A377 Cowley Bridge Road, Exeter: @ Works between Taddiford Road junction to 19 Red Cow Village. Delays likely until May 30. B3123/A379 Bad Homburg Way, Marsh Barton Trading Estate, Exeter: @ Road closure. Delays likely until July 1. B3123 Church Road, Alphington, Exeter: @ Road closed. Delays likely until July 1. Footpath From Old Tiverton Road To Blackboy Road, Exeter: @ Road closed. Delays likely until July 31. Millbrook Lane, Exeter: Road closed. Delays likely until July 1. Pennsylvania Road, Exeter: @ Road closed. Delays likely until July 31. Fore Street, St Davids, Exeter: @ Works at the junction of South St to the junction of Market St. Delays possible until August 1. Magdalen Road, Exeter: @ Give and take traffic control. Delays possible until May 1. South Street, Exeter: @ Works from the junction of Fore St to the junction of Market Street. Delays possible until August 1. Stoke Hill, Stoke Hill, Exeter: @ Two way signals. Delays possible until May 16. Birchy Barton Hill, Exeter: @ Road closed. Delays likely until May 2. B3183 Heavitree Road, Exeter: @ Works outside Job Centre Plus Clarendon House. Delays possible until May 2. A377 Cowley Bridge Road, Exeter: @ Two-way traffic control. Delays likely until May 8.

Christopher Highton, @ 47, of Foxtor Road, Exeter, has admitted drink driving. He was stopped driving his Vauxhall Astra on the A377 in Crediton on March 26 and gave a reading of 81mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. He was disqualified from driving for 17 months, was fined £250 and must pay £85 costs and a £25 victim surcharge. Adam Leech, @ 26, of Raglan Road, Plymouth, has been jailed after being caught drink driving on Sidwell Street in Exeter. He was stopped on April 15 and had a reading of 84mg in 100ml of breath. He admitted a second charge of dangerous driving on the same date. He was banned from driving for three years and sentenced to a total of 14 weeks in prison. Magistrates said this was because of his long history of offending. Christian McArthur, @ 19, of no fixed abode, has been sent to a young offenders' institution after admitting two counts of theft. On April 14 he stole 212 aftershave worth £47.50 from John Lewis in Exeter and on the same date stole an HDMI cable from Apple store. He was sentenced to a total of eight weeks, which included implementing four weeks of a suspended sentenced for a previous theft. Michael Pring, @ 27, of Meadow Road, Budleigh Salterton, pleaded guilty to stealing meat and grocery items, worth £99.58, from Tesco in Exeter on April 2 and a further £85.91 of food from the same store on April 7. He also pleaded guilty to possession of 0.3g of cannabis in Exeter on April 14. He was given a community order to attend several sessions and must pay compensation and costs totalling £270.91. An order was also made for the drugs to be destroyed. Jamie Burke, @ 38, of Smythen Street, Exeter, has been given a 12-month conditional discharge after admitting being in possession of 0.18g of diamorphine, a class A drug, in Exeter on March 26. He was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £15 victim surcharge. Adrian Irimescu, @ 29, of Pellimore Road, Exeter, pleaded guilty to drunk and disorderly behaviour on Blackboy Road, Exeter, on March 28. He must pay fines, costs and a victim surcharge totalling £120. Samantha Johnstone, @ 22, of Pinhoe Road, Exeter, admitted drunk and disorderly behaviour during the same incident in Blackboy Road. She was given the same penalty. Daniel Mills,@ 29, of Hawthorn Road, Exeter, has admitted assault by beating against a female victim in Crediton on March 28. He was given eight weeks in jail suspended for 12 months. Magistrates said this was because he assaulted a woman in the course of her work with the public. He must carry out 80 hours of unpaid work over the next 12 months and pay compensation, costs and a victim surcharge totalling £265. Leith Mohammed, @ 30, of Argal Mews, Exeter, has pleaded guilty to five counts of theft. On January 20 he stole £37.20 of meat; on January 23 he stole £24.87 of food; and on January 24 stole £8.80 of food, all from Sainsbury's in Sidwell Street. On January 24 he also stole chicken breasts worth £10 from Iceland in Exeter and on December 9, 2013, he stole a bottle of Champagne worth £33.99 from Co-op in Sidwell Street. He was sentenced to eight weeks in prison for each offence, to run concurrently and suspended for 12 months. He must also pay compensation, costs and a victim surcharge totalling £279.86. Jonathan Cordwent, @ 18, of Spreyton, Crediton, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving on the A377 in Copplestone on December 2, 2013. He was sentenced to 100 hours' unpaid work and was banned from driving for 12 months. He must also pay £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge. Michael Harris, @ 44, of Preston Street, Exeter, admitted criminal damage of two windows, to the value of £479.10, belonging to Exeter City Council on March 30. He was given a 12-month conditional discharge but must pay compensation and costs totalling £564.10. Antony John, @ 23, of Lapford, Crediton, pleaded guilty to drink driving. He was stopped on March 30 in Lapford and gave a reading of 57mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. He was banned from driving for 14 months and must pay fines, costs and a victim surcharge totalling £387. Daniel Routledge, @ 23, of the Parade, Exmouth, was caught drink driving in Exmouth on February 12. He gave a reading of 88mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. He was banned from driving for 12 months and ordered to pay fines, costs and a victim surcharge totalling £360. Owen Quinn, @ 26, of Main Avenue, Torquay, pleaded guilty to stealing a cast iron bath, worth £150, in Exeter on February 13. He was given a 12-month conditional discharge and must pay £150 compensation and £85 costs. James Barker,@ 27, of Imperial Road, Exmouth, pleaded guilty to assault by beating against a female victim in Exmouth on March 7. He was given a 10-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months. Magistrates said this was because it was a "sustained attack causing injuries which involved a kick and the assault was in the victim's own home whilst the defendant was under the influence of substances". He was also made the subject of a restraining order, must pay £100 compensation and a victim surcharge of £80. He must also attend the Building Better Relationships programme. Ryan Chapman, @ 19, of The Close, Tiverton, admitted stealing meat worth £37 from Co-op in Exeter on April 15. He was sentenced to a total of 12 weeks in prison, suspended for six months. Magistrates said this was because of his failure to comply with court orders.

