Exeter Living - Issue 243

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EXETER AND BEYOND ISSUE 243 / APRIL 2019 / EXETER LIVING AWARDS SPECIAL

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ISSUE 243 / APRIL 2019 / £3

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© EMMA SOLLEY

EDITOR’S LETTER

ABOVE: Why everyone loves elegant

Southernhay, page 64; BELOW: Exeter Festival of South West Food & Drink is back, page 38

Y

ou’ll have noticed that a sizeable chunk of this issue of Exeter Living is devoted to winners. 22 of them, to be precise, ranging from your favourite local charities to knockout shops to technology wizards. (And the 500 or so people who celebrated with them on the big night). You’ll find out everything about the annual explosion of sequins, bow ties, champagne and cheering that is the Exeter Living Awards from page 11.

But really, Exeter, when are you not winning?

Triumph is a long-term habit for you. Just look at what else we’re talking about this issue. A world-class food festival and restaurant scene (page 38)! Cultural happenings worthy of New York (from page 49)! Heartstoppingly beautiful architecture and thriving businesses (from page 59)! Properties to mortgage yourself up to the hilt for (page 76)! Rosettes for everyone, we say.

Exeter’s always a postive place but, now we’re fully into spring, there’s an even keener sense of hope and possibility in the air.

May you flutter through Easter and the first May bank holiday like a newly-emerged butterfly.

See you again next issue!

ANNA BRITTEN Follow us on Twitter @ExeterLiving

www.mediaclash.co.uk I EXETER LIVING I 3

We are an independent, caring, family run practice providing the highest standard of medical and surgical care with multiple specialists in house. Well equipped branches and state of the art hospital.

We provide our own 24hr Emergency service.

Surgeries available seven days a week.

to all our clients and their pets!

Four Branches across the City of Exeter Heavitree 01392 250066 Alphington 01392 493999 St Thomas 01392 250000 Whipton 01392 465553

www.cityvets.co.uk

Issue 243/April 2019 Cover Guests clamour to be cover stars at the 2019 Exeter Living Awards. Photos by Cliff Smith

upfront

7 Spotlight News from in and around Exeter.

Includes one half of Altern-8!

31 julie Reid Our columnist ponders the challenges

of mid-life

right place

33 JP HEDGE Seeking inspiration? You’ve come to the 37 MY DESK Virginia Baily shares her workspace

cover feature

11 EXETER LIVING AWARDS The winners! The

11

dresses! Full coverage of the big night on 7 March

FOOD & DRINK

38 MOVEABLE FEASTS Exeter Festival of South West

76

Food & Drink, and the best new dishes for this spring

the arts

49 INTRO A world première in Sidmouth 50 WHAT’S ON Amazing art, thrilling theatre, must-

hear music and fun family events, all on your doorstep

shopping

55 intro The trendiest Easter egg in town 56 editor’s choice Blue sky thinking...

Business

59 business insider Exeter College, South West

Water, and more. Plus: Movers & Shakers

63 THE WAY I SEE IT Mike Saunders of Re-flow tells

you how to secure investment for your start-up

64 HITTING THE ’HAY The busy, beautiful world of

Southernhay, by those who work there

Property

76 showcase Come and view Biddlecombe House

with us

Regulars

90 Exeter lives Gardening star Frances Tophill

Editor Anna Britten anna.britten@mediaclash.co.uk Managing Editor Deri Robins deri.robins@mediaclash.co.uk Senior Art Editor Andrew Richmond Graphic Design Megan Allison Cover Design Trevor Gilham Editor’s Photo Emma Solley Contributors Julie Reid, Roxanne Duris, Holly McSweeney Advertising manager Paul Wiltshire paul.wiltshire@mediaclash.co.uk Account manager Paula Miller paula.miller@mediaclash.co.uk Production/Distribution Manager Sarah Kingston sarah.kingston@ mediaclash.co.uk Deputy production manager/production designer Kirstie Howe kirstie.howe@mediaclash.co.uk Chief Executive Jane Ingham jane.ingham@ mediaclash.co.uk Chief Executive Greg Ingham greg.ingham@mediaclash.co.uk Exeter Living MediaClash, Circus Mews House, Circus Mews, Bath BA1 2PW 01225 475800; www.mediaclash.co.uk @The MediaClash © All rights reserved. May not be reproduced without written permission of MediaClash.

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

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spotlight Everybody’s talking about…

GETTING INTO THE GARDEN April is here and your garden needs you. And apart from a personal visit from Monty Don, there’s no better way to inspire yourself to pick up your trowel than a trip to Toby’s Garden Festival.

Founded five years ago by local celeb gardener Toby Buckland, and back at Powderham Castle from Fri 3-Sat 4 May, this annual celebration of all things horticultural boasts several wheelbarrows’ worth of top speakers including John ‘Boycie

Art

from Only Fools & Horses’ Challis, Joe Swift and Frances Tophill (see also page 90) as well as specialist nurseries, workshops and more.

You can also make like the Ancient Greeks, Queen Victoria and trendy brides by garlanding yourself with one of 400 free, floral crowns with the help of the British Academy of Floral Art. Maybe don’t put the roof down on the drive home…

For more: www.tobygardenfest.co.uk

LET’S SEE Did you know that not everybody has a ‘mind’s eye’? Ask them to picture the inside of their home, or a loved one, for example, and they can’t do it. These people have aphantasia. Conversely, other people have hyperphantasia, an overactive ‘mind’s eye’ meaning they ‘see’ images so vivid they could be mistaken for reality.

Both terms were coined four years ago by the University of Exeter Medical School’s Professor Adam Zeman.

Now an exhibition exploring the impact of these two conditions on art has just opened at RAMM. Extreme Imagination: Inside the Mind’s Eye features paintings, videos, sculpture and millinery (including work by Claire Strickland, pictured) by 22 artists who have aphantasia or hyperphantasia, and aims to explore the imagination’s role in art making. Visitors will also be invited to test their own ‘mind’s eye’.

Meanwhile, the first ever international conference on aphantasia and hyperphantasia, the Extreme Imagination Conference 2019, takes place at the University of Exeter on 5 – 7 April.

For more: www.rammuseum.org.uk www.exeter.ac.uk

Get flowered up at Toby’s Garden Festival

History

INTO THE BLUE

Three generations of Simpsons attended the unveiling

An Exeter engineer and inventor has been honoured with the latest Exeter Civic Society blue plaque.

Stephen Simpson was born in Mansfield in 1869, moving to Exeter to work for (and eventually become chairman of) Willey’s Foundry. Of Simpson’s 200 inventions, the most famous was the penny-in-the-slot gas meter. He was also responsible for the construction of the Trew Weir suspension bridge, owned tailoring business Lugets, and saved Exeter Cathedral with prompt reconstruction work after it was bombed in the Second World War. When offered a knighthood, he said: “No, I want to die plain Stephen Simpson.”

From 1899 to 1912, Simpson lived in Tregear on Spicer Road, which now serves as the arts block of Maynard School. The new plaque is therefore based at the entrance to Maynard School, where it was was unveiled by Simpson’s great-great-granddaughters.

For more: www.exetercivicsociety.org.uk

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spotlight Fitness

KEEP ON RUNNING…

MY EXETER MARATHON DIARY University of Exeter student Tom Lambert, 20, is training for the Exeter Live Better Marathon, sponsored by Tozers, which takes place on 19 May Disaster! Training has been somewhat interrupted as, unfortunately, I have picked up a niggling pain in my ankle. Fingers crossed it will be fine come race day, but it has meant that I have been off running for over a week. Ideally, I would have done a few short and easy runs this week to keep my legs ticking over. So, I’m having to think of other ways remain sharp for race day...

Nutrition is key for squeezing out your best performance and shaving seconds or even minutes off your time. In the days building up to the race, start to have some larger portions packed with carbohydrates and veg. I’ve gone for a huge spaghetti bolognese.

The morning of the race I always try to have a relatively small breakfast with a lot of sugary fruits: yogurt with blueberries and banana, often with a bowl of porridge. There is nothing worse than running with a completely full stomach! In-race nutrition is also vital to get spot-on.

What works for some people isn’t always quite so effective in others, so it’s always useful to experiment during some of your longer runs. I tend to alternate between caffeine-based energy gels and energy bars (only have half at a time) roughly every 20 minutes for the duration of the race.

On the playlist this week: Power – Kanye West.

For more www.exetercitycommunitytrust.co.uk/running-events

SEVEN DEADLY SINS In our regular mini Q&A with visiting and local performers, DJ (and one half of Altern 8) Mark Archer bares his wicked soul LUST: Who or what do you find yourself lusting after today?

My wife.

GREED: What should you be cutting down on (non-food and drink!)

Sleepless weekends. I’m not at the age anymore when it doesn’t affect me in the week.

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

with cheese from a Wimpy. My all-time favourite food.

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

Decorating our new house, otherwise I’ll never hear the end of it.

WRATH: What/who makes you angry?

Trump. For obvious reasons.

ENVY: Who are you jealous of ?

People with hair; I miss mine.

PRIDE: What’s your proudest achievement?

My three kids, they’re ace.

Mark Archer is one of the DJs headlining Camp Bestival X Big Fish Little Fish Presents: The Heroes Vs. Superheroes Family Rave Tour 2019 on Sunday 28 April at Exeter Phoenix; www.exeterphoenix.org.uk

EXETER LIVING awards

© PHOTO BY MAT T ROUND

exeter is the winner – always…

The biggest ever Exeter Living Awards were held last month. More nominations, more finalists – and yet more emotions on a very special night…

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Jane, Greg, Steph, Anna, Paul, Paula and the Exeter Living and MediaClash Events teams

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© PHOTO BY MAT T ROUND

W

hat is this life if we have no time to stand and stare?”

Awards give opportunity for pause. Pause to think how well a business has done in the year. Pause to consider a city and how it is changing.

And pause to ponder on just what remarkable individuals there are in Exeter, developing companies, employing more people, finding new routes to market, increasing the amounts of goods and services bought locally, risking start-ups, volunteering for charities, acting civically, seeking to improve this city…

And so it was at the Exeter Living Awards, the most emotional yet. It was a night to be proud of Exeter.

We came to celebrate and stayed to cheer – resoundingly. The warmth in the room was palpable.

The brand-new and hotly contested Civic category saw not one, but two winners crowned. Judges found it impossible to choose between CoLab Exeter and Exeter Library, both of whom have had a profound effect on Exeter as a place everyone is proud to live and work in. In a city of such success, highlighting the vital work they both do was recognised with a standing ovation.

For many, the highlight of the evening was the surprise Special Achievement award, which recognised the extraordinary life and work of Tony Rowe, chairman of Exeter Chiefs and founder and chief executive of SW Comms. Tony has been a powerful driving force behind the Chiefs for over 20 years, transforming the club utterly. He was notably touched by his standing ovation.

Reader, whisper it not, but there was even just the hint of tears.

Such was the power of the Awards and the sheer exhilaration of celebrating Exeter that they were trending on Twitter – trending nationally, that is.

Obviously.

Reading the nominations and attending the Awards makes us feel yet better about Exeter – and we hope that, for you, the same is true of Exeter Living as, issue in issue out, we celebrate the very best of Exeter.

On this überglamtastic evening of shimmering beauty, of whooping and surging emotion, of celebration and coming together, ultimately there was one winner: Exeter – always.

To all who entered, judged, sponsored, partnered, entertained, gushed, filmed, aftershowed, photographed, supported, organised, hosted, fed and watered us all, just one word: thanks. These were the very best yet.

And next year?

It’s started already. Tick tock.

