Food/Arts/Entertainment/Shopping/Property

EXETER AND BEYOND

ISSUE 244 / MAY 2019 / Â£3

UP THE GARDEN PATH

ISSUE 244 / MAY 2019 / GET A MOO-VE ON

OPTIMISE YOUR OUTDOORS

OFF THE SCALE ROCKFISH DROPS ANCHOR

RAISING THE STEAKS

BOTANICAL BOOM: PLANTINSPIRED PURCHASES

WE'RE DOWN ON THE FARM FOR OUR DEVON COUNTY SHOW ISSUE PLUS! ELAINE M GOODWIN + ELECTRIC MOUNTAIN BIKES + MERIDIAN RAW

EDITOR’S LETTER

ABOVE: Shaping up for the Devon County Show, page 24; BELOW: Ed’s Choice, page 48

elcome to our annual double-cover Devon County Show special! On both covers, you’ll see local farmer Patrick Greed, who kindly allowed us to visit his cattle and cereal farm on the Killerton Estate just outside Exeter. This was great fun, because Patrick is very honest and funny – and excellent at what he does. His beautiful Limousin cattle regularly win prizes at shows including the Devon County Show. And yet our trip was also, for us, a sobering reminder that life on the land is not the romanticised idyll of TV ads and nursery rhymes. It’s about dawn starts, mud and – when animals are involved – blood, viscera, birth and death. Sadly, for many farmers, it’s also about breaking even. And with the uncertainties of Brexit still hanging over their heads – among them, the threat of cheap imports and loss of vital subsidies – it’s deﬁnitely time to applaud everyone currently working the land to feed us. The Devon County Show is a proud celebration of local agriculture, and of the Devon countryside in general. Whether you’re a city slicker, country mouse or – like most of us – a hybrid of both, we wish you a hearty one.

ANNA BRITTEN Follow us on Twitter @ExeterLiving

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

Issue 244/May 2019 Cover Patrick Greed, Columbjohn Farm, shot by Emma Solley

upfront

11 Spotlight Fun news from round these parts, plus

Seven Deadly Sins

19 JP HEdGE How Exeter suddenly became festival

central

21 my desk Knight Frank’s Louise Glanville is ready

for anything

cover feature

24 RUMP AND GRIND We celebrate the return of the

Devon County Show with a visit to some cows...

the arts

37 INTRO The magical mosaics of Elaine M Goodwin 38 WHAT’S ON Your hot tickets for May 42 CALLING THE SHOTS The Exeter social

enterprise changing lives through camera lenses

shopping

47 intro Summer’s coming! Time to meet your new

mountain bike?

48 editor’s choice A botanicals buying binge

www.mediaclash.co.uk I exeter living I 5

LUXURIOUS SOFAS FROM ROM

THE HOME OF BEAUTIFUL FURNITURE

CHURCH ROAD, ALPHINGTON, EXETER, EX2 8SW

01392 433292

WWW.QUEENSTREET.CO.UK

BEAUTIFUL SCANDI STYLE SOFAS & CHAIRS

Living your Lifestyle LUXURIOUS BEDS FROM SOMNUS

Issue 244/May 2019

food & DRINK

52 RESTAURANT The new Rockfish on Exeter Quay

HEALTH & BEAUTY

63 SKIN IN THE GAME Getting red carpet-ready at

Skin Southwest

Business

65 business insider The most interesting local biz

stories right now

Property

76 TAKE IT OUTSIDE How to throw the ultimate

May bank holiday garden party

79 showcase Be bowled over by Southwood

Regulars

57 society 90 Exeter lives Hospiscare’s Peter Brennan

79 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 JP Hedge, Roxanne Duris, Yasmin Braddell, 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

www.mediaclash.co.uk I exeter living I 7

SPOTLIGHT People

THE WILD ONE You might assume playing for England in front of audiences of up to a billion was the most nerve-wracking thing a person could do. However, according to Exeter Chiefs player Jack Nowell, it’s nothing compared to his latest challenge. Nowellsy, you see, has just become a biker, with a little help from Exeter’s Bridge Motorcycles – getting his license and picking up the keys to his ﬁrst bike, an ice-cool Triumph Bobber Black. He has also signed up as brand ambassador for the family-run dealership – keep an eye on the Bridge Motorcycle Facebook page to ﬁnd out about events he’ll be attending.

“Taking my test, I was a lot more nervous than playing a rugby game,” says Jack, “which might be really weird to say, but I’m so used to playing in front of large numbers of people, and these big-pressure moments where you kind of build up to it. But when you’re saying, ‘Right this is the one that counts and this is the one that matters’, that’s when the nerves kicked in a bit. “It’ll take some getting used to, but I’m super excited. I already have visions of riding down to Cornwall along the A-roads when the sun’s out.” It should also make nipping across Countess Wear roundabout a bit easier too… For more: www.bridgemotorcycles.com

Them by Carol Peace

Art

Bat out of hell: Jack Nowell

STAR CASTS

Lympstone Manor has oﬃcially opened its new sculpture park, as part of celebrations for the country house hotel’s second anniversary. The stunning sculptures, created from materials including bronze, marble, steel and wood, have been installed by Unique Stone artwork and are the work of 17 leading British artists including Dominic Welch, Carol Peace, Jilly Sutton, Louise Plant, Mel Fraser and Simon Gudgeon. All pieces are for sale. For more: www.lympstonemanor.co.uk

Wear a wacky hat for Headway on 24 May

Charity

COOL HEADS Wear a hat on Friday 24 May. Go on. It won’t merely elevate your outﬁt, it’ll also disguise a bad hair day and, if you do so as part of brain injury charity Headway Devon’s Hats for Headway Day, you will be helping make life better for local people living with brain injury. At £2 per person to participate, the much-needed funds raised will go straight towards Headway Devon’s day centres and outreach support work for people living with acquired brain injury. Headway Devon provides specialised and ongoing support to Devon-based people who have brain injuries sustained either through illness or because of a traumatic incident, through day centres in Exeter, Exmouth, Tiverton, Torquay and Honiton and a team of community support workers. Rally the oﬃce, grab your beanie, baseball cap or boater, and sign up now at: www.headwaydevon.org.uk/2019/03/hats-for-headway

www.mediaclash.co.uk I EXETER LIVING I 11

spotlight A completed section of the E4 route on Cumberland Way

Cycling

ON YOUR BIKE

Devon County Council has now approved the next section of the strategic cycle route in Exeter. Councillors agreed the construction of an improved £1.5 million, pedestrian/ cycle route, starting from the junction with Pilton Lane on Pinhoe Road, up to the railway bridge at the northern end of Exhibition Way. Once the whole E4 strategic cycle route is completed, it will link housing developments in the east of Exeter to the city centre and Exeter University. The cycle scheme will offer better segregation for pedestrians and cyclists, and excellent priority across side roads with a more favourable gradient for people travelling between the edge of Exeter and the city centre. The report states: “The scheme will increase the attractiveness of cycling and walking by providing a safe, convenient and direct route towards the city centre. “This will allow better access to the parks in the area and help encourage reduced car use, reduced carbon emissions and improved air quality.” For more: www.devon.gov.uk

SEVEN DEADLY SINS In our regular mini Q&A with visiting and local performers, Honeyblood frontwoman Stina Tweeddale bares her wicked soul

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

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

I’m nearly always angry – it’s my default.

I don’t really see lust as a sin. It’s usually pretty exciting to feel lustful over something and usually ends up being pretty fun.

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

Cigarettes. I try and keep it to the bare minimum as it tends to affect my voice. One before the show and one after. That’s my limit.

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

I’m a massive foodie! I could eat Mexican food until I burst. Tacos forever.

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

Practising the new set! I keep on getting distracted by writing new material and I haven’t even released this album yet!

WRATH: What/who makes you angry? ENVY: Who are you jealous of ?

Jealousy is my pet peeve. I find it the worst trait and most toxic emotion. Let’s all champion each other and celebrate others’ successes!

PRIDE: What’s your proudest achievement?

Making this new record. I did it for me and stayed true to myself, which I think I can be pretty proud of without thinking it’s a sin.

Honeyblood play Exeter Cavern on 15 May www.exetercavern.com

EXETER CARPET COMPANY LTD A world of ï¬‚ooring at your feet

92A Old Tiverton Road, Exeter, Devon EX4 6LQ Open: Mon - Fri 9.00 - 5, Sat 9.00 - 1.00 01392 493084 www.exetercarpet.co.uk

LIGHTING

DISTINCTLY DIFFERENT LIGHTING Over recent years, lighting has been getting attention from designers and designer lovers alike. The range of shapes, designs and effects of today’s lighting is creatively inspiring with many pieces becoming an art form within the home. If you are looking for the perfect accent piece to cap off your favourite room then look no further. Our expertise and spectacular range of individual lighting is at your fingertips… Visit us online at www.dusklights.co.uk

Unit 1 Lancaster Court, Exeter Airport Business Park, Clyst Honiton, EX5 2DP 01392 363200 | sales@dusklighting.com

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.

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

www.cityvets.co.uk

NEW! LAVA SHELL MASSAGE Lava shells are the first self-heating massage tool. The shells emit heat allowing a continuous and seamless warm body massage Full Body Massage £50 | Back Massage £40

4 Roberts Road, St Leonard’s, Exeter EX2 4HB. 01392 410055 www.belulino.co.uk

Now open Weds 10am - 8pm, Thurs 9am - 5pm, Fri 9am - 7pm, Sat 9am - 5pm

OPINION JP HEDGE

Don’t stop the music

Music festival season is coming – JP charts Exeter’s transformation from deadzone to hotspot

still can’t listen to Coldplay without breaking out into a cold sweat. It dates back to when they played to 25,000 people at Powderham during Radio 1’s Big Weekend in 2016. I had only just joined Exeter City Council and was part of the team that helped deliver the event from their side. I was a very, very small part, I might add – but it is something I was incredibly proud to be part of.

