Community news in brief . Keep up to date with what is happening in East Devon and Exeter with our quick-look round-up from across the area.
East Devon
Stock image. Wales & West Utilities.
The East Devon towns of Exmouth, Budleigh Salterton and Honiton face gas pipe upgrades over the next few years.
Wales & West Utilities has announced more than two miles of upgrades in Honiton and around 10 miles across the East Devon coast area.
The company said the investment in Honiton was more than £775,000 and around £3.9 million across Exmouth and Budleigh.
The gas pipe service said it was working closely with the county council on each area, including any potential road closures.
Topsham – what’s on
Pictured here is Dr Susan Greaney at Stonehenge. Photo: with permission.
New secrets of Stonehenge will be revealed at talk being held in Topsham on Thursday, April 16.
History and heritage expert Dr Susan Greaney, an Exeter University lecturer and archaeologist, will be at Matthews Hall to lift the lid on the latest discoveries about the monument and the surrounding landscape.
New sites, new discoveries, new ideas: the last 10 years of research in the Stonehenge landscape – is the first in Topsham Museum’s summer lecture series.
Dr Greaney said: “We’ll look at new findings relating to the origin of the stones, discoveries of settlements and monuments in the area.
“There will also be revelations about the people buried at Stonehenge and information from recent historical research.”
Doors open at 10.30am and the talk begins at 11am. Entry is £6 on the door.
Exmouth – what’s on
A celebration of art in the open air takes place on Exmouth seafront on Sunday, May 3, 10am until 4pm, with the En Plein Air Festival.
Event organiser Artisan Art Gallery said the festival was ‘an invitation to painters, creatives, and art enthusiasts to experience and capture the stunning seaside landscape in real time’.
Artists of all levels – seasoned professionals and enthusiastic beginners – are encouraged to take part.
On the day there will be, live outdoor painting sessions along the seafront, artist showcases, family-friendly activities and creative workshops, a competition judged by British abstract artist Peter Vaillant, with selected works displayed at the end of the festival.
Admission is free. Registration is from 8:30am -10am at The Imperial Hotel, Exmouth Esplanade.
For more information email gallery@artisanfineart.com
Stock image: Becca Gliddon
Honiton
A fuse box fire at a home in Honiton was tackled by the town’s firefighters at the end of March.
A crew was called to a property in Roman Way, Honiton, where they found the residents had already evacuated.
Firefighters, wearing breathing apparatus, extinguished a hallway electrical fuse box fire, then used ventilation fans to clear smoke from the property.
A Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “National Grid was also requested to attend this incident to isolate the electrics to the property.”
The cause of the blaze was accidental, the fire service said.
Exeter – sport
Exeter Chiefs fly-half Harvey Skinner has signed a new two-year contract with the club.
Skinner, who was born in Taunton and graduated through the Chiefs’ player pathway academy at Bicton College, in East Devon.
He said: “I’m really happy to sign a new deal with the club, as I truly love playing here. I’m enjoying the connection we have among the group and the style of rugby we’re playing. The atmosphere the fans have created this year has made it truly enjoyable to be a part of every gameday at Sandy Park.
“I’ve grown up here and have now started a family of my own, so it felt like an easy decision to stay. As a team, we’ve had some challenges, but we’ve also enjoyed some great moments and I feel like this squad is on a good track to really achieve something special together.”
Exeter – what’s on
Exeter Morris is gearing up for a day of celebration to mark it’s 75th anniversary. Photo: with permission.
The oldest established Morris dancing side in Devon is gearing up to celebrate its 75th birthday next month with a day of dance in Exeter.
Exeter Morris will mark its milestone anniversary on Saturday, May 30 with a host of performances from 16 Morris sides from the Southwest, including Otter Morris and the Sidmouth Steppers.
Across several central Exeter locations, audiences will be treated to a rolling programme of performances from morning through late afternoon.