Platinum Sponsor

mediaclash.co.uk 37

EXETER LIVING awards

It’s a cliché for a good reason to say that we couldn’t have organised the Exeter Living Awards without our wonderful sponsors – but, well, we couldn’t’ve.

But beyond that, it’s also superb that so many leading companies are part of this singular celebration. To each: thank you.

Platinum Sponsor: Jelf Main Sponsors: Ashley House, Cathedral Appointments, Crumbs, Dana Mulligan PR & Marketing, Energy Hair, Exeter College, Exeter Live Better, MediaClash, Old Mill Accountants, Princesshay, Triangle Networks, Warwick Event Services, WBW Solicitors, Wilkinson Grant & Co

Silver Sponsors: The Exeter, Mercure Hotels, The Oddfellows, Premier Financial Planning Feature Sponsors: CityFibre, Forn Exeter, The Stand Off

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category WINNERS

ARTS

Sponsored by

BUSINESS SERVICES Sponsored by

CHARITY

Sponsored by

Photos by MAT T ROUND

Winner:

Thelma Hulbert Gallery

Winner:

Air Marketing Group

Winner:

Balloons (Devon)

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BAR

Winner:

Lloyd’s Lounge

Café

CIVIC

Sponsored by

Winner:

Apple Blossom Cafe

JOINT WinnerS:

CoLab Exeter and Exeter Library

EXETER LIVING awards

CREATIVE Sponsored by

EVENT

Sponsored by

GASTROPUB

Winner:

Luminous Show technology

Winner:

Exeter Pride

Winner:

The Seven Stars, KENNFORD

EDUCATION

Winner:

Cornerstone Academy Trust

Food/Drink Producer

Winner:

Good Game

Sponsored by

HAIR & BEAUTY Sponsored by

Winner:

Radiance MediSpa

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EXETER LIVING awards

Winner: HEALTH & WELLBEING Exeter City

HOMES & INTERIORS

LEGAL & FINANCIAL

LEISURE & TOURISM

Community Trust

NEW BUSINESS Sponsored by

Winner:

The Exeter

Winner:

Luminous Show Technology

Sponsored by

PROPERTY

Winner:

Sapphire Spaces

Winner:

Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery

Winner:

Exeter Science Park www.mediaclash.co.uk I EXETER LIVING I 17

EXETER LIVING awards

RESTAURANT

Winner:

MEAT59

Sponsored by

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT

Winner:

Tony Rowe

RETAILER

Sponsored by

TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION Sponsored by

Winner:

Nourish of Topsham

Winner:

Degould

PLATINUM AWARD Sponsored by Winner:

Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery

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FINALISTS Arts

• Dreadnought South West • Exeter Phoenix • Substance & Shadow Theatre • Thelma Hulbert Gallery • The Young Pretenders Theatre Company Bar

• Doctor Ink’s Curiosities • Exeter Christmas Market Bar • Lloyd’s Lounge • The Mugglers Inn • The Oddfellows • Spoken • The Standoff

• The Daisy Café Education • The Ginger Cat Deli • Cornerstone Academy Trust • Exeter Cathedral Charity School • Balloons (Devon) • Exeter • CoLab Exeter Mathematics • Community, School Equality, Disability • Exeter Tutors Action (CEDA) • The Outdoors • Exeter CITY Group Community Trust • Rebecca Dowell • Exeter Dementia Tuition Action Alliance • organicARTS • Pete’s Dragons Event • RSPCA South, East • Devon County & West Devon Show • YMCA Exeter • Event Exeter at the University of Exeter • Exeter Cathedral Civic Christmas Market • Awcock Ward • Exeter Literary Partnership Festival • CoLab Exeter • Exeter City Futures • Exeter Pride • InExeter (Christmas • Exeter Library Light switch on) • Freemoovement • Phonic FM (10th UK CIC Anniversary • Royal Albert Takeover) Memorial Museum • South West & Art Gallery Business Expo • The Oddfellows • TEDxExeter • TEDxExeter

Hair & Beauty

• A Salon Called Hare • Amanda Marsden Lifestyle Salon & Spa • The Hair Boutique (Exeter) Limited • Radiance MediSpa • Salon82 Hairdressers • Skin Southwest • Wear Park Spa at Exeter Golf and Country Club

Planning • Seabrook Clark Leisure & Tourism

• The Donkey Sanctuary • Exeter Golf & Country Club • Exeter Racecourse • Haven Banks Outdoor Education Centre • Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery • Stuart Line Cruises • Upton Barn & Walled Garden

Restaurant

• The Conservatory Restaurant • Forn Bar & Restaurant • Harry’s Restaurant • Lloyds Kitchen • MEAT59 • On The Waterfront Retailer Sponsored by Princesshay Exeter

• The Belt Makers • The Grocer On The Green • Nourish of • County Topsham Chiropractic • Sancho’s • EDP Drug & New Business • Sapphire Spaces Alcohol Services • Exe Bookkeeping • Exeter Advanced and Payroll Services • SNOB • Toot Garook Dentistry • Frocks in Swing • Zebel Bespoke • Exeter CITY Time Business Service Community Trust • Health House • Air Marketing • The Exeter Travel • Lloyd’s Lounge Group Technology and Clinic • Luminous Show • Aquamarine Innovation • Health House Technology • Awcock Ward • BioSystems • Nuffield Health • Nourish of Partnership Technology Exeter Hospital Topsham • Forest Produce • Bitpod • Homes & Interiors • Premier Financial • Girling Jones • Degould • Bradburys of Exeter Planning • Launch Online • The Environmental • H2O • The Recycled • The Lead Lab Futures & Big Data • LHC Design Candle Company • LHC Design Impact Lab Creative Food / Drink • Market Carpets • The Standoff • Nexus Open • Exeter Velocities • Attention Media Producer • Sapphire Spaces Systems • Lightfoot • Clockwork Satellite • Butter Bike Co. • Premier • Luminous Show • Dtwo Creative • Good Game Property Communication Technology • Lightning Oak • Quickes Traditional Legal & Financial • Awcock Ward Electronics • Optix Solutions Productions • Spoken Gin Partnership • Charles Stanley • RGB Recruitment • Luminous Show • Veg in a Box • Burrington Estates • Re-Flow • The Exeter • Signs Express • Sparx Technology New Homes • The Family Law • We Are Like Minds • One Voice Media • East of Exe Company Gastropub & PR • Exeter Science Park Café / Coffee Shop • The Cadeleigh Arms • GX Accountancy • Render Creative • KTA Architects and & Bookkeeping • The Five Bells Inn • @143 Urban Designers Services • The Oddfellows • Apple blossom cafe • Tubers The Video Creators Academy • Ring of Bells Inn • Kirk Hills: Chartered • Space • Bumble and Bee/ Accountants • Seven Stars Sea • Premier Financial Kennford • Phoenix Café Bar

All hail the Judges!

Ann Hunter Manager, InExeter

Dr Olivia Champion Founder, BioSystems Technology

Erin Cox Owner, Erin Cox Jewellery

John Laramy Principal and chief exec, Exeter College

Health & Wellbeing

All decisions about these Awards are made by a panel of utterly, impeccably independent judges, chosen afresh each year from all areas of Exeter business life. All different businesses types and sizes.

With a record number of yet stronger nominations, the decisions this year were harder than ever for our judges.

Our sincere thanks to all

Julian Harris Branch director, Jelf

Owen Richards Founder and managing director, Air Marketing Group

Peter RandallPage Artist, sculptor, Royal Academician

Sarah-Jane Bingham-Chick Director, Savills

Yvan Williams Owner, The Oddfellows

SEEN AC ROSS E X E T E R , O N E SH I N D I G AT A T I M E

JP and Stacey Hedge Freemoovement, Girling Jones, Apple Blossom Café, D2 Creative and Steve Hawkins

PHOTOS BY FULL FAT PHOTOGRAPHY, MAT T ROUND AND CLIFF SMITH

John Laramy and Greg Ingham

Kalkidan Legesse and Vidmantas Markevicius (Sancho’s)

Sarah-Jane Bingham-Chick (Savills) and Rose Mullin (Substance & Shadow Theatre)

Energy Hair, with Sam Taylor (Hanlon’s) Salon 82 and Launch Online

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Mercure Exeter Southgate Hotel

Let’s get this party started!

Matthew and Faye Rowbury (Daisy Café) Amanda Marsden and Hayley Williams (Amanda Marsden Aveda Lifestyle Salon)

The Oddfellows

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EXETER LIVING AWARDS

Pete Woodham Kay (Good Game) and Sam Taylor (Hanlons Brewery)

Amy Ware, Laura Clarke and Sophie Baitup (Radiance MediSpa)

Rowan Clarke (Salon82), Becky Dickinson and Jay Cowle (Launch Online) and Ama Williams (Environmental Futures & Big Data Impact Lab) Ella Huffman and Jo Armstrong (CoLab)

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Phil Langford and Brian Helmer (Taurus Clearer Communications)

EXETER LIVING AWARDS

Louise Mayor, Gemma Johnson and Dan Sandhu (Sparx)

Charles Stanley, LHC Design and Cornerstone Academy Trust

Sophie Brookes and Ben Lanyon (Warwick Event Services)

Shevek Pring, Melinda Burge, Annabelle Milverton and Tom Lowday (The Outdoors Group)

The Great Hall at the University of Exeter was packed out with 500 guests

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EXETER LIVING AWARDS

Oliver Raud (Plymouth College of Art), Kathryn White and Ama Williams (Environmental Futures & Big Data Impact Labs)

Jelf, Animals In Distress and Taurus Clearer Communications

Luka Chitty (Luka’s Barbers) Natalie Brereton and Greg Ingham (MediaClash)

Burrington Estates New Homes, InExeter and Exeter Phoenix

Energy Hair and Sam Taylor (Hanlon’s) www.mediaclash.co.uk I EXETER LIVING I 25

Serving breakfast every day from 9am until 11.30am. Handmade, gourmet burgers are available every day from 12 noon until late.

Our meat is supplied by award winning butchers Gribbles, and the buns are baked at Olivers Bakery in Crediton.

Sourdough for breakfast is sourced from Emma’s bread at Boatyard Bakery.

Meat59 are also available for outside events and weddings.

M59 SHAKSHUKA (V & VG AVAILABLE) Chorizo & peppers in a smoked paprika tomato sauce, crumbled feta, coriander, poached egg & Emma’s bread toasted for dipping.

CONTACT US FOR MORE INFO OR TO BOOK A TABLE 29 Magdalen Rd, Exeter, Devon, EX2 4TA 01392 672 043; exeter@meat59.com

EXETER LIVING AWARDS

Victoria Baitup, Kayla Ramday, Nicky Toffolo, Pradnya Apte, Poppy Herridge and Erin Harrison (Skincare Southwest and Onboard PR) Ross Morsehead, Louise Middleditch, John Laramy and Emily Horn (Exeter College)

BioSystems Technology Victoria Bearham, Georgina Evans, Shaun Thornburgh, Charlotte Curtis and Kennedy Hiley (The Hair Boutique)

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EXETER LIVING AWARDS

Exeter Library, St Austell Brewery, The Stand Off and Forn

Balloons

Bereavement and Loss Looking Onwards ‘If any of my friends were unlucky enough to lose Dad like I did – I’d tell them to go to Balloons. In fact, I would take them there myself!’

Bereavement is probably the most fundamental loss that a child or young person will ever have to face. At Balloons, we know that if children are not given the space and time to have their grief heard, they can face problems in the future. They might struggle with physical and emotional health, with friendships and with family and school life. For a child, this can be overwhelming, and that’s where we come in. We make sure that children are supported as they process their grief and develop their own coping strategies. No one should have to do this alone, especially a child.

