Alphington
Development
THE Alphington Development Brief has been adopted as a Supplementary Planning Document by the city's executive.
Richard Short, Exeter's assistant director of city development, told the executive that the relatively low number of responses about the brief (32) was probably due to extensive local consultation already undertaken on the proposals over the last two years, which included exhibitions, surveys, and the five workshops carried out with the Alphington Village Forum committee members.
Many of the requests made by the forum had already been incorporated, resulting in lowering the average net density of housing from 50 dwellings per hectare to a maximum of 35, which means the number of new homes is unlikely to be more than 400. The original number stated in the Exeter Core Strategy was "up to 500".
The forum had requested that the brief include a ban on construction traffic driving through the village, which was tabled by Cllr Clark and agreed at an earlier planning member working group on 10 June.
The city council will also continue to work with Devon County Highways to investigate the potential for a long-term ban on HGV/LGVs travelling through Alphington.
Juliet Meadowcroft, chairman of the forum, attended the meeting and reported: "The forum also requested a financial contribution through the section 106 agreement towards the provision of a safe pedestrian and cycle path along the length of Chudleigh Road.
"The means to fund this improvement to the future route to and from the proposed school on the south of the A379 is being discussed by city council and county highways officers, and the brief will be amended to reflect this.
"No final decision has yet been made on the proposed single-campus through school, which has been strongly opposed by Exeter City Council for several serious reasons, including the severing of the new community by the major arterial road even if a bridge is built over it, and also the long and dangerous walk for primary school children from the new Alphington homes."
Traffic signals
UP FOR discussion at the next meeting of Exeter's highways committee later this month will be the traffic signals at the junction of Alphington Road and the entrance to Aldi and B&Q.
Local councillor Roy Hill has suggested that the phasing of the lights should be changed to give pedestrians longer to cross.
A site meeting was held between Cllr Hill, fellow local councillor Margaret Clark and highways engineers.
Cllr Hill said: "The phasing of the lights has not changed since Aldi opened and yet the junction has now become much busier than it used to be."
Broadclyst
Cycle toucan
DEVON County Council is to press ahead with a planning application for a toucan crossing and a cycle link to Dog Village at a cost of £128,000.
The scheme was given the go-ahead at the latest meeting of East Devon District Council's highways committee.
The toucan crossing will link into the existing cycle route from Pinhoe along the B3181.
This in turn will prepare the way for a cycle link to Dog Village through an orchard currently owned by the National Trust.
There are also plans for a traffic calming speed hump on Station Road.
City centre
Yard parking
THE new signs put up to stop Cathedral Yard being used as a free car park seem to be having an effect.
Community News spotted just one van making deliveries the other day – a difference to when cars were parked from one end to the other a few days earlier.
Radio memories
IF YOU remember listening to Radio Luxembourg under the pillow or dancing in the park to the sounds of your "tranny" then you will love Geoff Stow's exhibition at Exeter's Royal Albert Memorial Museum.
Connoisseur collector Geoff, from Pennsylvania is exhibiting, for the very first time, his collection of post-war radios.
It all started when Geoff, a child of the 60s, inherited a Bush radio from an aunt which he loved, but which eventually fell to pieces – although he now has a modern reproduction of it in the same colour, same style which works perfectly.
It sparked a life-long interest in plastic domestic items generally but radios in particular as he found they were often the most interesting as they were not copies of existing items.
Not an obsessive collector, preferring the quirky and individual design, he now has around 25 in his collection – a favourite being a KB radio that looks like it could be a fan heater and has an interesting moulding.
His prize possession is a very rare PYE radio designed by Robin Day.
Geoff, a member of the 20th Century Society, said: "I have at least two radios that are featured in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York but my dream is to come across a Bang & Olufsen FM portable from the early 70s.
Geoff said: "I get the radios from various sources, boot sales, collectors, and so on, but I tend to be a bit mean and won't pay a lot!
"This is the first time they have been on public exhibition.
"For some people it will be a reminder of the picnic radios that came with the transistor.
"That was the first time that people could carry music about with them.
"Of course the only trouble was the only music you could hear was on the old Light programme. It wasn't until the pirate radios started that it really took off."
City-wide
Dog squad
A NEW dog squad is on its way to Exeter in a bid to crack down on dog fouling.
The street enforcement team will also be tackling dangerous dogs, litter and graffiti.
The team will get involved in the enforcement of the city council's car parks, dealing with stray dogs and the removal of small illegal encampments from council land, which can be associated with anti-social behaviour and drug taking.