The day of music and movement will take place across Exeter city centre, and on the Cathedral Green, with a rolling programme of performances from morning through late afternoon, with a variety of styles including Appalachian clog, Border, Cotswold, North West clog and rapper
Exeter Morris said the celebrations, marking three-quarters of a century of dance, music and community, promised to be ‘a colourful, energetic spectacle for residents and visitors alike’.
Simon Read, the Squire of Exeter Morris, said: “What a way to celebrate 75 years of dancing.
“Exeter Morris have 15 sides, over 200 dancers and musicians, coming to our anniversary day of dance. It promises to be a spectacle of colour and sound.”
The Sidmouth Steppers.
Stock hoto: Simon Horn.
East Devon and Exeter
Business owners from Exmouth and Exeter were invited to a roundtable meeting with MP David Reed to discuss rising costs, increased wages and rates.
Business owners were invited to the roundtable event, in Exmouth, with David Reed MP. Photo: with permission.
The MP for Exmouth and Exeter East heard from retailers, family-owned businesses and leisure operators, and how the cost of living was impacting their trade.
David Reed MP said: “It was really useful to hear directly from businesses, who are clearly struggling with the demands being placed on them.
He added: Local businesses want to do the right thing, provide for their communities, and deliver good services. Instead, they are being pushed to the brink, while the Government offers pressure instead of support.
“The Government must listen to these concerns, and I will continue to raise them at every opportunity in Westminster.”
Mr Reed also met up with residents at the New Fountain Inn in Whimple, East Devon, inviting them to join him for a ‘Pint with Your MP.
He said: “I thoroughly enjoyed my first ‘Pint with Your MP’, and I’m sure it will be the first of many. It was great to see such a strong turnout, and these events are an important way for me to hear directly from people about the issues that matter most to them.”
MP David Reed ‘thoroughly enjoyed’ his first Pint with Your MP, in East Devon. Photo: with permission.
Exeter
Green party deputy leader Mothin Ali visited the city meeting hundreds of supporters when the Exeter Green Party launched its local election campaign ahead of the May vote.
The party said the Greens are standing a candidate in all wards, and two in Heavitree, where a by-election is also taking place.
Dr Raawiyah Rifath, Exeter Green Party co-ordinator, said: “I’m hugely proud of the diverse and skilled set of Green candidates standing in these local elections, reflecting who we are as a city. When elected, they will work with their communities to unlock positive ideas, energy and resources.”
Exeter Green Party kicked-off its local election campaign with supporters gathering at Belmont Park. Photo: with permission.
Exmouth
A yacht in difficulty with two people and a child onboard off Exmouth was successfully rescued by the town’s lifeboat crew.
Exmouth RNLI launched the all-weather lifeboat at around 8pm on April 2 to a yacht with sail and rigging problems.
The yacht was towed to Exmouth marina by the lifeboat after an RNLI crew member went aboard and secured the sail.
Photo: Exmouth RNLI/RNLI.
An Exmouth RNLI spokesperson said: “On arrival the lifeboat crew assessed the situation and found three persons on board, including a 12-month-old infant. Crew were tired and concerned about their ability to reach safe port before darkness fell.
“A member of the lifeboat crew was placed aboard the casualty vessel to assist with the damaged sail, once the damaged sail was secured the decision was made to sail back to Exmouth with the lifeboat escorting.
“However, due to the direction of the wind and a hard spring ebb away, the casualty vessel was unable to beat up towards the river, and it was deemed the safest option was to place the vessel under tow against the tide and get the vessel into a place of safety.”
Axminster
Axminster Easter egg hunt was a community event. Photo: D&C Police.
Axminster police have thanked the town for supporting the team’s community Easter egg hunt.
The town’s police invited all to pick up a trail sheet to hunt for eggs hidden around the town’s shops and business.
The police team hope to repeat the event next year.
An Axminster neighbourhood team spokesperson said: “It was great to speak to so many of the young people from the town and surrounding area and we hope you enjoyed seeing the eggs dotted around in the various shops and business that took part.
