A skills-based podcast pioneered by City College Plymouth has reached a major milestone
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Police officer Lindsey Walke has swum the English Channel to raise funds for Alzheimer’s Society in memory of her nan
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Plymouth Chronicle is partnering with Argyle Life – the popular fans site –to bring exclusive content to our readers
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for a tradesman?
to our Dial The Experts guide on pages 16 and 17
BASICS Devon, the emergency response charity, has received a grant of nearly £20,000 from the National Lottery to support its life-saving work. Pictured with the cheque are BASICS volunteers (from left): David Hillebrandt, Ben Morris, Conor Calby, Ian Higginson, Andy Smith, Glenda Cooper, Simon Fairclough, Simon Scott-Hayward, Tom Haigh, and Marc Epps • STORY ON PAGE 2
Wardrobe combination, white/oak effect, 100x60x236 cm
An emergency response charity has received a grant of nearly £20,000 from the National Lottery to support its life-saving work.
BASICS Devon is a network of 15 highlytrained emergency volunteer medics providing immediate access to specialist medical care at the scene of an accident or illness. They make themselves available around the clock throughout the year, responding to incidents at the request of the South Western Ambulance Service. The charity relies solely on donations.
BASICS Devon doctors aim to provide a fast response to incidents in Plymouth and rural areas across Devon and use their extensive skills to support patient care.
In 2024 alone, BASICS Devon responded to 371 emergency callouts, including 55 cardiac arrests and 105 night-time incidents, with a first-on-scene rate exceeding 40 per cent. The figures highlighted the critical role their volunteers play in bridging the gap between an emergency and hospital care.
Devon to have access to immediate care when they need it and to have the confidence to act in a medical emergency when someone near them needs it. With an aging population, high rurality and tourism hot spots, our region faces unique challenges – but we’re here to meet them.”
To continue this vital lifesaving service the National Lottery Community Fund is giving BASICS Devon £19,824 to help their community thrive.
With a rural population where some areas are more than an hour from the nearest hospital, this timely intervention is often the difference between life and death.
Beyond emergency response, BASICS Devon is passionate about health education and community empowerment. In 2024, they conducted 25 community education sessions and are launching a Community
Volunteer Programme, enlisting local medical professionals and community members to extend their reach. They target areas with longer response times, providing training, equipment, and volunteer support to improve survival rates and reduce long-term disability.
Robert Horton, trustee and Chair of BASICS Devon, said: “We want every individual in
Notice is hereby given that I Jack Fry On 03/07/2025
Have made application to the Plymouth City Council, being the Licensing Authority for the purposes of the above Act, for the variation of a Premises Licence in respect of the premises situate at and known as:
Plymstock Inn. 88 Church Road, Plymstock, Plymouth. PL9 9BD
The application has been made to vary the licence to: Update existing conditions.
Any representations to this application should be made in writing or electronically to:
Public Protection Service Manager, Licensing Office, Plymouth City Council, Ballard House, West Hoe Road, Plymouth. PL1 3BJ. licensing@plymouth.gov.uk
(for electronic representations please provide your postal address).
No later than 31/07/2025
A copy of this application can be viewed on the Council’s licensing register or at the Licensing Office address during normal office hours.
It is an offence knowingly or recklessly to make a false statement in connection with this application, the maximum fine on summary conviction being £5,000.
Amie Bull, fundraising manager of BASICS Devon, added: “This funding will help save lives, train volunteers, and build strong, connected communities. From the bottom of our hearts –thank you. Your contribution is not just funding equipment or training; it’s giving enhanced medical care, and opportunities to people across Devon.”
Glenda Cooper, advanced nurse practitioner and treasurer of BASICS Devon said: “Every life we save, every person we train, and every volunteer we support brings us one step closer to a healthier, more resilient Devon.”
To learn more or support BASICS, visit www. basics-devon.org.uk
YMCA Plymouth has announced the launch of the inaugural Plymouth Community Champion Awards, a brandnew event created to recognise and celebrate the remarkable individuals and groups who are making a lasting impact across the city.
The awards ceremony will take place on October 11 at Plymouth’s Crowne Plaza Hotel, bringing together residents, community groups and local organisations for an inspiring evening of celebration and recognition.
From dedicated volunteers and exceptional fundraisers to courageous individuals and outstanding community projects, the Plymouth Community Champion Awards will shine a light on those who go above and beyond to support others and improve the lives of those around them.
“This is a moment to celebrate the heart of Plymouth – its people,” said Tom Lavis, chief executive of YMCA Plymouth. “We’re incredibly proud to launch these awards to give thanks and recognition to the everyday heroes who are helping to make our city a kinder, more resilient place to live.”
Nominations will be across 16 categories, covering a wide range of achievements and contributions to community life: Public Sector Hero; Charity Fundraiser; Education Hero; Volunteer; Health Service Hero; Team of the Year; Activist/Campaigner; Environmentalist; Arts and Culture; Courage Award; Lifetime Achievement; Sportsperson of the Year; Outstanding Contribution to the Community; Carer of the Year; Best Community Project and Employee of the Year.
Nominations for the awards open on July 31 and close on August 22 with the Awards Ceremony to follow on October 11. To submit a nomination and find out more, visit www. ymcaplymouth.org.uk/communityawards
A pioneering Plymouth podcast inspiring people to embrace new skills and take control of their future has reached a milestone 100,000 listens.
Launched just 18 months ago, Skilfully Speaking shines a spotlight on well-known inspirational figures – focusing on their real-life journey to success and exploring the skills gained and challenges they have faced along the way.
Hosted by Jackie Grubb, chief executive of City College Plymouth and nationally-renowned skills ambassador, the initiative is a collaboration between the college and city-based Fresh Air Studios. Listener figures show that the podcast, which is now in its second series, has reached people in more than 70 countries and has broken the 100,000 listens barrier.
The idea for Skillfully Speaking was born out of a conversation between Jackie and Paul Philpott, managing director of Fresh Air Studios, who share a determination to drive a wider conversation in the South West around the skills agenda and wanted to highlight the challenges and inspirational stories of individuals and organisations.
The wide range of past and future guests includes Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes, barrister and TV personality Rob Rinder, broadcaster and author Anna Williamson and
Each episode is produced with support from Babcock International Group and goes deep into conversation with individual guests, covering subjects as diverse as health and wellbeing, role models, career pathways and how to develop essential skills. Listeners pick up a wealth of hints, tips and advice to motivate others to achieve their goals in life.
Jackie Grubb said: “It’s hard to believe that what began as a conversation in a meeting in Plymouth around two years ago has ended up being listened to and helping people all around the world. It has clearly struck a chord with a global audience seeking not just motivation, but actionable insight on how to grow, adapt, and thrive in a world where change is constant.
“To reach 100,000 listens, including more than 64,000 in the UK, means that what is being said resonates with people and has an impact, which was very much our objective at the beginning.
We’re looking forward to continuing to bring more inspirational stories, hints and advice that are engaging, accessible and informative.”
Skilfully Speaking is available on Spotify and Apple podcasts and other platforms, with new episodes dropping every month.
Send details of your event to info@ cornerstonevision.com and we will do our best to include them in Out and About. Unfortunately because of space limitations we are unable to publish details of regular meetings of groups and societies or similar organisations.
Barbican Arts and Crafts Market
Every Sunday in July and August
The Barbican Arts and Crafts Market is a vibrant celebration of creativity, hosted each summer at the picturesque Pier Masters House on Plymouth Barbican. Showcasing a handpicked selection of talented local artists and makers, the market offers a unique opportunity to discover beautiful handcrafted creations in a stunning waterfront location. From 11am to 4pm each Sunday.
Levowan Chamber Choir
July 18
The choir continues its 10th anniversary celebrations at St Peter’s Church, Wyndham Square at 7.30pm. Featuring a selection of uplifting, contemporary choral music from around the globe. Free entry with a retiring collection. Reserve seats at www.levowan.com
Tamar Concert Choir
July 19
Free concert with a retiring collection for charity at Pilgrim URC church, St Levan Road at 7.30pm. An evening of well known love songs for a summer evening.
Jazz and Roast Sunday
Jul 20, Aug 17 and Sept 21
Honky Tonk Wine Library in Sutton Harbour hosts local jazz legend Martin Dale accompanied by two other musicians and a fabulous Sunday Roast menu. Booking advisable. Bookings for food taken from 12pm with live music from 3pm to 5pm. For bookings and details visit www.honkytonkwinelibrary.com
Ice Cream and Bubbles Festival
July 20
The ultimate event for lovers of ice cream and bubbles at Mount Edgcumbe Country Park from 10am to 4pm. A fun-filled interactive family day out with a variety of exciting activities and entertainment for everyone to enjoy including bubble shows and workshops, bouncy castles and much more. Details at www.missivyevents. co.uk
A Talk on the Remarkable Pinwill Sisters
July 23
This talk at the Plymouth Proprietary Library at 2pm is by Dr Helen Wilson, author of The Remarkable Pinwill Sisters. The Pinwill sisters were famed for creating between them one of the most successful ecclesiastical woodcarving companies in the West Country, with work in over 180 churches across Devon and Cornwall and further afield. When first Mary and then Ethel left the company, Violet ran the business single-handedly, employing nearly 30 carvers and joiners at the height of its success. Talk: £4 for members, £8 for non-members.
Overplay
July 24 to Aug 5
The UK’s ultimate inflatable playground in Central Park featuring huge inflatables perfect for youngsters of all ages. Overplay offers hours of active, family-friendly fun under the cover of the giant circus tent. Ideal for family days out, birthday parties, school groups, and more, Overplay promises a safe, exciting environment with plenty of space to run free. For details visit www.overplay.uk
Family Fun Day
July 26
Keyham Green Places in Renown Street, Keyham is hosting a fun day from 11am to 3pm with cake stall, craft fair, table top sale, raffle, plant sales and free children’s activities, plus the opening of the Keyham Scouts’ Storytelling Shed. Free entry
The Bazaar Marketplace
Jul 26
Located in Old Town Square in Plymouth City Centre, featuring a diverse range of local vendors showcasing expertly crafted, high-quality products. Discover rich cultural experiences, enjoy delicious offerings, and soak up the lively atmosphere with live music and entertainment throughout the day.
Charity Coffee Morning
July 26
Sherwell United Church Hall in North Hill from 10am to 12 noon with proceeds to PATH.