Alphington Parking anglers MOVES to restrict all-day parking by commuters at the changing rooms on the road leading to the Double Locks pub are having to be re-thought. Local councillor Rod Ruffle, explained the problem to Community News. He said: "It was pointed out that because commuters park there all day long it was impossible for residents who wished to park there for a short while, either because they wished to walk to Double Locks or simply exercise their dogs. "The city council was willing to respond, but in advertising its proposals to restrict all-day parking we discovered that it could penalise Exeter's anglers, particularly if they were participating in competitions which can involve parking for up to four or five hours. "After some investigation I spoke to local council staff who confirmed they could identify the all-day commuter parking as people who parked their cars at this point, then walked across the canal and river bridges, up Salmon Pool Lane and on to County Hall. "Staff at the Civic Centre have promised to find a compromise which will not disadvantage anglers yet still deter all-day commuter parking." Lights out ok CLLR Ruffle also reports that he has spoken to many people following the introduction of part-night lighting in the ward, and concludes that most are supportive. Cllr Ruffle said: "Saving money, saving energy and reducing carbon are the most three common reasons expressed. "However, there are some exceptions and residents in one cul de sac in the quayside area have asked for their two street lights to remain on. "Their main concern is that at one end of their road there is evidence of drug taking. However, they are full of praise for the police who act swiftly if they are alerted. "It is important that if there are parts of the ward which are concerned at this shut down please let me know by emailing me at rgruffle@yahoo.co.uk" Broadclyst Devon scenes THE parish church is holding a special coffee morning on Saturday, May 10, from 10am. Those attending will have the opportunity to buy old prints of a Devon scene which have been kindly given by a local antique dealer to help the church pay for a new heating system. There will be refreshments as well as seasonal plants, books, bric-a-brac and cakes on sale. John Jones, chairman of the Local History Society, said: "If you have never been to the church you will be surprised by its space and beauty. It is a wonderful Grade I listed building with most attractive stained glass and has fine quality stonework. "It was built in 1395 and you have to marvel at what was achieved." There is free parking in the village car park near the Victory Hall. City-wide Calendar snaps DON'T forget to enter your photographs in the 2015 Hospiscare calendar competition. The photographs, which will be returned, can be emailed or sent by post up to three per person. The theme is What Devon Means to Me. Digital files should be of 300dpi or more – and don't forget to include your name, address and where in Exeter, East or Mid Devon your photograph was taken. The closing date for entries is May 29. After the judges have decided on their top 20, the shortlist of finalists will appear in the Echo and on our website www.expressandecho.co.uk on June 12. The 12 photographs receiving the most votes will be revealed in the Echo and on the website on July 3. Entries should be emailed to: FRAdmin@hospiscare.co.uk or sent to Susie Healey, Hospiscare, Dryden Road, Exeter, EX2 5JJ. County-wide Winter woes THE full extent of the winter storms was revealed at the latest meeting of the Exeter highways committee. Emergency teams had to deal with a total of 1,340 fallen trees on the road network, 176 bank slips and flooding on 4,600 roads. Before Christmas, South West Highways averaged 500 reports of potholes per cent week and had some 12 to 15 gangs out repairing them. After Christmas, reportings soared to 3,000 a week and gangs increased to more than 40. Clyst Honiton First field event FOLLOWING on from our article last week about the field which the parish council bought from the county council for £1, we can now tell you that the very first event for the village in the field has been organised for Saturday, May 24. Between 2pm and 4pm there will be a rounders competition, and while the children are playing, the adults can feel free to help tidy up the field. Volunteers are asked to take along a rake and a bin bag. There will also be more information available about what is going to happen with the field and how people can be involved with that. Duryard Hoopern access FOR decades, residents and walkers have been using a gate near Higher Hoopern Farm to access the grounds of Exeter University. However, residents have recently contacted councillor Percy Prowse to complain that the gate is now being kept locked. A university spokeswoman said: "Following a recent assessment by the university's assistant director of health and safety, it was decided that we had no alternative but to close the gates at Higher Hoopern Farm in the interests of the safety of everyone concerned. "The farm is used as both a welding workshop and a re-cycling and collection area for the university; this includes the storage of wood chippings for the bio-composter based there. Due to the heavy plant and regular lorry traffic, it is a highly hazardous area for anyone apart from those who work there. "There are lots of alternative ways of accessing the campus, all of which are well signposted. We are currently reviewing the long-term plans for Higher Hoopern Farm but, for the reasons outlined above, the gates will have to remain closed while this is underway." Exminster Local plan MEMBERS of the parish council are to meet on May 6 to discuss the South West Exeter Draft Development Framework. The Teignbridge Local Plan 2013-2033 (Policies SWE1 and SWE3) allocates land at South West Exeter for at least 2,000 homes, associated infrastructure and land for community facilities/services. The Local Plan has been found 'sound' and the South West Exeter Draft Development Framework amplifies and clarifies the requirements of the policies of Teignbridge Local Plan which affect Exminster as well as Exeter. Heavitree Coffee morning THE congregation of St Paul's Church is once again holding a coffee morning in the Rifford Room at Heavitree Parish Church in Church Street. Admission is 20p for the event which is on Saturday, May 3, between 10am and 11.30am. There will be cake and crafts stalls and draws. Wildlife look A TOUR of Higher Cemetery on Thursday, May 8 will be led by wildlife expert George Barbour. Mr Barbour will be pointing out the many different birds that occupy the 47-acre site. The 90-minute tour will begin at 6.30pm outside the chapel. Children are welcome but must be accompanied by a responsible adult. A small charge is made for the walk which has been arranged by the Friends of Higher Cemetery. Newtown Trees at last AS promised once the prolonged rain of the winter stopped, the trees have been planted on the verges in Barnfield Square. For months the ground has been too wet to allow the county council to plant the trees and unfortunately that allowed drivers to mount the verges which became increasingly churned up. It is hoped that planting the trees will stop this. Local councillor Richard Westlake reports that the residents' reaction to the trees has been positive and he added: "I will be monitoring the parking of vehicles around this area to identify damage caused by dangerous parking of vehicles by the trees." Polsloe Station tidy-up CALLING all those who volunteered to help spruce up the area around the platforms at Polsloe Bridge – a date has been set for the work. Cllr Westlake told Community News: "We have set aside Saturday, May 24. "Those who are keen to help should meet at Polsloe Bridge at 10am and, subject to weather and work required, finish at 3pm. "A safety briefing will be given and the jobs to undertake shared out. Safety equipment will be provided plus tea, coffee and a light lunch. There is a toilet by the station." Cllr Westlake added: "The aim is to set up a support group to keep the station tidy, reduce vandalism and promote greater passenger use." Pinhoe Northern link A RING road to the north of Exeter is needed to take traffic away from Church Hill, according to local councillor Moira Macdonald. Cllr Macdonald made the plea at the latest meeting of Exeter's highways committee as she is becoming increasingly concerned about the numbers of cars using the narrow road as a rat run. Cllr Macdonald said: "At present drivers approaching Exeter from the east or north-east, whose destination lies beyond Exeter must all circuit to the south of Exeter if they wish to avoid driving through the city. This includes drivers from Ottery St Mary or Cullompton who wish to travel north-west for the A377 out towards Crediton or Stoke Canon. "Lacking a north of Exeter ring road drivers are increasingly using a much shorter route which was never intended to carry large amounts of traffic and the part of this route most affected is Church Hill." Cllr Macdonald said that residents living in Church Hill now speak of excessive speeds by a far larger number of vehicles as it has become a commuter/school run route. Cllr Macdonald said that proper research was needed to determine the scale of the adverse impact this was having on Church Hill. Cllr Macdonald told the committee she had accompanied the police when they did a speed check on Church Hill which has a 20mph limit and that not a single car was going at 20mph; the fastest was timed at 47mph. Committee member, Cllr Emma Morse, and Pinhoe's county councillor, said that she supported a northern link road as Church Hill was not suitable for commuter traffic as it was used by children walking to school. The