Plymouth Chronicle June North 2025

The regional electrical retailer which is Happy to be Helpful

Established in the 1970s, HBH Woolacotts’ journey began in Bude in July 1976, thanks to founder Ted Hemmerle's vision. Their commitment to quality products and customer service quickly led to growth, with expansions into Launceston and Holsworthy by 1979.

The 1990s saw further progress with the opening of the UK’s first Panasonic Technics Centre in Plymouth (recently rebranded to Panasonic Store) on New George Street in 1990, followed by a Wadebridge location in 1994, extending their reach within Cornwall. The early 2000s solidified their regional presence with new branches in Liskeard and Bodmin in March 2003.

A key development in their strategy was the move towards larger retail spaces. Their first superstore opened in St Austell in May 2012. Most recently, their flagship retail superstore opened in Coypool, Plympton, in September 2017, a testament to their continued success and growth since their early days. A new superstore is currently in development in Barnstaple, North Devon, and is scheduled to open Autumn 2025.

The Plymouth superstore highlights their strong brand partnerships with dedicated sections for Sony, Panasonic, LG, Samsung, Dyson and Smeg showcasing their specialised knowledge and relationships with some of the industry’s leading brands. What's particularly noteworthy is that HBH Woolacotts has remained a family-run business across three generations, from Ted Hemmerle to Martin and Chris Hemmerle, demonstrating their long-term commitment and values, centered around their motto: "Happy to Be Helpful."

Initially offering essential household items, HBH Woolacotts has evolved to provide a wide range of electrical goods from leading manufacturers at prices to suit all budgets and requirements. Their emphasis is on helping customers to make informed decisions through comprehensive staff training, ensuring knowledgeable and helpful advice is always available.

Approaching their 50th anniversary, HBH Woolacotts stands as a respected and significant retailer in the South West. Their enduring success is built on a strong focus on their customers, dedicated staff, and the local

community. Marketing Director Chris Hemmerle emphasizes their key strengths as "consistent delivery of excellent customer service, the friendly and long-standing nature of our team, and our ability to offer competitive pricing while maintaining a personal, local business feel." He also notes that their family ownership allows for quick and efficient decision-making, maintaining high standards within a positive work environment.

Their strategic approach includes active marketing and their own logistics, which include a network of delivery and installation teams to support free next day delivery and a field based service network to support both warranty and out of warranty repairs. HBH Woolacotts’ positive customer experience is driven by a helpful team with a positive attitude, a knowledgeable workforce, and a carefully selected range of products at competitive prices, plus a full range of support services.

Reader travel

ISLE OF WIGHT WEEKEND

Departing Fri 5 Sep ‘25

Let us whisk you away to the Isle of Wight for a weekend to rejuvenate. Tailored for those who seek relaxation by the sea, along with a desire to explore, this break includes a visit to the historic town of Newport and an optional ‘Round the Island’ tour.

SO MUCH INCLUDED...

 Return coach travel & ferry crossings from Plymouth, Saltash

 3 nights at the Shanklin Beach Hotel, Shanklin (JG2+ rating) with dinner & breakfast

 2 for 1 bar (6pm-9pm) on selected drinks

 Entertainment on some evenings (every evening at the Shanklin Beach Hotel)

 Excursion to Newport

Optional Round the Island tour (£15pp)

DISNEYLAND PARIS

Departing Fri 8 Aug ‘25

Experience the magic of a weekend away at Disneyland®, Paris! Whether you like thrill-seeking attractions or simply taking in the atmosphere on Main Street, U.S.A, you’ll want to come back and visit Mickey and the gang, time and time again.

SO MUCH INCLUDED...

 Return coach travel & ferry crossings from Plymouth

 3 nights at the Grand Magic Hotel, Magny Le Hongre (JG4 rating) with breakfast

 Free shuttle bus from hotel to the park

 Admission to Disneyland® Paris on two days, with coach transfer

SCARBOROUGH & THE YORKSHIRE COASTLINE

Departing Mon 7 Jul ‘25

We explore the very best of Yorkshire on a relaxing five-day break where we visit Goathland, known for being the filming location of the TV series Heartbeat, as well as Beverley, Hornsea and brooding Whitby, forever associated with Bram Stoker’s Dracula!

SO MUCH INCLUDED...

 Return coach travel from Plymouth, Saltash

 4 nights at the Grand Hotel, Scarborough (JG2 rating) with dinner & breakfast

 Light entertainment every evening

 Excursions to Goathland (Heartbeat), Whitby, Beverley & Hornsea

Optional excursion to York (£14pp)

▶ SAVE £30 - Quote PLY

- Book by 13 Jun 2025

By Coach from Plymouth, Saltash

A new initiative has been launched to enable local communities to raise funds for defibrillators in Plymouth.

According to the South Western Ambulance Service, there are several ‘hotspots’ in Plymouth where defibrillators are not within easy reach. The new campaign called Make Plymouth Heart-Safe aims to close those gaps as rapidly as possible.

The initiative will empower residents to place 24/7 publicaccess defibrillators in their neighbourhoods – and save lives.

When sudden cardiac arrest strikes, neighbours often arrive long before an ambulance. Yet for every minute without immediate CPR and early defibrillation ideally within three to five minutes of cardiac arrest, survival chances fall by around 10 per cent. With eight in ten cardiac arrests happening in and around the home the new MyCommunityDefib campaign could make a huge difference to survival rates.

Developed by the Dutch Heart

Foundation, the model has already equipped thousands of neighbourhoods in the Netherlands and Sweden, where survival rates from out-ofhospital cardiac arrest have risen

significantly. Building of this success, the programme is now available in the UK for the first time.

The campaign encourages local residents to visit the website at

www.mycommunitydefib.co.uk to check if their neighbourhood already has a registered 24/7 defibrillator. If there’s not one available locally, residents are encouraged to start a campaign to raise funds for for a defibrillator package tailored to local needs.

Fund raisers can share a link to their campaign with neighbours, other community members, including local businesses to encourage contributions.

Once the £1,950 target is reached, the defibrillator, including a comprehensive fouryear support package is ordered and despatched.

“Having a defibrillator accessible round the clock is a simple yet vital safeguard for our families and friends,” said Sophie Verlinden, a spokesperson for MyCommunityDefib. “We urge everyone in Plymouth to come together, raise awareness, and ensure our neighbourhoods are equipped to respond quickly in an cardiac emergency.”

For more information visit www.mycommunitydefib.co.uk

New campaign to fund more defibrillators in Plymouth Lawyer Rob’s marathon effort for charity

A Plymouth lawyer has thanked his sponsors who helped him smash his London Marathon fundraising target for the Headway Plymouth charity.

Rob Antrobus, who is head of Enable Law in Plymouth has raised more than £6,500 for the charity which supports people who are living with acquired brain injuries (ABI) to navigate life’s challenges.

The 51-year-old lawyer, who is also chair of trustees at Devonport-based Headway Plymouth, completed his first ever marathon in five hours and 32 minutes for a cause that is close to his heart. Rob’s knowledge of ABI runs deeper than his decades of professional experience in providing legal advice to clients and their families following an injury. Back in 2020, his wife Sally suffered a life-changing stroke, fuelling Rob’s passion for

supporting brain injury services even further.

“I have to admit that the London Marathon was overwhelming in more ways than one,” said Rob.

“I’ve been really moved by the generous backing of everyone who sponsored me and I’ll always be grateful for their kind donations as they inspired me to go through the pain barrier.

“The sponsorship means a lot and the marathon was the toughest physical challenge I’ve ever faced and while it was an overwhelming and emotional journey, I’d like to think I did Sally and Headway proud.”

Rob sported a Headway running top as he pounded 26.2 miles of London’s streets where some 750,000 people cheered on runners.

“It was probably a once-in-a-lifetime experience

but the incredible memories will live with me forever,” Rob added. “Most importantly, my sponsors’ generosity will help ensure the Headway Plymouth team can keep providing vital support for people affected by ABI.

“This support ranges from provision of day services, helping patients and families in hospital, developing activities for clients that rebuild neuropathways and enable independent living and awareness-raising.

“Anyone can suffer an ABI through accidents, assaults or medical conditions such as stroke and every donation will allow the charity to help yet more people in and around Plymouth.”

To make a donation visit www.2025tcs londonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/robert-antrobus

Rob Antrobus in the London Marathon

Rob during his Marathon effort

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.

The Witches of Eastwick

June 4 to June 7

Sounds Musical Theatre Company mark their 124th year with the premiere performance of The Witches of Eastwick at Devonport Playhouse. With their show stopping musical score this talented cast will transport you to a world of fantasy and intrigue. Tickets are available from www.ticketsource.co.uk £19 adult. Concessions £17 or call : 07395159955. Age recommendation 12+ contains adult content.

Coast

Jun 6 to Jun 22

A contemporary pop-up gallery showcasing the work of local artists with a deep connection with the coast and oceans. Taking place in the Melville Building at the Royal William Yard featuring a celebration of all things ‘coastwith 2D and 3D artworks. For more details visit instagram@coast.artgallery

Plymstock Tribute Music Festival

Jun 6 and 7

Now in it’s fourth year, Plymstock Rugby Club presents a huge line up of the UK’s very best tribute acts across two days at their grounds in Wembury Road. As well as fantastic tribute acts including Oasis, Queen, The FOO Fighters, AC/DC and Fleetwood Mac there will be lots of street food, stalls and fairground rides. For tickets and details visit www.plymstockfestival.co.uk

Summer Serenade

June 7

West Devon Chorale present work by Britten, Elgar, Finzi and Vaughan Williams at Stoke Damerel Church at 7.30pm. Tickets £16, children £8 available on the door.

University of Plymouth Orchestra

June 7

Summer Classics themed music concerts. Free entry at the Levinsky Hall on the University of Plymouth Campus. Children’s Concert from 3pm - all welcome! Evening Concert doors open at 7pm. Concert begins at 7.30pm. Music to include: a range of popular classical music for the summer. Admission is free but donations would be appreciated! Free tickets can be booked via the ‘What’s Onpage of the University of Plymouth website. At the evening concert there will be a raffle and please join us afterwards for free refreshments.

Coffee Morning

June 7

Crownhill Methodist Church Hall from 10.30am to 12 noon. Various stalls. Supporting ‘Hope for the Homeless.All welcome.

Rolling Harmony Concert

June 8

Close harmony singing with eight voice ensemble at Stoke Damerel Church. Featuring contemporary choral music, traditional American folk, jazz standards and spirituals. Afternoon tea at 3.15pm, concert 4pm to 5pm. Tickets £10 at www.tickettailor.com/events/ songways/1688477

Plymouth Summer Sessions

June 12 to June 15

With a spectacular waterfront setting and home to the landmark Smeaton’s Tower lighthouse, Plymouth Hoe will come alive with music as it welcomes fans back to TK Maxx presents Plymouth Summer Sessions in 2025. Following the overwhelming success of last year’s inaugural event,which drew thousands of fans, this year’s lineup kicks off on Thursday with legendary British band James, supported by Razorlight, Jamie Webster and Tom A Smith. Followed by the electrifying

Out and About

Your guide to events in the local community and beyond

with further names to still be announced. Tickets from www.smmrsessions.com/ locations/plymouth

Rich Hall

June 13

Popular comedian Rich Hall brings his ‘Chin Music’ tour to the Quad Theatre on the Marjon University campus. Tickets on sale at www.offthekerb.com

Father’s Day at Pennywell Farm

June 14 and 15

For Father’s Day weekend only Pennywell is giving all Dads a free VIP upgrade worth £17 (with a full paying adult ticket). The upgrade includes free coffee and cake, free ice cream, free animal feed and free piggy blanket. Visit www.pennywellfarm.co.uk/fathersday and enter the code VIPDAD3P at checkout online.

Divertimento String Quartet

June 14

Featuring works by Bach, Borodin and four folk songs at Stoke Damerel Church at 5pm. Tickets £10, students £10, under 18s free. Call 01803 863677 or email enquiries@divertimento.uk.com

Plymouth Boat Fest

June 21

A festival of all things boating hosted by Plymouth Yacht Haven at Mount Batten. A free fun event for all the family starting at 10am. Step on board classic historic boats, explore second hand boats for sale and a boat jumble. Have a go at stand up paddle boarding and watch live safety demonstrations and more. Free parking.