Big Tribute Festival
Jul 31 to Aug 3
The Big Tribute Festival is back in Plymouth’s Central Park for four days of live music, featuring some of the best UK tribute acts. An enormous Big Top hosts a special festival experience. The festival site to include a dedicated family area with bouncy castle, small rides and face painting. There will also be a a wide variety of food and drink vendors, offering everything from international cuisine to classic festival fare. For details visit www.bigtribfest.co.uk
Sounds of the World
Aug 1
International live music festival at the Home Park Fan Zone from 6.30pm to 10.45pm. Featuring sounds and rhythms of different cultures including bands and artists from Ghana and Jamaica. Line up includes Afriquoi, Florence Adonis and Da Fuchaman and the Fire Blaze Band. For more information visit www. eventbrite and search for Sounds of the World.
Summer Sports Fest
Aug 2
Calling all thrill-seekers and foodies. A celebration of sport, charity and community at Commercial Wharf on The Barbican from 10am until 10.30pm. Highlights include swimming, abseiling, strongman event and a golf driving range. Plus a food and drink extravaganza from local suppliers. Details from www. tugboatsanddolphins.com
An Afternoon with Babs Horton
Aug 2
Author Babs Horton will read from a selection of her short stories and her debut novel ‘A Jarful of Angels’ at Plymouth Proprietary Library in St Barnabas Terrace from 2pm. Babs will also include excerpts from her Edinburgh Fringe sell out play ‘In the Lady Garden’ Babs will be happy to take questions on anything writing related. Refreshments provided. Free for members £4 non-members. For details visit www. theppl.org.uk
Saturday Sessions at The Square
Aug 2 and Sept 6
Live music sessions at Old Town Square on the first weekend of the month in the city centre from 1pm to 3pm. Featuring the Hot House Combo in July, True Foxes in August and Firebird in September.
Celebrities v Forever Green
Aug 3
Former Argyle players and celebrities will be joining together for a special match in support of Forever Green. Two teams – one consisting of famous faces, and the other of iconic ex-Greens – will face off on the Home Park pitch at 2pm. Tickets are £10 for adults, and £5 for children. Tickets can be purchased from argyletickets.com, in-person at the Home Park Ticket Office, or over the phone on 01752 907700. Tickets will be digital/print-at-home only.
Old Time Sailors Live!
Aug 6 and 20
Hop aboard the Sailorette and join the lively crew of The Old Time Sailors this summer for an evening of music, dancing, pint clinking and harbourside fun at The Stable in Vauxhall Quay from 7.30pm with free entry. Featuring a 21-piece band dressed in full sailor gear, bringing an energetic night of sea shanties and foot-stomping folk tunes. Expect a proper musical voyage – live, upbeat, and totally unique. For details visit www.stablepizza.com/plymouth
Ultimate 80s Party Cruise
Aug 9
Plymouth Boat Trips present their popular radical back to the 80s cruise leaving from Commercial Wharf in the Barbican at 7.30pm. Featuring their own resident DJ with tickets including a complimentary drink. Toilert and licensed bar on board. For tickets and details visit www,plymouthboattrips.co.uk
Abba Tribute Evening
Aug 9
Get ready to dance and sing along to all the classic hits from the legendary Swedish pop group at The Duke of Cornwall Hotel for a night filled with nostalgia and fun starting at 7pm. Go along dressed in 70s attire and prepare to be transported back in time to the era of disco and glitter. The talented tribute band will have revellers on their feet all night long, belting out tunes such as ‘Dancing Queen’ and ‘Mamma Mia.’ For tickets and details call 01752 275850.
Romeo & Juliet
Aug 9
Award-winning South Devon Players Theatre and Film Company bring their touring production of William Shakespeare’s classic to The Muse Theatre at Lipton Academy at 7.30pm. Tickets available from www. southdevonplayers.com/box-office or on the door on from 6.30pm.
British Firework Championships
Aug 13 and 14
Tens of thousands of people will head for The Hoe and viewing points all along the waterfront for the spectacular annual competition. Six previous winners will battle it out to be crowned Champion of Champions. Three firework companies will be competing each day at 9.30pm, 9.50pm and 10.10pm. For more information go to www.visitplymouth.co.uk/ whats-on
Charity Coffee Morning
Aug 23
Sherwell United Church Hall in North Hill from 10am to 12 noon with proceeds to Jeremiah’s Journey.
Devon Darts Showdown
Aug 23
Headlining the event at Plymouth Pavilions is 2023 World Champion Michael ‘Bully Boy’ Smith, along with Welsh favourite Jonny ‘The Ferret’ Clayton, Aussie legend Damon ‘The Heat’ Heta and Devon star Ryan ‘Heavy Metal’ Searle. Also featuring a special guest, Terry ‘The Bull’ Jenkins and Canadian Jeff ‘The Silencer’ Smith. For details and tickets visit www. plymouthpavilions.com
West End Carnival
Aug 23
All day fun for the whole family, with plenty of carnival flair, music, entertainment and food from 11am onwards in Frankfort Gate and the surrounding streets.
Jazz and Blues by the Sea
Aug 29
Set against the stunning backdrop of the sea, Jazz and Blues by the Sea is a one-of-a-kind live music event taking place at the iconic Tinside Lido from 6.30pm to 10.30pm. An atmospheric evening of soul-stirring performances from some of the South West’s finest artists. Enjoy a laid-back, jazz café-style setup under a stretch tent with views over the ocean, as the sun sets and the music flows. For tickets go to www.fixr.co and search for Jazz and Blues by the Sea
Charity Dog Show
Aug 30
The popular dog show returns to Ford Park Cemetery from 2pm to 4pm. There will also be a raffle and refreshments available in the Visitor Centre. More details from 01752 665442 during office hours from 10am to 4pm.
Murder in the OLD West!
Sept 10
Step back in time… and solve a crime! Join the Cheeky Reaper Murder Mystery Company at The Dock, Plymouth at 7pm for a thrilling Wild West whodunnit! Evening of immersive entertainment. Includes a threecourse meal In aid of Samaritans. Tickets £39.95 from www.CheekyReaper.co.uk
Seafest Plymouth
Sept 13 and 14
A celebration by the sea with a fun-filled weekend of delectable food and sea-themed entertainment. Plymouth Waterfront Partnership is teaming up with Plymouth Sound National Marine Park to create an even more impressive experience, extending the event across the Barbican, Sutton Harbour, Mount Batten Watersports & Activities Centre, Tinside Lido, and Mount Edgcumbe. A treat for seafood lovers also featuring live music, pop up stalls and stands and demonstrations.
Send details of your event to info@cornerstonevision. com and we will do our best to include them in Out and About. Unfortunately because of space limitations we are unable to publish details of regular meetings of groups and societies or similar organisations.
“I’d rather regret the things I’ve done than regret the things I haven’t done.” —Lucille Ball
Two city schools have been recognised nationally for their efforts to create a culture of welcome and belonging for children from families seeking asylum and refuge in Plymouth.
Mount Street Primary and Millbay Academy are the first schools in the city to gain the national School of Sanctuary accreditation.
In each school pupils, parents, staff and governors have worked together, supported by the Plymouth Ethnic Minority Achievement (EMA) Team at the council to create caring communities in which children learn positive messages about equality and diversity.
Earlier this month at the EMA Team Hub, hosted by Plymouth Teacher and Schools Alliance, Councillor Sally Cresswell, Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Apprenticeships, presented certificates to the two successful schools, and other schools keen to gain this award, joined the celebration.
She said: “We are working hard to make Plymouth a welcoming city, and it is great to see how our schools are going even further by achieving this excellent recognition of Schools of Sanctuary.
“We are really keen to encourage more of our schools to get involved. This acknowledgement and presentation will hopefully create even more interest and awareness. We know our schools do so much in this area, and this is the opportunity to celebrate that work. Mount Street Primary and Millbay Academy are true pioneers.
“It is important that schools provide the very best learning opportunities for the children while they settle in – this is why the council are working with the Schools of Sanctuary to guide schools through the whole process towards accreditation.
“I would like to say a huge congratulations to the schools for achieving this award, and for all their hard work.”
Matthew Bisco, senior deputy head at Millbay Academy, said: “Millbay Academy are incredibly proud to be recognised for our continuous work in this area.
“The School of Sanctuary values are those we live and breathe. I hope that this accreditation gives further confidence to our city’s refugee, asylum seeker and migrant families, demonstrating our commitment to them, and recognising the gift of having such a rich and diverse set of lived experiences within our community.
“Congratulations and full gratitude to all the staff, students and parents who are so committed and learn so much from this work together.”
Bridget Shillaber, headteacher at Mount Street Primary added: “We are delighted to be re-accredited as a School of Sanctuary. This recognition reflects the values we live by every day of inclusion, compassion and community. It’s a journey we began years ago and one we are committed to continuing.”
For more information about the School of Sanctuary awards at: www.schools. cityofsanctuary.org/
Distribution giants Evri have announced the creation of hundreds of new courier roles across Plymouth, as part of its long-term growth strategy and ambition to become the UK’s premier parcel delivery business.
The addition of these roles will deliver the brand’s largest-ever self-employed courier network, taking it to over 33,000.
And alongside existing couriers, those joining the business in Plymouth will also have the opportunity to become part of the brand’s relaunched and pioneering ‘Evri Plus’ initiative, which remains the UK’s only unionbacked courier scheme.
Evri Plus gives self-employed workers access to a range of additional benefits, including 28 days paid holiday, guaranteed national minimum wage, pension contributions and parental leave, as well as other additional flexible benefits. The initiative works on an optin basis, available to eligible couriers, and the business is keen to boost numbers.
eCommerce UK and the acquisition of leading customs clearance and logistics specialist Coll-8.
Martijn de Lange, chief executive at Evri, said:
“We continue to deliver phenomenal growth at Evri, and none more so than within our hard-working courier network, who are truly the backbone of our business.
to retain the flexibility of self-employment.”
Mark Padgett, Evri Courier, said: “After working for Evri for 13 years, I’ve made lots of friends through my deliveries in the area I work, and it’s a great feeling knowing how much my customers appreciate me.
“Quite a few of my customers are elderly, and I love helping them; just the little things they do makes me love my job even more. They invite me into their homes to warm up when it’s really cold and praise me to new people who move into the area, so when they order parcels, they know they’ll receive them with the greatest care.
“A huge benefit of being a courier is also how active it keeps me - I have no idea how many steps I do on a daily basis, but it definitely adds up.”
With a mix of permanent and flexible roles available, Evri couriers can typically earn £20.86 an hour on average whilst being able to enjoy the flexibility of delivering parcels any time between 8am and 8pm.