county council's speed complaint action review forum is to look into safety measures on the road and report back to the next meeting of the highways committee in July. Sweeper retires POPULAR sweeper Richard Broadhurst has retired after years of keeping the streets of Pinhoe clear of litter. Over the years Richard could be spotted in all sorts of unexpected places with a cheery smile, ready to stop and pass the time of day before tirelessly pressing on with his work in all winds and weathers. Richard recently returned to Pinhoe for a farewell lunch at the Heart of Oak organised by the Friends of Pinhoe Library. Some 38 well-wishers attended the lunch where Richard was showered with cards and gifts. Two of Richard's supervisors arrived to present him with a "gold" brush and spade and two of his fellow sweepers also dropped in to wish him well. Richard plans to get himself a dog as company in his retirement in Dawlish. Polsloe Changing lights HIGHWAYS bosses are to tweak the timing of the traffic lights at the junction of Pinhoe Road and Hamlin Lane because of safety issues. As Community News reported last week, local councillor Richard Westlake asked for an urgent meeting with highways engineers after he heard of several near misses at the junction. Cllr Westlake has now told Community News: "The problem is that people are not observing the yellow boxes at peak times of the day. Traffic is backed up from the Beacon Lane junction and under Polsloe Bridge which means that people trying to get out of Hamlin Lane don't have a clear space when the lights change for them. "I understand that there have been several reported collisions to insurance companies. "The engineers are going to have a look at it and develop a system that allows the flow of traffic to clear before the vehicles coming out of Hamlin Lane move." In addition, Cllr Westlake has received reports from residents of drivers exiting the Monks Road junction at speed to go straight across into Hamlin Lane. Cllr Westlake said: "I don't know what we can do about it but this is a busy pedestrian junction so doing this is dangerous." Road works CLLR Westlake is asking for a review of protocols when it comes to closing roads for emergency road works. He cites the problems caused recently when temporary traffic lights were installed at the junction of Park Road, Clifton Hill and Polsloe Road. Cllr Westlake said: "This caused chaos with long tailbacks from Pinhoe Road and people unable to get out of Park Road. Ambulances were caught up in it and we can't have this when people's lives are at stake. "In the end the county council had to step in and have manual stop/go boards. "When we have emergency road works like this the county council, as the highways authority, must be notified, particularly when major filter roads like this are affected." RD&E Hospital Hair loss CHERRYBROOK Ward, the hospital's day case chemotherapy unit, is reducing the chances of hair-loss for cancer patients. Cherrybrook has a new scalp cooling machine to reduce the chances of hair-loss for patients receiving chemotherapy. The machine, which replaces an older model, has been generously donated by the charity Walk the Walk in partnership with the manufacturer Paxman. Patient Professor Ann Craft has been using the cap for six weeks. She said: "It was very painful at first but after 10 minutes the cold is more manageable. It's been just amazing though and I haven't lost any hair so far." Cherrybrook Matron Helen Daggar said "Losing your hair is a side effect that can be very difficult to come to terms with. "We are delighted to have been gifted this new machine, as it means patients can benefit from improvements in the cap design, fitting and timings of wearing the device. "They are also helped by the up-to-date information on caring for their hair throughout chemotherapy and after." Drum beats CHILDREN at First Steps Nursery have enjoyed a special visit from African drummer, Denis Kigongo. Denis, originally from Uganda, brought with him a selection of djembe drums for an interactive workshop. The children in Owl Room, who are aged between three and five, were given the chance to try out different drums and learn more about the different sounds they can make. They were also treated to several performances by Denis and heard about how the drums are used in Africa. The visit tied in with a project where the children have been learning about Africa. First Steps nursery provides day care for the children of staff working at the RD&E. The nursery caters for 105 children a day who are aged between three months and five years. St Thomas Fundraising help MAJOR fundraising to rescue the parish church from closure gets under way on May 5. As Community News reported last week the church has to raise £112,000 between now and November as match funding to secure a grant of £221,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund to cover the cost of essential repairs. The church has organised a fun programme for the May bank holiday (May 5). There will be a maypole, cream teas and stalls and special items on sale will be greetings cards, featuring a watercolour of the church which has been painted by Fr Andrew Johnson, who has been curate with the St Thomas team ministry for the past six months. Fr Andrew is a stained glass specialist and has worked at Exeter Cathedral for the past 40 years. He is also a painter and has produced two watercolours of the church to raise much-needed funds. Fr Andrew said: "One has been used on a greeting card which is blank inside. We have produced 5,000 and they will be on sale during the fund day. Limited prints have been produced of the other painting and there will also be a handful of these on sale. Fr Andrew is moving across to work within the team at St Mark's Church in Pinhoe Road but wanted to do something for fundraising before he left. He said: "I wanted to help the church and did the paintings to help launch the fundraising and also to create awareness of what the church is doing." New gardens ST Thomas Methodist Church has altered the gardens, fronting onto to Cowick Street, to create community peace and sensory gardens. They include both raised and ground level flower beds, seating, wheelchair accessible paths and a notice board for community helpful information. They will be officially opened during a coffee morning on Saturday, May 3, by radio presenter Judi Spiers. Also attending will be councillor Rob Hannaford, who gave money from his locality budget to help fund the project, and local singer Charlotte Ward. The coffee morning will begin at 10am with the ribbon cutting at 11am. Cheques are to be presented by West Exe Lions and Round Table who have sponsored the seating. There will be plant, books and cake stalls, a raffle and various light refreshments. The church hopes that the gardens will be well used, respected and enjoyed by the community. Long story ST Thomas Local History Group has gone from strength to strength since its inception in 2009 with 40 members and visitors attending a recent event. On Friday, May 2, a 10-minute silent film of Standfield and White, motor engineers, will be included in a programme to be given by the Rev Preb Christopher Pidsley reflecting his family history and the houses they occupied and businesses they owned in the St Thomas area. The meeting will take place at St Andrew's church hall, Alphington Road starting at 7pm. All welcome. Topsham Trees to go? THE doctors' surgery in Holman Way wants to increase the number of spaces in its car park. It is therefore seeking planning permission from the city council to fell three sycamore trees. West Exe Bygones plants ST Thomas Allotments Association is asking for everyone in the West Exe area to rummage through their photo albums to see if they have any photographs of themselves or their families as allotment-holders over the past 100 years. There are 12 sites in the association formed in July 1915: Alphington, Ide Lane, Cowick, Clapperbrook 1 & 2, Newman Road, Guys, Hylton, Pinces I & Pinces II, (Regent Street), Ashwood Road, and Rackfield. The association has a significant history but there is no written history and no clear understanding of how the sites have changed. And the association now wants to find out the relevance of its 19th century history to today. The questions needing answers include: how has the demographic profile changed, how have food and food security issues changed, what will St Thomas Allotments contribute to the future of the community, how will the history help individual allotment gardeners to understand, respect and hold that history for the next generations? And how can residents participate in the historical research? Members of the association and residents are working with Dr Clare Greener of Devon Gardens Trust, to answer these questions. The aim is to publish the association's history in September to mark the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War. The history (and associated events) will be offered to schools in West Exe as part of their programme marking the First World War and schools and residents will be invited to the association's centenary celebrations next year to learn more about their own local history and the part it has played at critical times in the country's history. Please contact Christine or Becky on 07773038689 if you have any photos to share, or email to info@bystock.eclipse.co.uk Your photos will be copied and the originals returned. Wonford Grand sale MAY 10 is the day of the grand sale for Hospiscare which is being held in Wonford Community Centre from 2pm. The organisers are the Pinhoe and Broadclyst Support Group of the charity. Entry costs 30p and there will be refreshments as well as stall offering cakes, bric-a-brac, jumble as well as a draw and tombola.