As well as helping to land the event in the ﬁrst place, Exeter’s role was around the logistics of getting people to and from the festival, mainly via buses. As Chris Martin was belting out the last three numbers, a bus managed to buckle a key piece of track that had been specially laid out over the grass to form a road. When I think about it now, it still seems like watching in slow motion – 25,000 people starting to head towards the exit, and no way of getting out.

“A few years on, I’m so pleased to see that the Big Weekend was a starting gun, rather than a one-hit wonder”

The team for the BBC were astonishing, simply brilliant. A crisis was calmly and efficiently averted, and all anyone would have known about it was a short delay while it was being fixed. My Coldplay cold sweats aside, the event had much wider implications other than being an amazing show. It set a new benchmark in what can be achieved, and raised the bar on expectations for the Greater Exeter area. I think we could, and should, have amazing events like this for people to enjoy. And a few years on, I’m so pleased to see that the Big Weekend was a starting gun, rather than a one-hit wonder. I’m delighted that Powderham has ramped up its festival offering this year, with some world class acts. Exeter Castle has also upped its game, plus there is a new and exiting twist with Beats at Exeter Food Festival. Cath Hill and many of the same team from the city council and Visit Exeter who brought you The Rugby World Cup have been working on ideas of how to celebrate the city this summer. The Exeter Festival is the end result and, put simply, it is a celebration of the city that will hopefully have something for everyone and all pockets. What is unique is that the team putting it together live in, work in

and love the city. They are rightly very proud of Exeter. Also, they are planning it with exceptional knowledge of local bands and knowing what this city needs. Most of the action takes place in the heart of the city. We’ve got outdoor cinema on the Friday with The Greatest Showman and Bohemian Rhapsody, a massive day of live music on Saturday including Joey The Lips and The Hoosiers, while Sunday is Funday In The Park. There is going to be a Blue Boy trail, a showing of Mary Poppins, and taster activity sessions as part of our Sport England Delivery Pilot. Most importantly, it is a day showcasing the best of our community. Granted, it’s not quite in the same league as Coldplay, but I think it’s a cracking start. ■ Exeter Festival will take place in the city centre from 5-7 July. For more information, head to www.visitexeter. com/exeterfestival

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 19

PEOPLE

I can often be out on appointments all day, so I need a bag big enough to carry all the essentials I am always prepared for every eventuality. Being an agent in Devon can take you from the cobbled streets, down to the beach or out to muddy fields on a daily basis

MY DESK This year, a team of us took part in Sleep Easy in aid of the YMCA Exeter. We managed to raise £2,000 for the charity

This was a kind and generous thank you gift from a client of mine who recently sold their property

LOUISE GLANVILLE We have made a pledge to try and become plastic-free. I use this cup when visiting local coffee shops, or for the morning on-the-go coffee

This is Knight Frank champagne, which we give to buyers and sellers on completion of their house purchase/sale

ou’ll be going places if you become an estate agent. Literally – from city to beach to moor, penthouse to barn conversion to seaside villa. Which is why, as her desk here proves, Louise Glanville has to be ready for anything. Louise has been with Knight Frank Exeter for nearly two years and serves as head of Exeter city sales. Her desk is near the front of the oﬃce so that she can greet clients as they enter the premises on Southernhay East. “We are a really strong, proactive team,” she says. “We all work very hard and get on really well; there is a great atmosphere in the oﬃce.” ■ For more: www.knightfrank.co.uk

Being an estate agent, keys are a big part of my life! These are my keys for my everyday life. I have a lot of them!

It’s always sunny in Devon

www.mediaclash.co.uk I EXETER LIVING I 21

Providing the quality you desire

Finding you the perfect flooring for your home At Sowton Carpet Mills, we offer a fast and friendly service. We aim to provide you with complerte peace of mind that you’re in safe hands. New flooring is one of the best ways to give your property a fresh new look. We can offer you: • • • •

Domestic Carpets & Vinyls • Luxury Vinyl Tiles Free Measuring Service • Free Home Visits Wide Range in Stock • Fast Fitting Service Delivery or Take Away Today

Sowton Carpet Mills, Unit 2 - 4, Exhibition Way, Pinhoe, Exeter, EX4 8JD

01392 468157

www.sowtonmills.com | info@sowtonmills.com

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

RUMP AND GRIND

The bottom line – Patrick’s farming business is all about making a profit

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

devon county show

As Devon County Show fever takes hold, we ask what does it take to be a cattle farmer in 21st-century Devon? Patrick Greed tells us why you should never mistake sunbathing cows for dead ones and avoid umbrellas when watching livestock showsâ€Ś Words by Anna Britten Photos by Emma Solley www.mediaclash.co.uk I EXETER LIVING I 25

devon county show

arming – livestock farming, in particular – is no place for the sentimental. It’s about genetics and mating, birth, slaughter and eating. Animals are commodities, walking pound signs. If you like and respect them and the feeling’s mutual, it’s a bonus, not the reason you get out of bed at the crack of dawn. As grown-ups in the 21st century, we should not need reminding of this. Nevertheless... For this year’s Devon County Show special, we decided to step behind the ‘show’ part and meet a real, live farmer. At the 700-acre Columbjohn Farm, seven miles north of Exeter, Patrick Greed and wife Sheila breed and sell the Killerton Herd of prize-winning Limousin cattle and grow cereal crops. Patrick was born in nearby Poltimore, the son of a farmer, and took on Columbjohn, a National Trust farm, in 1993. His livestock will be competing in three different classes at this year’s show. Patrick lends us wellies and as he shows us around, our metropolitan mimsiness is slowly – and quite rightly – chipped away. Here’s a typical exchange. EL: Aw, look at that one’s little face. Patrick: He’s about to have his head off because he’s got crap balls. But we also learn loads about calving, competitions, the badger cull, bad backs and all the other things that make up a modern farmer’s life... What is keeping you busiest at the moment?

We are calving at this present moment in time, so that’s priority number one. Cows love Friday afternoons and Sundays and sometimes we’ll get three or four – and then nothing for three or four days. And then sometimes they decide to all calve at once, within an hour, and you think ‘oh what have I done wrong?’. What affects calving?

Weather conditions. Also, they like to be quiet – we

We can be soppy about these two though, right?

have an awful lot of people walking around the fields here during the daytime. During the evenings, there are fewer and I think the cows just get on with life then. Sometimes, if it’s a hot sunny day, they’ll put it off until the evening when it’s cooler. Nature takes its course. Like humans, sometimes they just get on with it and from the first signs it’s started it’s all over and done with in an hour. Other times, you have to help. If you could have a one to one with DEFRA, what would you want to talk about?

It’s a touchy subject that everyone gets a bit emotive about, but it would be TB. Because we are a pedigree farm, we try and sell all our stock for working purposes – bulls to other farms to do their stuff, to make good calves, and the females will go on for breeding. If we get TB, we are shut down, we cannot trade, so all our hard work would be wasted because the only opportunity we’d have to sell is straight to slaughter. So you’d like to be able to vaccinate?

No, vaccination is a waste of time. For four years, they vaccinated here on this estate and it didn’t help matters at all. A lot of money was wasted because they were not addressing the problem. The cull has been taking place in other areas of the country and now, in year four or five, there’s been a massive tail-off in TB. Ah, you’re talking about badger culling…

Yes. It is an emotive subject. There are pros and cons, people get all

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

“Cows love Friday afternoons and Sundays for calving”

Patrick sells his Killerton herd onto other farms for breeding

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

DEVON COUNTY SHOW upset about it, but I don’t think they realise what happens to individual businesses. Whether it’s pedigree lifestock or milking cows, if somebody has a massive breakout they can lose a huge amount of their herd and their income’s gone. And with the rules, you can’t buy new cattle in for 60 days. It makes life very diﬃcult.

Enjoy a wonderful slice of Devon at the show

Let’s talk about your Limousin cattle herd… Why is that the breed for you?

In the early ’90s, I had to go and buy a bull and it cost me a lot of money. I thought, ‘blow this, we’ll start breeding our own’. So what started oﬀ as a bit of a sideline has become a major part of the business. We now have 150-160 breeding cows here, and sell bulls to other farms to improve their own herds. It’s a breed that the beef industry likes too. It grades well, kills out well [ie has a high proportion of edible meat], is a fast grower and ticks most of the boxes. What are judges at the Devon County Show looking for in a Limousin?

Cow, heifer, bull, it’s normally size for age, conformation [what it actually looks like; the desirable and undesirable skeletal and muscular structures], length and width. Some animals are good at showing themselves oﬀ to the judges and others can be very sulky and just don’t want to play the game. If that occurs, you can have the best-looking one that looks bloody miserable and doesn’t go very far, but some walk around with their ears up and really catch the judge’s eye. But it all comes down to conformation really.

• A mouth-watering Devon cream tea (jam on top, of course)

What’s the worst thing one of them has ever done in the ring?

• Pigeons – a most underrated species. We love these birds and there are plenty of show specimens to see in Fur & Feather

Taken oﬀ. Jumped the hurdle! Do you ever get nervous?

Understatement. I get bad-tempered, butterflies, terrible. It’s very competitive, you want your animals to behave themselves. You’re taking them out of their home environment to somewhere completely strange, with different noises, different people, different voices, then you’re going out into a ring with lots of people around the outside. Sometimes

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

HIGHLIGHTS

What not to miss at DEVON COUNTY SHOW 2019 • A half of delicious refreshing, gently sparkling, artisan cider • The Grand Parade in the Main Ring (Friday and Saturday only) • Scurry Racing – just downright daredevil

• Titan the belching, farting robot (Friday and Saturday only) • Heavy horses – without doubt the most magniﬁcent beasts in the world • Angora goats – what’s not to love? • Devon chefs cooking up a storm in the food and drink exhibition • The new Foodwalk, taking food offerings to a truly international level

“Some animals show themselves off to the judges and others can be very sulky”

www.mediaclash.co.uk I EXETER LIVING I 29

devon county show

Ready for action, but respectful of the cows…

people have umbrellas, hats, bright coats, there are kids in prams – the cattle are not used to it. And they are away from their mates.

was when our winning cow had her second calf. She basically prolapsed and bled to death.