“Also, a massive thanks Nourish, St Mary’s Church and the Axminster Chamber of Commerce and all the team behind the scenes that made this event happen.”
Axminster police teamed up with the town to hold a community Easter egg hunt.
Photo: D&C Police.
Exeter
Celebrating their award -St Peters Global Neighbours.
Photo: with permission.
Pupils are celebrating their secondary school being the first in the country to be awarded a top accolade by an international charity for their work highlighting global poverty and finding ways to tackle it.
Students at St Peter’s CofE VA School were presented with a Silver Award from Christian Aid’s Global Neighbours Scheme for their global citizenship work.
St Peter’s is the first secondary school nationally to be given this status, after pupils tackled a host of projects, including challenging a lack of mental health help nationally.
Phil Randall, headteacher, said: “We are thrilled to be recognised for the work we have done as a whole school community to raise awareness of the extreme inequalities and injustices across our globe and more importantly, the steps St Peter’s students take to address these.”
The students at St Peter’s School in Exeter have a Silver Award from Christian Aid’s Global Neighbours Scheme for their global citizenship work. Photo: with permission.
He said it was ‘wonderful’ for the students to be celebrated as the first secondary school nationally to be awarded the Silver Award.
Mr Randall said: “Our world is increasingly connected, and our hope is for our children to grow as responsible global citizens who care about issues such as the environment, mental health and misogyny.”
Sarah Potter, Children and Young People’s Officer at Christian Aid, said: “It’s fantastic to see how the whole school community at St Peter’s have taken this to heart and are seeking to tackle injustice.
“We are delighted to celebrate their Silver Award in 2026 following their successful Bronze in 2024.”
East Devon and Exeter
East Devon and Exeter projects have benefitted from a £400,000 pot of county council cash earmarked for local causes.
Some 474 groups across Devon have received funding from the county council’s Locality Budget, giving a boost to clubs, organisations, volunteer projects, groups and community services.
The funds were distributed through Devon County Councillors, each allocated £8,000 a year to spend on the community.
In East Devon funds were given to Ottery bowling club for solar panels and new flags for Exmouth’s War Memorial.
Among council cash handed out in Exeter, funding paid for a portable defibrillator at an over 50s football club in Exminster, heritage craft skills sessions and outings for young diabetics in living in the city.
Exeter
Some of the hundreds of eggs collected by the community.
Photo: with permission.
An Exeter funeral business donated Easter eggs to children living in temporary accommodation after teaming up with its neighbours in the St Thomas area of the city.
The Co-op Funeralcare team, in Cowick Street, collected 205 chocolate eggs, donating some for the charity Salvation Army’s Bags of Hope, and others being given to Exeter children.
The business invited residents and businesses to donate Easter treats, with the hope of collecting 140 eggs for the charity project.
Wai Crawley, funeral arranger at the Cowick Street branch, thanked everyone who donated chocolate, adding: “We are very grateful to our friends, families, coffee morning attendees and the local St Thomas Community for helping us to spread a little joy this Easter.”
The funeral home had a chocolate drop-off point.
Photo: with permission.
East Devon
MP for Honiton and Sidmouth Richard Foord has welcomed the Lib Dem-run Devon County Council trial this summer of a new “common sense” approach to filling potholes.
This trial involves contractors filling adjacent potholes in addition to the ones they have been sent to fix, reported by the public.
MP Richard Foord is pictured here with a pothole at Dalwood, East Devon.
Photo: with permission.
Mr Foord said: “The former Conservative administration’s inefficient approach of filling only the deepest potholes and ignoring adjacent holes has infuriated residents and has wasted resources, as teams have had to return to fix them at a later date.”
And he praised the county council for finding an extra £6m funding to help repair significant damage caused to Devon’s roads.
Mr Foord called for fairer funding of rural areas by the central purse, saying he was ‘fed up’ with Devon being near the bottom of government finance to local authorities.