Peter Lord CBE co-founder of Aardman Animations, the creators of Morph, Wallace & Gromit, Creature Comforts and Shaun the Sheep is coming to Crediton to talk about his work at his Bristol Studios. The event at Queen Elizabeth Lower School on June 14, starts at 2pm and Peter will explain their fascinating story, which started with two schoolboys working on the kitchen table and led to triumph at the Academy Awards in Hollywood. Along the way he will show some of Aardmans best loved short films and behind the scenes techniques. Peter's first creation, Morph himself has agreed to make a rare personal appearance. There will also be a visit from the Wild West Gromit, a huge sculpture from the Gromit Unleased Auction which raised £2.3 million to support Bristol Children's Hospital. Tickets cost £12 for adults and £8 for children (to 12yrs). A family of 4 is £32. For further information please call Holly on 07747 060652.

ST Thomas Methodist Church has altered the gardens, fronting onto to Cowick Street, to create community peace and sensory gardens. They include both raised and ground level flower beds, seating, wheelchair accessible paths and a notice board for community helpful information. They will be officially opened during a coffee morning on Saturday, May 3, by radio presenter Judi Spiers. Also attending will be councillor Rob Hannaford, who gave money from his locality budget to help fund the project, and local singer Charlotte Ward. The coffee morning will begin at 10am with the ribbon cutting at 11am. Cheques are to be presented by West Exe Lions and Round Table who have sponsored the seating. There will be plant, books and cake stalls, a raffle and various light refreshments. The church hopes that the gardens will be well used, respected and enjoyed by the community.

A YOUNG Exeter businessman is determined the city will not miss out on the sporting legacy of the London Olympics. Ben Cheriton, 25, who runs a successful recruitment business in the city, was worried that little seemed to be being done to help the scores of sporting clubs in and around Exeter. So he decided to do something about it himself – in the shape of the 1,600 square metre Exeter Sports Academy which has just opened off Marsh Green Road West, Marsh Barton. He attracted investors who came up with the £250,000 needed for the new centre which boasts a high specification, four inch deep "elastic" floor, believed to be the only one of its kind in the area. Mr Cheriton was aware of the difficulties facing sporting clubs trying to find suitable and stable premises as a result of running the successful Exeter Eagles tae kwon do club. He said: "We have done considerable market research which shows that there are hundreds of sports clubs booking places with more on the waiting list. "This sports academy is something that Exeter is crying out for. There was a lot of talk after the Olympics about a sporting legacy but it did not seem as if Exeter reacted. "For instance the tae kwon do club expanded from 30 to 150 members and simply outgrew its premises, and I had problems finding facilities. Something had to be done." Among those delighted by the new academy are Exeter Street Motion Freerunners, who have chosen it as their new base. Dom Rott is the man behind the group which was set up initially at St Luke's with the freerunning basics being learned and refined in the gym and the full freedom expressed in public open spaces. Before the Marsh Barton move, classes had almost reached full capacity but a chance meeting with Dan Pulsford, sport maker at Exeter College, put Dom in touch with Mr Cheriton. The Exeter Street Motion Freerunners hold classes from 6pm to 9pm, Tuesday to Friday, and also a 5pm to 6pm class on a Wednesday specifically aimed at younger participants aged four to seven.

THE profound kindness and generosity of strangers has generated an incredible £30,000 in two weeks to send a mum suffering from a rare double illness combination to Thailand for pioneering medical treatment. The Breathe for Jo campaign to raise £30,000 in 30 days was launched in the Echo on April 10, and 15 days later readers and other well-wishers smashed the ambitious target a fortnight ahead of schedule, throwing Jo Smith, 36, her one and only lifeline. The former Exeter College student, who is suffering from rare heart and lung disease pulmonary hypertension and lymphatic cancer, has pledged her heartfelt thanks to all those who have donated to help pay for the specialist medical treatment. The campaign was set up by Jo's best friend Sarah Lacey, 36. Jo, who is mum to three-year-old Rudey, and lives in Broadhembury, near Honiton, said: "I don't know how it is possible to even come close to adequately expressing my eternal gratitude to so many people who have just made it possible for me to go to Thailand for treatment that could save my life. "I would like to thank the Express & Echo for their continuous support, reporting my story so sensitively and for making this even possible. "For my lovely friends, family and strangers who donated so much money in such a short space of time, sent me messages of love and support, shared my story and offered to help, you are amazing, kind and generous. "I feel so overwhelmed. It really means the world to me, and from the bottom of my heart, thank you. "And especially to Sarah, who is so determined to get me better, I am so lucky to have such an incredible friend who is there for me every step of the way. "I may be having a tough time, but it doesn't feel so daunting now. I feel incredibly lucky and very optimistic about what the future now holds for me." On day 14, the campaign had hit £22,000. Then a surge in compassion came overnight last Friday, April 25, with an incredible £8,000 pledged in a few hours, including an anonymous donation of £5,000. This reaction was prompted by the tragic announcement via the Echo's website, Facebook and Twitter pages that fundraising music festival Breathe Fest, scheduled for July in Exeter's Northernhay Gardens, had to be postponed because Jo's health is deteriorating so rapidly that she needs imminent treatment. Jo is thought to be the only person in the world with these two diseases for which she cannot receive treatment. She is caught in a devastating catch-22 situation, unable to undergo treatment for the cancer because of the risk to her heart and lungs which have been weakened by the PH. Neither can she be put on a waiting list for a heart and lung transplant, because she has cancer. Specialist PH doctors at Hammersmith Hospital in London recently ran tests which found the disease had significantly advanced and, devastatingly, they also discovered a five centimetre wide mass where she originally had a huge tumour removed. But Jo cannot have what is thought to be another tumour removed because she will have only a 50/50 chance of surviving the operation due to her PH. She already took this risk when the first tumour was discovered and made a promise to herself and her son that she would never take such a risk again. Jo's only lifeline is a doctor at the Better Being Hospital in Bangkok who is pioneering a type of immunotherapy treatment which could cure her cancer and halt the PH. Now that the target has been exceeded, as soon as the funds pledged via the Just Giving page are released on May 9, Jo and Sarah will be booking their flights. Their intention had been to wait until after the festival, never imagining that the funds would be raised in such a short space of time, or that Jo would need to leave so urgently. Sarah said: "Words cannot express what we feel right now – happy, shocked, overwhelmed, massively grateful and gobsmacked. "To all who have donated – your kindness has given us hope and a genuine chance of beating two rotten terminal diseases." Anyone who has already bought tickets for the festival is eligible for a full refund. Any additional funds donated over and above those needed to help Jo will be pledged to other charities supporting people suffering with rare heart and lung conditions or cancer. To donate, visit www.justgiv ing.com/yimby/breatheforjo campaign