Stoke Damerel Summer Fair

June 21

Popular annual event with beverages, lunches and a variety of stalls at Stoke Damerel Church from 11am to 3pm.

Summer Concert

June 21

Plymouth Philharmonic Choir an Opera Gala Evening at The Minster Church of St Andrew at 7.30pm. Featuring some of the most popular and favourite choruses including the Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves, Verdi’s Anvil Chorus and Bizet’s Carmen. The choir will be joined by soloists Cheryl Brendish (Soprano) and John Hobbs (Baritone). Tickets £15 in advance, £17 on the door, £5 Students and U16s. For details visit www. plymouthphilchoir.org

Summer Fair

June 21

Ford Park Cemetery from 10.30am to 1.30pm. Admission free. Plenty of stalls with bargains and refreshments will be available.

Charity Summer Concerts

Plymouth Armed Forces Day

June 28

Armed Forces Day is a fantastic opportunity for everyone to show their support for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community from currently serving troops to reservists, veterans, cadets and their families. This exciting family day is packed with displays, parades, military equipment to explore, a thrilling arena programme, live music and much more. Details at www. plymoutharmedforcesday.co.uk

Wimbledon on the Big Screen

June 30 to July 13

Wimbledon returns to Plymouth city centre’s Piazza this summer with an exciting twist – live tennis screenings and the chance to try one of the UK’s fastest growing sports, Padel, all in one vibrant city centre location. every match of the Wimbledon Championships will be screened live on a state-ofthe-art mobile screen. Over 200 deckchairs will be set out in a specially enclosed viewing area, allowing visitors to relax and soak up the electric atmosphere. Entry is completely free, making it the perfect summer experience for tennis fans, families, and city centre visitors alike. At the opposite end of The Piazza, visitors can try their hand at Padel – a high-energy sport that blends tennis and squash, played on an enclosed court using solid bats and the court walls.

To mark Wimbledon finals weekend, an international market will take place along New George Street, bringing together global street food, handmade goods, and cultural stalls.

Ruckus 25 Music Festival

July 4 to 6

Hosted by Plymouth Albion at Bricklfields Ruckus will feature a line up of top live performances with a focus on iconic UK acts. Headline performers include The Feeling, The Specials, Elvana and Tom Meighan. Alongside the music there will be a food and beer festival highlighting the best of local produce and craft beers. For details visit www.plymouthalbion. com/ready-for-a-ruckus

The Down Thomas Singers are raising funds for Bowel Cancer West with their two Summer Concerts at the Silver Jubilee Hall, Down Thomas at 7.30pm on Friday and a matinee on Saturday at 2pm. To cheer everyone up in these troubled times the concert consists of light musical numbers, poems and clarinet piece. Tickets are £7 including light refreshments and free parking. There is always a good raffle. Contact 01752

supporting water Aid. All

St Boniface Church, St Budeaux from 10am to 12 noon. Various stalls including cakes, tombolas, plants, refreshments and grand draw.

Visitor Centre at Ford Park Cemetery at 1pm. Booking is essential. Tickets cost £15 and can be obtained from the office at Ford Park from 10am to 4pm.

The popular community event returns from 11am to 4pm with free entry for all. The Fun Day features live music and entertainment, craft, produce and food stalls as well as the Gables Dog Show. There will be a toddler soft play area as well as inflatables and Zigzag entertainer. For updates visit #StLevanFunDay

July 11

The popular family-friendly event, with a heart full of hope, kindly sponsored by Michael Spiers returns for 2025. For the first time, there will be a choice of four routes instead of three from 2.5 miles, 5 miles, 7.5 miles or 13.5 miles all beginning and ending at Plymouth Argyle’s Home Park stadium in the Fan Zone. For details and registration visit www.stlukes-hospice. org.uk/midnight-walk

Native Makers Market

July 12 and 13

Ocean Studios at Royal William Yard hosts the event from 10am to 4pm each day. The free event will feature over 40 makers, demonstrations, family friendly activities and delicious food. For details visit www.nativemakers.co.uk

Rum & Reggae Festival

July 12

The spirit of the Caribbean is celebrated at Home Park’s Fan Zone with live music, tropical cocktails and The Marley Experience live on stage from 2pm to 10pm. Tickets from £10.

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.

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.

Pendulum on Friday, The Corrs and Natalie Imbruglia on the Saturday, plus the beloved Snow Patrol closing the weekend on Sunday,

Crownhill Methodist Church Hall from 10.30am to 12 noon. Various stalls

20% DISCOUNT FOR OAPs

Referendum to decide future governance of city to take place on July 17

A referendum will be held on Thursday July 17 to determine how Plymouth will be governed in the future.

At the referendum, those on the electoral register will be asked to have their say whether Plymouth City Council’s governance model should be changed from a Leader model to a Directly Elected Mayor. This process is separate – and not related to – the ongoing discussions about Plymouth potentially joining a combined regional authority that could be led by an elected Strategic Mayor.

There are a number of ways to cast a vote: in person at a polling station, by post, or via a proxy vote.

Registering to vote is quick and easy, it only takes five minutes and can be done online. Once registered the applicant will be placed onto the electoral register. However, anyone already registered who has changed their name, address or nationality will need to register again.

Requests for a postal vote can be made online. Having a postal vote means that a postal ballot pack containing the ballot paper will be sent to the home address, so the vote can be made via post, avoiding the need to go to a polling station. Anyone unable to vote in person can apply for a proxy vote and ask someone to vote on their behalf.

All registered voters in Plymouth will also need to show an eligible photographic ID to vote in person at a polling station. It is anticipated that the deadlines will be:

• Deadline to register to vote: July 1 2025

• Deadline to apply or change a postal vote: 5pm on July 2

• Deadline to apply for Voter ID certificate: 5pm on July 9

• Deadline to apply for a proxy vote: 5pm on July 9

For more information about registering to vote or applying for a postal vote or voter ID visit www.plymouth.gov.uk/ register-vote

The referendum is taking place after Plymouth City Council received a petition requesting a directly elected mayor for Plymouth. In line with the relevant legislation, the council validated each signature to ensure that they are registered electors in the Plymouth City Council area. Following this process, 10,856 signatures were verified as being eligible, meaning the threshold of obtaining support from at least five per cent of registered electors in the

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Plymouth Albion raise over £4,000 for St Luke’s Hospice through ‘one of a kind kit’ initiative

Plymouth Albion is celebrating a remarkable moment of community spirit and creativity that raised over £4,000 for St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth.

In March, Brickfields was packed with community spirit as Albion took on Rosslyn Park in the dedicated St Luke’s Men’s Day Out fixture, in front of a crowd of over 2,500 supporters.

But it wasn’t just any match. Albion took to the field in a unique kit designed by a talented six-year-old pupil from Widey Court Primary School.

The winning design featured the iconic Smeaton’s Tower, a proud emblem of Plymouth’s maritime heritage and a beacon of the community. Chosen from dozens of imaginative entries, the finished shirts were not only a symbol of creativity but also a way to raise vital funds. Every penny of sponsorship and shirt sales went directly to support the incredible work of St Luke’s Hospice.

Recently, Albion managing director Max Venables visited Widey Court to personally present the young designer with a signed version of her winning kit. This special moment was shared with

Georgina Dyke from St Luke’s Hospice and Colin Aldworth, associate director at Nevada Construction, Albion’s main kit sponsor.

Max said: “It’s amazing what sport, community and business can achieve together. St Luke’s has always been close to the heart of Plymouth Albion, and Men’s Day Out was such a special day. Visiting Widey Court and showing the school, especially

the young winner, the real impact of her kit design was a brilliant experience.”

Nevada Construction played a crucial role in the success of this initiative, giving up their front of shirt space for the fixture.

That decision enabled 20 individual businesses to each sponsor a one-off match shirt, giving every shirt its own front of shirt sponsor and allowing this community powered kit to come

to life in full. Colin Aldworth of Nevada Construction said: “We are so pleased for St Luke’s, Plymouth Albion, and the pupils at Widey Court Primary.

“It was a no-brainer for us to be involved in something so meaningful. Community has always been at the heart of what we do at Nevada, and this project was a perfect reflection of that.”

Georgina Dyke, events manager at St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth said: “We’re incredibly grateful to Plymouth Albion, Nevada Construction and Widey Court Primary. Raising over £4,000 is a fantastic achievement, and the creativity and enthusiastic spirit behind it truly reflect what makes our community special. Thank you for helping St Luke’s continuing to care for those who need us most.”

Plymouth Albion will continue to support St Luke’s Hospice throughout the off-season with a series of events, including the Ruckus Music Festival in July and the Plymouth Albion Golf Day.

As the club proudly builds toward its 150th year, St Luke’s will remain Albion’s chosen charity throughout the 2025-26 season.

Students to take part in big Plymouth chess tournament

Primary and secondary school students will be taking part in the third major chess tournament in Julyand organisers are calling on schools across the city to encourage more youngsters to take part.

The tournament is being held at Plymouth College on July 5 with free entry and light refreshments provided.

The event is organised by Plymouth Chess Club, whose president Alan Crickmore said: “We know there are many more students, both boys and girls, playing chess in schools are our objective is to encourage them –and what better way than to hold a tournament.

“There are many advantages to playing chess as it appears to improve logical thinking, academic performance, confidence and patience.”

He said that certificates and prizes will be awarded to participants.

Plymouth Chess Club have a group of students who attend weekly tuition sessions and the club hopes to promote more chess in schools and establish an inter-school league online.

Schools or students wanting more information can visit the club website at www.plymouthchess.uk

Livewell Foundation boosted by fundraisers’ efforts

Five incredible fundraisers proudly crossed the finish line of the London Landmarks Half Marathon 2025 at the end of April, raising vital funds for the Livewell Foundation – a charity committed to improving health, tackling social isolation, and supporting communities across Plymouth, South Hams, and West Devon.

Austin Marshall, Lydia Helyer, Abi Hooper, Tony Phipps, and Chris Davies took on the 13.1-mile route through the capital’s most iconic sights, cheered on by thousands of supporters. Each participant carried their own personal motivation for running—and in Tony’s case, a fridge too, symbolising the often unseen burden of mental health challenges.

The team’s fundraising efforts have already raised almost £7,000 to support the Livewell Foundation’s work, helping people lead healthier,

happier lives through community grants, specialist health initiatives, and vital enhancements to health and care services.

Tony Phipps, a seasoned fundraiser with a flair for the extraordinary, once again turned heads by running the entire course with a fridge strapped to his back. Tony said: “This weight isn’t just physical; it represents anxiety, depression, and the emotional toll of life’s challenges. Each step I take, despite the load, reminds me that progress is possible.”

Chris Davies, chairman of the Livewell Foundation, ran alongside Tony in a show of solidarity. After a two year running hiatus the event was a personal milestone for Chris: “It was a true privilege to run with Tony and our amazing team. Their passion, energy, and resilience reflect everything the Livewell Foundation stands for.

Every donation raised will help fund life-changing projects that support our communities health and wellbeing.”

Two of the team – Abi and Lydia – work for Livewell Southwest as a frailty practitioner and lead occupational therapist respectively and their professional experience gives them a deep understanding of the frontline challenges faced by individuals and communities.

Their decision to run for the Livewell Foundation demonstrated the significant impact that their funding makes.

Rounding off the team was Austin Marshall, the youngest of the Foundation’s runners, whose passion and determination have inspired his supporters to rally behind him, helping him nearly double his original fundraising target. Austin said: “Every day, many people struggle with

mental health challenges, often feeling isolated and unheard. The Livewell Foundation provides essential resources and support to those in need.”

Charity manager, Hayley Everett, said: “Together, the team’s inspiring efforts and the generosity of their supporters will make a lasting difference across Plymouth and South West Devon. We are deeply thankful to all our fundraisers who not only take on the challenge of the race itself, but also dedicate months of training, travel, and time away from work and family to support our cause.

“Their commitment can often go unseen but is absolutely vital to what we are able to achieve. If you feel inspired to take on a once-in-a-lifetime challenge, fundraise, and help transform lives, we would love to hear from you.”

