Alex Walton

Ottery artist, Lisa Parkyn, is collaborating with North Devon sculptor, Eilean Eland, in a joint exhibition called ECHOES running at The Malthouse Gallery at the Lyme Regis Town Mill from March 26 until April 7. Previously unknown to each other, Lisa and Eilean made contact through social media, identifying sometimes unexpected ‘echoes’ in their art practices. Lisa’s new work celebrates colour and focuses on the brighter side of life. Her paintings include elements of flowers, landscape and figures and have a dreamlike quality of abstraction that allows the viewer their own interpretation of each piece. www.lisaparkyn.com Eilean’s sculptural female figures are statements celebrating the powers, strengths and emotional contexts of womanhood. There are so many images of women that have been produced by men from an objective, frequently sexualised standpoint, and as a woman, Eilean, who lives by the coast in North Devon, wants to make her work grounded in the internal subjective experience of being a woman. She lives in her inspiration! www.elandart.co.uk Lisa said: “The experience of creating a joint exhibition demonstrates the positive power of reaching out in challenging times to connect with inspiring individuals. Social media can be misunderstood, or get bad press, but for Eilean and me it has enabled a liberating and rewarding way forward.”

Ottery artist, Lisa Parkyn, is collaborating with North Devon sculptor, Eilean Eland, in a joint exhibition called ECHOES running at The Malthouse Gallery at the Lyme Regis Town Mill from March 26 until April 7. Previously unknown to each other, Lisa and Eilean made contact through social media, identifying sometimes unexpected ‘echoes’ in their art practices. Lisa’s new work celebrates colour and focuses on the brighter side of life. Her paintings include elements of flowers, landscape and figures and have a dreamlike quality of abstraction that allows the viewer their own interpretation of each piece. www.lisaparkyn.com Eilean’s sculptural female figures are statements celebrating the powers, strengths and emotional contexts of womanhood. There are so many images of women that have been produced by men from an objective, frequently sexualised standpoint, and as a woman, Eilean, who lives by the coast in North Devon, wants to make her work grounded in the internal subjective experience of being a woman. She lives in her inspiration! www.elandart.co.uk Lisa said: “The experience of creating a joint exhibition demonstrates the positive power of reaching out in challenging times to connect with inspiring individuals. Social media can be misunderstood, or get bad press, but for Eilean and me it has enabled a liberating and rewarding way forward.”

You can leave your hat on this Saturday as Sidmouth residents prepare to show their support for brain tumour charity. There has been a lot of activity behind the scenes as Brain Tumour Research’s Wear A Hat day draws closer. Charlotte Reid, the brain tumour warrior from Sidmouth, has been busy finger knitting a garland to adorn the railings on the seafront. Charlotte was all set to walk a length or two of the promenade as part of the challenge but a broken ankle put paid to that, although there will be plenty of offers to push her along in her wheelchair. You will find Charlotte and her mum Angie underneath the balcony of the sailing club from 9am on Saturday, March 26 where they will be pleased to give you a record card and a hat if needed should you choose to walk and help the organisers reach their target of walking 1,560 lengths by 4pm. There will also be a raffle, cakes, Brain Tumour Research merchandise, tombola and local author Janet Dowling’s books, Bold Girls Wear Hats, on sale. From 2pm the event organisers will be in the Sailing Club with the bar open, cream teas and music from Jurassics. Alexa Baker from Sidmouth Does Wear a Hat, said: “To encourage the walkers on their way we have the brownies and guides on hand, Christine Hardy playing the sax, Mischief and Mayhem, Thrills On Wheels and Seaside Skater providing entertainment. “We are extremely grateful to everyone who has volunteered to help with the street collection, donated raffle prizes and to our supporters, Sidmouth LED, KB Photography and Bradleys Estate Agents. In fact, Stephen French from Bradleys will be on the seafront supporting the event from 9am and you might spot Kyle with his camera! “We would be delighted if you could pop along and join us, every length counts and there are rewards for walking 10, 20 or 30 lengths.” If you are unable to join the walkers on Saturday but wish to donate then go to www.justgiving.com/Angela-Reid34.

Sidmouth Library is on the hunt for budding nature explorers to join them next month. On Saturday, April 2, the library will launch its Nature Explorers Backpack Project with the aim of encouraging people to explore the natural world around them. The idea for the Nature Explorers Backpack came from the great interest shown in the Library Nature Table, both in the library and online as a Facebook group. Local nature finds are brought in and placed on a table for people to look at and discuss. The library is keen to encourage more people to explore nature around and about in various habitats and on their doorstep and to share their finds. Library supervisor Carol Pentecost, said: “We are very excited to finally get this project off the ground and would like to thank our supporters the Keith Owen Fund, Devon County Councillor Stuart Hughes, and The Friends of Sidmouth Library for funding this project. I would personally like to add my thanks to Melinda for all her hard work to make this happen.” The backpack contains a large magnifying glass, magnifying pot, a bucket, a torch and a ruler, plus spotter and identification sheets according to the habitats people wish to visit. A garden would be a good place to start! Borrowing a backpack from the library is free (although a £5 deposit is required to cover lost or damaged items) and you can keep the backpack for 2 weeks. Longer loans can be arranged. Carol said: “We plan to liaise with local schools, offering them the backpacks for a whole class to use together, which we hope will foster an interest at an early age.” Further information on the Keith Owen Fund can be found through the Sid Vale Association https://sidvaleassociation.org.uk