Ben Moon says Exeter Chiefs will go back to basics in a bid to beat Harlequins in their last home game this weekend. The prop says he and his teammates are still hurting from their 55-12 thrashing by Sale in their most recent outing a fortnight ago. That painful memory will be used as motivation on Sunday, as the squad want to send their supporters home happy after the final match of the campaign at Sandy Park. Moon said: "After that loss last week it's been hurting for quite a while. It's not forgotten, we're still hurting from that and we're hurting for the fans because we felt we let them down. "I think that's going to be the key this weekend, showing we're not just going to roll over and take it." "It was hard to put your finger on what went wrong," he added. "It wasn't a typical Exeter Chiefs performance. Our tackling was pretty poor, we slipped off tackles which gave them momentum in the game. Our general attitude going into the game was not typical of us either. "We can go back to basics, go back to the simple things and what we do well." Head coach Rob Baxter was disappointed with the lack of fight in his players when they shipped eight tries against the Sharks last time out, and has demanded a return to the usual Chiefs attitude this weekend. Moon thinks the need to get the right mentality back will help them prepare this week. And with work to develop the stadium set to step up a pace following Sunday's clash with Quins, Moon hopes the players' efforts can match those being shown off the pitch. "We have spoken about putting in a big emotional performance and we've lost that in the last couple of games," said the former Cullompton youngster. "That's a good thing for us to focus on and take into Sunday and really go after the game. "This is the last home game and we don't want to leave the season, with everything that's going on at the ground with the progression of the stadium, with a sour taste." Exeter still have a chance of finishing seventh in the Aviva Premiership and claiming the European Champions Cup play-off place. However, Moon insists the players cannot afford to think too far ahead and have to focus their energies on beating Harlequins first and foremost. "Seventh place could be in our reach but we haven't looked too far ahead of ourselves," he said. "We're going to take the next two games one by one, rather than looking at the bigger picture. "We have to concentrate on what's in front of us rather than what could be, focus on what we can have an effect on." Moon, 24, has started 19 games so far this season, having only started 21 matches in total over the previous three campaigns. The former England under-20s ace is happy with the progress he has made this season, but knows he cannot afford to rest on his laurels. "I am happy with the way my season has gone personally. I've made the most starts I've made in a season since I've been at the club and I've really enjoyed that," he said. "It's always a hard fight for places here so it's never going to be easy, but I'm grateful for the opportunities I've been given."

It's fantastic to be going into our final game of the season against Hartlepool United safe in the knowledge that we'll be playing League Two football again next season. Great as it was to beat Scunthorpe United and clinch safety, we should never have been in that position in the first place and I see no reason why we shouldn't aim to do a whole lot better in 2013-14. Of course, we won't have the budget of some other clubs but that has always been the case and, with a bit of tinkering, I'm sure we can start moving in the right direction again. Certainly, our performance on Saturday, when we ran out thoroughly deserving winners against a side who came to the Park on the back of a 28-game unbeaten run, provided plenty of grounds for optimism. When you consider we also won 4-0 at their place back in September, it's clear that on our day we're more than capable of mixing it with anyone in this division. What's less obvious is why our days have been so few and far between this term. I don't pretend to know the answer but I'm sure it's something Tis, Robbo and Stevie P will be giving plenty of thought to over the summer. In all honesty, things couldn't really have gone any better on Saturday. We had the Iron on the back foot from the very first whistle and approaching half-time the only thing our performance lacked was a goal. At least, that was the case until the 45th minute when the unlikely figure of Craig Woodman – who's normally longer odds to score than Russell Brand is to be the next pope – put himself in the running for our goal of the season with a 25-yard pile-driver into the top corner. Jimmy Keohane added a second shortly after the interval and thereafter I thought we dealt pretty comfortably with everything Scunthorpe threw at us. Indeed, I'd go as far as to suggest that if you didn't know which side was which you'd have guessed it was the team in red and white, and not the one in orange, which had gone almost 30 games unbeaten and stood on the verge of promotion. Jimmy may have got a bit lucky with his goal, which their keeper spilled into the back of the net, but he had a great game on his return to the side and showed again just what he's capable of. Ditto John O'Flynn. I'm sure it was more a reflection of the team's performance than John's that he was substituted having come off the bench against Torquay on Easter Monday but, all the same, it can't have been much fun. It's a measure of the man that in what has been a difficult season for him he forgot about everything that had gone before and led the line with aplomb. I don't know if John will be at club next season but, for sure, he'll be much missed by everyone at the Cat & Fiddle if he isn't! A word too for Christy Pym between the sticks – I heard a few people question the wisdom of recalling young Christy at such a critical point of the season but he's hardly put a foot wrong and, what's more, at the age of just 19 is only going to get better. On the subject of emerging talents, congratulations to Matt Grimes on winning the club's player-of-the-year award. It's a great accolade for anyone but especially for an 18-year-old who only made his first team debut at the beginning of this season. I've seen some talented kids come up through the ranks but Matt is up there with the best of them. I've no doubt whatsoever he will go on to play at a higher level but League Two is a great place to hone your skills and fingers crossed he'll be with us for a while yet! I've been asked to mention the club's end-of season gala ball which takes place this Sunday. I'm really looking forward to what is always a great occasion and I understand there are still one or two tickets left for anyone who might like to join in the fun. Contact Donna Greening at the club on 01392 413958 if you would like more details. Before that there's the small matter of Saturday's game against Hartlepool and, while it's no longer as critical as it might have been, we'd love to notch up an eighth away victory of the season. Colin Cooper's side beat us 3-0 at the Park back in October but Rochdale are the only team to have done the double over us so far this term and that's the way we'd like it to stay. You can get some funny results at this stage of the season – take, for instance, our 4-4 draw with Burton on the final day of the 2007-08 campaign – but, rest assured, there's been no let up in training this week and we'll be taking this game every bit as seriously as the Scunthorpe one. Here's hoping we can end a disappointing season in style and, at the same time, reward all those supporters who make the long trip to the North East!