For more information visit www. livewellfoundation.org.uk

Tony Phipps ran with a fridge on his back

The team got together before travelling to London

Austin Marshall, the team’s youngest member

Cheque presentation (from left) Colin Aldworth of Nevada Construction, Max Venables of Plymouth Albion, Georgina Dyke of St Luke’s Hospice and Shaun Nicholls Widey Court headteacher with the pupil who designed the kit

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Phillipians 4: 6

Historic blue plaque honours remarkable Plymouth man

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A historic blue plaque will be unveiled in Plymouth in July in memory of a scientist, explorer and military man whose ground breaking work has been recognised by NASA.

Ralph Alger Bagnold OBE FRS KL was born in Plymouth on April 3 1896 and grew up in Stoke. In the First World War he was an engineer in the British Army. When he returned to service in the Second World War, he was the first commanding officer of the ‘Long Range Desert Group.A precursor to the SAS, the unit carried out reconnaissance work and raids behind enemy lines in North Africa.

In between the wars Bagnold carried out the first recorded East-to-West crossing of the Libyan Desert, pioneering the use of motor vehicles to explore the harsh terrain. He also published ‘Libyan Sands: Travel in a Dead Worldwhich has been described as a ‘classic work of 20th-century Saharan exploration.

His second book ‘The Physics of Blown Sand and Desert Duneswas inspired by the extensive amount of time he’d spent in the desert and the many sandstorms he’d witnessed. The book is still an important reference point for scientists today and has even been used by NASA to study sand dunes and the development of sanddriving mechanisms on Mars. The Bagnold Dunes, a 22-mile-long group of sand dunes on Mars were named by NASA in his honour.

Bagnold was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1944 and continued to carry out research and publish academic papers well into his retirement. He passed away in May 1990 at the age of 94.

Bagnold’s plaque will be installed on the front of Astor House, Devonport Road, Stoke in July. Now a nursing home, it was once his childhood home.

Deputy Leader Councillor Jemima Laing said: “Ralph Bagnold’s legacy bridges military service, exploration and scientific innovation and his research helped shape modern understanding of desert landscapes. This blue plaque will serve as a lasting tribute to his achievements and continue our commitment to recognising people from Plymouth who have made a significant contribution to the

Ralph Bagnold

Tamar House Residential Home

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Title-winning Patriots celebrate!

Tor Bridge High is celebrating a landmark moment in the school’s sporting history as its Sixth Form Patriots Basketball Academy team made history by winning the league and staying undefeated throughout the entire season.

The outstanding achievement marked the first time the Patriots Academy has completed a full season unbeaten, securing both the championship title and promotion for next year.

Competing against top regional teams across Devon and Cornwall, the Patriots demonstrated exceptional skill, determination, and teamwork under the expert guidance of head coach Paul James – widely regarded as the most successful basketball coach in British history.

The Patriots Academy continues to nurture student-athletes aiming for professional careers, while also supporting academic achievement. Graduates of this year’s programme are progressing to universities and higher or degreelevel apprenticeships.

Team captain Bradley Hummerstone has been selected by the head coach of Wales Basketball to attend the prestigious Red Auerbach Basketball Camp in the USA this summer.

The success of the Patriots Academy is the result of a unique partnership with the Plymouth Patriots Basketball Foundation, offering a programme that combines elite-level training with rigorous academic study. Students train throughout the week under professional coaches and players, while completing three A-levels of their choice.

Through strong links with Plymouth Marjon University, students are also able to progress into sports degrees while continuing their basketball careers.

With a growing reputation and a recordbreaking season under their belt, the future looks bright for the Tor Bridge High Patriots Academy. The school remains committed to supporting aspiring athletes both on and off the court, empowering them to realise their dreams.

Headteacher Tracy Stephenson said: “We are incredibly proud of our students and the phenomenal achievement of an undefeated season. The Patriots Academy exemplifies the highest standards of commitment, excellence, and ambition. This team has not only made school history but continues to inspire our wider school community by coaching local primary pupils and leading holiday camps.”

Derriford doctor secures Parkinson’s training fellowship

Chris Wolff, a geriatrics and general medicine registrar at Derriford Hospital, has been selected for the Advanced Clinical Training Fellowship in Parkinson’s 2025.

Parkinson’s is the world’s fastest growing neurological condition and the Advanced Clinical Training Fellowship in Parkinson’s 2025 is an opportunity for geriatric specialist registrars, providing them with dedicated time to develop their skills and understanding of the care and treatments for patients with Parkinsons.

The fellowship has been funded by Parkinson’s UK, via the Parkinson’s Excellence Network, and is being run in collaboration with the British Geriatrics Society. Successful applicants have their employment costs covered for 12 months, enabling them to undertake a year of full-time training in Parkinson’s and related conditions.

Chris Wolff

The process of applying for the fellowship is highly competitive and being selected is reflective of the quality of both Chris’ existing skills, and the Parkinson’s-related training available locally in the south west.

Speaking about the opportunity, Chris said: “When I found out I had been selected, I was completely speechless to the extent that I was worried they may change their mind if I couldn’t string a sentence together.

“I am honoured to be entrusted with this opportunity.

“I’ve always had a draw towards Parkinson’s, even at medical school –it can be quite a diagnostic challenge at times. So much of a patient’s life is impacted by Parkinson’s and it’s treatment, and the holistic approach is perfect.

“It almost felt like it was fate that I was interested it in and now get the opportunity to dedicate a whole year to develop my skills.

“Devon and Cornwall have some of the oldest population by average age in the country and this is increasing, which could result in a spike of Parkinson’s’ patients in the region. That’s why it is so important that we

have responsive, well-networked services which can use innovative solutions such as digital technology. The region is perfect for investment, time and energy to build and develop the Parkinson’s services.”

Chris will start his fellowship in August, spending nine months seeing patients in Parkinson’s clinics and as inpatients with supervision from consultants, as well as working with local Parkinson’s UK groups and learning from clinical trial teams. After this, he hopes to spend the last three months based within another Trust so he can learn about advanced therapies and work alongside different teams such as a neuropalliative care team.

“This fellowship will allow me to have a complete focus on this one area – giving me the opportunity to have my whole working time dedicated to developing my expertise in an area I want to spend my life working in.”

Anger over Tamerton Foliot homes plan

Dozens of banner-waving protestors have demonstrated their angry opposition to plans to build six homes on a green space in Tamerton Foliot.

The residents gathered on the small plot of land in Mary Dean Avenue on May 22 to show the strength of feeling against the proposal.

Since the application was submitted for ‘Permission in Principle’ to build the homes on the land, nearly 100 letters of objection have been submitted to the local planning authority.

Among them is one from Southway Councillor Carol Ney who wrote: “I have been contacted by residents who have raised concerns about this development and the loss of children’s play areas on the green piece of land, as well as the issues they currently have in parking around the school.

“I urge the council to refuse this application on the grounds that the area is a popular residential area with young children that use and have used this green space for over 40 years. There is a safety risk to

children attending Mary Dean school from extra vehicles and the loss of green space will be detrimental to the village.”

Tamerton Foliot Village Conservation Society has objected to the application on the grounds that communal green spaces should be maintained for the benefit of the community along with the fact that additional traffic through the village is unsupportable. The Society argues that Mary Dean Avenue is badly congested at times together

Breakfast going down well at MAP!

Breakfast just got better at Marine Academy Primary after it was selected to participate in the government’s Early Adopters Breakfast Clubs programme.

The new initiative has allowed the school to expand its breakfast offering and provide all children and their families with access to a nutritious start to the day.

Marine Academy Primary opened its brand-new Breakfast Bistro in the Primary Hall from 8.15am each morning. During this time, families are invited to join their children for a free breakfast, with a variety of food and drink options available for all to enjoy.

The programme is part of a nationwide effort to offer free breakfast clubs in all state-funded primary schools across England by the summer of 2025. These clubs are designed to support children in overcoming barriers to opportunity and ensure that all pupils have the best possible start to their school day.

Georgina Reid, headteacher at Marine Academy Primary said: “We are thrilled to be part of this exciting programme. Breakfast clubs not only ensure our children have the energy and focus they need to succeed, but they also provide a supportive and welcoming environment for families. This initiative is a wonderful opportunity for us to bring together our school community and offer a healthy, nourishing start to the day for all.”

with hazards for pedestrians and children at schooltimes and that further housing would aggravate this problem.

Dr Sarah Payne commented: “I object to this planning application as I believe it will negatively impact the residents’ health and wellbeing. It is well documented that open green space enhances well-being and improve mental health.

“As a local in Tamerton Foliot and walking past this space daily I have seen this green space used for sports and recreation. Most mornings there are a collection of school mums standing on the green chatting and after school children playing.

“There are often bikes, scooters and basketball hoops on the green showing that it is used daily by the residents. I believe that building houses on this land would adversely affect the locals physical and mental health contributing to childhood obesity and poor mental health.

“Please decline this application and protect our green spaces for our current and future generation’s health.”

Applicants Maltford Limited has

retained PWA Planning to seek permission in principle for the erection of up to six dwellings at Mary Dean Avenue in Tamerton Foliot. Maltford Limited is a Manchester base company which is described at Companies House as a business ‘Buying and selling of own real estate.’

Among their arguments in favour of the plan, the applicants stated: “While it is acknowledged that the scheme would result in the loss of an informal open space, its sloping topography limits its value and use as an open space. Additionally, the site is in private ownership, and current use by the public is unauthorised.

“The landowner could lawfully restrict access and remove any perception of public use. Furthermore, residents would continue to have access to two designated open spaces nearby, ensuring continued access to local green spaces. As such, the loss of this space would not result in a deficiency of open space provision.

Deadline for comments was May 29 as the Chronicle went to press.

City College’s Skills Builder initiative is a major success

A community-focused initiative to tackle economic inactivity and build skills for a stronger Plymouth workforce has smashed its targets and is changing lives across the city.

Plymouth Skills Builder, a City College Plymouth programme supported by Plymouth City Council, is celebrating exceptional success one year on from its launch.

The project built essential foundations for future employment for those who took part, allowing participants to access basic skills training through City College Plymouth and Argyle Community Trust, demonstrating strong demand for fundamental skill-building among economically inactive individuals.

Others received job-search support, and reengaged with education through the initiative, a critical first step for those distanced from training and employment pathways.

In collaboration with key partners including Argyle Community Trust, Plymouth Active Leisure, Livewell Southwest and Achievement Training, the project has engaged 283 individuals, exceeding its target by 60 per cent.

The majority of those reached were deemed ‘socially excluded,’ demonstrating the project’s success in reaching those furthest from employment, education and traditional support.

As the project moves into its second year, Skills Builder will deepen its reach within the city’s most deprived communities, expand social prescribing training and evolve its sector taster offers to align even more closely with employer needs and community aspirations.

Funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and supported by Plymouth City Council, the initiative saw 43 people securing employment or self-employment, with a further 58 moving into education or training.

The project has also supported individuals in achieving meaningful milestones towards employment. Nearly 90 participants gained vocational licences, CSCS cards and social prescribing qualifications, opening up direct routes to key industries such as construction, health and social care.

Wellbeing has been a vital component of the Skills Builder approach, recognising that barriers to employment are not solely skillsrelated. Over 40 individuals accessed mental and physical health support, creating a crucial foundation for personal resilience, confidence and sustained engagement with employment opportunities.

As part of its innovative delivery model, Plymouth Skills Builder also introduced sectorspecific taster sessions in construction, digital, healthcare and business, enabling participants to build real-world skills and gain practical insight into potential career pathways.

A major highlight was the partnership with Sherford Skills Training Centre, where individuals experienced live construction environments and gained their CSCS cards, a vital qualification in the sector.

Recognising the broader barriers to employment, the project also invested in innovative solutions such as a new employability clothes bank and confidencebuilding workshops for women re-entering the workforce. These interventions, alongside digital skills training delivered in community hubs such as The Plot in Stonehouse, have helped to address often-hidden barriers such as digital exclusion and self-confidence.

The new Brealfast Bistro is proving popular with children and families alike

Coun Carol Ney objects to plan

Plymouth to spend more on special school places

More than £900,000 is being invested to create more capacity at special schools in Plymouth.

