Latest news with #BBCDevon
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Passenger spots volcano erupting from plane window
A Devon man has said it was "fascinating" to watch Mount Etna erupting during his flight home - a day after his wife had run up the volcano. Jon and Jo Meek, from Moretonhampstead, had been visiting Sicily for the European Masters Off Road Running Championship. Mrs Meek - who was sleeping while her husband watched the plumes of smoke from his window - ran in the competition which took place the day before the eruption. "I can't actually believe it because you fly out for one race and if the volcano had erupted and we couldn't race I would have been pretty gutted," she said. "Literally the day before, I ran up to the cable car station and back down as part of the race and we thought absolutely nothing of the volcano." The couple were separated on the plane and were both sat on opposite sides of the aircraft. "I have to confess I was fast asleep on the airplane... but Jon however had a great view," said Mrs Meek. Mr Meek said the experience was "exciting" but had the race been 24 hours later Mrs Meek would "have been in the thick of it". "I was just lucky I was sat in a window seat and overlooking it as we flew off so it's an amazing sight," he said. "I think it was just fascinating... it's exciting to watch. "When we took off and I had the view over it I looked over and she was fast asleep so she slept through the whole thing," he added. More news stories for Devon Listen to the latest news for Devon Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@ Mount Etna erupts as large plumes rise from volcano Watch: Tourists warned to stay away from Mount Etna lava European Masters Off Road Running Championship
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Woman killed in four-vehicle crash
A woman in her 80s has died following a crash involving four cars in Exeter, police have said. Devon and Cornwall Police said the incident involving a Toyota Yaris, Vauxhall Movano van and two parked cars happened on Cowick Lane in Exeter at about 13:00 BST on 29 May. Officers said a passenger in the Yaris who was in her 80s has died after being taken to hospital with injuries. Police said the male driver of the Yaris, also in his 80s, suffered minor injuries. The force appealed for witnesses, CCTV or dashcam footage of the incident. More news stories for Devon Listen to the latest news for Devon Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@ Devon and Cornwall Police
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Man 'lucky' not to have killed stranger he stabbed
A 56-year-old man who launched an unprovoked knife attack on a stranger was fortunate not to have killed him, a judge has said. James Lammas, of Belvedere Road, Ilfracombe, stabbed a 33-year-old man multiple times on the high street in the north Devon town in September 2024. At Exeter Crown Court, Lammas admitted wounding with intent and was jailed for three years and four months. Judge Anna Richardson said "such an unprovoked attack would be terrifying" for the victim. The court heard Lammas admit he "went a bit far" as he went to help a girl who he thought the victim was attacking or having a heated row with. The victim needed hospital treatment and said he was suffering panic attacks and flashbacks. The court also heard Lammas, who has complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), had drunk alcohol and used cannabis and Valium before the incident. More news stories for Devon Listen to the latest news for Devon Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@ HM Courts & Tribunals Service
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Schoolboy, 11, to play with North Devon Sinfonia
A schoolboy from Devon is set to join the North Devon Sinfonia for a one off concert in late June. River, an 11-year-old pupil at West Buckland School in Barnstaple, has been playing piano since the age of six when his grandma noticed him humming, whistling and singing to movie music. "She thought I would be interested in the piano. I said yes and when I started, I found I progressed really quickly," said River. He will be performing Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 21 on 21 June at Torrington's St Michael and All Angels Church. The schoolboy added: "When I'm playing I'm thinking about stories. "With Rachmaninoff it's like a big adventure story where people are having to sacrifice something. "In my mind it's like pictures, stories, lots of different colours all that sort of stuff." His music teacher Dom Carter said River's talent was beyond anything he had ever seen for his age. "I've been teaching for 16 years and I have never met a pianist of this skill at this age," he said. "It's remarkable. River is working on grade seven and grade eight pieces at the age of eleven. "He is so focussed he has just shot up through the grades. Not that it is about grades for him, he just loves playing." River's mum Laura said neither she nor her husband were musical and their son's talent came as a surprise. She said: "It makes your skin go all tingly when you hear him play because he has such musicality that gives emotion to whatever he is playing. "We are just really happy and love hearing him practice." More news stories for Devon Listen to the latest news for Devon Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@ North Devon Sinfonia
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Surfathon raises money for charity project
Surfers have taken to the waves for a 12-hour event on a North Devon beach to raise money for a charity project. Surf therapy charity The Wave Project hosted its Inclusive Surfathon at Croyde beach on Friday to fundraise for its adaptive surfing programme, which provides opportunities for people with physical disabilities to try the sport. During the day instructors and volunteers offered support to surfers. Ian Bennett, inclusive lead at the charity, said there had been a lot of planning for the event and the end result was "amazing". Mr Bennett said more than 30 volunteers had helped about 20 surfers who had visited from across the country during the surfathon. The 2024 BBC South West Unsung Hero award winner added he hoped the event would be a showcase for the importance of the adaptive surfing programme. "It's so difficult to access the ocean for someone with a physical disability", he said. "It's an expensive sport for us to enable more access to more people, but breaking down these barriers and raising that money to help that happen, that's what it's all about." More news stories for Devon Listen to the latest news for Devon Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@ Boy inspires charity to help others hit the surf 'Nothing stops me,' says surfer with one leg Adaptive surf instructor wins Unsung Hero award The Wave Project
