Exeter Living - Issue 256

Food/Arts/Entertainment/Shopping/Property ISSUE 256 / JANUARY 2020 / £3

EXETER AND BEYOND

ISSUE 256 / JANUARY 2020 / BUTTERFLY COLLECTORS

THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT UP YOUR GARDEN GAME TO SAVE THE ONE INSECT EVERYBODY LIKES

DESIGNED FOR LIFE

The best local new builds

HEAVEN’S GATEKEEPER

Meet Joanna Southcott, Exeter’s lost prophet

SPRING BREAKS!

BE YOUR BEST SELF IN 2020 RUNNING! PODCASTS! FOOD! FAMILY TIME! Exeter’s brightest pick resolutions they can keep

Great beach holidays on few ££ (and no air miles)

EDITOR’S LETTER

ABOVE: C’mon, what are you

going to do better this year?; BELOW: Maybe you could try looking after these guys?

H

appy New Year! So, did you spend the morning of 1 January writing out your resolutions to do 100 pressups every day, stop eating meat, learn Mandarin, and fit in an early morning meditation session before cycling to work at your exciting, ground-breaking, new culture-tech start-up?

No, nor did we.

Frankly, we think resolutions are best made every three weeks – which, coincidentally, is the frequency with which Exeter Living is published.

And they should generally be smaller things, like ‘Go to a play’, ‘Eat at that new restaurant’ or ‘Start getting my fruit/books/accessories from an independent shop near me.’

Within these pages you’ll find all the catalysts you’ll need to do just that, and make this year your most enjoyable ever – plus a few actual, conventional New Year’s resolutions from well-known Exeter people that might get you thinking too.

This is your first issue of 2020 – but it’s also my very last. After 98 issues as proud editor of this fine publication, I am handing the baton on to Harriet Noble, whose cheery face you will see here in three weeks’ time.

Thanks, Exeter – you’re the best.

ANNA BRITTEN Follow us on Twitter @ExeterLiving

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Little Valley, Big Heart Little Valley Animal Shelter—located in a beautiful 20-acre countryside site near Exeter—rescued and cared for nearly 1000 abandoned, abused and unwanted local animals last year and most of these animals were successfully rehomed to local families.

Although operating under the guidance of the RSPCA, Little Valley is a completely separate local Devon charity that was created specifically to help animals in Exeter and across most of Devon. It costs over £1 million to run Little Valley each year, but we receive no funding from either the state or the national RSPCA towards the day-to-day running costs of the shelter. We are totally self-funded and, as such, each year we rely on our wonderful local Devon community to cover our £1 million running costs.

Little Valley has over 30 dog kennels, including a specialist dog behavioural area. We also have over 50 cat pens, including a special cat compound. Finally, Little Valley has a unique stand-alone facility where we can house over 40 small animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets and a wide range of rodents, not to mention birds of all shapes and sizes in our aviaries. Over the years our extensive grounds and wildlife areas have also cared for farm animals, many of whom are now happy and much loved in new homes.

Little Valley Animal Shelter Black Hat Lane, Bakers Hill, Exeter EX2 9TA Tel: 01392 439898 www.rspca-littlevalley.org.uk

February 2020 marks a milestone in Little Valley’s 28 year history as we are just a few months away from completing our phased kennel rebuild—over the last few years we have totally rebuilt both our cattery and dog kennels to allow us to deliver our high standards of care in the very best facilities possible. The total cost of Little Valley’s rebuild projects has been well over £2 million and all this money has either come partly from our own funds or was raised directly from the generosity of our Devon community. The final phase, which will be finished shortly, has training rooms, dog kennels, a laundry, storage areas and a dog shower and will have cost well over £250,000 to build. For this we are having to dig deep into our limited reserves, so for readers who are animal lovers and want to support a truly local charity then perhaps you will consider helping us with a donation for this last stage of our vital rebuild.

Each year Little Valley rehomes hundreds of animals in our community and when one of these animals finds its forever home, its place at Little Valley Animal Shelter is always quickly filled by another animal in need. We cannot provide our special care to Exeter and Devon animals in our shelter without the financial support of our community. We really hope that readers will have a big heart and will want to support Little Valley Animal Shelter so that we can reach out and help even more local animals that need our care and support. Please visit our website or find us on social media to support us and learn more about the vital and important work Little Valley does for local animals in your community. And finally, why not visit one of our seven charity shops (three of them are located in Exeter) as you are bound to find a bargain and the money they raise helps run Little Valley Animal Shelter.

Charity No: 205154

Issue 256/January 2020 COVER ur tribute to British butter ies

UPFRONT

08 SPOTLIGHT Nature might well be snoozing, but

Exeter certainly isn’t

27 JP HEDGE Are you a ‘sharent’? JP is, it turns out,

and he’s not happy about it

COVER FEATURE

12 BUTTERFLY COLLECTORS Last year, the

first ainted adies and eacocks of 2019 were actually spotted in evon on 1 anuary – but they’re still struggling. ere’s how to make their lives a little bit happier – and ours, too

19

THE ARTS

29 INTRO The cabin in the woods 30 WHAT’S ON id you know Exeter has a historic

seaweed collection? Well, did you?

34 PROPHET AND LOSS The weird world of oanna

Southcott, The rophetess of Exeter’

37

FOOD & DRINK

37 NATURAL WINE Paris Street has a new wine shop,

Pullo, with an unusual (but growing) speciality

WELLBEING

41 HEALTH & BEAUTY Achievable tips on

overcoming worry, with Dr Joanna North

TRAVEL

47 LOCAL HEROES We take three weekends away,

all within easy drive of our patch, but offering very different waterside experiences

BUSINESS

59 EXETERWORKS City of industry

PROPERTY

65 NEW BUILDS The best in box-fresh living

REGULARS

56 SOCIETY 74 EXETER LIVES Chantelle Znideric, stylist supreme

Editor Anna Britten anna.britten@mediaclash.co.uk Managing Editor Deri Robins deri.robins@mediaclash.co.uk Senior Art Editor Andrew Richmond Graphic Design Megan Allison Cover Design Trevor Gilham Editor’s Photo Emma Solley Contributors Matt Bielby, Chris Hallam, JP Hedge, Sarah Moolla, Harriet Noble and Mal Rogers Advertising manager Carolyn Southcott carolyn.southcott@mediaclash.co.uk Account manager Paula Miller paula.miller@mediaclash.co.uk Account manager Liz Hogarth liz.hogarth@mediaclash.co.uk Production/Distribution Manager Sarah Kingston sarah.kingston@mediaclash.co.uk Deputy Production Manager Kirstie Howe kirstie.howe@mediaclash.co.uk Production Designer Gemma Scrine gemma.scrine@mediaclash.co.uk Chief Executive Jane Ingham jane.ingham@mediaclash.co.uk Chief Executive Greg Ingham greg.ingham@mediaclash.co.uk Exeter Living MediaClash, Circus Mews House, Circus Mews, Bath BA; 2PW 01225 475800; www.mediaclash.co.uk; @The MediaClash © All rights reserved. May not be reproduced without written permission of MediaClash.

We’re a Bath-based publisher, creative agency and event organiser Magazines Our portfolio of regional magazines celebrates the best of local living: Bath, Bristol, Cardiff, and Exeter. We also publish foodie mag Crumbs (www.crumbsmag.com, @CrumbsMag). Agency From the design and build of websites to digital marketing and creating company magazines, we can help. Events We create, market, promote and operate a wide variety of events both for MediaClash and our clients Contact: info@mediaclash.co.uk

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Everybody’s talking about…

S

T BUT SWEET

Bubbly, happy faces and triffid-like awards at Two Short Nights

Two Short Nights: the films may be little, but the event was big Exeter’s well-established Two Short Nights Film Festival packed Exeter Phoenix at the end of November for the climax of its 18th edition. The fest – which ran for three days, and featured nearly 100 short films from 13 different countries – comprised more than 14 individual events, including talks and workshops, with local filmmaker uke agan, actor Claire orrocks and the festival’s own onas awkins presenting five prizes to a full house.

Though international in scope, the festival also has a strong South West bias, with almost half the films featured being either locally made or created by South Westbased filmmakers. mongst the

big winners were Zoey Martinson for The Fisherman, a hanaian film about an old man who returns from the sea with a talking fish, and Tommy Gillard’s Exeter Phoenix 2019 Short Film-commissioned project, Shuttlecock. Even the gongs themselves were local: bespoke, handmade living awards created by ayley Maker of No uts No Glory, Exeter.

Fancy getting involved? The 2019 Exeter Phoenix commissions offer regional filmmakers training, support and a share of £6,000 to realise their ideas; the only catch is that you’ll have to get your application in by 28 February.

For more: www.twoshortnights.com

Joy Gregory: currently putting together a brand new work for RAMM

Old Art

RICE AGE RAMMS goes back to the 1960s with celebrated West Country artist Brian Rice

New Art

rt lovers with a penchant for the abstract should head over to the oyal lbert Memorial Museum rt allery in anuary, for an exhibition of Brian ice’s graphic work. The exhibition, Brian ice 0 Years of Paintings and Prints, runs from Friday 24 January into May, and features a selection of pieces from different periods in his career, such as reen Cross’, a multi-form painting from his 19 0s ondon period – he was a contemporary of avid ockney and eter Blake – and orton ock’ from 200 , which clearly shows the in uence of ancient cultures on his later work. lso featured will be objects, textiles and books from the artist’s personal collection, while Brian himself will be in conversation with art historian Michael Bird on the evening of Thursday, February.

For more: www.rammuseum.org.uk

SECRET HISTORIES

October will see the launch of a major new exhibition at Exeter’s MM, exploring the transatlantic slave trade, and how its legacy still impacts upon Devon and Exeter to this day. Central to the project will be a recently commissioned original work by acclaimed contemporary artist Joy Gregory, informed by her experiences working with the curators at MM and the museum’s collections, plus interactions with members of the public.“My approach is to spend time observing, re ecting and thinking on connections which will resonate with those most likely to encounter the finished work, says oy, who tends to work in video, as well as digital and analogue photography. “I’ve started the commission by spending time in Exeter, exploring the town and meeting people. It’s a bit like being a child in a sweet shop.

It’s all part of Untold Stories, a series of projects throughout 2020, each using MM’s collections as a starting point to ask di cult questions, uncover hidden histories and give people a voice.

For more: www.rammuseum.org.uk

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© MAT T AUSTIN

Specially commissioned artwork to highlight the transatlantic slave trade

’60s art world legend Brian Rice

SPOTLIGHT

SEVEN DEADLY SINS Time to catch up with a cool performer currently – or about to – rock up in Exeter. This time it’s Cygnet student Roxanne Eastaugh, aka Lady Bracknell in a new production of The Importance of Being Earnest, opening January 21

© SIMON MOORE

LUST: Who or what do you find yourself lusting after today?

Film Festival

MOVING MOUNTAINS Touring film fest brings Alberta’s Rocky Mountains to our coastline The Banff Mountain Film Festival is currently on the UK leg of its world tour, and will shortly be arriving in Exeter. For four nights – the 7th and 9th of February, then again for two nights in late March – the Corn Exchange will play host to this fest’s particular brand of epic adventure films, featuring all manner of outdoor activities and extreme sports. From skydiving in Mexico to ice skating on the spectacular frozen fjords of Sweden, you’ll be treated to a collection of short, adrenaline-fuelled pieces made by the world’s best adventure film-makers.

Best of all, it’s worth going more than once, as each evening features a different set of films; indeed, there’s a two-show discount for anyone who wants to double their adventure.

You may be wondering about the name.

Turns out The Mountain Film Festival first originated in Banff, Canada, in 1975, and now takes place there every November – attracting both filmmakers and lovers of the great outdoors – before the best films head out on a World Tour. Its 2020 UK leg will be the biggest to date, with no fewer than 113 screenings across the UK and Ireland.

For more: www.banff-uk.com

Lady Bracknell: The only thing I have ever ‘lusted after’ is ensuring that people respect my authority in society. Those who do not will not be tolerated.

Roxxi: My bed! Over winter we get to spend some quality time together.

GREED: What should you be cutting down on?

Lady Bracknell: The amount of time I spend telling Lord Bracknell to think more about his health. I constantly tell him that health is the only primary duty of life, but he never seems to take much notice.

Roxxi: The amount of time I stress about public transport. Commuting isn’t fun, especially in the cold, but I should be thankful we have such good travel options here in the UK.

GLUTTONY: What one thing could you happily eat or drink until you burst?

Lady Bracknell: I am partial to a cup of tea and a nice cucumber sandwich, maybe even a crumpet or two.

Roxxi: We eat a lot of biscuits at Cygnet, so some of those and an iced coffee and I’d be very happy.

SLOTH: What should you be really putting your back into right now?

Lady Bracknell: Whittling down the list of

Roxxi as herself and, below, as Lady B

eligible bachelors myself and the Duchess of Bolton have put together for our daughters.

Gwendolen is not getting any younger, and if I really wish to see any kind of infants from her, some big decisions must be made in the impending future.

Roxxi: I’m still exhausted from Christmas shopping. Each year I try not to be a lastminute Christmas Eve shopper, but it never looks likely to happen.

WRATH: What/who makes you angry?

Lady Bracknell: People who think they have an assured position in high society, but whose only certain lineage is derived from a terminal.

Roxxi: Rudeness and disrespect. I cannot abide people who treat others with complete disregard to their feelings.

ENVY: Who are you jealous of ?

Lady Bracknell: I am not really jealous of anyone but, if I had to answer, I would say Lady Harbury. She recently lost her husband, and seems to be living entirely for pleasure now.

Roxxi: I try not to be jealous, as I find jealously always brings out the worst in people. But if I had to be jealous, it would probably be of any actor on the West End or Broadway!

PRIDE: What’s your proudest achievement to date?

Lady Bracknell: Achieving my well deserved position in high society. When I married Lord Bracknell, I had no fortune of any kind. But I never dreamed for a moment of allowing that to stand in my way.

Roxxi: Performing for Ian McKellen. He has been my favourite actor since I was nine years old, and to have him here at Cygnet, watching our performance of The Long Mirror a few years ago – and getting to speak to him afterwards – was the most amazing thing to ever happen to me.

(Or is it the other way around?)