Cllr Keith Owen, lead councillor for environment, health and wellbeing, said: "We are using existing staff resources to create this new team to improve the lives of those who live and visit Exeter and make it a better place to be. In years gone by we have had in some shape or form officers dealing with these specific enforcement issues but due to the government cutting our funding, these posts have either disappeared or been absorbed into a much wider remit with less of an on-street presence.
"The new team will help reverse this and tackle everyday issues that are important to the people of Exeter."
Gospel given
ACROSS the city, many children are to be given a replica of the St John's Gospel which was presented to troops as they were sent off to fight in the First World War.
The gospel, which included hymns and paintings, was designed to fit into a soldier's top pocket, and to provide comfort and hope in the trenches.
The diocese is giving them to children in church schools and asking pupils to share it with someone who has lived through a war and to listen to their experiences and memories.
Philip Mantell, head of education for the diocese, said: "This project isn't just about giving away a free gospel.
"It's about encouraging children to share them, to listen to the personal histories of previous generations who have suffered the realities of war, in a way our generation has not."
Contact education@exeter.anglican.org for copies.
Inspiring women
THREE local women have been short-listed for awards at the third Annual Women Inspiring Women National Awards ceremony which is being held on July 5.
The awards provide an opportunity to celebrate and recognise the achievements of women who are role models for other women, by either working directly with them or by being a great example.
The three are Sue Taylor, partner of Cafe at 36 in Cowick Street, St Thomas, who has been short-listed for the Shining Online award; Jeanette Brown, beauty therapist and partner in the hugely successful Devon Hour networking event; and Dana Mulligan, of Cartridges Solicitors, also in Cowick Street. Both Jeanette and Dana have been shortlisted for the Woman in the Community.
Jeanette is a supporter of women who have come from domestic abuse situations through the SEEDS Devon community group, Survivors Educating & Empowering The Domestic Abuse Services, helping survivors raise their voice and help shape a better provision for those using those services.
Dana Mulligan has been nominated because of her involvement in the St Thomas community, most notably establishing the St Thomas Traders' Association, a partnership of more than 110 businesses intent on growing the community, and spearheading the return of Christmas lights. She has also arranged summer fêtes, jubilee celebrations and Easter treats, sponsoring egg hunts and getting Easter flags flying high in Cowick Street. These activities provide fun for all ages in the St Thomas area and continue to help bring businesses and residents together. Sue Taylor has, through the use of Twitter, inspired other women in Exeter to get online and use social media to promote their own businesses and led to her being invited to act as an ambassador for the city during its hosting of the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
Sue said: "We are all thrilled to have been recognised for the work that we do and feel that these national awards will help raise the profile even further of small businesses in Exeter."
There were hundreds of nominations across nine different categories and the winners in each category have been decided by votes from the public.
Singing mayor
THE Exeter Police and Community Choir, which marked its 50th anniversary later last year, now has a Lord Mayor in its ranks.
City and county councillor Percy Prowse is a former police officer and has been a tenor in the choir for some years.
He will continue to forge close links between the choir and the city during his mayoral year and a highlight will be the Lord Mayor's Christmas concert at Exeter Cathedral in December at which, of course, the choir will be singing.
Cllr Prowse is raising money for Exeter Leukaemia Fund charity during his term in office.
Cllr Prowse was secretary of the choir when David Williams took over as musical director – and in this next year Mr Williams will celebrate 20 years leading the choir. At one time he was also musical director of the Torbay Police Choir.
The choir has now started its summer break and will resume rehearsals on September 8 when the priority will be preparations for the "start of season" concert on Thursday, September 25, at 7.30pm in the Salvation Army Temple in Exeter.
Tickets are still priced at only £6. They are available now from John Fox, 33 Ide Lane, Alphington, Exeter EX2 8UR ( please send an SAE) or call 01392 211753.
Rare envelope
A RARE Exeter envelope sent to the city by an officer serving in the Crimean War to his wife is expected to fetch hundreds of pounds at auction.
The letter, uncovered by Scotia Philately Ltd, the stamp and postal history specialists, is addressed to Mrs W D Francis, 41 St Bartholomew Yard, Exeter, and is written by her husband, a British officer serving with the Turkish contingent at Pera on the European side of the Bosphorus in Turkey.
The letter is franked with three 1d red-brown British stamps which are cancelled by the very rare "O*O" postmark which was only used on mail from Crimea.