Do they ever poo?

What’s the worst injury you’ve ever sustained?

Yes, but you feed them so it’s not a runny poo. So it’s a bit more solid. Got any good luck rituals?

Sloe gin. It’s called a bonding session.

What’s the biggest misconception people have about farmers?

I read recently about some French chickens who teamed up to kill a fox. What strange things have your cows done?

One thing I’ve witnessed is a calf going to a swan’s nest on the edge of a river. The swan went for the calf, Mummy came running over to protect it, and all the rest joined in. And they basically annihilated the nest. It’s a herd instinct – they look after their own. Should you be afraid of being trampled on country walks?

Oh hell. [Long pause]. That’s a tough one. That we’re all grumpy, I think – we’re not, though. We have a lot of walkers here and we are always getting knocks at the door, because they think there’s something wrong. For instance, if it’s a sunny day, a cow might lie out in a field soaking up the sun. Walkers will knock at the door to tell me that it’s dead. So we go out, hoping damn well it’s not dead, but you get near it, it stands up and walks away. But people lie on sun-loungers and go to sleep don’t they? It’s just the public’s perception. With livestock, I don’t think people actually understand the real world that we live in. It’s all down to education; it’s a shame. We’ve invited schools to come here and have a look around, but they’re all terrified of picking up E.coli. Most people don’t know where their food comes from. To them, it comes from Tesco, Asda or Lidl. I try not to be grumpy, but I do have my moments…

“Cows lie out in the fields soaking up the sun”

I’ll be perfectly honest, you have to be wary. You can still walk through cows and calves, but give them plenty of room. They are unpredictable. Cows and calves are more dangerous than a bull. If I saw a sign for a bull in a field, I wouldn’t worry about it. But if you disturb a calf, she gets up, shouts, mum comes running – and the rest’ll come running too. And if you get in the way and they see you as a threat, you’re in trouble. If that happens and you’ve got a dog, drop the lead. First thing a dog will do is run round behind you and before you know it your legs will be entangled in the lead and you won’t be able to move. What’s been the highest high and the lowest low in your farming career?

Livestock-wise we won the Devon County Show as Supreme Animal a few years ago, which was a very good feeling. The low following that

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

I’ve had a bad back and trapped nerves. Sitting on your backside on a tractor is really bad for your back.

Do farmers ever have a laugh, then?

Course we do. You enjoy life. You get away from here and you just let your hair down, don’t you? You go for it. What’s the wildest thing you did as a young farmer?

I wouldn’t put that on record. Agriculture college was great. That was wild times. I’m not saying a word. n www.killertonlimousin.co.uk

It’s show time: one of Patrick’s prize-winning Limousin cattle

ESSENTIAL INFO DEVON COUNTY SHOW 2019

The Devon County Show 2019 takes place on Thursday 16, Friday 17 and Saturday 18 May Venue: Devon County Showground, Westpoint, Clyst St Mary, Exeter, Devon EX5 1DJ Opening times: Gates open Thursday and Friday, 7.30am-6.30pm; Saturday, 7.30am-6pm Trade stands open from 9am every day Tickets: Adults – advance £19, on the gate £22 Seniors – advance £17, on the gate £19 Kids – £7.50, free on Saturday

Group bookings of 20+ – £18 per person Super Saturday – two VIP adults for £35 including forward parking and access to the exclusive members’ enclosure Diamond Deal – buy one get one half price on over-60s tickets for Thursday or Friday There’s free parking and disabled parking For further info and tickets: www.devoncountyshow.co.uk

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

devon county show

Tractors keep the hedgerows neat, but don’t get stuck behind one

“You can splurge out on Louboutins, but you’re more likely to wear wellies” 10 things you’ll only know if you live in the Devon Countryside Words by YASMIN BRADDELL • Traffic jams: whether caused by lost tourists, the influx of people ‘heading to the coast’, poor road layout, flooding, tractors, or animals crossing, one thing’s for sure – it’s never a local’s fault! • It appears public transport forgot about the South-west – evidently, we’re so content we have no real need for reliable, frequent, consistent transport. Travel without sandwiches, portable charger and travel pillow is the definition of living dangerously. • Similarly, providers have been slow to take on board the notion that people in the South-west might want to be WiFi surfers (as well as wave surfers). You often wonder whether you spend more of your precious time sitting patiently gazing at the buffering symbol of doom than actually watching anything on the internet… • Hold on to your hats non-Devon people, for, believe it or not, we actually use landlines down here! It appears we flummox even EE and O2 with our signal-less lands. • However, the techno-void is not all that bad. What we lack in general ‘keeping in contact with the rest of the UK’, we make up

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

for in ‘real life contact’. And what better place than the village pub to keep abreast of local happenings? Gossip spreads like wildfire; our nightly entertainment rivals any soap we’ve left the house still trying to load on catch-up! • Having comfortable shoes (and a good waterproof) matters. You can splurge out on Louboutins, but you’re more likely to wear wellies. Mud wins out every time (and, inevitably, you concede – sturdy shoes and warm, dry toes are preferable!). • Down here, everyone knows everyone. Your nan knows everyone else’s nan. Your brother’s best friend is your postman’s uncle’s butcher. You also went to school with about 95 per cent of the people with whom you now work… you still aren’t sure how you feel about this. • You’re used to being asked “so, is Devon in Cornwall?”. No, no, no – it is not. (But you also refer to anything above London as being “in the North”.) • You’ve mastered that smile reserved solely for DFLs (Down From London-ers): yes, we do have jobs; and yes, we can get tapas – even “all the way down here”. • And, really, you’re pretty smug, because you know you have the best of living arrangements: you’re never far from the beach, the woods, the moors, or one of the country’s best-loved cities: wonderful Exeter…!

advertising feature

Meet the Dentist

From whitening treatments to root canal surgery, these are some of the best dentists in the city Gary Price

AndrÉ Faro Leite

Exeter Advanced Dentistry 01392 202007; www.exeteradvanceddentistry.co.uk What aspects of dentistry do you specialise in? I focus on dental implants – titanium screws to help replace missing teeth. Increasingly, my time is spent helping patients either without any teeth, or whose teeth are failing, to have fixed teeth again. It is possible to provide this on the day of surgery, meaning that patients can leave here with fixed teeth. We can also help in cases where patients have been told they are not suitable for this treatment, by placing implants in the cheekbone. Why should a patient come to you? My practice has several dentists, each of whom looks after a separate area of dentistry to a very high standard. Rather than try to carry out all treatments, we each focus on our individual areas to improve success rates and achieve better results. We have good coffee too! How would you define modern dentistry? We have invested heavily in technology, from CT scanning and virtual-reality treatment planning, through to 3D model printing and computer-assisted guided surgery, drastically improving accuracy and efficiency. Our technology is really exciting!

Inspired Dental Care 01392 272385; www.inspireddentalcare.co.uk

Gary Price

Andre Faro Leite

Ruan Kriel

Barnfield Dental Studio 01392 423668 www.barnfielddentalstudio.com Why should a patient come to you? We’re an award-winning family practice established in Exeter since 2006. We put the needs of our patients first, and although we can provide one-off treatments, we prefer to establish long-term relationships. Good communication and quality treatment is paramount, and we pride ourselves on being accommodating and reliable. What do you enjoy most about being a dentist? Seeing the same patients return over the years. Finding out about their interests; learning new things from them. Watching young people grow up – and often becoming taller than me - making their own lives and having their own families. What has been your proudest accomplishment so far? Managing to maintain a modicum of sanity despite having four daughters. What are the most rewarding aspects of your job? Seeing an anxious patient return for their treatment in spite of their fears. Their surprise following the treatment when they realise how much easier it was than what they’ve imagined.

Ben Pearson

Life Dental & Wellbeing 01392 278843 www.lifedentalandwellbeing.co.uk

Ruan Kriel

Ben Pearson

34 I Exeter living I www.mediaclash.co.uk

How did you get into dentistry? Coming from a family of dentists, it was always a constant presence – ever since I can remember. It feels like dentistry has always been part of who I am. How would you best define modern dentistry? A pleasant patient-driven experience using the latest digital technologies but most important, pain-free! What have been your career highlights so far? Achieving the highest level of UK accreditation in Dental Implantology with the Diploma of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and the MSc in the same field, have got to be the professional highlights. Being given the medical award for best MSc student and being shortlisted three times for the ‘Best Young Dentist’ national award also felt very gratifying. Why are some people scared of going to the dentist? In my experience, a bad experience in the past is the most common denominator among the more anxious patients I have seen. What do you most enjoy about your job? Being able to improve patients’ self-esteem and, since starting to teach at the dental school, being able to pass my knowledge on to a new generation of dentists and help them to achieve their own professional goals.

What aspects of dentistry do you specialise in? My Masters degree is in gum health, which is something I am passionate about. It is the bedrock of all good dental care. Why should a patient come to you? My ethos is to help my patients preserve their teeth for their whole life. Years of experience has taught me that communication is key. When a patient knows and understands what is going on, they can take control of their oral health. What do you enjoy most about being a dentist? I love it when patients realise the health of their mouth has improved as a result of the care I have provided. How would you define modern dentistry? Dentistry is changing all the time with new technology and techniques. However the foundation of every healthy mouth is good gum care. What might we be surprised to learn about you? I have sailed around the world and have a Green Beret from when I served with the Royal Marines. I’m also rather fond of topiary!