The Importance of Being Earnest runs 21-25 January at Cygnet Theatre; cygnet theatre.co.uk

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The Devon Shutter Company Ltd British Made Shutters Since 2007 01395 578506 | www.devonshutters.co.uk

ON GOSSAMER WINGS

Butter ies – those most beautiful of insects, uttering prettily through woodlands and gardens – have long inspired the poets amongst us, from obert Frost to William Wordsworth, and it’s not hard to see why. eople love them. But last year was bad for these crucial environmental bellwethers – and 2020 promises to be no better. s winter sets in, then, let’s dream of spring, and the ways in which we can make their lives a little bit easier over the coming months 12 I EXETER LIVING I www.mediaclash.co.uk

NATURE

© NEIL HULME, BUT TERFLY CONSERVATION

Painted Ladies actually fly into the UK all the way from Africa

A Long-Tailed Blue glimmering in the sunshine

u er e are ac ua a a be we er or e ea o our eco em

Never known to nibble a jumper in his life: it’s the frankly massive Convolvulus Hawk Moth

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W

atch a butter y utter erratically across your garden or along a evon hedgerow, and you could be forgiven for thinking they’re pretty, sure, but also the most useless of things – and if they should survive more than ten minutes without banging into a shed, or getting gobbled up by a greedy thrush, it’s some kind of miracle, basically.

But how wrong you are. Butter ies are actually shockingly hardy – many species, unable to breed in our climate, y all the way from North frica to Britain often taking many generations to do so , then turn around and head right back again. They also, like so many insect species, exist on a one-year-and-you’re-done basis – and that’s important, for it makes them a vital bellwether for the health of our struggling ecosystem. From what we know of butter ies – and we know uite a lot – we can extrapolate just how all the other similar but less gorgeous insects are doing; and when the insects are doing well, we all are.

When they’re doing badly, of course, not so much.

There are so many insect species out there we could never monitor them all, says Nigel Bourn, director of science at UK charity Butter y Conservation, but by following the fortunes of butter ies we get a good idea about what’s happening elsewhere too. ike so many insects, their annual lifecycle means they respond very uickly to change – which is why they’re such a good early indicator of all sorts of problems.

Chris Packham, Butterfly Conservation’s vicepresident, showing just how easy it is to get involved with his Big Butterfly Count

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WHY DO WE like butter ies so much It’s largely to do with how

pretty they are – those amazing colours, that seemingly aimless uttering – and a little bit to do with their amazing lifecycles, from egg through to larva, pupa and adult, that so fascinated us as children. To the ancient omans and reeks, a lone butter y represented nothing less than the human soul – and to the apanese, a swarm of them was an omen to fear.

In art, they’re carved into centuries old Mayan temples – often a symbol of war, of all things – and they crop up endlessly across the canon of European art, from Salvador ali to the enaissance greats. Most recently – and controversially – we’ve watched them live and die in glass boxes as part of blockbuster amien irst installations.

In fact, we’ve often been a little bit cruel to butter ies. For the ictorians, butter y collecting was a mainstream hobby – less bloodthirsty than fox hunting and safer than stealing eggs, so considered perfect for small boys or the clergy – but these days we’re happier to simply capture them with our cameras, and record their numbers for events like Butter y Conservation’s annual Big Butter y Count in late uly.

Not that this more gentle treatment means they’re thriving. uite the opposite, in fact.

The bigger, ashier butter ies did well this year, Nigel says, and places like Yorkshire and Northumberland were awash with ainted adies, which ew in from the continent. But down in the south west things have been far worse, and the Small Whites and arge Whites – the ones we tend to bundle together as Cabbage Whites’ – had a dreadful year. verall, the likes of the eacock have declined over 30 in the last 0 years, and three uarters of our 59 species are now in a worse state than they were in the 1970s, when serious monitoring

NATURE Though he tries not to have favourites, Nigel admits – as the long, dark winter drawn in – that there are always a few species he’s especially glad to see when spring finally rolls around. The incredibly delicate White dmiral is a black-and-white woodland species that ies like a tropical butter y, and will happily just sit there on your shoulder, he says. I find them stunning. But I’m not averse to the showy redand-black of the ed dmiral, or the bright spots of the Burnet moth, either. That said, they’ve all got something going for them – and when you delve into their life cycles, there are amazing stories.

So what’s the future for butter ies – and for our environment in general It might not always sound like it, but I’m generally an optimist, Nigel says. lthough climate change is now unstoppable, we can and should make sure that the worst case scenarios are avoided.

It’s certainly not beyond our capabilities to create a farming system that works with nature, not against it. nd younger people give me hope.

How so?

The way they’re pushing the environment up the political agenda has to be a cause for optimism – even though the challenges we face are actually far greater than most people realise. nd a great place to start the good fight is with butter ies, these beautiful creatures that are fascinating in themselves, hold such rich associations with longed for, out-of-reach concepts like childhood and freedom, and tell us so about the state of our world. Watching them encourages us to re ect on how we should use the limited time we have to the fullest, and on how ephemeral life is for every insect – and, if we’re not careful, for those of us watching them too. n

Two of the prettiest of all garden species, the Peacock and Red Admiral

started. If fact, I can hardly think of a single species of insect that’s actually doing well.

It’s not hard to identify the villains in this first there are all the pesticides we’ve been pouring into the environment for decades – since the end of World War II, more or less – and then there’s the more recent threat of climate change. While a small proportion of the more generalist species are coping reasonably well with the warmer summers and increased rainfall – including many of the colourful garden butter ies, which is why we haven’t always noticed the fall-off as much as we might – many more are not.

There are 59 breeding species of butter y in the UK, but over 2,500 species of their generally dowdier cousin, the moth, says Nigel, and Butter y Conservation tries to look after both. The problem with moths, of course, is that of those thousands of species, four are pests, coming into our houses and eating the natural fibres in our clothes, so we sometimes have to persuade people that most moths are well worth looking after. In fact, the differences between butter ies and moths are largely minor and arbitrary, and there are actually plenty of gorgeous, multicoloured moths that y during the day and even, whisper it, one or two butter y species that are uite dowdy too.

One of the easiest, most enjoyable ways to up your environmental game in 2020 wou be o o n u er on er a on on annua u er oun w c ake ace o er a n e a n a e u or ear u u . F n ou more a www.bu er -con er a on.or

The Clifden Nonpareil, another handsome moth who never touched a sweater

SO WHAT CAN we do to help butter ies Nigel – who first got

interested in them as an eight year old, feeding up Large White caterpillars in jam jars and releasing them as butter ies – says the easiest way is to turn your lawn into more of a meadow.

If you mow only two or three times a year, things become rapidly more butter y friendly, he says, and it’s even better if you cut out the use of peat, pesticides and fertilisers. lanting nectar-rich wild owers – lavender and, especially, buddleja, which is always full of butter ies – helps too, and if you want them breeding in your garden, try to plant food that caterpillars like eating. Bird’s-foot-trefoil is especially good, and you’ll get the likes of Common Blues breeding in no time.

“Plenty of gorgeous, mu co oure mo ac ua ur n e a www.mediaclash.co.uk I EXETER LIVING I 15

Elizabeth Ann of Exeter

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NEW YEAR

TALKIN’ ’BOUT A RESOLUTION As 2020 stretches out before us, we asked a bunch of inspiring Exeter figures a simple question: this time around, what was your New Year’s resolution?

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H

ere’s the thing with New Year’s resolutions: if you want to fail, make them really drastic and di cult (write a novel, lose four stone, get into the Royal Marines). If, on the other hand, you want to end next year feeling smug, keep them simple. From more family time to embracing the clutter, going plastic-free or cooking more frequently, we found out the goals for 2020 of a bunch of eminently sensible Exeter people, drawn from civic life, the arts, and the worlds of sports, education and charity. Their answers may surprise you…

STEVE BENNETT, actor, Beauty & The Beast “This December I turn 60, so I intend to try and chill out a little more and spend more quality time with my wife and my two boys, Harry and Alfie. Oh, and to keep my doctor happy, I will try to lose a little bit more weight!”

JANE BELL, CEO, WESC Foundation “I always seem to be repeating the same resolutions as previous years – stop biting my nails, get some value from my gym membership, and bike to work more often. Perhaps I’m most motivated about what’s going on at ‘the office’. 2020 is going to be a big year for WESC Foundation, as we’ll be starting the journey towards raising several millions of pounds for some ambitious development projects. I also want to find time to get out and about in our beautiful city with my camera (and maybe snap an Exeter Living cover photo!)”

MICHAEL DART, Darts Farm “Every day I am surrounded by beautiful veg, fresh from our fields and the best artisan products – my New Year’s resolution is to cook for my other half once a week… and actually do it!”

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GILL HAYES, Mental Health Campaigner “My New Year’s resolution is to become comfortable with saying ‘no’. As someone who wants to help everyone, this is going to be a tough one. However, I know that in order to make a meaningful contribution to mental health promotion and suicide awareness whilst looking after my own well being, I can’t spread myself too thinly. I’m also going to resolve to regularly take time to appreciate and be grateful for all the good stuff in my life.”

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS SIMON FRANKS, General Manager, Gidleigh Park “Train more for the marathon! I’ve just completed the New York marathon, and it was a very painful 26.2 miles! I also want to explore more of Devon, so maybe I can combine the two?”

AMELIA WILLIAMS-HAWKES, The Salutation Inn, Topsham “I am very excited to be moving soon, and my New Year/ new house resolution is to be as plastic-free as possible in our new home.”

DEBBIE BUCELLA, Theatre Alibi “To slooooowwww down.

Baby number two is on his way in early March and, this time, I plan on being kinder to myself, not trying to be supermum and just enjoy it. I’m generally going to spend more time with the wonderful people in my life – and less time mopping the kitchen floor and dusting the curtain rails.”

JOHN LARAMY, Principal and CEO, Exeter College “My New Year’s resolution is twofold – to cycle to work more often, and to explore more of Dartmoor with my family and our fox red Labrador!”

KARIME HASSAN, Chief Executive and Growth Director, Exeter City Council “To be active, use the car less, cut down waste – and stop printing paper!”

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NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS JUDI SPIERS, radio and TV presenter “I have decided to buck the trend, set a new fashion and reclaim my clutter! I spent days Marie Kondo-ing not only my drawers but my husband’s – painstakingly rolling and colour coding everything.

They survived a full fortnight. I will continue to hang onto things I have neither used nor worn for years, which is why, when it comes to fancy dress, I am the first stop for friends and why, when I have a flood (as I did recently), I have loads of old towels and sheets to mop up with. I like my clutter... it’s who I am!”

ABBIE BRITTON, Player Coach for Exeter City Women “My personal resolution for the New Year is to run more. I’ve signed up for the Exeter half marathon, which is organised by CITY Community Trust, and if anyone truly knows me they’ll know I’m terrified of running, so this is big for me. I’m also going to learn more, push the boundaries, and test my knowledge on all sorts.

I’ve got my UEFA B Licence starting in March, which will test my coaching abilities, but in general I’m looking at getting back to school in September and studying nutrition and health and fitness, so I can make better choices. As a team we are planning to do more to support the community work which is delivered by CITY Community Trust.”

DR SAM WILLIS, historian and broadcaster “I’m going to party like it’s New Year’s Eve once a month for an entire year. I’m also going to get my Histories of the Unexpected podcast to over three million listens.”

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WILDWOOD KIN, band “As a band, our New Year’s resolution this year will be to try and be more intentional with making family time a bigger priority.

As we’re together most of the time for work, we rarely schedule in leisure time without work being involved. This year we feel that to find more creativity and motivation when we do work, we actually need to invest in getting to know each other even more, and grow even closer as a family. We hope creativity will flow from that quality time and rest. We love outdoor walks and rambles, and used to always be outside together as kids! We will make that a priority again this year, and make more time for adventures outside of work.”

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What key bit of advice would you give to somebody considering a divorce?

I would advise you to get advice at an early stage, so that you are aware of all the options. This will crucially allow you to make informed decisions which are right for your family’s future. I would also think carefully about your choice of lawyer; find someone whose approach you like, and who matches your ethos.

If you could introduce one new law what would it be?

I think the introduction of the no fault divorce really would have a significant impact on the lives of divorcing couples. When people have decided to separate, forcing them to play the blame game adds yet a further layer of distress at a time when it is needed the least.

This doesn’t just fuel animosity between the couple themselves; it negatively impacts on any children of the family too.

What is your favourite part of the job?

Being able to use my experience and expertise to reassure clients who are going through some of the most difficult things they will ever face. Sometimes at the end of a meeting, you can visibly see the weight lift from your client’s shoulders. It is also great to see people at the end of the process, ready to move on with their lives and in a much better place.

What advice would you give to anyone considering family law as a career?

I am part of our graduate training team, so this question resonates with me. Family Law is incredibly diverse and rewarding, involving lots of technical elements and offering interest and reward for you as a lawyer.

However, you have to be prepared to deal with people going through traumatic experiences on a daily basis, and be able to deliver difficult or upsetting news in a compassionate way when your client may already be feeling lost or distressed.

What do you specialise in?

I act for clients who need help with issues surrounding divorce and all areas of matrimonial finance, whether that is involving their home, a property portfolio, a family business, ongoing maintenance for a spouse/child and pensions. I have a particular specialism in cases where there is a military pension element.

THE FAMILY LAW COMPANY 01392 421777; www.thefamilylawco.co.uk

STEPHENS SCOWN LLP 01392 210700; www.stephens-scown.co.uk

Fiona Wadey

Thea Bennun

SABINA SMITH

WBW SOLICITORS 01392 274126 www.wbw.co.uk sabinasmith@wbw.co.uk Sabina is a Solicitor at WBW Solicitors and works in the family department in Exeter.

She has over twenty years’ experience advising on all aspects of family law.

What do you specialise in?

Divorce and separation, dealing with the fall out in terms of deciding how the house, pensions and other assets are shared, and helping parents to make the best arrangements for their children.

Why do you enjoy your particular field?

It’s about people and what makes them tick, relationships, psychology and family dynamics. As well as keeping up with the latest developments in family law, you also need to understand finances, tax, and how a family business operates. It’s all interesting to me, there is always something new and I am never bored.

24 I EXETER LIVING I www.mediaclash.co.uk

What is your favourite part of the job?

When I can give a client reassurance and show them the way forward to put their lives back together.

How has family law changed in the last few years?

Divorce no longer carries the stigma that it once had, and in family law there is a move away from blaming one person or the other for the breakdown of the marriage. Currently there is a bill in parliament to reform divorce procedures, for a streamlined “no fault” divorce after a short waiting period. Most family lawyers and judges consider that these reforms are well overdue, and there does now appear to be real momentum gathering behind these proposals.

What was your first job?

Pulling pints at the Britannia Inn over in Brisbane, Australia.

If you weren’t working in the legal world, what would you be doing?