The letter is today worth £550. The key to the value lies in the use of the postmark, for most letters from the Crimea were cancelled with London postmarks and are worth around £50.
The letter was sent on July 24, 1856, and arrived in Exeter on August 16.
Experts from Scotia Philately will be at the Buckerell Lodge Hotel on Wednesday, July 23.
Dog threat
EXETER'S postal workers are facing a growing threat from the city's dogs.
Around 27 postmen and women were attacked across the EX postcode area by dogs between April 2013 to April 2014, a 29 per cent increase on the previous year.
Royal Mail has launched the annual Dog Awareness Week in the EX postcode area.
Delivery director Jonathan Pain said: "Following the success of last year's campaign, there is growing awareness of the issue of dog attacks and the problems our postmen and women face when they are delivering the mail.
"However, last year there were still too many incidents in the EX postcode area and we need to reduce this number further as even one dog attack on our people is one too many.
"We appeal to dog owners in the EX postcode area to keep their pets under control, especially if they know their pets have a territorial nature.
"It can also be simple things that help – for example just making sure the dog is kept inside when the postman calls."
Charity tread
EXETER cleaner Wayne Hill has raised £600 for Exeter Hospiscare by taking to the treadmill to help raise money for the charity.
Wayne, 40, works at Exeter University and has been a long time supporter of the city charity.
He completed his six-hour treadmill challenge, running for two and a half hours and walking for three and a half hours.
He said: "In all I covered 18 miles in the time.
"I pulled a thigh muscle, and got blisters on my legs, where my shorts rubbed, but it was worth it for such a great cause.
"Hospiscare needs to raise £4m every year, so this £600 helps.
"I also organised a five-a-side football tournament and hope to have raised £50 from that as well. I want to thank everyone who helped raise this money for Hospiscare, it is invaluable.
"I have lost family members with cancer – my grandad passed away in 1982, and a few years ago I lost two of my uncles to cancer – and some of my friends have passed away in the hospice.
"The staff work so hard, and it is a worthy cause, which is deep in my heart."
Banquet plan
DANIEL McCarthy, veteran of many Christmas meals for the homeless is now planning a summer banquet for the same worthy cause.
Daniel is aiming to provide the feast on the up and coming bank holiday on August 25.
The meal will be held in St Thomas Church hall in Cowick Street and will run from around 7pm to 10pm.
Daniel is aiming to cater for about 60 people.
If you would like to help in any way please contact him on 01392 495618.
Clyst Honiton
Full peal
TO commemorate the First World War, a full peal will be rung in the village church by a bell ringing team from Dawlish.
The ring, on July 28, will be from 5.30pm and take about three hours.
Countess Wear
100 club
AS the 100 Club waits to hear about its future, a local committee has been set up to try to organise a way forward.
Local councillor Lesley Robson added: "The future of the club is to be discussed at the next meeting of the Exeter Board on July 17.
A group of local people are keen to take over the running of the 100 Club from Devon County Council.
Heavitree
CAN reminder
THE Heavitree Communities and Activities Network still wants to hear from local groups about everything that is going on in the ward, from youth clubs, church groups, and social and activity groups.
The project is being run by Heavitree Health Centre in partnership with Parklife and the aim is to put the details of all the different groups onto a database.
And aiming to increase people's social network community link person will be in the surgery on certain days to help point out community activities to those who are likely to benefit from them.
To get your group on the database, please ring Jackie Minto with details on 01392 277409 or email J.minto1@btconnect.com
Alternatively you can send details to Jackie at the Friends of Heavitree Health Centre, South Lawn Terrace, Exeter EX1 2RX.
Free concert
AND another reminder – this one about the free summer concert being held in the parish church in Church Street on Saturday, July 5.
Organised to mark the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings, the underlying theme of the concert, which features songs, poetry readings and the Heavitree Team Handbell Ringers, is the 1940s.
The concert has a start time of 7.30pm.
Although free there will be a retiring collection, the proceeds of which will be split between FORCE Cancer Charity and the church.
There will also be refreshments.
Newtown
Garden project
LOCAL councillor, Richard Westlake, wants to create a community garden around a disused pond adjacent to Newtown Primary School.
The pond had been created some time ago but was drained and covered over as it was considered a safety hazard for children, being so close to the school.
Cllr Westlake said: "I have been speaking to Devon Wildlife Trust about this, about creating a community project here in conjunction with the school to tidy it all up.
"Once we have got some ideas of what we would like to do then we will pull volunteers together from the Newtown area and look to see what we can do.
"Perhaps we could create an area for people to sit down and we could do some planting.
