A consultant surgeon at Derriford Hospital has had her portrait displayed at a London exhibition highlighting the role of women in surgery See Page 12
The
20 and 21 Plympton Earle Councillor Terri Beer has called for an action plan to improve palliative care in the city See Page 6 Plymouth Chronicle is partnering with Argyle Life – the popular fans site –to bring exclusive content to our readers
Seven breast cancer thrivers – known as the Dare 2 Ladies – have, over the last eight years, raised nearly £41,000 for The Primrose Foundation at Derriford Hospital. Their most recent fundraising ball at The Duke of Cornwall called Dare 2 – Dancing to Make a Difference – raised a total of nearly £6,000. SEE STORY ON PAGE 2
Seven breast cancer thrivers – known as the Dare 2 Ladies – have raised nearly £6,000 for charity. They organised a fund-raising ball called 'Dare 2 – Dancing to Make a Differenceat the Duke of Cornwall Hotel with the total of £5,858 going to The Primrose Foundation.
Michelle Hull, one of the Dare 2 Ladies said: "The Dare 2 ladies were formed in 2018 after watching The Ladies Full Monty on ITV. We thought, we could do that and raise some money - so we did!
“Eight years later, we have raised just under £41,000 in total for The Primrose Foundation. We have organised four charity balls, learning burlesque routines, tap and ballroom dancing and Bollywood – and performed on the Palladium stage for
Britain’s Got Talent, meeting Ant & Dec in the process! But most importantly raising awareness.”
The money has funded a quiet room for patients, a bursary for a psychologist and put towards a new scanner. They are are currently working with Sam Maddock, trustee, to run The Primrose Foundation 'Get it off your Chestcommunity group in Plymouth and surrounding areas, where people can go along for a chat and a cuppa. More information on dates and venues. for the meetings can be found on the group's Facebook page. Michelle added: “We are all breast cancer thrivers and continue to feel passionately about giving something back –which we will continue to do, so watch this space!”
Departing Sun 17 May ‘26
Have you always wanted to experience the magic of an ABBA concert?
Well now is your chance to say Thank You for the Music! Join us at the ABBA Arena for the incredible ABBA Voyage; where the global pop icons appear on stage as digital avatars brought to life.
SO MUCH INCLUDED...
Return coach travel from Plymouth
Overnight stay at a selected hotel (JG3 or JG4 rating) with breakfast
Ticket to ABBA Voyage at the ABBA Arena with coach transfers (dancefloor, standing)
Free time in London for shopping & sightseeing
Upgrade to a seated ticket in Block F or K for £25pp or Block G or J for £45pp
A new support group has been set up in Plymouth to help those considering, facing or going through breast reconstruction following a breast cancer diagnosis or the discovery of a hereditary breast cancer gene.
The group has met regularly since It's launch, with participants sharing with great enthusiasm and finding meeting other people in a similar situation incredibly useful.
The next Keeping Abreast Plymouth Support Group will take place on March 19 from 7pm to 9pm at Harewood House in Plympton. There is no need to book, just show up on the day.
There will be an opportunity to meet the group’s volunteers who have been through a similar experience and will be able to answer questions.
Reconstruction nurses Claudia and Katie from the Primrose Unit at Derriford Hospital will also be on hand to offer advice and support.
Departing Mon 31 Aug ‘26
We explore the pastoral landscapes of the Cotswolds with their rolling hills scattered with honey-coloured stone towns and villages. We also include a scenic journey on the heritage Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway and a visit to Stratford-upon-Avon.
SO MUCH INCLUDED...
Return coach travel from Plymouth, Saltash
4 nights at the Bromsgrove Hotel & Spa (JG3 rating) with dinner & breakfast
Cruise on the River Avon
Heritage train journey on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway
Excursions to Stratford-upon-Avon, Worcester, Tewkesbury, Stow-on-the-Wold & Broadway
During the evening there will be a chance to see reallife reconstruction results, thanks to the Keeping Abreast Volunteers who are willing to show their reconstructed breasts to others.
Keeping Abreast is a national breast cancer reconstruction charity, with a team of volunteers who are willing to support others over the phone, by email or via WhatsApp.
There is also extensive online support available at www.keepingabreast.org.uk including a series of real-life reconstruction videos.
Support and volunteer officer Carolyn Atkins said: "Breast cancer patients are often anxious about their reconstruction surgery and so having the chance to meet others who have already been through this process and to ask them all about it provides reassurance and solidarity at what can be an emotional and worrying time."
Departing Mon 4 May ‘26
On this fantastic break we enjoy the island’s natural beauty as well as a nostalgic journey on the Isle of Wight Steam Railway and a visit to fascinating Osborne House. The Isle of Wight is the perfect place to enjoy a relaxing few days away.
SO MUCH INCLUDED...
Return coach travel & ferry crossings from Plymouth, Saltash
4 nights at the Medehamstede Hotel, Shanklin (JG2+ rating) with dinner & breakfast
Entertainment some evenings
Heritage train journey on the Isle of Wight Steam Railway
Excursions to Osborne House, Cowes & Ryde
Optional Island Highlights Tour (£15pp)
Furious residents from over 120 households in the Colesdown Hill neighbourhood are fighting Plymouth City Council's controversial decision which closed their road for 14 months to enable a contentious second phase of a cycle and pedestrian route.
The extension which amounts to just 160 metres of pathway at a cost of £3.8 million, which works out at more than £24,000 per metre!
The residents, many of whom are elderly and vulnerable, are likely to suffer significant hardship and isolation for the next 14 month closure, which they consider to be disproportionate given the alleged benefits of the scheme.
Colesdown Hill serves as their primary access to shops, GPs, schools, pharmacies and essential services. Isolated elderly residents, including 87-year-old Brian Furse who relies on carers and home service visits to care for his disabled wife, have reported that care workers will be reducing visits due to additional travel time making their schedules unmanageable.
There are also concerns regarding many elderly people relying on taxis which are not always turning up and the additional costs, and working
parents of school-aged children worried about how their children will get to school safely and on time. Their main concern is that Plymouth City Council failed to consult residents and neither did they consult their MP, Rebecca Smith, to assess risk, seek co-operation and goodwill and explore viable alternatives.
They claim that Plymouth City Council has totally underestimated the impact of the road closure on working parents, carers, business owners and vulnerable citizens, giving only three weeks notice of this closure, despite knowing it was coming months in advance.
Residents say that communications have been so poor about the decision making that underpins this scheme, that they have been forced to inundate council offices with Freedom of Information requests and complaints which create avoidable administration and further cost to the council.
Under pressure, following a petition and complaints, council officials held an emergency information sharing meeting with residents on the day the work started, but failed to answer many of the questions put to them and were unable to appease the packed audience. Emotions ran high, with many elderly and vulnerable residents sharing their fears and concerns of how the closure will impact their lives over the 14 month period.
Another factor which is causing stress is that many of the elderly people are not always able to access WhatsApp which is where Plymouth City Council are proposing to use for key
communication regarding the scheme. Residents of Colesdown Hill have in the past tolerated their main access being closed, although the time line has been relatively short, so lessening the impact. Anger and frustration is growing within the community, which is pulling together to demand a sensible pause of work to ensure proper consultation.
One resident summed it up by saying: “The council’s published mission statement says they listen and hear what people want but they have ignored published lessons learned from their mistakes and are simply repeating them.”
What other residents are saying:
Val Wells
“We were given no prior consultation about this scheme or warning it was to happen, until 21 days before closure. This closure will have no benefit to Colesdown Hill residents,
yet we are taking the brunt and inconvenience of such a lengthy closure.
“My husband was diagnosed with cancer at Christmas, our daughter lives on the far side of Plymstock and visits us daily to see her dad, as do our four grandsons. The road diversion has added at least five miles to their visits, adding extra time and fuel cost to their already busy lives.
“The devastating impact of my husband’s diagnosis was bad enough, but this 14 month road closure has added to our anxiety.”
Geraldine Smith
“I've recently become dependent on my family for lifts to all appointments and shopping. Both my daughters have full time jobs and busy family lives. They are willing to take me wherever and whenever I need assistance, I just feel so guilty now asking for help that the extra distance will impact their lives.
“I had a very good social life, meeting friends, attending clubs and so on. But now I've decided not to ask for lifts for most of these occasions. It is making me feel depressed thinking about not leading such a fulfilled and happy life.”
Flick Baxter – a working mum of two young children
“In time this road closure is going to cost me at least an hour a day which I can’t afford. As a working parent with two children who attend different schools and various out of school activities in Plymstock, I make the journey to Plymstock numerous times a day.
“In addition during a cost of living crisis for everyone, we have fuel costs of additional mileage and disruption to both visitors and deliveries. I feel none of the impact on all residents have been taken into consideration whatsoever.”
Send details of your event to info@ cornerstonevision.com and we will do our best to include them in Out and About. Unfortunately because of space limitations we are unable to publish details of regular meetings of groups and societies or similar organisations.
Beryl Cook: Pride and Joy
Until May 31
The Box presents an exhibition which marks 100 years since Beryl’s birth and will feature more than 80 works including iconic paintings and rarely seen treasures from The Box’s art collection, private lenders and the Cook family archives. Tuesdays to Sundays from 10am to 5pm. More details at www.theboxplymouth.com
Live Music Sundays
March and April
Steel Sunday Music every Sunday from 3pm to 5pm at the Steel Brew Co in Mills Bakery at the Royal William Yard. Free entry, so just go along, relax and enjoy the music.
Journeys with Mai
Until Jun 14
The Box presents a journey of discovery across four gallery spaces exploring the complex histories between Europe and the South Pacific. Centre stage will be 'Portrait of Maiby Plympton-born Sir Joshua Reynolds – widely considered to be his finest work and a portrait of the first Polynesian person to visit Britain. Free admission, open 10am to 5pm Tuesday to Sunday and Bank Holiday Mondays. Closed on Easter Sunday. Details at www.theboxplymouth.com/events
Good Food & Craft Market
Apr 5 and May 3
The popular Markets will be taking place in Royal William Yard on the first Sunday of every month from 10am to 5pm. Known for showcasing some of the region’s most talented artists and makers, the markets offer everything from tasty treats to handcrafted gifts. The monthly markets have been a staple of Royal William Yard’s event calendar for years, and have won event awards along the way. For details visit www.royalwilliamyard.com/
Southway Mother’s Day and Easter Sale
Mar 14
Church of the Holy Spirit, Southway from 1pm to 3pm. Free entry and a quiet place for a chat and a cuppa. Children’s crafts and chocolate tombola. Lots of goodies and refreshments available. For details or to book a table at £5 contact Veronica on 07855 256383.
Feel The Spirit
Mar 14
Plymouth University Choral Society sing John Rutter’s Feel the Spirit accompanied by Chamber Orchestra and Plymouth College Jazz Band. Venue St Andrew’s Church, Royal Parade at 7.30pm. Tickets £16 on the door or via www.uopcs.org.uk
Best of British Classics Concert
Mar 14
Plymouth Open Concert Orchestra, (formerly the University of Plymouth Orchestra), present ‘Best of British Classics themed music concert at the Levinsky Hall on the Plymouth University campus. Free entry. Children’s Concert from 3pm for approx. 1 hour - all welcome! Evening Concert doors open at 7pm. Concert begins at 7.30pm. Music chosen by Dan Francis, Music Director, to include: Vaughan WilliamsSomerset Rhapsody, Eric Coates - Calling All Workers, and Elgar - Chanson de Matin. Cash donations welcomed. Book free tickets via the POCO Facebook page. At the evening concert there will be a raffle and refreshments.