We are absolutely thrilled to have won the charity category at the Exeter Living Awards 2019. What a landmark moment this is for us as a very small local charity.

To find out more about their work, please visit the website www.balloonscharity.co.uk or email Sara Bennett, Balloons CEO – sarabennett@balloonscharity.co.uk

OPINION JULIE REID

Things fall apart Julie observes the second law of thermodynamics up close

M

y life seems to be a constant battle against things going wrong, things falling off, illnesses, injuries, things getting dirty.

I’ve got dystonia of the toe, my sat nav screen’s gone yellow, my curtain rail’s fallen down, my dad went through a glass window. As soon as one thing appears to be on its way to recovery, something else happens – it seems the distant, perfect carrot of ‘Everything is as it should be’ that is taunting me can never be reached. Life is one big fight against decomposition.

Everything is trying to fall apart.

I cannot believe how much maintenance houses need, especially ones on a hill near the coast. I am on a never-ending treadmill to keep up with all the internal, and especially external, improvements that need doing. Really, they aren’t even improvements, they just need doing to stop the house reverting into a pile of stones. So much

“Having children and copious amounts of stuff means it’s harder to jauntily bugger off somewhere else”

moss and dirt has grown over my path and patio it’s hard to believe they still exist. All the window frames were recently repainted before they eroded to the point of no return, but surely they were only done a few years ago. How do I keep up?

Every workman who comes to survey the damage gives me the ‘this really is in a very bad state’ look. But I constantly seem to have a stream of gardeners, handymen, carpenters, plumbers, electricians here in rotation, and my house isn’t that big, and I’m not particularly pernickety or house-proud.

When I was younger, as soon as the house, car, boyfriend etc reached a certain amount of disrepair I’d just trade it in for a new one. But as you get older, it’s more difficult to have that Mad Hatter attitude for many reasons.

Having children and copious amounts of accumulated stuff means it’s harder to jauntily bugger off somewhere else.

Owned stuff is harder to run away from than rented stuff.

And then there’s the attachment that grows over time, the feeling of familiarity and security. You don’t want to have to learn how something new works, you are comfortable in knowing you know your front door needs kicking to get it open, that your passenger side indicator doesn’t work, and

that your boyfriend’s OCD means he goes into a psychotic meltdown if you fold his laundered socks together the wrong way.

As a kid, everything miraculously stays clean, and when something breaks, a few days later it’s fixed. The garden usually looks perfect, if you cut yourself all you need to do is cry and it’s immediately cleaned and bandaged. Somehow everything, including yourself, can be made new and sparkly again. Now, in mid-life, I have had things go wrong with my body that scores of specialists have never before witnessed and have no clue how to cure, however much I cry.

So these also become familiar things that I’ve learnt to live with, another piece of my youthful self chipped away for good, making me slower, less able to fight the force of nature.

I suppose I just yearn to have one day where nothing is lost or broken, everyone feels well, and I can fold the socks whichever way I like. ■

Julie Reid is a photographer/writer and London exile who moved to Sidmouth with her two children and rock star husband. Instagram: @londondevongirl

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OPINION JP HEDGE

We can be heroes Exeter – you bring out the best in all of us, JP included…

T

here seems to be a ridiculous amount of inspiring people living and working in the city.

Take the Exeter Living Awards ceremony – it really was something else.

I’m often lucky enough to get an early feel for some of the best things happening in the city, but I had no idea, until the event, about some of the individual brilliance going on. The capacity crowd was testament to two worlds coming together.

Exeter Living has set itself out as a high-profile platform and a respected cheerleader for the city who are not afraid to celebrate success in all they do.

I was particularly thrilled to see the RAMM recognised on the night for the genuine impact they have.

You may have heard about local government finances.

This is not the place to talk about them, but they provide for interesting times if you are a fan of high blood pressure and sleepless nights...

Exeter puts its money where its mouth is when it comes to RAMM, to the tune of £2million from a net budget of £11.7million. It’s a massive commitment by any standard. But when you see what they achieve, and the impact they have in the heart of the city, you can see why generations over the past 150 years have worked so hard to help

“I have been unbelievably fortunate in meeting people to draw inspiration from”

it continue to thrive.

I also drew massive inspiration from the way Exeter as a city got behind the Red Roses for their recent international at Sandy Park.

The RFU haven’t seen crowds like that outside the Rugby World Cup – and I truly believe the key ingredient for success was the outlook of people living and working here.

Exeter is the brilliant alternative to so many other places.

While the men were doing their thing as part of the Six Nations, Sandy Park was breaking records supporting women playing at the top of their game.

Even when I was watching the game, I met inspiration. I met former Royal Navy serviceman James O’Malley who dropped into conversation that he is shortly off to Mount Everest Advanced Base Camp to break a couple of World Records ahead of the Rugby World Cup. His team have raised more than £200,000 for children with disabilities and those facing disadvantage. To get the World Record, they need to carry their own telescopic posts with them.

I turn 40 this year, and over those four decades I have been unbelievably fortunate in meeting people to draw inspiration from.

And, sometimes, I’ve even been brave enough to check in with how I’m doing with contributing to society.

I did an exercise once in which you write your own obituary.

It’s an interesting choice for a leisure activity, but it is actually less morbid than it sounds. As a journalist I wrote dozens and dozens of tributes to people who I knew by name and facts only – so what would I say about myself ?

The exercise is really straightforward – you write down what you’d like people to say about you, and then compare it to what you are actually doing and behaving like, follow that direction of travel – and shorten the gap.

And if you need some inspiration – there really is lots to be found in Exeter. ■

Jon-Paul Hedge is a director at Exeter City Council where he currently looks after tourism, communications and culture. He is a former newspaper editor and lives in the city with his wife and two young children. www.exeter.gov.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I EXETER LIVING I 33

Elizabeth Ann of Exeter

FABULOUS SPRING STOCK

Smart, casual and occasion shoes. Large selection of HB loafers. Lisa Kay, Cefalu, Caprice, Van Dal, Riva.

Hand made Spanish and Italian colourful sandals and much much more.

Sizes 2 (35) to 8 (41) available and various fittings

3 Cathedral Close, Exeter EX1 1EZ Telephone: 01392 252876 www.elizabethannshoes.co.uk

PEOPLE These little twisty trees are models of baobab trees I brought back from Madagascar

A red glass bowl features in Early One Morning and this one was a gift from the Italian publishers

A proof copy of my latest book, The Fourth Shore, out now

MY DESK Marguerite Yourcenar and Ali Smith – my current reading

Music distracts me when I’m writing but I pause at intervals, put some tunes on and do yoga or dance

This spiky ball is for my feet for a condition called plantar fasciitis – really hurts, but it's healing pain!

VIRGINIA BAILY

Myths from Mesopotamia – the novel I’m writing now has a Mesopotamian strand

The key won’t turn in this locked drawer and I’ve pulled the handle off (repeatedly) trying to wrench it open

W Saturday’s Guardian cryptic crossword – I dip into it as a way of switching my brain to something else. Sometimes I can’t do it at all

hen you’re busy writing a bestselling novel, you really can’t afford to get distracted by people chatting at the bus stop outside.

That’s why St James-based author Virginia Baily moved her desk – purchased at an auction in Exeter, with the help of proceeds from her debut novel – away from the window.

Now, here in her “work space/ living room/spare bedroom”, Virginia surrounds herself with research material and mementoes from her travels to create unforgettable works of historical fiction, such as new novel The Fourth Shore (Little Brown).

Not sure how she concentrates when Exeter City are playing at home, though… ■ For more: www.virginiabaily.com

Wobble board – I got this after an ankle injury

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

MOVEABLE FEASTS Your May Day bank holiday weekend just got a lot tastier! Roxanne Duris finds this year’s Exeter Festival of South West Food & Drink bigger, busier and more bursting with flavour than ever

This looks like more fun than the weekly big shop...

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

spring dining

A Exeter Beats welcomes two BBC Radio 1 DJs this year

Michael Caines with the Good Game guys

s the sun asserts its dominance in the sky, and winter shrinks away in the rear view mirror, a glutton’s thoughts turn to picnics and barbecues, long al fresco lunches, afternoon ice creams and nice, cold ciders. Stuffing and drinking ourselves silly, basically, with the best that Devon has to offer.

Which makes this the perfect time of year for Exeter’s flagship foodie event.

The Exeter Festival of South West Food & Drink returns to Exeter Castle and Northernhay Gardens on May Day Bank Holiday weekend (Saturday 4 – Monday 6 May).

Launched in 2003 to celebrate the best produce in the region, the event welcomes some 20,000 visitors across the long weekend.

Supported by Visit Exeter, the foodie spectacular celebrates the start of spring with live music, chef demonstrations, artisan produce, real ales and cider, family-friendly workshops and a chance to meet people who dedicate their lives to making delicious things.

Meander through the two large food and drink pavilions and you’ll meet – and sample the wares of – over 100 South West exhibitors including the likes of Sharpham Wine and Cheese, Burrow Farm Food, Salcombe Gin, Georgie Porgies Puddings, The Little Bakes Bakery and Braunton Asparagus.

They’ll be showing off their wholesome, high quality produce – everything from beef to brie and peanut butter to pastries – all, of course, grown and/or made around these parts. Among the new exhibitors taking part in Fresh at the Festival – an initiative created to champion those who’ve been in business fewer than three years – are Butter Bike Co, Cocorico, Passion for Pie, Pretty Little Pastries Ltd, Sweet Foragers and Two Drifters Brewery.

As usual, a glittering line-up of local chefs will help you hone your cooking skills in a series of demonstrations in the Festival Cookery Theatre. This year, you’ll get to admire the chopping/sautéing etc skills of Mitch Tonks (Rockfish), Michael Caines (Lympstone Manor), Gareth Howarth (Gidleigh Park), Josh Eggleton (top Bristol chef/restaurateur you’ll recognise from BBC2’s Great British Menu), Adam Banks (Fifteen Cornwall), Tim Bouget (ODE Restaurant), Elly Wentworth (The Angel), Jane Baxter (Riverford Field Kitchen) and The Salutation Inn’s Tom Williams-Hawkes.

But that’s not all. Music is very much on the menu again – it’s the food of love, after all. Exeter Beats kicks off at 6.30pm on the Friday evening before the Festival proper begins, and also runs on the Saturday and Sunday evenings – with superstar DJs Nick Grimshaw, Scott Mills and Kristian ‘Hodor from Game of Thrones’ Nairn, live music, streetfood, bars, regional drinks and a lively, festival atmosphere.

What else? It’s still a not-for-profit event. Which is even more cause to raise a glass. Of what, that’s up to you (and you’ll be spoiled for choice).

“Everything from beef to brie and peanut butter to pastries”

The Exeter Festival of South West Food & Drink takes place Sat 4 – Mon 6 May. Opening Hours: 10am-6pm (Sat-Sun); 10am-5pm (Mon) Exeter Beats: 6:30pm – late, Fri 3-Sun 5 May. Various ticket options available. For more info and to book: www.exeterfoodanddrinkfestival.co.uk

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

spring dining

SERVICE! We asked some of your favourite local restaurants what’s cooking this spring…

MEAT 59

What should we order off your menu this spring?

Our April special burger ‘Lamb Bamba’ – Devon lamb patty, chimichurri sauce, manchego, sweet piquanté peppers, gem lettuce, chipotle mayo. Our lamb is from Tordean Farm, Buckfastleigh.

And what would you suggest we drink with that?

Our resident draught pale ale, Pogo. It’s a pale ale, American-style from Wild Beer Co, Somerset.

What are your favourite Devon ingredients in spring?