It is part of Plymouth City Council’s £13 million SEND sufficiency plan, which aims to improve support for children and young people with special needs and/or disabilities (SEND) by increasing the availability of special school places.

The council will spend nearly £730,000 to carry out reconfiguration works at Woodlands Special School, transforming an unused space to facilitate a 10-place assessment nursery provision and creating extra school places.

The nursery provision will provide year-long placements for pre-school aged children who are waiting to be assessed for an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). It will be staffed by a teacher and education, health and care assistants, who will monitor children to see whether they need a specialist or mainstream school place. Children will then be supported to transition directly from the nursery into their new school placement.

A further £192,000 will also be used to increase capacity at Longcause Special School, by converting four offices into additional classroom spaces to better meet the needs of pupils at the school.

Woodlands Special School supports pupils aged between two and 19-years-old who have complex physical and sensory difficulties, with many also having medical needs.

Longcause Special School provides places to children aged four to 16-years-old who are on the autism spectrum and have other learning difficulties.

Councillor Sally Cresswell, Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Apprenticeships, said: “One of the biggest challenges we face when it comes to improving our SEND services is the lack of special school places available for children who really need extra support to learn and thrive.

“We are committed to maximising the limited resources available to us to create more specialist provision. I’m delighted that we’re able to work with Longcause and Woodlands to reconfigure their respective school buildings to turn underutilised space into useful learning environments for children and young people with SEND.”

All of the new places for the next school year have already been allocated to children who have been waiting for a specialist place.

The majority of the building work is due to take place during the summer holidays to avoid disrupting pupils and staff.

While most children’s needs can be met in a mainstream setting, for some a specialist setting is more appropriate. To be eligible for a special school place, children must have an EHCP or be undergoing a statutory assessment of their special educational needs and have needs that cannot be met in a mainstream school.

The council and local schools have recently launched a new website outlining the Plymouth Graduated Approach to Inclusion. This helps schools and parents and carers by setting out the support available for children and young people with SEND to ensure that their needs are meet. Find out more at www.plymouthgati.co.uk.

New £1m funding boost for ‘hotspot’ policing initiative

A scheme which delivered more than 26,000 hours of additional foot patrols in Plymouth and other towns and cities across Devon and Cornwall has been extended thanks to a £1 million funding boost.

The hotspot policing initiative is designed to tackle antisocial behaviour (ASB) and serious violence with targeted police and street marshal patrols in areas with the highest levels of crime.

The project, which was initially launched in May 2024, was made possible through £1 million of Home Office funding secured by Alison Hernandez, Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. The Home Office has now committed a further £1 million to continue hotspot patrols over the next 12 months.

The funding pays for additional officer time to conduct the targeted patrols, providing a boost in visible policing where it is needed most. Local crime data is used to identify areas with the highest levels of crime and antisocial behaviour.

While the priority is to prevent crime, the targeted approach to patrolling places police and partners in the right place at the right time, enabling proactive action. In the past year, this has led to: 26,821 hours of hotspot patrols, 256 arrests, 1,467 ASB incidents attended 52 offensive weapons seized, 248 pieces of property seized including drugs and stolen goods and 177 enforcements of Public Spaces Protection Orders.

Chief Inspector Dom Nicholls, who heads up the project, said: “Hotspot policing was introduced across Devon and Cornwall last year and we have already seen positive results. Focusing highly visible police and street marshal patrols in areas of high levels of violence and ASB has been effective in both preventing crime and making people feel safer.

“I am really pleased that the force has received further funding this year as it provides the opportunity to build on the early success

of hotspot policing and ensure that the public continue to see more police on the streets.”

Community engagement is a key part of hotspot policing to increase public reassurance. Since May 2024, more than 93,000 members of the public have been engaged with during a hotspot patrol and more than 40,000 premises visits.

Businesses and residents have felt an increased uniformed presence and reported feeling safer as a result.

A multi-agency approach has been vital in the success of hotspot policing. The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner has worked closely with Devon & Cornwall Police, local authorities, business improvement districts and other local partners.

The street marshals and neighbourhood policing teams have carried out joint patrols and also shared intelligence. This has been made possible as a result of the street marshals receiving training and accreditation through the Community Safety Accreditation Scheme (CSAS).

CSAS grants street marshals limited policing powers to enhance their ability to address ASB.

The accreditation underpins the commitment to collaborative working, allowing partners and police to work together more efficiently to create safer communities.

In addition to reducing ASB and serious violence, cutting knife crime in half is a new objective for the initiative.

Alison Hernandez, Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, will continue to match fund street marshal patrols.

Commissioner Hernandez said: “Hotspot policing is delivering exactly what our communities have told us they want - more visible patrols, proactive policing and real action to tackle antisocial behaviour.

“The success of hotspot policing really highlights the power of partnership working. With the police, street marshals and local authorities all working together, we’re creating a more coordinated, community-led approach to public safety.” Hotspot policing forms part of a wider Street Focus project, aimed at creating safer city and town centres. For more information visit www.streetfocus.co.uk

First of 50 electric buses arrive in Plymouth

The first of 50 zero-emission electric double-decker buses have now arrived in Plymouth, marking a major shift toward cleaner, more sustainable public transport.

The buses are part of a transformative project led by Plymouth Citybus, part of the GoAhead Group, in partnership with Plymouth City Council, Cornwall Council, and the Department for Transport. The initiative will replace almost half of the Plymouth Citybus fleet with brand-new electric vehicles.

The first bus arrived in April and deliveries have continued steadily since then, with more due over the coming weeks, prior to the buses entering service this summer.

The electric buses will operate on Plymouth routes 21/A, 42, and 50/51, with six vehicles also serving the Rame Peninsula in Cornwall on route 70. The full fleet of 50 buses is scheduled to be on the road by the end of the year.

To support the electric buses infrastructure work is progressing

rapidly and the transformation of the Milehouse depot into a state-of-theart hub for charging and maintaining the electric fleet is on track for completion this summer, thanks to the investment by the project partners.

The project is being primarily funded by Plymouth Citybus contributing £19.6 million, supported by a £10.34 million grant from the Government’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Area Fund, with additional contributions of £1.94 million from Plymouth City Council and Cornwall Council.

Richard Stevens, managing

director of Plymouth Citybus and Go Cornwall Bus said: “The arrival of our first electric buses marks a huge step forward, not just for Plymouth Citybus but for the city as a whole. Our team is thrilled to be part of this positive change, and we are fully committed to building a greener transport network for generations to come.”

The new buses will bear a livery showcasing their green credentials and recognising the partnersinvestment.

They are expected to reduce carbon emissions by 79,914 tonnes over their lifetime, as well as

reducing nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide emissions by 28 tonnes, and PM (particulate matter) 2.5 emissions by one tonne.

Councillor Mark Coker, the Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “It’s fantastic to welcome Plymouth’s first electric buses and to be supporting the establishment of Milehouse as an electric bus depot.

“This is a major milestone and demonstrates the commitment of all the project partners – and wider enhanced partnership – to delivering better bus services for the city. I look forward to seeing the new buses out on the road and passengers enjoying the more accessible space and journey information they offer.”

The buses are not only green; they also deliver significant improvements to accessibility, including additional space to accommodate a second wheelchair user or multiple unfolded pushchairs or prams, alongside the mandatory wheelchair space. The new buses also feature audio-visual announcements to provide clear information on routes and upcoming stops.

Royal William Yard calls on community to help shape ‘200 Stories’ celebration

Plymouth’s Royal William Yard is marking its 200th anniversary in 2025 – and is calling on the public to help shape the celebrations.

A new campaign, 200 Stories, has launched to gather memories, photographs, documents, artwork and artifacts that reflect the Yard’s rich and varied history.

The aim is to collect 200 contributions from the community, which will form the basis of two major bicentennial initiatives: a summer History Trail and an autumn 200 Exhibition.

The campaign invites individuals, families, and organisations with a connection to or interest in the site – whether through its Naval past, regeneration journey, or more recent life as a cultural and community destination – to get involved.

A proud past

Built in 1825 and designed by legendary British engineer Sir John Rennie, Royal William Yard is one of Britain’s most important groups of historic military buildings and Europe’s largest collection of Grade I Listed military buildings. Once a bustling victualling facility that produced food, drink, and supplies for Naval fleets, it now stands as a vibrant community hub attracting a vast volume of visitors.

Named after the last Lord High Admiral, King William IV, Royal William Yard served as a vital Royal Navy victualling facility from 1825, helping to keep Britain’s naval fleet supplied for over a century.

After closing in the 1980s, it fell into disrepair until Urban Splash began its award-winning regeneration in 2004. Today, it’s a thriving mixeduse destination featuring restaurants, bars, retailers, art galleries, offices, and residential spaces, while preserving its important architectural and historical heritage. Royal William Yard has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past two decades – and this year offers the opportunity to celebrate and remember all that has gone before.

Celebrating 200 Years

The 200 Stories campaign is about uncovering the human connections to the site, as well as uncovering the hidden histories and experiences

that have shaped this special part of Plymouth over two centuries. The campaign seeks to gather 200 unique contributions from the public, including:

• Personal memories and anecdotes

• Photographs and images

• Artifacts related to the Yard’s history

• Artwork inspired by Royal William Yard

• Family connections to the site’s Naval past

• Professional documents from Yard workers.

All contributions will form part of two major bicentennial projects:

History Trail: Launching this summer, this free tour throughout Royal William Yard will be an interactive trail, connecting visitors to a wealth of digital content, videos and audio. Take a trip through archives, plans, pictures and stories that bring the past alive in a unique way.

200 Exhibition: Taking place this autumn, this curated exhibition at Royal William Yard will showcase original artifacts, historical documents, images and art, sourced from The National Archives, Devonport Naval Heritage Centre,

Hundreds of military families in Plymouth to benefit from new Consumer Charter

Over 900 families in military housing in Plymouth and the surrounding area are set to benefit from a new Consumer Charter, with Defence Secretary John Healey promising to ‘stop the rot’ in military housing.

The Labour Government has brought 36,000 military homes back into public ownership, in a landmark deal completed in January this year. It reverses a 1996 sale described by the Public Accounts Committee as ‘disastrous’ saving the taxpayer £600,000 per day by eliminating rental payments to a private company. A total of 485 military family homes in Plymouth Moor View were brought back into public ownership in January 2025, as well as 420 in South West Devon and 34 in Plymouth Sutton and Devonport. Across the South West, a total of 9,354 military homes were brought back into public ownership in January this year.

Plymouth MPs Fred Thomas and Luke Pollard have welcomed the new Charter, which will introduce basic consumer rights for forces families – from essential property information and predictable property standards, to access to a new robust complaints system. These will be underpinned by new, published satisfaction figures, putting forces families front and centre.

The Labour Government’s Defence Housing Strategy, to be published later this year, will set out further plans to improve the standard of service family homes.

Luke Pollard MP, Member of Parliament for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, said: “Our Armed Forces and their families deserve to live in homes fit for heroes.

“We inherited an awful picture from the last government, with military families having to endure leaky roofs, broken boilers and mouldy bedrooms.

local historians and more. This will sit alongside the content gathered through the 200 Stories campaign. Uncovering hidden history

Both the trail and exhibition will showcase historical insights uncovered during the Yard’s restoration (like the story of the Brewhouse built to fulfil the Navy’s beer ration, which was abolished just as construction finished!), plans and drawings by engineering legend Sir John Rennie, and an array of fascinating facts, discoveries and artifacts. Much of this collection will be on display to the public for the first time, all housed together within Royal William Yard itself.

Anyone with a story to tell or material to share should email 200@royalwilliamyard.com All contributions will be collected over the coming months, shared on a dedicated website, and incorporated into the History Trail and 200 Years Exhibition. For more information and to stay updated on bicentennial events throughout 2025, visit www.royalwilliamyard.com/200

“This government promised to make it a priority to fix defence housing and that’s exactly what we are doing. By bringing 36,000 military homes back into public ownership, we’ve already taken greater control to drive up standards.”

Fred Thomas MP, Member of Parliament for Plymouth Moor View, said: “Many military homes in Plymouth and across the country are in an unacceptable condition. I see it when I knock on doors and speak to folk in Plymouth.

“We have brought almost 500 military homes in my patch back into public ownership and we’re expanding rights for military personnel and their families to ensure they are living in homes that they deserve.