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

CONVERSATION PIECES “My work is about light. For all who look, at each and every moment, light is held, captured, and let go – continually and continuously. It is, for me, a sublime engagement.” So says world-renowned mosaic artist Elaine M Goodwin, who studied art at the Exeter College of Art and Design; now lives in Burgundy, France; and is the subject of a major new retrospective at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum (RAMM). Journeying To Light celebrates 40 years of Goodwin’s beguiling, luminous work through more than 30 of her mosaics – mostly abstract pieces – painstakingly created using a combination of light-reflecting materials, such as Venetian gold, smalti (pieces of coloured glass) and Carrara marble. This detail from her 2018 quadriptych Impotentia is a reminder that, sometimes, the whole and its parts are equally great. Journeying To Light: The Mosaics of Elaine M Goodwin is at Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery, Queen Street, Exeter EX4 3RX until Sun 23 June www.rammuseum.org.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I exeter living I 37

What’s on

26 April – 26 May

Gwyneth Strong will keep you guessing in The Mouse Trap at The Northcott

EXHIBITIONS 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

Until 2 June

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

Until 9 June

EXETER’S FINE ART COLLECTION: WOMEN ARTISTS Works from the 1770s to 2011 including some by Barbara Hepworth, Gillian Ayres, Exeter’s Olive Wharry, Kate Greenaway and

Lucy Kemp-Welch. RAMM, Queen Street, Exeter; www.exeter.gov.uk/ramm

Until 23 June

JOURNEYING TO LIGHT: THE MOSAICS OF ELAINE M 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

25 May-22 June

PAPER PLAY Works inspired by the recent On Paper exhibition. Thelma Hulbert Gallery, Dowell Street, Honiton EX14 1LX; www.thelmahulbert.com

26 May-2 June

LYMPSTONE ART EXHIBITION Paintings, prints, sculpture and ceramics, plus secret auction and

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

children’s competition. Lympstone Village Hall; Lympstone; www.lympstone.org

theatre, Comedy & Dance 1-5 May

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

4-6 May

FISSURE Hattie Collins’ new play about a relationship between a doctor and a space shuttle engineer. Exeter Phoenix, Gandy Street, Exeter; www.exeterphoenix.org.uk

5 May

ALFIE MOORE: GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER Latest stand-up show from the detective sergeant-turned-comic. Exeter Phoenix, Gandy Street, Exeter; www.exeterphoenix.org.uk

6-11 May

THE MOUSETRAP The long-running West End whodunnit takes to the road again for the first time since 2012. Gwyneth ‘Cassandra from Only Fools & Horses’ Strong stars. Northcott Theatre, Stocker Road, Exeter; www.exeternorthcott.co.uk

10 May

REGINALD D HUNTER: FACING THE BEAST Don’t miss the latest tour from this gifted and charming comedy veteran. Exeter Corn Exchange, Market Street, Exeter; www.exetercornexchange.co.uk

what’s on 10 May

RICHARD JONES: ESCAPE TOUR The winner of 2016’s Britain’s Got Talent will freak you out with his trademark mix of magic, illusion and psychological trickery. Exmouth Pavilion, Esplanade, Exmouth; www.ledleisure.co.uk/ exmouth-pavilion

13-14 May

EXETER SCHOOL WATER AID CONCERT Over 150 pupils perform music by Haydn, Bizet, Vivaldi, Bruch and more to raise funds for WaterAid. St Michael & All Angels’ Church, Church Street, Heavitree, Exeter; www.exeterschool.org.uk/box-office

1 May

THE ISLE OF BRIMSKER Multi-sensory story about a lighthouse keeper from Frozen Light, which makes theatre for audiences with profound and multiple learning disabilities. Northcott Theatre, Stocker Road, Exeter; www.exeternorthcott.co.uk

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

15 May

2 May

AND BEFORE I FORGET I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU Pip Utton’s play about Alzheimer’s disease. Performed in the bar and restaurant area. Northcott Theatre, Stocker Road, Exeter; www.exeternorthcott.co.uk above: Idomeneo will stir your passions at the Northcott left: Reginald D Hunter, set to charm audiences below: Exeter Pride, one of the region’s biggest LGBTQ+ events

1 May

16-18 May

ROTTERDAM Olivier Award-winning new comedy from Jon Brittain about gender and sexuality. Northcott Theatre, Stocker Road, Exeter; www.exeternorthcott.co.uk

22 May

JULIAN CLARY: BORN TO MINCE World-class bawdiness and campery. Sold out, but call 01392 665938 for returns. Exeter Corn Exchange, Market Street, Exeter; www.exetercornexchange.co.uk

music & opera 28 April

6 May

WHEATUS Almost 20 years on from Teenage Dirtbag, Brendon B Brown’s witty New York rockers drop by as part of their world tour. Lemon Grove, University of Exeter; www.exeterguild.org/lemongrove

12 May

SAM FENDER The distinctive, thoughtful singersongwriter and Brits Critics’ Choice Award winner hits town. Lemon Grove, University of Exeter; www.exeterguild.org/lemongrove

13 May

MINI MANSIONS Headline tour for the LA band comprising members of Queens of the Stone Age, Arctic Monkeys and The Last Shadow Puppets. Exeter Cavern, 83-84 Queen St, Exeter; www.exetercavern.com

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

28 April

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

THE SUPERHEROES VS HEROES 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

15 May

HONEYBLOOD This ferocious and riotous Glasgow band celebrate their new, third album In Plain Sight. See also page 61. Exeter Cavern, 83-84 Queen St, Exeter; www.exetercavern.com

15 May

SHOW OF HANDS

www.mediaclash.co.uk I exeter living I 39

WHAT’S ON For their ‘Special Relationship’ Spring tour, Steve and Phil will be joined by acclaimed US singer songwriter Richard Shindell. Exeter Corn Exchange, Market Street, Exeter; www.exetercornexchange.co.uk

21-25 May

ENGLISH TOURING OPERA: MACBETH/IDOMENEO/ ELIZABETH I Tales of war, sacriﬁce and power. from the ETO and respectively Verdi, Mozart and Rossini. Northcott Theatre, Stocker Road, Exeter; www.exeternorthcott.co.uk

OTHER EVENTS 3-4 May

TOBY’S GARDEN FESTIVAL Two days of horticultural fun championing specialist nurseries and featuring a range of speakers and activities. Powderham Castle, Kenton; www.tobygardenfest.co.uk

4 May

FAMILIES FOR CHILDREN INFORMATION SESSION Find out more about how to adopt. 10am-12noon. Exeter Library, Castle Street, Exeter; www.familiesforchildren.org.uk

LIBRARY LIFE

EMILY MACAULAY shares the latest from Exeter Library Fun Palaces is an annual event across the world whereby communities get together to share their skills and passions with others, celebrating “everyone an artist, everyone a scientist”. This will be Exeter Library’s fourth year of hosting a Fun Palace, but for us this means we just open our doors and give you the space. So we need to hear from you if you have a skill, knowledge or passion you’d love to share with others. Could you teach people some basic notes on a musical

instrument? Could you teach some basic language phrases? Can you help people learn about the weather? Do you know how to belly dance and want to show others how to do it too? There is no limit to what can be offered, so if you want to share your passion with others and contribute to a fabulous weekend (5 & 6 October) of fun, please email Karen. huxtable@librariesunlimited. org.uk with your ideas. www.librariesunlimited.org.uk

WANT MORE?

Sign up now for the Exeter Living newsletter... 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.)

11 May

EXETER PRIDE 2019 One of the top LGBTQ+ events in the South-west, and one of the biggest Prides in the UK. Rainbow ﬂag march starts 12noon, Sidwell Street, followed by music, stalls, workshops and more until 6pm. Northernhay Gardens, Exeter; www.exeterpride.co.uk

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

18 May

BANFF MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL WORLD TOUR Ace annual showcase of adrenalinepacked short ﬁlms about the globe’s craziest skiers, climbers, surfers etc. Exeter Corn Exchange, Market St, Exeter; www.exetercornexchange.co.uk

25 May

WEDDING FAIR Meet some of the South-west’s best wedding suppliers from 10am-2pm. Sandy Park, Exeter; www.sandypark.co.uk

ALEXANDER MCCALL SMITH The author of The No 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series chats to Tim Hubbard about his career, to support Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival. St Peter’s Church, The Lawn, Budleigh Salterton; www.budlitfest.org.uk

15-29 May

25 May

12 May

Come and share your skills with others at Fun Palaces

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

ROSEMOOR LIVE! A fortnight of live music, comedy, talks and children’s shows at the glorious garden. RHS Garden Rosemoor, Great Torrington; www.rhs.org.uk/rosemoor

GARDEN PARTY Storytelling, arts and crafts, gourmet street food, live music and bar from 5-8pm. Thelma Hulbert Gallery, Dowell Street, Honiton; www.thelmahulbert.com ■

CALLING A THE SHOTS How Exeter social enterprise Meridian Raw brings vulnerable people together to create beautiful photography

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

round the world, photography is a tool for empowerment. Whatever your circumstances, take a picture and you are shaping reality; you are in control; you tell your own story. The results can express feelings you wouldn’t even know how to put into words, and can excite and inspire, help you see the world through fresh eyes. Founded five and a half years ago, Meridian Raw is a social enterprise based in Exeter that uses photography as an empowerment tool for marginalised communities and socially excluded individuals. Founder and director Clive Chilvers, a professional freelance photographer, says: “We help to bring about social change through creative participatory photography workshops and community projects. To achieve this, we place the camera in the hands of the user and provide them with the opportunity to create photo-stories or themes that are personal, self-reflective or highlight issues that affect them directly or that can affect their community.” We asked Clive to curate and comment upon a handful of his favourite shots by Meridian Raw participants. www.meridianraw.com

photography Iron Bridge Reflections by Jasper Hill from the Gratitude in Photography Project in Exeter, Barnstaple, Illfracombe and Bristol, 2014 © Jasper Hill/Meridian Raw CIC 2014 The Gratitude in Recovery project was a collaborative participatory photography project between Meridian Raw CIC, RISE/EDP and Bristol Drug Project and was funded by the National Lottery Community Fund – Awards for All programme. This beautiful image was shot by Jasper Hill and emerged from the first session in Exeter. Jasper’s quote: “When wandering around or walking from A to B, it is very easy to be focused on where it is you’re going. However, I often like to stop and just look and see the world in a different way.”