Plymouth’s three Members of Parliament are joining forces to argue for a substantial increase in the number of dental students being trained at Plymouth’s Peninsula Dental School (PDSE).
Peninsula currently accepts 58 new dental students each year and the campaign by the MPs, backed by Plymouth City Council’s cross-party Dental Taskforce, is calling for that figure to rise to 72 places – the national average for dental schools.
As one of the UK’s largest dedicated parcel delivery companies, the announcement follows a huge period of growth for the business, which has grown ten-fold over the last decade and serves most of the UK’s major retailers. It has distribution sites in Plymouth at the Parkway Industrial Estate, near Marsh Mills and also at Estover.
The brand also recently revealed future international growth further bolstered by last month’s announcement of its merger with DHL
“We know that service, reliability and quality are critical factors for our clients and consumers, and so by expanding our self-employed network further, we remain focused on delivering in each of those areas.
“And it’s so important that we continue to support our couriers, which is why I’m so proud that we are leading the way with our pioneering ‘Evri Plus’ initiative, providing couriers with greater protection and benefits alongside the opportunity
Those interested in joining will support a busy summer period and other peaks in parcel volumes throughout the year, with opportunities for those in more flexible roles who are looking to build a career with Evri to become permanent couriers.
Evri also recently launched a ‘Go Electric’ scheme to incentivise its self-employed couriers to switch to electric vehicles by offering up to £3,300 towards an electric vehicle over two years.
For those looking to apply, visit www.evri.com/ beacourier
A new ‘one-stop shop’ for skills and post-16 education services provided by Plymouth City Council is opening in the city centre this summer.
The new space on the first floor of Cobourg House on Mayflower Street will help to deliver integrated, face-to-face education and employment support services for residents.
The four key services coming together under one roof are:
• On Course South West: The Council’s in-house adult education provider, offering a wide range of courses, qualifications, apprenticeships, and supported internships.
• Skills Launchpad Plymouth: Offers skills, education and careers support through the Youth Hub (for ages 16 to 24) and Adult Hub (for ages 25+), as well as sector partnerships including Building Plymouth, Caring Plymouth, and Welcoming Plymouth.
• Careers Plymouth: Leads career transitions work in schools and for young people not in education, employment, or training (NEET).
• Connect to Work: A new government-funded initiative providing intensive support for individuals facing complex barriers to securing sustainable employment.
Each service will be moving to the new location over the coming months.
The move will see On Course South West transition from Hyde Park House in Mutley, with all courses from September 2025 delivered from eight newly equipped classrooms at Cobourg House.
Skills Launchpad Plymouth will also relocate from its current base on the first floor of Barclays in the city centre, a space which has been
generously provided in-kind since 2020. Bringing the services together in a central and wellconnected location will make it easier for residents to access the support they need, with the area well served by transport links whether people are travelling by car, bike, bus or train.
The expanded space will also allow for more community events, such as careers fairs, and doubles the classroom capacity for On Course South West which is needed to meet the growing
demand for adult learning and skills training for the city.
The Connect to Work scheme is due to launch in autumn 2025 and more detail will be made available in due course.
Find out more about the courses offered by On Course South West at www.oncoursesouthwest. co.uk. For more detail about the services provided by Skills Launchpad Plymouth, visit www.skillslaunchpadplym.co.uk.
Construction of the new city centre urgent care dental hub by the dental school is underway at the council’s old One Stop Shop on New George Street. The dental school is now keen to expand further, providing more training places that will treat local people as part of their studies and see more dentists graduate to stay in the south west.
The three MPs have signed a joint letter to Wes Streeting MP, the Health Secretary, calling for the department to allocate additional places for the Peninsula Dental School when the Department for Health and the Office for Students look at student numbers later this year.
Luke Pollard MP, who represents the Dental School’s Devonport base and new city centre hub, said: “Plymouth’s dental school is the best in England. The crisis in dentistry has been decades in the making but there simply isn’t a fix that doesn’t involve training more dentists.
“We are brilliant at this and that’s why I want to see a huge increase in student places at our dental school to train the next generation of south west dentists.”
Fred Thomas MP, who represents the Dental School’s Derriford base, said: “Peninsula Dental School is an incredible institution which trains the dentists of the future. They are a key part of tackling the crisis in dentistry that we have in the city. But they know they can go furtherand they want to - by training even more dentists every year.”
Rebecca Smith, MP for South West Devon, added: “Every week I speak to people who are in pain, struggling to find an NHS dentist, and feeling like they’ve been left behind.
“The Peninsula Dental School is already changing lives, but they have the potential to do so much more. This is about ensuring that people in Plymouth and the wider region can get the care they deserve, and I’m proud to back this call for investment in our city’s future.”
Professor Ewen McColl, Head of Peninsula Dental School, added: “Our innovative model of primary care based education has seen the Dental School top the Guardian League table for dentistry in 2024 and 2025.
“Increasing dental student places from 58 to 72 will allow school leavers highly sought after places at dental school. This education funding will create a virtuous circle in not only training the future dental workforce, but allowing further access to treatment for patients across the South West.”
Departing Thu 16 Oct ‘25
Take a tour on the scenic side and explore the natural beauty of Shropshire. We enjoy many exciting excursions including a journey on the Severn Valley Railway, entrance to the Blists Hill Museum, a relaxing cruise along the River Severn, and more!
SO MUCH INCLUDED...
Return coach travel from Plymouth, Saltash
4 nights at the Bromsgrove Hotel & Spa, Bromsgrove (JG3 rating) with dinner & breakfast
Heritage train journey on the Severn Valley Railway
Cruise on the River Severn with light refreshments
Excursions to Blists Hill Victorian Town, Ludlow Market & Shrewsbury
Departing Fri 10 Oct ‘25
Enjoy a great-value break to discover Folkestone and the stunning scenery of South East England. With a day in Canterbury included and the chance to visit pretty Broadstairs and Whitstable, beloved for their sandy beaches, this weekend is not to be missed!
SO MUCH INCLUDED...
Return coach travel from Plymouth, Saltash
3 nights at the Grand Burstin Hotel, Folkestone (JG2 rating) with dinner & breakfast
Light entertainment every evening
Excursion to Canterbury
Optional excursion to Broadstairs & Whitstable (£15pp)
Departing Thu 25 Sep ‘25
We visit the city of Oxford, perched on the Thames and known for its world-famous Royal Regatta and Cambridge, with its combination of tranquil botanical gardens and striking buildings. There’s also the chance to discover the fine charms of Ely and Stamford.
SO MUCH INCLUDED...
Return coach travel from Plymouth, Saltash
4 nights at the Holiday Inn, Northampton (JG3 rating) with dinner & breakfast
Excursions to Cambridge & Oxford (includes guided city tours)
Optional excursion to Ely & Stamford (£14pp)
Plymouth’s Fit & Fed programme, funded by the Depar tment for Education, provides free holiday clubs and experiences for children and young people aged 5 to 16 years (reception to year 11), who receive benefits related free school meals.
There are over 110 holiday clubs and experiences of fering an ama zing range of dif ferent activities, from snow spor ts and science workshops to water spor ts and dance Fur ther details about each holiday club and how to book can be found at w w w plymouth gov.uk /fitandfed
W: plymouthactive.co.uk
There really is something for ever yone, so book today!
Join us this summer as we take Fit and Fed into the community with activities for all the family. We will be at the following parks between 10am and 2pm Come and join us!
Tuesday 05 August Victoria Park, PL1 5NQ
Tuesday 12 August Ernesettle Green, PL5 2SY
Tuesday 19 August Tothill Park, PL4 9HF
Tuesday 26 August
“It's great exercise, I think of it as I'm getting paid to do my steady state cardio. Good for the waistline and the wallet!”
Bright sunshine and a packed schedule of maritime fun helped make the inaugural Plymouth Boat Fest a huge success, as thousands of visitors gathered at Plymouth Yacht Haven; the city’s largest and busiest marina, to celebrate the region’s rich marine heritage and industry.
With over 50 exhibitors and more than 30 boats on display, the event showcased the broad spectrum of the marine industry, ranging from leisure boating to commercial vessels and state-of-the-art marine technology.
“We couldn’t have asked for a better day for the inaugural event,” said Steve Cox, marina manager at Plymouth Yacht Haven, the event organiser. “It has been fantastic to see so many families, boating enthusiasts, and newcomers on-site, discovering everything our marine industry has to offer. Plymouth Boat Fest truly brought Britain’s Ocean City together.”
Adults, young people and active seniors make up our brilliant team of delivery people across Plymouth. Get in touch to be part of the team. Own transport helpful but not essential. Scan to apply.
An underlying theme of the event was careers within the marine sector and introducing young people to the diverse range of employers and roles within the industry. This was showcased at the start of the day, with Cattewater Harbour Commissioners chair Allan Nichols alongside harbour apprentice Josh Wright officially opening the event.
Seventeen-year-old Josh is currently undertaking his Marine Boat Work
apprenticeship with the harbour in partnership with SeaRegs Training, a local marine specialist educational provider.
The festival began with a community beach clean at Mount Batten Beach organised by Plymouth Sound National Marine Park.
Exhibitors ranged from leading boat brokers to local businesses as well as a number of groups including the Ocean Conservation Trust, SHIPS Project, Plymouth RNLI lifeboats, Devon & Cornwall Police Dive Boat and Fire Boat, and National Coastwatch Institute displaying their organisations emergency responses.
The Island Trust displayed their 96ft tallship schooner ‘Johanna Lucretia’, offering tours and marine life talks, coinciding with the vessel’s 80th birthday.
The show also included a Marine Technology zone highlighting the city’s growing stature in marine autonomy.
After the success of the inaugural event, organisers say the aim is to make Plymouth Boat Fest a repeat fixture for the city.
“We’ve shown what Plymouth and Britain’s Ocean City has to offer,” Steve Cox added. “The response from exhibitors, the public, and the wider marine sector has been overwhelmingly positive. We’re already looking ahead to the next event.”
For more information or to register interest for next year’s event, visit: www.yachthavens. com/plymouthboatfest
City College Plymouth honoured its exceptional students at the recent annual Student Awards.
The awards ceremony is the college’s largest celebration of the successes students have achieved over the past academic year and recognised the outstanding talent and hard work of students across all curriculum areas, with awards reflecting not only academic excellence, but also character, determination and community spirit.
Award winners, their families, college staff and employer guests enjoyed an address by guest speaker, Melissa Johns. Actor and disability advocate, Melissa is known for her roles in Adolescence, Coronation Street and BBC’s Life. She captivated the audience with her story of resilience, inclusion and breaking barriers in the creative industries.