He said: “For decades, Devon County Council has bumped along the bottom of the national funding league table, in terms of local authority financial settlements from Westminster.
“Successive governments have avoided funding rural council areas fairly. The year-on-year effect on services such as social care, education and highways are crippling.
“We must see an end to this unfair national approach that fails to take full account of additional costs of delivery in rural areas, that has left local roads closed for weeks.”
Exmouth
Pictured here is Councillor Eleanor Rylance passing the town hall keys to Exmouth Mayor, Councillor Graham Deasy. Photo: with permission.
The handover of Exmouth Town Hall took place at the end of March when the ownership was officially passed from the district to the town council.
To celebrate the sale, East Devon District Council (EDDC) chair Councillor Eleanor Rylance passed the front door keys to Exmouth Mayor, Councillor Graham Deasy.
The building will be run by the town council as a community hub for residents, business and local groups.
Exmouth Town Council said the move to take over the hall had been ‘a long-standing goal for residents’.
Exmouth Mayor Cllr Deasy said: “We’re delighted that our collaborative work with EDDC in recent months has resulted in the town hall “coming home”.
We’re pleased to have the opportunity to create a ‘civic anchor’ in the town and envisage the town hall being a welcoming, accessible space that brings together a wide range of community-focused organisations under one roof.
“It will provide an important focal point for engagement, wellbeing and closer partnership working for the benefit of all Exmouthians.”
EDDC services remain accessible from the town hall through a dedicated free telephone line. Pre-arranged in-person appointments are also available across the district.
A contact hub consultation invites feedback on the new arrangements until 5pm on June 18, 2026. Or email engagement@eastdevon.gov.uk for a paper version.
Exeter
Pictured here are the Exeter College students with some of their planting work at the railway station.
Photo: with permission.
Exeter College students teamed up with TV gardener Toby Buckland to plant a colourful mix of flowers to welcome commuters at a city train station.
The community gateway students were invited to bring nature back to Exeter Central Station with three planters filled with perennial blooms.
The students will continue to work with Great Western Railway through its station adoption programme, which encourages groups to take part in gardening, maintenance and art projects that celebrate the area.
TV gardener Toby Buckland helped the students’ planting project.
Photo: with permission.
Th six students said the planting had been ‘challenging but fun’, adding it had been ‘good to help the community’.
Sharon Sanderson, programme leader and associate lecturer at Exeter College, said: “Our learners had a fantastic time bringing life to Exeter Central, and it’s wonderful to see the flowers blooming.
“It’s been a brilliant opportunity for them to make a difference to the station and local community, while building some great gardening skills, something they’ve all enjoyed.
“It was great for them to work alongside Toby and the team at Great Western Railway. It’s been a really rewarding experience, and they’re already looking forward to returning for the next stage of the project.”
Melanie Harvey, GWR station manager at Exeter Central, said: “Seeing Exeter Central in bloom is fantastic and a real testament to what can be achieved through partnerships within our local communities.
“We’re hugely grateful to Toby Buckland for his support, and incredibly proud of Exeter College’s Foundation learners for their dedication.”
TV gardener Toby Buckland is pictured here helping the Exeter College students with their city railway station planting project.
Photo: with permission.
Exeter – what’s on
Entry is free to an exhibition by Bruce Asbestos at Exeter Phoenix, running from April 25 until June 20.
Bootleg Shreg 2 is described as a solo exhibition by Bruce Asbestos that features paintings, inflatable sculpture and digital artworks that explore the evolving world of Shreg.
Shreg is described as a mutating green cartoon character – an amalgam of well-known green characters from recent and more traditional pop culture.
The artist is hosting a free talk about his work and exhibition on Saturday, June 6. Booking is required.
The venue is open Monday-Saturday, 10.30am-5.30pm.
Large-scale freshwater marsh is among funding bid to boost an East Devon ‘flagship’ nature reserve and town’s ‘natural crown jewels’