A swap shop will take place in Honiton this Saturday to raise vital funds to help people affected by the ongoing war in Ukraine. The Ukrainian Appeal Swap Shop will be open for donations this Saturday (March 26), in the drama hall at Honiton Community College. People can drop off their clean and in good condition clothing between 8-10am at the school hall where they will be issued with a ticket to bring back in the afternoon from 1-5pm to exchange for new clothes. Swap shop organiser, Lauren Passmore-Smart, said: “Everyone wants to help those who are fleeing the war and this was an idea of something that could be done to help whilst also providing the community with an eco-friendly way to refresh their wardrobes. “If it’s successful, we hope to continue with the swap shop going forward as a way of helping the environment as well as raising awareness and funds for local community projects. “We really hope it will be successful and that we raise lots of money for the Ukraine Appeal.” There will be a chance to make a donation of money on the day for those who are unable to swap clothes. There will be tea, coffee and cake available in exchange for donations as well. All proceeds will go towards The Red Cross Ukrainian Appeal.

Ottery Church has held a special service to reflect upon the tragic events unfolding in Ukraine. An afternoon service of prayers for the people of Ukraine, led by Cook, took place at the church on Thursday, March 17. Around 50 people attended the service with a collection held and churchgoers were able to light candles in remembrance. Rev Lydia said: “It was good to gather as a community from across the local area to pray for the people of Ukraine. We decided to hold our service outside as a public witness to the town of our commitment to pray for peace in these troubled times. “As we prayed, a helicopter flew overhead and we were all struck that we could experience that without fear, knowing that for so many others around the world this would have been a time to be afraid. “As well as praying for the people of Ukraine and Russia we prayed for our own nation that commitment could match conviction so that the pain of the Ukrainian nation is shared by us, their weary people sheltered by us, and their peace assured by us.” Ukrainian flag flying high at Ottery Church (Image: Susan Jeacock)

New research from Reed, the online job recruitment platform, has revealed that despite the increase in interest rates, the cost of living and energy prices, salaries in the South West are not keeping up, with companies advertising lower salaries across the UK. From analysis of more than 9.35 million jobs posted on Reed.co.uk across the UK since 2018, as part of Reed’s suite of annual salary guides, advertised salaries are sitting at pre-pandemic levels, with any rise over the past two years dropping back down to 2020 levels. Salaries in the South West are no exception, as they lag behind soaring living costs, much like the UK average. Despite talk about ‘The Great Resignation’, Reed’s salary guides and research shows that this has become more of a ‘Great Flirtation’, with businesses in an ongoing fight to attract talent, a lack of available job seekers in the market, and the perceived risk of changing roles during economic flux. The annual salary guides also found salaries in the South West varying between sectors, with some like business support experiencing an increase of 4.9%, but others such as engineering and manufacturing seeing a decrease (-5.9%). The fall in average salaries is worrying news, particularly in the context of soaring inflation, with the Consumer Price Index at 5.5%, it shows that the financial effects of the pandemic are evident in salaries. Matthew White, Reed’s Regional Managing Director for the South West, said: “Like many other parts of the country, the South West has been heavily impacted by the pandemic, as a result, we’re seeing average salaries fall across the region. The South West has always had a distinct culture and its food and drink and creative industries are struggling to recover from the past two years. Salaries in the region’s engineering and manufacturing sector are lagging behind. Whilst salaries have been under pressure it is reassuring to see businesses in the South West working on innovative, future-proof technology and the economy recovering. “It’s encouraging to see that some sectors such as business support are seeing salary growth and shows the potential for salary recovery in the region. “Businesses in the South West are facing a fierce fight for talent and those looking to recruit should ensure that they are reviewing their package to stand out in a competitive market.”