Students from across the region and beyond were recognised for their contributions and achievements, spanning the college’s 36 curriculum areas.
From Barbering Student of the Year, Rocco Whitehouse, who took initiative from day one by offering free haircuts to the homeless, to Construction Trades Student of the Year, painting and decorating champion Abigail Durrell, whose success at SkillBuild has landed
her a spot on the international stage as part of the WorldSkills training programme.
Eight of the curriculum award winners were also specially selected to receive additional merits by the college’s employer partners. These employers work closely with the college to create real-life learning experiences, develop training and curriculum programmes, and contribute to the college’s state-of-the-art facilities.
This year’s recipients of the employer sponsored awards were: Freddie Rhodes, Inspiration Award sponsored by Kier Construction; Abigail Durrell, Employability Award sponsored by China Fleet Country Club; Gracie Chamberlain, Endeavour Award sponsored by BIT Group; Levi Libbey, Leadership Award sponsored by Argyle Community Trust; Angel Lewis, Peer Support Award sponsored by University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust; Adam
Astle, Perseverance Award sponsored by Princess Yachts; Izzy Snape, Student Voice Award sponsored by Babcock International Group; Rowena Murphy, Volunteering Award sponsored by Taurus Events.
The final award of the evening went to Carmen Archer who received the Chief Executive’s Award. Carmen was recognised for their natural leadership and optimism, mentoring younger students, creating opportunities and breaking down barriers, always striving to make sure everyone feels seen, supported and empowered to succeed.
City College’s chief executive Jackie Grubb said: “These students are all shining examples of hard work, resilience and kindness towards others. It’s not just their qualifications that make them remarkable, but the way they’ve shown compassion, supported their peers and overcome real challenges. They all represent the very best of City College Plymouth.”
Plymouth has scooped two prestigious awards recognising the city’s leadership in both environmental innovation and inclusive employment.
The prestigious Local Government Chronicle (LGC) Awards 2025, recognise the best in local government, with judges having to consider over 1,000 submissions from councils across the UK.
The city was honoured in the Environmental Services category for its pioneering Habitat Bank, and in Diversity and Inclusion for the transformative Supported Internships programme.
Plymouth’s Habitat Bank, delivered through the city’s green finance vehicle Ocean City Nature, will deliver an impressive £7m in investment to restore and enhance habitats across the city. The initiative is creating a local market for Biodiversity Units, helping developers meet planning requirements while delivering real gains for nature and communities with work on the first site at Ham Woods already underway.
Councillor Tom Briars Delve, Plymouth City Council Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Environment, said: “This award is a huge recognition of the bold, creative work happening in Plymouth to tackle the ecological emergency. The Habitat Bank is a brilliant example of how we can use green finance to deliver real, lasting benefits for wildlife and communities. I’m incredibly proud of the team behind this – their passion and innovation are helping to put Plymouth on the map as a leader in nature recovery.”
At the same time, the city’s Supported Internships programme scooped the top award
in its category. Run in partnership with Discovery College the programme has grown from nine participants to 67 in just two years.
The programme supports young people with learning difficulties or disabilities to gain meaningful, sustainable employment through a blend of tailored work placements, coaching and classroom learning. Every single participant has gone on to secure a job – a sign incant achievement that’s changing lives.
Councillor Sally Cresswell, Cabinet Member
Representatives from Plymouth City Council pictured with their awards at the Local Government Chronicle ceremony
for Education, Skills and Apprenticeships, added: “This award is a celebration of the young people who’ve taken part in Supported Internships – and the incredible staff who’ve supported them every step of the way. It shows what’s possible when we believe in people’s potential and invest in inclusive opportunities. This work is vital to building a city where everyone can thrive.”
Plymouth RNLI volunteers played a vital role in providing casualty care for a walker who had fallen 60 feet from the coast path in South East Cornwall.
The casualty had spent the night on the shoreline unable to reach safety until a kayaker discovered the injured man the following morning and raised the alarm.
Both Plymouth’s Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Annabel E Jones and Severn Class all-weather lifeboat Sybil Mullen Glover arrived promptly on scene in the Fort Picklecombe area of Cawsand Bay.
After liaising with Coastguard Rescue Teams from Tamar, Looe and Plymouth, along with Devon and Cornwall Police, it was clear that all extraction options would be challenging due to the casualty’s location.
Four casualty-care trained crew members went ashore to assess the casualty’s condition. They administered pain relief and began immobilising the casualty onto a basket stretcher, ready for transfer by sea to the waiting all-weather lifeboat.
Two members of the Coastguard Rescue Team were also picked up from Cawsand Beach by the inshore lifeboat and taken to the isolated location to assist with the extraction.
The casualty was safely transferred to the all-weather lifeboat, where his condition was monitored by the RNLI crew during the short passage back to Millbay Marina, into the care of South Western Ambulance Service for onward medical treatment.
Wesley Foster, helm of the inshore lifeboat, said: “This was a challenging rescue in a tough spot to reach, but thanks to great teamwork from all emergency services, we were able to get the casualty safely aboard and into the care he needed. Huge thanks to the kayaker who spotted him and raised the alarm.
“It really does show how important it is to look out for one another. It’s also a good reminder that when you’re heading out near the coast or on the water, always carry a means of calling for help.”
Plymouth’s ambitions to provide thousands of homes in the city centre have taken a step closer with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Homes England.
Council leader Tudor Evans and Homes England chief executive Eamonn Boylan signed the partnership document which is the next step in strengthening the working relationship between the two organisations.
A new strategic partnership will accelerate the delivery of high-quality homes in Plymouth, supporting a transformational regeneration of the city centre and surrounding areas.
These homes will play a key role in unlocking the economic potential of recent dockyard investments and help create a vibrant city where people can live, work, eat, shop, and socialise.
The initiative aligns with the UK Government’s Strategic Defence Review, which identifies defence as a new engine for national growth.
The Continuous At Sea Deterrent programme represents a generational investment in national security – and Plymouth is set to benefit directly.
“Plymouth is at the forefront of a new era of economic opportunity,” said Tudor Evans. “By investing in affordable, high-quality housing, we’re not only supporting our defence capabilities but also creating a thriving, inclusive city for future generations.”
Plymouth city centre currently has around 800
homes in it. The top 20 English cities have an average of 8,000 homes, and regeneration over the last 20 years in Newcastle, Manchester, Salford, Sheffield and Leeds has shown that more housing in city centres plays a key part in rejuvenating them.
Councillor Evans added: “We have been working with Homes England on our vision for the city centre and this is another important step along the road to making a vision a reality.
“With change of this scale in the pipeline, we need to set out and confirm common goals, get
clarity of what we are working towards and be clear about how we are going to bring others along on the journey,” said Eamonn Boylan, interim chief executive of Homes England.
“Our new Memorandum of Understanding with Plymouth City Council is an important step in strengthening our commitment to the area.
“We’ll work side-by-side with the council to help achieve their vision for the city centre and support them to deliver 10,000 new homes for the people of Plymouth.”
Organisations across the city are teaming up to help spread the word about tackling anti-social behaviour (ASB).
Plymouth City Council, Plymouth Community Homes, Livewest Housing Association, Devon and Cornwall Police, and the Police and Crime Commissioner have joined up to re-sign the ASB Pledge.
The pledge is a commitment to support victims of anti-social behaviour, using antisocial behaviour case reviews.
Victims of persistent antisocial behaviour have the right to request a case review where a local threshold is met. It is an opportunity for an independent review to see what, if anything else, can be done to resolve the anti-social behaviour.
The pledge was set up by ASB Help, a registered charity which provides advice and support to victims.
The criteria to have the pledge status has changed since the council last signed it in 2022, and to retain the status, we need to renew our commitment.
There have been nine requests so far this year for case reviews, compared to 18 last year in total.
One of the most recent case reviews involved a long-term drug user who supplied drugs to others visiting their flat.
They would leave used needles in the nearby bin shed. The neighbours reported their concerns and unfortunately the issues continued, and the council worked with
Photo: Pixabay/rebcenter-moscow
partners to address it, leading to the police carrying out a drug warrant.
The occupier was issued a Community
Protection Notice Warning to stop visitors at their address.
The council and the police were able to identify one persistent visitor causing antisocial behaviour and were able to obtain a civil injunction which banned them from the area for two years.
Unfortunately, this warning was ignored so the council and the police applied for a closure order against the property and the housing association subsequently regained possession of the property.
The council’s street services cleaned the area of discarded drugs paraphernalia, and the residents returned to a peaceful life.
The case review involves an independent chair who can give an issue a fresh perspective. The review brings together all agencies involved, and a new action plan drawn up.
Councillor Sally Haydon, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, said: “Antisocial behaviour can have an overwhelming impact on its victims and, in some cases, on the wider community.
“It is key that we as partners come together to show our commitment to tackling antisocial behaviour.
“By signing up to our ASB Help Pledge, we will work with partners to ensure that they demonstrate their commitment to supporting victims of ASB and will endeavour to implement and follow best practice with the ASB Case Review.”
Babcock has announced plans to locate more than 2,000 employees from Devonport Dockyard to a new site in the city centre.
The plan is at the heart of the company’s support for regional regeneration in Plymouth and other sites in the UK.
A statement from Babock revealed that the new Capability Centre will involve workers from a range of the Devonport support functions.
The company revealed its plans in a comprehensive Defence Dividend report which outlines its increasing influence across society, highlighting its impact on the economy and jobs across the UK.
Babock currrently contributes £1.3 billion to the South West economy each year, sustaining a total of nearly 21,500 jobs.
The announcement is a major boost for Plymouth city centre and will mean more people living locally, supporting the hospitality, retail and cultural sectors.
In addition, Babcock’s blueprint includes the creation of a dedicated Centre for Engineering and Nuclear Skills. This new facility will significantly boost the city’s STEM capacity, helping to meet growing demand for skilled engineers and technicians in both the defence and civil nuclear sectors.
Babcock is also a key player in the Plymouth and South Devon Freeport snf plans to establish an Integrated Logistics Hub and an Advanced Manufacturing Facility within the Freeport site. These developments will create new, high-skilled jobs, maximise the benefits of Freeport status for the local economy and free up critical space at Devonport Dockyard for operational excellence.
Plymouth MP Luke Pollard welcomed the announcement. He said: “This is good news for the city centre and Devonport. Plymouth City Council and I have been working with Babcock for many months on their plan to create more jobs and invest in skills in our city.