“This Labour government values our armed forces, their families and the commitment they show to our country. The least we can do is ensure they have safe, clean and secure homes and that’s exactly what we are doing.”

Plymouth Proprietary Library,

© Alamy Stock Photo

© Urban Splash

Young people benefit from King’s Trust Get Started with Boxing

A group of young people from Plymouth have transformed their confidence and aspirations through The King’s Trust Get Started with Boxing programme.

Held over one week recently at Mythic Martial Arts, the initiative was designed for those not in work, education, or training. It combined kickboxing, fitness training, and self-defence classes with workshops on money management, nutrition, and mental health, equipping participants with skills to pursue employment and training opportunities.

Hosted at Mythic Martial Arts, the Plymouth-based martial arts school offering Taekwondo, Kickboxing, and Karate, the programme provided a welcoming environment for young people to develop physically, mentally, and emotionally. Participants formed new friendships, re-engaged with fitness, and gained practical life skills, inspiring them to take bold steps toward their future.

Corey, a participant, shared: “After not working for a few months my confidence was a bit low. The course has helped me grow in confidence and I have a bit more belief in myself that I can do certain things. I’m looking forward to working on my future goals – like finding a job.”

The programme aligns with findings from The King’s Trust TK Maxx Youth Index 2025, which revealed that 50 per cent of young people in the South West feel anxious about their future daily, and 52 per cent are concerned about lacking the skills or experience for their desired careers. Get Started programmes offer practical support to address these challenges, helping young people build confidence and access opportunities.

Karl Culleton, head of delivery for The King’s Trust in the South West, said: “Programmes like Get Started with Boxing are vital for equipping young people with the skills and confidence to live, learn, and earn. Without urgent action, we risk a generation feeling locked out of their potential. We’re proud to work with Mythic Martial Arts to support Plymouth’s young people.”

To learn more or support future programmes in Plymouth, visit www. kingstrust.org.uk.

Work of student film-makers to be showcased at More to Sea festival

Student filmmakers from across the South West and beyond are being invited to submit work for the second annual More to Sea festival, a one-day celebration of emerging talent taking place in June at Plymouth Arts Cinema, hosted by Arts University Plymouth.

Part of the university’s commitment to platforming new voices and practice-led creative education, More to Sea is free to enter and open to sixth-formers, college students, undergraduates, and recent graduates (up to two years after graduation).

All selected films will be screened in a professional cinema environment, with separate award categories for Sixth Form/Pre-Degree, Undergraduate and Postgraduate entrants. Organisers are casting the net wide. Submissions are welcomed across all genres and formats, including narrative films, animation, documentaries, music videos, journalism, commercials, branded and short-form content, and any other moving image work created as part of their journey as a student media-maker.

Plymouth family-run company GHQ, is celebrating 25 years located in its prime city centre location.

The company marked the millennium in 2000 with the expansion of the training arm of their business into the location in Whimple Street at the top of Royal Parade.

Fast forward a quarter of a century and managing director Jean Rogers and her team are always looking for ways to build on their success.

“We have the flexibility to respond quickly to business and learner needs,” said Jean. “We are so proud to have worked with small, large and international brands with their staff development, creating bespoke business packages fit for the 21st century.”

Wellbeing champions, GHQ recently achieved a Good rating from Ofsted. Inspectors said: “Learners feel welcome and cared for by training staff. Learners enjoy their studies and look forward to attending the training centres, where they study in a very supportive environment.”

Having recently won a contract with Plymouth City Council, GHQ lead the way in providing wrap-around training for Plymouth schools, nurseries and child minders. Pennycross school headteacher Stuart Tulloch-Thomas said: “The training provided by Jean and the team from GHQ was exceptional. The Pennycross staff are

“More to Sea is all about giving emerging filmmakers the space to experiment and be seen,” said Dr Dom Deane, lecturer in Film & Screen Arts at Arts University Plymouth. “We’re calling for work across all genres – narrative films, music videos, branded content, documentaries, experimental shorts – because our goal is to celebrate the full spectrum of student creativity.

“Whether you’re in sixth form or recently graduated, this is a chance to put your ideas on the big screen, connect with others who love film, and be part of a growing creative community in the South West.”

GHQ Training celebrates 25 years based in Plymouth City Centre FareShare South West appeal for help to find bigger warehouse

FareShare South West, the charity that redistributes food to people in need, recently gathered over 120 of Devon and Cornwall’s political leaders, business innovators, food suppliers, charities and educators for its Spring Summit at Plymouth Argyle’s Home Park Stadium.

The event showcased the power of collaboration in tackling hunger and food waste in the South West and announced an urgent appeal for a larger warehouse in Plymouth. The charity has outgrown its current facility and can no longer accommodate additional cold storage, packing lines or the expanding volunteer teams that are critical to the charity’s mission, and needs larger premises in place by autumn 2025 to sustain its much needed expanding operations.

Guests at the Plymouth summit heard from Lucy Bearn, chief executive of FareShare South West, on the charity’s rapid growth and the challenges of scaling food rescue operations across the region.

Lucy said: “Our current warehouse is simply bursting at the seams. Securing a new, larger facility is essential, not just for space, but to ensure that all surplus food we rescue can reach those who need it most.

“The fact is that we are living in a broken food system. There are so many reasons that food goes to waste including seasonal glut, labelling issues, food that

now delivering high quality care.”

GHQ specialises in education and training courses, as well as child care and teaching assistant training.

Along with many other training opportunities, with funding available for various courses, GHQ continues to deliver high quality hairdressing, barbering, beauty, nails and make up courses. Circus, The Hair Bar and the new REV salon are just a few of the many successful private salons whose creative owners trained with GHQ.

With so much to celebrate, GHQ will open their doors on June 25 between 10.30am and 3.30pm to give the next generation of learners a first-hand opportunity to see how GHQ can help them. The open day will feature demonstrations, refreshments, a chance to win reduced-price training courses and the opportunity to meet staff and chat to former students from as far afield as Holland.

Visit www.ghqtraining.co.uk for more information.

has too short a date to go to the retailers and out-of-season packaging.

“New legislation in March this year means that businesses in England must dispose of their food waste separate from other waste. This is obviously great, but still there is 4.6 million tonnes of goodto-eat food that is going to waste just in the UK. That is the equivalent of 10 billion meals.”

She added: “For many people they do not have reliable access to affordable and nutritious food. Healthy food is twice as expensive per calorie as unhealthy choices.”

Luke Pollard MP for Plymouth Sutton & Devonport and Minister for the Armed Forces attended the Spring Summit. He highlighted the concerning rise in the need for food banks, the importance of securing the charity a bigger warehouse and additional delivery vans so it can better distribute food across the region,

and appealed to attendees to encourage more people to get involved to work towards ending food poverty.

He also stressed how tackling the problem requires action on difficult long term structural problems around wages, housing costs and food availability.

FareShare South West acts as a bridge between food waste and hunger, empowering communities to turn an environmental problem into lasting social good. Since opening its doors in 2018, the organisation has tripled its food rescue volume, with demand from frontline charities growing year-on-year.

FareShare South West is calling on businesses to lend support whether its through volunteering, corporate partnerships, financial donations, pro bono expertise or help sourcing new premises. For further information visit www.faresharesouthwest.org.uk

The one-day festival takes place on Thursday June 12 at Plymouth Arts Cinema.

FareShare South West (from left) Andy Street, chair of trustees; Shelley Wright, director of Partnerships and Business Development; Lucy Bearn, CEO and Josie Forsyth, deputy CEO Photo: Russell Abrahams

Members of the GHQ Training team outside their city centre base

Bambinos Nursery in Woolwell celebrates another ‘Outstanding’ rating from Ofsted

Bambinos Day Nursery in Woolwell has once again been awarded an Outstanding rating across all areas in its latest Ofsted inspection.

The report praised the ‘homely nursery’ for offering a ‘wide range of stimulating learning experiences.’ It highlighted the exceptional progress children make, particularly in their physical development,communication, and personal confidence.

One of the standout features of Bambinos Woolwell is the deeply

caring relationships between staff and children. Inspectors observed that ‘babies demonstrate exceptionally warm relationships with staff who are incredibly responsive and sensitive to their needs.’

The nursery’s curriculum is described as ‘highly ambitious,’ tailored to individual children’s interests and development needs. From learning different styles of dance to exploring outer space through creative play, every day is filled with discovery and joy.

Parents consistently praised the setting, with one commenting that their

child is ‘flourishing’ and making ‘rapid progress.’

Nursery manager Melissa Williams said: “We are thrilled with the outcome of our Ofsted inspection. It reflects the love, hard work and commitment of our incredible team who create such a nurturing, inspiring environment for our children.”

Bambinos Woolwell is open to children aged from birth to the age of five, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. For more information visit www. bambinosdaynursery.co.uk

Local charity scammed out of nearly

£30,000

celebrates as money returned

A local charity was delighted when it secured funding for a new wheelchair accessible minibusonly for scammers to break their hearts and put the charity’s future at risk.

Southway Playcare organises inclusive activities for local primary aged children which includes trips, local visits, cooking, festivals, arts, crafts and residentials, throughout the year, so that all children can safely play alongside their friends from several different schools across Plymouth.

In April last year the charity’s wheelchair accessible minibus which they depended on to transport the youngsters, failed its MOT. The charity could not afford to pay for the repairs, so the minibus had to be sold.

The charity started fundraising through raffles, games and fun days as well as setting up a Go Fund Me page to secure enough funds to purchase a replacement minibus. Thanks to the support of local friends and families a total of £4,000 was quickly raised but it was still well short of their target.

Then on the same day the charity sold the old bus, its chair Judith Thompson secured £30,000 funding from the Clothworkers Foundation towards a new bus.

The staff were so excited and immediately started searching for a new vehicle and secured a deal with a Dorset-based firm for the minibus.

Public views sought on Manadon Interchange improvement plans

Residents, businesses, schools and community groups are being asked for their views on the future of Manadon Roundabout.

The scheme, which is being funded in the most part by the Department of Transport, was given the green light earlier this year.

Plans revealed show a new initial design, with extra capacity on the entrances to the roundabout, as well as new bus priority and improvements for pedestrians and cyclists.

Information events will take place on: Wednesday June 4, 5.30pm to 7pm, Manadon Sports Hub; Friday June 20, 4.30pm to 6pm, Manadon Sports Hub and Saturday June 21, 10.30am to 12.30pm, Central Library.

The transformation of under-used green space off Treveneague Gardens into a new park with footpaths, biodiversity enhancements and recreational space for local residents is also in the plans.

A six-week engagement exercise called ‘Keep Manadon Moving’ will allow residents to have their say on the plans through a number of channels and help shape the final design of the scheme.

Manadon Roundabout is at the heart of Plymouth’s transport network. It connects people to their jobs, families, schools and the hospital. It’s also a key gateway to the A38, Tavistock Road and the city centre, linking our community with Devon, Cornwall and the wider UK.

Motorists frequently experience long queues at peak times, unpredictable delays, safety risks and unreliable travel.

The bus was due to be delivered in August last year to coincide with Southway Playcare’s festival day and in time for their Summer Residential in Bristol.

But just days before the delivery date it was found that the final invoice had been intercepted by scammers and the final balance was paid to them by mistake.

Chair Judith Thompson said: “The team were absolutely devastated and it ruined our summer as it caused so many problems for the group.

“We got in touch with the bank, the police and the fraud team immediately, but after several months we were told nobody could help us, even though we found evidence that the bank should have picked up on things that were clear to us how it happened, but nobody seemed to care.

“As a group we really suffered, friendships broke down, relationships were ruined as we felt there was no chance now of ever finding the money again. As chair and the responsible leader I suffered greatly and just didn’t know what to do next with no support,” she added.

“I even thought I would have to remortgage my house to pay the funders back. But they were so understanding about the issue. I then contacted the media and the Martin Lewis team for advice but all I got was signposted back to the fraud team who had told us they could not help us.”

By now it was January 2025 and with hopes fading, Judith started an insurance claim and an investigation with the Ombudsman, but little progress was being made.

Then in March the charity received a call from Leicestershire Police to say they had caught the scammers and their money was safe in a frozen account.