Plymouth Jazz Club
Mar 15
Featuring The Two Counties Jazz Band with trad jazz Fotonow movat the Royal British Legion Club, Crownhill from 7.30pm. Tickets £15 on the door, £12 for club members. Non-members welcome. For details see www.plymouth-jazz-club.com
Singer, actor, TV host and film star Toyah is at The Quad Theatre on March 28 for an evening of songs and stories
Singing Day
Mar 21
Plymouth Phoenix Choir host a Singing Day ar St Peter’s Church, Wyndham Square from 10.45am to 4.30pm. Led by award-winning choral music specialist Rory McCleery. Cost £20 to include music to keep and light refreshments. For details visit www. plymouthphoenixchorale.org.
Easter Coffee Morning
Mar 21
St Boniface Hall, Percy Street, St Bureaux from 10am to 12 noon. Raffle, sales table and refreshments. All welcome.
Toy and Train Fair
Mar 22
Popular event organised by the Plymouth Diecast Club at Jan Cutting Healthy Living cente, Scott Business Park from 10am to 1pm. Entry £1, accompanied children free. Onsite parking, wheelchair friendly and cafe. Details from www.plymouthdiecastclub.co.uk
Live Classical Music
Mar 25
Plymouth Symphony Orchestra concert featuring renowned violinist Irene Duval at St Andrew’s Church, Royal Parade at 7.30pm. Tickets from wegottickets. com £16 in advance, £18 on the door or from Mannamead News, Eggbuckland Road. Details at www. plymouthsymphony.co.uk
Levowan Chamber Choir
Mar 27
Levowan Chamber Choir continues It's 10th anniversary celebrations at St Peter & the Holy Apostles Church, Plymouth at 7.30pm. The choir will perform a selection of stunning motets by Karl Jenkins and our choice of individual pieces by Arnesen, Chilcott, McMillan, Hagenberg and more. Free entry with retiring collection. Reserve a seat at www. levowan.com
Spring Fair
Mar 28
Visitor Centre and Chapel at Ford Park Cemetery from 10.30am to 1.30pm with free admission. There will be stalls, books, jewellery, home made cakes, crafts and much more, all at reasonable prices. Refreshments will be available. Money raised will go to the upkeep of the cemetery.
Choral Music Concert
Mar 28
Plymouth Philharmonic Choir and conductor Paul Foster present an evening of choral music with Mozart and Holster St Andrew’s Church at 7.30pm. Tickets £20 in advance, £22 on the door, students and U16s £5. Tickets at www.wegottickets.com/event/681844 or call 07453 312919. Further information at www. plymouthphilchoir.org
Spring Fair
Mar 28
Ford Park Cemetery Visitor Centre and Chapel from 10.30am to 1.30pm with free admission. Stalls, books, jewellery, home made cakes, crafts and much more, all at reasonable prices. Refreshments will be available. Money raised will go to the upkeep of the cemetery. If more information is required please contact the office on weekdays at 01752 665442 or email: office@fordpark-cemetery.org
An Evening with Toyah: Songs and Stories
Mar 28
Singer, actor, TV host and film star Toyah is hitting the road for an extensive UK tour in which she'll sing favourite hIt's and tell stories from her remarkable career and will be at The Quad Theatre on the Marjon campus. Tickets and timings from www. comicalentertainment.com
The Martin Dale Quartet
Mar 29
Jazz returns to Stoke Damerel Church in the form of the Martin Dale Quartet with a mix of jazz styles incorporating everything from Bach to Be-bop. Details at www.plymouthconcerts.com
Music of the Night Concert
Mar 31
The music of the night choir will be holding their spring concert on the theme of Colour My World – sky, land and sea – at Mount Gould Methodist Church at 7.30pm. Doors open at 6.45pm and tickets are £8 per adult and £4 per child. Details email motnchoir25@ gmail.com or call Paula Ingram on 07860354290
Chris McClausland - Yonks!
Mar 31 and Apr 1
Chris McCausland is hitting the road again with another masterclass in stand-up comedy that has literally been yonks in the making. His brand new show will be at the Quad Theatre on the Marjon campus in Plymouth. Chris will be presenting two shows each night. Tickets and timings from www. comicalentertainment.com
Bridal Pop Up Event
Apr 1 to Apr 11
Oxfam are staging a Pop Up bridal event at 44 Mutley Plain, Plymouth with new dresses priced from £19.99. Exclusive private dressing room available. Ideal for anyone planning a DIY, or boutique wedding on a budget. Many lovely dresses and outfIt's on sale - why wait for a wedding? Also plenty for to tempt designers, dress makers and fabric hunters. More details on Eventbrite at www.tinyurl.com/Oxfam-Bridal-Pop-Up
Easter Holiday Fun at Pennywell Farm
Apr 3 to Apr 19
The popular family attraction is offering a huge Easter egg-stravaganza with thousands of chocolate prizes to be won, plus much more. For timings and other details visit www.pennywellfarm.co.uk
Coffee Morning
Apr 4
Crownhill Methodist Church Hall from 10.30am to 12 noon. Various stalls and all welcome. Proceeds to St Luke’s Hospice.
Saturday Sessions at Old Town Square Apr 4
Enjoy live music with the Andy Quick Band at Old Town Square in Plymouth City Centre. Taking place outside Drake Circus get ready for live music and performances on the first Saturday of every month.
Easter Egg Hunt Apr 4
Egg hunt for youngsters, fun outdoor games, cakes, snacks and hot drinks at Keyham Green Places, Renown Street, PL2 1NX from 1pm to 3pm. Free entry for all. To book a child’s place in the egg hunt email info@cropskgp.co.uk
Gary Delaney - Gary on Laughing Apr 10
Stand-up comedy favourite Gary Delaney brings his brand new show to the Quad Theatre on the Marjon University campus. Details and tickets from www. comicalentertainment.com
You Are Here! Where Is Here?
Apr 17
Plymouth-based theatre group mcgees2PLUS present a serious comedy – with a healthy dose of slapstick humour thrown in at the Barbican Theatre. Tickets £14 from www.eventbrite.co.uk
Ford Park Cemetery Anniversary Apr 18
The Friends of Ford Park Cemetery celebrate the 20th anniversary since it first began. Starting at 2pm there will be a talk on events that have been organised over the years. This will be followed by Songs of Praise, an organ concert played by Robert Burgess-Moon in the Victorian Chapel of favourite hymns. Refreshments will be available. Admission is free.
The Merry Wives of Windsor
Apr 21 to 25
The Tamaritans Theatre Company present Shakespeare's comedy of English life at Plymouth's Barbican Theatre. With a cast of 18 they plan to take audiences back to the time of Downton Abbey for a romp through English country life. For details and tickets visit www.eventbrite.co.uk
Bowls Open Day
Apr 26
Outdoor lawn bowls open day at Devonport Park from 10.30am to 4pm. All are welcome to try out the sport and potentially join a club. Just wear some flat shoes and give it a go, bowls, it's social, good exercise and fun! For information contact Gail on 07754296861
Drawn to the Valley Exhibition May 2 to 4
Hyde Park Social Club hosts It's first ever art exhibition with works by Drawn to the Valley members. Entry is free and the exhibition is open from 11am to 5pm on the Saturday, 12 noon to 4.30pm on Sunday and 11am to 4pm on Monday.
Indie Rock Festival
Jul 10 and 11
Rock’nroll promoters Sound Factory bring the largest indie rock festival to The Depo in Union Street. Headlining on Friday is Kyle Falconer, previously of The View and teen mod icons The Molotovs headlining on Saturday. Tickets at www.seetickets.com/event/ sound-factory-festival/the-depo/3557066
Send details of your event to info@ cornerstonevision.com and we will do our best to include them in Out and About. Unfortunately because of space limitations we are unable to publish details of regular meetings of groups and societies or similar organisations.
We
Plympton st Maurice Civic Society are delighted to welcome international journalist Charmian Evans as a speaker at a number of evenings this year in the Guildhall.
Charmian is a speaker on land and sea –she travels the world entertaining Cunard passengers when she’s not at home in Plympton St Maurice. She's delighted to share some of her adventures at Plympton St Maurice's Guildhall.
Over the coming months Charmian will be offering up talks reflecting her life as an international journalist. She'll make audiences laugh, think and maybe move them to tears as she shares her many adventures – including war zone reporting to the many personalities she's worked with over time and everything in between. All talks will be raising funds for the Friends of The Guildhall (FROGS).Tickets are £5, payable on the door – doors open at 7pm and the talks start at 7.30pm. A fully licensed bar is available. Here are details of her next two talks:
Friday March 20: Show biz fan? Listen to Charmian who has met many of them and spills some of the (juicy) beans on those famous faces. Why did comedian Benny Hill want to carpet his ceiling? Charmian Evans has the answer. She's spent many years working with famous faces and now shares stories and lively gossip about personalities who have been on our screens for decades. She looks at how journalism has changed over the years and why she can no longer hire a plane on expenses.
Friday April 24: More extraordinary stories from Charmian as she takes the audience on a roller coaster ride sharing tales from her life as a journalist. She will share details of the dangers and adventures she's had in America, Europe and the Far East along with the many interesting people she's interviewed en route. Her stories are thought provoking, amusing and even shocking, but never dull!
Plympton Erle Councillor Terri Beer says palliative care in Plymouth is not meeting the needs of the city’s residents and is calling for urgent action to address the issue.
She said: “As a city councillor I am committed to highlighting the systemic issues affecting people with life limiting conditions and their families. Residents deserve consistent, fair, and compassionate care. Access to palliative care should be based on need, not circumstance.”
Cllr Beer added that what is needed is accountable leadership and effective partnership working between commissioners, providers, and elected representatives to improve matters.
She added: “Plymouth can and should do better. We need clearer pathways, faster access to specialist support, better coordination between health and social care, and a shared understanding across agencies of what palliative care truly involves. My priority, as always, is ensuring that no resident facing a life limiting illness feels overlooked or unsupported.”
Cllr Beer is someone with extensive personal experience of palliative and end of life care services. Over the past several years her daughter, brother, and sister have each required complex care due to cancer.
“I have witnessed services across multiple settings, from hospital care, hospice care, and community care to residential and nursing homes. What I have seen is deeply concerning and, in some cases, wholly unacceptable,” she said. She also feels palliative care continues to be widely misunderstood. “Too often it is wrongly treated as synonymous with end of life care, leading to patients with long term, life limiting illness being overlooked, under supported, and left to deteriorate without the dignity and wraparound care they deserve,” she added.
Cllr Beer also expressed her concern about Derriford Hospital. She said: “I must also raise serious concerns regarding the standard of care that I have witnessed in Derriford. While medical teams and many nursing staff were compassionate and supportive, the wider conditions on certain wards are extremely poor.”
She says the situation requires urgent action and is calling for a five point plan of action:
• A full review of palliative and end of life care provision in Plymouth, including bed capacity and service accessibility.
• An audit of ward hygiene, cleanliness procedures, and staffing levels at Derriford Hospital, particularly in wards caring for palliative patients.
• A review of nutrition and assisted feeding protocols, ensuring vulnerable patients receive appropriate support.
• Clear pathways and training to distinguish between palliative and end of life care, ensuring patients receive the right support at the right time.
• A meeting with NHS leaders, UHP Trust leadership, and St Luke's to discuss these concerns and agree an improvement plan.
Cllr Beer concluded: “Patients in palliative care, many of whom may live for years, deserve reassurance, dignity, comfort, and a humane environment. No individual or family should ever have to endure the conditions I have witnessed.