See answer above!

ADVERTISING FEATURE NICK DUDMAN

JESSICA BURGESS

RUNDLEWALKER SOLICITORS 01392 209210; www.rundlewalker.com What professional accomplishment has made you most proud?

Undoubtedly setting up my own Practice in 1996, and expanding the business to its current size. It was always my aim and ambition to run a business in which all members of staff had a pride in where they worked and the values held. I think it fair to say we have achieved that. Occasionally, over the years employees have left the business only then to return after realising the ‘grass is not always greener’. This is true of my Co-Director, as well as our Practice Manager! Indeed, we have had two former colleagues return to us in the last few weeks.

Tell us something about yourself…

I have been doing the same job since 1986, and I still wake up in the morning keen to go to work. I think the key reason for this is the client contact which, whilst sometimes challenging, is always rewarding. The feeling that you can actually help people through a difficult time in their lives is very rewarding. Despite the fact that I specialise in divorce ‘week in, week out’, I still have a healthy belief in marriage. I am very lucky to be happily married myself with a noisy and demanding family, which means there is rarely a dull moment in my life.

What key bit of advice would you give to somebody considering a divorce?

Undoubtedly, take initial advice. Many solicitors, including us here at Rundlewalker, offer a free 30-minute initial consultation. Even if you don’t then go on to instruct the solicitor, you will find that initial 30 minutes invaluable in establishing any crucial dos and don’ts before you take action which could prove irretrievable.

GILBERT STEPHENS SOLICITORS 01392 424242; www.gilbertstephens.co.uk

Nick Dudman

Jessica Burgess

CAROLINE RYAN

EMMA BENYON-TINKER

TOZERS SOLICITORS LLP 01392 207020; www.tozers.co.uk What is your favourite part of the job?

I enjoy meeting clients and helping them through the process. To be able to support someone at such an upsetting time in making decisions that are right for them and their family is very rewarding.

What is the biggest misconception surrounding family law?

That people who live together have ‘rights’.

Cohabitees in England do not as of yet have any statutory protection, in the way that married couples are protected.

Tell us something about yourself?

I’m a keen rugby supporter, so when not in the office I’m often keeping up with various teams – be that Wales, Exeter Chiefs or Topsham Colts, for whom my son plays. I also have two spaniels that keep me busy, and enjoy going to the gym.

What key bit of advice would you give to somebody considering a divorce?

Rather than dwelling on the past, it’s important to keep looking to the future. It’s also good to ask your solicitor any questions you may have as you go through the process – we’re there to help and to support you all the way.

How has family law changed in the last few years?

There has been quite a dramatic change with Legal Aid being severely restricted, meaning that most people are no longer eligible for any assistance with funding. This has impacted significantly on court cases as there are now a lot of Litigants in Person.

What key bit of advice would you give to somebody considering a divorce?

Take your time. A lot of people want to rush it and end up making decisions they regret. Step back and try and think what is right for you and as a family, particularly if there are children involved.

If you could introduce one new law, what would it be?

I think a law which would allow people to reach financial agreements which they are happy with, and for them to be approved by the courts on that basis. Currently we have a system which is governed by 25 of the Matrimonial Causes Act, and one of the considerations is that if the court do not think the agreement is fair (regardless of what the parties want to do) then it is not approved. This can cause of lot of family friction, and often there are very good reasons that parties decide as they do. All parties want an agreement which is approved by a court so that it is legally binding.

What is the biggest mistake that you see your clients making?

Rushing and getting personal – although, quite understandably, emotions are running high – as this never ends well.

DUNN & BAKER SOLICITORS 01392 285000; www.dunnandbaker.co.uk e.benyon-tinker@dunnandbaker.co.uk

Caroline Ryan

Emma Benyon-Tinker

What is your favourite part of the job?

I like the variety that my job brings, both in terms of the clients who I work with and in terms of both representing those clients in court and through negotiations.

What professional accomplishment has made you most proud so far?

Qualifying as a Solicitor is still the professional accomplishment that I am most proud of.

What is the biggest misconception out there surrounding family law?

One of the biggest misconceptions is that couples who cohabit believe that they have more rights, should they separate, than they actually do. They often comment that they have children together, and therefore their former partner needs to provide them with a property. Sadly, that is not necessarily the case.

What do you specialise in?

I specialise in divorce, and resolving financial settlements for those who are not only divorcing, but also unmarried couples who are separating.

If you could introduce one new law, what would it be?

I would ensure that the ‘no fault divorce’ laws which have been announced actually become law without any further delay.

www.mediaclash.co.uk I EXETER LIVING I 25

OPINION JP HEDGE

Meet the sharents Is JP posting too many photos of his children online?

I

am a ‘sharent’. I am guilty of ‘sharenting’.

Before I saw this new phrase displayed during a parenting crash course in Exeter city centre, ignorance had been bliss. But as soon as I saw it for the first time I instantly recognised my own actions. I let out an audible sigh.

For EL readers as much in the dark as I was, ‘sharenting’ is a phrase to describe people who share pictures of their children online. Nothing dodgy, and not even parents living vicariously through their children. What we are talking about here is just putting pictures up to get ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’. I’ve now read extensively around the topic, and found some fascinating insights

around this behaviour – especially so, as sharents tend to be people like me.

We are closer to the co ndodging era of life than prime youth, but live in denial of that reality. We run the risk of midlife crisis and creaking knees.

Sharents will have happily used social media over the past decade and benefited from it. Social media had a real use and made life better. It was great to keep in touch with friends on the fringes, or to catch up with arms-length relatives. My wife has Facebook ‘friends’ she still swears are amazingly close and tells me what is going on in their lives. When I ask when she last saw or actually spoken to them, 10 to 15 years ago isn’t unusual.

“Sharents still viewed social media as it had been”

Sharents remember the good old days of social media where there were no data grabs, polarisation of society, or Russians hiding behind surveys or face aging apps. We enjoyed pictures of cats. Sometimes sunsets.

Sharents moved from having a fixed landline to owning phones that were solely used to ring and text people. We then moved to phones where you can do pretty much anything, run a business, virtual reality, turn off your home lights, or check in with your pets via CCTV. Meanwhile the world also moved around us. Social media got pretty dark, pretty quickly.

The ‘social’ element was usurped.

Sharents had children, got sleep deprived, but still viewed social media as it had been, rather than what it now is.

Unproductive habits ensued.

And as a result, I have been sharing cute images of my own children on social media for some kind of thumbs up. How on earth did I sleepwalk into this?

As a dad, I thought I had the basics covered. Harry, seven, knows to say ‘no’ to strangers. We try to be strict on his screen time and permissions on devices. It beggars belief that meanwhile, with the value of hindsight, his dad has been projecting and undermining the whole shebang.

For me, ‘sharenting was a great

takeaway from the ‘Left To Their Own Devices’ course which took place in Exeter. I had booked on to make sure we were on the right track around screen time and use of the internet.

Speech recognition on smart speakers and phones has moved the goal posts. Children used to be able to have to know the alphabet and sentences before being able to get online. Speech recognition removes that safety net, especially in my family. I have a niece who asked a smart speaker lots of innocent probing questions around the meaning of life, but especially death, and got offered contact with Samaritans. My own two-year-old tries to summon Siri like a genie out of a bottle to launch episodes of Peppa Pig. Despite my new found selfawareness, after going on the course, I don’t think we are doing too badly. I feel confident in being able to promote healthy usage and all the opportunities that the digital world provides. I am going to remain engaged, and set online limits. It just turns out that I hadn’t imagined those online limits would begin with me. n Jon-Paul Hedge is a director at Exeter City Council where he currently looks after tourism, communications and culture. He is a former newspaper editor and lives in the city with his wife and two young children; www.exeter.gov.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I EXETER LIVING I 27

THE ARTS S N A P S H O T S O F E X E T E R ’ S C U LT U R A L L I F E

GLOAMING INSTINCT A tiny stone building, surrounded by winter trees, glows from within as darkness falls.

Sheep shelter? Woodshed? According to photographer Judith Jones’s title it’s The Little Changing Hut – for an open-air swimming spot, maybe? – but it’s our curiosity that makes the work resonate. What is the structure’s purpose? Who, or what, is lighting it up? Are we supposed to find it cosy or creepy?

This is one of Jones’s ‘Twilight’ series of photographs, which explore the boundaries between indoor and outdoors, private and public, strangeness and familiarity. You can see it in the South West Academy of Fine & Applied Arts (SWAc) 20th anniversary exhibition at Thelma Hulbert Gallery where Jones, one of the newest SWAc members, exhibits alongside the veteran likes of Ray Balkwill, Jo Dixon, Phil Creek, June Arnold, Alan Cotton and Wendy McBride.

Look out, too, for an extensive accompanying programme of workshops and events.

The South West Academy Exhibition runs from 11 January – 8 February, Tues-Sat 10am-5pm, at Thelma Hulbert Gallery, Elmfield House, Dowell Street, Honiton EX14 1LX; 01404 45006; www.thelmahulbert.com www.mediaclash.co.uk I EXETER LIVING I 29

WHAT’S ON 3 January – 3 February

‘Tidepool’ by Susan Derges, part of Sea Garden at RAMM

EXHIBITIONS Until 5 January

MAKE2019 Gorgeous, handcrafted local gifts.

Devon Guild, Riverside Mill, Bovey Tracey; www.crafts.org.uk

Until 12 January

THE LOST WORDS Collaborative exhibition by nature writer Robert Macfarlane and artist Jackie Morris, based on their book of the same name, and a response to the widening gulf between childhood and the natural world.

RAMM, Queen Street, Exeter; www.rammuseum.org.uk

Until 26 January

SEA GARDEN If you rarely give seaweed much consideration, this beautiful and thought-provoking exhibition of contemporary art is a must-see.

RAMM’s own collection of historic seaweeds serves as a starting point.

RAMM, Queen Street, Exeter; www.rammuseum.org.uk

Until 2 February

ANTHONY SHAPLAND: A SOUND NOT MEANT TO BE HEARD Solo exhibition by the Cardiffbased artist exploring “the gaps between what is seen and said, heard and understood” in narrative filmmaking, no less.

Exeter Phoenix; www.exeterphoenix.org.uk

11 January-8 February

SOUTH WEST ACADEMY EXHIBITION See Arts Intro, page 29.

Thelma Hulbert Gallery, Dowell Street, Honiton; www.thelmahulbert.com

13-17 January

PAUL GOLDFINCH: CERAMIC STRANGERS Fantastical ceramic sculptures; oldfinch cites the Italian Futurist artist Umberto Boccioni as perhaps his key in uence.

AWEsome Art Space, 27 Paris St, Exeter; www.artworkexeter.org.uk

30 I EXETER LIVING I www.mediaclash.co.uk

THEATRE COMEDY & DANCE Until 5 January

BEAUTY & THE BEAST Northcott artistic director Daniel Buckroyd’s top quality staging of the 1740 French fairy tale about beautiful Belle (Sarah Moss) and handsome prince-turned-hideous beast Valentin (Samson Ajewole), who can only be rescued by a heartfelt smacker.

Northcott Theatre; www.exeternorthcott.co.uk

Until 5 January

HANSEL & GRETEL Follow the fairy tale siblings as they venture into the woods, trailing breadcrumbs and sharing their story in this engaging and inclusive Christmas show full of music, gentle interaction and integrated signing. perfect first theatre experience for little ones aged 3 . Barnfield Theatre; www.exeternorthcott.co.uk

15-18 January

THE GREAT GATSBY Exeter University Theatre Co present F. Scott Fitzgerald’s tale of romance, deceit, money and morality on 1920s Long Island.

Northcott Theatre; www.exeternorthcott.co.uk

21-25 & 28-31 January

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST Join the Cygnet Company for Oscar Wilde’s classic satire about social obligations.

Cygnet Theatre, Friars Gate, Exeter; www.cygnettheatre.co.uk

22 January

THE CIRCUS OF HORRORS: 25TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR The darker, more rock ’n’ roll end of circus, combining horror, black comedy, goth, steampunk and burlesque.

Exeter Corn Exchange, Market Street, Exeter; www.exetercornexchange.co.uk

WHAT’S ON 22-25 January

GHOST: THE MUSICAL Show based on the ’90s film starring atrick Swayze, emi Moore and Whoopi oldberg, courtesy of Exeter University Footlights. ll together now onely rivers ow, to the sea, to the sea...

Northcott Theatre; www.exeternorthcott.co.uk

23 January

LOU SAUNDERS: SAY HELLO TO YOUR NEW STEP-MUMMY Saucy, genial musings on feminism, relationships and spirituality from the rising Brit comic.

Exeter hoenix; www.exeterphoenix.org.uk

23 January

TOP: Tom McConville, award-winning fiddler MIDDLE: Writer Louisa Adjoa Parker, part of Quay Words Winter at Exeter Custom House BOTTOM: Celebrate Chinese New Year (the not-so-glamorous Rat’s up next) on January 25

SUSIE DENT: THE SECRET LIVES OF WORDS The Countdown lexicographer looks at the fascinating origins of everyday words and talks through the funniest moments of her telly career. Bring uestions – and your favourite local words.

Exeter Corn Exchange, Market Street, Exeter; www.exetercornexchange.co.uk

23 January

THE WIZARD OF OZ Full-length, classical ballet adaptation,

by Ballet Theatre UK, of the iconic tale by Frank Baum.

Barnfield Theatre, Barnfield d, Exeter; www.barn e ea re.or .uk

25 January

FIREWORKS Experimental new play by lex obins exploring love, faith and the science behind CE N’s arge adron Collider.

Exeter hoenix; www.e e er oen .or .uk

28 January

ONCE UPON A TIME The anarchic onzo Moose are back with a r mm Fa r a e inspired comedy adventure, packed with slapstick, wit, live music and a sensational death-defying finale. ges 7 .

Exeter hoenix; www.e e er oen .or .uk

28-29 January

RICHARD ALSTON DANCE COMPANY The exceptional dance company pay their last visit to Exeter, celebrating 25 years with a programme packed with new work, including lston’s own ne n.

Northcott Theatre; www.exeternorthcott.co.uk

29 January-2 February

PINOCCHIO THE PANTOMIME Seasonal fun from Exeter olice ospital layers.

Barnfield Theatre, Barnfield d, Exeter; www.barn e ea re.or .uk

30 January

FRIEND Comedian Brendan Murphy brings you the entire Fr en narrative as seen through the eyes of Central erk’s head barista, unther.