However, the funds could not be released until the case went to courtbut good news soon followed.

Judith added: “Under the new Proceeds of Crime Act we have now had the money returned and we are now actively looking for a new wheelchair accessible vehicle for this summer’s activities.”

It is hoped the new vehicle will be delivered in July - much to the delight of all the team at Southway Playcare and the children it supports.

If nothing is done, congestion will worsen as the city continues to grow, queues will extend dangerously onto the A38, and access to key places like Derriford Hospital, Plymouth Argyle matches and the dockyard will be harder than ever. Here’s what’s being proposed to fix it:

• A38 eastbound off-slip widening – expanding to four lanes, increasing capacity and easing traffic entering Manadon Roundabout

• A38 westbound off-slip widening – creating an extra lane to increase capacity and improve safety

• A386 Tavistock Road northbound improvements – a new traffic lane heading north, removing the existing merge to improve flow

• A386 Tavistock Road southbound improvements – a new lane to reduce bottlenecks onto the roundabout

• New signalised junction at Southwell Road to improve access

• A386 Outland Road improvements – an additional lane on the approach to the roundabout to increase capacity

• Mannamead Road – new bus priority lane northbound

• New cycle bridge across the A38 at Manadon – connecting north and south

• Replacement of the existing pedestrian bridge over the A386 Tavistock Road making it fully accessible for all users

• Improved footbridge over the A38 to the west of Manadon

• New pedestrian crossing at Southwell Road with safer access for residents

• New woodland pathways – linking green spaces with the road network.

Councillor Mark Coker, Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “We must improve Manadon, not just for reliability and efficiency today, but also for the future and we’re determined to get it right.

“At the basis of this will be robust and meaningful engagement across a number of channels, not just with residents, but across a broad demographic of business and organisations.”

Have your say on the bid to Keep Manadon Moving at: www.keepmanadonmoving.commonplace.is

New Lord Mayor and Deputy announced for year ahead

Councillor Kathy Watkin has been elected as Lord Mayor of Plymouth, with Councillor Chip Tofan as the new Deputy Lord Mayor for the coming year.

They were both elected at the annual meeting in May. Councillor Watkin trained and worked as a speech and language therapist before training as a solicitor.

Lord

Kathy worked in the legal sector in two well known firms in Plymouth and as a registered sole practitioner in her own practice for 13 years prior to retirement.

She has served on various committees including Licensing, Corporate Parenting, Mount Edgcumbe, Planning and has been the vice chair for the Health Scrutiny Committee and Health and Wellbeing board. In 2023 she was elected as Deputy Lord Mayor.

She said: “What a privilege it is to be elected as Lord Mayor, I am really looking forward to the coming year, meeting all the different communities in Plymouth and engaging with them.

“I want to thank my fellow councillors for choosing me as their next Lord Mayor for the year.”

Councillor Chip Tofan was born in Romania, graduating from Iasi Gheorghe Ashachi University, with a bachelor’s degree in engineering and now runs his own business providing consultancy services.

Blue plaque unveiled on former home of Argyle legend Jack Leslie

A blue plaque celebrating the life and achievements of Jack Leslie has been unveiled in a special ceremony in Plymouth

The plaque, located at 8 Glendower Road, Peverell where he lived with his wife and daughter at the peak of his footballing career, was unveiled by Historic England’s chief executive Duncan Wilson and Jack Leslie’s granddaughters Lesley Hiscott, Gillian Carter and Lyn Davies.

It was in October 1925 – nearly 100 years ago – that Jack Leslie became the first Black footballer to receive a call-up as a reserve for the England squad.

Though this honour was rescinded shortly afterwards, it is thought on the grounds of racial prejudice, Jack’s resilience in continuing to excel at Plymouth Argyle and his significance in the history of English football has more recently been acknowledged and celebrated.

He was an inspirational footballer who achieved great success playing for Plymouth Argyle from 1921 until 1935. He developed a strong partnership with fellow player Sammy Black, which was instrumental in propelling Plymouth Argyle towards its highest-ever standing in the English Football League. In 1932 he led Plymouth Argyle to the fourth spot in the Second Division - a record that has never been equalled.

In March 1928, Jack was given the captain’s armband in an away match against Norwich. This was a significant moment in football history, for Leslie was the first Black player to captain an English Football League team. He rarely missed a game and was joint top scorer in the 192829 season with 22 goals.

took on the tenancy of a pub in Truro, before moving with his family to East London.

have happened.’ The FA stated that ‘he faced adversity because of the colour of his skin, and was deselected and never played for his country and that the posthumous cap recognised Jack’s ‘career, his contribution to our game and wider society, and to right this historical wrong.’

In the same year the statue of Jack Leslie was unveiled in an emotional ceremony at Home Park. The statue was the brainchild of Matt Tiller and Greg Foxsmith, co-founders of the Jack Leslie Campaign which raised £140,000 to fund the statue.

They said: “100 years ago Plymouth Argyle’s Jack Leslie was a young newlywed with the world at his feet. He walked from this house to Home Park where he was given the fantastic news that is so significant in the history of our national sport. Jack had been picked for England, the first player of colour to be selected.

“He returned to Glendower Road to share that achievement with his new wife, Win. And it was here that he would later have to deal with that dream being snatched away.

“But he bounced back helping Argyle win promotion and becoming team captain. It also became a family home after his daughter Evelyn came along in 1927. It is a wonderful moment to see Jack recognised and celebrated here with a blue plaque.”

Jack Leslie’s granddaughters Lesley Hiscott, Gillian Carter and Lyn Davies said: “We feel honoured as members of Jack’s family that a blue plaque is being unveiled in recognition of his achievements.

Deputy Lord Mayor Councillor Chip Tofan

Chip was first elected to Plymouth City Council in May 2022, representing Eggbuckland Ward. During his time as a councillor, Chip has been a member of different committees including Scrutiny, Licensing, Natural Infrastructure and the Growth Scrutiny Panel.

Chip said: “I am so pleased to be elected as Deputy Lord Mayor and look forward to supporting Kathy over the next year in office and working together.‚“

Jack’s final two seasons as a professional footballer were overshadowed by an injury to his eye which forced him to miss much of the 1933-34 season. He struggled to regain his old form and played his final match in April 1935.

He possessed remarkable skills as a striker which brought him a tally of 137 goals in a total of 401 appearances for the club during his career.

After his retirement from football Jack

He worked as a boilermaker, riveter and plater in the East India Docks until his retirement in 1966. At the suggestion of his daughter Evelyn, he then found a parttime job cleaning boots and sweeping terraces at West Ham United’s stadium Upton Park, near his home in East Ham.

In 1978, Leslie was interviewed by the Daily Mail and reflected on his career and the racism he encountered. In October 1982, he was honoured with a brief ceremony before the match at Upton Park to mark his retirement from the West Ham boot room.

In October 2022 the Football Association presented Jack with a posthumous cap and recognised that retraction of his call-up ‘should never

“Our grandad made a major contribution to the history of not only football but the integration of black people into our communities. He was a true trailblazer, and we will always be immensely proud of him.”

The unveiling marked the start of an eight-week public nomination period for the National Blue Plaques Scheme, with the public being invited to submit their own nominations for people they would most like to see recognised through a prestigious Historic England national blue plaque at www.historicengland.org.uk/ listing/national-blue-plaque-scheme

Devon Mind settles into new base at Plymouth Science Park

Devon Mind, one of the region’s leading mental health charities, has moved to new premises at Plymouth Science Park.

For over 40 years, Devon Mind has been empowering individuals across the county who are experiencing mental health difficulties. As an independent charity affiliated with the national Mind association, the organisation provides a wide range of support services, including counselling, one to one emotional support, courses and workshops, monthly support groups, and wellbeing activities.

Devon Mind also offers accredited and bespoke mental health training for local businesses and actively campaigns to improve mental health understanding and support in Devon.

The move to Plymouth Science Park marks a significant milestone for Devon Mind, creating new opportunities to collaborate with like-minded organisations and enhance their service delivery across the region.

Dave Hockton, chief executive of Plymouth Science Park, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Devon Mind to the Park. Their

work is vital to the health and wellbeing of our region, and their presence adds a hugely important dimension to our community of businesses. We look forward to supporting their continued mission and impact from their new base in North Plymouth.”

Devon Mind’s chief executive, Olivia Craig, said: “We are really excited for this next chapter in Devon Mind’s evolution. The mission is to ensure that Devon is a place where people can enjoy good mental health and have the opportunity to reach their potential. We want to deliver this support in a trauma-informed way, by adopting an approach where we endeavour to meet people in their communities, where people feel comfortable and have greater opportunities to develop connections that are sustained.”

To celebrate Mental Health Awareness Week in May, Devon Mind visited locations around the Park to raise awareness and encourage community connection, which is the theme for this year’s campaign.

To find out more about Devon Mind, visit their website at www.devonmind.com

Jack Leslie pictured during his Argyle years Photo: Historic England

The Lord Mayor and Consort Councillor Kathy Watkin and Alderman Dr John Mahony

Deputy

Mayor Councillor Chip Tofan

The Devon Mind team

University wins two top nursing training awards

The University of Plymouth has won two categories at the biggest event in student nursing education.

Plymouth won the Student Nursing Times Award for Apprenticeship Provider of the Year, and third-year student Pip Raud won Student Midwife of the Year.

Degree apprenticeships enable employees to study for a degree in a field related to their job while maintaining their employment, and the University of Plymouth was hailed as a ‘shining example’ of delivering this successfully in nursing.

The judges said: “This passionate and dedicated team truly championed the life-changing potential of the apprenticeship route. Their inclusive approach to learning ensures that everyone has the opportunity to engage, thrive, and succeed. The judges were particularly impressed by the innovation woven throughout the curriculum and the powerful, real-world impact –transforming not only the lives of learners but also enriching the wider service user and carer community. A shining example of apprenticeships at their very best.”

Caroline Jamison, associate professor of Nursing and Academic Lead for Apprenticeships, said: “Having been shortlisted for the inaugural award last year, we’re delighted to have gone one further and won this year.

“What we do is a real team effort, as our apprenticeship programme leads and academic teaching teams work collaboratively with professional services colleagues and the university’s central apprenticeship hub across our pre registration and post registration apprenticeship programmes.

“Our work is focused on meeting the needs of our apprentices, employers, stakeholders and ultimately patients and service users in the South West and beyond, so we’re very much celebrating this award with everyone involved.”

Student Midwife of the Year Pip Raud embarked on a career in midwifery after personal experience ignited a passion in the health sector.

Pip, who has two teenage children, became a professional sailor in her teens and pursued a degree combining water sports and business, while balancing her sailing passion.

She had been diagnosed with severe endometriosis in her teens and was told that she would be unlikely to have children. However, she and her husband had a son and daughter in her early twenties although she required additional care during pregnancy and lots of visits to hospital.

Pip said: “It was during that time, when I received incredible care from midwives and other professionals, that something in my core ignited, and I couldn’t really quieten it down.”

With two young children, and her health in mind, Pip decided to move away from the physical demands of sailing to a career in photography.

She said: “Photography was great, but I always remembered the incredible care I’d

received when pregnant, and maintained this passion for midwifery. I found myself looking through the textbooks I’d accumulated for fun, but I was at a stage of life where I felt it was a nice idea rather than a reality.”

Then, in 2019, Pip’s health issues returned, and she had to have a hysterectomy. While naturally concerned, she again was inspired by the care of the health professionals she met.

“The whole team was amazing, but there was one particular consultant who looked after me and gave me incredible care. I was feeling low but reflecting on his support, I thought ‘I want to be this for other people’, and knew healthcare was my calling.”

A few short months later, the Covid pandemic hit – and the combination of events acted as a catalyst to re-evaluate her career path.

She was approaching 40 when she decided to look at studying midwifery at the University of Plymouth.

“What really appealed was the blended learning option – where some of the theoretical teaching is delivered online to make learning more accessible – and the fact that having an existing degree made me eligible to achieve a masters in three years, rather than four.

Nearing the end of her three-year masters, Pip received a surprise email saying she had been shortlisted for the

Student Ella’s

‘Giving Voice’ impact at Marjon

Ella James, a third-year speech and language therapy student at Plymouth Marjon University, has been making a significant impact in the world of sport by raising awareness of the challenges faced by individuals with speech, language, and communication needs (SLCN).