“This is not an attack on the dedicated professionals who provide palliative care. I know that nurses, doctors, and support staff are doing their very best under enormously difficult circumstances. My concern is directed at the systemic failings: years of inadequate funding, lack of understanding, and poor prioritisation by government and local leaders.”
Some of Cllr Beer’s concerns are shared by South West Devon MP Rebecca Smith. Miss Smith said: “The concerns raised are extremely serious. Every patient, including those receiving palliative or end of life care, deserves dignity, compassion and safe, clean surroundings.
“I have previously raised the importance of strengthening palliative and end of life care in Parliament, including during recent debates on end of life legislation, where I stressed that improving access, capacity and workforce support in palliative services must remain a priority. I continue to raise these matters with Ministers whenever I have the opportunity.
“I am proud to be working with St Luke’s Hospice to push for more funding from central government to ensure these vital services are properly supported.
“In light of the concerns outlined, I will be writing to the leadership of Derriford Hospital to seek clarification on these specific allegations and to understand what action is being taken. I will also be requesting reassurance regarding ward hygiene standards, nutrition and assisted feeding protocols and the procedures followed in end of life care settings.
“Patients and families deserve the highest standards of care at the most vulnerable moments of their lives. I would strongly encourage any individual with direct concerns to raise them formally with the Trust so that they can be fully investigated.”
University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, which runs Derriford Hospital, has responded to Cllr Beer’s concerns. Darryn Allcorn, chief nurse and director of Integrated Professions, and Rachel O'Connor, director of Integrated Care, Partnerships and Strategy, said: "While we cannot comment on individual patient cases, we are very sorry to read of Cllr Beer's experience at Derriford Hospital. The
“This is not an attack on the dedicated professionals who provide palliative care. I know that nurses, doctors, and support staff are doing their very best under enormously difficult circumstances."
conditions outlined do not reflect the standards of care, dignity and compassion we expect at the Trust.
“All wards and hospital areas are subject of regular cleaning according to the standards and frequencies laid down in the National Standards of Healthcare Cleanliness framework. In addition, we also formally audit the cleanliness standards in all the clinical and patient areas on a regular and frequent basis, and undertake thorough patientled assessments of the care environment as part of the national PLACE programme.
“We recognise the vital importance of highquality palliative and end of life care. Palliative care is not limited to the final days of life, it is focused on symptom management, quality of life and holistic support, often alongside active treatment. We are committed to working with our partners across the city to ensure patients receive compassionate care, supporting patients in their own homes, in community settings or through our bedded care settings.
“We have invited Cllr Beer to visit our teams who work on the end of life and palliative care pathway at Derriford Hospital, and at Mount Gould Hospital, where we work in partnership with Marie Curie. The aim of the partnership is to ensure patients and families receive end of life support and palliative care support whether that is in the Emergency Department, on a hospital ward in Derriford, or at one of the 12 beds at Mount Gould, by dedicated colleagues.
“We are committed to working collaboratively with councillors, partners and our communities to further strengthen end of life care provision across the city."
Since raising the issue of the standard of palliative care provision in Plymouth, numerous members of the public have been in touch with Cllr Beer. “So many people have been in contact about this subject and I thank them for sharing their very personal stories,” she said. “There clearly is a big issue.”
Cllr Beer has confirmed receiving the Trust’s invitation to meet the teams at Derriford and Mount Gould and she will be taking it up to progress things further.
(story courtesy of the Plympton Podcast)
Plymouth City Council Cabinet members are set to consider various changes to the city's parking fees and arrangements to help meet significant budget challenges while continuing to deliver service improvements.
The proposals aim to maintain the income needed to continue delivering key parking services in spite of increasing costs, as well as make charges more consistent and improve the overall customer experience. They include:
• increases to pay and display fees both on and off-street, bringing them more in line with those charged by other councils (most of whom are carrying out similar reviews)
• increases to fees for permits, to cover the increased costs of maintaining permit schemes (with any surplus going towards road maintenance)
• an escalating increase of 50 per cent for each additional permit, to help discourage multiple car ownership and relieve parking pressure in residential streets (also supporting Plymouth's Net Zero Action Plan)
• charges for all motor vehicles in car parks, including motorcyles, so that anyone who uses a bay must pay for it (with a view to also rolling
this out to on-street parking bays, once they all use ticketless payments)
• replacement and upgrade of on-street payment systems to provide a wider choice of options (credit/debit/contactless cards, Android, Apple, RingGo app, phone and website). Cash payments will be removed, as they have been in city car parks for six years, reducing the costs and carbon footprint of collecting, transporting and processing cash. In 2024/25 over 84 per cent of customers chose to pay by RingGo and only three per cent of payments were made by cash
• charges for blue badge parking on the Hoe Promenade, to cover our costs and help ensure we can continue to provide this service (including enforcement) in the longer term
• charges at all coastal car parks (Jennycliff, Mount Batten and Strand Street) for stays of over one hour. Charges will be lower than at most other coastal/seafront car parks in Plymouth and the rest of Devon and Cornwall
Councillor John Stephens, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Transport, said: "We have been making a number of improvements to support motorists and businesses over the last year; extending EV charging across our car parks, expanding payment options within the West End, extending the time that people can park
on street in the city centre and in shoppers' car parks, enhancing security across car parks and installing CCTV at Western Approach, as well as introducing delivery permits in the Marks & Spencer car park.
"However, like most other local authorities, we are facing significant financial challenges due to rising costs and demand and that means having to keep all our charges under review. We know new or increased parking charges will never be welcomed but unfortunately they are often essential if we are to sustain the highquality service our customers deserve.
"We are keen to remind shoppers and visitors that they can continue to use any remaining parking time they have paid for in other locations, for example if they have finished shopping in the city centre and still have time left they could head to the waterfront for a bite to eat or to go for a walk."
The proposals will be discussed at the next Cabinet meeting on Monday March 9. If the recommendations are approved, notices of variation on some of the proposals will then be published and the changes implemented in mid-April.
Some of the proposals are subject to a public consultation. These are expected to be advertised in March, but no changes will be implemented until after the local elections in May.
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Plans to deliver 10,000 homes in the city centre are moving at pace with work to make three large derelict sites development-ready now underway.
Last year Homes England acquired three parcels of land in the heart of the city centre – the former Good Companions in Mayflower Street, Congress Hall and Mayflower House –both of which overlook the new Armada Way public realm regeneration scheme. Exploratory works and surveys are now underway to prepare the three blighted sites for demolition.
Last June Homes England and Plymouth City Council signed a Memorandum of Understanding to secure a series of transformative investments, acquisitions and developments to support an ambitious programme of housing-led growth of Plymouth's City Centre.
These sites are the first to be acquired as the partners work towards the ambition of creating over 10,000 new homes in the city centre. Homes England are also contributing significant funding for the Civic Centre regeneration scheme that will see 144 homes created as well as new blue green skills hub for City College Plymouth.
Councillor Mark Lowry, City Centre Champion said: "It's great to see Homes England cracking on with this and there's a real sense of momentum and change for the city centre.
"So much has been achieved to regenerate and update the city centre – but we need to see more people living in the city centre, to make it come alive at night and to give it new life. Cities the size of Plymouth have on average 8,000 living in the city centre – we have 1,000.
"With £4.4 billion investment in the Dockyard and 15,000 new jobs forecast, housing delivery is critical to support economic growth and national security."
Joe Wharton, of Homes England added: “We will continue to work side-by-side with teams from the council and City Centre Company as we embark on the next stage of what is a pivotal regeneration project for the city – maintaining momentum towards creating new homes and well-designed spaces for the people of Plymouth.
"This stage involves essential demolition, engagement with neighbouring businesses, and our focus is to ensure this work is completed safely and with the minimum disruption. We are excited to be involved in helping to write the next chapter of Armada Way and to ensure it works for communities and meets Plymouth's clear vision to be a forward-facing, aspirational place for generations to come."
Steve Hughes, chief executive of the City Centre Company added: "This is huge. More people living in the city centre is good for all businesses
"We know people have been concerned about these sites – Mayflower House in particular – as their appearance undermines the transformed Armada Way. To know that these sites will be cleared ready for their new future is great news indeed. development."
Alongside the proposed demolition, the project team will be developing a long-term plan to bring forward an exciting highquality mixed-use scheme at Armada Way North aligned with the emerging City Living Framework and Masterplan – a huge piece of work that is now underway that looks at how and where these homes will be built taking into account issues such as transport, drainage, green spaces and parking.
A major milestone for business growth, skills development and sustainable investment within the Plymouth and South Devon Freeport was marked with the opening of four new high-quality employment units at Beaumont Way, Langage.
The new units have been constructed to achieve the highest sustainable and environmental net zero standards.
Developed by Plymouth City Council and funded through a partnership between the council and the Freeport, which invested Government-provided seed capital funding, the Beaumont Way scheme has been delivered in just 12 months and provides modern, flexible workspace designed to support growing and innovative businesses.
The four units range from 750 square metres (8,100 sq ft) to just over 2,000 square metres (22,200 sq ft). Each unit includes adaptable workshop or production space, offices across ground and first floors with lift access, welfare facilities including showers and changing areas, dedicated service yards and parking with EV charging.
Sustainability has been central to the design and build and was embedded right from the conceptual stage of the project. The development is both a BREEAM Excellent and Net Carbon Zero scheme, incorporating solar glazing, LED lighting, solar PV panels, efficient electric heating, high levels of insulation and high levels of natural lighting. These features are designed to reduce energy consumption, lower operating costs for occupiers and support long-term resilience.
Located within the Freeport's Langage Tax Site, the units form part of a strategically important employment area supporting businesses in the major growth sectors
Official opening of the new Freeport units at Langage
of marine, defence, space, advanced manufacturing, engineering and net zero technology. The development is expected to support around 138 full-time jobs and acts as a springboard for the wider Langage site.
Alongside its physical infrastructure, the project has already delivered significant social value outcomes. Through Plymouth City Council's social value requirements and delivery by Devon Contractors, the build has supported local skills, training and career pathways.
Altogether the site contributed:
• Eight work placements for interns
• Six new jobs created for apprentices, new entrants and graduates
• Seven construction careers events
• 172 waged training weeks
• 17 new qualifications gained
• 14 ongoing training plans
Employability support has also been provided for people leaving military service through collaboration with Skills Launchpad Plymouth.
Plymouth City Council leader Tudor Evans said: "Built in a year and with impeccable sustainability credentials, these units will play a key part in our growth story, which is why
we felt it was important to invest in them.
"They are part of a Freeport Tax site which focuses on increasing capabilities across marine, defence, manufacturing, and net-zero sectors. As part of Team Plymouth, we are committed to strengthening the city through defence-driven opportunity, innovation and growth and need units like this to make this happen.
Richard May, chief executive of Plymouth and South Devon Freeport said: "This is another significant moment as we open the very first industrial units built in one of our Freeport Tax Sites, creating high-quality space for defence and marine manufacturers and scaling businesses to grow, innovate and create skilled local jobs.
“This is just the beginning, with further significant phases planned as we deliver more sheds that will power long-term investment and opportunity across Plymouth and South Devon."
The Beaumont Way development was funded through a £4 million Freeport seed capital allocation, match-funded by Plymouth City Council, and represents one of three designated Freeport tax sites across Plymouth and South Devon.
Work to transform one of Plymouth's most recognisable waterfront facilities has reached a major milestone with construction starting on the new Mount Batten Pontoon, part of the ongoing upgrade of the Mount Batten Watersports and Activities Centre.
