A round-up from across East Devon and Exeter – community news, photos, sporting events, school celebrations, fundraising fun. Send your local news to newsdesk@eastdevonnews.co.uk
East Devon
Festive fancy dress was worn at the Jingle Jog in aid of Hospiscare.
Photo: Jennifer Satterly
Scores of runners in Santa hats set off in East Devon for Hospicare first-ever charity Jingle Jog.
Some 500 joggers of all ages set off from Greendale farm shop and raised more than £20,000 for the charity.
Jogging routes included 2km, 5km and a 10km timed trail run.
The charity jog was for all ages.
Photo: Oli Baitup.
The Jingle Jog had different routes suitable for all abilities and ages.
Photo: Oli Baitup.
Exmouth
A dead Turkey Oak tree overhanging a café seating area in the grounds of Exmouth Manor Gardens will be removed this month after the district council announced it to be a ‘safety risk’.
The tree work begins on Monday, December 8 and is expected to take two days to complete.
East Devon District Council (EDDC) said the gardens will remain open while the removal takes place, but the area near the tree will be cordoned off.
The stricken Turkey Oak tree in Manor Gardens, Exmouth.
Photo: EDDC.
A spokesperson for the district council said: EDDC is exploring options to plant a replacement tree in the future, where the site and conditions allow.”
East Devon
There is still time to have your say on the new blueprint for East Devon before the consultation ends on January 26, 2026.
The new East Devon Local Plan sets out where new homes, jobs and supporting infrastructure will go across the district over the coming years.
The final stage is the last opportunity to comment on new evidence and updates before the plan is submitted to a government-appointed Planning Inspector for examination.
The consultation incudes how the new East Devon town of Marlcombe will be developed.
See more, and comment, here.
Budleigh Salterton
The care home is inviting all to an afternoon of festivities.
Photo: with permission.
A care home in Budleigh Salterton is inviting all to an afternoon of festive fun on Friday, December 19, with mince pies, mulled wine and music from the East Devon Daytime Band.
The Firs Residential Home, in West Hill, Budleigh, will be opening its doors from 2pm for an afternoon ‘filled with Christmas spirit, friendly faces, and festive cheer’.
A spokesperson for the care home said all are welcome, and there is no need to book.
They said: “Christmas has always been about togetherness, and we know how important that sense of community is – not only for our residents, but for our neighbours too.
“We’d love to welcome everyone in for a warm drink, some festive treats, and a chance to share the joy of the season with us.”
East Devon and Exeter
East Devon and Exeter young rugby players were among 19 grassroots clubs from across the west country to take part in the Defender Rising Stars Cup, hosted by Exeter Chiefs in partnership with PREM Rugby.
The annual Under-11s and Under-12s festival is one of a series of nationwide events for aspiring young rugby stars, giving 100s of youngsters the opportunity to experience playing within a professional environment against teams from outside of their immediate local area.
Taking part from East Devon and Exeter were Exeter Athletic RFC, Topsham RFC, Exmouth RFC, Withycombe RFC.
Nineteen grassroots clubs from across the west country, including Withycombe RFC, pictured here, took part in a day of competitive rugby.
Photo: with permission.
Zack Ryan, Exmouth RFC U-12, said: “It was great playing loads of rugby with my friends from the club. We played some teams from Cornwall that we’ve not played before so it was a really good experience.”
Exmouth RFC won the Under-11 event which was judged on rugby’s core values — teamwork, respect, enjoyment, and discipline — with the focus on development and participation rather than match results.
Photo: with permission.
Tom Brown, Withycombe RFC U-12, said: “I enjoyed playing rugby with my friends against teams we don’t normally play. The standard was really high and the games were fast but it was good fun.”
Exeter Athletic RFC were crowned champions in the Under-12 competition. Photo: with permission.
Henry Benthall, Exeter Athletic RFC U-12, said: “It was our first cup tournament so we were all really proud of ourselves. We just tried our best. We played teams that we’ve never faced before as well as some of our closest rivals. We had a great day.”