Through a series of innovative sessions with sports teams led by Ella and the Giving Voice Society – of which Ella is president – she has sparked vital conversations on how sport can be more inclusive for all.

Ella and her peers developed and led a unique approach to raising awareness of communication differences by organising a variety of sports activities where players participated in total silence.

The sessions spanned a variety of sports, including lacrosse, cheerleading, table tennis, dance, women’s futsal, and under-11s football. Despite the physical nature of these activities, participants had to find ways to play without verbal communication, encouraging them to empathise with the daily struggles of individuals living with SLCN.

Ella is president of the Marjon Student Union’s Giving Voice Society, a group which is part of a national campaign led by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT).

Student Nursing Times Awards.

Pip said of her win: “It’s the biggest surprise but I’m so grateful and absolutely delighted. I took the leap back into study and there were lots of unknowns for me, but thanks to support from my family, the university and placement providers, I know I absolutely made the right decision.”

Deeply impressed

The judges said: “We were deeply impressed by Pip Raud’s outstanding clinical knowledge and skill – particularly in antenatal care and the induction of labour. Compassionate, reflective, and driven by a desire to continually improve, Pip places those in her care firmly at the centre of her practice. Service user feedback highlighted her empathy and the positive, person-centred experiences she creates.

“Pip showed remarkable courage in navigating challenging situations, always prioritising safety and family wellbeing. Her ability to bridge the gap between research and practice, combined with exceptional interpersonal skills and a collaborative approach within multidisciplinary teams, sets her apart.

“The profession is truly fortunate to welcome such a dedicated and visionary midwife. The judges congratulate Pip and wish her every success in the journey ahead.”

The campaign aims to ‘give voice’ to people with SLCN, ensuring their needs – and those of their carers and families – are addressed, while also demonstrating the positive impact of speech and language therapy on individuals and communities across the UK. The society worked collaboratively to put this project into action and bring SLCN inclusion to the surface in sport.

Ella said: ”I’m really passionate about helping people and working to create a world where people with SLCN can truly feel included in society. People with communication difficulties face many challenges every day, so encouraging others to think more empathetically can help create a more inclusive world.”

Alex Mallinson, programme lead of the Speech and Language Therapy course at Marjon, praised Ella’s commitment to making a difference:

“The SLT department is very proud of the work the Giving Voice Society have done with this and other projects to raise public awareness of communication differences and disability. Working with such a range of sports teams is particularly innovative and a powerful way of empowering others to promote diversity and inclusivity in sport.”

Ella’s efforts reflect Marjon’s ongoing commitment to fostering inclusivity and providing opportunities for students to make a meaningful impact in the community.

Through initiatives like the Giving Voice Society, students like Ella are championing the cause of inclusion, ensuring that individuals with SLCN can fully participate in all aspects of life, on and off the sports field.

In September this year, Marjon’s speech and language therapy students and clinic, alongside many others, will be learning and working from the university’s new facility.

The Marjon Health & Wellbeing Hub will house the majority of Plymouth Marjon’s health and care courses and community clinics, working to increase collaborations, knowledge exchange, and provide greater opportunities to access healthcare for the local and regional community, helping to relieve pressure on the NHS in Devon.

To find out more about speech and language at Marjon visit www. marjon.ac.uk/courses/speech-and-language-therapy

Members of the University of Plymouth nursing apprenticeships team at the awards ceremony

Student Midwife of the Year Pip Raud

Ella James

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Lions experience the fruit of their fundraising

TOTALLY GUTTERED

Four members of Plymouth Lions Club of Plymouth visited Woodlands Special School at

to see the improvements to two sensory rooms which had been funded by the

The Lions donated £1,100 raised by their Christmas supermarket bucket collections to the school, which caters for children with physical, sensory and medical difficulties. Lion Pam Greenwood, who leads the club’s community service committee was accompanied by vice president elect Lion George Poad, and fellow Lions Jill Owen and Joy Clarke. Katie Lai, the teacher in charge of sensory provision at the school, showed the Lions how images can be projected onto walls, while sounds and smells can be added for effect. This can be linked to the school curriculum, and can be relaxing or stimulating for pupils, who can use switches to control images, bubble walls and infinity walls.

Tor Bridge High students take classroom learning to Jurassic Coast at Lyme Regis

A group of Year 11 students from Tor Bridge High have taken their classroom learning to the coastline of Lyme Regis to explore the real-world impact of coastal erosion.

The visit formed part of their geography curriculum and gave students the chance to witness first-hand the natural processes and human interventions that shape coasts. Students observed visible signs of erosion and investigated the effectiveness of coastal defences such as sea walls, rock armour, and managed retreat zones. The hands-on experience helped bring textbook theory to life, deepening their understanding of environmental management and coastal sustainability.

Lyme Regis is geographically famous for its dramatic coastline, which forms part of the Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

This area is renowned for its rich geological history, offering one of the most complete records of the Mesozoic Era, spanning over 185 million years.

The cliffs around Lyme Regis are particularly well known for their abundance of fossils, including those discovered by pioneering fossil hunter Mary Anning in the 19th century. In addition to its paleontological significance, Lyme Regis provides a striking example of coastal erosion and management, with landslides and cliff retreat shaping the landscape and prompting the implementation of various coastal defence strategies – making it a key location for geography education and fieldwork.

At Tor Bridge High, which is part of the Ted Wragg Trust, the geography curriculum is designed to create globally-minded citizens. Students explore both historical and contemporary issues on local, national, and global scales – linking Plymouth’s unique geography with wider global patterns such as migration, climate change, and sustainability.

Tracy Stephenson, headteacher at Tor Bridge High, said: “Seeing our students engage so enthusiastically with the landscape and ask thoughtful questions about sustainability and climate resilience was incredibly rewarding. Opportunities like this help shape their learning in meaningful ways.”

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Lions Joy Clarke (left) and Jill Owen pictured in the sensory room with teacher Katie Lai

Tor Bridge High students at Lyme Regis

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Students from Marine Academy Plymouth have returned from a trip to France as part of a French pen pal exchange, experiencing language in action, new friendships, and cultural adventures, all thanks to funding from the British Council.

Their journey began with a warm welcome at the French technical school, where students dived into collaborative projects, ice-breaker activities, and campus life, even exploring some incredible engineering innovations.

In Toulouse, students took in iconic landmarks like the Capitole, racked up over 20,000 steps, and enjoyed their first taste of authentic crpes which they declared delicieux! Evenings were spent bonding with their pen pals over games and laughter.

The historical town of Albi wowed students with its awe-inspiring 13th-century cathedral and sunshine-filled sightseeing. Evening board games kept the cross-cultural fun going strong.

A standout moment was the visit to Carcassonne, a medieval city where students braved escargots (snails) at lunch and wrapped up the day with French speech practice and a cozy film night, language learning at its finest.

Marine Academy Plymouth, which is part of the Ted Wragg Trust, is delighted that the students have come back from the trip with stronger language skills and even stronger friendships.

Jennifer Brimming, principal of Marine Academy Plymouth said: “This trip was so much more than a visit, it was a life-changing experience for our students. Watching them confidently use their language skills, form genuine friendships, and immerse themselves in French culture has been incredibly rewarding.

“We’re so proud of the way they represented the school and embraced every opportunity.”

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MAP students enjoy a taste of French hospitality

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Marine Academy Plymouth students and staff pictured during their recent visit to France

The quiet revival taking place... Experience

Something interesting and frankly unexpected appears to be happening in the UK.

According to research commissioned by the Bible Society and conducted by YouGov it appears that there is a significant increase in church attendance and especially amongst Gen Z (those people born between 1997 and 2012).

These are changing and, in many ways, challenging times. Economically there is uncertainty as well as widening wealth inequalities in many countries and a cost of living crisis affecting many.

Globally there is unrest and war in several places and we are seeing technological advancements move at a near unprecedented rate. All this leaves us at best feeling slightly uneasy and at worst struggling to cope.

That’s a gloomy picture and is admittedly only a part of the bigger global picture. . It may however be a contributory factor in why more people than at other times in recent years are seeking answers to some of life’s bigger philosophical questions.

In seeking for answers, it would appear, many are turning to Christianity.

According to the Bible Society:

The Quiet Revival shows that the most dramatic church growth is among young adults, particularly young men. In 2018, just 4 per cent of 18–24-year-olds said that they attended church at least monthly. Today, says

By Dave Simpson, Station Manager of Cross Rhythms Plymouth

The Quiet Revival, this has risen to 16 per cent, with young men increasing from 4 per cent to 21 per cent, and young women from 3 to 12 per cent.

Source: www.biblesociety.org.uk/research/ quiet-revival

What interests me about the aspect surrounding Gen Z in particular is a turning back to the faith that likely was present in their ancestors but a faith which their parents and grandparents may have turned away from.

Christianity has been the prevalent faith in the UK for centuries. One of the challenges with that is it can become something you feel connected to without ever really exploring it. Some might say ‘I’m a Chrisitan because I’m Britishor because their parents and grandparents went to church. In other words I go to church and my parents go to church because it’s the thing we all do here.

The problem comes when there is no personal engagement with God himself and a receiving of His love through Jesus. It can become a dusty old religion rather than a vibrant relationship with the God who made you.

From the 1960s onwards many in the generation of the day threw off traditions and conventions that were in place which had, in their experience at least, lost all meaning and purpose and therefore had no value.

The pervading cultural Christianity was for many one of those conventions.

A generation rose seeking what life was really all about and this gave way to huge societal shifts in culture which were embodied in many areas such as music, fashion, attitudes to sex and increasingly widespread use of ‘recreationaldrugs.

In their seeking, many could not find answers in traditional expressions of faith, and they rejected what they saw as mere ‘social norms’. The throwing off of traditional Christianity and

traditional Christian values of that time led to a secularisation of the country in the following decades and a disconnection or disbelief in a God who cares for us

Interestingly though at the heart of this search for answers, many hippies in the 60s and 70s in the western world discovered for themselves the person of Jesus and found his teachings, life, death and resurrection contained the answers they were looking for.

Now Gen Z are growing up without cultural Christianity being anywhere near as prevalent as in prior generations. They are seeking authentic answers and as a result many are finding Jesus for the first time. What about you? Are you searching for answers in life? Have you ever looked to Jesus for the answers?

Or perhaps have you turned away from Christianity because your only experience had been a dusty and pointless religion? Maybe now is the time for you to look again to Jesus. Not to how he may have been misrepresented to you but who He says He is and who He can be for you today.

Listen to Cross Rhythms Plymouth on 96.3FM or online at the new Cross Rhythms Plymouth website at www. crossrhythms.co.uk/plymouth

Plymouth achieves Tree City of the World status with more than 35,000 trees planted across city

Plymouth has been recognised as a Tree City of the World on back of another exceptional planting season this winter.

Since November 2024, thanks in part to a major new partnership effort, there are over 35,000 new trees growing and establishing across the city.

In the city, council teams have helped to plant over 5,700 new trees of all shapes, species and sizes all over the city to further enhance the successful legacy of the Plymouth and South Devon Community Forest.

Meanwhile, in addition to the trees planted in and around the city, council and Community Forest teams assisted with the planting of a vast new 30,000-strong forest on MOD land near Ernesettle.

Be it parks and open spaces, road verges, residential streets or in school grounds, council teams have been busy delivering a positive impact for people and nature across the city.

This year more than 650 standard and fruit trees have been established. Standards are large trees that at the time of planting are already six to ten feet tall with this year’s number nearly double that of 2024.

On top of the standards, a further 5,102 whips have been planted as hedgerows and high-density planting areas which will become the wildlife corridors, edible hedgerows, and wooded areas of the future. Over the course of the season teams have engaged with hundreds of people of all ages through various community events and groups including Plymouth Tree People, Headway, Societree, and the Hoe Gardening Group, as well as through partnerships with landowners like Plymouth Community Homes and the Learning Academy Trust.

The successful season, plus ongoing work behind the scenes, has led to Plymouth being awarded the coveted status as an official Tree City of the World.

The Tree Cities of the World programme is an international effort to recognise cities and towns committed to ensuring that their urban forests and trees are properly maintained, sustainably managed, and celebrated.