Aside from the Devon lamb, local asparagus will be available towards the end of April and we’d have to say this is our favourite Devon spring ingredient. Although it isn’t something we would normally put in a burger, it will be appearing as a special on our breakfast menu with a Meat59 style! www.meat59.com

You’ll have a good Friday at Gidleigh (or a super Saturday, splendid Sunday...)

HARRY’S

What should we order off your menu this spring?

Spring leek and chive soup, spring rump of lamb with salsa verde and Jersey royals, followed by rhubarb panna cotta.

And what would you suggest we drink with that?

Rhubarb bellini – it’s our favourite and it’s back!

What are your favourite Devon ingredients in spring?

Lamb and rhubarb! Lots of rhubarb... might have to have some custard to go with that! www.harrysrestaurants.co.uk

RODEAN

What should we order off your menu this spring?

Exe Valley lamb cannon served with lamb bon bon, potato terrine, pea and crispy broccoli.

And what would you suggest we drink with that?

Langmeil Winery Valley Floor Shiraz, Barossa, Australia.

What are your favourite Devon ingredients in spring?

Local rhubarb, wood pigeon, locally caught trout. www.rodeanrestaurant.co.uk

GIDLEIGH PARK

What should we order off your menu this spring?

The rhubarb, elderflower panacotta, caramac and shortbread is among the highlights on the spring menu, which we regularly update throughout the year. Each dish is defined by absolute freshness and seasonality, and guests at Gidleigh Park can also enjoy the beauty of spring with an after-dinner drink on our elegant terrace, overlooking the River Teign and Dartmoor National Park.

And what would you suggest we drink with that?

A glass of our Brachetto (Azienda Agricola Negro ‘Birbèt’ Piedmont) would suit perfectly, as a beautifully fruity Italian red that works well with these lighter flavours. Our internationally renowned wine cellar accommodates over 13,000 bottles from around the world, including an impressive selection of European, New World and bio dynamic wines, so there is a huge selection for guests to choose from.

What are your favourite Devon ingredients in spring?

Rendezvous’ rolling menu never disappoints

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

The talented team use the season’s finest produce, and the lamb, wild garlic and purple sprouting broccoli are just a couple of examples of the locally sourced dishes that can be found on our menus. Every dish is designed to take advantage of the area’s best ingredients, cooked to maximise flavours with a refined yet apparently simple, honest approach. www.gidleigh.co.uk

THE BOATHOUSE, TOPSHAM

What should we order off your menu this spring?

Our ‘La Mer’: a beautifully light sharing platter that brings out the best of the area, featuring homemade local mackerel rillettes (smoked local mackerel, fresh dill, cucumber, crême fraîche), sustainable smoked salmon from Brixham’s KingFisher, prawns in homemade garlic-parsley butter, homepickled local cucumber and carrot, olives, peashoots, locally made sourdough bread and butter.

For vegans, we have the same grazing plate but with galette pinwheels, dates, roasted walnuts, homemade beetroot hummus, peashoots, pickled vegetables, sourdough bread and vegan margarine.

And what would you suggest we drink with that?

A local white or rosé (we have changing guest ones), or a French Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire called Les Anges.

What are your favourite Devon ingredients in spring?

As we try to keep our menu seasonal and local, spring is a very exciting time for creative combinations in our plat du jour, like our foraged wild garlic and nettle focaccia, a colourful radish and beetroot salad, purple sprouting with clementine and chili and the ever–so-versatile spinach – it’s not just in plenty of galettes, but we have a lovely spinach, asparagus and pistachio soup. We are very lucky indeed to have local suppliers within a five-mile radius who either grow our veg or source them locally.

For cakes I would definitely say rhubarb – such a wonderfully flexible fruit to bake with! www.boathousetopsham.com

PHOENIX, CHUDLEIGH

Gourmet grazing at The Boathouse, Topsham

What should we order off your menu this spring?

Salt and pepper crispy squid with aioli mayonnaise. Followed by trio of lamb cutlets with a rosemary, redcurrant and red wine jus. Followed by a Devon cream tea and strawberry cake!

Everyone’s going mad for Devon rhubarb

And what would you suggest we drink with that?

Start with a Tinkture Rose Gin – the colour is amber, but when mixed with a Luscombe’s elderflower tonic, turns a beautiful pink.

What are your favourite Devon ingredients in spring?

With the lamb, the Finca Manzanos Rioja Reserva at £29.45 a bottle. www.phoenixchudleigh.co.uk

RENDEZVOUS

What should we order off your menu this spring?

Our menu changes daily. We operate a rolling menu, making the most of what our fabulous local suppliers can bring us, based on what is in season and good value. Examples of some yummy dishes you might find in our menu are Brixham crab and tarragon croquettes with roast pepper and apple salsa and curried mayonnaise; pan-roasted Brixham cod and seared scallop with dill and parmesan kugal, rainbow chard, and wild garlic pesto; and Broadclyst lamb saddlechop with hassleback potatoes, roast shallots, baby beetroot, pea purée, and minted jus.

And what would you suggest we drink with that?

Light fruity reds are coming back into season as the weather warms up, so we’re into soft, easy-drinking pinot noir right now. Our yummy Romanian pinot would work beautifully with the lamb dish. Otherwise, for the cod, we have a fantastic Lugana, a DOC at the bottom end of Lake Garda, which works perfectly with the fish and also evolves wonderfully to handle the wild garlic and herb flavours and rich enough to balance the parmesan potato.

What are your favourite Devon ingredients in spring?

So much is coming to life. For us it’s got to be wild garlic, rainbow chard, baby beetroot, and local spring lamb right now! www.winebar10.co.uk

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

RENDEZVOUS WINE BAR & RESTAURANT

Burger Night Wednesday £20.00 for 2, includes a selected drink Steak Night Thursday £20.00 for 2, includes a selected drink Fish & Chip Night Friday £20.00 for 2, includes a selected drink LIVE MUSIC 26th April Marnie band 31st May Rock against the Machine

Celebrating 20 Years of e xcellence!

Offering delicious balanced dishes at superb value

House Menu, A la Carte and popular Taster Menu and Wine Flight are all available, check out our website for sample menus and future events.

Newly refurbished with the same smiley faces.

Open Wednesday to Saturday from 6.00pm Now open Saturday & Sunday Lunch from 12.00pm

The Triangle, Kenton (Nr Powderham Castle) Exeter, EX6 8LS. 01626 890195

www.rodeanrestaurant.co.uk

advertising feature

Meet the Consultant Nuffield Health is the leading not for profit UK healthcare provider, and winner of the UK Health Investor and LaingBuisson Award for Private Hospital Group 2017 and 2018.

Nuffield Health Exeter Hospital has consultants from a multitude of specialties, and regularly offers the opportunity to find out more about their services at free patient events: www.nuffieldhealth.com/hospitals/exeter/

Dr Manish M. Gandhi

Mr Oliver M Stokes

MD (Hons), FRCP, FAHA Consultant Cardiologist 01392 262124

FRCS, MBBS, MSc, BSc Consultant Spinal Surgeon 01392 262183

Caroline.Shuttleworth@nuffieldhealth.com

Sophie.Punter@nuffieldhealth.com

Where and when did you qualify?

Glasgow University, trained in London and Southampton, Doctor of Medicine with honours, ‘Young Investigator Finalist’ American Heart Association 1993, Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and the American Heart Association.

Why did you decide to become a consultant?

I enjoy talking with and listening to the patient to make the correct diagnosis. I am privileged to have the trust of my patients to make decisions and undertake procedures that improve their quality of life.

What are the most common health problems you treat?

Patients with chest pain, breathlessness or an irregular heartbeat. I undertake prevention and screening for risk of heart disease and treat patients with high blood pressure and cholesterol through changing lifestyle, exercise, or medication.

What are the most rewarding aspects of your job?

Successfully treating someone with severe chest pain due to a heart attack with a coronary angioplasty and stent procedure and seeing them comfortably reading a newspaper over breakfast the following morning.

Working with the skill and dedication of a wonderful team of nurses and cardiac physiologists. My research on the psychological impact of heart disease, and collaborative work with university and medical school colleagues.

Where and when did you qualify?

I qualified as a doctor from University College London in 2001. I completed my higher surgical training in London, where I gained my CCT in trauma and orthopaedic surgery before undertaking complex spine surgery fellowships in Nottingham and Hong Kong. I am now a Consultant Spinal Surgeon at the RD&E and the Clinical Lead for the Exeter Spine Unit and Peninsular Regional Spine Network.

Why did you decide to become a consultant?

I became a spinal consultant because of my interest in human anatomy and the wide spectrum of conditions that affect the spine in patients of all ages.

What are the most common health problems you treat?

I have expertise in treating the majority of spinal conditions in adults and children. I have a particular interest in spine deformity, in addition to back and neck pain. I always try to optimise non-operative management, and in most patients surgery can be avoided.

What are the most rewarding aspects of your job?

The most rewarding part of my job is seeing patients again, in whom I have helped alleviate pain following successful treatment. It is a privilege to be able to help people get on with their lives.

46 I Exeter Living I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Manish M Gandhi

Oliver M Stokes

advertising feature Mr Ben Peyton-Jones

Mr Chris Wallace

FRCOG MB ChB Consultant Gynaecologist 01392 262132 Carolyn.Richardson@nuffieldhealth.com Where and when did you qualify?

University of Leicester Medical School 1996. I competed my postgrad training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Bristol.

I then held a Lecturer post in Nottingham for 3 years before taking up a Consultant post in Exeter 10 years ago.

Why did you decide to do obstetrics and gynaecology?

Obstetrics and gynaecology is an exciting and diverse specialty. Excellent communication and team work, often in delicate scenarios, is crucial, and getting it right is very important to me. No day is ever the same, which keeps life interesting!

What are the most common health problems you treat?

I most commonly see women with menstrual problems, pelvic pain, endometriosis and prolapse. These problems can often be managed with non-surgical means but when surgery is indicated I am trained as an advanced keyhole surgeon. This allows my patients to recover quicker and experience less pain than with open surgery.

What are the most rewarding aspects of your job?

My relationship with patients, their families and working with them to understand and resolve the problems they bring to me.

MBChB, MS, FRCS(Plast) Consultant Plastic Surgeon 01392 262157 Debbie.Metherell@nuffieldhealth.com

Ben Peyton-Jones

Mr David Birchley

MBBS, FRCS , MSc Consultant Vascular and General Surgeon 01392 262174 Sophie.Williams@nuffieldhealth.com Where and when did you qualify?

I graduated from The Royal London Hospital, 1996. I gained an MSc in Clinical Research through Plymouth University in 2006 and FRCS in 2009.

I have been a consultant vascular and general surgeon at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital since 2010 and a consultant at the Nuffield Exeter since 2016.

Why did you decide to become a consultant?

It is the final stage in the pathway following 14 years of postgraduate training and allows me to independently treat patients and train future doctors and surgeons. Vascular surgery as a speciality is exciting and rewarding because the decisions are often complex and the speciality is evolving very quickly.

What are the most common health problems you treat?

All aspects of arterial disease, varicose veins and related disorders, access for patients with the need for dialysis and hernia disease.

What are the most rewarding aspects of your job?

Helping patients and their families make difficult decisions. Positive feedback from patients and colleagues and going home to a cuddle from my daughter after a busy day!

Contact Sophie on (01392) 262174 or please visit www.exetervascular.co.uk for more information.

Chris Wallace

Where and when did you qualify?

Qualified as a doctor from the University of Edinburgh in 2000, as surgeon in 2004, and as Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon in 2012 with Fellowship from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.

Why did you decide to become a plastic surgeon?