Rebecca Smith, MP for South West Devon said: “I have been calling for defence in Plymouth and the surrounding area to not be worked in a silo – it must be backed by
investment in skills, housing and transport to fulfil our city’s proud history as a defence industrial powerhouse.
“I welcome Babcock’s plan to deliver on the ‘defence dividend’ by forging stronger partnerships with our city. If the Government’s investment can match our city’s ambition, this partnership with industry will regenerate Plymouth city centre, create new pathways back into employment and bolster SMEs.
“This is a really significant moment for Plymouth and I’m absolutely thrilled. This fits perfectly with our ambitions to transform Plymouth’s city centre into a thriving economic and cultural hub”
TUDOR EVANS, LEADER OF PLYMOUTH CITY COUNCIL
“Crucially, this will lead to a Plymouth city centre we all want to use and have a positive knock-on effect for South West Devon where many of Babcock’s employees live and raise families.”
“The plans announced today are an important first step towards the multimillion pound investment in the city centre. Thousands of new homes, an updated public realm like Armada Way and hundreds of new
jobs created - this is how we’ll make our city centre vibrant again.”
Plymouth City Council leader Tudor Evans said: “This is a really significant moment for Plymouth and I’m absolutely thrilled. This fits perfectly with our ambitions to transform Plymouth’s city centre into a thriving economic and cultural hub.
“We’re not just talking about retail anymore – we’re creating a modern, mixed-use city centre where people can live, work, learn and enjoy. Babcock’s investment will be a powerful driver of that transformation.”
The announcement comes hot on the heels of an independent economic report, which revealed that Babcock made a total contribution of £4.3 billion to UK GDP in 2024, supporting one in every 550 jobs in the UK.
David Lockwood, chief executive of Babcock said: “The Defence Dividend is far reaching, strengthening the UK’s defence industrial base and fostering prosperity, collaboration and innovation in the communities we work in. Our ambitious blueprint for Plymouth is a model for regional regeneration and one we are committed to delivering.
“As a strategic partner to Government, for every pound spent on defence, our community of passionate people are delivering back, and we value the things that matter to our customers, colleagues and communities.”
Work to upgrade part of the gas network in an area of Mutley is due to start in mid July.
Wales & West Utilities is to carry out the work in the Ermington Terrace area of Mutley.
The £215,000 investment project is due to start on July 14 and will continue until mid-November. The works are essential to keep the gas flowing safely to heat and power local homes and businesses, keeping people warm for generations. As part of the works, it has been agreed with Plymouth City Council that traffic management will be in place, which mostly involves motorists being required to give and take whilst works are ongoing. Other traffic management involves:
• A parking suspension on Trematon Terrace, from the junction of Pentillie Road to the junction of Ford Park Road until August 1
• A parking suspension on Pentillie Road, from the junction of Ford Park Road Lane to the junction of Dale Road from July 28 to August 25
• Grafton Road will be closed, and a parking suspension will be in place, from the junction with Warleigh Road to the junction of Ford Park Lane from August 26 to September 19
• Ermington Terrace will be closed from the junction with Pentillie Road to Mutley Plain from October 6 to 17, and a parking suspension will be in place from the junction with Pentillie Road to the junction of Seaton Lane from September 15 to October 17
• Seaton Avenue will be closed and there will be a parking suspension in place from the junction with Pentillie Road to Mutley Plain from October 13 to 24
• Seaton Lane will be closed from the junction with Seaton Avenue to the rear of No 4 Trematon Terrace from October 29 November 3
Wales & West Utilities Natalie Raphael, who is managing the work said: “We know that working in areas like this is not ideal, but it is essential to make sure we keep the gas flowing to homes and businesses in the area, and to make sure the gas network is fit for the future.
“We’ll have a team of gas engineers on site throughout the project to make sure our work is completed as safely and as quickly as possible while keeping disruption to a minimum.
“While most of the gas network is underground and out of sight, it plays a central role in the daily lives of people across the wider Plymouth area. Whether it’s heating your home, making the family dinner or having a hot bath, we understand how important it is for your gas supply to be safe and reliable and there when you need it.”
Residents who have questions about the work can contact the Customer Service Team on freephone 0800 912 2999.
A police officer from Plymouth has completed her ‘bucket list’ swim of the English Channel to raise money for charity.
Sergeant Lindsey Walke, who is 49, took on the huge challenge to raise money for Alzheimer’s Society. Her reasons for supporting the charity come from a place close to her heart, in memory of her beloved late nan, Margaret Perriment.
Margaret was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and sadly passed away in 2017. During the Forget Me Not Appeal in June, Lindsey wants to honour nan by raising money and awareness for the charity that supported her family throughout Margaret’s diagnosis.
The Tavistock-based police officer is an experienced open water swimmer. She has been training hard over the past few years to work her way up to the 21-mile endurance challenge.
Speaking about her efforts, Lindsey said: “I felt inspired to raise awareness for people affected by dementia after seeing what it’s like to live with the condition. In the years following my nan’s diagnosis, it was a challenging time.
“My nan was such a special woman - she was like a second mum to me. When it got to the stage in her condition where she didn’t recognise who I was anymore, I found that really hard.
“The swim has always been a dream of mine, and I knew if I did it I wanted to do it for a good cause. I want to raise money to help support people affected by dementia and support those living with the condition in future.”
Dementia is the UK’s biggest killer. One in three people born in the UK today will develop dementia in their lifetime. So far, Lindsey has raised over £3,000 for Alzheimer’s Society. Alzheimer’s Society regional fundraiser Claire Frost said: “Lindsey is a wonderful advocate for Alzheimer’s Society and her attitude to raising awareness of dementia is amazing. By taking on this mammoth challenge and through all of her fundraising, she’s helping to make a life-changing difference to people living with dementia.
“Alzheimer’s Society provides vital support to people living with dementia, funds groundbreaking research and campaigns to make dementia the priority it should be.
There are over 101,500 people living with dementia in the South West of England, but we simply can’t reach everyone without the continued support of our incredible fundraisers like Lindsey. The support she gives us in memory of her nan is inspiring.”
For more information visit alzheimers.org.uk
Neil Macdonald has been appointed as the new chief executive for University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust.
Neil, who will join the Trust at the beginning of October, has been chief executive with Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust since March 2018. Prior to this he was part of the Trust Board for three years as chief operating officer.
Neil started his NHS career in Yorkshire as a national general management trainee in 2003, before joining Buckinghamshire in 2005. After leaving for a role at the Healthcare Commission and general management positions at Imperial and Guys and St Thomas’ Trusts, he returned to Buckinghamshire in July 2013 as deputy chief operating officer for the Surgery and Critical Care Division.
Graduating from St Anne’s College, Oxford with a modern history degree in 2000, Neil subsequently completed an MSc in Healthcare Management from the University of Birmingham.
Neil said: “It’s a privilege to have been appointed to lead University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust at an important and exciting time; not only for the organisation but the whole NHS. I have been struck by the warmth shown by everyone whom I’ve
met in the Trust so far, and I look forward to serving both the people who work here and our communities, as well as making Devon my home.”
Trust chairman James Brent said: “We are delighted to be welcoming Neil as our new chief executive. He has a proven track record of delivery within the NHS and we are particularly excited about the knowledge and experience he brings of engaging with staff around change and cultural improvement. We
know this will be immensely valuable to us at UHP, as we continue on our improvement journey, both in terms of performance and culture.
“We started our improvement journey some years ago and it is really bearing fruit now. We are the most improved hospital trust in the country against the four hour emergency care standard, we are in the best 25 per cent of the country for planned patient care, including outpatients and we are the ninth best hospital Trust in the country for theatre utilisation.
“We lead research in the south west with overall recruitment to NIHR clinical trials totalling 33,374 patients. This currently ranks UHP in first place regionally and second place nationally, with only Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust ahead of us in research recruitment.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mark Hackett, our interim chief executive for leading colleagues to deliver the great improvements they have made in the last year. Mark’s commitment, energy and drive have been tremendous and Neil will now take over the baton for the next leg of our improvement journey. We are excited to welcome him.”
Pioneering techniques at Derriford in the treatment of coronary artery bypass grafting surgery is setting new standards in cardiac care.
Derriford is leading the way in adopting endoscopic vein harvesting (EVH), a minimally invasive technique used in harvesting veins for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery, with the aim to make it the standard of care for all CABG patients going forward.
After receiving training in 2008 from a group of surgeons from the USA, the trust became one of the earliest adopters of EVH in the United Kingdom. The trust re-introduced EVH in 2022, and the team performing this part of the surgery are improving patient care by reducing recovery time, minimising complications, and providing overall a better patient experience.
The size of the incision required previously for CABG surgery, would be from ankle to groin – one of the largest incisions regularly performed, but now the Cardiothoracic team are reducing that long incision to a size of about three to four centimetres with the help of EVH.
The new technique harvests veins through two small cuts, reducing the risk of infection and causing less post-operative pain. This allows patients to mobilise quicker and inturn contributes to a shorter length of stay, increasing bed availability and returning the patient home sooner to recover.
In the last two years, the trust has expanded the use of EVH to encompass a wide range of patients, the youngest being 48 years old and the oldest 84. During the first three months performing EVH there were no signs of leg wound infection and no mention
of cellulitis when compared to a sample group of open vein harvests where two patients were returned to theatre for bleeding issues. Importantly, patients have experienced no signs of leg wound infections at discharge, and the average hospital stay has decreased significantly.
The team at University Hospitals Plymouth have now completed over 400 successful operations with the aim of converting all CABG patients to having the EVH instead of open leg procedures where possible. The hospital now operates three fully functional EVH stacks, enabling the procedure to be performed simultaneously in all three theatres.
In addition to performing EVH the Cardiothoracic team at Derriford is working towards training all specialist clinical practitioners in EVH, and its future include establishing a ‘train the trainer’ programme. The trust is moving rapidly towards the goal of transitioning to fully EVH procedures where possible within the next two years. This move will further improve recovery times, reduce complications, and maintain a consistently high standard of care for all patients.
Fourteen people from Plymouth supported by Seetec’s Community Interest Company, Pluss, embarked on the adventure of a lifetime with a week-long trip to Stockholm in Sweden. It was the first time abroad for many of the group.
Made possible by On Course South West and funded through the UK Government’s Turing Scheme, the opportunity enabled participants to immerse themselves in Swedish culture, history, and cuisine, while gaining valuable life and social skills along the way.
The journey began with a simple question in 2024: would Pluss be interested in supporting a group of customers on an international educational trip? The answer was an enthusiastic ‘yes.’