The installation of the new pontoon structure will secure the long-term future of the Mount Batten Ferry and improve access to water-based activities for residents, visitors and users of the Plymouth Sound National Marine Park through the Mount Batten Watersports and Activities Centre.
Best efforts have been made to keep disruption to a minimum, although for this new phase of work to proceed safely, some temporary disruption is expected for slipway and pontoon users. This includes the removal of the current pontoon and the installation of a temporary replacement.
The Mount Batten Northern (Western) Slipway will be closed to all vehicular traffic for the full durations of the works. It will remain open for launching of crafts by hand, however there will be short periods where this isn't possible due to safety.
This will be managed with signage on site, and all users are therefore asked to check for signage prior to slipway use.
Once in place, the temporary pontoon will
Artist's impression of the new pontoon courtesy of lhc design
enable the ferry to resume operations, maintaining essential connections between the historic Barbican and Mount Batten while the new pontoon is constructed. These dates may be extended if weather conditions require, but the project team remains confident they can complete the temporary works within the planned window.
The £4.2 million investment will repair critical infrastructure, including the bridgehead and seawall, and create new commercial berths to
generate income that will support the pontoon’s long-term maintenance. The new pontoon is expected to be completed by late summer 2026. The significant improvement project is made possible through funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, UK Government and Plymouth City Council. It will enhance accessibility to the Plymouth Sound National Marine Park, helping more people connect with the water and the city’s maritime heritage.
Spring arrives with a sense of promise: longer days, lighter air, and the unmistakable feeling that everything is waking up again. For homeowners, it's also the moment when the house and garden reveal what winter has left behind.
A season of rain, frost, and wind can take it's toll, and spring maintenance becomes the quiet but essential ritual that prepares a home for the year ahead. It's not glamorous, but it is transformative – turning neglected corners into fresh spaces and preventing small issues from becoming costly problems.
Winter has a way of hiding things. Gutters clog silently, fences loosen, and moisture creeps into places you don't notice until the weather warms.
Spring maintenance is the antidote: a deliberate, top-to-bottom reset that restores order and protects your homes structure.
Start with the exterior. The roof, often out of sight and out of mind, deserves early attention. Loose tiles, moss buildup, or damaged flashing can lead to leaks once spring showers arrive. A visual inspection from the ground – or a professional assessment if needed – can prevent water damage that might otherwise go unnoticed until it becomes serious.
Gutters and downpipes are next. Winter storms often leave them packed with leaves, twigs, and grit. Clearing them ensures rainwater flows freely away from the house, protecting foundations and preventing damp patches on exterior walls. It's a simple task with outsized benefIts.
Windows and doors also benefit from a spring check. Wooden frames may have swollen or cracked, seals can degrade, and condensation may have left mould in it's wake. Cleaning the glass, refreshing sealant, and oiling hinges not only improves energy efficiency but also brightens the home – literally and figuratively.
If the house has been hibernating, the garden has been dreaming. Spring is when it stretches, yawns, and bursts back into life. But before the blooms arrive, the groundwork must be done. Begin with the soil. Winter rain compacts it, reducing airflow and making it harder for roots to thrive.
Loosening beds with a fork, adding compost, and mulching around perennials gives plants the nutrient-rich foundation they need for the growing season. It's also the ideal time to divide overcrowded plants, prune shrubs that flower on new wood, and remove any winter-killed growth. Lawns, too, need attention. Moss often thrives in damp winter conditions, and bare patches may appear where frost or foot traffic has taken it's toll. Scarifying, aerating, and overseeding help restore a lush, healthy lawn. A spring feed encourages strong root development, setting the stage for summer greenery.
Hard landscaping shouldn't be overlooked. Patios, decking, and pathways accumulate algae and grime over winter, becoming slippery and dull. A pressure wash or stiff brush scrub can revive these surfaces, making outdoor spaces safer and more inviting. While you're at it, inspect for loose paving stones, rotting boards, or shifting gravel –small repairs now prevent bigger hazards later.
Spring cleaning is a cultural staple for a reason. After months of closed windows and heavy fabrics, the home benefIts from a deep refresh. But beyond dusting and decluttering, spring is the perfect time for functional maintenance that often gets overlooked.
Heating systems, for example, deserve a check as they wind down from winter use. Bleeding radiators, inspecting boilers, and cleaning vents improve efficiency and prolong lifespan. It's also wise to test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors – small devices with life-saving importance.
Moisture is another silent winter guest. Bathrooms, kitchens, and basements may show signs of condensation or mould. Addressing
these early – through ventilation improvements, dehumidifying, or resealing – prevents long-term structural issues and improves indoor air quality. Spring also invites small aesthetic updates. Swapping heavy curtains for lighter fabrics, refreshing cushions, or adding indoor plants can shift the atmosphere from winter warmth to spring brightness. These touches don't just change how a room looks; they change how it feels.
The best spring maintenance is preventative. It's about spotting early signs of trouble and addressing them before they escalate. This includes checking exterior paintwork for peeling, inspecting fences for rot, and ensuring outdoor taps and irrigation systems survived the frost.
Drainage is another key area. Poor drainage can lead to water pooling around the home, damaging foundations and encouraging pests. Ensure soil slopes away from the house and clearing drains are all part of a thorough spring routine.
Pest prevention also belongs on the list. As temperatures rise, insects and rodents become more active. Sealing gaps, repairing screens, and storing food securely help keep unwanted visitors outside.
While maintenance is practical, it also has an emotional dimension. There's something deeply satisfying about restoring order after winter's chaos. The act of cleaning, repairing, and preparing creates a sense of renewal that mirrors the season itself.
A well-maintained home feels calmer, safer, and more welcoming. A tended garden becomes a sanctuary. These spaces shape daily life, and investing time in them pays dividends in comfort and wellbeing.
Spring maintenance isnt just about the present it's preparation for the months ahead. A garden cleared and nourished in spring becomes a vibrant summer retreat. A home repaired and refreshed becomes a backdrop for gatherings, relaxation, and everyday living.
By tackling maintenance early, you free yourself to enjoy the best of the season without the nagging worry of unfinished tasks. It's a gift to your future self.
wardrobe
Specialist local company with over 20 years' experience offering floor to ceiling made to measure fitted wardrobes and made to measure office furniture. Also provide replacement wardrobe door and kitchen cupboard door service as well as a repair service for wardrobes. EVG
EVG have been in the industry since 2005 and has a long established and proven track record in providing multi-disciplined landscaping and maintenance services throughout Devon and Cornwall as well as further afield when required. EVG work with a wide variety of clients, from domestic and residential through to national companies, school and public sector organisations
SW Roofing & Guttering Ltd are dedicated to providing top-notch roofing solutions that prioritize quality, reliability, and affordability. Our team of seasoned professionals bring years of experience and expertise to every project, ensuring that your roofing needs are met with precision and care. SW Roofing & Guttering also provide roof Installation, roof repairs, maintenance and inspection as well as gutter services.
The original vision of a one stop store was the idea of the company's then managing director whilst working for Plymouth Zoo and various safari parks where he made animal houses. Wherever he worked he found he had great difficulty finding all the materials he needed to complete a job in one place. He had to spend much of his time traveling around from merchant to merchant. That aggravation gave him the idea of setting up a business where people would be able to get all they needed from one location – so TOTEM TIMBER was born.
Starting with timber and sheet materials Totem soon expanded into hardware items such as ironmongery, lighting, bathrooms, decorative floorings and many more.
The company now sells virtually everything you might need for household and commercial improvements.
Pride & Joy are a well-established family run garden, landscaping and property maintenance business based in Plymouth. Most of their customers are in the Plymouth, Plympton, Plymstock and Saltash areas. The company prides itself on the personal and individual attention offered customers. They can look after all types of garden and their team will get to know you and your garden.
JDS provide all areas gardening from lawn mowing to hedge cutting and tree shearing. They remove all waste and they also provide a rubbish removal service. Garage and house clearances also undertaken.
The team behind Plymouth's City of Culture bid say there has been an overwhelming response to the plan as the city formally submitted its Expression of Interest, officially entering the race for the title which would unlock millions for the city while celebrating its culture and coastal identity.
UK City of Culture is a prestigious national title that brings significant investment, new opportunities and lasting benefits for places and their communities. Bradford was UK City of Culture in 2025, previous successful cities include Derry, Hull and Coventry.
The winning city receives £10 million from the UK Government to deliver a year-long cultural programme, plus potentially attract millions in further investment and open up greater access to arts and culture for local people and visitors.
Hannah Harris, chief executive of Plymouth Culture, together with the city's head of culture Victoria Pomery, have been leading on the bid with partners and has spoken with around 1,000 residents, businesses, creatives and organisations across the city in the buildup to submitting the Expression of Interest.
Cllr Jemima Laing, deputy leader of Plymouth City Council and culture portfolio holder said: “It has been fantastic to see such energy around the bid for City of Culture from across the city. It really has brought us together in a conversation about what the city has to offer, the importance of culture in everyday life and what winning would mean for all our residents."
Hannah Harris added: "While the feedback was rich and wide-ranging, several clear themes emerged. People told us they want Plymouth to better tell its story – a story that
The Box has officially recorded its busiest year since it opened in 2020.
The award-winning venue has welcomed 278,820 visits so far in 2025-26, surpassing its previous annual record of 272,266 and with six weeks still to go until the end of the current financial year.
The milestone reflects the huge popularity of its current exhibitions and family-friendly events, with February proving particularly strong. The Box experienced its five busiest days in February, peaking on February 19 with 3,685 visits, and its busiest-ever week with 20,233 visits – well above the previous weekly high of 15,725.
February half term saw 26,289 visits, more than double last year's total for the same period. The uplift was also reflected in other areas, with retail up by 275% and catering up by 60% compared with February half term 2025.
The Box is now approaching its next ambitious target of 300,000 visits by the end of March while Beryl Cook: Pride and Joy continues until May 31 and the recently opened Journeys with Mai, runs until June 14. Free tickets can be booked online.
More information is available from www.theboxplymouth.com
has shaped the nation and the world.
"Many spoke passionately about their deep connection to their local neighbourhoods and the pride they feel in their city. Music was consistently highlighted as a cultural strength that deserves greater investment, and the city's natural beauty – from coast to countryside – was repeatedly recognised as one of Plymouth's greatest assets.
"Above all, people affirmed that culture is not just art: it is who we are and what we do."
Victoria Pomery, chief executive of The Box and head of culture in Plymouth, said:
“Submitting our Expression of Interest is an exciting step forward for Plymouth. We have been genuinely inspired by the enthusiasm, honesty and creativity people have shown
over the past few weeks. Their voices are at the heart of this bid.
“Plymouth has a powerful story to tell - one shaped by the sea, by innovation, and by the resilience of our communities. This bid is about celebrating that spirit and using culture to bring people together, unlock opportunity and help shape a brighter future for everyone.
“We’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has taken part in engagement activities, shared ideas, hosted conversations or shown their support for the bid.”
Plymouth's bid will focus on telling the city's often untold story: that of a proud coastal city with a strong community spirit, whose people have always come together in times of challenge and opportunity. It will
celebrate creativity in all its forms and show how culture can help build a more joyful, connected and inclusive future.
The conversations have also highlighted a shared belief that, while Plymouth has significant opportunities for growth, these are not yet being felt equally by all communities. Culture has a vital role to play in bridging that gap, bringing people together, creating opportunities, and ensuring that growth is truly inclusive.
Plymouth now awaits the outcome of this phase of the competition, with long listed places expected to be announced in late March 2026. If Plymouth is successful, it will progress to developing a full bid over the coming months.
