plymouth and Penzance due to a collapsed badger sett.Great Western Railway said train movement had been stopped after a collapsing badger sett, a network of tunnels used by the animals, was identified under the rail line in the Hayle area.The operator said train services would be cancelled, delayed or revised and disruption was expected until midday.It said rail replacements were in place but that some lines would be "reopened shortly".…

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Exeter plays key role in new toolkit to prevent falls in over 65s

A new digital toolkit designed to help reduce falls in older adults has been launched with the help of the University of Exeter. The new Falls Management Exercise Programme (FaME) Implementation Toolkit is an evidence-based, practical guide aimed at improving delivery of community exercise programmes that can reduce falls by up to 30 per cent. The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) South West Peninsula (PenARC) at the University of Exeter was…

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