'If music be the food of love, play on,' as The Bard so eloquently asserted. As the son of a self-confessed veteran cosmic rocker, music enjoyed centre stage in the Bentley household of my youth. Indeed there wasn't much choice in the matter as we had music in plenty. I remember sitting obediently in the lounge listening to Dad's much-prized vinyls. In what he euphemistically dubbed music appreciation, we got the lot! From Stravinsky to Pink Floyd and 10CC to Delius, the old man's passion ensured my brother Jim and I developed wide-ranging musical pallets. While Jim embraced a predilection for heavy metal, grew his hair long and played in a band, my tastes remained more passive and mainstream. Nevertheless I was always keen to listen to what new sounds Jim was enjoying. His ability to find obscure musical acts never ceased to amaze me. I admit an element of hero worship did take place as I was the younger sibling! "This track is by a post-punk hardcore band from Sweden who only released this album after they split up following the accidental suicide of the lead singer!" was a typical intro from Jim as he lowered the stylus onto the record of his latest favourite. At times it appeared Jim was more interested in finding a record so unique that nobody had ever heard of it than in the music. I must report his record collection was quite singularly astounding. Just as Dad's music appreciation impacted on me, so did brother Jim's one-upmanship finding hidden gems to impress me. I too became something of a music anorak, digging out undiscovered treasures that I would delight in playing to friends as I loaded another audio offering into the tape player. The more incredulous were my peers, the more smug I would be! In recalling my musical heritage, my thoughts turn to a player who retired last week following a glittering 10 seasons in the front line for Exeter Chiefs. I mentioned James Hanks in last week's column but felt two paragraphs didn't do justice to the service of this great man. Let there be no mistake, Hanksy was 'A Great Man' for the Exeter Chiefs. I first saw his hulking frame limbering about as a sports scholar at Exeter University in 2004. At that time he still needed to add some meat to his bones but the raw material was already there in abundance. As the incumbent second row partner of a certain Rob Baxter with the Chiefs at that time, I had little room for Hanksy as the self proclaimed lanky streak. Indeed, Rob and yours truly pretty much tied up the four and five jerseys, starting every game, and with ex-England international Dave Sims also in the mix, Hanksy played for the second team. However, the young pretender put in the time and effort at training and earned his stripes over on the Cowick Barton playing fields when we didn't have the luxuries of today. Come the 05/06 season with Rob swapping his shorts for a coach's whistle, there was a huge hole in the team. Rob had been 'The Man' on the field, calling the line-outs and leading from the front as the first into battle and the last one out. To be honest, if Rob had been allowed, I've little doubt he would've driven the bus. He was and still remains the role model and leader of Exeter Chiefs. The chasm left in the team in the early weeks following Rob's retirement as a player was immense. A legend had left and wasn't easily going to be replaced. Then, three games into the season, with a home game against Cornish Pirates at the County Ground, James Hanks got the call. I remember sweeping down Magdalen Road to the St Luke's campus to pick him up, and even then as a 20-year-old his mature, laid-back nature was exceptional. Stepping into the boots of one of the greatest Chiefs for one of the biggest home fixtures of the season left Hanksy nonplused as he hauled his huge frame into the passenger seat of my battered old Nissan Maxima. I decided to impress the 20-year-old aspirant with my musical knowledge. Selecting a track I thought nobody would have heard, I clicked on the car audio. "Hey, that's God Made Me Funky by the Headhunters," he immediately responded, stealing my thunder. "I like this band!" I was bowled over by the man's musical knowledge, character and personality. Hanksy went on to play a blinder and secure his spot as a first teamer for the following nine years, recording 192 games for the Exeter Chiefs. I had the honour and pleasure to partner him in the second row over 70 times. From our promotion to the Premiership right up to his final game against Bath, big Jim has been a mercurial player and lynchpin with the Exeter Chiefs. In a climate where players list two, three, four and more former clubs, Hanksy has had just one for his whole career. I think that is something special and James is just that, special. Big Jim embodies the motto of the club, having given his all for the cause over 10 great seasons. I want to tip my hat to yet another legend of this club who won't make a fuss but needs one making for him. James Hanks, a true Chief, 'Always Loyal'. A special mention must also be made to Tony Yapp, another of our old Boys who came off the bench for Taunton last week and kicked a conversion to take his national league points tally to 3,001. Having started his career at Worcester 18 years ago, Slim opened his amazing points tally with a drop goal against Sheffield and went on to be a points machine for Bedford, the Chiefs and England A. Well done mate, there's still life in the old dog, hey? Speaking of old dogs brings me to yours truly having the honour to captain Devon in this year's County Championship. We had a warm-up encounter with Graham Dawe's Cornwall at Launceston yesterday (Wednesday), before games against Somerset and Kent in the competition proper. It's early days for the 2014 Devon team, but the squad is training well and we will be doing our best to fly the flag for the county on yet another national stage. Watch this space for news, opinions and updates on the County Championship. And finally, as the Chiefs prepare for a do-or-die encounter with Harlequins this weekend, so too do Exmouth with their Devon Cup final with Newton Abbot. On the back of a very tough season, a bumper crowd at the Imperial Ground this coming Saturday would certainly be a boost not just to the Cockles but also the All Whites as the county's highest ranked amateur teams battle for bragging rights in the off season. Until the next time, stay safe and enjoy your rugby. And keep up to date on Twitter @ccbentos.

Striker John O'Flynn admits he is unsure if he will get offered a new deal at Exeter City this summer, but is just happy to know the club will be playing in League Two next season. O'Flynn, who joined the Grecians in July 2010, played a crucial role in City's 2-0 win over Scunthorpe United on Saturday – a victory that secured the club's Football League status with one game remaining. There was a lot of speculation surrounding the Irishman's future at St James's Park during the January transfer window. A move away never materialised though and, with the player out of contract in the summer, he could have been forgiven for having one eye on where he might be playing next season. However, that was not the case. "To know that Exeter City will be in League Two for next season, that is the main thing for me," said the 31-year-old. "I'm out of contract in the summer and there are a lot of lads out of contract, but I think first and foremost it was about making sure we were safe. "I've been in this situation before and it was just about getting us over the line and then thinking about the summer. Then Tis and the board can look at who they are going to keep and who they are going to let go. "I'm in a boat which I've been in the last couple of years. I'm confident I will get something, somewhere." Heading into the clash against Scunthorpe, O'Flynn could also have been forgiven for being slightly annoyed by the treatment he had received from manager Paul Tisdale and a section of the St James's Park crowd in the previous match against Torquay United. The striker went on as a substitute at the start of the second half, but was then dragged off 36 minutes later as City crashed to a 2-1 defeat. His substitution brought some ironic cheers from the home crowd, but O'Flynn said he didn't let any of that affect him. "It was tough, but everybody is going through the mill," he said. "Tis (Paul Tisdale) is trying to make decisions and obviously as an individual it is never nice to come on as a substitute and then get taken off in the same half. "But, at that stage, we only had two games left and we needed every player in the squad to be at it. "I was back in training on the Wednesday and I just forgot about it. Tis chatted to me before the Scunthorpe game and told me to go out and run like I've never run before. I tried to do that, I tried to work hard for the team and I'm just grateful that we got the win and we are safe now." City's last game of the season is away at Hartlepool United on Saturday. The game gives them an opportunity to end the season on a high and leapfrog the Pools in the table. O'Flynn admitted that he and the players know that this season hasn't been good enough. However, he added that, having done the double over Scunthorpe, who have been promoted, the players also know if they can end the campaign with another victory then there will be a lot to be optimistic about ahead of next season. "We know we have under-achieved this season, but we showed what we were on Saturday," he said. "I think it is a good way to sign the season off at home, playing well and getting a good win and making the fans go home happy. "They haven't had that that much this season, that is disappointing for them and for us, but we showed we are a good team. We have got a good fan base and a good crowd and we were really rocking. "We will take confidence from the Scunthorpe match and that will give us a boost, but we want to end the season on a high. So we will train hard and go for another three points on Saturday."

THE chief executive of the company which runs East Devon District Council's leisure facilities has confirmed he is in discussion with the owners of Exmouth seafront's bowling alley complex with a view to taking over its management. Negotiations are in the very early stages but Peter Gilpin, who heads up LED Leisure Management Ltd, described the possibility of managing the Ocean Blue complex as an "exciting" prospect. Details of a possible transfer of management to the not-for-profit leisure trust, from complex developers and owners Mark and Rachael Quinn of Harlequinns Bowling and Leisure Ltd, are due to be ironed out in the next few weeks. Mr Gilpin, said: "I have had some very positive discussions with Mark and Rachael and although a lot of issues still remain to be resolved, both parties are hopeful that these can be overcome. "If we are able to do so, we would want to try to reach agreement in the coming weeks and work towards a transfer of the management of the complex in the near future. "This would be a very exciting development for LED as the Ocean Blue complex has tremendous potential and is already an iconic building on Exmouth seafront." The 12 lane bowling alley, café bar and restaurant on the ground floor of the multi-million pound, three storey leisure complex opened on Boxing Day 2012. Work on the second and third floors, which will house a huge indoor children's play zone, restaurant and function rooms, is continuing. Mark, added: "Rachael and I are working hard to get the final phase of the development completed, which will see one of the largest soft play centres in the region and an adjoining café installed on the first floor in time for the school summer holidays. "If we can also reach agreement with LED over the management of the complex by then, it would be great to have such a well respected and professional leisure company take it on and see it fulfil its potential. "In the event that we're unable to move forward with LED, we will continue to run this thriving business. "We want to reassure people that existing bookings or quotes will be honoured." Should the management transfer go ahead, LED have confirmed that they will honour all existing bookings and quotations and that all staff will also transfer with their terms and conditions of employment fully protected. Work on the eco-friendly complex began in February 2008.