I was inspired to become a plastic surgeon when I witnessed cleft lip/palate plastic surgery transforming lives by restoring function and appearance. Plastic surgery requires dexterity, lateral thinking, artistic skill and attention to detail, which appeals to me.

What are the most common health problems you treat?

My reconstructive subspecialty is complex facial, head and neck reconstruction for patients who have cancers removed. My cosmetic surgery subspecialty interests are rhinoplasty, facelift, necklift, eyelid lift (blepharoplasty), tummy tuck, breast reduction, breast uplift and breast augmentation.

What are the most rewarding aspects of your job?

Seeing that spring in my patient’s step and that twinkle in their eye that communicates restored self-confidence following reconstructive or cosmetic surgery.

Matthew J Wilson

FRCS MBBS Consultant Orthopaedic Hip and Trauma Surgeon 01392 262173 Simona.Navickaite@nuffieldhealth.com

David Birchley

Matthew J Wilson

Where and when did you qualify?

I qualified from St Bartholomew’s Hospital Medical College back in 1997 and completed training in Reading, Oxford, Nottingham and Cambridge as well as fellowships in the US. I started as a consultant, in Exeter, in 2010. As well as my ‘day-job’, I am on the editorial board of the Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons and I have recently been appointed as Hon. Secretary to the British Hip Society.

Why did you decide to become an orthopaedic consultant?

I’ve always enjoyed the practical side of surgery and orthopaedics is about as practical as it gets.

What are the most common health problems you treat?

My main interest is hip reconstruction which involves managing people with non-arthritic hip problems, hip arthritis and problems relating to hip replacements that may require revision surgery.

What are the most rewarding aspects of your job?

Anything that gets people back doing what they enjoy in life. Often that involves surgery but sometimes just simple advice or reassurance is all that is needed.

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

© RHS/Oliver Kite

RHS National Rhododendron Show 27 & 28 April

Saturday 11.30am (after judging) – 4pm, Sunday 10am – 4pm Book online at rhs.org.uk/rosemoor and save 10% Great Torrington, Devon, EX38 8PH Every visit supports the charitable work of the RHS RHS Registered Charity No. 222879/SC038262

Supported by

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

SWEET AIRS IN SIDMOUTH Well, here’s a thing. The American composer Jonathan Leshnoff has been hailed by no less than the Washington Post as one of the “gifted young composers” of his generation. They call his music “vast, thoroughly beautiful and extraordinarily moving”. The New York Times and other quality publications are no less gushing.

So, guess where the world première of Leshnoff’s Suite for Cello, Timpani & Strings is happening? Carnegie Hall in NYC? Nope. The Vienna Musikverein? Guess again. It’s at Sidmouth Parish Church (bookended by dates in Poole and Bristol, but whatever).

And while you’re reeling from that, we’ll throw in the also-rather-wow fact that the piece is performed by the very musician it was composed for, internationally renowned German-Canadian cellist Johannes Moser (pictured) – with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Marta Gardolińska. Also on the bill: Haydn’s Cello Concerto and Grieg’s Holberg Suite.

Sorry not sorry, US of A. Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and Johannes Moser perform at Sidmouth Parish Church on Thursday 2 May. www.BSOlive.com www.mediaclash.co.uk I EXETER LIVING I 49

What’s on

© MAT T AUSTIN

5 April – 5 May

Balloons for all and all for balloons: Le Navet Bete are back!

EXHIBITIONS Until 12 April

ANITA KLEIN: DAYS LIKE THESE The painter/printmaker charts everyday family life in this showcase of new works.

Marine House at Beer Gallery, Fore Street, Beer; www.marinehouseatbeer.co.uk

Until 18 April

TONY HUSBAND: 35 YEARS OF PRIVATE EYE Exclusive exhibition of the multiaward-winning cartoonist’s work for Private Eye. Exeter Library, Castle Street, Exeter; www.librariesunlimited.org.uk

Until 21 April

JACQUI HALLUM: BERBER CARPET Paintings on cotton sheets by the Slade alumnus, which are inspired by medieval woodcuts, tarot cards

and Art Nouveau children’s book illustrations among other things, and exhibited here alongside antique Berber rugs.

Exeter Phoenix, Gandy Street, Exeter; www.exeterphoenix.org.uk

Until 27 April

ON PAPER An Arts Council Collection touring exhibition, featuring paper constructions and works on paper by the likes of Damien Hirst, Roy Lichtenstein, Cornelia Parker and many others.

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

Until 6 May

CERTAINE WYTCHES Solo show of tapestries by textile artist Anne Jackson, inspired by the last three women executed for witchcraft in Devon.

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

50 I exeter living I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Until 19 May

EXETER’S FINE ART COLLECTION: WOMEN ARTISTS Works from the 1770s to 2011 including some by Barbara Hepworth, Gillian Ayres, Exeter’s Olive Wharry, illustrator Kate Greenaway and leading horse painter Lucy Kemp-Welch, whose In Sight – Lord Dundonald’s Dash on Ladysmith is on public display for the first time in decades.

RAMM, Queen Street, Exeter; www.exeter.gov.uk/ramm

Until 2 June

GOODWIN Retrospective of the Exeter College of Art & Design-trained artist known worldwide for her stunning, contemporary mosaic art.

RAMM, Queen Street, Exeter; www.exeter.gov.uk/ramm

13-14 April

WESC WEEKEND ART SHOW Paintings from around 60 emerging and established South West artists, available at affordable prices in aid of the WESC Foundation.

WESC Foundation, Topsham Rd, Exeter; www.wescfoundation.ac.uk

EXTREME IMAGINATION Works by 22 artists with aphantasia (no inner visual imagery) and hyperphantasia (its opposite).

RAMM, Queen Street, Exeter; www.exeter.gov.uk/ramm

theatre, Comedy & Dance

10 April – 23 June

MIKE OSMAN: TRUMPED: FUND THE WALL TOUR It’s the UK’s number one Donald

JOURNEYING TO LIGHT: THE MOSAICS OF ELAINE M

11 April

what’s on music & opera

Trump impersonator!

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

11 April

11-13 April

ROOM ON THE BROOM Olivier Award-nominated stage version of the classic Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler picture book.

Northcott Theatre, Stocker Road, Exeter; www.exeternorthcott.co.uk

16 April

above: Green shoots at Toby’s Garden Fest left: Modou Mdiaye is at Exeter Phoenix; below: Shalimar 2

by Gillian Ayres is part of RAMM’s celebration of women artists

BOURNEMOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: ECHOES OF HOME Smetana’s Vlatava, Sibelius’ Symphony No 1 and Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No 1, with Denis Kozhukhin on the old joanna.

Jamie Phillips conducts.

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

SEAN MCLOUGHLIN: HAIL MARY Accomplished stand-up from the man Time Out described as “the best comedian you haven’t heard of yet.”

Exeter Phoenix, Gandy Street, Exeter; www.exeterphoenix.org.uk

12 April

17 April

MODOU NDIAYE Virtuoso kora player, vocalist, drummer and percussionist performs with his West African kora-based group.

Exeter Phoenix, Gandy Street, Exeter; www.exeterphoenix.org.uk

MAVERICK SABRE Return of the Irish/London singersongwriter/rapper, airing thoughtful new album When I Wake Up. Exeter Phoenix, Gandy Street, Exeter; www.exeterphoenix.org.uk

18 April

THE ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO Expect comedy, songs and audience participation in this retelling of the children’s classic.

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

24 April

JV2 2019 Triple bill of contemporary dance from the award-winning Jasmin Vardimon’s company.

Northcott Theatre, Stocker Road, Exeter; www.exeternorthcott.co.uk

25 April

VIENNA FESTIVAL BALLET: COPPELIA The captivating story of an eccentric toymaker and his beloved doll, as danced by the superb VFB. Exeter Corn Exchange, Market St, Exeter; www.exetercornexchange.co.uk

26 April

IDLEWILD Return of the Scottish indie and alternative rockers.

Exeter Phoenix, Gandy Street, Exeter; www.exeterphoenix.org.uk

26 April

DR DRE: 2001 – AN ORCHESTRAL RENDITION No Strings Attached deliver the hip hop masterpiece on classical instruments, bringing out its intricacy without losing any of its West Coast swagger.

Exeter Phoenix, Gandy Street, Exeter; www.exeterphoenix.org.uk

28 April

JIM CAUSLEY Spend an evening with local trad folk legend and BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards nominee Jim. Exeter Phoenix, Gandy Street, Exeter; www.exeterphoenix.org.uk

COMEDIAN OF THE YEAR: SOUTH WEST HEATS One of seven regional legs of the contest, which has the UK’s biggest individual comedy cash prize.

Sandy Park, Exeter; www.sandypark.co.uk

1-5 May

22 April

28 April

THE THREE MUSKETEERS: A COMEDY ADVENTURE A riotous take on the French classic from Exeter’s brilliant Le Navet Bete (remember their smash-hit Dracula: The Bloody Truth?).

Northcott Theatre, Stocker Road, Exeter; www.exeternorthcott.co.uk

THE HEROES VS SUPERHEROES FAMILY RAVE TOUR 2019 Camp Bestival and Big Fish Little Fish join forces for an all-ages party, featuring top DJs, glitter cannons, and children’s activities. See also page 8.

Exeter Phoenix, Gandy Street, Exeter; www.exeterphoenix.org.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I exeter living I 51

WHAT’S ON 1 May

HAWKSMOOR CLASSICAL CONCERT SERIES: GEORGE TODICA The second in 2019’s trio of recitals at RAMM sees the spellbinding Romanian pianist take on Mozart, Chopin, Ravel and Rachmaninov.

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

2 May

BOURNEMOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: PAST AND PRESENT World premiere of Jonathan Leshnoff’s Suite for Cello, Timpani & Strings, performed by Johannes

Moser, plus works by Haydn, Grieg and Mozart. See also page 49.

Sidmouth Parish Church, Church Street, Sidmouth; www.bsolive.com

OTHER EVENTS 9 April

JUNIOR JUMPERS DAY A chance for under-18s to enjoy behind-the-scenes tours, jockey Q&A sessions and more, for free. Exeter Racecourse, Kennford, Exeter; www.exeter-racecourse.co.uk

LIBRARY LIFE

EMILY MACAULAY shares the latest from Exeter Library Libraries would be odd places without the written word, and coming up we have a number of events and a British Library linked exhibition to celebrate this.

From April for around three months, alongside many other libraries that are part of the British Library’s Living Knowledge Network (LKN) across the country, we will be hosting some display panels from the British Library to tie in with their Writing Exhibition.

These boards will have information about the history of writing. Complementing these display boards will be our own display cases, which will be displaying various items from our Special Collections that contain marginalia (annotations in the margins of books).

On 14 April, a brand new Library Writers Group is launching. Led by Linda Lewis, former Writers Bureau Tutor and successful short story writer, the group will aim to develop and get more from individual’s writing. For only £2 per session, and meeting fortnightly, the group is open to beginners, professionals and everyone in between.

We are also excited to be hosting author Anjana Chowdhury on 18 May in conjunction with Book Club Devon. Anjana will be reading from her prize-winning debut novel Under The Pipal Tree, and discussing the portrayal of Indian culture and society in literature. Tickets are £3 and available from the library. www.librariesunlimited.org.uk

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Weekends: sure, sometimes all you want to do is the big shop, and some boxset bingeing. But, mostly, you yearn to get out and about: browse a flea market, maybe, catch a dazzling new exhibition, or hit a festival, for example. Come the tail-end of Friday, however, you’re often still without a plan.

Guess what? Exeter Living can help!

Sign up now to start receiving the popular Exeter Living Friday afternoon email newsletter, in which I suggest the best events and outings for the coming weekend – from theatre to gigs to family fun days and more – along with a property pick of the week, money-saving offers, and the week’s most amusing, locally-sourced tweets.