In preparation, all 14 participants completed a 10-week Entry Level Award in Personal and Social Development, a programme designed to build confidence, communication, and life skills.
For many, this meant applying for a passport for the first time, organising travel insurance, and preparing for their first-ever flight.
These were significant milestones in themselves, and a testament to the personal growth everyone achieved before even leaving the country.
While the itinerary was packed with iconic landmarks, including The Royal Palace, The Viking Museum, Paradox Museum, a scenic boat tour, and the world-famous ABBA Museum – the experience meant much more than sightseeing.
“This trip wasn’t just about visiting another
country,” said a spokesperson for Pluss. “It was about building independence, self-belief, and offering real-world experiences that many of our customers have never had access to before.”
The international experience showcased the impact of specialist support provided by Pluss, opening doors, breaking down barriers, and helping individuals develop the confidence to pursue their goals.
“This is what we do at Pluss,” added the spokesperson.
“We believe in creating meaningful opportunities for the people we support, opportunities that help them realise their potential and imagine new possibilities.”
For more information visit www.pluss.org.uk
Shark Month returns to Royal William Yard in July with a spectacular programme of events celebrating these magnificent creatures while highlighting the vital importance of shark conservation.
Following last year’s hugely successful debut, this summer’s programme with the Shark Trust promises to be even bigger and better.
In partnership with the Shark Trust, the leading international conservation charity based in Plymouth Shark Month 2025 offers a packed programme of events combining art, entertainment and conservation advocacy in an unmissable extravaganza for ocean lovers of all ages.
Paul Cox, chief executive of the Shark Trust, said: “We were absolutely thrilled with the response to last year’s inaugural Shark Month at Royal William Yard – it exceeded all our expectations and really demonstrated people’s appetite for engaging with sharks, rays and ocean conservation.
“We’re excited to build on that success with an even more diverse programme of events. We’ve created lots of fun and fascinating ways for all the family to engage with the vital issues of conservation whilst diving into and celebrating the incredible world of sharks.”
The programme of events are not to be missed this summer. These include a Shark Trust Photographic Competition Exhibition until July 31 at Ocean Studios featuring stunning underwater photography along with a Shark Trust Pop-up Shop. Members of the Shark Trust team will be at Melville Corner from 10am to 3pm on selected
Plymouth residents may be able to apply for free energy installations that will make their homes cosier without costing a penny or the earth.
People on a low income, those on certain benefits or live in a certain postcode could be eligible for the grant under the Warm Homes Local Grant.
The grant is designed to give more people who rent or own homes the chance to have more energy efficient measures installed. This could include wall, loft and underfloor insulation; air source heat pumps; smart controls and solar panels.
Plymouth City Council has been allocated £2.5 million and is working with Plymouth Energy Community (PEC) to deliver the improvements. Since starting in 2013, PEC has helped over 37,000 households with energy advice or energy efficiency measures.
A decision has been signed to allocate £2.5m from the Warm Homes Local Grant into the capital programme. This enables the council to fully fund retrofit measures for eligible residents. This funding is expected to pay for over 200 homes to have new measures installed.
Justin Bear, Retrofit Lead at Plymouth Energy Community, added: “Helping people improve the comfort and energy efficiency of their homes is core to what PEC do so we’re delighted to partner with the council on this scheme.
“Retrofitting our homes improves people’s health, and also ensures people are more secure in being able to pay their winter bills.”Residents can visit www.gov.uk/applywarm-homes-local-grant to see if they are eligible. Their home will be surveyed to assess the installation of the most appropriate measures.
dates throughout July. Chat to the experts, try the 360 VR Shark Experience, watch their latest films, and learn how you can help protect sharks and rays.
Everyman Cinema will be screening Finding Nemo on July 26 and The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou on July 27.
One of the family highlights is the Great Eggcase Hunt/Rockpooling at Firestone Bay between 2pm and 4pm on July 27.
Join the Shark Trust and Plymouth Sound National Marine Park for the Great Eggcase Hunt at Devil’s Point. This rockpool ramble combines shark, ray and skate eggcase hunting with exploration of Plymouth Sound’s abundant marine life – from shore crabs and sea stars to nudibranchs and anemones. Participants can contribute to citizen science by recording species discoveries.
For more details about Shark Month, visit www. royalwilliamyard.com/shark-month where all events are listed with booking details. To learn more about the Shark Trust’s conservation work, visit www.sharktrust.org
City MP calls for urgent action on lock gates
Plymouth MP Luke Pollard has called for urgent action to fix the Sutton Harbour lock gates and support local fishers against disruption – after the gates have broken yet again.
He has written to Philip Duffy, the chief executive of the Environment Agency to confirm as a matter of urgency when the lock gates will be repaired and what plans they Agency has to support the inshore fishing fleet against disruption.
Late on June 29, fishers received a notice explaining the outer lock gate, which protects Sutton Harbour, was broken again. Works have been scheduled on the pedestrian bridge but there was no mention of the gates in those communications.
Luke Pollard said: “Ever since I was elected, I’ve been campaigning to get these lock gates properly fixed. Time and time again they have broken, with it taking many months to fix.
“We need a long-term solution to fix these gates, because every time they break it’s fishers who suffer. That’s why I’m calling for urgent action from the Environment Agency so that fishers can plan for what is happening, and a proper long-term solution so that the gates are properly fixed this time.”
A board game which brings disability culture and history to life in a significant and accessible way has won a major prize at the 2025 Games for Change Awards in New York.
Legless in London, which earned the Best Board or Tabletop Game for Impact award, allows players to experience the challenges and opportunities that Victorian London presented to lower-limb amputees.
The game is based on research by Dr Ryan Sweet, a lecturer in English and Creative Writing at Plymouth University, and an expert in disability history.
It stems from his 2022 book Prosthetic Body Parts in Nineteenth-Century Literature and Culture, and many of the game’s characters, locations, and scenarios are inspired by research he conducted for the book.
Through the game, all players assume the role of an amputee and attempt to achieve life goals such as buying property, finding love or fulfilling personal ambitions.
They are challenged to navigate the Victorian streets, the prosthetic limb market, the sickroom, and various locations that provide them with opportunities to achieve their aims.
Dr Sweet completed a significant amount of his research on 19th century literature while working at the University of Plymouth between 2017 and 2020, and continued pursuing it after moving to Swansea University.
It was there that the idea for Legless in London came into being, and the game – which launched in February 2025 – has been designed and produced by Focus Games in conjunction with Dr Sweet and Swansea University.
Speaking about its success at the Games for Change Awards, Dr Sweet, who returned to Plymouth earlier this year, said: “It’s safe to say that receiving this award has blown my mind. As a little boy, I used to make board games for my family as a bit of fun and I thought it would be an interesting way to engage people with my research.
“ I never imagined Legless in London would get this kind of recognition, but it is amazing for everyone involved and I hope it makes more people aware of the experiences of disabled people.”
For details visit www.leglessinlondon.com
Plymouth is to be the national centre for marine autonomy, the Defence Minister has announced in a keynote address at a major networking event in Devonport.
Maria Eagle, Minister of State (Defence Procurement and Industry) made the announcement that will catapult the city and its expertise into the spotlight.
The news came as Plymouth City Council in partnership with the South West Regional Defence and Security Cluster, hosted the event at the Market Hall in Devonport involving key figures from the world of marine and defence connecting with local companies to explore opportunities for future projects and investment.
Council Leader Tudor Evans said: “This is superb news. We knew Plymouth was creating something special in the blue/green skills sector, but it is always great to see others endorse what you believe.
“We have some extraordinary businesses and organisations here in Plymouth who are at the cutting edge of this incredibly exciting sector. The world is waking up to all the possibilities marine autonomy offers and we are very keen indeed to help connect Plymouth businesses to the right people and the right organisations.”
Plymouth MP Luke Pollard told delegates that the nature of defence is changing. He said: “We have a strategic defence review that sets out that we will have fighting structure which includes marine autonomy.
“Defence is an engine for growth. This an opportunity to develop, scale up and test marine autonomy. This sector is incredible, innovative and the work we are doing in the city is cutting edge. There is a place for investment and that’s Plymouth.”
Professor Richard Davies, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Plymouth, said: “This acknowledges the key role Plymouth is already playing in the development and delivery of marine autonomy.
“But being recognised as the national centre
of excellence represents a once in a lifetime opportunity that will open new doors for the university and our partners.”
Plymouth is already a global centre of excellence for marine science and technology, with one of the largest clusters of expertise in the world and over 7,100 skilled people in marine manufacturing. Global research partners include Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Marine Biological Association, Plymouth University and marine autonomy companies already based in Plymouth include Thales, M Subs, Oshen, Zero USV, Sonardyne and Fugro.
In 2020 M Subs successfully sailed the first autonomous vessel across the Atlantic. The Mayflower Autonomous Ship (MAS400) was the world’s first full-sized, fully autonomous, unmanned ship to cross the ocean.
The revolutionary vessel set sail from Plymouth and arrived at Plymouth, Massachusetts via a pit stop in Halifax in Nova Scotia.
The industry predicts a global marine autonomy market worth £103 billion by 2030, with the UK expected to secure a 10 per cent share of the global market.
Students from Lipson Co-operative Academy have once again taken part in a life-changing mentoring programme in partnership with Plymouth University. For the last four years the ‘Opportunity Plymouth’ programme has provided Year 10 students across the city with one-to-one mentoring from trained university students. Meeting weekly for ten weeks, students receive guidance on post-16 choices, build confidence, set future goals, and gain insight into a wide range of
career and education pathways.
The mentoring model helps students envision a clear and motivating version of their future self, a powerful driver in achieving long-term success.
The programme is led by associate professor in education, Dr Susanne Gibson. Its success is built on collaboration, between schools, students, and university mentors and a shared commitment to inclusion, personal growth, and future-focused learning.
Lipson Co-operative Academy, which is part of the Ted Wragg Trust, is looking forward to
continuing its involvement with the Opportunity Plymouth programme and helping more students plan their futures with confidence and purpose.
Martin Brook, headteacher at Lipson Cooperative Academy said: “We are incredibly proud of the impact Opportunity Plymouth has had on our students.
“The mentoring builds their confidence, helps them see what’s possible, and makes them feel supported as they look ahead. It’s empowering, inspiring, and completely relevant to the world they’re navigating.”
Throughout the last year we’ve been running a Lifelines article every other month in the Plymouth Chronicle.
These articles are written accounts about a local person, their life and more specifically their faith.