Water bills could be slashed in Devon if proposals to limit prices at South West Water are approved. It follows regulator Ofwat's recommendation that the company's average annual household bills should be reduced from £516 in 2014/15 to £479 by 2020 - a total of 7% before inflation. These figures would be reduced by a further £50 after the government introduced a subsidy for all South West Water customers last year. Despite this the company's annual water bills remain the highest in England, and customers are still likely to see an actual increase in water and sewerage bills by 2020 - depending on the level of inflation. However, yesterday's announcement has been welcomed by members of the Consumer Council for Water. Dennis Osborne, local consumer advocate for council, said: "We've challenged South West Water to listen to its customers' concerns on value for money and affordability. "The company has responded well and its plans mark further progress towards addressing the high bills customers have faced over many years." Regulator Ofwat will make a final decision on the plans in December.

A man was airlifted to Hospital yesterday after being cut free from a vehicle at Princetown. The car flew 20metres through the air and landed with enoiugh force to detach the engine. Two fire appliances from Tavistock attended the scene and police have reported that a car left the road at Cox Tor and landed upside down. The male driver was the sole occupant of the car travelling from the direction of Princetown along the B3357 road approaching the popular Pork Hill car park above Tavistock. The car left the road at a bend where the road is elevated and flew 20 metres from the carriageway, landing nose-first in a soft bank with enough force to detach the engine. The man, driving a silver Skoda Yeti, has a suspected shoulder injury. Retired Police Traffic Officer Mike Kinsey who passed the, said: "In 12 years of traffic policing around this area I seldom saw a scene as amazing as this one, It goes to show how safe modern cars can be if seat belts are worn and luck favours you. "This driver was incredibly lucky."

A weather warning of heavy rain has been issued for parts of Devon today as the region is expected to be hit by thunderstorms and scattered heavy showers. The yellow warning has been issued from 12pm to 8pm today. A spokesman for the Met Office said the public should be aware of the risk of localised surface water flooding and the possibility of difficult driving conditions. The chief forecaster said: "A slack area of low pressure will move eastwards across southern Britain on Thursday. The air mass will be moist and unstable, and as daytime heating gets going, heavy showers and thunderstorms are likely to break out." But it is not all bad news as warm weather is expected to reach the Southwest in time for the Bank Holiday. The Exeter-based Met Office is predicting temperatures of around 15C or 16C in many parts of the region this weekend. Temperatures could drop to as low as 2C or 3C over the next couple of nights and most parts of England will see frost at dawn. However, Met Office forecasters said the warm spring sunshine will burn off the frost fairly quickly and conditions will be 'pleasant' during the daytimes. Laura Young, spokesman for the Met Office, said most parts of England could expect to enjoy sunny, warm days on Saturday and Sunday, which could last until the middle of next week. Those enjoying a long Bank Holiday weekend will be in for a treat as warm temperatures are expected to last until Tuesday. Ms Young added : 'That nice weather will stick around until Tuesday. It will be typical springtime weather - nice in the day, but stick a fleece on for your barbecues at night.' Meanwhile in Tiverton, a photographer caught a tornado developing in front of him yesterday. Richard Cliff was on Exeter Hill when he spotted the funnel cloud (pictured) in front of him. The photos were taken from near Seven Crosses which overlooks Tiverton from the west. Richard said: "The funnel was caused by sea-breeze convergence and was one of a few spotted in the space of two hours. The second set of pictures were looking west, from the same cell however they are much smaller and classed as rope funnel clouds." Richard Cliff was on Exeter Hill when he spotted the funnel cloud in front of him.

Richard Cliff took this picture of a funnel #cloud near Tiverton yesterday. Have you ever seen one? pic.twitter.com/t37SYShoyA

— Met Office (@metoffice) April 30, 2014

Exmouth can end a disappointing season on a high by beating Newton Abbot in Saturday's Devon Senior Cup final at the Imperial Ground. The Cockles' National Two South adventure ended in relegation, a fate known long before last Saturday's final 32-12 defeat at Chinnor. Keeping the trophy they have held for the past three years will put some gloss on the season, not that there are any guarantees. Chris Wright, Exmouth's director of rugby, is well aware only five league places separate his side from Newton Abbot and a win is not a formality. "When we won the cup in 2003 we went to Barnstaple, who were a division above us, and won so we know it can be done," said Wright. "Yes we have played at a higher level this season and yes we have beaten some high-flying sides. We have also lost to some teams I would have expected us to beat last year, so we can't assume anything. "I hope it will be a ding-dong game – and I am sure Newton Abbot feel the same. "Without giving too much away, we will try to play an attacking brand of rugby and hope we have too much firepower for them." The Devon Cup programme has not gone well this season as the two finalists both had byes in the last four. Barnstaple pulled out against Exmouth and Newton Abbot were waved through by Brixham. In the eyes of some detractors who have been trying to bury the Devon Cup for years, the time has come to axe it. Wright accepts there have been problems, but is keen to see the competition continue. "I don't think anyone is happy with the way the competition has gone, but we have had the wettest winter across the South West for many years and that has affected lots of games and had a knock-on effect for the cup," said Wright. "I understand Devon are looking at changing the format for the cup next year to improve the competition. "It is still a major event for the players to play in and a game they will never forget." Roy Henderson, Newton Abbot's director of rugby, has promised to take the game to Exmouth rather than sit back and be dictated to. "One of Exmouth's rivals offered us a DVD recording of them in action, but we decided not to bother," said Henderson. "We aren't going to change the way we play just for one match – so why worry about what they are up to? "I prefer to concentrate on our own game and keep doing what we have been doing. "We finished the league season with three good wins over strong opposition and will aim to keep that form going." Henderson has noted the five-rung difference between Exmouth and Newton Abbot, but feels the rungs are quite widely spaced. "Although by their own standards they have had a poor season, they have beaten five teams at home, all of them from higher up," said Henderson. "I think there is quite a jump between where we are and where they are, even though they are coming straight back down. "One of their strengths is going to be that they have been playing at a much higher level week in and week out." Although Exmouth talk about firepower, Newton are confident their own big guns will have an influence. "Forwards-wise we have a very competitive back five – and some very dangerous runners outside," he said. "Kyle Browne has had an outstanding season for us and looks like scoring every time he gets the ball. Josh Smith and Kevin Dennis are both powerful runners and if we get them going Exmouth will find them a handful." Exmouth have no injury worries and hope to welcome back forwards Stuart Lowe, Dan Pullinger and Luke Chapman into an expanded squad of 22. Definitely missing is full-back Rob Avery-Wright, who won't play against his old club due to work commitments. Newton anticipate no selection problems as they have had a week off since winning at Old Redcliffians.