For information, updates or to get involved, visit: plymouthculture.co.uk/city-of-culture
Meadow View, Plymouth's new specialist building for adults with learning disabilities and complex needs, is rapidly taking shape –with its bespoke, sustainably sourced timber frame now complete.
Plymouth City Council selected a timber-frame structure to minimise the project's carbon footprint and deliver a warm, efficient and futureproof building.
When completed in the summer, Meadow View will provide vital day time opportunities and respite support for adults with complex needs, offering seven bedrooms, seven self-contained apartments, including
crisis-support spaces, and a wide range of creative, therapeutic and life-skills environments.
Meadow View, which is situated off Outland Road, will replace the council’s existing facilities, The Vine Day Service in Whitleigh and Colwill Lodge in Estover which are both now older and no longer fit for purpose.
The new single-storey development will include a sensory room, craft studios such as a pottery room with kiln, communal dining and kitchen spaces to build independent living skills, and a landscaped outdoor environment featuring wildflower planting and 55 new trees.
The building will also incorporate solar power systems, air source heat pumps and high performance triple glazing to reduce running costs and operational carbon.
Councillor Mary Aspinall, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health, said: "Meadow View embodies the kind of forward thinking, environmentally responsible development Plymouth is proud to champion. Choosing a timber frame structure means significantly lower carbon emissions, strong sustainability credentials and a building that works in harmony with both people and planet.
“This approach supports our city's commitment to greener construction and ensures that adults with complex needs will benefit from a warm, safe and energy efficient space for decades to come."
Nigel Whelan, managing director at Devon Contractors, said: "Meadow View is a scheme we're incredibly proud to be delivering. It will provide long-term benefits for Plymouth's residents with complex needs, and we value the close partnership with Plymouth City Council in creating a sustainable, high-quality facility that will serve the city for generations to come."
For more information about Meadow View: www.plymouth.gov.uk/ meadow-view
Plans have been submitted to bring a purpose-built, specialist care home to Sherford, marking a significant next step in the development of the new town's community facilities.
The planning application sets out detailed proposals for a 72-bedroom care home that is to provide specialist dementia, residential and respite care for older people in the local area.
The application follows the deal between the Sherford Consortium – the partnership of leading housebuilders Taylor Wimpey and Vistry Group responsible for the development of Sherford – and specialist care developer, Mercroft Estates, which is a joint venture between Mercian Group and Barcroft Estates.
With the planning application now submitted to South Hams District Council, the project takes a major step closer to becoming a reality. Subject to the planning process, it is expected that work could start in before the end of the year. Construction is expected to take around 20 months to complete.
The proposed three-storey building has been carefully designed to complement the character of Phase 2 of Sherford, with the use of materials including white render, wooden weatherboard cladding and grey stonework helping to reflect the contemporary Devon style of the surrounding homes.
The proposed facility has been designed to offer residents a rich and fulfilling quality of life. On the ground floor, residents and visitors will be welcomed into a central communal hub featuring a café, cinema room, hairdressers, beauty salon, and a private dining area –all arranged to encourage interaction and a sense of community.
All 72 bedrooms – 21 on the ground floor, 25 on the first floor and 26 on the second floor – will include en-suite facilities, with ground floor rooms benefiting from private patio spaces opening directly onto the gardens. Further lounge and dining areas with outdoor terraces are provided
Work to upgrade a key off-road walking and cycling link between Plymouth and Brixton in the South Hams is expected to get under way in March.
Dawes Lane, which runs between Sherford Road and Elburton Road, is a popular trail but can be tricky to traverse, with a very uneven surface and areas that become extremely waterlogged and muddy.
Improvements have been planned for a number of years and a total of nearly £150,000 in funding has now been secured through contributions from the nearby Sherford development and Government grants.
The northernmost section will be repaired using a combination of pothole patching and resurfacing and where the bedrock has become exposed, a reinforced concrete slab will be laid. The remainder of the route will be regraded and topped up with planings and a drainage channel will be created to take away surface water.
Councillor John Stephens, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Transport, said: "This is a really popular link for people walking and cycling between Brixton and Sherford. It provides important off-road access avoiding the busy A379, which has no footways.
"However, as a user of the track myself I know how tricky it can be to traverse, especially in the muddier places and during bad weather and I hope local residents will welcome these long-awaited improvements."
Work is expected to finish in mid-May and arrangements have been made with landowners for the nearby pathway between Portway Close and Sherford Road to be opened during the closure, for the small number of pupils who use this this route to get to and from local schools.
Two-way traffic signals will be used at times on Elburton Road, from below the junction with Pennys Lane to the junction with Arcadia, for the delivery of materials to the site. This will only be for short durations during off-peak times.
on the first and second floors, ensuring residents on every level have access to communal social spaces and fresh air. A lift will connect all three floors.
The building is designed with dementia care at its heart, with clear wayfinding, appropriate colour schemes and keypad-secured private areas all incorporated into the plans. All systems and facilities throughout meet the latest standards for residential care homes.
Considerable thought has been given to the outdoor spaces, with the landscaping proposals including sensory gardens with flowering trees and ornamental planting, a garden club activity area with wheelchair-accessible raised planters, pergola walkways, benches and seating areas and a gazebo.
Terrace areas will lead directly out from the ground floor communal spaces, providing easy access to the gardens for residents, visitors and staff alike. Private patio areas for ground floor residents will enable residents to tend to their own plants and outdoor spaces. Trees planted along the front of the building will mirror Sherford’s tree-lined streets.
The care home will provide over 100 local jobs once operational, offering a range of employment opportunities for people in Sherford and the surrounding area. The site, which sits next to a planned urban park and with Sherford's town centre nearby, means the care home will be right at the heart of the community.
Consultant Manuela Cresswell
A consultant surgeon at Derriford Hospital has been chosen to have her portrait displayed at the Royal College of Surgeons in London.
Manuela Cresswell, consultant ear, nose and throat surgeon will have her portrait displayed as part of the 'Insight: PortraIt's of Women in Surgeryexhibition which shines a light on women working in surgery across the UK.
Manuela recently attended the exhibition at the Hunterian Museum inside the Royal College of Surgeons. She said: "I feel humbled and privileged to be part of this wonderful initiative. Female surgeons are still a minority, and we need to challenge societal bias and make them more visible to the world."
As the first ever female ENT consultant at Derriford Hospital, the project is close to Manuela's heart. She said: "Women only make up an estimate of 17 per cent of surgeons worldwide, so there is still work to be done in showing people that women can be a multitude of things, including mothers, wives and surgeons."
The exhibition also focuses on the surgeonspersonal experiences that influenced their careers, for Manuela that was something she witnessed as a teenager, she said: "I witnessed a road traffic accident with multiple casualties and fatalities. My parents, both doctors, were first at the scene, and watching their calm triage, teamwork, and difficult decision-making left a lasting impression on me. I realised I wanted the skills to help in moments of crisis."
Manuela gave her advice to future surgeons. She said: "You are never the finished product. Early in training it is easy to compare oneself to senior consultants and feel like an impostor, forgetting that their expertise has been shaped over decades.
"The focus should be on personal growth: working consistently, learning from excellent trainers, and practising self-kindness. Progress is built slowly through persistence and reflection. Learn to quiet down the inner voice that says you are not good enough."
Manuela was photographed by Paige Nolan, communications officer at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust who is proud to have contributed to such an important project.
Residents across Plymouth, Exeter and the whole of Devon are being asked to help shape the county's future as the Government launches It's consultation on Local Government Reorganisation (LGR).
Five proposals have been submitted in response to the Government's call for clearer, more streamlined structures to replace Devon's current two tier system with a new set of unitary councils.
Among these is a joint submission from Plymouth City Council and Exeter City Council. The two cities have presented a single shared vision for a simpler, stronger and more efficient model of local government.
There is consensus across all Devon proposals that moving from the two-tier system to unitary government is the right approach. The Plymouth and Exeter proposal sets out how this can be achieved through four councils, each able to focus on the particular needs of the communities they serve.
The current two-tier system can often be confusing, with responsibilities split between different authorities. The joint Plymouth/Exeter proposal aims to make things fairer, easier to navigate and more logical, with services designed around the way people actually live, work and travel across Devon.
The vision is for a structure that delivers clarity, reduces duplication and ensures decisions are made closer to the communities they affect.
Under the proposal, Devon would be served by four unitary councils, each with the scale and coherence to deliver high-quality services close to communities:
• An expanded Plymouth: Plymouth plus 13 parishes from South Hams, creating a stronger authority serving communities that already rely on the city for employment, education and healthcare and giving Plymouth the scale to compete nationally and drive growth.
• An expanded Exeter: Exeter plus 49 surrounding parishes from Teignbridge, East Devon and Mid Devon, forming a single unitary built around one of Britain's fastest growing cities, with the capacity to plan strategically for housing, transport and economic development.
• An expanded Torbay: Torbay plus 21 nearby parishes, continuing as an integrated authority with proven success in delivering joined up services, including nationally recognised children's services.
• Devon Coast and Countryside: A new council specifically designed for rural and coastal communities, tailored to the needs of dispersed populations, market towns and isolated areas.
The model has been shaped through extensive work by both councils and reflects a shared ambition for a more coherent, efficient and future-proofed system.
Plymouth and Exeter have put forward this proposal together because they believe a coherent four unitary approach to reorganisation will work better for Devon as a whole. Whichever proposal the Government selects, all councils will have a role in making the new system work effectively for the communities they serve.
For more information, or to take part in the Government's consultation, go to: www.devonLGR.co.uk The deadline for comments is midnight on March 26.
Two Plympton women have visited the Houses of Parliament after their successes at the West Country Women's Awards last November.
Emma Drummond, founder of EMMAgination Craft and Ellie Johnson aka Mrs Murals, well-known for her subway art around Plympton, spent the day in Parliament alongside fellow award winners, surrounded by some of the South West's most inspiring women in business.
The visit was organised by Alexis Bowater and hosted by Rebecca Smith MP. During the visit, the group also met other Members of Parliament and spent time with Sharron Davies, now Baroness Davies of Devonport.
Emma described the experience as ‘a pinch me moment,’ sharing the day with a range of respected regional businesses.
The group toured historic areas of Parliament, hearing powerful stories about the suffragettes and seeing the four statues they chained themselves to in protest.
Members were shown the damaged spur left on one statue's boot following police intervention, a mark that has never been repaired.
Emma reflected that this was a particularly moving reminder of the women whose courage paved the way for future generations of female entrepreneurs.
Emma launched EM-MAgination Craft in 2022 and now delivers creative sessions for babies, children and families across Plymouth. Winning Small Business of the Year recognised not only her business growth but also her commitment to inclusion, accessibility and community impact.
Emma said: "Being in Parliament, representing my business and my community, was incredibly special. It was a day of connection, big conversations and proud moments. It reinforced how important it is that small, grassroots businesses have a voice."
Emma hopes the visit will strengthen future collaboration, raise the profile of communityled enterprises, and continue championing opportunities for women in business across the South West.
be found on her Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ DevonMuralDesigns (story courtesy of the Plympton Podcast)
A massive sculpture made from more than 100,000 seized or surrendered knives will be on display in Plymouth during the month of March.
Knife Angel, the 27 feet tall national monument against violence and aggression will be located between the Civic Centre and Guildhall buildings until March 30 and illuminated each evening.
The visit is funded by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) and is utilising funding from the Community Safety Partnership's Serious Violence Duty fund.