I have the privilege of interviewing these people on the radio for Cross Rhythms Plymouth on 96.3FM locally and on DAB and we post the videos of those interviews to our YouTube channel.
Every person’s story is different. They’ve had different upbringings, different life experiences and a range of highs and lows throughout their lives.
You can find all the ones featured so far and more at www.youtube.com/@ CRPlymouth/playlists and click on the Lifelines playlist, or scan the QR code at the end of this article on a smartphone or tablet.
There is however one common thread through them all. They’ve all found faith in Jesus and all share how much of a significant positive difference this has made to their lives.
Whenever we find something transformational in our lives we want to share this thing with others. It might be you’ve discovered wild swimming and the associated health benefits or perhaps you’ve
By Dave Simpson, Station Manager of Cross Rhythms Plymouth
taken up golf and can’t help but share on social media or down the pub how much you enjoy it.
On a more serious note perhaps you’ve given up drinking or smoking and want to share how much better you feel to encourage those nearest and dearest who you think
might benefit from doing the same.
If you feel your entire life, your hope for the future and purpose has been transformed and you knew that was accessible to anyone you knew, it would be odd to keep such a thing to yourself.
That’s precisely what motivates our Lifelines contributors to share their stories. They’ve come to know by experience the love of God that is described in the Bible and has been the experience of millions of people across the globe for many generations.
The diversity of their stories shows that this message really is for anyone.
So what about you? What’s your story? I’m not asking you to share it with others on the radio or the local paper but you have a life story that is unique and a belief and worldview which you base your life on.
All I ask for you to consider is whether that belief and worldview is working for you?
If you’re really honest with yourself do you have peace in your life and a hope for the future or has life become fairly meaningless and flat?
I share in the same faith as those Lifelines contributors and the very real daily hope they’ve found in their faith. That doesn’t spare me or any of them from the same struggles and challenges in life that anyone
goes through. It does however mean I know God is with me in all those challenges and I have known on many occasions a peace in the middle of crisis which I can only put down to that reality.
We share these Lifelines stories to encourage anyone who reads them that God loves them too and is waiting with open arms for them to draw near to Him if they want to. Perhaps that’s what you feel you need to do too.
Click on the QR Code here for a link to the Lifelines interviews on Cross Rhythms Plymouth
Listen to Cross Rhythms Plymouth on 96.3FM or online at the new Cross Rhythms Plymouth website at www. crossrhythms.co.uk/plymouth
Plymouth Hoe Giants returned to their rightful place beneath the Citadel on Armed Forces Day thanks to the efforts of local historian Chris Robinson, Plymouth Waterfront Partnership, Plymouth Albion and Plymouth City Council.
Their return has been funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Their reappearance rekindles a captivating local myth and reinforces the city’s rich maritime and trading history.
The colossal figures, depicting the mythical wrestling match between the giant Gogmagog and the Trojan warrior Corineus, were first recreated on the Hoe in 2021 by artist Charles Newington to celebrate Plymouth’s 4,000-year role as one of the country’s greatest trading ports.
The Giants hark back to the Bronze Age tin trade from Dartmoor via Mount Batten, around 1500 to 2000 BC.
The Hoe Giants had had an earlier outing on the Citadel grounds in 2021, but this time there were some spectacular bonus features. Local contemporary folk music hero Seth Lakeman, debuted his rousing new song The Giants of Plymouth Hoe, after the Stiltskin Theatre group had paraded their huge incarnation of Gogmagog ahead of dozens of small but perfectly formed young Trojans who were already well rehearsed and well versed in Seth’s new song. Kim Downer of Plymouth Waterfront Partnership said: “We are
absolutely thrilled to see the return of the Giants to the banks of the Citadel. These magnificent figures are more than just a unique art installation; they are a powerful link to Plymouth’s ancient myths and our city’s unique history.”
Chris Robinson said: “It’s hugely important that we continue to celebrate and remember the myths, legends and history that shaped, and shapes, Plymouth, Britain’s Ocean City. The return of the Giants to the Citadel grounds, known also as the ‘Lost Gods of Albion’ [the original name of this country] reminds us all of the rich heritage and trading prowess of this city.
“I’m grateful to artist Charles
Newington for his efforts once again to enable the return of the Giants to Plymouth, and to Seth Lakeman for writing a specially commissioned song for this installation, ‘The Giants of Plymouth Hoe’. Thank you also to the Plymouth Waterfront Partnership and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.”
The painted Giants are situated on the prominent grassy bank directly below the Citadel and players from Plymouth Albion Rugby Club helped with the installation. James Greenacre, commercial director, Plymouth Albion, added: “As a club with 150 years of proud history rooted in the heart of Plymouth, we’re delighted to
support the return of the Plymouth Giants. While the story may be legend, the tribute it pays to the strength, resilience and identity of our city is very real.”
Historical accounts suggest that the Giants would have been the first thing the Mayflower Pilgrims would have seen entering Plymouth Sound in 1620, and the last thing they would have seen on leaving, bound for America.
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Drake Circus marked Armed Forces Week in Plymouth with a vibrant celebration of colour, creativity and community spirit –featuring striking artwork by local military children, stirring choral performances and heartfelt messages of thanks shared by the local community.
Over 380 children from military families across Plymouth and surrounding areas took part in a unique Armed Forces Week art project through 14 local schools’ MKC Heroes and Future Fit Junior Field Gun clubs.
Using real Junior Field Gun wheels as their canvas, they transformed them into vibrant works of art now on display at Drake Circus –capturing the resilience, pride, and perspective of forces life through the eyes of Plymouth’s youngest military voices.
The winners of the children’s art competition, Ermington Primary School, were announced in a special prize giving ceremony at Drake
Circus, with children and staff coming together to celebrate, and officially open the artwork display – which will brighten the first floor of the shopping centre for visitors through the summer.
Commenting on the winning wheel created by Ermington Primary School, Greg Lumley, centre director at Drake Circus said: “Their wheel really captured the theme of ‘Life in a Forces Family’. The design was split into six clear sections, each showing a different aspect of life in a military family. It was creative, personal, and full of thoughtful detail. We especially loved the family imagery and heartfelt messages, as well as the lovely nods to the local community.”
To mark the charity collaboration and contribute to the important work MKC Heroes and Future Fit
Junior Field Gun does with military families and the wider community, Drake Circus presented the charities with a donation of £750.
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“The week brought together all ages and voices from across Plymouth’s military community,” added Greg. “From the incredible artwork created by the children to the moving performance by the
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Building Plymouth has officially relaunched its flagship Adopt a School programme which connects local construction businesses with schools across the city. The programme aims to inspire young people to explore careers in construction and the built environment, while strengthening the pipeline of future talent for the industry. The relaunch was celebrated at the recent Building Plymouth members meeting, hosted by Foot Anstey.
Councillor Sally Cresswell, Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Apprenticeships at Plymouth City Council said: “Given the growth and investment in Plymouth, it is absolutely crucial that our children and young people are fully aware of the fantastic career pathways available in construction.
“I’d like to thank local construction companies for ‘adopting’ our schools and creating these new strategic relationships to improve awareness and engagement.”
Through the Adopt a School programme, each participating school is matched with a named construction professional who acts as a key contact and ambassador. These ambassadors provide tailored support to schools, including careers talks, site visits, mentoring, and curriculum-linked activities.
The initiative is coordinated by Building Plymouth’s 5E’s Group, which streamlines engagement and shares best practice across the network.
Sam Morcumb, Chair of the 5E’s Group and Business Development and Bid Manager at BuildX (SW), commented: “Our ambassadors don’t just build structures, they lay the foundation for future talent. This is gamechanging work that gives young people access to real-world experiences and opportunities they might never have imagined.”
The programme already boasts a strong list of confirmed partnerships, including:
• AECOM with Lipson Cooperative Academy
• Balfour Beatty with UTC Plymouth
• Drew and Co with Brook Green Centre for Learning
• Obedair Construction with St Boniface’s Catholic College.
Schools have welcomed the initiative with enthusiasm. Emily Waterfield, Work Based Learning Coordinator at Brook Green Centre for Learning, said: “We’re delighted to be partnered with Drew & Co. This collaboration will help introduce our students to careers in mechanical and electrical engineering, supported by real-life experiences that enhance our STEM curriculum.”
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Pupils at two Plymouth primary schools are making big strides to complete the Mini Police programme.
Officers from Devon and Cornwall Police have been spending time with children at Prince Rock and Laira Green primary schools in the city to inspire and educate local youngsters.
The seven week programme aims to assist eight to 10-year-olds in primary schools across the city. Young people learn about a range of important topics, including crime prevention, internet safety, anti-social behaviour, road safety and environmental activities.
The aim is to make young people more aware of potential issues around them. It’s also an effective way to prevent them from becoming a victim of crime or getting involved in criminality themselves.
PC Deb Hart, youth engagement officer, said: “The Mini Police programme has been delivered to well over 1,000 pupils across 44 primary schools in Plymouth. There are 66 primary
schools in total and our aim is to eventually reach them all.
“The content children learn throughout the seven week period includes an internet safety lesson, a talk about anti-social behaviour, an outdoor social action project – for example litter picking or gardening to improve the local community – as well as preparing for a school assembly presentation.”
PC Hart continued: “It’s wonderful that we have been able to reach so many young people across Plymouth and it’s great to see their confidence and knowledge grow. We’re dedicated to increasing the number of primary schools we run the Mini Police programme with, as well as running the initiative for children who are home schooled.”
At the end of the seven weeks the children receive a special certificate to mark completion of the Mini Police project.
Year Five teacher at Prince Rock Primary School, Nicola Bennett, added: “We have had 24
Visitors and residents turned up in their thousands to show respect to service personnel past and present in a week-long celebration in Plymouth which culminated in the spectacular Armed Forces Day, sponsored by Babcock.
The sun shone for the participants and spectators of the Strength of Spirit Games Rehabilitation Triathlon, hosted by the Royal Navy, sponsored by AECOM and Defence Recovery.
The city welcomed over 150 Service Personnel in recovery and medically discharged veterans, who took part in the swim, bike and row events with an international team from the Netherlands, taking full advantage of the newly refurbished art-deco Tinside Lido and the view over Plymouth Hoe.
The Plymouth School Sports Partnership Junior Rowing Challenge, sponsored by AECOM took place for the second year, with 150 children from military families, representing 24 local primary schools, competing on the Hoe.
Congratulations went to all participants who took part in the Strength of Spirit Games. Plympton St Maurice Primary were the overall winning team at the Plymouth School Sports Partnership Junior Rowing Challenge.