Northcott Theatre; www.exeternorthcott.co.uk

31 January

IAIN DALE The BC radio presenter, CNN political commentator and host of the podcast For e an talks to onathan imbleby.

Northcott Theatre; www.exeternorthcott.co.uk

MUSIC & OPERA 4 January

KAGEMUSHA TAIKO: SHADOW WARRIOR rum theatre about Western European myths, legends and magic using taiko drumming, bass guitar and vocals, all under the artistic direction of onathan Kirby.

Exeter hoenix; www.exeterphoenix.org.uk

11 January

RADIO GA-GA – CELEBRATING THE CHAMPIONS OF ROCK ueen tribute show, offering an o reak Free, e re e am ons, e ock ou, o a et al.

Northcott Theatre; www.exeternorthcott.co.uk

17 January

NEW BAND SHOWCASE free showcase of emerging talent from the local music scene.

Exeter hoenix; www.e e er oen .or .uk

17 January

WE THREE KINGS Musical tribute to Buddy olly, oy rbison and Elvis.

Barnfield Theatre, Barnfield d, Exeter; www.barn e ea re.or .uk

18 January

THE BELLRAYS arage rock punk soul straight outta East .

Exeter hoenix; www.exeterphoenix.org.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I EXETER LIVING I 31

WHAT’S ON 23 January

BOURNEMOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: SYMPHONIC SENSIBILITY Elgar’s Violin Concerto, Shostakovich’s Sixth Symphony and Strauss’s Dreaming by the Fireside.

The Great Hall, University of Exeter, Streatham Drive, Exeter; www.bsolive.com

1 February

THE SIMMERTONES Infectious ska and reggae from the South West outfit, with support from the similarly-minded The Embezzlers and The Mighty ffbeats.

Exeter Phoenix; www.exeterphoenix.org.uk

1 February

TOM MCCONVILLE eturn of the award-winning fiddle player and singer, who was winner of the BBC Folk Musician of the Year in 2009 and blends traditional music from his native Newcastle with Irish, merican and Scottish in uences.

Barnfield Theatre, Barnfield d, Exeter; www.barn e ea re.or .uk

2 February

PHILLIP HENRY New show from the virtuoso English folkie, whose many instruments include the 22-string Indian chatturangui, dobro and harmonica.

Exeter Phoenix; www.exeterphoenix.org.uk

OTHER EVENTS Until 4 January

ROSEMOOR GLOW Stroll around the illuminated RHS gardens and grounds – and make sure to look out for their annual Winter Sculpture Exhibition.

RHS Garden Rosemoor, Great Torrington; www.rhs.org.uk/rosemoor

Until 5 January

CHRISTMAS AT KILLERTON See the eorgian mansion with decorations inspired by the festive poem T’was The Night Before Christmas, and follow a twinkling trail through the grounds.

NT Killerton; www.nationaltrust.org.uk/killerton

LIBRARY LIFE

EMILY MACAULAY shares the latest from Exeter Library Exeter Library, like the other 49 public libraries across Devon (and four in Torbay), is run by Libraries Unlimited, a community and staff owned charity established in April 2016. Since that time we have been working to bring ideas, imagination, knowledge and creativity to people’s lives and communities. Although Devon County Council provides the majority of our funding, the amount they now give us, following reductions in budgets, equates to about two thirds of what it costs to run the service. (Imagine walking into Exeter Library and only seeing two thirds of all we do...)

So, this New Year, I ask you to donate to Libraries Unlimited. You can do this in any library or online, via https://donate.giveasyoulive. com/donate?cid=185331#1, or by supporting our events and buying a ticket, doing a fundraising event for us or leaving us a legacy. £5 could provide a place for a child at Bounce and Rhyme, Storytime session or Code Club. £10 could buy and prepare a children’s book, ready to find in your library. £30 could provide a home library visit to a person with limited mobility, or provide home library visits to a person with limited mobility for a year.

I know there are a lot of requests for support and a lot of very deserving causes out there, but I hope you may be able to spare a little (or a lot!) to help us keep doing all that we are trying to do for our great city. www.librariesunlimited.org.uk

32 I EXETER LIVING I www.mediaclash.co.uk

WANT MORE? Sign up now for the Exeter Living newsletter...

On Friday afternoons, Exeter’s offices, school gates, supermarket checkouts and street corners start to resound with the big Friday question: “Got any plans this weekend?”

If you ever find yourself stumped for an answer, worry not – your favourite regional lifestyle magazine is here to help.

Sign up now to start receiving the popular Exeter Living Friday afternoon email newsletter, in which I suggest the best events and outings for the coming weekend – from gigs to theatre to family fun days and loads more – along with a property pick of the week.

(We won’t share your data with third parties, by the way – not our thing.)

Like the sound of it? Then jump on www.mediaclash. co.uk/eln pronto and you’ll hear from us soon.

Until 14 March

QUAY WORDS WINTER A second season of events celebrating words and stories, with loads of readings, workshops and courses. Includes author events with Nikesh Shukla anuary and ouisa djoa arker 22 anuary .

Custom House, Exeter; www.exetercustomhouse.org.uk/events

11 January

TO WOMB IT MAY CONCERN Women’s stand-up comedy performing and writing workshop, run by teacher, speaker and performer Dr Maggie Irving.

Exeter Phoenix; www.exeterphoenix.org.uk

25 January-23 February

CHINESE NEW YEAR TRAIL Celebrate the Year Of The Rat with an interactive trail around the museum’s Chinese and Chineseinspired objects.

RAMM, Queen Street, Exeter; www.rammuseum.org.uk

30 January

A QUESTION OF SPORT ierce Sweeney and ake Taylor from Exeter City FC, Somerset County Cricket captain Tom Abell, former lympic rower nnie ernon, Exeter Chiefs’ Amy Garnett and Stuart Hogg all have their sporting knowledge tested by uizmaster Mark Tyler.

Sandy Park; www.sandypark.co.uk

2 February

UNIVERSITY OF EXETER CHINESE NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS The biggest event of its kind in the city starts with a 1pm parade from George Street, through Cathedral Green, and onto RAMM. Performances, stalls etc in the Great Hall and Forum.

Various venues; bit.ly/2s0BWoA n

ARTS

SEER-IOUSLY? Chris Hallam shares the true story of Exeter’s 18th century servantturned-clairvoyant, who used to knock Napoleon off the front pages and whose cult endured long after her death

O

ver 200 years ago, Exeter was brie y consumed by a wave of religious excitement.

The cause was a seemingly ordinary woman called Joanna Southcott, who soon became far better known by another name entirely: ‘the Prophetess of Exeter’. But who was she?

The early years of Joanna’s life could scarcely have been more normal. Born to a small farmer in Taleford in Ottery St Mary in 1750, she spent most of her working life in Exeter, employed, like many others, as a domestic servant. Things changed forever when Joanna successfully pursued a sexual harassment case against her employer. Amazingly for an uneducated woman of the time, she not only argued the case herself (at the Guildhall), but won. Emboldened by her triumph, Joanna, a devout Christian and Methodist, now began Joanna herself: not the most immediately arresting of prophets, perhaps, but an influential one

to preach publicly on religious matters. Specifically, she began to claim God was literally speaking through her. She also began making predictions about the future.

It is di cult now to be sure how accurate oanna’s prophecies were.

Although she is credited with foreseeing the deaths of the politicians Charles James Fox, William Pitt the Younger and Louis XVI of France, the first two were reasonably old when they died, while ouis’s life was already in danger as a result of the French Revolution. Perhaps more impressively, it is claimed she predicted a recurrence in the bout of madness a icting King eorge III, Napoleon’s invasion of Italy in the 1790s, and even a general rise in the price of grain. At any rate, the ‘Prophetess of Exeter’ had soon developed a considerable following.

So, what was going on? Had Joanna developed a love of the limelight during her court case? Was she cynically pursuing a career as a new Nostradamus, now her life as a servant was over r was she, in contrast, perfectly sincere in her beliefs? erhaps she had suffered some sort of mental breakdown, and was now being exploited by those around her. Or perhaps she, as she claimed, was a genuine conduit for the Lord’s Word.

Most of us today would reject this last explanation. But during the uncertainty of the Industrial Revolution, a great many chose to believe Joanna Southcott.

Soon she and her followers moved to London where, in addition to her pamphlets predicting the future, she began selling ‘seats of the Lord’ – which, it was claimed, would ensure the holders’ places among the 144,000 people who would be elected to eternal life. She also began prophesising that she was pregnant, and that she was herself a woman referred to in the Book of Revelations who was destined to give birth to a boy named ‘Shiloh’, who would one day be a great ruler. ‘Shiloh’ was, in fact, not the name of a boy but that of a place, plucked apparently randomly from the Bible. Joanna’s ‘pregnancy’ nevertheless received much attention in the newspapers throughout 1814, sometimes taking precedence over the final days of the Napoleonic Wars.

But Joanna was well past 60 at this point, and not pregnant. She was certainly ill, however. In fact, one day – just after Christmas – she died.

This was not quite the end, though. On her death, the Irish preacher John Ward started claiming to be Joanna’s earthly successor, and her followers continued to argue that a ‘Box of Prophecies’, which she had left behind, should one day be opened, as they might unleash the key to Earth’s survival during the final millennium. Such appeals were still being made as late as the 1930s. But sadly, at some point the box was misplaced. It seems to have been lost, perhaps forever.

For more tales of Exeter’s past, get A-Z Of Exeter: Places, People, History by Chris Hallam (Amberley, £14.99), at all good local bookshops and online retailers

34 I EXETER LIVING I www.mediaclash.co.uk

“It is difficult now to be sure how accurate Joanna’s prophecies were”

Joanna Southcott predicted more madness for King George III; we wonder if much of his erratic behaviour might not have been down to the simple fact that he wore his breeches a tad too tight

www.mediaclash.co.uk I EXETER LIVING I 35

FOOD & DRINK

NATURAL HIGH Are you after a new tipple for 2020? Additive-free or ‘natural’ wine has triggered a revolution in the wine industry – now a new Exeter shop invites you to forget everything you thought you knew about red, white and rosé Words by Anna Britten

www.mediaclash.co.uk I EXETER LIVING I 37

N

atural wine is all the rage at the moment – it’s a staple in many of the world’s most acclaimed restaurants and the preferred plonk for the kind of people who got behind craft beer and clean eating. Its advocates aim to disrupt the modern wine industry – to strip away what they perceive as unnecessary artificial trappings, and let wine return to being nothing more than crushed, fermented grapes. But the movement has its enemies, too – including some high-profile oenophiles, who insist that millennia of technological progress in viticulture have made wine better, not worse. lex Fitton is the director of Exeter-based natural wine business Trouvaille. After the success of several natural wine evenings at the Exploding Bakery, he has – with Mirjam Nymalm and iovanni etrullo – just opened his new shop, ullo, on aris Street, which sells over 100 natural wines, as well as natural ciders, specialty coffee and artisanal British farmhouse cheeses. We asked him why we should pop in for a glass or two…

So, Alex, what actually is natural wine – and how does it different from ‘normal’ wine?

When we think of wine and wine-making we have a vision of the winemaker tending their vines and lovingly pressing them into barrels in ancient caves, where they magically transform into delicious wine. In reality, wine-making has been just as much a victim of industrial farming since World War II as any other foodstuff. In the US , by 2012 nearly half of all wine sold was done so by just three companies.

Commercial wine-making is standardised, homogenised and ultimately all about control. wine bottle sold in a supermarket, even if labelled as organic, can have upwards of 50 additives that do not have to be labelled on the bottle if considered a processing agent. The most basic one is yeast – natural wines ferment using the naturally occurring yeasts that exist on the grapes, and do not use commercially available lab-grown yeasts for fermentation. The yeast is one of the prime drivers of avour compounds in a wine’s development, and by adding a cultured yeast a winemaker has already decided to control what a wine will taste like. ther additives can include animal by-products such as isinglass fish bladder extract or albumen egg-white used in fining to produce a

“Wine should be made from grapes, with nothing added and nothing removed” 38 I EXETER LIVING I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Alex Fitton’s new shop, Pullo, is bright, airy – and packed with tempting wines

We like the prices, written right on the bottles

FOOD & DRINK Four very different natural wines, in four very different bottles

clear wine) or calcium carbonate (chalk) to de-acidify wine. Sulphites tend to get a lot of attention, and are also naturally occurring in wines at low levels; however, natural winemakers use minimal sulphites and many often refuse to use them. (At Pullo we keep notes on the sulphites used in our wines, if anyone wants to buy a wine with none added.)

‘Natural’, ‘real’, ‘raw’, ‘low or minimal intervention’ are all words that have been used to describe the movement, but it is not a term that has an established legal framework – unlike ‘organic’ or ‘biodynamic’, which have tightly controlled criteria by established groups such as the Soil Association and Demeter. There are independent groups of growers that create their own criteria, such as L’Association des Vins Naturels AVN (France) and Vinnatur (Italy), and while they may have certain differences, the underlying maxim remains the same – wine should be made from grapes with nothing added and nothing removed.

Quite technical! Why should we be drinking more natural wine?

PULLO’S PICKS

Planning to replenish your wine stocks at the end of Dry January? Us too! And happily Alex Fitton has some strong natural choices for you…

RED: Minimus – No SO2 Pinot Noir, 2017 From Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA. Organic certified. This is a fresh and vibrant pinot noir, aged just in concrete to preserve the fruit and subtle spice qualities of the wine. No sulphites are added at all.

WHITE: JP Rietsch – Coquette, 2018 From Mittelbergheim, Alsace, France. Organic certified. Riesling and Gewürztraminer with some skin maceration and aged on the lees for eight months in steel. Wonderfully floral and fruity.

Delicious with spicy and aromatic food.

PINK: La Vignereuse – Mayga Watt Petillant Rose, 2018 From Gaillac, France. Organically grown Gamay. This is bottled unfiltered, before fermentation finishes, to create natural bubbles in the bottle. Crisp and juicy – and a perfect party wine to lift the post-Christmas spirits!

SKIN/ORANGE: Bodegas Vinessens – Benimaquia Tinajas, 2016 From Alicante, Spain. A blend of Moscatel and Merseguera, whole bunch maceration and aged in tinajas (amphora) for six months. No sulphites added. This has delicious sweet and tangy stone fruit notes with some salinity and grippy tannin, too. Skin contact (orange) wines are white wines aged and/or macerated in contact with their skins, in the same way that you would make a red wine. The skins impart an orange hue ranging from delicate to full blown pink/orange, dependent on the time spent on the skins and the grape varietal used. This is an old method of making wines re-discovered in Georgia, then made famous by the work of winemakers such as Gravner and Radikon in Friuli (both on the Slovenian and Italian sides).