Plymouth remains a safe city by national standards, and knife carrying is rare locally, with estimates suggesting only around one in 2,000 people carry a knife in Devon and Cornwall.
However, even infrequent incidents can have devastating consequences. Many knife related harms in Plymouth are linked to wider issues such as domestic abuse, alcohol related incidents, criminal exploitation, and moments of mental health or self harm crisis.‚
The Knife Angel provides a focal point for recognising these challenges and strengthening the support available to those who may be affected. The month long programme surrounding the Knife Angel will focus on education, prevention and community engagement.
Partners from across the city will deliver school workshops, community conversations,
sessions focused on violence against women and girls, late night economy outreach, youth activities, and opportunities for pledges and reflection. The aim is to build understanding, challenge myths, encourage safe choices and promote early access to help where it is needed Devon and Cornwall Police and Plymouth City Council are supporting the visit working alongside a wide range of partners including schools and multi academy trusts, youth services, domestic abuse specialists, mental health and substance misuse providers, community and voluntary groups, faith organisations and Mike's Trust.
The collective effort reflects a shared commitment to tackling violence in all its forms.
A number of parking machines in the Mudge Way North and Ridgeway car parks have been replaced and if they prove to be successful the remaining machines will be changed for the new ones and they will also be rolled out to other car parks across Plymouth.
The original parking machines have been the subject of persistent complaints since their installation with issues over their height, screens not always illuminating, the display panels steaming up in certain weather conditions and other difficulties reading the screens.
Councillors Patrick and Sally Nicholson said: ”Independent Plympton councillors had a meeting with Parking Services and highlighted that the car parking machines are difficult to read, so Plympton has been chosen to try out the new technology machines that have a large touch screen in full colour and are some of the first in the UK.
“We welcome this response to our numerous complaints. These machines will be monitored over the next few months to decide whether to be upgrading all the remaining machines. We look forward to feedback from residents.”
There have certainly been some teething problems
with the new machines in their first few days of going live. One user said: “I tried the new one yesterday and it was lit up but unresponsive. Luckily one of the old ones was still in place so I used that.”
Another remarked: “The new ones are slow. The old one was used by four people in the time it took.”
One Ridgeway business owner was fuming at the impact the machines are causing to retailers as a long queue formed at the machines with users trying to get them to work. The retailer said: “The machines caused issues all day. Plymouth City Council are damaging business and trade in this area and have wasted taxpayers money in the process – it's a shambles.”
Many people are calling for both types of machine to be removed altogether and others are calling for the machines, if they have to remain, to issue tickets as proof motorists have put their details into the machine.
A large queue of motorists forming trying to get the machines to accept their details
This comes after a number of controversial fixed penalty notices issued to people who claim to have inserted their details but have been unable to prove that they did so. (story courtesy of the Plympton Podcast)
I had the privilege of attending the recent hedge laying session at King George V Playing Fields.
This was organised by Devon Rural Skills Trust (DRST) with permission given by Plymouth City Council, Devon County Council, Sherford Development Park and the OPM rugby club. It was great to learn from the experts about how hedge laying works.
Hedge laying is an ancient rural craft dating back to before the Roman invasion and sustains the life of the hedge. The particular hedge at KGV is made up predominantly of hazel, a self-coppicing species, meaning once it reaches a certain height it will essentially lay itself on the ground and continue growing (something that the practice of hedge laying mimics) and will be in full leaf again by the end of May.
The elm is also worth noting, elm has suffered dramatic losses in the past few decades, evidence has shown that laying elm helps to stave off the disease meaning essentially a laid elm is better than a dead one.
If you would like to see how quickly a laid hedge grows back, then you can visit a hedge laid last year by the DRST in Pounds Park (Central Park) which after being laid to ground level, now stands over two metres high.
You may be interested to learn more about hedge laying from the Devon Hedge Group www.devonhedges.org/devon-hedges/hedgecondition/ or from the Wildlife Trust www. avonwildlifetrust.org.uk/hedgelaying
The work carried out at KGV Fields will form a continuous ‘curtain’ of trees rather than several separate stools. The hedges’ ability to sequester carbon has been unaffected by laying, and in
fact the process encourages rapid growth and will actually capture more carbon in its first few seasons. The trees simply standing do not provide any buffer from pollution, it just means you cannot see the cars.
The reason that a length of hedge is laid at once is so that the re-growth is equal across the line. leaving no gaps. In the links above, it explains the original purpose for hedges was to contain livestock, so the aim is to create a barrier. When judges look at a hedge they want to see that a ‘butterfly could fly into it, but not through it’.
Hedge laying is hedge management, as opposed to a tree which will not simply stay that size, they will continue to grow. In self-coppicing species like hazel, they will spread out (across the path) unless managed. Not one of the trees laid is dead. Hazel grows from a stool, many of the limbs from that stool have been removed but the stools all remain. If it had not been laid in the way it has, the area was due to be flailed with a tractor this winter, which has now been prevented.
I remember my grandfather hedge laying when I was a child and this time was the first time I saw women taking the art to their hearts. Most rewarding for me was to see younger generations learning the skills under the watchful eyes of experts of the craft.
The UK champion was in attendance, and I was mesmerised with his skill and concentration in producing a perfect section of hedge.
The Plymstock Community Speed Watch team will be back out in March with our efforts having been hampered recently by the dark evenings and dreadful weather.
We are also looking for additional volunteers to enable us to target more areas. Please contact me if you would like to join our wonderful group of volunteers. We hope to have regular meetings in preparation for Speedwatch across Plymstock during the warmer months.
We have all been out and about carrying out street surgeries and meeting residents. I have to say I was impressed by the speed at which the road defects in Dunstone View were repaired and completed three days after they had been photographed and reported. I also received a quick response from the council with regards to the further defects along Peeks Avenue which will be repaired in due course.
Following a street surgery in Springfield Road where a resident reported that Muggerbrook Park needed some attention, I visited the park the following day with my granddaughter Ayda.
By
There have been a few positive announcements made recently by the Government, Plymouth City Council and two local schools about Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, commonly known as SEND.
For many years, the cost to Plymouth City Council, other local authorities and schools for the provision and support for children with a learning, emotional, physical or health disability has risen hugely. This resulted in the government permitting local authorities to set aside the SEND debt that has accrued for special needs support, from the main annual budget.
It was a significant relief to local authorities when the government announced that 90% of this debt would be met by central government. Then followed the long awaited White Paper on SEND which outlines how children will be supported in years to come.
I was proud to read that Goosewell School and Coombe Dean School, both in Plymstock Dunstone Ward, received a letter from Bridget Philipson, the government’s Education Secretary congratulating and recognising the achievement of their disadvantaged pupils in 2024-2025 which were among the strongest outcomes nationally.
And in Plymouth, Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission published their SEND monitoring visit report highlighting how partners across education, health and care have changed how they work, with children and young
I have written in the past that Ayda likes to spend time with me on what she calls ‘council work’. She is very enthusiastic having become a member of the school council. She called me first thing in the morning to arrange when we would be going and reminding me of what the resident said. It was good listening to Ayda and seeing the park through a child’s eyes. Needless to say, this has been reported. Some may question why I involve my grandchildren in my political life? I see it as encouraging them to become more aware of the community and look at what can be done, if possible, to make the environment that we live in better.
It is pleasing to see that major investment has been secured for parks in Plymouth’s budget doubling the revenue for play equipment maintenance to help keep parks safe. Hopefully, we will be able to sort some of the issues in Muggerbrook Park.
Meeting residents is the part of my councillor role that I enjoy the most. I am always happy to be contacted and to meet up with residents to help with issues. The only downside is that unfortunately whilst empathising with residents’ concerns, we cannot solve or resolve all the issues reported for reasons beyond our control, but it doesn’t stop me trying!
people now playing a much stronger role in shaping services. Inspectors described a clear shift towards a more joined up, child centred approach that has helped families access support earlier, strengthened inclusion in schools and improved how the most vulnerable children are supported. They also praised new ways of listening to young people, better early help for families, and closer collaboration between schools and health services - all contributing to more consistent, timely and compassionate support. Inspectors also note a significant drop in exclusions of children with SEND and stronger oversight of those with complex needs. This is all good news.
Back in March 2024, my Chronicle item included the successful planning application to extend the off-road cycle and walking path further linking Laira Bridge and Sherford via a tunnel under the Colesdown Hill Tunnel and also a pedestrian crossing on Elburton Road just east of Billacombe Roundabout. I also mentioned how I would work to bring about better access for walkers and cyclists along Dawes Lane linking Elburton and Brixton near Otter Nurseries.
Both these projects have now started with Dawes Lane expected to finish before the end of May, and the Colesdown Hill path extension in Spring 2027. Plymouth City Council and I will press for each contractor involved in the complex project to work as smart as possible with each other with an aim to shorten the duration of the road diversion which is inconveniencing local residents.
Over the past few weeks I’ve continued getting out and about across Plymstock Radford to speak directly with residents and community groups about the issues that matter most locally.
Recently, I joined Sam from Plym Yacht Club for a ward walk around Oreston Quay. The quay is one of our area’s real assets and it was valuable to discuss waterfront access, the condition of the space, and concerns residents have raised.
These conversations on the ground are essential. They help me ensure I’m representing the priorities of local residents with the Council whether that’s maintenance, safety or protecting community facilities.
Alongside this, I recently opened applications for my councillor Community Grant. Each councillor receives a small annual allocation of public money to support grassroots projects.
The community grant is public moneyYOUR money. I’m simply the custodian trusted to allocate it to projects that make a real difference in our community. I want everyone to know this funding exists, understand how it works, and have a fair chance to apply.
Most importantly I want residents to see exactly how these funds are used and the positive impact they deliver. While these are relatively modest sums, they can make a meaningful difference to our brilliant local community groups
I’m pleased to confirm that funding from this round has been awarded to:
• Drake Sailing Club – to support people with disabilities and others who face barriers to participation to experience and enjoy sailing
• Ocean City Radio – to support operating costs so they can continue broadcasting and promoting local charities and community groups
• Plymstock Oaks RFC U16s – to support their end of season presentation evening
• Oreston Community Academy – to contribute towards essential setup costs, including seeds, tools, and learning resources for their allotment
Thank you to everyone who applied and to those who continue working hard to strengthen our community. I’m always keen to hear from residents and local groups. If you have an idea that could benefit our area, please do get in touch!
A budget that invests in protecting vulnerable children and providing adult social care, while maintaining more than 300 services used by Plymouth residents, has been agreed by the City Council.
The full council agreed a £326 million revenue budget for 2026/27 that provides an additional £24.9m to meet the increased costs and demand for statutory social care and homelessness services, which make up around 72 per cent of the council's total revenue spend.
The large increases in cost and demand pressures being experienced in social care and homelessness services include:
• an increase in the average cost of care for people aged 65 and above from £14,913 a year in 2021/22 to £23,164 in 2024/25
• an increase in the number of households in bed and breakfast from 181 in 2022/23 to 209 currently
• an increase in the number of children needing home to school transport from 724 to 1,076 children over five years.
The budget also includes a £113.9m capital programme for 2026/27 and £319.7m five-year programme that continues to invest in Plymouth’s infrastructure, delivering new children's and adult social care facilities, transport schemes to help reduce congestion, improvements to parks and green spaces, environmental and flood relief schemes and projects that will enable the city to protect and attract jobs and further investment.
Despite the severe pressures being experienced by nearly all councils responsible for social care services, the council has set a balanced budget that ensures sufficient resources are in place to maintain more than 300 council services, including essential citywide functions such as pothole repairs, street cleansing, grass cutting and street lighting, as well as maintaining a network of libraries. It also allocates additional funding for the maintenance of children's play areas across the city.