Reflections of my son by Ismat Almahmad from the Our Lives, Our Community, Our Voice Project in Exeter, November 2013 © Ismat Almahmada/Devon Grapevine/Meridian Raw CIC 2013 This image was from Meridian Raw CIC’s first project back in 2013, which was in collaboration with Devon Grapevine and funded by The People’s Health Trust. Ismat Almahmad captured this reflection of his son in the train window as they travelled to London. Ismat is a teacher from Kurdistan and was in Exeter while his wife was studying for a degree at Exeter University.

Robin at Stover Country Park by Bradders from the Photography for Change Project and our photo-walk visit to Stover Country Park, 2018 © Bradders/Meridian Raw CIC 2018 Photography for Change is our current participatory photography project in Exeter that explores the themes of personal change, community change and future change. Bradders is a returning participant who has taken part in a number of our projects. Not only is he a great member of the group, he also takes very good images of wildlife and the nature around him. Photo-walks and community trips are a wonderful part of our participatory photography programmes and they provide a great outlet for our participants to bond and provide different locations and subjects to photograph.

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

PHOTOGRAPHY Gannets on Bass Rock, Scotland by Francesco Pistillo from the Our Lives, Our Community, Our Voice Project in Exeter, 2016. © Francesco Pistillo/Meridian Raw CIC/Devon Grapevine CIC This image was from Meridian Raw CIC’s first project back in 2013, which was in collaboration with Devon Grapevine and funded by The People’s Health Trust. Francesco has a very artistic eye and really enjoys photographing wildlife and capturing those special moments.

Poltimore House by Johanna Gonzalez Esteban from the Future Focus Project and our photography visit to Poltimore House, 2016 © Johanna Gonzalez Esteban/Meridian Raw CIC 2016 The Future Focus Project was a one-year community project in Exeter that used photography as a means of engagement and empowerment and was funded by the National Lottery Community Fund – Awards for All programme. This wonderful black-and-white image by Johanna Esteban beautifully captures the eeriness of the Poltimore courtyard. Poltimore House has been a great supporter of Meridian Raw CIC over the past few years and provided our photography groups with tours and transport to the house and gardens.

Light & Shadow by Janet Gaskell from the Future Focus Project in Exeter, 2017 © Janet Gaskell/Meridian Raw CIC 2017 The Future Focus Project was a one-year community project in Exeter that used photography as a means of engagement and empowerment and was funded by the National Lottery Community Fund – Awards for All programme. Janet has taken part in a couple of our projects and is captivated by light, shadow and elements of photography.

www.mediaclash.co.uk I EXETER LIVING I 45

shopping live well, buy better

CLIMB EVERY MOUNTAIN If you love flinging yourself down steep, muddy tracks in your leisure time, but are less keen on heaving yourself back up them, we have just the bike for you. This beast from electric mountain bike (eMTB) inventor Haibike has a well-concealed Bosch crank-drive motor, offering four levels of assistance, meaning you can get back to the fun stuff faster. Better still, there’s a Haibike sale now on at Partridge Cycles in Kennford. And if the ‘electric bikes are cheating’ brigade give you side-eye in the car park? Simply point out that it’s no different to using a chairlift when you’re skiing. And then, with a click of your left thumb, make them eat your mud. Haibike electric mountain bike sale now on, prices from £1,465 (including this Haibike XDURO AllMtn 3.0 2019, sale price £3,000) at Partridge Cycles Superstore: A38, Kennford, Exeter EX6 7TW 01392 833303; www.partridgecycles.co.uk

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

INDIAN SUMMER BY ALISON WHATELEY, ORIGINAL £345, LIMITED EDITION PRINT £60 Luscious, locally created textile art inspired by nature – we can practically hear the bees a-buzzing From Alison Whately Design; www.alisonwhateleydesign.co.uk

PLUM & ASHBY GERANIUM AND SWEET ORANGE BATH ESSENCE, £18 Lie back and breathe in the soothing ﬂorals of this wonderful bath-time treat From Darts Farm, Topsham; www.dartsfarm.co.uk

MANIC BOTANIC

If it photosynthesises, we’re buying it SUE GREGOR EARRINGS, £42 Dangle actual wildﬂowers (in acrylic) from your lugholes From The Shop at RAMM, Queen Street, Exeter; www.rammuseum.org.uk

DELPHINE JONES BOTANICAL CARDS, £12, SET OF SIX Perfect for post-Easter thank you notes to Granny From Georgie & Flo, 1 Upper Paul Street, Exeter; www.georgieandﬂo.com

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

BLUE BLOSSOM PYJAMAS, £45.95 Phew, weeding is exhausting – you’ll need these cotton jammies from Cornwall’s Powell Craft for afterwards From Boka, 3 High St, Crediton; www.boka.org.uk

ED’S CHOICE KURT JACKSON'S BOTANICAL LANDSCAPE (LUND HUMPHRIES), £35 Poems and artworks by the West Country artist and environmentalist, with contributions from Tim Smit and Robert Macfarlane From Crediton Community Bookshop, 21 High Street, Crediton; www.creditoncommunitybookshop.co.uk

‘MADAGASCAR’ EIDERDOWN, £200 Traditional yet on-trend, handmade eiderdown from Moretonhampstead-based Dearest Violet From Dearest Violet Eiderdowns; www.dearestviolet.com

SHOULDER BAG, £35.95 An apt way to cart your new secateurs and organic slug pellets back from the garden centre From Leaf Street, 53 Magdalen Rd, Exeter; www.leafstreet.co.uk

FELT CACTUS, £17.95 Needs even less water than a regular cactus From Hyde & Seek, 1 Paul Street, Exeter; www.hydeseek.co.uk

TROPICAL PALM ECO BENTO BOX, £11.95 Your al desko lunch just got hipper. Made from bamboo, so keep away from the dishwasher From Hyde & Seek, 1 Paul Street, Exeter; www.hydeseek.co.uk

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

Elizabeth Ann of Exeter

FABULOUS SPRING STOCK

Chapter 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

sidmouth

Beautiful clothes at affordable prices

• Just White • Barbara Lebek • Lunar Shoes • Pause Cafe • Olivier Philips • Marble • Frank Lyman • Brax • Joseph Ribkoff

SPRING/SUMMER COLLECTION Now in stock

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

Church Street, Sidmouth, Devon, EX10 8LZ info@chapterclothing.co.uk

Tel: 01395 579181

Casa Magnolia CHAGFORD

Our Spring/Summer collections have arrived:

Brands Include: Sandwich, Latte, Marble, Peruzzi, Pomodoro, Paz Torras, White Vanilla, Tina Taylor, Thought. And many more.... We also stock beautiful leather handbags, jewellery and accessories.

18 High Street, Crediton EX17 3AH. Tel. 01363 776677 www.facebook.com/katheaboutique

www.katheaboutique.co.uk

YACCO MARICARD MASAI MAMA B OCHRE KNITWEAR CUT LOOSE QUERNSTONE LILY AND ME. ROBELL VILAGALLO RALSTON TERRE ROUGE PRIVATSACHEN Sandals from LoďŹ na and a great selection of bags, baskets and accessories.

38 The Square, Chagford, Devon, TQ13 8AB 01647 433905 / info@casamagnolia.co.uk ITS ALL ON OUR WEBSITE:

WWW.CASAMAGNOLIA.CO.UK

ROCKFISH

Unlimited chips is just one of the attractions at this welcome newcomer to the Quay, finds Anna Britten

e’ll be honest. Like many in Exeter, we had mixed feelings when news broke that Rockfish had its eye on the patch of grass on Pizza Terracina. We’ve always loved a non-specific, multi-purpose, free-for-all green patch in a city centre, and wondered if obliterating this one with a restaurant was maybe a bit of a shame. But we were wrong. Rockfish – and its charming and enthusiastic, Eric Clapton-lookalike, owner Mitch Tonks – is the best thing to happen to the Quay since Exeter Cookery School opened. And from what we could see on our visit, has already increased footfall to that side of the water by fourfold. At least. Inside, it’s packed. A breezy, confident, jaunty La Rochelle vibe prevails. Wherever you sit you can see water – either the river or the canal basin – and into the open kitchen. There’s lots of blond wood, shades of blue, maritime prints, maps and photos of people having fun in or near various Rockfishes. It is totally the place for your best Breton top and box-fresh Supergas.