Edward Berry, Topsham RFC U-12, said: “It was great fun playing lots of rugby with my friends. The standard of competition was quite high and we played some different teams.”
The Topsham RFC U-12 team.
Photo: with permission.
Exeter
Residents in Exeter in the New Year can give their views on the Dryden Road Covid traffic restrictions, enforced by county chiefs in 2022.
The public consultation was sparked after a petition was handed to Devon County Council’s Exeter Highways and Traffic Orders Committee (HATOC) in the summer.
In October this year the committee agreed to a public consultation in response to the Dryden Road ‘modal filter’, permanently installed by the authority in June 2022.
The restriction, funded Department for Transport during the pandemic, stops motor vehicles driving between Well Oak Park and Kipling Drive, but allows cycling and pedestrians.
Devon County Council said its aim ‘was to reduce through traffic, boost active travel and encourage cycling’.
Michael Mitchell, HATOC chair, said: “Some want its removal, others have sought to find a balanced solution that addresses some operational issues while still achieving the original transport and environmental aims while others want to see the back of it.”
East Devon
Dorrie was helped with her challenge by her friends, who accompanied her to the gym three times a week during November.
Photo: with permission.
Wartime former land girl Dorrie Pack, aged 98, from West Hill, near Ottery St Mary, tackled a November cycle challenge in aid of charity.
The great-grandmother became the oldest person to complete a fundraising challenge for Hospiscare, by cycling 25-miles on a static bike.
She has raised more than £2,000 through a JustGiving page after completing the challenge at her local gym, in Ottery St Mary.
Dorrie said: “It was a dream of mine to do something like this for Hospiscare. It’s our favourite charity in the village – we appreciate all that Hospiscare does for the community.”
She added: “At 98, there’s not many challenges I can realistically do. Someone in my group thought about static cycling, so that’s how it was born.
“My granddaughter and great grandson sorted me out with a static bike to practise in the kitchen before I started.”
Wartime former land girl Dorrie Pack, aged 98, from West Hill, near Ottery St Mary, tackled a November cycle challenge in aid of Hospiscare.
Photo: with permission.
Dorrie was helped with her challenge by her friends, who accompanied her to the gym three times a week during November.
The former Army land girl who during World War Two worked on a farm ploughing and thatching, had hoped to follow her brothers into the Navy.
She said: “I went to join the Wrens, as my brothers were in the Navy, but at 16 I was too young – so got sent to the next queue along and I joined up for the Land Army instead, by lying about my age.
“It was just wonderful. I was in this big house that had been commandeered by the agriculture ministry, working on a farm ploughing and thatching and everything until I got demobbed at the end of the war.:
You can still donate to Dorrie’s challenge here.
East Devon
Pictured here are eight heritage locations across East Devon – Broadhembury cottages, Axminster church, Honiton town, Orcombe Point, Beer, Connaught Gardens, Otterton, and Blackbury Camp.
Image: EDDC.
A public consultation has opened into how heritage in East Devon is preserved for the future.
The district council is inviting all to have a say on its new heritage strategy, which sets out how important historic and archaeological sites will be preserved in the years up until 2042.
The consultation ends at 9am on Monday, January 26, 2026.
Councillor Todd Olive, at East Devon District Council, said: “East Devon is a very special place to live. Our local history plays an important part in that, whether it’s the historic buildings in our towns and villages or the breath-taking Jurassic Coast and national landscapes.
“How these are protected really matters to our communities. That’s why it’s important to have a strategy for how we will work with them to protect, manage and enhance these important places.”
He added: “I encourage you to take part in this consultation and comment on this draft strategy. We appreciate any feedback, which will be valuable for helping preserve the historic environment over the next couple of decades.”
Heritage sites in East Devon include Iron Age hillforts, Roman camps, Medieval places of worship, historic farms, World War II airfields, and Georgian and Edwardian residences.
See here for the consultation
Exeter
Pupils and staff at The Maynard School in Exeter are celebrating becoming the first in Devon to be recognised by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), awarded with a ‘Significant Strength’.
The school said the accolade is only awarded to a very small number of independent schools nationwide.