"If anyone is interested in helping as a volunteer I would love to hear from them."
You can contact Cllr Westlake on 01392 216476 or email richard.westlake@devon.gov.uk
Pennsylvania
Parking woes
PUTTING double yellow lines around junctions in Rosebarn Lane have not solved the problems linked to commuter parking on the road.
According to councillor Percy Prowse, the parking is now concentrated on both sides of the road, making the road narrower and more dangerous than it was before.
Cllr Prowse told Community News: "I never dreamed they would park on both sides of the road, effectively making it single carriageway. I did predict however that what would happen is that all the commuter parking would be squashed between the junctions of Collins Road and Armstrong Road and this is exactly what has happened."
Residents in Rosebarn Lane favoured having a limit on parking introduced to stop commuter parking.
However, when the issue was discussed at a meeting of Exeter highways committee, residents of the side streets objected to this plan, saying that it would displace commuter parking onto narrower roads.
Therefore it was decided to go ahead with the double yellow lines at the junctions with the proviso that it would be reviewed in six months.
Cllr Prowse said: "The six months will be up in November.
"Also the county council is doing a traffic count for the road and I am expecting it to be sky high.
"They have done a video count, so it should be accurate, and I am just waiting for them to tell me the results."
City MP Ben Bradshaw is taking the issue up with the county council and told Community News: "Devon County Council has consistently let down residents over this problem, letting it drag on for years.
"This is totally unacceptable.
"It's time the council listened and acted on the concerns of residents before there is a bad accident."
A Devon County Council spokesman said: "We have been monitoring Rosebarn Lane since the introduction of double yellow lines and have undertaken formal road safety assessments.
"No safety issues have so far been found but we will continue to monitor until November, after which we will report the findings to the highways committee."
Polsloe
Won't be beaten
FLOWERS planted by a team of volunteers to brighten up Polsloe Bridge railway halt have been vandalised.
The flowers were just beginning to bloom.
However councillor Richard Westlake, who organised the planting, has told Community News: "I am determined we are not going to be beaten by this.
"Instead we are going to look at how we can brighten up the area with some hardier plants and shrubs and I am told that CCTV is going to be installed."
Apart from weeding and general tidying up the area, about three dozen flowers had been planted a few weeks ago.
Cllr Westlake said: "We have had a lot of support from the community on this and we are going to press ahead with our second day of tidying up Polsloe Bridge on July 12."
Poltimore
History day
DISCOVER some of your local history with a trip out to Poltimore House.
The Poltimore Estate Research Society, is hosting a Local History Day at Poltimore House on Saturday, July 12, from noon when groups such as Devon History Society, the Golden Hammer (local bell foundry), the Dissenters' Graveyard and a Family History group will be available to pass on information.
PERS will also have displays relating to a variety of research currently being undertaken by volunteers into the Poltimore Estate.
As well as a number of artefacts discovered in local fields on display, short talks will also be given on topics such as Who Built Poltimore House?, Local Field Names and Poachers and Police.
Light lunches, tea, coffee and cakes will be available and the grounds will be open.
Dogs on leads are welcome. Standard entry applies. Information about forthcoming events can be found on www.poltimore.org
The Quay
Who the daddy?
A HONKING great scandal is ruffling feathers among the bird world on the River Exe.
The question on everyone's beaks is: "Who impregnated Swanny?"
Swanny is a female swan goose, a rare and uncommon species which is normally found in Mongolia and pasts of China.
The big bird was first spotted some three years ago by Exeter river watcher Alan "The Birdman" Pollard and his friend Norman Brooking.
The unusual, if not unique , arrival was followed, some 12 months or so later by a second swan goose. It transpired that this was a male – and unsurprisingly they linked up for a year or so.
Mr Brooking said: "Tragically the male disappeared, we think to go off to die. At approximately the same time Swanny, as Alan and I nicknamed her, hatched three goslings.
"Alan was concerned for their survival and contacted a charity which unfortunately wasn't able to help.
"The inevitable occurred and Swanny has spent a lonely year. She tried to latch on to the other geese but they kept their distance.
Then, about two months ago, after having vanished for a few weeks, she re-appeared with three young and proceeded, it seemed, to successfully rear them but tragedy struck again and one was attacked and died.
"However the remaining two are doing extremely well and, indeed, are almost as large as mum.
"The mystery is: How was she impregnated?
"To Alan's and my knowledge no other swan goose has been spotted on the Exe, and so I wondered if she'd been sired by another of the ganders on the river?