Plymouth Armed Forces Day took place on Saturday with a full day’s programme incorporating, displays, parades, demonstrations, and entertainment culminating in an evening concert. It was a wonderful opportunity to recognise and celebrate the contributions of the Armed Forces both past and present.
Visitors from far and wide came to explore the military villages and enjoyed tackling some of the hands-on challenges and climbing on-board the vehicles and equipment, including the Royal Marines Raiding Craft and the Army’s weapon displays. There were dynamic displays from the Royal Navy including the battlefield ambulance and dive tank whilst, the RAF recruitment team chatted to visitors about career opportunities and the Cadets were running desk-top simulators for visitors to try.
One of the many highlights included the Merlin Mk4 helicopter which commanded a steady flow of visitors throughout the day chatting to the air crew and engineers.
The Emergency Services had an array of displays and equipment to explore, including the Fire Service, Police, Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team Plymouth, RNLI and Coastguard Search and Rescue. They all had teams on-hand to offer advice and explain how and when they use their emergency equipment.
children taking part in the Mini Police programme delivered by PC Hart from Devon and Cornwall Police.
“This invaluable workshop provides our young people with essential skills and knowledge linked to citizenship – from internet safety, anti-social behaviour to environmental activities.
““Our children have also taken on extra Mini Police duties and responsibilities in school.
“We are thrilled to have been given the opportunity to build on our strong relationships with the police and support our community.
Jack Lethbridge, Key Stage One teacher at Laira Green Primary School, said: “We are delighted to welcome our local police officers into school as part of the Mini Police programme.
“The children thoroughly enjoyed the experience and gained valuable insights into community safety, responsibility, and the important role the police play in our society. It’s been a fantastic opportunity for positive engagement and learning.”
The Veterans Village, supported by the Royal British Legion Devon County, saw a continuous stream of visitors to the 100+ charities and organisations offering information, support and advice, for both serving military personnel and veterans. For the car enthusiast there were plenty of vintage military vehicles to admire, plus a display from City West Country and Ocean BMW Motorbikes.
Families enjoyed the arena programme with the Parade of Standards, led by the City of Plymouth Pipe Band and demonstrations from Team Endeavours Punishers Wheelchair Rugby, plus REORG Ju Jitsu who were new to the event and wowed the crowds with their exciting demonstration. There were Cadet parades and bands and live music, including the Theatre Royal’s Plymouth’s Armed Forces Choir.
Congratulations to Pennycross Primary School for breaking the fastest time world record at the Junior Field Gun tournament, which ran throughout the day.
The day finished with a lively free evening concert, sponsored by C&G Catering, which included a line-up of brilliant performances where the crowds danced and sang a-long to, with the stunning backdrop of Plymouth Sound National Marine Park.
The Plymouth Chronicle is excited to announce a collaboration with Argyle Life to provide regular Plymouth Argyle content from the perspective of the fans. We’ll be publishing regular pieces from Argyle Life contributors in print and via our website at www.plymouthchronicle.co.uk. Our latest article, written a few days after the appointment of Tom Cleverley as Argyle’s new head coach is from lifelong Argyle fan and one of the founders of Argyle Life, Sam Down It’s summer again. The sun is out, the sky is blue and we’re looking forward to getting away for a bit. We’re at the stage where we’ve had a bit of a break from football but not quite so much that we’re yearning for its return.
Argyle have appointed a new manager. It’s a former England international who’s also played for Man Utd and Everton whose wife lives in the Manchester area. He was sacked from a championship club last season. Does anyone have a bit of deja vu to this time a year ago? What could possibly go wrong?
I do, of course, jest. Although for a sightly more niche fact, I can tell you that our new head coach Tom Cleverley has precisely 13 caps for England. In the summer of 2010, the last time we got relegated out of the Championship, we hired Peter Reid who also played for Everton, was also a central midfielder and also had, remarkably, 13 caps for England. It was certainly unlucky for him and for Argyle as we made it shock back-to-back relegations to League Two.
But, ultimately these are nothing more than statistical quirks, as fun as they are (to a nerd like me, anyway). Tom isn’t Peter Reid, and he certainly isn’t Wayne Rooney despite the odd similarities. When you scratch below the surface, this looks like an incredibly astute hire for Argyle who seem to have done that rare thing. They’ve both maximised reward and minimised risk.
Before we go into it in too much detail, it’s worth referring to my last article in the previous editions of the Chronicle and also online. (See QR code at foot of article).I posted the notion that while Muslic’s departure was a blow, it could well prove to be a blessing in disguise in the long term. It did allow us to return to the ‘OneArgyle’ way of playing that got the club so much goodwill in the first place.
A style of football that is possession-based without being slouchy and is attacking without being reckless is exactly what we need to progress. From listening to fans regarding (and reading up on) Cleverley’s Watford side, it does sound like he might be just the ticket.
He always tries to play out from the back first and foremost and ultimately in this day and age that’s just the way football is going, especially when you have a dominant team and want to break down low blocks. It’s a tired old mantra but you can’t score if you don’t have the ball. The team that is without it has to chase it down and try to win it back and that does leave them open to mistakes being made defensively - which clinical teams can exploit.
He does tend, less emphatically, to try and dominate games. Watford fans described a high line and how he likes his full backs to overlap and (at times) to fill the wide area where his attacks drift into the middle. Sometimes, when the attackers go out wide, the full backs themselves can then invert. It’s about using the ball to create space from which his teams can score. It’s hard to pull off, but wonderful if you get it right.
Cleverley is also great for player development which is another significant tick on my list of nonnegotiable’s for Argyle head coach. If you didn’t catch it, take a look at our latest podcast after the Cleverley arrival.
The Watford fans who we invited on explain in great detail how players like Imran Louza (previously out in the cold) were revitalised under his leadership. This is clearly positive news for players like Michael Baidoo and Rami Al-Hajj who ended the season out in the cold, but will likely be more responsive to a better style.
So, we can clearly say that Cleverley is cut from the right cloth. However, why specifically him?
What is it that makes this 35-year-old the best pick ahead of more experienced options? I think here, it’s important to return to the risk/reward question. Generally when making a hire of this nature, you need to prioritise either minimising risk or maximising reward.
Simon Hallett has previously spoken often about the need for Argyle to take big swings in order to compete. By making the same tired decisions as other clubs, we do nothing to differentiate ourselves and our weaknesses in terms of geography and (sometimes) finances become ever more apparent.
Argyle don’t have to take big risks to survive but we do if we want to thrive. We could so easily have appointed a lower league stalwart like Paul Cook or Grant McCann and they may well have got us up. But how high is their upside?
Equally, there are some who’d argue not unfairly that we’ve taken far too many risks in recent times. Ian Foster was a disaster and Wayne Rooney was worse. In both cases, they were failed gambles and the high upside (if even possible) didn’t come to fruition. Miron Muslic was a far more calculated and sensible gamble, but too far to the detriment
of our identity and was making enough calls to foreign clubs as to rack up an enormous phone bill. In all honesty, I feel the Argyle of of two years ago would have gone for either Jack Wilshere or Brian Barry-Murphy, both of whom were far riskier than Cleverley but also potentially have a higher upside, stepping into management after a few years in coaching (BBM’s brief spell at Rochdale where they were the most erratic side in the 92 notwithstanding). Understandably they’ve had their fingers burned by such left-field appointments.
It seems that Cleverley as an appointment is, well, clever (someone had to make the pun). He’s proven to have done an at least adequate job in tough circumstances and could so easily have done far better if backed in January. Quite aside from which, he’s still learning and developing as a coach. He plays a mixture of 4-3-3 and 3-4-3 and sets out to both control and entertain. Dare I say it, more than anything else he reminds me of a certain manager in charge when we won this league three reasons ago.
Are there any red flags? Not really. Maybe, at most, one or two amber ones. Cleverley did find it tough to address negative momentum at Watford, showing consistently poor form after Christmas. Yes, there are (many) mitigating factors including player availability, lack of funds and the small matter of the board briefing he was about to be sacked every five minutes. But still, it’s something to keep an eye out for if the form does drop.
The other factor is that his family remain based in Manchester, even when he himself was inside the M25.
The Watford fans have assured us that he’s still very capable of spending all the time needed there and finding the work/life balance. However, these situations in the past have so often ended with a departure citing family reasons as a major factor. Again, nothing to raise alarm bells about but worth keeping in the rear view mirror.
Overall, it’s an exciting and ambitious appointment that leaves me feeling optimistic about our chances of promotion. The news is rolling in so fast at Argyle, next you’ll be telling me that our best striker of a generation has gone, but we’re being taken over by a consortium lead by Gareth Bale. Wait, what…
Children who receive benefits-related free school meals can enjoy a wide range of free activities this summer as the popular Fit and Fed programme returns to the city. Fit and Fed offers eligible children access to free holiday clubs, where they are encouraged to get active and receive a nutritious lunch each day.
The summer activity programme for 2025 is now available to view, with holiday club bookings now open.
There’s a huge range of holiday clubs on offer for eligible children aged between four and 16-years-old. Activities include circus skills, football, dance, karate, water sports and more creative pursuits too, such as filmmaking, photography and arts and crafts. There are also SEND specific holiday clubs to support children with more complex needs.
Young people between 12 and 16-years-old can also sign up for Teen Taster activities, giving them the opportunity to try new activities such as go karting, adventure golf and trampolining.
There’s also a range of family activity sessions on offer, so children can enjoy a day out with their parents or carers. These sessions include bowling, tennis, bike rides and golf.
New for this year, Plymouth Active Leisure are offering a wide range of free activities to eligible children too, with the chance to swim at one of the indoor pools or Tinside Lido. Other activities include bouldering, junior
gym sessions, pickle ball and bowls.
Every year, Fit and Fed also goes on tour. While the bookable activities are only available to children who receive benefitsrelated free school meals, the ‘on tour’ sessions are held in parks and green spaces across Plymouth and everyone is welcome to attend.
The fun days feature a range of free activities, and children are provided with a healthy lunch. This year, the programme will visit:
• Victoria Park on Tuesday August 5
• Ernesettle Green on Tuesday August 12
• Tothill Park on Tuesday August 19
• Central Park on Tuesday August 26
In summer 2024, more than 2,400 children and young people took part in holiday clubs while thousands more attended the Fit and Fed on Tour events where 1,900 packed lunches were handed out.
For more information about this year’s Fit and Fed programme, visit www.plymouth.gov. uk/fit-and-fed.
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