To help maintain these services the budget includes a 2.99 per cent increase in Council Tax and a two per cent adult social care precept specifically to meet increase cost and demand for adult care, in line with the Government's spending assessment.
This means a Council Tax increase for council services of £1.24 a week for households in Band A properties and £1.85 a week for households in Band D. Councillor Mark Lowry, Cabinet member for Finance, said: “Thankfully the Government has been listening to us about the scale of the pressures that we are facing alongside most other upper tier councils. The first multi-year funding settlement for local government in a decade has brought some welcome increases in our resources. The changes to the treatment of business rates pooling mean we can now expect to a minimum 17 per cent uplift in our core spending power across the multi-year settlement period.
Two local charitable organisations, Plympton Foodbank and Shekinah Mission, have received donations of £500 each in the final act of the St Mary’s Area Residents Team (SMART) which is winding up after more than 25 years.
The group was first founded in 1999 and has campaigned on and highlighted issues within the PL7 1 postcode area, as well as raising funds for a variety of charities over the years.
Chairman of the group from start to finish has been Pauline Kadoche, a former Stannator of Plympton and previously postmistress of the now long since gone Underwood Post Office.
As the proceedings of the group came to its final end, she offered her many thanks to all those who have supported SMART since 1999.
Phil Smith from Plympton Foodbank said: “We were very touched to have been chosen as one of the charities supported by SMART and we were overwhelmed to receive this wonderful donation of £500! This money will be used to help us provide basic food and non food essentials to people in our local communities.”
A spokesperson from Shekinah Mission said: “It was wonderful to meet with Pauline along with other members of the team as they presented us with an incredible £500 donation in support of our work.
“We are extremely grateful for the kindness, hard work, and generosity shown by the entire SMART team. Your support has made a real and lasting difference to the people we work with and we’re deeply thankful for everything you’ve done for the community.” (story courtesy of the Plympton Podcast)
Representatives from he Department for Education (DfE) recently visited Plympton Academy and were impressed with the 'courtesy and determination' of the students.
As part of the DfE's Regional Improvement for Standards and Excellence (RISE) programme, the school received a visit to see the considerable progress which had been made by the leadership team.
While touring the school, Dr Tim Coulson, a member of the regional RISE team which works to support school improvement, sat in on many different lessons during the day.
Together, the team observed the high quality of education which children can experience at Plympton Academy and in his letter to headteacher Shaun Willis, Dr Coulson said it was a 'delight' to talk with staff who saw 'a team who want the best for young people.'
Reflecting on the positive visit, Shaun was pleased with the efforts of his colleagues and wanted to thank them for their hard work in delivering positive change.
He said: "Im so proud of our community of staff and students who demonstrated with compassion the outstanding progress we've made together. The RISE team were able to see the curiosity of our students in action and how we encourage them to be bold and courageous in their aspirations.”
An apprentice at Plympton firm YGS Landscapes has been recognised in the 2026 Apprentice of the Year Awards held recently at Market Hall in Devonport.
Scott Fearn, who is undertaking Landscaping and Horticulture Apprenticeship Level 2 with YGS Landscapes and City College Plymouth, received a Highly Commended Award in the The Ron Simmonds Trade Apprentice of the Year category.
The award is named after former Lord Mayor of Plymouth Alderman Ron Simmonds who served as a councillor for the Budshead Ward for 28 years and who was made an Alderman in 2007.
Alderman Simmonds trained as a bricklayer with A.N. Coles Ltd and worked for local building contractors and national contractors working in the Plymouth area. He was also for a period chair of governors at Woodford Primary School.
He was Lord Mayor in the 1992/3 municipal year and passed away on 24 January this year at the age of 93.
Twelve apprentices were in the frame for the award named after him and the overall winner was Connor Byrne of Larc Construction Ltd and Skills Group Ltd undertaking Groundworker Apprenticeship Level 2.
The Apprentice of the Year Awards, held as part of Plymouth’s celebration of National Apprenticeship Week 2026, were presented jointly by Building Plymouth and the Plymouth Manufacturers’ Group (PMG).
The nominations were submitted by local construction and advanced manufacturing employers, with the awards recognising nearly 60 talented apprentices who were celebrated at the ceremony.
City College Plymouth recognised the dedication and achievements of It's apprentice and employer partners at the Apprenticeship Awards Ceremony held at Plymouth Argyle Football Club.
The special evening brought together apprentices, their families, college staff, employers and distinguished guests from the local business community to celebrate the success of the region's future workforce.
Opening with a lively performance by Ruby and Meredith, a talented music duo from the college, Jackie Grubb, chief executive of City College Plymouth, then welcomed guests, acknowledging the hard work and resilience demonstrated by apprentices across a range of industries.
The evening served as a celebration of the skills, dedication and value that the apprentice community bring to their workplaces, and as a strong reminder of the symbiotic relationship City College has with It's employer partners.
The apprentice awards ceremony concluded with the presentation of three special awards, recognising apprentices who have made exceptional contributions to their workplaces and the college community.
The Chief Executive's Award, presented by Jackie Grubb, was presented to Eve Smith, who was commended by Jackie for her focus and commitment during her apprenticeship. Jackie praised Eve's patience and pride in her work, describing it as ‘second to noneand saying that Eve had ‘consistently surpassed expectations in every area.’
The StudentsUnion Award, presented by the college's Student Council chair, Liam Ashby, was awarded to Tilly Maddern for her strong work ethic, initiative, professionalism, and positive contribution to her team.
The GovernorsAward was presented to Oliver Thomas, who was singled out and commended by college Governor Chris Saxby for being ‘skilled, committed, generous with his knowledge, and consistently exceptional.’
Speaking during the event, Jackie Grubb said: “There's nothing more rewarding than celebrating the successes of our wonderful apprentices, and I couldn't be prouder of the hard work our students have put in over the last 12 months.
“The awards are one of my favourite events of the year, but choosing winners has been incredibly difficult because every apprentice has been outstanding in their own way. Each one of them has shown something special, and their resilience, dedication, and passion are a powerful reminder of what education and professional growth can achieve."
Reflecting the diverse fabric of Plymouth’s community, the award recipients represented a wide range of ages and backgrounds:
• Advanced Automotive Apprentice of the Year - Charlie Adams
• Intermediate Business Apprentice of the Year - Tilly Maddern
• Advanced Business Apprentice of the Year - Cheryl Heckford
• Intermediate Construction Apprentice of the Year - Harley Mitchell
• Advanced Construction Apprentice of the Year - Oliver Thomas
• Higher Construction Apprentice of the Year - Thomas Hunt
• Advanced Digital Apprentice of the Year - Cody Richards
• Intermediate Engineering Apprentice of the Year
- Joseph Earnshaw
• Advanced Engineering Apprentice of the Year - Eve Smith
• Higher Engineering Apprentice of the Year - Joshua Hughes
• Intermediate Hair & Beauty Apprentice of the Year - Gemma Ryder
• Intermediate Health & Childhood Education Apprentice of the Year
- Victoria Wakeham
• Intermediate Hospitality Apprentice of the Year - Anna Mezhuieva
• Intermediate Science Apprentice of the Year - Poppy Payne
• Intermediate Sport, Health & Fitness Apprentice of the Year
- Alfie Cox
• StudentsUnion Award - Tilly Maddern
• GovernorsAward - Oliver Thomas
• Chief Executive's Award - Eve Smith
With March now underway and the days slowly begin to stretch beyond the long winter nights, the past few weeks have been busy, championing local priorities in Parliament while continuing my work alongside residents and businesses across South West Devon. I was pleased to welcome Kemi Badenoch to South West Devon, where we spent time in Plymouth discussing UK defence technology and innovation, and hearing directly from local businesses about the opportunities and challenges they face. That focus on backing local enterprise carried through to Prime Minister’s Questions later in February, when I pressed the Government to support small and medium-sized enterprises at Turnchapel Wharf, ensuring innovative local companies are not held back by outdated regulations.
It has also been wonderful to celebrate and support the people and places that make our area special, officially launching this year’s Best Local Pub competition,
Great to welcome Leader of the Opposition Kemi Badenoch and Shadow Defence Secretary, James Cartlidge MP to Turnchapel Wharf in Plymstock this month.
It was a brilliant opportunity for them to see first-hand some of the incredible work happening in the marine autonomy sector here in South West Devon.
Following a question I raised with the Defence Secretary on out-of-date regulations that are stifling marine autonomy a few days prior, it was helpful to discuss this further on the ground with businesses delivering real capability.
As Conservatives we are well aware of the challenges companies are facing (in more ways than one) and are committed to pushing the Government to update these regulations, ensuring innovation isn’t held back by outdated frameworks. Our marine autonomy innovators have the talent and technology. It now needs the Government to do the work to keep up.
Challenging the Prime Minister to back our local defence industry
A few weeks ago, following Kemi’s visit to South West Devon, I asked the Prime Minister in PMQs to finally get primary legislation in place to support Plymouth’s SMEs in the
unmanned surface vessel sector, especially those at Turnchapel Wharf.
This matters because this is good for our local defence industry and for the SMEs in South West Devon. These businesses are developing vital autonomous vessels with both commercial and defence use, yet they’re being held back by out-of-date Maritime regulations.
I have raised this issue on a number of occasions with both the Departments for Transport and Defence and met with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. I have been informed that it required the government to connect the dots and bring forward primary legislation.
Following the Prime Minister’s answer, I have now written to him and will post an update through my usual channels once I receive a response.
As your MP, supporting local residents with the issues that matter to them most is at the heart of my work.
Every month, I deal with a wide range of casework from across South West Devon. Recently, I met with Alan, who first contacted me last year to raise serious concerns about severe flooding along his driveway and garden following the heavy rainfall we experienced in September. Following a lot of digging with the council and the Environment Agency, I managed to get a site visit arranged with Mark Rice, the area director of the Environmental Agency and Simon Jeffrey, a senior advisor for Flood and Coastal Risk Management, who will be taking this on and having direct conversations with the Council to see what more can be done to mitigate against this.
If you are a constituent of mine and you have any casework concerns that you would like me to take on, please do let me know at: rebecca. smith.mp@ parliament.uk.
Rebecca Smith MP for South West Devon and Ward Councillor for Plymstock Radford with updates on supporting constituents
encouraging communities to nominate their favourite local and recognise the important role pubs play; meeting with Cllr Stephens to discuss key transport priorities; and visiting a resident following flooding on his property and working towards practical solutions. It was also a real joy to mark World Book Day at the Plymstock Broadway, celebrating the importance of reading and learning for young children.
As ever, if you’d like to share your concerns with me over email, please do get in touch at rebecca.smith.mp@parliament.uk Read on to hear about my work for our area in more detail!”
of the
of the Year –make sure to vote for your favourite
I was delighted to officially launch my competition for Best Pub of the Year 2026! Voting is open and you can have your say here: www.rebecca-smith.org.uk/news/ rebecca-launches-her-best-local-pub2026-competition or by scanning the QR code.
Our pubs are the backbone of South West Devon. They support local jobs, bring people together, and keep villages, towns and communities alive - which is exactly why they deserve our backing, especially at a time when rising costs and the Government’s higher taxes are making life harder for the hospitality sector.
I’ll keep fighting in Parliament to scrap unfair business rates and stand up for our locals. But here in South West Devon, this competition is about celebrating them - and I’ll be visiting pubs throughout the competition to meet landlords, staff and customers along the way.