Player-manager Scott Rogers says that telling certain members of his current Willand Rovers squad that they will not be required next season is the toughest part of his job. Rovers host champions-in-waiting Larkhall Athletic on Saturday in their final game of Rogers' first season at the helm. But Rogers has already started planning for next season, identifying who he wants to sign and who will make way. And the former Tiverton Town midfielder admitted that, with hard work and team spirit being so high on the agenda at Silver Street, telling some that their services are no longer be required is easier said than done. "To be honest, we are looking forward to the end of the season and building for the next," he said. "We have already identified four or five players that we want to improve the squad. "Some players will stay and some unfortunately will have to move on. "That is probably the hardest part of the job because some of these lads have given their all for me and the club. "But you have to keep improving and trying to get better. I can't thank all of them enough, but that is football." Rogers' squad have one last chance to impress the player-manager, but it will not be easy against a Larkhall side who have claimed the Western League Premier Division crown at a canter. Rovers themselves will also have to improve on Saturday's 2-1 defeat at home to Sherborne Town. After going 1-0 down, Aidan Moyle levelled for a depleted Willand side, only to concede the winner two minutes from time. Rogers concedes Larkhall are an intimidating proposition for his players, but feels it is the ideal way for them to end the season. "Larkhall will be tough. I know some of the players are a little apprehensive considering how few players we have available," he said. "It is a nice way to sign off the season I think – by playing the champions. Hopefully we can give them a really good game and finish the season on a high note." Speaking of Saturday's loss against Sherborne Town, Rogers continued: "They (Sherborne) probably deserved the win in terms of their second-half performance, but I felt we also deserved something out of it because of the boys' workrate. "We have been really struggling to fill the side in recent weeks and we were down to the bare bones again. "We had three players away at weddings but the boys who did play put in a hell of a shift."

The final home game of the season brings back fond memories of times following Exeter Chiefs. The expectation is normally that the sun will be shining, everyone will be in good spirits and Exeter will wrap things up with a win. In my 11 years of covering the club, they have only lost once in their final home outing of the campaign. That came in 2011 when Northampton edged them out to claim fourth place and a spot in the Aviva Premiership semi-finals. Other than that, the only low point to end the season at home came with a 9-9 draw against Doncaster in 2009, when Rob Baxter was acting head coach following the departure of Pete Drewett not many weeks before. The other nine times the Chiefs have sent their fans off happy for the summer, with a performance and result to be proud of. That includes some very memorable occasions – last season's thrilling 40-39 success against Gloucester that secured a place in the Heineken Cup and the thrashing of Coventry in 2006 in the final match at the County Ground to name but two. However, expectation this week is not along the same lines, and not just because the forecast does not exactly suggest Sandy Park will be bathed in sunshine at the weekend. The result against Sale a fortnight ago has made it difficult to look too optimistically ahead to the visit of Harlequins on Sunday. Ian Whitten said after the 55-12 loss to the Sharks that it didn't really matter what happened against the Londoners, so long as they didn't perform like they did against Sale. Anything better than a 40-point hiding this weekend will obviously be an improvement, but the best way to show that would be to get back to winning ways and put one over on Conor O'Shea's men. They have done it before and they can certainly do it again. Both teams are at their best when the pace is high, the ball is in play and they can attack in open spaces. That suggests an entertaining contest could be on the cards, but the most important aspect is for the home players to show that the fight and hunger is still there. Precious little of it was on show against Sale and that is one of the main things Rob Baxter has said he wants to see back in their game. That passion and pride in the jersey has been one of the hallmarks of the Chiefs under Baxter's charge for the past five years, so it will not have disappeared completely in such a short period of time. It will be needed if Exeter are not going to be out of the running for the European play-off place before the final round of fixtures in the league. As Wasps, who are four points ahead in seventh place, host lowly Newcastle this weekend, anything less than a win for the Chiefs is likely to put them out of contention. That is not the be all and end all, and in some ways it might favour the Chiefs next season not to be in with the elite. However, with presentations to be made on the pitch following the final whistle on Sunday, it would be far better for all concerned if they could be done on the back of a Chiefs victory.

ECFC Talk is back for its 29th episode of the season. On this week's show the panel review the Scunthorpe United match and the goal of the season contenders. They also discuss John O'Flynn's performance on Saturday and his future at St James's Park as well as the chances of a few youngsters getting their debuts against Hartlepool United this weekend. If you are tying to listen to the content using Internet Explorer you might have trouble, try using Google Chrome.

The highlight of day three of the Punchestown Festival is the world hurdle with six-time Cheltenham Festival winner Quevega, bidding for a fifth straight win in this race. It will be a tough test for Willie Mullins ten year old who didn't look as dominant at Cheltenham as she had done in previous years. It is five years and ten races since she was beaten - an incredible record that could well be extended but trading around even money is too short a price for me. Time must eventually tell and there are some high class horses who are queuing up here to remove her crown. The pick of that bunch is At Fishers Cross for Rebecca Curtis who was third in the World Hurdle at Cheltenham and just beaten into second by Whisper at Aintree. A high class performer on his day, the seven year old should go close. The day's other grade one is The Ryanair Novice Chase over 2m at 6.40pm. After a bold round of jumping Champagne Fever looked for all the world like the winner of this season's Arkle before being piped on the line and is taken to put that right here. The seven-year-old has not previously saved his best for Punchestown but is still an exciting novice chaser who is showing well at home according to trainer Willie Mullins. Balder Success, an impressive winner at Aintree looks the main threat. Kicking off the card is the Colm Murray Memorial Handicap Hurdle over 2m and 28 runners go to post in what looks a hugely open race. The much improved Green Energy, going for a hat-trick of wins for trainer Matthew Smith, is the pick. At 4.15PM is the Three.ie Handicap Chase over 2m. Mallowney turned over today's favourite Ned Buntline in a novice chase at Naas in January and could do so again. Davy Russell's mount has performed well in graded events since and the eight year-old is a solid jumper. Athough there is a slight concern over the ground, he is worth following at an each-way price of 14/1, Next up at 4.50pm is the Avon Ri Corporate & Leisure Resort Chase over 4m1f. Enda Bolger's best chance of adding to his impressive record in this race looks to be Quantitativeeasing who has plenty to find on the favourite Duke of Lucca after Cheltenham. But if on one of his 'good days' the nine-year-old should get a lot closer. A second behind Carlingford Lough in last year's Galway plate is form that has been franked here. A handicap hurdle over 3m is at 6.05pm and looks another extremely difficult race to dissect. The seven-year-old gelding Inis Meain heads the market and already has two wins to his name this year. But he has had jumping issues and there are ground concerns. Moonlight Boy, a winner over hurdles at 2m at Limerick earlier this month, looks a decent each way option and could appreciate the step-up in trip with AP McCoy on board. At 7.15pm is a Mares Novice Hurdle and Bridgequarter Girl, the ride of Barry Geraghty, is one who could step up here. Two wins already this season, the six-year-old has shown a consistency and improvement this campaign and although more is needed here, is one worth following. Klinnsman for Edward Harty is taken to score in the bumper at 7.45pm to close the day. AT A GLANCE 3.40pm Green Energy 4.15pm Mallowney 4.50pm Quantitativeeasing 5.30pm At Fishers Cross 6.05pm Moonlight Boy 6.40pm Champagne Fever 7.15pm Bridgequarter Girl 7.45pm Klinnsman