(Fear not, we don’t share your data with third parties – ever.)

12 April

BROLLY GOOD SHOW Fun-filled family day out running from 11am-3pm with large interactive art installation for children to decorate, style and beauty area, competitions and things to nibble on...

Princesshay, Exeter; www.princesshay.co.uk/spring

13 April

Listen, learn and meet like-minded souls at Exeter Library

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Like the sound of it?

Then jump on mediaclash. co.uk/eln pronto and you’ll hear from us soon.

18 April

THE CHOCOLICIOUS ORIGINS OF CHOCOLATE Find out the secrets of choccy, and make a special chocolate drink like the Ancient Mayans and Aztecs.Ages 5-11.

Book ahead.

RAMM, Queen Street, Exeter; www.exeter.gov.uk/ramm

19-20 April

MUDDY DOG CHALLENGE Join your pooch on an obstacle course to raise funds for Battersea Dogs & Cats Home.

Powderham Castle, Kenton; www.muddydog.battersea.org.uk

BEST OF DEVON GIN FESTIVAL Sample a wide range of gins from regional distilleries. Workshops, talks, live music and magic. Afternoon and evening sessions.

Double Locks, Canal Banks, Exeter; Facebook: The Best of Devon Gin Festival

16 April

3-4 May

SUPER HERO FAMILY FUN DAY Action-packed antics for all the family, with prizes for the best superhero costumes and free Easter eggs for the first 250 children.

Exeter Racecourse, Kennford, Exeter; www.exeter-racecourse.co.uk

TOBY’S GARDEN FESTIVAL Two days of horticultural fun, championing specialist nurseries and featuring a range of speakers and activities. See also page 90.

Powderham Castle, Kenton; www.tobygardenfest.co.uk ■

White Inspired Home Products selected just for you.

Love Caroline Victoria x

10% off with this voucher

Now open at 41 High Street, Crediton! thewhitecollectionbycarolinevictoria.co.uk thewhitecollection@mail.com / 01805 625000

shopping live well, buy better

Ruby Chocolate Egg, £18.50 or 2 for £35, from Chococo, 22 Gandy St, Exeter; www.chococo.co.uk

NO EGGS-CUSES

80 million Easter eggs are sold every year in the UK, but only a tiny proportion of them will look like this. Meet Chococo’s new, limited edition Ruby Chocolate Egg – it’s made from naturally pink 47% ‘ruby cocoa beans’ from Brazil, Ecuador and the Ivory Coast.

Ruby chocolate is a fairly new phenom, and a Very Big Deal in the chocolate industry which had thought dark, milk and white were all the varieties there were ever going to be. So hats off to Chococo, the small, independent Dorset firm whose flagship store is on Exeter’s Gandy Street, for getting in on it so speedily, and in time for Britian’s annual chocathon, aka Easter. It’s said to be creamy, slightly fruity, and will, of course, look really pretty for the two or three minutes before you bite its head off...

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18CT YELLOW GOLD, SAPPHIRE AND DIAMOND TRINITY RING, £3,560 We’ll take one for each finger, ta Erin Cox Jewellery, 14 Castle St, Exeter; www.erincox.co.uk

JAPANESE OSAKA BOWL GIFT SET, £26 Marvellous for miso, or even just Maltesers The Shop at RAMM, Queen Street, Exeter; www.rammuseum.org.uk

BLUE SKY THINKING From periwinkle to navy – celebrate those spring skies with all hues of blue

‘RORY RABBIT’ SLIPPERS, £29 Adorable Easter gift for littlies who dislike chocolate (if you can locate any...)

Darts Farm, Topsham; www.dartsfarm.co.uk MAKE-UP BAG, £26 Hand-printed on pure linen – best replace those old lippies and mascara wands, then Georgie & Flo, 1 Upper Paul Street, Exeter; www.georgieandflo.com

CUSHION, £70 Stroke it, snuggle it, just don’t spill cocoa on it.

From Topsham’s chunky knitting sensation Lauren Aston Designs; www.laurenastondesigns.com

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ED’S CHOICE BUFF SEA SALT BODY SCRUB (60ML), £10.50 Natural, cruelty-free and designed to soothe after a fraught day. Made in small batches by Newton Abbot’s Jo Woolvett Georgie & Flo, 1 Upper Paul Street, Exeter; www.georgieandflo.com

CONTENT BY TERENCE CONRAN ‘ASTER’ SOFA, £1,395 An enticingly bold, teal twist on Scandi design Amos Lighting, Bridford Rd, Marsh Barton Industrial Estate, Exeter & Dart Business Park, Topsham; www.amoslighting.co.uk LINEN TOTE, £55.35 Super-casual office-to-beach bag from local designer Anna Kirk

By Holm; www.holmgoods.com

TATJANA BUTTERFLY JUMPSUIT, £119 Relaxed fit, and eco-friendly too!

Sancho’s Dress, 126 Fore St, Exeter; www.sanchosdress.com

‘BAMBOO’ LINOCUT MONOTYPE, £210 Vibrant and richly-textured one-off created in the heart of Exeter Simon Ripley; www.simonripley.co.uk

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businessinsights E XETER AND E A S T DE VON GET TO WORK

Quote of the issue

“It’s the start of an exciting new era” Which well-known Exeter PR expert has big news?

See page 60

The Big Number

800 Tech experts expected at Venturefest South West in June. More on page 60

GAME PLAN

Exeter College reveals ambitious Digital and Data Hub plans A vision of the future at Exeter College

E

xeter College has submitted plans to the city council for a new Digital and Data Hub on its Hele Road site.

The proposed development is part of a wider £70 million masterplan over the next 20 years for the awardwinning further education college.

The building would provide Exeter College with an extra 26,909 square feet of floorspace for teaching. A funding bid has been made as part of a wider South West partnership to the Department for Education (DfE) help part fund the project.

“Exeter has a strong and growing reputation as a leading centre for technical and digital innovation and growth,” reads the planning application.

“Working with the Universities of Exeter and Plymouth, other colleges from across the South West, and leading employers such as the Met Office and Oxygen House, Exeter College is driving forward the delivery of a new South West Institute of Technology.

“The Institute of Technology (Digital and Data Hub) is proposed at the main entrance to the south east of the Hele Road campus (an area identified as an early development opportunity within the College’s Property Strategy and Masterplan).

“In addition, it will provide unique collaborative spaces to support cross institutional initiatives and engagement with local major employers and stakeholders.

“Catering for nearly 1,500 students, ranging from post A Level to degree apprenticeship level, the

Institute of Technology would help to place the region at the forefront of digital technology learning across the UK and underwrite Exeter’s leading role in the nation’s digital future.

“The application seeks planning permission for the erection of a three storey building at the main entrance to the south east of the Hele Road campus to accommodate the Institute of Technology (Digital and Data Hub).

“There is a capital fund of £170m available for the whole national IoT programme, which bidders can apply for, to refurbish or upgrade existing facilities, purchase equipment or invest in a new build if that is required.”

For more: www.exetercollegemasterplan.co.uk www.exe-coll.ac.uk

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Members of the Bigwave Media team with, front row, left to right: Benn Davis, Nick Masson, Simon Beer and Tom Gozna (all Bigwave Media), Glen King, Micá Flynn and Shadow (Glen King PR)

Um, who’s manning the phones tonight then?

SERVING YOU RIGHT Exeter-based South West Water has been recognised for excellent customer service at the 2019 UK Customer Satisfaction Awards.

The company, headquartered at Peninsula House on Rydon Lane, won the ‘Best Return on Customer Service Investment’ Award at the prestigious event, held in London.

Run by The Institute of Customer Service, the annual awards ceremony celebrates UK customer service achievements across the public, private and voluntary sectors.

“I am really proud that the efforts our people are making to put customers at the heart of everything we do have been

recognised in this way,” says South West Water’s customer service director Jo Ecroyd.

“We are all privileged to provide essential services that directly impact on the quality of life of the customers and communities we serve. Achieving such a prestigious award demonstrates that our customers really matter to us, that we listen to them and shape our plans around them.

“We will continue to work with our customers to understand their needs and to deliver a range of services that exceeds their expectations.”

For more: www.southwestwater.co.uk

TECH IT AWAY!

The Venturefest South West team

A major tech industry event has been announced for this June at Sandy Park.

Venturefest South West will bring together more than 800 leading lights from Cornwall, Devon and Somerset’s tech industries, including businesses, entrepreneurs, investors and academics.

The full-day event will see presentations

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from technology trailblazers, panel discussions and a diverse programme of workshops, as well as a schools competition (Hackfest) and a pitching competition (Pitchfest), with topics covered ranging from agri-tech to blockchain, funding to AI and big data.

For more: www.venturefest-sw.co.uk

LET’S GET TOGETHER Glen King PR has merged with South West digital and marketing agency Bigwave Media. The two agencies have been working collaboratively for joint clients over the last 18 months, before officially joining forces on 1 April.

Glen King PR was founded by Glen King in March 2005 and works with a diverse portfolio of clients across a large number of sectors, with a specialist knowledge of construction and renewable technology.

Bigwave Media, established in 2007 with a turnover of £3m, employs 45 staff across three offices – in Exeter, Torquay and Plymouth – providing marketing, design and digital services for over 200 clients, across a diverse range of sectors, including leisure, bio-tech, manufacturing, food and beverage, culture, education and finance.

Glen King, account executive Micá Flynn and office dog Shadow (aka head of happiness) are now operating from Bigwave Media’s head office in Exeter and known as ‘gkpr@Bigwave media’.

“It’s the start of an exciting new era,” says Glen King.

Benn Davis, managing director of Bigwave Media adds: “We are absolutely delighted with this merger, which will expand the offering we can provide to both existing and new clients.”

For more: www.glenkingpr.co.uk www.bigwavemedia.co.uk

BUSINESS INSIGHTS

EXETER CHIEFS NEWS MARK STEVENS brings you the latest from inside Sandy Park

MOVERS AND SHAKERS ETC

Chartered accountancy firm Bishop Fleming has appointed Anna Averis as its new human resources director, to be based in Exeter and Bristol… Barratt Developments, which includes Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes, has appointed Huw Llewellyn as managing director of its Exeter-based division. The housebuilder has also promoted Barney Munn (pictured) from marketing apprentice to apprentice marketing executive… Libraries Unlimited, the charity responsible for running Devon and Torbay’s library services, has appointed Alex Kittow as its new chief executive, from 1 June… David Greensmith joins Exeter City Council as business development manager.

E XETER RUGBY CLUB/JMP

Barney Munn

Fans rejoice as the Chiefs demolish Bath

Exeter Chiefs may have secured their place in this season’s Gallagher Premiership play-offs in record time, but director of rugby Rob Baxter insists there will be no let-up from his side as they target a return to Twickenham.

Exeter’s 29-10 recent win over Bath at a packedout Sandy Park not only saw the Chiefs extend their lead at the top of the table over defending champions Saracens, but it guaranteed them one of the four play-off spots, even though there are just a handful of rounds in the regular season remaining.

Understandably, Baxter was delighted with the way in which his side have gone about their business this season, but at the same time he’s fired an ominous warning to the rest of the Premiership, insisting the Chiefs will only look to get better during the final run-in.

“We are ticking off some milestones,” explained Baxter. “We’ve secured the top four, which is great, and next we want to tick off that home semi-final.

Beyond that, I don’t want us to be spluttering through these final few games. I want us to be a team who are building a destiny towards being in home semi-finals, being in finals, and lifting trophies.

