Latest news with #BBCRadioDevon
BBC News
16-04-2025
- BBC News
Devon sculptor delighted as stolen animal heads found
A sculptor says it is "unbelievable" several pieces of artwork which were stolen from a farm have been found in "fairly good nick". Brendan Rawlings created a set of wooden animal head sculptures for a walking trail on Darts Farm in Topsham, Devon, which were then removed from their plinths in July 2024.A search for the artworks - which had been displayed at Glastonbury Festival before being taken to the farm - had been Rawlings said he was delighted when he received a phone call on Tuesday saying four of the nine heads had been found in a bin in Exeter. Mr Rawlings told BBC Radio Devon a man who ran a residential housing complex had found them in black plastic bags stuffed into a waste disposal unit."I then got a call from a mate of mine who is a police officer who said 'we've got four of your sculptures here', so they have found four of them," Mr Rawlings said."Where they've been for a year, I don't know, but we've got four out of nine which is a start."He added the heads appeared to be in "fairly good nick" and was looking forward to their return.
BBC News
08-04-2025
- BBC News
First-time sailor from Devon says round-the-world trip 'profound'
A Devon woman with no previous sailing experience said the first part of a round-the-world journey has been "profound".Wedding celebrant Zena Birch, from Plymouth, started her circumnavigation in January after she was invited by a couple she had helped marry a decade Birch, who is one of six people on board the 52ft (16m) boat the Pure Joy!, told BBC Radio Devon she expected to be "more frightened" on the added that one highlight was sailing through a "massive arch rainbow" in French Polynesia where she "felt a bit like Moana". 'Very humbling' Despite her father being a captain in the Merchant Navy, Ms Birch had no sailing experience when she was invited to join the boat's crew by the couple David and Joy, who had been planning the trip after 10 years of the low starting point, she said she now felt like a very competent crew member - with a good understanding of marine terminology, mechanics and Birch started the journey in January in St Lucia during a "lightning storm", which she said was "hugely daunting" as it was "the thing you're most frightened of when you're on a boat".The Pure Joy! has since travelled more than 6,000 miles, visiting Colombia, the Panama Canal and the Galapagos Islands before arriving in French Polynesia, where she sailed through a "massive arch rainbow" on arrival."It kind of felt ludicrous and a bit like Moana," she said."I hate to say it's like paradise, because it feels so twee, but it really is extraordinary here."She said being part of "something so much bigger than you" was "very humbling, very profound – you end up having quite a lot of big thoughts."The boat will head towards Bora Bora next, Ms Birch said.
BBC News
30-03-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Land Rover, 69, and caravan, 79, on England road trip
A 69-year-old Land Rover called George is being driven around England while it tows a 79-year-old caravan called Mildred in a bid to raise money for Hernaman, left Lynmouth in Devon, on his 71st birthday on 8 March, to start his 3,200 mile-long (5,150 km) agricultural engineer is fundraising for Bowel Cancer UK after his 52-year-old sister and a 43-year-old friend died from the disease. He is also raising funds for the Alzheimer's Hernaman said after he had travelled around England, mostly on roads close to the coast, he hoped to end the journey in Lynmouth on either the 22 or 23 April. On Tuesday, Mr Hernaman told BBC Radio Devon he had driven more than 1,000 miles (1,600 km) and had encountered some difficulties with his Series 1 Land said: "George has had a few issues in the last few days..."It's nothing but to be expected at that age of Land Rover."He said the main problem so far had been with the vehicle's ignition although there had also been some brake problems."Thanks to FaceTime and my very good friends Nigel Webber and Will Webster we seem to have been able to sort things out," he added. Mildred, the caravan he is towing, measures 6ft (1.8m) square and holds a bed, a cooker and storage space for food and clothing. He said: "I'm basically towing a bed."The door to the opening of the caravan is over the front hitch which is quite rare."It's a Safari Minor, they are very, very rare - there could be just two others in the country."Mr Hernaman, originally from Croyde and now living in Exmoor, said "a lot of very kind people" had donated money along his journey."There are so many kind people out there," he added.
BBC News
30-03-2025
- General
- BBC News
Former Royal Marine from Yelverton becomes Beefeater
A former Royal Marine from Devon has been appointed as a Yeoman Warder (YW) at the Tower of Gray, who has been living in Yelverton, was a sergeant major and served for 26 years during which he was deployed on tours to Northern Ireland, Kosovo, Iraq and Gray said it was "a definite life highlight" to have been selected as the 35th Beefeater in the nicknamed Beefeaters, were introduced in 1485 by Henry VII to help guard the tower. Today's YWs need to have at least 22 years' military service, hold the Long Service and Good Conduct medal and have reached the rank of Warrant Officer or equivalent before being selected for also have to be between 40 and 55 years Gray retired from the Royal Marines in 2016 and since has skied 730 miles (1,175 km) solo and unsupported across the Antarctic continent in 38 said: "I've had many adventures throughout my life in the Royal Marines, and beyond, but this is a definite life highlight."He explained the majority of the role involved engaging with the public by giving tours, answering questions and "being that face which is so legendary across the world". 'Incredible' historic uniform YW Gray told BBC Radio Devon it was "breathtaking" to wear the iconic red and gilt uniform YWs have worn since 1549 and the daily blue and red one introduced in said: "It's incredible to be standing there wearing it and knowing the history behind it. It's quite breath-taking sometimes."Over the coming months, he said he would learn the 21 daily duties conducted by the YWs, including the Ceremony of the Keys, which has taken place every night for at least 700 years. He said he is also learning "the story", the 8,000 word script of the YW tour, which must be learned verbatim before he will be allowed to lead his own tours of the Tower of London.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Caldwell did not deserve red card says Exeter assistant
Exeter City manager Gary Caldwell did not deserve to be sent off in their 0-0 draw at Lincoln City, according to his assistant Kevin Nicholson. Caldwell was dismissed from the dugout in the aftermath of the Grecians having a late goal disallowed at Sincil Bank. Ryan Trevitt's stoppage-time strike was adjudged to have hit Angus MacDonald on the hand by referee Declan Bourne. It is the second time this year Caldwell has been sent off, having received a two-match ban following a red card during January's 2-1 loss at Wycombe Wanderers. "We scored a perfectly good goal that was taken away," Nicholson told BBC Radio Devon. "The manager went to speak to the fourth official to ask why it was taken away. "He didn't swear, didn't push anybody, didn't point any fingers and then the ref came over and sent him off for persistent infringement of which he hadn't been warned about and he certainly hadn't had a yellow card up until that point. "He is very frustrated in there, we're very frustrated that a perfectly good goal has been taken away. "The lads are gutted, for want of a better word, as to how hard they've worked to get that one opportunity that they've taken and it's been taken away from them through things that they can't control." Nicholson says he was impressed with how his side coped after Caldwell's dismissal, as they claimed a fourth clean sheet in five games. The Grecians are 16th in League One, nine points clear of the bottom four with nine games to play. "I would say the biggest plus I can give the lads after that is that they didn't crumble," he added. "There was four minutes left and you always get that feeling when that happens that you could be in trouble, they could go up and nick another one and you feel really hard done to. "So brilliant that they composed themselves, brilliant that they stayed composed throughout a game, certainly defensively. "That the referee gave twice as many fouls against us than he gave to to us, and it wasn't that kind of game, it was a 50-50 game. "I think it's really difficult as those build up to hold yourself together and testament to the lads that they managed to do that."