Natural wine is most often produced by small-scale, independent producers that have an innate interest in promoting the health of their land – most often approaching farming in a holistic sense. We often hear winemakers talk about the merit of terroir – that almost mythical impact of time, place and weather on a wine – but few modern producers actually allow true terroir to show in the glass. For most natural winemakers the true art of making good wine falls back to how you have tended the crop in the fields. If you have looked after the land and soil you will have healthy plants that produce high quality fruit. A skilled winemaker will then coax and not control the fermentation and ageing of the wine to show this. Thus we get a real taste of terroir – and it will change; the wines will age and transform as they do so, and the next vintage will be different again.

What are the main differences that drinkers will notice?

The biggest change will be the massive breadth of avours and styles of winemaking you can find and experience. There’s a universal style of winemaking that we could refer to as producing wines with the generic avour of white wine’ and red wine’. With natural wine, you may find avours you did not think you’d find in wine. I’ve met a number of people who will say they don’t like wine – then try something a little different from the natural wine world, say a skin-contact orange wine from Georgia, and get completely hooked.

Why do some old-school wine folk criticise natural wines?

There are some interesting opinions often espoused about natural wines – most with little evidence to back up outlandish statements.

The most common is that natural wine does not age. It’s interesting to note that, before the introduction of chemical fertilisers post-World War II – and before the introduction of commercially available wine yeasts in the 1970s – most wine would be classed as natural wine.

Some producers have been making wines using the same techniques without ever adopting what would now be considered conventional wine-making techniques, and have vintages of wine stretching back to the beginning of the early 20th century – all still perfectly drinkable (if you have a spare £30-40k lying around, that is…) Another common complaint is of cider-y avours or sour tangs and hazy wines. These complaints are often just because some styles of wine-making may not be to everyone’s tastes. That’s okay – you don’t have to like unfiltered hazy skin-contact whites just because they are considered the in thing’, but be open to the fact that we are all different with different tastes.

Natural wine-making styles are varied, and there’s a wine out there for everyone and every occasion – it’s just a case of exploring avours and styles that you enjoy. n

Pullo, 23 Paris Street, Exeter EX12JB; www.pullo.shop Open 10:30am-18:30pm, Tuesday-Saturday; (Closed 1-21 January)

www.mediaclash.co.uk I EXETER LIVING I 39

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management choices that may help you keep your mind at rest…

MIND CRAFT

Make your mental health a priority in 2020.

Here, local psychologist and psychotherapist Dr Joanna North shares her advice on how to overcome worry and stay calm

W

e hear a lot about mental health these days, and it’s a good thing that we are more aware of wellbeing in relation to our mind.

I think we could define good mental health as a sense of emotional self-management that overall makes an individual feel that they can cope with life in whatever shape or form it’s coming towards them. Life these days is complex, and we have to have really good management skills if we are going to be able to protect ourselves from overload, and lead an enjoyable life. As parents we need to be able to support our children through the challenges of their lives, and help them with their thoughts, feelings and emotions as they arise.

It really does halve the problem if we can talk about our worries to people. Worry is a

mental activity that gets the better of us at the best of times. It should be said that not all mental health issues are environmental or are about the world in which we live. Some of our brain activity is passed on to us genetically, and so we may have an increased tendency, say, to anxiety if we had parents who were anxious and depressed. This historical transmission needs to be borne in mind.

Mental health is not all about anxiety and depression, although these are the more common problems, combined with obsessive compulsive disorder and relationship/ work anxiety problems. People do develop more enduring psychological conditions or inherit conditions, and they need professional support with these.

If you are concerned about your mental health you should check in with your GP, but here I set out some achievable lifestyle

ake me ou o a don’t work e ce e

• If you feel you have a mental health emergency, you should go to your GP for advice. In an extreme emergency, dial 999 for help. The Samaritans are the fourth emergency service if you are feeling suicidal.

• Manage your time and activity and keep them in good balance. Good time management is very supportive of a calm state of mind. Don’t let your timetable get too overloaded. ut your emotional needs first – this does not mean you have to be selfish and inconsiderate.

It means that you should make sure your needs are met. In a ight emergency, after all, you put your oxygen mask on first.

• Make sure you rest. That means doing nothing: really giving your mind a rest. Even if you only did ten minutes a day of sitting uietly, you would benefit. et a Mindfulness App such as Daily Calm or Headspace. These are recommended by the NHS. • Physical activity helps. You don’t need to be an athlete – a 20 minute walk a day could contribute to a sense of wellbeing.

• What you eat really matters, and there are many studies that point towards food contributing to good mental health. Cut out sugar and eat lots of vegetables, salad, fruit, nuts and oily fish.

• Alcohol is a very short-term solution to stress and ultimately will make you depressed and affect your mental health.

• Focus on your sleep and don’t let anything get between you and a good night of rest – sleep is when the brain is repairing.

Take time out to play – don’t work excessively.

This brings us back to you managing your time so that you put work down and enjoy your life.

• Talk to someone about your worries. If necessary and you cannot overcome worry, then seek a professional counsellor to talk with.

Go to www.counselling-directory.org.uk n Dr Joanna North is a psychotherapist and chartered c o o w o a worke n e e o am men a ea or ear . e c a r o e r c o o ca oc e c o era ec on an o e n e n om ounc or c o era c omm ee or e ren ec on.

Her book Mind Kind: Your Child’s Mental Health e ub n ou now. www. oannanor .co.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I EXETER LIVING I 41

ADVERTISING FEATURE

NEW YEAR NEW FINANCES Exeter’s financial experts can help you start the year off right

DAN SMITH

SOUTH WEST BUSINESS FINANCE (SWBF) 01225 800849 www.swbf.co.uk What’s the one biggest bit of advice you would give at the start of the calendar year?

As business owners are often busy running their businesses I would suggest they take some time to reflect on whether they have the right structure or funding to achieve their goals for the next 12 months. Also seek advice on where to turn for support for your business; who are your trusted partners and advisors and are you getting everything you need from these relationships.

If clients start the year concerned and worried about their finances, what advice would you give?

Speak to an expert and build a relationship with someone who you can trust to talk to about your finances. We can sit down with you, provide advice about your funding structures and help you navigate the plethora of funding options in the market that you might not be aware of. There are over 200 alternative lenders in the market who are ready and willing to support businesses, often where mainstream banks have closed doors to them. As a Commercial Finance Broker, we are ideally placed to guide you through the finance market, we know the lenders available, their strengths and weaknesses and how they want proposals presented to ensure a swift and competitive response.

What should be your clients’ priorities at the start of the year?

Decide what is important for you in sourcing finance; whether it be rate, term, flexibility, requirements to give security, or having a relationship with the lender. As a broker we are well placed to review your existing finance and suggest alternative providers or structures.

42 I EXETER LIVING I www.mediaclash.co.uk

ADVERTISING FEATURE PETER KEECH

EMMA WOOLFREY

EXETER FINANCE 01392 267272 www.exeterfinance.co.uk

DIRECTOR, CATHEDRAL FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT LTD 01392 211800 www.cfmltd.co.uk

What do you specialise in?

Exeter Finance offers short-term, non-regulated loans secured against property, typically for bridging and development purposes. Since 2014, we have completed 350 loans totalling £80m. Our loan size ranges from £50,000 to £2m.

What is your view of the current property market?

We cover the South West and operate from our office in Exeter. The SW property market remains strong, especially below £750k. We are seeing significant demand for upcoming areas in Cornwall and along the M5 corridor as the ‘Exeter factor’ reaches out.

What do you specialise in?

I specialise in advising clients and their families, acting as Attorney on long term care funding.

I also deal with Estate Planning and Inheritance Tax mitigation. We recommend investment into Trust, managing our clients’ funds on a discretionary basis avoiding the need for Trustees to sign each time a transaction is implemented.

Peter Keech

What advice would you give a client who has concerns about their finances?

When seeking financial advice, always consult an independent adviser, preferably someone who is Chartered. Most firms offer a free 1 hour consultation during which time you can gain sufficient information to decide whether that adviser is someone you can work with on a long term basis.

What are you most proud of when it comes to your work?

Having started Arbuthnot Banking Group in the West Country in the ’90s, I have relished the challenge of setting up a new lending business focused on building strong relationships and offering great customer service.

I particularly enjoy supporting local developers.

What advice would you give to somebody looking for development finance?

Prepare a comprehensive budget, form a build methodology taking into consideration groundworks and service connections and have a repayment plan including market research. Seek a lender who meets your requirements and take solid legal advice.

Wishing all SW developers a successful New Year.

Are there any achievements you are most proud of when it comes to your work?

I’ve been an independent financial adviser for over 25 years and, over this period, worked with many families through the generations. This is extremely rewarding, particularly when we can educate the younger generation in money matters.

Emma Woolfrey

RICHARD WRIGHT

FINANCIAL PLANNING DIRECTOR INVESTEC WEALTH & INVESTMENT 01392 204404; richard.wright@investecwin.co.uk What’s the one biggest bit of advice you would give at the start of the calendar year?

Make a New Year’s resolution to take control of your finances. Understand your spending, set a budget and try and stick to it. Analysing your spending has never been easier – there are now numerous apps and websites that can help you to analyse exactly where your money goes by breaking your spending down into categories, sauch as utilities, clothing, take-aways etc.

Use one of the apps and have a look at each category of expenditure and see if you could make any savings – perhaps cutting back on those take-out coffees, or by reducing your core household bills by shopping around on a comparison website. Relatively small changes can make a big difference over a year, so it’s well worth the effort.

What advice would you give somebody considering retirement?

Make a plan – when do you want to retire, and how much income will you need? Take stock of what you have in place already to provide for your retirement. Get up to date valuations for any pensions, investments and savings you have. Log on to the government gateway and check your state pension entitlement at www.gov.uk/check-state-pension. The choices you make regarding your pensions and investments will affect your standard of living for the rest of your life. I know that I would say this, but… with the myriad of retirement strategies available, getting professional advice to make sure you pick the best way forward is essential.

www.mediaclash.co.uk I EXETER LIVING I 43

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Three things to think about before the end of the tax year

T

Nicola Allen of tax experts OLD MILL tells us more...

he tax year-end is looming and there may be a few things you haven’t yet considered. Have you maximised your tax efficiency and allowances? If not, there’s still time. We’ve come up with our top three suggestions for you to think about before 5 April 2020…

1. Maximise available income tax allowances If domiciled and resident in the UK, you are entitled to a tax-free personal allowance for the year of £12,500, below which no income tax liability arises. If your total taxable income exceeds £100,000, this personal allowance is reduced.

You are also entitled to a tax-free dividend allowance of £2,000, and a tax-free savings allowance for interest income of £1,000 for basic

rate taxpayers and £500 for higher rate taxpayers.

Perhaps you can reorganise your income sources to make use of these allowances ready for the new tax year?

2. Utilise the Capital Gains Tax annual exemption A ‘use it or lose it’ relief is the Annual Exemption from Capital Gains Tax. Total gains below the limit of £12,000 for 2019/20 have no charge to Capital Gains Tax. If you don’t use it, it cannot be carried forward to the following year. Are you holding onto assets at a gain that you could dispose of and utilise your annual exemption?

3. Utilise annual gift exemptions for Inheritance Tax There are a number of potential exemptions available, but the standard annual exempt amount

is £3,000. If the total you have gifted within a tax year is less than £3,000, then the gifts will be immediately exempt and the seven year survivorship rule does not apply. You can also carry forward any unused annual gift exemption for one year.

There are many other opportunities available to ensure you maximise your tax efficiency and use of allowances. At Old Mill we have a team of tax specialists who would be happy to work with you to assess your tax position. n

Visit our website to find out more, or contact Nicola Allen on 01935 709382 or email her at nicola.allen@om.uk

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GREAT ESCAPES

BRING ME SUNSHINE

Next year’s holidays beckon, but where to go? Here are three local suggestions, all easy to get to (so kind to the planet), yet plenty special enough to make you smile…

www.mediaclash.co.uk I EXETER LIVING I 47

GREAT ESCAPES

STRAWBERRYFIELD FOREVER

Not even heavy showers can ruin a luxe eco lodge stay for Harriet Noble CLOCKWISE: Dreamy decking, a bubbly

tub, and a whopping bed make for the ultimate romantic getaway

48 I EXETER LIVING I www.mediaclash.co.uk

I

feel like we’re in California squeals Anna. We’re not. We’re two-and-a-bit miles from Cheddar and it’s drizzling. But I know what she means. There is something of an LA-luxury-wellbeing vibe to this place. erhaps wyneth altrow stays here when she’s fi lming in the UK The place in uestion is Strawberryfield ark, a contemporary eco holiday lodge, and I am here with my best friend for a mini break.

We’re staying in a lodge, sweetly named Honeyhurst, and the light, bright decor definitely has that sunny holiday feel to it, although on closer inspection the interiors are actually Morocco-inspired, with sporadic pretty tiles providing pops of colour around the lodge.

Ours is a two-bedroom version, complete with a high spec kitchen, open plan living room and – the jewel in the crown – a huge decked terrace with a bubbling hot tub and a star-lit ceiling above a seating area.

If you think spending time in a ‘eco lodge’ might sound a bit cramped or rough and ready, you couldn’t be more wrong, as Anna and I discover. Staying here is like being in a really fancy hotel that has all the mod cons – think Bang & Olufsen T and audio system with pple T , super king-size beds, top-notch coffee makers, rainforest power showers – but with a really

chilled, rural hideout feel, too.

And the place is not without a bit of soul, either.

Stepping out on the huge decking reveals fantastic views of Somerset hills, while exploring the surrounding park you’ll find a pretty apple orchard and, Is it Cheddar or Morocco? at the entrance, a Who can tell? traditional barnstyle pub that actually had more dogs than people in it when we visited.

Anna and I settle in for the night. I have an itinerary ready for tomorrow – to walk the awe-inspiring cliffs along the Cheddar orge, to visit the caves and, of course, to try some of the local cheese.

Awakening the next day, the drizzle has turned into pouring rain. Sloshing, plopping, noisy rain.