“You do that, however, by the way you play and how you look. I want us to look like that when we report back to training on Wednesday, I want us to look the same against Leicester in two weeks’ time, and I want

us to look like that over the next five weeks.

“I don’t want us to think at any stage it’s about rotating players and trying to keep guys fit for the end of the season. It’s not about that for me, it’s about building belief for ourselves and a bit of disbelief in others over these next few weeks.”

In what promises to be an action-packed end to the season for Devon’s finest, Sandy Park can expect to host further capacity crowds with tickets sales for the remaining games all heading in the right direction.

To date, the Chiefs have staged seven capacity crowds this term, averaging a home gate of 11,800.

It’s a statistic which has delighted Tony Rowe OBE, chairman and chief executive of Exeter Rugby Club, who said: “We are now heading into the final quarter of the season, a period in which a lot can be determined in terms of outcomes at both ends of the Premiership table.

“Not surprisingly the Bath game was a sell-out, but we expect our remaining home games to follow suit.”

Next up at Sandy Park: 14 April – Exeter Chiefs v Wasps (Gallagher Premiership) 27 April – Exeter Chiefs v Harlequins (Gallagher Premiership) For more: www.exeterchiefs.co.uk

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business insider

The Way I See It

HOW TO GET INVESTMENT Exeter tech entrepreneur MIKE SAUNDERS recently secured game-changing funding for his start-up, Re-flow – here, he tells you how to go about doing the same for yours

I

t’s accrual world in finance – and if you’re an SME in the South West, finding the funding to go national can seem impossible. Re-flow is a software company based in Exeter and we managed to attract international investment in 2018.

Here are some of the things I learned along the way that could help you do the same.

Firstly, there are two essential HMRC schemes you need to look into – The Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) and the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS). Getting clearance into these is a pre-requisite, as they provide tax relief to would-be investors.

Once you have this in place, find a company you can work with that can help you connect with investors. Few of us know that many millionaire businessmen and serial investors, so you need to find a reputable firm who can act for you to make the connections. They’ll pre-qualify you, help you to finalise your presentation and then put you in front of the right people. They will usually charge you a cash fee based on the amount they raise and don’t be surprised if they also want to take a small amount of equity as well. If they are reputable though, it’ll be worth it.

Write a business plan which includes projections for three years and which shows

growth. Growth doesn’t have to be supersonic (although that’s nice, of course), it just has to be realistic. Remember that these guys know business and so you can’t fool them.

Your plan has got to prove how you have got to where you are and how you are going to achieve the rest. Other things you should have in your plan, and certainly have on-the-spot answers to, should include: the size and growth of your market, who your competitors are, how they have grown and how you are going to stand out against them.

Many investors have been round the block a number of times and their stories were truly inspiring, so I took something away from every pitch, even from those that didn’t invest in my business. If you want to know how you break into a particular market space, go global or improve your efficiencies, ask them for their thoughts.

Don’t be scared of large investors who also want to join your board as part of the deal – this can be a massive advantage to your business.

Just make sure you quiz them too… What are they going to give to you other than money? Are

they going to help you to grow whilst also keeping enough distance so you can get on with the job?

Every investor I have pitched to has asked me what my aspirations are. Remember that they are not just investing in your business, they are investing in you. They want to see if you have the drive, determination and courage to take your business all the way.

And finally, every investor will want to know what your exit strategy is. If your goal is to sell the business or reach an IPO, then your exit could be their exit. An idea of when they will get their ROI will help them decide what the value of their investment is likely to be. Any precedents you can give of other organisations in your market that have done this successfully will make you more attractive.

Throughout this process, just remember – do your research, know what you want and be ready to take advice.

“remember that these guys know business and so you can’t fool them”

Mike Saunders is managing director of Exeter-based Re-flow, creators of mobile workforce management software; www.re-flow.co.uk

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street life

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HITTING THE ’HAY

Find out more about Exeter’s aesthetically pleasing professional quarter, the bustling microsystem that is Southernhay

Words by Anna Britten Photos by Emma Solley

T

he most attractive, historic buildings in many great cities have been colonised by the pin-stripe brigade – the lawyers, financiers etc. Think of the beautiful Temple and old City districts in London, Queen Square in Bristol and Bath, or Dublin’s Georgian Quarter – all heaving with m’learned friends and investment bankers.

In Exeter, you’re looking at Southernhay – the leafy, Georgian quarter nestling at the juncture between the buzz of the city centre and the more tranquil St Leonards beyond.

Step into the green sliver of Southernhay from, say, the exhaust-filled junction of Western Way and Magdalen Street, or the southern end of shopper-packed Princesshay, and you enter a hushed, mellow sanctuary.

There is light, space, grass, there are mature oaks and sycamores, and birds singing – all enclosed by Matthew Nosworthy’s stunning, red-brick, Grade II*-listed Regency townhouses, created in the 1790s from locally-made red clay bricks, initially to house the burgeoning number of wealthy professionals and members of the gentry who were flocking to Exeter at the time.

Make no mistake, Southernhay has not escaped the ravages of time. The 1942 Blitz destroyed dozens of other townhouses by Nosworthy, and much else besides. A reminder of this loss sits on the north-west corner of Southernhay: the enormous and generally rather unloved Broadwalk House – built in 1974, in a pastiche Georgian style, to fill the gaping holes left behind by the Luftwaffe.

“It is a place of wealth, influence and power” But enough about the buildings. There are more people with white collars and Financial Times subscriptions packed into this roughly seven hectare stretch than anywhere else in the city centre: lawyers, accountants, wealth managers and private bankers. It is a place of wealth, influence and power. All understated, of course – this is Devon, remember...

But today’s Southernhay sees the traditional professions joined by plenty of newer ones too. What used to be sculleries, drawing rooms and servant’s quarters in those handsome townhouses are now the workspaces of

estate agents, recruitment consultants, creative agencies, health and beauty clinics, photographers, and all manner of dynamic, successful businesses.

It all adds up to a vibrant community – a microsystem, if you will.

So when they’re not hard at work behind their desks, how do the good folk of Southernhay use this space? It was, after all, designed for pleasure as well as productivity.

Benches in the central gardens are the perfect spot to catch a few rays, and, when it comes to food and drink, this patch is well served by a range of establishments, including the hugely popular Rendezvous, a restaurant which has twice won the Exeter Living Award for best restaurant and is consistently cited as local business people’s number one dining destination or after-work drink spot.

Southernhay House Hotel and Cosy Club provide further sustenance, and there’s plenty more in the city centre nearby.

And let’s not forget the people who are lucky enough to live here – there’s a bunch of trendy apartments around too, such as those in Dean Clarke House, which was once the Devon & Exeter Hospital. Southernhay may be a hub of hard work, but it definitely doesn’t close at half past five…

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street life REDMAYNE BENTLEY

Who are you and what do you do?

My name is Denis Oppong and I am an investment manager at Redmayne Bentley in Southernhay West.

My role is to manage money on behalf of discretionary and advisory private clients.

Favourite place near you to…

Buy coffee: Patisserie Valerie. I particularly find

the carrot cake hard to resist!

Grab a sandwich: Once a while I treat myself to

a Chandos Deli sandwich.

Have a proper sit-down lunch: Côte Brasserie.

The restaurant is well positioned, overlooking Exeter Cathedral.

Have an after-work drink: The Old Firehouse – a great range of ales.

Take a private phone call: During lunchtime, I find that Northernhay Gardens is a great spot to relax and make/take private phone calls.

Anything you’d change about Southernhay?

I really would not change anything about Southernhay. As the Barry White song goes, “Just the way you are.”

Favourite Southernhay neighbour?

Rendezvous happens to be my favourite neighbour, and the place where I meet friends and intermediaries who work in Southernhay.

If you could work in any other part of Exeter, where would it be?

I really would not choose anywhere else to work.

Especially as, during the summer, we have Exeter Street Food Market, which happens to be based right in the heart of Southernhay! www.redmayne.co.uk

CROSSE + CROSSE

Who are you and what do you do?

I am Debbi Egan, a paralegal for Crosse + Crosse Solicitors and I work in the residential property department.

Favourite place near you to…

Buy coffee: Costa.

Grab a sandwich: Relish – I enjoy a freshly made

sandwich and my favorite is tuna mayo and salad.

Have a proper sit-down lunch: Cosy Club in the winter and Rendezvous in the summer due to them having a lovely garden area to sit in.

Have an after-work drink: George’s Meeting House.

Take a private phone call: There is a lovely area right opposite our Southernhay West office where there are a few benches that you can sit on.

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Anything you’d change about Southernhay?

I would not change Southernhay as it is a lovely area to work and the garden area is a nice place to sit and enjoy the sunshine in the summer. However, following recent health and safety training in the firm, we realised that we do not have a communal AED defibrillator nearby, and it is something that we would certainly support.

Favourite Southernhay neighbour?

I do not have a favourite as most of the people in Southernhay appear to be pretty friendly. www.crosse.co.uk

FAMILY LAW COMPANY

Who are you and what do you do?

Fiona Wadey – I’m a solicitor and now a director at The Family Law Company. I work in the divorce and finance team, principally helping clients to finalise the arrangements for their separation.

Favourite place near you to…

Buy coffee: Coffee #One, in Roman Way. Grab a sandwich: Relish is close to our Balliol

House office, and a quick win.

Have a proper sit-down lunch: Definitely Cosy Club. I love the vintage look, it’s an informal and relaxing place to be. It’s also spacious so it’s easy to grab a corner. The food is great, too.

Have an after-work drink: Southernhay House, for cocktails on a Friday night. I like anything gin-based.

Take a private phone call: I’d walk across to the gardens between Southernhay East and West. A good spot for privacy.

Anything you’d change about Southernhay?

It would be good to make more of the gardens,

perhaps with some extra seating. And I’d love to see the area, or at least some of it, be pedestrianised. There seems to be more and more traffic these days.

Favourite Southernhay neighbour?

The Southernhay Child Contact Centre in the United Reformed Church is a lovely neighbour – they provide a superb service for separated parents, which very much reflects the ethos of the work we do at The Family Law Company.

If you could work in any other part of Exeter, where would it be?

That would be Exeter Quay. It’s a beautiful part of the city, a real hidden gem with lots to do and see. It also has good links – particularly in terms of cycling. www.thefamilylawco.co.uk

TOZERS SOLICITORS

Who are you and what do you do?

My name is Tracy Lambert and I am a partner and head of the family team at Tozers Solicitors LLP, having joined the firm in 1993.

I specialise in matrimonial financial matters providing advice in complex matrimonial matters on divorce and separation, including arrangements for children.

Favourite place near you to…

Buy coffee: Chandos Deli is opposite our office

and they do great coffee.

Grab a sandwich: Coffee #1 is another great café

on our doorstep.

Have a proper sit-down lunch: Southernhay

House serves delicious food for lunch.

Have an after-work drink: Rendezvous Wine

Bar is a lovely independent bar.

street life DID YOU KNOW? Southernhay snippets

‘Southernhay’ means ‘southern field’, from the AngloSaxon word ‘haia’ meaning hedge or enclosure.

The annual Lammas Fair was held on Southernhay from the 13th to the end of the 18th century when it was moved to the High Street.

Look away now if you’re squeamish. People were burned to death here in the 16th century. Two of them were called Agnes: protestant martyr Agnes Prest and alleged husband-poisoner Agnes Jones. The sparkling white vertical strips, two-thirds down the facades of the terraces, are made of Coade stone – a type of weatherproof ceramic invented by Exeter entrepreneur Eleanor Coade in the late 18th century and widely used in architecture and sculpture.

Southernhay was once an Iron Age farmstead.