New research from Reed, the online job recruitment platform, has revealed that despite the increase in interest rates, the cost of living and energy prices, salaries in the South West are not keeping up, with companies advertising lower salaries across the UK. From analysis of more than 9.35 million jobs posted on Reed.co.uk across the UK since 2018, as part of Reed’s suite of annual salary guides, advertised salaries are sitting at pre-pandemic levels, with any rise over the past two years dropping back down to 2020 levels. Salaries in the South West are no exception, as they lag behind soaring living costs, much like the UK average. Despite talk about ‘The Great Resignation’, Reed’s salary guides and research shows that this has become more of a ‘Great Flirtation’, with businesses in an ongoing fight to attract talent, a lack of available job seekers in the market, and the perceived risk of changing roles during economic flux. The annual salary guides also found salaries in the South West varying between sectors, with some like business support experiencing an increase of 4.9%, but others such as engineering and manufacturing seeing a decrease (-5.9%). The fall in average salaries is worrying news, particularly in the context of soaring inflation, with the Consumer Price Index at 5.5%, it shows that the financial effects of the pandemic are evident in salaries. Matthew White, Reed’s Regional Managing Director for the South West, said: “Like many other parts of the country, the South West has been heavily impacted by the pandemic, as a result, we’re seeing average salaries fall across the region. The South West has always had a distinct culture and its food and drink and creative industries are struggling to recover from the past two years. Salaries in the region’s engineering and manufacturing sector are lagging behind. Whilst salaries have been under pressure it is reassuring to see businesses in the South West working on innovative, future-proof technology and the economy recovering. “It’s encouraging to see that some sectors such as business support are seeing salary growth and shows the potential for salary recovery in the region. “Businesses in the South West are facing a fierce fight for talent and those looking to recruit should ensure that they are reviewing their package to stand out in a competitive market.”

New research from Reed, the online job recruitment platform, has revealed that despite the increase in interest rates, the cost of living and energy prices, salaries in the South West are not keeping up, with companies advertising lower salaries across the UK. From analysis of more than 9.35 million jobs posted on Reed.co.uk across the UK since 2018, as part of Reed’s suite of annual salary guides, advertised salaries are sitting at pre-pandemic levels, with any rise over the past two years dropping back down to 2020 levels. Salaries in the South West are no exception, as they lag behind soaring living costs, much like the UK average. Despite talk about ‘The Great Resignation’, Reed’s salary guides and research shows that this has become more of a ‘Great Flirtation’, with businesses in an ongoing fight to attract talent, a lack of available job seekers in the market, and the perceived risk of changing roles during economic flux. The annual salary guides also found salaries in the South West varying between sectors, with some like business support experiencing an increase of 4.9%, but others such as engineering and manufacturing seeing a decrease (-5.9%). The fall in average salaries is worrying news, particularly in the context of soaring inflation, with the Consumer Price Index at 5.5%, it shows that the financial effects of the pandemic are evident in salaries. Matthew White, Reed’s Regional Managing Director for the South West, said: “Like many other parts of the country, the South West has been heavily impacted by the pandemic, as a result, we’re seeing average salaries fall across the region. The South West has always had a distinct culture and its food and drink and creative industries are struggling to recover from the past two years. Salaries in the region’s engineering and manufacturing sector are lagging behind. Whilst salaries have been under pressure it is reassuring to see businesses in the South West working on innovative, future-proof technology and the economy recovering. “It’s encouraging to see that some sectors such as business support are seeing salary growth and shows the potential for salary recovery in the region. “Businesses in the South West are facing a fierce fight for talent and those looking to recruit should ensure that they are reviewing their package to stand out in a competitive market.”

Staff and pupils at a Devon primary school are celebrating the results of its latest inspection by Ofsted. Brixington Primary Academy in Exmouth has been judged ‘good’ in all areas. Ofsted inspectors found the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management and the early years provision all to be good. Ofsted noted how the school’s values of friendship, respect, honesty, endeavour and sportsmanship permeate the school and how pupils learn, how ambitious the school is for its pupils, and the calm and purposeful atmosphere. Stuart Dyer, Head of School at Brixington Primary Academy, said: “I’m extremely proud of the children and staff here at Brixington. Their positive approach and belief in the school have been crucial on this journey of improvement. The inspection was an opportunity for the team and children to demonstrate the impact of their hard work and dedication in achieving our vision for the school. Our mission is about inspiring excellence, so our journey doesn’t stop here – we will keep working to make the school even better.” Inspectors praised the strength of school leadership. They noted the investment in time and training to improve subject leadership, and the school’s ambitious curriculum for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and disadvantaged pupils. Paul Walker, Chief Executive of First Federation Trust, said: “Achieving ‘good’ is a well-deserved outcome for everyone involved. The hard work of colleagues and pupils has been rewarded with this very positive report. As a member of the First Federation Trust family of schools, Brixington Primary Academy has benefited from tailored support from our Trust in key focus areas, as well as staff training and development, in areas such as subject knowledge and teaching practice. It’s fantastic to see Ofsted recognise the integral part this support has played.” Ofsted inspectors said that the ‘staff are ambitious for what they believe pupils can achieve.’ They also highlighted that the ‘pupils are keen to do their best. They know what is expected from them and respond to this positively. The school is calm and has a purposeful atmosphere. Pupils are polite and confident.’ Stuart Dyer added: “I could not be prouder of this achievement and would like to thank the team at Brixington, the school community and First Federation Trust for their support.”