Clutching my tea, looking out of the window, I wonder if this might not be the very best day to walk on top of a gorge. Anna declares she is not coming, she wants to stay in California’. Undeterred, I hop on a bus to Cheddar. The rain has meant there is zero visibility so, unsurprisingly, the people at the

“The jewel in the crown is the bubbling hot tub and al fresco star-lit ceiling”

WHAT TO DO WHILE YOU’RE THERE… IN CHEDDAR • If the weather is on your side, visit the Cheddar Gorge and caves, a mere seven minutes from Strawberryfield Park; www.cheddargorge.co.uk • It’s got to be done – try some of the tasty, tangy Cheddar at The Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company shop. You can even watch the experts make, cut and pack their famous cheese; www.cheddaronline.co.uk IN WELLS Wells is known for its beautiful cathedral, but it’s a very pretty little city in its own right, and well worth a trip. It’s also only 20 minutes drive from

Strawberryfield Park.

Fun fact: Wells is where they shot comedy flick Hot Fuzz.

HAVE LUNCH At Twentyone Café Kitchen.

Located right by the cathedral, this is the perfect place to stop for a bite to eat.

Interesting menu and very friendly service; Facebook: @Twentyone-cafe-kitchen

• Have a pint and wander around the Just Ales microbrewery; www.justales.com • Be inspired by nature at the pretty local florists, Branch & Blossom; www.branchandbloom.co.uk • Get pampered with some beauty and hair treatments at Frontline Salon; www.frontlinestyle.co.uk

POOTLE AROUND • In one of the many charity shops, spot the lovely bargain designer gear. Or pop into beautiful Wells Cathedral, with its lush, peaceful gardens; www.wellscathedral.org.uk

HAVE AFTERNOON TEA This one’s a must, I’d say. Try the Loaf Bakehouse, a cool yet family-friendly café that does some truly gorgeous cakes and sandwiches; Facebook: @LOAF-bakehouse

gorge do not recommend doing the walk today.

In fact, they say it could be positively perilous.

I do try going in the caves, but I’m the only person in there, as every sensible person has decided to stay at home and – after about two minutes – I get a bit scared and make a run for it. I do manage to try lots of the cheese, though, and buy a good few blocks, with firm intentions of giving to family members.

It’s still only morning so, ever the eager tourist, I head to Wells. This is a much better wet-weather plan and I spend a lovely few hours walking around the cathedral and visiting the pretty cafés and somewhat amazing charity shops. (See the ‘What to do’ box below for my recommendations.)

I return to our lodge a bit damp, however, so – after a restorative cuppa – I spend a proper half an hour slot in the heavenly shower. Wells and Cheddar were lovely, but I am relieved to be back in the oasis of calm that is our little abode.

Come evening time we make the most of the lodge; with the hot tub and twinkly lights, the accommodation is more than a bit romantic.

This suits nna and I down to the ground.

What we lack in unbridled passion we make up for with our easy, silly, happy contentment, and we embrace the honeymoon vibe, putting on the white uff y dressing gowns and slippers, sipping prosecco, getting in the hot tub and pressing all the buttons so it is super bubbly, and getting each other bowls of Hula Hoops and other snacks. We snuggle down on the sofa and stretch our grey matter watching University Challenge, and we marvel at a David ttenborough documentary. Content.

The next day it is brighter and warmer but, alas, we are leaving. Our stay has been restful and rejuvenating – I’ll have to come back again to see the orge – but, this time round, I’m secretly rather glad of the rain. I could have stayed curled up on that sofa in the lodge forever.

www.mediaclash.co.uk I EXETER LIVING I 49

BAY WATCH

Beloved by the surfer set, but an equally alluring prospect for the bone idle, Watergate Bay Hotel has the full stay-anddine minibreak package nailed. And, says Mal Rogers, you can even bring the dog

60 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

GREAT ESCAPES

A

Watergate Bay: bring the dog and the kids for bucket-and-spade days at the beach, learn to surf, and dine and drink at some of Cornwall’s most sophisticated restaurants and bars – all a few minutes’ walk away from each other

short time after I’d spent a weekend at Watergate Bay, the news dropped.

‘Cornwall’s biggest festival, Boardmasters in Newquay, has been cancelled due to a severe weather forecast.’

The Met ce had issued a Yellow Warning, threatening a heavy-duty frontal system bringing ‘strong winds, expected to cause disruption; coastal communities will be affected by spray, and large waves’. Horizontal rain was expected to batter the entire coastline.

Archetypal English festival weather, then.

I dropped a note to the Boardmasters organisers, commiserating with them, and telling them it was just bad luck; why, I’d stayed at Watergate Bay two weeks previously and the sun had been splitting the skies. The temperatures were in the mid-20s, the sea was an Aegean blue, and only a gentle zephyr from the south west rustled through the marram grass.

So far, the Boardmasters people haven’t found time to get back to me, but I know they’ll have appreciated my kind thoughts.

I’m not a surfer; in fact, whatever the opposite of a surfer is, I’m one of those. As such, I wouldn’t have minded a spot of uncooperative weather in the least. I don’t mind one bit snuggling down in a bar while a south-westerly rattles the windows; with a tot of whiskey in front of me and a stack of crime novels and crosswords beside me, I can thoroughly enjoy watching the grey clouds lock into place above the Atlantic.

Particularly if I’m settled at a table in recentlyopened new bar Watchful Mary. It looks out over a two-mile stretch of strand, and serves cocktails, beers and wine, as well as tapas and salads – it’s the ideal après-surf bar, where nobody will sneer in the least if you decide to skip the ‘surf ’ bit and go straight to the ‘après’.

Watergate Bay Hotel may not own the actual surf, sand or rocks, but it owns everything else in sight, including Watchful Mary. Along with the bedrooms, spa, restaurants and gym in the main hotel, there’s the laid-back Beach Hut, right down on the shore, serving burgers, fries and Asian-inspired dishes; grab a table on the outdoor terrace on a cloudless day, and your Instagrams will fool everyone into thinking you’re in Ravello.

Right above the Beach Hut is Fifteen Cornwall, the fine-diner that sprang from amie Oliver’s laudable London project aimed at giving disadvantaged local youngsters top- ight training in the kitchen. It’s just served its millionth customer. They own that, too.

The hotel has long been a family-run affair; the family in question being the Ashworths, who in recent years have given the Victorian main building a contemporary, boutiquey makeover.

It’s become enormously popular with the ack Wills set, but it’s saved from being Chelsea-on-Sea by a relaxed, family-friendly, dog-loving ethos that lends it a welcome-allcomers vibe.

Guests swan about in swimwear or spa attire – one member of staff seemed to be fully employed in keeping the endless stream of walked-in

sand at bay in the main hallway – and kids run about with buckets and spades. There are organised games, crafts and activities, as well as entertainment in the Kids’ Zone; although to be honest, most of the ground oor is pretty much a kids’ zone, with only the outdoor hot tub on the spa terrace being out of bounds to rugrats.

An array of watersports is readily available, including kite-surfing, paddle boarding, kayaking and standard surf-boarding. The Extreme Academy – you guessed it, part of the hotel complex – will provide you with everything you need. Carl Coombes is the gentleman in charge of Extreme: a tanned, hugely capable, and as you’d expect, impressively fit individual.

Carl tried to tempt me into the water for a spot of kite-surfing. In fact, he showed me a special hydrofoil that they’d developed at the Academy that allows the surf board to aquaplane, ie rise out of the water and more or less glide along the top of the waves, almost vertically.

He did his utmost to persuade me it was a Good Idea, but as my old careers teacher at school used to say, find out what you don’t do well, and then don’t do it. Surfing, I know, would be high on that list, but I’d recommend anyone else to try out that a uaplane thing. eally. You’ll love it.

Instead, for me, the beauty of the day was having breakfast on the terrace, then walking along the strand, exploring the ebony-black rocks, cut open by millennia of, well, the same kind of heavy-duty frontal depression systems that have put the kibosh on Boardmasters.

Then it was off to find a peaceful corner of the beach, spreading out the towel and watching all the surfy action – I have to admit, it looked a lot of fun – with extra entertainment provided by dogs of all shapes and sizes; four-legged visitors are permitted here all year round.

Back at the hotel, you can wallow in the hot tub, do a few leisurely lengths in the pool or try out the timber sauna on the Swim Club deck.

The spa rooms offer a full range of treatments, from re exology to wraps and scrubs and massages. nce you’re fully relaxed and buffed to perfection, it’s time for a pre-prandial mojito at Watchful Mary followed by dinner. The hotel has an excellent in-house restaurant, but you won’t want to miss at least one meal at Fifteen, a mere two minute commute from the main building.

Like Watchful Mary and Beach Hut, it has an unbeatable panorama across the sea. We felt rather sorry for the waiters on the night we were in: there they were, extolling the virtues of the zucchini trifolati and the squid ink campanelle, when nature casually threw in the most jawdropping photobomb of a sunset, and all the smartphones in the room were suddenly pointed at the windows rather than the plates.

The waiters patiently waited for the sun to go down before resuming; something tells us they’re well used to this kind of thing at Watergate Bay. For more: www.watergatebay.co.uk

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ROCK OF AGES

Sarah Moolla discovers a world of Lulworth love (plus good food and a cosy bed) on the epic Jurassic coastline

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GREAT ESCAPES

I

t’s been a fractious few weeks: our teenagers are being very teenagery, workloads seem to have trebled (to the power of a gazillion), the house has turned into a list of odd jobs that need doing, and we still haven’t managed to see that last episode of Fleabag. Like, seriously, what kind of world are we living in where we can’t find the time to watch a half-hour comedy? Even planning a night away sounds like a chore, such is our crabby and drained frame of mind.

However, once we checked out the website of Limestone Hotel, a country house based in West Lulworth, we are in that car quicker than you can say ‘Jurassic coastline’. The journey is remarkably smooth, with clear, wide, lorry-free roads which goes some way to reducing our frown lines.

The hotel is easy to find, carved up high on an incline and looking out over the impressively pretty and traditional village below. But first we only have eyes for this urbeckstone hotel that’s going to be home for a night. It’s a tenbedroomed house that combines elegance and comfort, with a whisper of quirk. It’s chic little touches, such as the emerald green velvet sofas, oral wellies by the barn-style front door, and pale pink open mouth eel water jugs (which I have been obsessed with ever since – check them out on Etsy by searching for GlugGlugShop), that demonstrate a stylish cut above your average village stay.

This thoughtful and contemporary design is also evident in the bedroom: each one has a theme, such as the Writer’s Room with desk, quill and ink; the Library Room with, yes, books; there’s also the Boathouse Room, the Chocolate Room and the Lookout Room. What these superior rooms all have in common is a welcoming and plush vibe.

For example, instead of those dry, avourless biscuits in cellophane, we find a slate piled high with plump, sweet strawberries dipped in dark chocolate, slabs of buttery homemade shortbread, and little jewels of juicy raspberries dusted with icing sugar. We demolish these in record time before we set off to explore – we need to stoke up our energy levels, right?

Well, actually we didn’t really need to – our first venture is hardly intrepid, with the hotel being just a ten-minute

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GREAT ESCAPES

stroll through the fishing village. Taking in the thatched roofs, rambling rose cottages, tea-and-scones caf s, proper pubs, and ice cream parlours along the way, we reach the white pebble beach shore of ulworth Cove, and gasp.

The horseshoe loop of the blue bay, anked by white cliffs and green hills, shimmers, shines and sparkles. It’s utterly stunning. We go back for an ice cream to accompany us on our lingering loop around the bay.

Back at the hotel, it’s a delicious, fuss-free cocktail in the drawing room, and then dinner. The dining room feels small and opulent, deep teals marry with cerise pink and those pink eel jugs on every table, fuelling my love of them even further.

The service is e cient and friendly, the menu options straightforward.

First up are plump, soft medallions of pan-seared yme Bay scallops.

The accompanying strands of bright green samphire add a succulent and satisfying burst of salty crunch, but I’m not sure this wonderful sea-fresh combo needed the slightly overpowering spring ratatouille and basil pesto it also came with. The grilled silvery sardines, however, have found their perfect match with pickled shallot rings, parsley, caper salsa, and fresh lemon, all lending a Scandi roll-top herring nod to this fishy treat.

My main of grilled cod fillets on curried cauli ower pur e, served with romanesco broccoli and saut ed potatoes, is a sophisticated and sexy version of fish n’ chips, curry sauce and mushy peas. My husband’s pan roasted

lamb fillet with grain mustard champ, saut ed spring greens and pine nuts with rosemary jus is a hefty and hearty affair. The braised lamb is maximum avour, super soft, and works beautifully with the creamy mash spiked with beads of mustard seed.

My iced-tea panna cotta with orange crisp top and a mound of tart raspberries is a delicate end to dinner. But then I’m unable to resist trying my husband’s tasty option of the West Country cheeseboard, which includes orset Blue inny.

The next morning, following by a wonderful night’s sleep and stoked by a delicious English breakfast packed with extra walking carbs , we head off to see the main attraction of urdle oor. The walk is a muscle burning 2.5 miles with steady inclines, towers of steps, and loose gravel in parts, so do wear good shoes, and don’t rush. Stop, take a breather, and admire the spectacular, life-a rming views over the cove. s we climb over the brow, we are rewarded with the sight of that incredible limestone arch.

There’s a whole fascinating geology to urdle oor involving tectonic plates shifting, continents colliding, and that beautiful rock being destined to collapse one day, but as we sit on the beach and take in the majesty of the vista, our thoughts are not about household trivia or tetchy teens, but instead, wow, what a world we live in. ike, seriously. n

“The bright green samphire add a succulent and satisfying burst of salty crunch”

54 I EXETER LIVING I www.mediaclash.co.uk

For more: www.limestonehotel.co.uk

MORE HOLIDAY ADVENTURES! The Headland Fistral Beach, Headland Rd, Newquay, Cornwall TR7 1EW; 01637 872211; www.headlandhotel.co.uk Does any hotel in the UK have a more spectacular location than this one, a glorious Victorian behemoth with the sea on three sides and Newquay behind it?

Spectacular and atmospheric at any time of year, they filmed The Witches here!

Nomadic Travel 25-26 Gandy Street, Exeter EX4 3LS; 01392 221199; www.nomadictravel.co.uk Okay, okay, amazing though all these local(ish) hotels are, you want a bit of guaranteed sunshine. In that case, your best place to start is with Exeter’s award-winning independent travel company, Nomadic Travel. From safaris to overland adventures, they’re your guys.

ADVERTISING FEATURE FAMILY LAW Rachel Buckley, Director and Head of Divorce and Finance at The Family Law Company shares what you need to know about choosing a divorce lawyer.

WHY SHOULD I SEE A DIVORCE LAWYER? Separating is a daunting prospect. How do you reach an agreement? You may think it will be easy to sit at the kitchen table and agree a settlement between you - and sometimes this will work. However, there are disadvantages with a DIY arrangement.