The Southernhay United Reform Church stands on the site of what was a Greek Revival public baths from 18211868. The well-heeled would gather there to gossip, and over the entrance stood an enormous statue of Poseidon accompanied by a sea horse.

The actress Violet Vanbrugh was born in Southernhay.

The Judi Dench of her era, she ruled the stage during the late 19th/early 20th century.

The Bank of England opened a regional branch in Southernhay in 1827. It moved to Plymouth in 1834 due to lack of business.

Modern architecture lovers have a soft spot for the city council headquarters the Civic Centre – a brutalist building constructed from concrete between 1969 and 1972 for the then-enormous sum of £1million.

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street life Take a private phone call: A walk through

Southernhay or around Cathedral Green, which we are fortunate to have nearby.

Anything you’d change about Southernhay?

I always feel very lucky to work in such a beautiful, leafy area in central Exeter. To be honest, I don’t think there is anything I’d change about Southernhay!

Favourite Southernhay neighbour?

We share our office with National Citizen Service (NCS) which is a fantastic initiative for young people. Their staff always have a smile on their face!

If you could work in any other part of Exeter, where would it be?

If I had to pick somewhere it would probably be near Magdalen Road. www.tozers.co.uk

ONE VOICE MEDIA

Who are you and what do you do?

My name is Lisa Vanstone, I am director of One Voice Media. We represent organisations including InExeter, Princesshay, Exeter Chamber of Commerce and Exeter Food Festival.

Favourite place near you to…

Buy coffee: Chandos, just over the Roman

wall in Princesshay, serve a lovely cup of coffee.

Grab a sandwich: The team at Relish don’t

like it, but I keep ordering coronation chicken with avocado on brown. It is really good.

Have a proper sit-down lunch: Rendezvous is off-the-chart good. The menu changes daily and whatever you pick it is always delicious.

Have an after-work drink: Rendezvous again!

Take a private phone call: Ha ha ha. There is no such thing as a private conversation in Southernhay.

Anything you’d change about Southernhay?

The summer street food markets are great – they bring everyone out of their offices to enjoy the green. It would be nice to use that space more – an outdoor art festival perhaps?

Favourite Southernhay neighbour?

Every day I tell the team I am running late because I have had an impromptu, on-street meeting with one of our many brilliant neighbours (hello Michael at Naomi J Ryan, Josh at Toucan, Tim at Space, Jo at Cathedral Appointments, Charlie and Olly at Gusto). Mostly that is true... www.onevoicemedia.co.uk

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NAOMI J RYAN

ATTENTION MEDIA

I’m Naomi, the founder of Naomi J Ryan Estate Agents

Sarah Jepson and I’m MD of a marketing agency called Attention Media and non-executive director for MDMY Capital.

Who are you and what do you do?

Favourite place near you to...

Buy coffee: Matt at Timber Coffee, just inside

Barnfield Crescent. Always a lovely warm welcome and an array of treats.

Grab a sandwich: Definitely Chandos Deli Have a proper sit-down lunch: I love South Street Standard, so a little walk through the Cathedral Green (dog friendly too).

Have an after-work drink: Lloyd’s Lounge Take a private phone call: A walk on the Southernhay Green.

Who are you and what do you do?

Favourite place near you to...

Buy coffee: Artigiano or Coffee #1 Grab a sandwich: Tea on the Green Have a proper sit-down lunch: That’s easy...

Rendezvous!

Have an after-work drink: Lloyds Lounge,

Crocketts or, for utter carnage, The Stand Off!

Take a private phone call: Either in our

gorgeous board room or I’ll pop to Hotel Du Vin or Southernhay House as there’s lots of little hideaway places to grab some privacy.

Anything you’d change about Southernhay?

Anything you’d change about Southernhay?

Favourite Southernhay neighbour?

Favourite Southernhay neighbour?

To have some seating, maybe a few picnic benches, we see quite a few people walking around having lunch. Somewhere to sit during the summer would be amazing.

Statton Creber Commercial – they also helped us move into our new office, No. 18. And Rob and Brent of Overair.

If you could work in any other part of Exeter, where would it be?

Has to be Gandy Street or Magdalen Road.

Love the unique shops. www.naomijryan.co.uk

Funny you should mention, I’m currently looking to launch a buisness in Southernhay that I think the community would very much appreciate! The hunt is on for suitable premises...watch this space!

It’s a draw between Expedite as they keep bringing us cakes and naughty food and Artigiano’s head office (they’re next door) who also keep us in chocolate and coffee (there’s a theme here)!

If you could work in any other part of Exeter, where would it be?

Down on the quay, as it’s lovely to be by the water. www.attention-media.co.uk

property a pl ace to c all home

BIDDLECOMBE house Tucked away in a beautifully rolling valley near Ugbrooke Estate, Holly McSweeney uncovers a hidden splendour

76 I exeter living I www.mediaclash.co.uk

I

t’s no secret that everyone loves a hidden story – and Biddlecombe House offers exactly this compelling charm. One mile from neighbouring Chudleigh, and six-and-a-half miles from Newton Abbott, Biddlecombe House is only a stone’s throw away from all manner of local amenities.

Positively steeped in a rich tapestry of history, the property, which until the 1960s served as a school, sits prettily nestled within the incomparably gorgeous farmland of the Ugbrooke Estate.

This farmland is rumoured to be the creation of renowned and prolific 18th century landscape architect Capability Brown, and the property’s terrace slabs are supposedly traceable to London Bridge. All the while, the estate itself has a uniquely fascinating history that, unbelievably, spans almost a millennium. Biddlecombe – in all its timeless elegance – exceeds all expectations: it comes not with a mere anecdote, but with its own entire

storybook, one which patiently awaits your arrival.

As the only freehold property in sight, step into Biddlecombe’s three acres of quietude, and you really can, and should, leave the rest of the world far behind.

And this is all before reaching the front door – it almost sounds too good to be true, right?

Well, step on in. Venturing inside, you’ll find that, though Biddlecombe might be enveloped by tantalising historical tales, within its stone walls it undoubtedly proves itself the real deal. Biddlecombe truly packs a punch and delivers that much-sought-after, authentic country-cottage character. You’ll notice Biddlecombe flawlessly retains its abundant traditional features, including exposed solid-oak beams, arched doorways and a carved granite pillar. Greeted by the sitting room’s stunning focal point, a sizable inglenook fireplace housing a Jotul wood-burning stove, who wouldn’t immediately envision snug family evenings blissfully passed amid a fireside glow, and the murmurous hum of familiar voices?

The masterful renovation of this period house seamlessly and subtly incorporates numerous modern touches to indulge your heart’s content and every whim.

Having guests to stay? One of Biddlecombe’s five bedrooms could never suffice, not when you could offer instead a self-contained apartment boasting quirky sloped ceilings, an independent kitchen, and shower room to boot. Sweeping windows in every room flood all three floors of this spacious property with bright light (enhanced by the gallery landing) while letting that resplendent surrounding landscape flow inwards – as if

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PROPERTY

you could ever forget it’s panoramic presence.

The solar glass, sliding doors and fully-opening windows all help to realise this property’s full potential – harmony between inner and outer spaces.

The most prized spot? You can find one for every time of day, in any season: follow the property’s unfolding design and dart from the drawing room straight through to the spectacular orangery, where you can watch the sun slip below the treeline just before dusk or, while doing the dishes, distract yourself with the breathtaking view of undulating valley slopes from the kitchen sink – you’re thoroughly spoilt for choice here at Biddlecombe.

All that remains to be said is that this delight is at your fingertips – so why not make Biddlecombe a part of your story? n

House numbers Guide price £925k Bedrooms 5 Bathrooms

4

Self-contained apartment 1

Wilkinson Grant & Co, Exeter The Old City Library, 1 Castle Street, Exeter EX4 3PT; 01392 427500; www.wilkinsongrant.co.uk

78 I exeter living I www.mediaclash.co.uk

EXMOUTH DEVON

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LAUNCHING SPRING 2019 An impressive brand new select development of just 4 properties with stunning sea views in a superb location near the seafront in Exmouth. Large open plan kitchen with stunning quartz worktops / dining room, 4 bedrooms, master en-suite, double garage and parking, landscaped gardens.

For further details telephone Lisa Storer on 01392 455926 or email l.storer@wilkinsongrant.co.uk

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A truly stunning individual architect designed, detached property with exquisite specification and attention to detail. This unique two storey, 5 bed home offers 3184 sq ft of accommodation plus a double garage in a prime residential location. Features include a beautifully designed, bespoke and locally sourced wide oak and glass centralised staircase. A very impressive and high-quality open-plan kitchen/dining room and Orangery with a vaulted ceiling, central roof glazing and a stunning full height picture window enjoying direct access onto a spacious southwesterly granite sun terrace.

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

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EXETER LIVES

“I was asked to sniff a fern that smelt of human urine”

FRANCES TOPHILL The horticulturalist and TV presenter is one of ours, and we’ll throw a tree stump at anyone who says otherwise From M&S shop assistant to gardening apprentice and all the way to the small screen – ITV’s Love Your Garden and BBC’s Gardeners’ World, no less – Frances Tophill is passionate about getting more people, especially the young, into horticulture.

Who better, then, to join the VIP speakers at the verdant, vibrant Toby’s Garden Festival at Powderham Castle? (NB: Frances lives in Kent at the moment but until very recently lived round these parts, and still has close ties to the area, so is definitely a legit Exeter Lives interviewee).

What are you up to at this year’s Toby’s Garden Festival?

I’m doing some talks, and I also

have friends who normally attend from Dawlish Gardens Trust, as well as a friend who has started a community market garden in the Powderham walled garden, so it will also be lovely to catch up with them.

What’s the funniest/oddest thing anyone’s asked you on TV?

I was asked to sniff a fern that smelt like… human urine.

Luckily they cut out my reaction!

What are your three favourite plants?

It changes with the seasons. At this time of year, I would have to say cherry because the blossom is so stunning and the fruits that follow so delicious. I also love nasturtiums because you can eat every part. They’re delicious

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and so cheerful! The final plant is globe artichoke. I think they’re stunningly beautiful but they also taste great. More importantly, the bees and other insects go mad for them if you let the flower come out. It’s so lovely to see the garden alive with wildlife. It makes you realise what’s actually important and why we do gardening.

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

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

The 1920s. It’s a fraught time, right in the middle of two World Wars, so it doesn’t come without its trials and tribulations, but it’s a time when some incredible changes and liberations happened, especially to women, and a breakdown of class began to happen, making everyone far more equal than ever before. It was also a time of some incredible art, architecture and music.

I’ve got really into the soundtracks from Studio Ghibli movies for some really beautiful tunes. Otherwise, a bit of Bob Dylan never goes amiss.

What job would you be terrible at?

Anything involving technology and social media. I’m pretty awful with computers. They never play ball. I think I’d last three minutes before having a meltdown!

What’s the most embarrassing thing that’s ever happened to you?

Throwing up in the bushes by my old secondary school when I was 21 and very hungover, right in front of my old deputy head and history teacher. That’s got to be one of them.

Who would play you in a film about your life?

I hope nobody, as a film about my life would not be worth going to see!

I love the Old Firehouse and spend a lot of time in Waterstones. Also, the Nepalese Gurkha restaurant in Dawlish.

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

We’d better let you get on…

What are you doing right after this?

About to jump in the shower and then drive to a school gardening group in Shropshire. Ellie, the girl I’m visiting won RHS Young Gardener of the Year last year.

She’s an inspiring young woman.

I imagine, in some years’ time, someone will play her in a film! n

Toby’s Garden Festival is at Powderham Castle, Fri 3-Sat 4 May; Frances Tophill will be appearing twice on the Saturday; www.tobygardenfest.co.uk