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

While Rockfish isn’t quite a proper chain yet, it does have a distinctive brand. Even if you were blindfolded on the way in, you’d know you were in a Rockfish because: a) In the loos you will hear Brian Perkins reading Les Barker’s comedy version of the Radio 4 Shipping Forecast (“Ginger Rogers and Finistère… Lundy, Fundy, Sundy and Mundy”) b) Your paper tablecloth will have lists of fish printed on it upon which your chirpy, Sharpie-wielding waiter will circle today’s specials and scribble notes on how they’re cooked and what they cost. It’s very ‘no-nonsense little bistro in Honfleur’. c) You get unlimited chips d) The fish and seafood will be flawlessly prepared. And so, the three scallops I start with are hoover-it-up tasty, having been roasted in the shell with olive oil, white wine, garlic butter and breadcrumbs – thus retaining their firm, plump, buttery, juicy loveliness. Meanwhile, E gets three generous slices of hand-cut sashimi-style smoked salmon with triangles of rye bread, slices of shallot, a scattering of capers and a fat blob of dill sour cream. Carefully done, she opines, and truly delicious.

restaurant

“It is totally the place for your best Breton top and box-fresh Supergas” So impressed have we been by our waiter’s Sharpie routine, we head for the specials next. For me, sand sole – because I’ve never heard of it and love a surprise. A relatively rare flatfish, not dissimilar to Devon or lemon sole, it’s no looker (uncooked, it literally looks like a sole, as in the tatty brown sole of an old boot). Whole, grilled and served with garlic butter, however, it is a most pleasant novelty; mild of flavour and delicate of texture, its little flakes sliding easily and cleanly off its skeleton. It comes with a classically dressed mixed salad of tomatoes, baby spinach, cucumber, frisée and red onion and goes well with a glass of nice, dry Picpoul de Pinet. Two pieces of chargrilled monkfish, served with garlic butter arrive in front of E. It’s sensitively cooked with due deference to this popular sea creature’s flavoursome meatiness. Lumpy-like-they-oughta-be mushy peas and seaweed tartare sauce (an excellent invention), give us something tasty to drag our chunky, sunshine-hued chips through. Real talk: fish doesn’t come cheap. Our mains cost £15.95 and £19.95 respectively. Yet closer scrutiny of the menu reveals lunching here with a loved one need not set you back an entire week’s food budget. You can get a ‘small’ (it’s not that small) fish and chips for £8.95. Furthermore, good fish like this is so filling. Those unlimited chips we got so excited about? Didn’t even need them. n

Dining details Rockfish, 9 Piazza Terracina, Exeter; 01392 491664; www.therockfish.co.uk Opening times Every day, 12noon10pm Prices Starters from £6.95, mains from £8.95, sides from £1.25 Vegetarian/vegan choice If you eat fish, happy days. If not, there’s a Cheese ‘Vurger’ and good salads. Also: detailed ‘allergens menu’ Disabled access As considered as you’d expect from a bespoke, brandnew building Drinks Wines by the glass, carafe or bottle including its house Sauvignon Blanc. Plus Bloody Marys, G&Ts, craft beers and ice cream floats Service/atmosphere Confident, jolly, yachtie-casual

www.mediaclash.co.uk I exeter living I 53

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

Winners of 2019 Exeter Living Awards Gastro Pub of the Year! DRINKS - EVENTS - FOOD Cosy Village Pub with a Contemporary Twist. Mini Pub, Maxi Vibe The Seven Stars, Kennford EX6 7TR www.sevenstarskennford.co.uk 01392 834 887

SOCIETY

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

Matthew Lugg, Kate Carpenter and Susan Lugg Emma Hext, Hannah Clark and Chris Shipway

Bruce Slattery, Steve Keen and Jamie Hulland

BUILDING BRIDGES

Rob McDonald, Sarah Matthews, Laurence Oakes-Ash and magician Dan Brazier

Dominika Mackiewicz and Andrew Kenyon

What’s the collective noun for construction professionals? We don’t know, but there was one of them up at the Great Hall in Exeter recently, for the South-west regional conference of Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT) gala dinner. Guests swapped their hard hats and high-viz jackets for black-tie, and enjoyed a three-course dinner, mesmerising close-up magic from local magician Dan Brazier and entertainment from Casino Select.

Joe Payne, Lydia Palmer, Katherine Bright, Andy Tovey and Mike D’Alton

Xxx

www.mediaclash.co.uk I EXETER LIVING I 57

SOCIETY SOCIETY

John Laramy and The Duke of York

David Fursdon, Lord-Lieutenant of Devon

PITCH PERFECT

Kathyrn White

Sophie Cooper Max Beech and Tom Phipps

Some of Exeter’s ﬁnest entrepreneurs and start-ups set out their stalls at Exeter College recently for a pitching initiative founded by The Duke of York, who also attended. The Pitch@ Palace 11.0 On Tour Devon – hosted by Exeter College in partnership with the University of Exeter, on behalf of SETsquared Exeter – aims to guide, help and connect entrepreneurs and early-stage businesses with potential mentors, investors and other supporters who can help them see their ventures take oﬀ.

Funmi Adewara Olivia Champion

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

Peter Melville-Shreeve

THIS TIME NEXT YEAR…

SOCIETY

A milestone event in the long history of Exeter Deaf Academy took place at the Bicton Arena marking 12 months until the academy’s new campus opens on the former Rolle College site in Exmouth. Guests heard all about the new, worldclass development and Exeter Deaf Academy’s plans to create Britain’s ﬁrst deaf-friendly town in Exmouth. James Heaver (far left) and Mark Stocks (far right) with staff and students

Photos by Steve Haywood

Catriona Fursdon, John Lomax and Rosy Fane Trefusis

Lynne Elson, Bruce de Saram and Sarah de Saram Carl Harding and Charles Fane Trefusis

Trudy Chappell, Jenny Sealey and Sarah Ankers Sylvan Dewing, Hugh Inman, Jane Inman and Steve Morton

www.mediaclash.co.uk I EXETER LIVING I 59

SOCIETY

Sarah Tooley, Andrew Joscelyne, Elizabeth Borrett and Sarah Fletcher

Rosanna Harris, Karen Malim and Carol Malim

Kate Richardson, Laura Kelly, Lucy Perkin and Liz Wardle

Andrew Welch, Maureen Phillips and Derek Phillips

PIANO MAN

Mrs Richard Addington and Mrs Ranulf Rayner

Organisers of the Two Moors Festival, one of the regionâ€™s leading classical music events, held a special concert at Powderham Castle with internationally renowned pianist Tom Poster. More than 100 attendees got stuck in to champagne and canapĂŠs as they enjoyed classics by Beethoven and Schubert. The prestigious Two Moors Festival, which is now in its 19th year, takes place in venues across Exmoor and Dartmoor from the 11-20 October. Madeleine Collie and Paul Abbott

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

Tom Poster

SOCIETY

SOCIETY SOCIETY

HOOK, LINE AND SINKER

The great, the good and the peckish gathered on opening night to give a warm Exeter welcome to the new Rockﬁsh restaurant on Exeter Quay (see our review on page 52) and its award-winning restaurateur/chef Mitch Tonks. We think it might do rather well… Jay and Beth Allan

Laura Cowan and George Clark Hayley Reynolds and Susy Atkins

Karime Hassan, Mitch Tonks and JP Hedge

Izzy Clarkson and Jess Pepperell

TALKING THE TALK

Kate Salmon

This year’s TEDxExeter saw around 900 people attend the event itself at the Northcott Theatre and the university’s Alumni Auditorium. In addition, livestream events took place across Devon and beyond, with people in more than 25 countries – including Australia, New Zealand, India, Russia, Japan, Nigeria, Somalia, US, Mexico and Venezuela – watching speakers tackle subjects ranging from artiﬁcial intelligence to disability.

Steve Simpson

The 2019 TEDxExeter Team

www.mediaclash.co.uk I EXETER LIVING I 61

a dating age ncy in Devon with a heart...

We create special relationships

Pi Society offers an ideal way to find your perfect match, offering you a personal and friendly service to help you fulfil your social and personal lives. We combine a professional and discreet matchmaking service with local social events. For more information please call us on 07970825437 or visit us on line: www.pisociety.co.uk

health & Beauty Head to Skin Southwest for your Fire & Ice Facial

SKIN IN THE GAME

Who you gonna call when your skin needs to be red carpet-ready? ANNA BRITTEN finds out

magine: you are due to attend the most glamour-icious evening in the Exeter calendar, but look like you’ve been dragged through Exeter backwards. Right now, Jeremy Corbyn is more red carpet-ready than you. A blow-dry and a smart frock alone are not going to cut it. The question is: what would a Hollywood A-lister do faced with this crisis? Answer: they’d steer the Tesla towards their nearest Fire & Ice Facial provider. Devised by US skincare brand iS Clinical and also known as ‘the red carpet facial’, this treatment is designed to instantaneously plump your skin before a big event. If you type it into Google, the names of superstar fans Halle Berry and Gwyneth Paltrow will pop up. Do we have this miracle in Exeter? Course we do – at Southernhay-based facial aesthetics clinic Skin Southwest, which has kindly invited me to try it out today. First, friendly and efficient aesthetician Poppy double-cleanses my face before applying the ‘Fire’ part of the treatment – a self-

warming resurfacing mask containing various epidermis-coddling goodnesses including glycolic acid, retinol and lots of botanical antioxidants. It feels warm, itches slightly and tingles – but far from unbearably. This is then whisked off and the ‘Ice’ goes on in the shape of a gorgeously cooling, rejuvenating and skin-plumping mask that smells minty and contains hyaluronic acid, along with aloe vera, Japanese green tea extract, liquorice extract, grape seed extract and rosemary extract. Soothing pads cover my eyes and Poppy massages my hands. I power-nap for about 10 minutes, waking to feel the mask being removed with a hot flannel. My face is then covered in a brightening, antiageing serum. Today, Poppy combines the Fire & Ice fun with an LED phototherapy session, which

sees me don a white Stormtrooper-ish mask as controlled levels of red, blue and near-infrared light set to work, as Poppy explains, locking in the unguents and reducing any inflammation and redness. Finally, I’m coated in moisturiser, eye cream, SPF and lip balm and waved off – all shiny and glowing – to greet the great and good of Exeter. Cynical soul that I am about all things beauty, I immediately scrutinise my face under harsh bathroom lights with a close-up mirror. I am impressed. Very. My skin looks warmed up somehow – healthy, toned, post-bracingwalk-on-a-sunny-cliff-top. Not quite a baby’s bottom, but peachy as heck. If my nan was around, she’d say I looked well. And wait, is that just the one, faint line on my forehead? Where did the rest go? Despite its dramatic results, the Fire & Ice is a sensitive-skin-friendly and ‘no downtime’ treatment that is perfect for today’s busy lifestyles. This means your skin is not going to freak out, and you can put your slap on straight away if you need to. Though you might just want to stay in and gaze at your pores. n

“What would a Hollywood A-lister do?”