• Often there’s an imbalance of power, with one party more knowledgeable about finances than the other. Any agreement reached without full knowledge could be unfair.

• Essentials like child maintenance, tax implications and pensions can be forgotten.

• You are unlikely to have protection against the other person coming back for more at a later stage.

• Emotional turmoil you may feel as a result of the relationship breakdown may make you vulnerable to undue pressure or influence from your spouse, or friends and family members who may well have their own agenda.

SO, HOW DO YOU CHOOSE A LAWYER? Your lawyer is the person you will rely on to give you advice to help you make the best decision for you and your family.

• Ensure they are a specialist in family law, and look for someone who talks plain English.

• Choose someone you feel comfortable with as you may have to reveal personal information.

• If you have young children you will need a lawyer who puts their needs first.

• Make sure they are upfront about costs.

• Check testimonials to see what other clients have said.

• Speak to friends, relatives and professional acquaintances to find out who has a good reputation in family law.

• Find out if your lawyer has been recognised by the legal profession or other body with awards and accolades.

• Look at their online presence to see if blogs and articles strike the right note with you.

• If there are video profiles available you can learn more about their approach.

Most law firms offer an initial meeting free of charge. At that meeting: • Discuss possible likely outcomes; the lawyer should be able to give you an idea based on their experience.

• Ask why you should use them, what makes them different.

• Get a clear cost estimate.

• Ask questions – write these down before you attend the meeting. Take a pen and paper and make notes.

• Take a friend with you as long as you feel comfortable discussing things like your earnings, age and financial circumstances in front of them.

• Check if the lawyer clock-watches - or are they prepared to spend the time with you to ensure all your questions are answered?

Contact Rachel Buckley directly on 01392 457155 or by email: Rachel.Buckley@thefamilylawco.com

Get a feel for whether the lawyer will act rather than react, take control rather than let the other lawyer take control, plan ahead, care how you feel and support you at every stage, and always champion your interest.

By using an experienced lawyer, you will gain information about how the law applies to your precise set of circumstances. They will dispel the myths and enable you to take control of your life.

Balliol House, Southernhay Gardens Exeter EX1 1NP.

WWW.THEFAMILYLAWCO.CO.UK

SEEN! ACROSS E XE TER, ONE S H I N D I G AT A T I M E

Amy Langford and Hannah Porter (The Family Law Company)

Gloria Payge and Sarah Elliott (Pete’s Dragons) Carolyn Southcott (Exeter Living), Catherine Hill and Charlotte Tregedeon (Exeter City Council)

Luke Cockles (Fowler Financial Planning), Ama Williams (Impact Lab) and Becky Dickinson (Launch Online) Martin Pratley and Nicky Pratley (Gilbert Stephens Solicitors)

FED OF WINTER

Exeter Living’s Winter Reception, ably hosted

by The Oddfellows at the Mulled Wine Shack – actually a massive teepee in the heart of the Christmas Market – saw over 100 friends of the magazine feeling the festive vibes around the fire, and happily gossiping together while eating pizza and slurping on assorted mulled beverages.

We’ve Flaming Good Pizza, That’s Nacho Burrito and Big Bakes Bakery to thank for all that. Very festive it was too, with a gorgeous woody smell permeating the tent.

Maddison Turvey and Mark Minton (Marsh Commercial)

Photos by Mark Gawthorne, assistant Ken Pearson; evolvephoto.co.uk

Faye, Nova and Yvan Williams (The Oddfellows and Barnova Events)

56 I EXETER LIVING I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Richard Lawrence (ITV West Country) Mica Flynn (Bigwave Media) and Glen King (Bigwave Media)

SOCIETY

Mollie Goldstrom and William Arnold

Larissa Dunn and Lowenna Merritt

Susie David and Nicky Thompson

Corey Woodward, Effie Peters and Greta Peters

Guy Cowley and Veron Matthews

UNDER THE SEA

Julien Parsons

“Darling it’s better, down where it’s wetter,” sang fun-loving calypso crab Sebastian in The Little Mermaid, and we certainly had fun at the private viewing of Sea Gardens at RAMMS, an intriguing exploration of rock pools, kelp forests and the rest by female artists including Mikhail Karikis, Dartmoorbased photographer Susan Derges and Turner Prize-nominee Lucy Skae.

Fascinating and eye-opening, then, though we suspect (somewhat sadly) that the joke that begins (or could easily begin), “Why did Sebastian blush?” was not included…

Mary Costello Lara Goodband and Joy Gregory

Photos by Rhod Cooper

Peter Randall-Page and Stuart Crewes

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

Upskill your career with Exeter College There’s a chance for adults to explore EXETER COLLEGE at the next Open Event on 15th January

E

xeter College has developed a great reputation as a leading provider of education for all learners, whether they be school leavers, university-level students or adults looking to move on or progress in their careers.

By providing professional and industryrecognised courses for adults in a range of different industries, Exeter College can truly help adults transform their working life into the career they always dreamed of.

The Ofsted Outstanding education provider has helped hundreds of adults develop their skillset to either progress in their workplace or change careers entirely. In 2020, as the College enters its 50th year as a tertiary college, they are working to make the transition to professional courses as simple as possible for adult learners to achieve their education goals.

This could be in the form of full or part time courses, and could completely retrain someone or be used as professional development.

Exeter College offers over 100 different courses for adults, including degree-level study and professional courses around accountancy, hairdressing, car maintenance and loads more.

In order to help adults find the right course for them, new specialist Adult Advisers have been appointed to help guide those interested through the options.

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Director of Adult Learning at Exeter College Lucinda Sanders wanted to help adults get what they desire out of education, and sees the new Adult Advisers as the main point-ofcontact for all adults interested in studying with the College.

“We created these Adult Adviser roles as a way of breaking down a barrier to education in a way that is completely impartial, and simply lays out the directions an adult learner could go in,” said Lucinda.

“We don’t want a lack of information to be a problem for anyone looking at different study and funding options in education. Our Adult Advisers are experts across the spectrum of education, and can give professional, thoughtful advice to anyone; whether that’s someone who knows exactly what they want to do, or someone who is just thinking about where they could go in the future.”

Professional and accredited courses for adults at Exeter College give people the skills they need to thrive in the workplace, whether that is a new career entirely or propelling their current job to the next level.

“We’ve helped hundreds of adults develop themselves with our courses,” Lucinda says, “which are recognised by industry. That means that when adults have finished one of our professional courses they can be confident in applying for jobs, knowing that they really have

the abilities required to thrive in a new career.”

Adults have the chance to discover all the courses Exeter College has to offer in a wide variety of industries at their next all-college Open Event on Wednesday, 15th January, from 5pm-8pm. At an Open Event, those attending will get the chance to discuss course options, meet staff and learn about possible support around finance and travel. n

Exeter College, Hele Road, Exeter, EX4 4JS www.exe-coll.ac.uk; f   exetercollege

Don’t forget to register!

To register for an Open Event, visit exe-coll.ac.uk/open and receive an event programme in your email inbox in order to help you plan your visit.

Find out about the range of adult courses at Exeter College at exe-coll.ac.uk/adults or contact the new Adult Advisers on 01392 400170 or AdultAdvice@exe-coll.ac.uk

It’s the city’s business

EXETERWORKS Volunteers, rainbow flag, pitch, water, lions: this shot has it all

Under the rainbow

It sometimes feels like one step forward, two steps back for football’s engagement with minorities, but not at Exeter City FC, where hearty applause from fans greeted the Rainbow Laces campaign

T

here was a lot to love about Exeter City’s home game against Northampton back in December: five goals to enjoy, a hard-fought 3-2 victory for Exeter, and vocal support for Stonewall’s ainbow aces campaign. This diversityencouraging initiative is built around the BT movement’s rainbow ag, a giant version of which was carried out onto the pitch at half time by volunteers from roud recians the club’s BT supporter’s group , Exeter ride, evon F and others, including Isca pollo, the local gay-friendly community football team. Some were wearing the rainbow shoelaces referenced in the campaign’s name, while others were handed out to the crowd.

What does it all mean oads of fun and friendliness, basically, and a strong and inclusive message There are lots of fantastic moments at St ames’ ark, said Simon Kitchen of Exeter ne ame ne Community roup, which is also involved, but few finer than the spontaneous applause from the Big Bank and, later, at the NTFC end when we carried the rainbow ag to all four sides of the pitch.

It’s all part of an effective four-year effort to eradicate homophobia from football, and Exeter City’s right at the sharp end for ten years now the club has backed the annual Football v omophobia initiative each February, and been a leading light of the national Kick it ut campaign, which aims to address all types of discrimination in the sport. ne man who’s become particularly thrilled with local efforts is roud recians founder, lan uick. It was on ecember , 1992 that my late friend ustin Fashanu, the only ever professional footballer to come out’ as gay, played for Tor uay United against Exeter at St ames’, he says. Sadly, during his lifetime he suffered both racism and homophobia. ainbow aces is a really important campaign, because it not only promotes inclusion, but also provides education. We have to develop a culture where, from a young age, everyone understands that homophobia is wrong. If you wouldn’t say something offensive on the street, then it’s not okay to say it inside a stadium. ainbow aces is a chance to celebrate the BT community, and make everyone in it, or connected to it, feel comfortable and welcomed by football.

For more: www.exetercityfc.co.uk; Twitter @proudgrecians

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There’s something lurking under that tarp!

SEEING THE WOOD FOR THE TREES Celebrating 100 years of the Forestry Commission

Anthony at the Science Park, with big ideas in mind

– who used AI techniques to investigate publicly-available data within planning applications and find ways to radically reduce waiting and turnaround times.

Basically, if you work at the right sort of council department, the results will be very interesting indeed: around 40 are already signed up to receive the eventual findings, with other councils expected to join. rtificial intelligence has the potential to transform local government,” Anthony says. “Councils are overloaded, so we’ve used AI techniques to analyse over a million UK planning applications from across 100 councils, and estimate that 65% of planningrelated queries could be managed by selflearning chatbots. It reduces waiting times for enquiries, makes the planning process easier for people to navigate, and frees up crucial resources to focus on more complex applications and planning strategy.”

Britain is noted for its grand forests, but 100 years ago, the situation was very different – following the doublewhammy of the Industrial Revolution and the Great War, the nation’s woodlands had become severely depleted, and something had to be done. Enter the Forestry Commission, created following the Forestry Act of 1919 to spearhead a huge replanting programme.

And it all had a local link: Charles Trefusis, the 21st Baron Clinton, planted the Commission’s er r ree on December 8, 1919 in Flashdown Woods, part of his Eggesford Estate near Crediton.

To commemorate all this, the modern day Lord Clinton unveiled a plaque in the same North Devon woodland where his great grandfather kicked things off all those years ago. Watched by 200 guests, including Sir Harry Studholme, current Chairman of the Forestry Commission, and Sir William Worsley, the Government’s Tree Champion, he also planted three new trees, completing an avenue of 100 known as National Centenary Avenue.

“In the last 100 years. the Forestry Commission has been largely responsible for doubling woodland in the UK,” said John Wilding, Head of Forestry at Clinton Devon Estates. “The legacy of our tree planting and forestry management has resulted in multi-purpose woodland of 25% native broadleaves within a mosaic of commercial conifers, much of which occupies steep slopes and ancient woodland sites. Our long-term vision is to hand on a more diverse forest in terms of species and irregular structure which will help to protect soil and store carbon dioxide, as well as helping to meet the challenges from new pests and disease.”

For more: www.agiledatum.com

For more: clintondevon.com

INTELLIGENCE TEST Could AI transform local government?

Local tech start up Agile Datum is determined to find out…

Agile Datum, a tech start-up based at Exeter Science Park, has just spearheaded the UK’s largest planning AI hackathon at the British Library in London. Now, it may be that very little in that last sentence makes any sense to you, but bear with us: all will become clear.

First up, the company: set up by tech entrepreneur nthony eake to use artificial intelligence techniques and chatbots to help councils automate administrative tasks, speed up service delivery and improve citizen engagement, it’s been awarded overnment funding to develop its rtificial Intelligence Validation Platform as part of a two-year research programme with the University of Exeter and The Alan Turing Institute, the UK’s artificial intelligence leading light.

Then, the hackathon. This was a week-long pre-Christmas event involving computer science academics and students from eight universities – including Exeter

KIM POSSIBLE

Kim Barnard’s can-do attitude seems to have been instrumental in her latest promotion This is marketing manager Kim Barnard from wellknown West Country financial experts ld Mill – their local o ce is at Exeter Business ark – who’s just been promoted to head of o ce’, the first person in a support team role at the company to reach such a senior position. Kim was instrumental in ld Mill’s recent rebrand, and will now be responsible for encouraging engagement and collaboration internally, as well as acting as an ambassador for the company. Basically, if you deal with ld Mill in any of its community or charity work, Kim may well be the one you’ll talk to.

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A 35-year-old mum of one, Kim’s been at the company for 11 years now, where she’s proved herself to be a natural collaborator. As business development and marketing director Matt hillips says, She’s someone who commits fully to everything that she does, and a great representative of our values. Given her key role in the insight behind our recent rebrand, I believe she’s ideally placed to take on this position, and will bring energy and passion to the role.”

For more: www.om.uk

Kim Barnard

EXETERWORKS 2020 EXETER LIVING AWARDS

THE GONG SHOW The guys at Radiance Medispa having fun

2020 EXETER LIVING AWARDS Some key dates for your diary…

Now: Nominations open 22 January: The finalists are revealed 18 February: Finalists’ and Sponsors’ Reception 12 March: 2020 Exeter Living Awards, The Great Hall, University of Exeter

Look lively! You can still win a prestigious Exeter Living Award – but you’ll need to get your nominations in pronto, because the cut-off is January 16. Tickets are now on sale too ne of the best things about the Exeter Living wards, of course, is that anyone can enter it’s free via the wards website, and there are just seven uestions you’re going to have to answer. Winners gain marketing benefits, a magnificent trophy – and the joy of being endorsed and celebrated by Exeter’s biggest business initiative.

Write your nomination, tell your story, and get it to us as soon as you can, and then you, your team and your business might well be a finalist – or even a winner, says event director Steph odd. There are massive benefits in being associated with the wards, but please don’t leave it too late. fter all, nominations close on Thursday, 1 anuary – and, of course, it costs nothing to enter.

Not only that, but there’s a huge variety of categories, and no limits to how many you can go for; basically, if it seems relevant to you and your business, you might be in with a shout. ick and mix between rts, Bar, Business Services, Caf , Charity, Civic, Creative, Education, Event, Food rink roducer, air Beauty, ealth Wellbeing, omes Interiors, egal Financial, eisure Tourism, New Business, roperty, estaurant, etailer and Technology Innovation.