"This theory seems to have been confounded by the similarity of them both to their mother."
An interesting conundrum and one perhaps that Echo readers might be able to solve.
RD&E hospital
Above & beyond
SEVERAL members of staff at the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust have been recognised for their exceptional contribution to the hospital and its patients at the spring Extraordinary People Awards.
The seasonal awards are a way of celebrating extraordinary staff that do exceptional things every day and often go above and beyond to provide high quality services.
Nominations are made by fellow staff members who want to acknowledge the contribution of an individual or team, and the difficult decision of choosing a winner in each category is undertaken by a panel of judges.
The spring awards ceremony was hosted by trust chairman James Brent.
It was attended by staff, governors and members of the Board, along with the Extraordinary People winners.
The awards categories consist of Excellent Care, Exceed, Exemplar, Extra Mile Individual and Extra Mile Team, Volunteer and Exceptional Contribution.
The spring winners include: the AMU team who deliver "outstanding" care "with the upmost compassion"; Eunice Czochra who developed a prototype report to assist with planning and recruitment of nurses; Matthew Bryant, divisional director of medicine, who is described by his colleagues as "an inspirational leader" for his "vision of patient centred care"; security officers Julian Marks and Iain Morris who have shown empathy and acted professionally while ensuring the safety of patients; the urology team, who have worked together to bring about a transformation of their service; volunteer Ted Goff who is described as having "boundless energy and willingness to help everybody"; and the staff festival team who organised an event to celebrate RD&E's staff's hard work and dedication in its 10th year as a foundation trust.
Mr Brent said: "It has been wonderful to hear such inspiring stories through the many humbling and uplifting nominations for our Extraordinary People Awards.
"The RD&E is a place where passion for the job is the norm, and is simply bursting with staff who, daily, go further than their job requires."
The inaugural Extraordinary People Awards were held in Spring 2013.
The trust runs three seasonal award ceremonies a year and holds a grand Winner of Winners ceremony to celebrate all those who have been successful throughout the year.
St David's
Summer fun
DESPITE the forecast for thunderstorms and the odd rain shower first thing, the St Wilfrid's inter-team sports went ahead as planned, followed by the annual summer fayre held to raise funds for the Friends of St Wilfrid's.
There was a barbecue, cream teas, tombola, splat the rat, remote control challenge, giant Jenga and Connect 4 as well as the opportunity to throw wet sponges at some of the teachers, including both the deputy head, Mr Housecroft, and the head teacher, Mrs Macdonald-Dent.
The director of sport, Mr Bovingdon was also on the receiving end of a bucketful of water courtesy of one of the recently departed Year 11 pupils that came back for the event.
Tree overhang
RESIDENTS are seeking permission from the city council to remove branches of an oak tree which are overhanging their properties. The tree is in the churchyard of St David's.
St James'
Cream teas
A NUMBER of guiding units in the east of the city are fundraising to help them get to Switzerland next year for an adventure holiday.
To that end they are organising an afternoon of cream teas to be held in St James' Church hall on July 19, between 2pm and 4pm.
There will also be a prize draw, tombola, face painting, hook a duck, book stall, cake stall, jewellery stall, and other refreshments.
St Thomas
Bouncing rhyme
CALLING all parents with babies – the bounce and rhyme sessions at St Thomas Library are regular and free! And have proved so popular that another session has been added each week.
Those attending can sing along with traditional nursery rhymes with actions and shaky toys.
Lee Rawlings, the library's supervisor, said: "The event has been so popular that we decided to add an extra session every week which is proving just as successful!
"These lively half hours have been running for nearly three decades and continue to be as much fun as when the branch first started them."
Bounce and rhyme sessions are weekly on Thursdays at 10am and 11.30am at St Thomas Library, Cecil Road/Church Road. Call 01392 252783 for more details.
Consultation
AND still on the subject of St Thomas library – there is still just over two weeks until the end of the county council's library consultation.
St Thomas has been earmarked by the county council as being suitable to be run by volunteers from the local community.
The consultation ends on July 17, and the county council has told Community News that it has received 137 responses regarding the future of the library in Church Road.
A spokesman for the county council said: "All the responses will be carefully worked through before the council's cabinet is asked to consider a new report in the autumn."
Mysterious
ST THOMAS Local History Group is holding what it describes as an evening of music, mystery and information on Friday, July 4.
Musician Ray Hill will talk about Exeter bands in the 1960s and play his guitar; John Bright, a former librarian at St Thomas branch library will seek members' help in solving an experience that happened to him about 25 years ago.