Staff and pupils at The Maynard School are celebrating recognition from the Independent Schools Inspectorate. Photo: with permission.
Liz Gregory, headteacher, said: “To receive a Significant Strength from the ISI is an extraordinary honour and a true reflection of the values, ambition and community that define The Maynard.
“Our pupils achieve outstanding results not only because of their academic ability, but because they are supported to be confident, curious and kind – qualities that set them up for lifelong success. This recognition, alongside our national awards, makes this a truly exceptional year for our school.”
Exeter
Hospital Radio Exeter, broadcasting for more than 50 years, has thanked the Devonshire Freemasons for a ‘generous’ donation, in a boost to the service.
The radio team said the funds would support its ongoing work, with over-the-airwaves entertainment for patients, visitors and staff.
Devonshire Freemasons presented a cheque donation to Hospital Radio Exeter. Photo: with permission.
The volunteer-run charity said it relied ‘heavily’ on supporters to keep broadcasting 24-hours a day.
Malcolm Mardon, Hospital Radio Exeter chairman, said: “We are incredibly grateful for the Devonshire Freemasons’ support. Their donation will help us invest in the equipment and resources we need to continue providing comfort, distraction and connection to patients during what can be challenging times.”
Exmouth
Exmouth RNLI is appealing for a new volunteer to coordinate its fundraising activities in East Devon.
The role includes motivating its other volunteers, training will be provided.
For more information, see here.
Seaton
An early-hours derelict building blaze in Seaton was tackled by firefighters from across two counties.
East Devon firefighters from Axminster, Colyton, Honiton, Ottery St Mary, Seaton, Sidmouth, plus crews from Middlemoor, Danes Castle, both in Exeter, also Chard and Crewkerne, in Somerset, were called to the town at around 3.15am on November 26.
The fire service said two fire engines were initially sent to the blaze but while they were approaching the site, crews saw the building was well-alight so called for three more fire engines to attend.
The number of fire engines was increased again to five on the crews’ arrival, alongside the aerial ladder platform.
Crews used two jets to tackle the blaze.
Devon
The Devon Community Foundation has received £108,000 to help young people who have experienced care across the county.
And for each £1 received, it has matched the money with funding from the Sedel-Collings Foundation, totalling £216,000.
The money will be used to help those leaving the care system into adulthood, financing driving lessons, home equipment, career coaching or university bursaries.
Exeter
Photo shows a test drone flight at Roadford Lake.
Photo: with permission.
South West Water (SWW) has teamed up with the University of Exeter for a new project in the Prediction and Early Detection of Algal Blooms (PEDAL).
The joint venture includes over the next three years working with partners across the world, plus Plymouth Marine Laboratory and South West Lakes Trust, to develop digital technology designed to detect harmful algal blooms.
Shown here is an example of harmful algal blooms detected in a lake.
Photo: with permission.
The £2million project, paid for by by the Ofwat Innovation Fund, will use AI technology to create an early warning system to forecast where they are likely to appear ‘helping South West Water to intervene earlier to protect supplies and the environment’.
Diego Panici, senior lecturer and principal investigator for PEDAL at the University of Exeter said:“ Harmful algal blooms pose to us huge operational but also scientific challenges, which is what makes our research very exciting, because we aim to finally resolve many of them.
“Through PEDAL we will be able to understand any precursors of harmful algal blooms and predict their occurrence, potentially with several weeks of notice. We will utilise cutting-edge technology, numerical models, AI, and the help of volunteers and citizen scientists to pull together the most comprehensive scientific work on this topic.”
Exeter and East Devon
A deer stuck in a gate in a residential area of Exeter at the end of November was freed by East Devon firefighters.
The animal rescue team from Exmouth fire station and a crew from Ottery St Mary were called to the Pennsylvania area of the city shortly before 10pm on November 30 after a small deer was spotted stuck in a gate.
A fire service spokesperson said: “Fire control received a report of a small deer stuck in a gate and mobilised the animal rescue team from Exmouth and a crew from Ottery St Mary to the Pennsylvania Road area of Exeter.
“Crew successfully released the deer from the gate using spreaders and small tools.”