A Fire & Ice Facial by iS Clinical at Skin Southwest costs £80 (plus £15 with the LED mask). There’s a 10% discount when booking a course of six. Skin Southwest, Sommerville House, 30 Southernhay East, Exeter EX1 1NS; 01392 426285; www.skinsouthwest.co.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I exeter living I 63

businessinsights E XETER AND E A S T DE VON GET TO WORK An artists’ impression of the scheme for the House of Fraser building

Quote of the issue

“I think it’s important to futureproof your company” See page 66

The Big Number

85,000

New customers expected at Exeter Airport due to new Ryanair routes. More on page 66

PRYDIS HEADS FOR HIGH STREET

Exeter financial group acquires four-storey House of Fraser site

xeter-headquartered Prydis has purchased the building currently occupied by House of Fraser on Exeter High Street. The wealth management, accounting and legal firm is now submitting a planning application to convert the three upper floors of the four-storey 55,000 sq ft building to a hotel with an extension to create a new rooftop restaurant and bar. The acquisition, for an undisclosed sum, was facilitated by national property consultancy Lambert Smith Hampton (LSH),

and the development plans have been drawn up by local design and architectural practice Expedite, which is liaising with Historic England with a view to a submission date at the end of April. Prydis MD Joe Priday, says: “My colleagues and I were made aware of a potential deal prior to the unfortunate pre-packaged administration of House of Fraser and immediately engaged LSH and Expedite to help us cut through the noise surrounding this icon of Exeter High Street. “We have worked closely with the council now for the past few months

to put together a truly innovative scheme to highlight the merits of the building, and vitally enhance and retain the employment that the building brings. “We all grew up with the building, and using our local knowledge, hope to really put it back on the map.” Sports Direct purchased House of Fraser in 2018 and looks set to vacate the building this summer.

For more: www.prydis.com

www.mediaclash.co.uk mediaclash.co.uk I exeter living I 115 65

EIGHT SHAKES

Janet Sawyer (centre) and the LittlePod team with Tahlia Waller from their consultants NFU Mutual

LITTLE GOES LARGE As ongoing Brexit uncertainty causes concern in the business community, East Devon-based LittlePod is encouraging peers to follow its example and embrace exporting. LittlePod, which produces real Madagascan vanilla products and also offers pure coffee and pure chocolate extract, as well as vanilla beer, was founded in Farringdon nine years ago. It began exporting in its first year of trading, and now ships to 16 different countries, with customers as far flung as the Tiger Mountain Pokara Lodge in the mountains of Nepal. LittlePod MD Janet Sawyer, says: “It was tough, but I think this bold attitude to business has got us to where we are today. I’d encourage all small businesses and start-ups to at least consider if exporting within

the first year is viable for them. I think it’s important to futureproof your company.” As well as winning a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development in 2018, LittlePod was chosen to feature in the Department for International Trade’s ‘Exporting is Great’ campaign that same year. This saw LittlePod emblazoned on the side of lorries, on posters and across social media with the strapline ‘If we can, you can’. So far, in 2019, LittlePod has received the inaugural 2019 Board of Trade Award for International Trade – an accolade awarded to fewer than 50 companies nationally – and been invited to a meeting at the House of Commons to discuss the impact of post-Brexit export tariffs on small businesses. www.littlepod.co.uk

Fancy taking your morning coffee in Naples?

Leading automotive software company Eight Technology has become the first tenant to move into Exeter Science Park’s state-of-the-art, new ‘grow-on buildings’. Founded in 2003, Eight Technology’s ‘Dealerweb’ software helps automotive dealer groups, manufacturers and independent retailers to boost sales performance through better lead management and smarter customer communication. Jim Moore, Eight Technology’s administration and compliance manager, says: “Exeter Science Park is the ideal location for us, where we can develop ideas and grow the business alongside like-minded companies within a supportive business environment.” A full internal fit-out of the office suites, from concept to completion, was undertaken by Exeter-based independent contractor MD Business Interiors. The open-plan office areas include a bespoke kitchen, numerous meeting rooms, marble-tiled reception backdrop with a handmade desk and shower facilities. www.dealerweb.org

Exeter Science Park CEO Sally Basker with Mark Dowse of MD Business Interiors and Eight Technology’s Jim Moore

FLYING STARTS Ryanair’s first ever flights from Exeter Airport have now begun, with travellers able to enjoy twice-weekly services to Malta, Malaga and Naples from the city. “This is the first time we have welcomed Ryanair to Exeter,” says Exeter Airport MD Matt Roach, “and we’re thrilled to offer customers even more choice from their local airport to these popular sunshine destinations. We’re gearing up for a busy 2019 with over 40 routes across the UK and Europe, and we continue to invest in the airport’s facilities to meet growing demand. Having previously been voted the world’s happiest airport, we want to make

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

sure passengers continue to have a great experience flying out of Exeter.” The new routes are expected to attract up to 85,000 customers a year to Exeter Airport, taking passenger numbers over the one million mark. To cater for extra demand, the airport is investing almost £1 million in new facilities including a passenger pre-flight boarding area. Ryanair has announced that its services to Malaga and Malta will continue throughout the winter. It will also launch flights from Exeter Airport to Alicante in Spain from 29 October 2019. www.exeter-airport.co.uk; www.ryanair.com

BUSINESS INSIGHTS

EXETER CHIEFS NEWS MOVERS AND SHAKERS ETC

MARK STEVENS brings you the latest from inside Sandy Park

Maria Vierma

Savills Exeter has appointed four new staff to its rural department: Matt Brown joins as associate director, Jo Beswetherick as property manager, Sarah Barker as rural surveyor and Ranald Leigh as graduate rural surveyor… Exeter health and wellbeing charity CITY Community Trust has welcomed Ross Morshead, Paul Goodes, Jemma Hodgkins and Nick Murray as new trustees, while Jamie Vittles, previously head of community, has been appointed chief executive officer… Chartered accountancy firm Simpkins Edwards has appointed Mary Jane Campbell as managing partner and promoted director Jonathan Hayes to partner in its Exeter office… Maria Vierma (pictured) joins local masterplanning and architecture practice LHC Design as associate urban design director… Stephens Scown LLP has made new appointments to its board: Hilary Pitts will be promoted to head of Devon and Catherine Mathews to deputy head of Devon… The Family Law Company has promoted Jennie Wise, Fiona Wadey, Kirsty Thyer and Derek Jordan to director... Nicki Reid becomes sales director of Barratt Developments’ Exeter division.

London’s Calling once again for the Exeter Chiefs, as they gear up this month for a fourth successive Gallagher Premiership play-off clash at Sandy Park. Having booked their last four place in record time, it was their impressive 52-20 victory on the road at Leicester Tigers that guaranteed Rob Baxter’s side will have home advantage in the semi-finals. And that means for a fourth successive year, Sandy Park will be packed to the rafters as the Chiefs go in search of securing a return passage back to Twickenham and a place in the 2019 Premiership Final on Saturday, 1 June. Already excitement is building in and around the city as the Chiefs look to not only build on the form that has taken them to the top of the table, but what they hope will guide them to a second-ever Premiership title. Victorious in 2017 when they defeated rivals Wasps at the home of English rugby, that success was sandwiched by heart-breaking defeats to the star-studded names of Saracens. Many are tipping the Londoners to again be the side for the Chiefs to beat, but first both clubs will need to navigate their way past whoever they tackle in the play-offs. This season has been the most competitive top-flight campaign and with less than a handful

of weeks to go until the culmination of the regular Premiership season, there is still so much to play for at both the top and bottom of the table. Thankfully, the Chiefs are assured of their top-four placing, but that doesn’t mean Director of Rugby Rob Baxter wants his side to let their standards slip. Instead, the Exeter leader is demanding to see a ruthless side from his team as they look to try and achieve the record points tally of 88 by the conclusion of the 22 rounds played. “We just have to get our heads down and get some hard work done,” said Baxter, who this season is celebrating ten years in charge of the Devon club. “There is no magic as to why we are top – the guys have trained and played very well through the course of the season. They are a good set of guys, so it’s still there for us. We are still a good team, still capable of winning Premiership games, so let’s get it right over these ﬁnal few weeks of the season.” Next up at Sandy Park: 27 April – Exeter Chiefs v Harlequins (Gallagher Premiership) 18 May – Exeter Chiefs v Northampton (Gallagher Premiership)

For more: www.exeterchiefs.co.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I EXETER LIVING I 67

Meet the Solicitor

Many moments in life call for a legal expert, whether it’s buying a home, getting a divorce or starting a business. Here’s who to call! John Llewelyn

Gráinne Staunton

Why did you decide to become a solicitor? When I lived in Toronto, a friend asked if I would volunteer at the Free Representation Unit helping people who needed legal assistance but who couldn’t afford an attorney. It was very rewarding and that sparked my interest in a legal career. What are the qualities needed to be a good solicitor? Competence in your area of law is just the starting point. Communicating that advice effectively is the skill; that comes with experience. What type of law do you specialise in? Real estate property work of all types: development, commercial and rural. Often, a client has very diverse interests and you have to be able to provide them with comprehensive advice to tie in with their requirements. Why do clients come to you? My experience in running property businesses gives me a clearer understanding of a client’s needs as a whole; I don’t just see things from a narrow legal perspective. Many of my clients have been with me for years and have become friends over time.