Finally, a representative of the senior management team of Devon Library Service will speak about the future of the library in St Thomas.
The meeting will be held in St Andrew's Church hall, Alphington Road, starting at 7pm.
Non-members are welcome.
Stoke Hill
Parking petition
STOKE Hill Infant School is gathering a petition, asking Devon County Council to carry out a parking review of the local area.
Sarah Mackay, the school's head teacher, told Community News that the school wants the review to find a solution that will make the school drop off and pick up times more pleasant for everyone.
Mrs Mackay said: "We want the county council to carry out a review so it can be made clearer who is parking where and why which you can't know until you do a head count.
"Times change and I think we are due a review."
Parents are being asked to sign the petition as well as people, such as speech therapists who visit the school.
The school would like the review to take into account the views of parents and local residents and some children.
It is hoped that some of the pupils will be able to go to County Hall to present their petition to councillors before the next meeting of the full council later this month.
Local councillor Percy Prowse said: "There is no parking available for either the infant or the junior school.
"I was at the junior school the other day and if you looked down Stoke Hill and Stoke Hill crescent there was not a single parking space anywhere. There is absolutely nowhere to park.
"I am going to be tabling a question about the parking around the Elizabeth Avenue area at the next meeting of Exeter Highways committee."
Tedburn St Mary
Summer fun day
LAW firm Ashfords is holding a summer fun day at Tedburn St Mary School to raise money for Children's Hospice South West.
There will be a number of different stalls located around the school grounds, including Beat the Keeper, Treasure Island, and Higher or Lower.
Some more traditional, classic games will also be making an appearance, such as a tombola, a coconut shy and, of course, a bouncy castle!
The fun day is open to people of all ages, with food and drink available on the day including burgers, cakes and ice-cream.
The line-up for the day includes welcome at 1pm, a sports day at 2pm, tug-o-war at 3pm and a fancy dress competition, with a pirate theme and for all ages, at 4pm.
The raffle will be drawn at 4.30pm.
The fun day is being held on Saturday, July 19, between 1pm and 5pm.
All monies raised will go towards the Children's Hospice South West, Ashfords' chosen charity of the year.
Topsham
Trumpet sound
SATURDAY, July 5, will see a special concert taking place in St Margaret's Church.
Entitled The Trumpet Shall Sound, it features music for two trumpets, choirs and organ.
Performing will be Claude Lamon and Geoff Cloke along with St Margaret's Church Choir and Exeter Singers and the concert will feature music byBach, Handel, Vivaldi, Mozert, Tallis and Vaughan Williams.
Geoff Cloke has been playing trumpet since 1968 and worked for the City of Oxford Orchestra before studying for a Music degree at Bangor.
In 2000 he founded Devon Brass, playing in and organising concerts all over the South West.
Claude Lamon moved to Devon three years ago with his family.
As a trumpet player he has worked with orchestras throughout South Africa and Europe including Kwa-Zulu Natal Philharmonic, Bayreuth Festival Orchestra in Germany and Invitation Orchestra of the World concert in Moscow's Red Square under the direction of Valery Gergiev.
He teaches at Exeter College and Exmouth College and is founder of the new chamber group Gioisca.
The concert will begin at 7.30pm.
Admission is by programme: £6 at the door, £4 for students.
The funds from the concert will go to the appeal for the Topsham Scout Hut, which was very badly damaged in the floods.
For the diary
OVER three days later this month St Margaret's Church will be holding its patronal flower festival.
The festival will be on July 17, 18, and 19.
The church will be open from 10am to 7pm on the Thursday and Friday and until 5.30pm on the Saturday, the late opening allowing those who work to pop in and enjoy the exhibits.
In addition, on Friday at 6pm there will be music performed by Chris and Josie Walledge and friends.
The theme for the festival is memories and exhibitors are coming up with a wide and interesting range of titles.
It is also hoped to exhibit some of the gifts given to the church over many years and many are still in use to this day.
Funds raised at the flower festival will be shared between the Alzheimer's Society and St Margaret's Church.
Wonford
Fair revels
ONE for the diary – on Saturday, July 12, Wonford Fair, formerly known as the Wonford Revels will be held in the fields behind the community centre.
The event will run from 11am until 2pm and one of the feautres will be art produced by children at both Wynstream and Woodwater primaries who were asked to paint a picture on the theme "What is good about Wonford".
There will also be the usual stalls, ice creams and what the organisers
