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‘Blue plaque for children’s author’ and ‘haircuts for the homeless’

‘Blue plaque for children’s author’ and ‘haircuts for the homeless’

Here is our daily pick of stories from across local websites in the West of England, and interesting content from social media.A blue plaque will be unveiled in Stroud later to honour the creator of Thomas the Tank Engine, reports the Stroud News & Journal.The ceremony marks 80 years since the publication of Reverend Wilbert Awdry's first book, The Three Railway Engines.Burnham.on.Sea.com says a field gun being pulled 1,000 miles (1,609km) will be in the West later. Hundreds…

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Vice-Chancellor strengthens health and conservation research links in visit to South Africa  

A delegation from the University of Exeter has met with the British High Commissioner to South Africa during a visit to showcase Exeter’s research successes in the country at the prestigious Oppenheimer Research Conference. University President and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Lisa Roberts, headed up the Exeter contingent during a six-day visit to the country. As well as meeting the British High Commissioner to South Africa, Anthony Phillipson, she attended the Oppenheimer Research Conference, where Exeter researchers presented their work…

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Kenya holds state funeral for opposition leader Odinga after mourning chaos | Politics News

Odinga’s body will next travel to his family’s home region of western Kenya, where more huge crowds are expected, before a private burial service this weekend.Kenya has held a state funeral for revered opposition leader Raila Odinga, a day after security forces killed several people after opening fire to disperse crowds of mourners at a stadium hosting a public viewing of his body.Thousands of mourners gathered amid a heavy security presence at Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium on Friday,…

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Climate science workshop brings together schoolchildren and world-leading researchers

Climate science workshop brings together schoolchildren and world-leading researchers

Pupils at an Exeter school have engaged with some of the world’s most renowned climate scientists at a special day-long workshop. Year six children from St Sidwell’s Church of England Primary and Nursery School were guests of the University of Exeter, where they quizzed environmental scientists about climate change. They also worked with international cardboard theatre company Hamishibi to create their own stories around the planet’s health before proudly presenting them to staff and classmates.The event was organised…

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University archaeologist awarded prestigious medal by the British Academy

University archaeologist awarded prestigious medal by the British Academy

A landscape archaeologist renowned for his expertise on Roman and medieval-era Britain has been presented with one of the British Academy’s highest honours. Professor Stephen Rippon has been awarded this year’s British Academy Medal for Landscape Archaeology in recognition of the longstanding contribution he has made to his field. Professor Rippon received his medal alongside eight other distinguished scholars at the Academy’s London headquarters on Thursday night (16th October). He is just the 11th recipient of the medal…

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Ilminster Herne View primary school to move in £2m upgrade

Ilminster Herne View primary school to move in £2m upgrade

A town's primary school, which is currently split over two sites, is going to be consolidated into one location as part of a £2m scheme.Somerset Council has confirmed it is going ahead with a project for Herne View Primary School in Ilminster to expand its Ditton Street site, and leave its Silver Street location.The single-site primary school on Ditton Street will have 14 classrooms for 420 students.As part of the £2m upgrade, the council also plans to refurbish…

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Bath professor explains why evolution creates imposter crabs

Bath professor explains why evolution creates imposter crabs

Bea SwallowWest of EnglandGetty ImagesMemes about 'rejecting humanity and becoming a crab' emerged from the fact that evolution keeps turning animals into crab-like creaturesViral social media memes being shared by millions of users gleefully declare that humanity's final evolutionary destination is not robots nor extinction - but crabs. With experts at a crab museum in Margate saying that people come in "every day" questioning if humans really will end up sprouting claws, we take a look at the…

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SEND students share nerve-wracking journey planning life after college

SEND students share nerve-wracking journey planning life after college

Steve KnibbsGloucestershireBBCRhi (left) Billy (middle left) Kate (middle right) and Chris (right) are planning their futures after they graduate from a specialist further education collegeFinal-year students at a specialist further education college say they are facing a nerving-wracking journey into the unknown. Their futures hang in the balance, reliant on local government funding or fighting against stigma to gain employment. For the next 12 months the BBC will follow a group of final-year students at National Star College…

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Call to protect endangered spider found in Plymouth quarry

Call to protect endangered spider found in Plymouth quarry

Tom ThomsonBuglife said opening the quarry as a campsite would disturb the habitat for horrid ground-weaver spidersUrgent action is needed to secure the future of a quarry which is home to an critically endangered species of spider, a charity has said.The invertebrate conservation trust Buglife has asked Plymouth City Council to protect Radford Quarry, a site which is home to a variety of wildlife including the horrid ground-weaver spider.The charity said it was one of only four sites…

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Dorset Council refuses revised plans for solar farm at Maiden Newton

Dorset Council refuses revised plans for solar farm at Maiden Newton

A council has rejected a revised plan for a solar farm despite changes to the design and local support.The application for the 43-acre (17.6 hectares) site at Cruxton, south of Maiden Newton, followed a previous appeal dismissed by the Secretary of State in 2022.Developers Enviromena had reduced the scheme's capacity from 11.8 megawatts to 10 megawatts - still enough to power more than 5,000 homes - the equivalent to 3% of Dorset's households or a town the size…

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Isles of Scilly adult social services above national average

Isles of Scilly adult social services above national average

BBCThe Care Quality Commission rated adult social care on the Isles of Scilly as 'good' following its recent inspectionAdult Social Care on the Isles of Scilly has been placed in the top 30% of all authorities inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), a council meeting heard.At a meeting of the Council of the Isles of Scilly on Tuesday, members heard its adult social care service score of 70 points compared "favourably" to the 65.5 point average score…

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High radon levels at Dartmoor Prison found 13 years earlier

High radon levels at Dartmoor Prison found 13 years earlier

BBCDartmoor Prison was closed in August 2024 due to high levels of radon gasThe Ministry of Justice has confirmed radon gas levels higher than the recommended limit were detected at Dartmoor prison at least 13 years earlier than previously thought.The government had previously said "elevated radon readings were first found at Dartmoor in 2020" when the prison was closed in August 2024 after levels up to 10 times higher than the recommended limit were recorded in some areas.The…

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