What type of law do you specialise in? I am head of the wealth management team at Tozers. In our team, we focus on two broad areas: helping adults and children who require assistance from an attorney or from the Court of Protection in managing their finances; secondly, estate planning for wealth preservation, including the administration of complex estates. What are the most rewarding aspects of your job? Helping my clients find the right path is extremely satisfying, especially as there is little guidance available for those who begin to lose the ability to manage their finances. Similarly, it’s fair to say that making a will or estate administration are not topics that people tend to relish! To see the relief on clients’ faces when they realise the process of making provisions for their loved ones can be stress-free is such a rewarding part of my job. What advice would you give someone who is looking for a solicitor? Trust your instincts. A good lawyer will make you feel at ease.

Everys Solicitors 01392 477983; www.everys.co.uk

Richard Stevinson

Crosse + Crosse Solicitors LLP 01392 207603 www.crosse.co.uk Why did you decide to become a solicitor? It’s so long ago now that I can’t really recall. I do remember my father arranging some work experience for me with a friend of his, who was a solicitor in Sunderland. I enjoyed shadowing him for a week and that confirmed my view that I would like to study law at university. After university, as I knew I was not a budding Rumpole, becoming a solicitor was an easy decision to make. What qualities are needed to be a good solicitor? A solicitor can practice in many different areas

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

Tozers Solicitors LLP 01392 207020 www.tozers.co.uk

John Llewelyn

Gráinne Staunton

of the law. The skills and qualities required will be very different depending on the area you are practising in. What is common to every solicitor though, is the need to act in your client’s best interests at all times. On occasions, that may mean giving unpalatable advice, which your client may not want to hear. It is also helpful to be able to communicate what can be quite complex issues in as straightforward a way as possible and without lapsing into legal jargon. What are the most rewarding aspects of your job? It sounds rather trite, but it is making a positive difference to someone else’s life. Often, we are acting for clients in exceptionally difficult circumstances after what may have been a catastrophic or tragic event in their life. They may be seeking to be compensated for the losses they have already incurred as well as the losses they will suffer for the rest of their life; or they may be seeking to establish the truth about the death of someone close to them at an Inquest. It is a privilege to be entrusted to handle matters of such importance. What type of law do you specialise in? I specialise in claims for those unfortunate enough to have been involved in accidents or who have been the victims of medical or clinical negligence. I regularly undertake work on behalf of a well-known national transport

group defending claims brought against them. I also have something of a niche practice dealing with coroners’ inquests when I am instructed by families seeking to establish the circumstances in which their relative has died. Why do clients come to you? Clients tend to instruct me because others have recommended me. Some inquests attract a lot of media interest; often people appear to have searched the internet and have seen reports of other cases in which I have been involved. What advice would you give someone who is looking for a solicitor? Deciding which solicitor to instruct to pursue a claim on your behalf, or to represent you at an Inquest is a critical decision. It is not unusual for some claims to last several years. You need to be confident that you will be able to work with the solicitor you instruct and that you can put your trust and faith in them. It is quite likely that you will be discussing personal and sensitive matters. If there is someone you know whose judgment you can trust and they can recommend someone that can be useful. It is rare that instructing a solicitor who is located a long way from you, who you can’t meet up with easily would be the best way to proceed. My strong advice would be to draw up a short list of possible candidates, and then meet with them before making a final decision.

advertising feature Fiona Wadey

Richard James

The Family Law Company 01392 421777 www.thefamilylawco.co.uk

Solicitors Title 01392 207900 www.solicitorstitle.co.uk

What advice would you give someone who is looking for a solicitor? Soon after moving to the South-west 10 years ago, I spoke with a guy looking to buy a franchise; but he wanted to meet first to see if the relationship would be the right fit for him. Good solicitors will be happy to do this. You should find somebody that really specialises in the relevant area. It turned out he had been national franchise director for a big chain; so luckily, having met and talked through some of the major brands I had worked with previously, I passed the test; and we still work with him today. What are the most rewarding aspects of your job? The fact that it is all about people; helping our clients, whether they‘re businesses or individuals, to achieve real success or resolving difficult situations that they’re in. Our advice makes a difference for them. Why do clients come to you? Our Google reviews suggest that we deliver a great service from a position of really knowing what we’re doing, but always with a focus on the best outcome for our clients. I think it’s also apparent that we care about the people whose affairs we look after. Many solicitors, I think, are now too focussed on the process, rather than where their client wants to end up. As a result, we’re building a great reputation in the city.

Richard James

Fiona Wadey

What are the qualities needed to be a good solicitor? It’s essential to have good communication skills, both in terms of listening to others and also providing advice, as well as showing compassion and sympathy for a client’s plight. As a family lawyer, I see people when they are facing difficult periods in their life and because of this they really need someone who can provide them with emotional support and understanding, as well as legal advice. What type of law do you specialise in? I specialise in family law, and in particular divorce and financial matters including pre- and post-nuptial agreements. I enjoy helping clients seek a resolution to these issues. Why do clients come to you? My clients tell me that they appreciate my honesty and direct approach. I believe in providing clients with clear advice about their cases, even when sometimes I have to give them news that is difficult to accept. I am fortunate that a large number of clients come through personal recommendation, so they will already be aware that I am friendly and approachable, while being professional. What are the most rewarding aspects of your job? When clients come in for their first appointment they are often in turmoil. It is unbelievably rewarding to help and guide them through the process, so that they come out the other side stronger and better equipped to move on and face the future. The feeling of knowing that you have made a difference is second to none!

Thomas Lewis WBW Solicitors 01392 260140 www.wbw.co.uk

Jonathan Cave

Gilbert Stephens Solicitors 01392 424242; www.gilbertstephens.co.uk Why did you decide to become a solicitor? I studied business management at Manchester University. The degree included law modules, which were challenging but enjoyable. It was at this point I realised how rewarding a career in law would be. What are the qualities needed to be a good solicitor? Good solicitors are determined and skilled at problem solving. In my opinion, the most important quality, however, is a desire to work with and help people. What are the most rewarding aspects of your job? Helping to reassure clients during times that are difficult for them, and doing this well, is extremely satisfying. What type of law do you specialise in? I work in the private client department at Gilbert Stephens. I am passionate about advising clients on their personal affairs, such as drafting wills, powers of attorney and tax planning. Tell us something about yourself that not many people would know? In my spare time I enjoy amateur dramatics. I am a member of the Exeter Little Theatre Company and Exeter Musical Society. If you would like advice regarding your personal affairs, email JonathanCave@gilbertstephens.co.uk.

Jonathan Cave

Thomas Lewis

Why did you decide to become a solicitor? I came to law having previously had a career in acting. I had some wonderful opportunities and experiences, but I was not entirely fulfilled. Law was always in my background. My father was a Barrister in Exeter, therefore I was always associated with law from a young age. I wanted a career that was intellectually stimulating, meaningful and fulfilling and that involved me working with and helping people and businesses. I became increasingly motivated, took the plunge and started a law degree. I loved it from day one. What type of law do you specialise in? I work in dispute resolution and litigation. I have always had a broad range of work, but over the years (I have 6½ years professionally qualified experience) my work has been weighted towards property disputes. Tell us something about yourself that not many people would know? I am a lieutenant in the Royal Navy Reserve, currently assisting in delivering training to officer cadets and young officers at HMS Raleigh and Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth.

www.mediaclash.co.uk I EXETER LIVING I 69

Jodie Alker is the space manager at The Generator hub in Exeter

“Yes, of course you can have guests to visit; these places want everyone to see their wonderfully unique space”

The Way I See It

Co-working space etiquette What are the rules of sharing a co-working space? JODIE ALKER of The Generator give us the low-down

hared workspaces are becoming more popular as places to work – both in the UK and around the world. It’s like a coffee shop but with free coffee and people to talk with, but how do you find a suitable space and what are the rules? To find the right space for you, you have to figure out what sort of space you are most productive in, what type of people you want to be around and what you need it for. Do you want to feel part of a community? Then you’ll need a space where people interact or that has community events. Do you want your own private space? You’ll need somewhere that offers private offices that suit your priorities. Think about what you’d like to use the space for and then explore and find a workspace that is

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

perfect for you. In shared workspaces, people such as myself, the space manager, look after its day-to-day running and make sure the people using it are happy, everything is clean and organised (that there enough tea bags) for the day. Taking phone calls within the workspace is fine, however it is normal courtesy to acknowledge the people around you and to try not to disturb them. In most cases, there will be an area where you can chat and tell cheesy jokes without disrupting others. Yes, your stuff will be safe overnight, the building and space will be locked up by a member of the team or a community member. Yes, of course you can have guests visit; these places want everyone to see their wonderfully unique space. The typical price range for a co-working place completely depends on the city and the space.

I would say the price range starts from £10-£30 a day, to £200-£500 a month for a permanent desk. The prices can include free WiFi, free teas and coffees, meeting room access and networking, depending on the space you choose. At The Generator, I make sure the daily running goes smoothly and that the spaces are tidy and presentable. We always have at least one member of our team at each space making sure the community always have someone to go to with any problems or queries. There’s a very relaxed, friendly atmosphere at The Generator. Being the space manager, I have learnt that taking care of a co-working hub is fun but also hard work. It’s not always easy to keep everyone happy all the time, but as long as you are friendly, know some jokes and keep the community up to date with what’s going on then you can’t go wrong. Being in an environment surrounded by so many different types of people is one of the things I love the most. It’s great that you can have a conversation with an illustrator, an app developer or a marketing consultant – all in the same place. www.generatorhub.co.uk

BUSINESS INSIGHTS

EXETER LIVING AWARDS 2019 THELMA HULBERT GALLERY ARTS WINNER

Exeter Living - Issue 244

Published on Apr 26, 2019

mediaclash

Go explore