The ultra-glamorous wards night itself It’s on 12 March at University of

Exeter’s reat all, and as tickets have sold out over the last couple of years – with many on the waiting list missing out – it would be wise to think about booking yours now; they’re available on a strictly first come, first served basis via the web site. The event isn’t just exciting, it’s fun too – as you can hopefully see from the pictures on this page.

With nominations in full ow, the panel of completely independent judges to be announced shortly – nobody from Exeter Living or MediaClash is part of the actual judging process – and just a few category sponsorships remaining, excitement is building strongly. Those on board for the 2020 event so far includes elf soon to evolve into Marsh Commercial, as it happens , Cathedral ppointments, Exeter College, Exeter ive Better, M Business Interiors, ld Mill, ink Moon, rincesshay, egus, Triangle Networks and Warwick Event Services.

We’ll be announcing finalists on 22 anuary, while sponsors and finalists alike will be invited to a special reception event in February, the perfect opportunity for networking before the big night. ots to enjoy, then – but only if you get involved For more: www.exeterlivingawards.co.uk; @ExeterLivingAwd

SAFE HOUSE Powderham Castle became home to Exeter’s domestic abuse and trauma recovery charity This was the first S FE Charity Ball, a new annual event to raise awareness and funds for the Exeter-based domestic abuse charity. The evening itself was a rather fine affair at owderham Castle, and raised 17, 00 on the night, while long term plans for a vastly improved service were announced and celebrated. S FE intends to deliver a new programme to help ex-service men and women, for instance, and will be offering everything from therapeutic horticulture to e uineassisted psychotherapy at a dedicated recovery centre.

Fun times and good works: what’s not to like?

For more: www.safe-services.org.uk

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NEW BUILDS

A WHOLE NEW WORLD Period features will only keep you so warm as the north wind starts to blow, and we shall have snow.

Time to celebrate the joy of the new build in all its shiny, sparkly, box-fresh glory…

By Paul Marland

A bird’s eye view of Barratt’s Minerva development, with glorious countryside all around

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Y

es, we all love a period home, and our patch of evon is heaving with fine examples of the breed.

But there’s a lot be said for a new build too. ouble glazing comes rattle-free, and virtually guarantees toasty winter nights; the central heating’s as energy e cient as it gets; there’s no chain to worry about when buying off-plan; your green credentials are likely to be sky-high; and you won’t need to put aside much cash for maintenance for years and with luck years.

With few nasty surprises, and plenty of free weekends, life might well become a lot cheaper – and certainly more hassle-free – in a brand new house. With that in mind, we caught up with four of the best developers in and around Exeter right now to see what’s most tempting on their books, and what we might afford OVER AT THE NEW Barratt Homes development, Minerva on the outskirts of Exeter, demand is high and houses are rapidly selling off-plan. In fact, there seems to be very little left, so if you’re interested you’d better get a wriggle on.

This is uickly becoming one of the region’s most popular sites, says sales director Nicki eid, and we’re thrilled by the reaction we’ve had from those looking to settle here. Buyers are particularly taken by the range of homes on offer, and the fact that they’re moving into a well-established community. This is all a very good sign that we’ve got it just right in terms of design, price and location.

Minerva is a development of two-, three- and four-bedroom homes – something for nearly everyone, then – on a 15 acre country park development just 15 minutes from the city centre, and with inhoe train station nearby. There are plenty of local shops and highly rated schools in the area too, not to mention unction 29 of the M5, making it the perfect place to call home. ne popular design at the top end of the development price-wise is the lderney, which offers four beds from 3 9,995. It’s beautifully presented, with an open plan kitchen and family area downstairs, along with a spacious lounge and French doors to the garden, says Nicki. There’s a separate dining room too, and

upstairs are three double bedrooms with an en suite to the master, plus a single bedroom and a family bathroom.

Barratt also has a brand new development in Tiverton, called Braid ark – and although it’s not due to o cially open until later this year, you can already buy off-plan, which both gives you the pick of the plots and enables you to personalise your home to suit.

Braid ark offers the perfect balance of countryside living and convenience, Nicki says. Surrounded by beautiful landscapes, and only four miles from Tiverton arkway railway station, it’s ideal for commuters seeking easy access to both Taunton and Exeter. I expect the three-bedroom Maidstone design, priced from 239,995, will be especially popular.

This one comes with a good-sized lounge leading to an open plan kitchen with dining area, and French doors to the garden, plus a downstairs cloakroom and handy understair storage. Upstairs, there is a master bedroom with its own en-suite, Nicki says, plus a further double bedroom and a single bedroom, as well as a family bathroom and further storage – and outside there are two parking spaces. lternatively, the aversham offers an extra bedroom from 27 ,995 – as it’s located downstairs, this could easily be repurposed as a study or second lounge – plus a garage, as well as two parking spaces.

CAVANNA HOMES, MEANWHILE, recently saw Lord Clinton from Clinton evon Estates perform a ribbon-cutting to mark the o cial opening of its new show home at lfred’s ate. This 0-home development, located in the East evon village of Newton oppleford, near Sidmouth, is surrounded by stunning coast and countryside, and is within easy reach of both Sidmouth and Exeter.

It’s in a great village, says Keith Miller, Cavanna’s managing director, “and we’re very proud to have worked with Clinton Devon Estates on this project, which offers a mix of open market and affordable homes. They’re built in a variety of styles and finishes – including brick, timber cladding and render – to complement the local surroundings, too. nd they’re all within easy walking distance of a village shop, post o ce, pub, tennis club and primary school.

The Kensington by Cavanna, with four bedrooms and a big bay window

“With few nasty surprises, life may well become cheaper in a new house” 66 I EXETER LIVING I www.mediaclash.co.uk

NEW BUILDS

The Redrow guys are big on contributing to the community, hence this comedy-sized cheque

The spacious kitchen at one of Barratt’s Thornbury homes

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NEW BUILDS They’ve got the lot, then. Prices start at £287,950, and the show home is open Thursday to Monday,10am-5pm – but if this doesn’t suit, Cavanna may well have something else for you. Check out the two other developments they’ve got in the Greater Exeter area, including Barley Meadow over at Dawlish and Cavanna@Wolborough Hill in Newton Abbot.

THEN THERE’S REDROW HOMES, which have become rather the bungalow specialists their omansfield development in kehampton – with plenty of local amenities and within easy reach of Dartmoor National ark – offers a number of different single-story house styles, designed to answer a current need for bungalow living. ow so Think the desirable combination of high affordability and great suitability for an ageing population.

“Typically at a lower price point than many other houses, bungalows are often eligible for purchase through the Government’s Help to Buy scheme, where homeowners only require a 5% deposit,” says Hannah Pollard, Redrow’s sales director for the South West. “This is contributing to the growing popularity of single-storey living among younger age groups too.” t omansfield, two-bedroom bungalow styles, like the compact and easy to manage Hadleigh and slightly larger Fairford, are currently available, with prices starting from 2 9,995. The first of these offers a high standard but a simple style, with an en-suite bathroom, sizeable open-plan living and dining area – complete with French doors out to the garden – plus fully fitted kitchen with modern appliances, as well as an integral garage. The Fairford, meanwhile, is spacious with a generous lounge, a large kitchen and dining area, and en-suite shower room, garden and integral garage – ideal for both growing families or

couples with regularly visiting family members. And there are threeand four-bedroom family homes available here too, which should prove perfect for young families – not least as a brand new school has recently opened opposite the site, aimed at children aged two to eleven. Prices start at £339,995.

FINALLY, THERE’S KINGSWOOD HOMES, which is currently developing an ambitious and attractive project just a little further away. Designed to completely revitalise the historic Market Quarter of Hatherleigh in West Devon with a range of new houses, bungalows and apartments, as well as a brand new market hall, the first houses will be available to buy this Spring/Summer.

“It will transform the heart of this lovely town, bringing new residents and rejuvenating the market business,” says MD Paul Jones.

“And, as we’re a family-owned bespoke builder, we really care about creating a community feel.”

Sounds good, right? But then that’s the thing about the best new builds: they have all the character and community feel of many period properties, but are much easier to live with. No, purchasing one still isn’t quite a no-brainer – but checking them out certainly is… n

YOU HAVE BEEN READING

Barratt Homes; www.barratthomes.co.uk Cavanna Homes; www.cavannahomes.co.uk Kingswood Homes; www.kingswoodhomes.uk.com Redrow; www.redrow.co.uk

Cool island unit in a Maddoc home at Minerva

“We really care about creating a community feel” 68 I EXETER LIVING I www.mediaclash.co.uk

SOUTHERNHAY EAST EXETER GUIDE PRICE ÂŁ750,000 Exceptional quality and space in the heart of Exeter

Located just off Southernhay, Courtyard House offers well planned accommodation with a stunning open plan 1st floor living space, large entrance hall and office/study area, 3 bedrooms and 3 bath/ shower rooms plus a separate utility room and its own parking space.

A truly unique opportunity to purchase a fine modern home at a very competitive price.

01392 330268 sales@sbchomes.co.uk www.sbchomes.co.uk

EXETER

Guide price £650,000

Small select new development of just five quality local craftsmen-built detached homes. Handy for Newcourt train station and M5 Motorway network. High specification, spacious well-designed accommodation. Plot one has a large open-plan kitchen/dining/ family room, separate 22’ sitting room. Level garden and double garage.

For further details contact our New Homes department on 01392 455926 or email newhomes@wilkinsongrant.co.uk

01392 427500 www.wilkinsongrant.co.uk RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL LAND & DEVELOPMENT SALES ACQUISITIONS LETTINGS & PROPERTY MANAGEMENT AUCTIONS SURVEYS PROBATE & VALUATIONS

EXETER

Guide price £750,000

An exceptional detached family home built in 2012. One mile from Exeter city centre. Exeter University and Exeter College are also within walking distance. Beautiful sunsets can be enjoyed from the westerly facing rear garden. Four Double Bedrooms, three bathrooms, three receptions, dining room/ kitchen. Double garage and plenty of parking. Westerly Facing Rear Garden EER ‘C’

For further details telephone Mike Shaw on 01392 427500 or email m.shaw@wilkinsongrant.co.uk

01392 427500 www.wilkinsongrant.co.uk RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL LAND & DEVELOPMENT SALES ACQUISITIONS LETTINGS & PROPERTY MANAGEMENT AUCTIONS SURVEYS PROBATE & VALUATIONS

EXETER LIVES

“Less is definitely more. Buy well – and make it last” colour analysis theory and, in 2007, I established my own style consultancy. In 2008, I became one of Westfield ondon’s in-house personal stylists, a fantastic turning point in my career.

Who’s your celebrity crush?

Who do you think are the three best-dressed people in Britain?

What’s the most embarrassing thing (you’re willing to share!) that’s ever happened to you?

efinitely ictoria Beckham; she has her own high-quality classic style and the ability to look effortless. aving a handsome husband on her arm also helps! I also admire Cate Blanchett for her unique, fun yet ageless, edgy style and recently a client mentioned Eddie Redmayne, and yes, I like what I see.

CHANTELLE ZNIDERIC Ethical fashion, Ibiza tunes and Dartmoor views keep the local stylist smiling Looking effortlessly stylish takes effort. Just ask Blackdown Hills-based style queen Chantelle, who – as a personal stylist and shopper – has helped countless people polish their look, and lent her words of wisdom to everything from The Sun to fashion retail bible Drapers. Whatever challenges 2020 throws your way, your wardrobe needn’t be one of them…

Where do you live, Chantelle, and what makes it special?

We relocated to Devon from Surrey in October 2018. Having grown up in Devon, and then deciding to move back, it felt like coming home for me, which was a bit surreal. We have settled into beautiful Hemyock, and live on the top of a hill with spectacular far-

reaching views – on a clear day we can see Dartmoor in the distance.

We’re living our dream! There’s also a real sense of community and, for us, this is what it’s all about – working to live, not living to work.

How did you first get into fashion and styling?

When I was younger, I loved designing shoes and making my own clothes. Leaving my graphic design career behind, in 2006, I launched a fashion blog where I wrote about all things fashion and also encouraged women to write to me with their fashion dilemmas. I helped them create stylish capsule wardrobes for their lifestyles and sourced special occasion outfits for them online. A year later, I trained professionally to become a personal stylist. I learnt valuable personal style, body shape and

74 I EXETER LIVING I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Give us some solid fashion trends for 2020 – what’s in, what’s out?

It’s always exciting to take notice of fashion; however, a bigger trend is sustainability and the notion of shopping more ethically. I say, dress for you, be true to your style and be conscious about the environment. ess is definitely more. Buy less, buy well, make it last – and support local enterprises when you can.

How would you describe your own style?

Fresh, eclectic and comfortable.

Do you have a nickname?

I’ve acquired loads of nicknames over the years… My family, nearest and dearest call me Chants, my brother calls me Gags – as he could never say Chants when he was younger – and my older friends call me Chanti.

Also, my husband calls me Boo (don’t ask!).

What piece of music would you put on to relax with at the end of a trying day?

It has to be a mix of Ibiza tunes, so I can dream about lying in the sun, feeling carefree and drinking cocktails at a beach bar.

Sounds weird but I’ve never really had one. However, when I was younger, I thought Pharrell Williams was the ultimate cool kid and I liked his style and music.

I was in Bali, eight-and-a-halfmonths pregnant, riding around on a moped and I got a horrendous bout of Bali belly. There were no public loos in sight, and all I can say is that I ended up in the Mangroves.

What’s your most treasured possession?

That’s easy – my two gorgeous girls and husband. Without them in my life I’d be unhappy and lonely. They make me laugh (and cry!).

Who would play you in a film about your life?

Gosh, hard! Emma Thompson.

She’s brilliant, a bit of rebel and doesn’t take herself too seriously.

Favourite places to eat, drink and shop in Exeter and the surrounding area?

Exploding Bakery for coffee and cake; Rendezvous, Harry’s or Lloyd’s Kitchen would feature high on my list for dinner; Doctor Ink’s Curiosities for a cocktail bowl or two. Busby & Fox on the Cathedral Yard has some lovely pieces and eye-catching accessories.

If you had a time machine, which era would you return to – and why?

1910-’20s. It was such a glamorous era and it would have been amazing to meet Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel (Coco Chanel).

Finally, what was your New Year’s resolution?

Be kind, keep positive – and drink more gin. n For more: www.personal-stylist.co.uk