Latest news with #BBCSouthWest
Yahoo
6 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
BBC News
06-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
WW2 evacuees speak about their experiences ahead of VE Day
World War Two evacuees have told BBC South West about their experiences ahead of the 80th anniversary of the end of the war in Hoskin, 94, said she had vivid memories of the day she and her school friends were evacuated from Plymouth and boarded a train to said she liked her new life near Redruth and visited a farm for the first time and "didn't want to go home".On 8 May 1945, at exactly 15:00 BST, British PM Winston Churchill announced the end of the war in Europe. 'Lovely couple' Ms Hoskin said: "You didn't want to go [on the train] because you were leaving your parents."Then we were told x number of children from your class would be going so we thought oh lovely, we are all going on holiday together," she added. Ms Hoskin's new home was Lanner."I was with a lovely couple, they had no children but they had a niece the same age."I used to go up to a farm with them and that was the first time I had ever been to a farm." 'Quite hungry' She added many were homesick during the evacuation and host families were not always welcoming."We do know that children weren't given enough food," Ms Hoskin explained. "Some of them would come to school and be quite hungry."Quite a few only stayed a week or more and they went back home because they couldn't settle. "But I loved it. I didn't want to go home." However, not everywhere in Cornwall was safe from falling Liddicoat, 86, and from Plymouth, was evacuated twice, once from Plymouth and then from Falmouth."When we were in Falmouth we heard the planes coming over and we all had to go out into the garden where my Uncle Tom had built and air raid shelter," he said. "We all had to climb down into this pit until it all went over."They were trying to bomb the docks. "When that got a little serious, we were moved down to Mevagissey into a bit more of a quieter area."
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
World gig rowing champions crowned in Scilly Isles
The World Pilot Gig Championships have drawn to a close on the Isles of Scilly, with strong headwinds posing a challenge for competitors. "Some got really wet and one crew complained of fish getting in their boat," said BBC South West reporter David Dixon. Looe took the men's open title for the second year, beating Falmouth in a race for the line. Helford River Gig Club reclaimed the women's open title it won two years ago, holding off a strong challenge from Caradon, with Fowey close behind. "We have just been building over the last couple of years," said Lena Budd of the Helford team. "We knew we would get there, it was just a mattter of when." With the rowing over it was time to unwind and relax for the thousands of rowers and spectators who flocked to the island for the event. For Nick George, landlord of the Mermaid Inn beside St Mary's quay, the preparations included ordering extra supplies and making sure the drinks did not run out. He called the event "phenomenal" and said he ordered 120 kegs of beer and cider for the weekend - enough for more than 10,000 pints. Follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@ Islands 'epic and fun' for rowing championships Rowers head to Scilly for World Gig Championships Rowers head to 'blooming marvellous' championships World Pilot Gig Championships
BBC News
05-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
World gig rowing champions crowned in Isles of Scilly
The World Pilot Gig Championships have drawn to a close on the Isles of Scilly, with strong headwinds posing a challenge for competitors."Some got really wet and one crew complained of fish getting in their boat," said BBC South West reporter David took the men's open title for the second year, beating Falmouth in a race for the River Gig Club reclaimed the women's open title it won two years ago, holding off a strong challenge from Caradon, with Fowey close behind. "We have just been building over the last couple of years," said Lena Budd of the Helford team."We knew we would get there, it was just a mattter of when."With the rowing over it was time to unwind and relax for the thousands of rowers and spectators who flocked to the island for the Nick George, landlord of the Mermaid Inn beside St Mary's quay, the preparations included ordering extra supplies and making sure the drinks did not run called the event "phenomenal" and said he ordered 120 kegs of beer and cider for the weekend - enough for more than 10,000 pints.