The status is awarded when a city can demonstrate having policies for tree management; an inventory to determine what trees it has; a budget to care for those trees; a group dedicated to the care of those trees and an annual celebration of its trees.

Plymouth was awarded the status after a joint bid between Plymouth and South Devon Community Forest, the council and local charity Plymouth Tree People, in recognition of the innovative approach to bring our community forest to life.

Councillor Tom Briars-Delve, Cabinet Member for the Environment and Climate Change, said: “Another year, another incredible amount

of trees planted across our beautiful city. Just marvellous.

“Then to be become a Tree City of the World is a real honour for our city. Since taking control in 2023, this administration has championed tree planting and the natural environment so this international recognition as a leading tree city, achieved thanks to positive collaborations with local community groups, shows just how far we’ve come.”

Penny Tarrant, Chair of Plymouth Tree People, said: “We are delighted to have worked in partnership to achieve this accolade for Plymouth. It demonstrates the commitment to, and the value in, working together.

“As a local charity, our core work is to plant, care and learn. As partners we have played our part in planting many street trees across the city, caring for trees via our broad Tree Warden network and in teaching about and celebrating trees through the Plymouth Urban Tree Festival in May.”

The prolific 2024-25 planting season means that that over 17,500 trees have been planted across more than 120 sites since 2021, when the Plymouth and South Devon Community Forest was first launched.

The Defra funded Community Forest project boundary stretches from the South Devon coast, across Plymouth and right across to the rolling landscape of Dartmoor National Park.

By April 2026 a further 300 hectares will be planted creating a mosaic of orchards, hedgerows, areas of natural regeneration, native broadleaf, and productive woodland.

Unlike traditional forests, the community forest isn’t geographically restricted to one place. Instead, it encompasses a wide variety of planting styles from community accessible woodland, private woodland, highway verge planting, urban wooded areas, habitat corridors and hedgerows contributing to the wider England’s Communty Forests.

For more information about Community Forests and how to get involved visit www.psdcf.com

To contribute to the consultation on the Community Forest Plan visit www.plymouth-consult.objective.co.uk/kse/event/38334

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 after the end of season defeat bvy Leeds United is from lifelong Argyle fan and one of the founders of Argyle Life, Sam Down So, it’s finally happened. After a valiant effort in the last few months to starve off survival, Plymouth Argyle have been relegated to League One.

What happened - and what next?

USEFUL NUMBERS

At the moment, we’re still in the processing phase. It’s raw and it’s difficult to see the club appear so fallible after years of seemingly unstoppable progress.

The last time I wrote for Chronicle readers with reports of Argyle’s progress, it was the start of March. I spoke about how ‘Muslicballhung in the balance. It was capable of brilliant defensive masterclass performances but also staleness and did not show adaptability.

I thought long and hard about how to write this article. Do we look at the story as it’s developed or do we look at what Argyle need to do? Ultimately, the two topics are opposite sides of the same coin.

Despite the gutwrenching relegation, Miron Muslic has arguably proved himself to be Argyle’s greatest asset. We might not have stayed up but we gave it a great shot. The final chapter of our Championship story is the best possible blueprint going forward.

What Happened?

Things had to get worse before they could get better. Following the euphoria of the Man City game, came two back to back fixtures where Argyle reached what was perhaps their lowest ebb.

A crunch trip to relegation rivals Hull: Argyle never got going and it was such a dismal effort that we didn’t even register a single shot until the 75th minute mark. The Greens lost 2-0 as Hull registered only their third home win of the season. The following Saturday at home to Sheffield Wednesday certainly STARTED better but we still didn’t have a shot on target after the 34th minute. A tepid 0-3 loss was only slightly less embarrassing than the 4-0 battering by the same opponents on the opening day.

Something had to change and it had to change fast. The murmuring among critical fans was that Muslicball had had its day- was useful for nothing except smash and grab wins vs superior opponents.

We were back in the doldrums again. Back where we were after the Burnley thumping where all faith seemed lost. The same problems were apparent – the inability to open teams up or to so much as tweak our playing-style.

The win that followed against Pompey couldn’t have been more crucial. It wasn’t our best performance. But it was a brilliantly worked win with a fine team goal. It was our first away win in the league all season - to paraphrase the manager after Sunderland away – ‘signs of life’.

Argyle then lost 2-3 at home to Derby the game after the international break. However, even despite the implications of that loss for our season, the performance gave us hope. Muslic re-integrated Bali Mumba into his best position of wing back and we played the better football on the day.

“I believe that Simon Hallett has done a wonderful job in raising the ceiling of this club’s potential. But the board and the CEO have serious questions to answer about the last year and a half. Hiring Miron Muslic has been about the only good decision made on the football side of the club since the end of 2023” SAM DOWN

After the international break, we knew that hope of survival were slim. It was more like an audition ultimately - for the players and maybe even for the coaching team.

What followed was a run of form tantalisingly close to great escape. The only reason we didn’t quite get there was the fact of Derby, Hull and other sides finding enough form to (once again) raise the bar to an unusually high total for survival.

I won’t break down every game in detail. But, the describe Swansea aside, almost every game was a vast improvement. While Argyle’s style was still direct, we played the ball out to wide areas to find a better outlet (rather than the first time hoof).

Whilst there still wasn’t much possession, we managed to control matches and pin teams back before opening them up with rapier-like passing moves. Three very creditable home wins against Norwich, Sheffield Utd and Coventry demonstrated the new Argyle with a swagger in their step.

The game that deserves the most credit though is the away match at Preston. In heartbreaking fashion, Argyle just found out that they’d been relegated just minutes before kick off following a late Luton goal in the early kick off to win 1-0. Argyle came out and ruthlessly dispatched of a Preston side with everything on the line for them. To respond to adversity with such a clinical and professional performance is testament to Miron Muslic’s impact and the standards he has raised since his arrival.

A creditable performance in the loss at home to Leeds closed out the season and that was that. Or was it?

What Next?

Given the gushing tones of my recent paragraphs, you might be forgiven for thinking that we are going down in a good place. Players like Ryan Hardie, Bali Mumba, Adam Randell and (especially) Mustapha Bundu are ending the season in absolutely fine settle. Muslic’s points per game record would have been enough to secure a

lower mid table finish. His record since the Match international break is even better still.

You might sense a ‘butcoming– and you’d be right to. It seems like Argyle fans can’t even have a bittersweet ending without a sting in the tail.

Miron Muslic’s recent media interviews make for concerning listening.

He’s repeatedly failed to confirm he will be here next season. In a shocking press conference just before the Leeds game, he gave a punchy response. He bemoaned the fact that the club have still not filled the vacant roles of Sporting Director or indeed Head of Recruitment.

Most importantly, he expressed his concern that key players who are either out of contract or rumoured to have relegation release clauses haven’t yet been tied down to extended contracts. It was inarguably a shot across the bow at the board of directors for what he deems to be inadequate support.

At this point, and with all due respect to the ownership who’ve worked hard to get us to this level, you have to question the common denominator. If Muslic does go (and by the time of print, he may well have done so) then it will be the third Argyle manager to think that the grass is greener on the other side since the end of 2021.

Ryan Lowe, Steven Schumacher, now Miron Muslic?

To lose one talented young coach is unfortunate, to lose two could be coincidence. To lose three – well, as the quote goes, that looks like carelessness.

I believe that Simon Hallett has done a wonderful job in raising the ceiling of this club’s potential. But the board and the CEO have serious questions to answer about the last year and a half.

Hiring Miron Muslic has been about the only good decision made on the football side of the club since the end of 2023.

I’ll be honest – I’ve not always been his biggest fan. His critics say he’s trying to manoeuvre an exit and they may well be right. That being said, we will never know whether Muslic would be more amenable to staying if the club didn’t make decisions at such a glacial pace.

As a convert to the cult of Muslic rather than a believer from the offset, my message is this. Keep this man at all costs (within reason). He’s showed himself to be an excellent coach and has acutely diagnosed many of the problems that have plagued us since Schumacher’s departure.

If there’s any way of mediating the differences, we need to do so. Get that new contract on the table and if needed, give him the title of manager rather than head coach.

He’s not perfect: many disapprove of his use of the media and compare it to the old tricks of Jose Mourinho back in the day. It may be true that he’s a Mourinho in a world that caters to Guardiolas. But he’s our Mourinho - Argyle need to take every chip they have, put it on Miron Muslic and hope for the best. I can’t think of anyone better suited to get us back up.

Head coach Miron Muslic at a recent press conference

St Luke’s launches major art trail for 2026

A spectacular lighthouse art trail is set to brighten the streets of Plymouth in 2026, uniting the community through creativity while raising muchneeded funds and awareness for the compassionate end of life services St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth provides for patients and their loved ones.

St Luke’s Guiding Lights promises to be one of Devon’s most ambitious, must-see, family-friendly events for next summer. It will run for 10 weeks, culminating in a grand auction of the striking exhibited sculptures to the highest bidders.

Following in the footsteps of the highly successful Elmer’s Big Parade back in 2019, St Luke’s is teaming up once again with expert producers Wild in Art, this time to create a trail of up to 40 distinctive eight feet tall lighthouses, each one uniquely designed and decorated by a professional or emerging artist and generously sponsored by a local business, organisation or individual.

The eye-catching artworks will be put on display in prime locations across Plymouth, creating a free, easily accessible promenade experience for adults and children of all ages, whether they already love art or are yet to discover its magical appeal, with the added bonus of prompting people to get up and get moving outdoors.

St Luke’s Guiding Lights launched

in May with a reception at the Royal William Yard’s Ocean Studios where the first lighthouses were revealed.

Renowned artist and St Luke’s patron Brian Pollard unveiled the striking Plymouth-inspired design he has painted on one of the large sculptures that will take pride of place on the trail.

Meanwhile Mrs Murals (aka Plymouth artist Ellie Johnson) offered a sneak preview of the smaller-scale lighthouse she painted in seascape style that will be on the move promoting St Luke’s Guiding Lights over the coming months.

She said: “I am so pleased and

proud to be a part of this amazing project that involves the community and celebrates art, and the most fantastic thing is being able to support such a vital local charity.”

A call has now gone out to professional and emerging artists from near and far to submit their lighthouse designs for the trail. A judging panel will select the winning entries and sponsors of each sculpture will select the design they want from the shortlist.

Chosen artists will then be commissioned to turn their visions into reality, and paid a fee, acknowledging the high quality of

designs anticipated and the work involved.

The Little Lights learner programme will engage children and young people in the project, connecting with schools and community groups across Plymouth and beyond. There will be opportunities to design and decorate one of 40 smaller scale lighthouses to be included on the trail and get involved in fundraising initiatives, as well as resources to help open appropriate conversations around death and dying.

While the main focus will be in Plymouth itself, there will also be a collection of travelling sculptures visiting the surrounding towns of Devon and Cornwall that St Luke’s services cover, such as Tavistock, Kingsbridge and Launceston.

When the trail comes to an end, the lighthouses will be gathered together for a major viewing event, followed by a high-profile, edgeof-your-seat auction night, with proceeds from the sale of the original artworks, after costs, going directly to fund St Luke’s care.

• To find out more about becoming a lighthouse sculpture sponsor, applying to submit an artist design, or to follow the progress of the event, please check out the St Luke’s Guiding Lights website www.stlukesguidinglights. com or social media channels @ stlukesguidinglights on Tik Tok, Facebook and Instagram

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The June edition of the Plymouth Chronicle in Derriford and North Plymouth will be published on June 27 with a copy deadline of June 20. The Derriford and North edition is one of four hyper local editions delivered to a total of more than 90,000 homes throughout the city.

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Across: 5 Throttle, 7 Dish, 9 Impressionism, 10 Aside, 11 Usually, 14 Quarter, 16 Skint, 19 Tablespoonful, 21 Asps, 22 Operates Down: 1 Thames, 2 Corridor, 3 Eeriest, 4 Eden, 6 Tusk, 8 Sisal, 12 Arkansas, 13 Teashop, 15 Urals, 17 Nausea, 18 Lose, 20 Lisp

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Artists Brian Pollard and Mrs Murals talk to Project Lead Jessica Wooller