Last year, The London Inn in Plympton took
I recently met with Cllr John Stephens, Plymouth’s Portfolio Holder for Transport, to discuss some of the ongoing transport projects and priorities across South West Devon.
World Book Day at the Plymstock Broadway
Finally, I was recently at Plymstock Broadway ahead of World Book Day for a storytime in conjunction with St Luke’s Plymstock Bookshop and the Divino Lounge. I read a few stories to local families including the Gruffalo! A really lovely way to spend an hour on a Saturday morning!
the crown. So the question is…will they hold onto the title, or will another pub rise to the challenge and beat them to the mark this year? If you haven’t already do take a moment to vote for your favourite local and share this with your friends and family!
This included projects across the city, such as the possibility of reopening Plympton railway station, improvements at Deep Lane and the Dawes Lane cycle path connecting Brixton to Elburton.
I also took the opportunity to raise the concerns about works on Colesdown Hill in Plymstock. I made clear the strength of feeling locally, particularly regarding the 14-month road closure, the impact on school runs and carers and the frustration many feel about how the disruption has been communicated. I will continue to follow progress closely, press for clear communication and work with Plymourh City Council to help ensure these projects are delivered efficiently and effectively.
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A Plymouth animal charity is running a reduced-price neutering programme this spring in a bid to halt a worry rise in unwanted cats coming into its care.
Woodside Animal Welfare Sanctuary, on the edge of Plympton, has limped through one of its busiest winters on record, with all its catteries full and close to 50 cats on the waiting list.
And with spring marking the start of kitten season, the charity fears it will struggle to cope unless owners act now to get their pets spayed.
For a limited time, the charity is reducing the cost of cat spaying, neutering and microchipping at its Wolseley Road clinic for households in Plymouth and the surrounding areas that are in receipt of benefits.
"We are urging people to get their cats spayed ahead of the summer," said Woodside manager Dawn Cornish. "Given the fact that we're already full we fear what's going to happen as we head into kitten season. Normally it gets quieter in winter and we're able to empty one of our catteries, but this year that has not been the case and all three of our catteries are full."
Kitten season usually falls during the
warmer months from April to September. However, milder winters have extended the season and now it's not unusual for the charity to take in kittens as early as March and as late as December.
An unneutered cat can have as many as three or four litters a year, with females as young as four-months-old able to have kittens. By preventing unnecessary breeding this, in turn, can stop needless suffering and
neglect, according to the charity, which has put neutering at the heart of its work since it was founded nearly 50 years ago.
As well as the community clinic in Wolseley Road, which opened in the 1980s, Woodside has an onsite clinic at its sanctuary, where animals in its care are neutered, spayed and receive the veterinary care they need.
"When we were quieter in the winter and had fewer cats the ones we did have would be adopted," said Dawn. "But now that it's busier many are still here by the start of spring. It then becomes harder to find them loving homes as they are overlooked when the kittens arrive. Despite common misconceptions, there are no health benefits to allowing a cat to have a litter before being neutered."
There are limited spaces on the spring neutering programme, which reduces the cost of cat spaying and neutering to £75 and £50 respectively, for bookings made from March 1. A further £10 reduction for cats already chipped applies. Book by calling 01752 347212.
To find out more about cats currently searching for a loving home, visit www. woodsidesanctuary.org.uk/adopt-a-cat
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A member of Plymouth Lions Club has been honoured after completing 40 years as a member of Lions Club International.
Ray Shipton received his 40-year long-service chevron at a meeting of the Lions Club of Plymouth.
The presentation was made by Plymouth Club president Lion Alan Clifford during the club's monthly meeting at the Crownhill Royal British Legion Club.
Ray was previously a member of the former Plym Valley Lions Club, twice being elected as the club president. He presided over the club's activities from July 2000 to June 2001 and again from July 2009 to June 2010 He is now a valued member of the Lions Club of Plymouth after transferring to them following the closure of the Plym Valley Club.
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Picture the scene, I'm stood in a cold playground waiting in the January rain to pick up my daughter from school. Seeking shelter where I could, head down longing for the warm rays of Spring.
Suddenly I hear the excited voice of a young boy shout to his Mum, "Can you see the raindrops?!"
He was looking down at a puddle fascinated by the splashes on the water. He then jumped in the puddle and ran between any others he could find, laughing as he went.
Excuse me while I get all philosophical, but this moment struck me. He was waiting for his sibling on the same day, in the same conditions as everyone else. BUT the very same cold winter rain that was getting me down was the cause of his joy.
To him this was new, exciting, full of possibilities. To me it was none of those things. All he had was a different perspective on the very same situation.
I'm not about to start jumping up and down in puddles but it has made me wonder what other things in work and life can be experienced totally differently with just a slight perspective shift.
I have to admit I did look down at the puddle
By Dave Simpson, Station Manager of Cross Rhythms Plymouth
now. Perhaps you’re grieving, battling a health challenge or navigating significant change in your work or personal life.
The relentless rain of these situations can be deeply debilitating. Our focus and posture can become solely about finding a way through the storms. In challenging circumstances in my own life I know I can live like that. Head down, hood up, trying to get through the downpour and waiting for the sun to come out again.
That’s not an entirely wrong way to go about things. Sometimes you do have to ‘keep calm and carry on’ and get through to a better future, but it can stop us from being present. Sometimes when I’ve felt like that, I've recalled the simple and funny things my children did, and that helped to pull me back into living and enjoying the here and now.
Like for that young boy playing in the puddles, there can be joy and fun even in the midst of a downpour. In many ways it is those little moments that make life full and rich even in the good and bad times.
Through my work with Cross Rhythms Plymouth I have the joy of interviewing people who have
gone through all manner of challenging situations in life. You can listen to the station on 96.3FM in Plymouth or on DAB as CRPlym in the city or watch our interviews on our YouTube channel at: www.youtube.com/@CRPlymouth
One interview that comes to mind is the story of Sandy who suffered a stroke and had to learn to move and speak again. I can’t think of a much more challenging situation to find yourself in. In the interview, which you can find in the Lifelines section of the YouTube channel, Sandy shared how she knew God’s presence in Jesus Christ very profoundly in the midst of those difficult times. Her faith not only brought her through the trial but gave her joy in the midst of it.
'Faith like a child' is a valuable thing indeed. Childlike ability to lean into God even when it’s raining.
So, 'Can you see the raindrops?!'
Listen to Cross Rhythms Plymouth on 96.3FM or online at the new Cross Rhythms Plymouth website at www. crossrhythms.co.uk/plymouth
Proposals by the Sherford Consortium to permanently close off part of a road leading directly into Sherford from Plympton St Maurice have stirred up controversy in the local community.
The proposal concerns the Sherford end of Plympton Hill, also known colloquially as Bullers Hill. Broadly speaking this hill runs from the Brook Inn in Plympton St Maurice and joins up with Hercules Road in Sherford.
It is intended to permanently block off the section running 282 metres from the junction with Hercules Road. At the Plympton end access will stop just after the Vinery Lane junction.
Explaining the rationale behind the proposal the Sherford Consortium issued a statement saying: “This proposal is intended to take pressure off existing rural roads and neighbouring communities, while still providing options for local travel.”
The statement went on to explain there are two main reasons behind the proposal. “Firstly, it responds to concerns raised by residents and representatives from the neighbouring community regarding traffic travelling to, from or through Sherford, and the impact this has on roads in Plympton St Maurice.
“Closing the shortest part of the existing cutthrough between Sherford and Plympton will encourage motorists to use alternative routes that connect into the wider road network. This includes travelling via Deep Lane, rather than through rural roads. With planned improvements at Deep Lane – including road widening and the creation of a new pedestrian and cyclist bridge – it is anticipated that the route will be better positioned to accommodate traffic safely and efficiently.
“Secondly, essential works are required in this area to divert the gas pipeline and overhead cables ahead of the construction of Phase 4 of Sherford. Bringing these works forward enables us to make the difficult but necessary decision to enforce a road closure now that was required in due course, and allows the works to progress."
A decision on whether to close the road will be made by the Department for Transport who have opened a 28 day consultation period. There has,
however, been criticism of the DfT over the way in which notice has been given and the archaic means of reviewing the background documents to the proposal.
An A4 notice was placed on lamposts in the affected area but most people pass by these in motor vehicles and would at best get a fleeting glimpse of the notices.
However due to the eagle-eyed and the power of social media the proposals have now come to widespread attention.
As for the background documents the official DfT notice says people can go to the South Hams District Council offices in Totnes during their opening hours to inspect them or write to a PO Box address in Newcastle-upon-Tyne to get them.
Following the furore stirred up over accessing documents it fell to South Hams District Council to acknowledge the difficulties and provide a remedy as well as making a statement of their own.
Cllr Dan Thomas, South Hams District Council's Leader, said: "We are aware of the Sherford Consortium's application to the Secretary of State to close (stop up) a section of Plympton Hill that lies within Sherford.
"This is part of a statutory process which is a necessary step to progressing the Sherford masterplan which will see the route replaced by the new estate roads that will be built as part of the development. While the road in its current form will be removed, a new route through Sherford will therefore be possible following construction.
"This is being planned now following pressure from neighbouring communities to address a longstanding legal obligation requested by Plymouth City Council. As the neighbouring highway authority, the City Council wanted to manage the flow of traffic, and concerns about a 'rat run' through the narrow roads of Plympton St Maurice.
"As part of discussions with Plymouth City
Council colleagues, the Sherford Consortium has brought forward the closure of the road process (stopping up) as a short term measure to address this legal obligation. This is ahead of more permanent proposals that are still needed as part of this development. Access to Bullers Hill will still be available by other routes in the area.
"We are also aware of how difficult it has been for residents to view details of the consultation. Unfortunately, this is a process managed by the Department of Transport and no details are provided on their statutory notices of how to view the details online.
“Information is however available from the Consortium website https://sherford. uk/2026/02/23/proposed-road-closure
“This consultation is also published on our website at www.southhams.gov.uk/sherforddraft-order-sw6207 along with details of how representation can be made to the Secretary of State's casework team."
So what do residents think of what is being proposed? In the main many seem discontent to say the least. There is major concern that this will make an already bad commuter time situation at Deep Lane End even worse.
As one objector explained: “I don’t live in Plympton now but still travel down the A38 to Plympton for work and the traffic queuing onto the A38 at peak traffic times is so dangerous. So telling people to use Deep Lane will only add to this. How is improving the cycle and pedestrian pathway going to improve traffic management.”
This resonated with many of those against the closure, with one saying it is only a matter of time before there is a serious accident on the A38 due to queuing traffic coming off at Deep Lane. This echoes what many have been saying for some time now.
One consensus which does seem to emerge from public comments is that no closure of Plympton Hill should take place until traffic improvements benefiting those using motor vehicles have taken place at Deep Lane. Mention of the planned cycle
and pedestrian bridge as a solution frequently meets with derision.
A recurring source of discontent is extra travel time. As one person remarked: “Last time I used Deep Lane to get to Elburton it took an hour to get through at 5pm!!! Sort Deep Lane out before doing anything to alleviate the ever growing traffic issues.”
Residents of Haye Road and Merafield Road are also venting their frustration. One said: “Traffic on Haye/Merafield Road has increased significantly over the last few years, particularly since Sherford began. Getting out of our road, onto Merafield, is often difficult now and this is before proposed road closures making the journey to work, and elsewhere, harder. Great planning as always, with no supporting infrastructure, just a ripple effect of disruption,”
Another agreed, saying: “I live in Haye Road and the traffic is horrendous, cars won't let me out my drive now, let alone when the traffic increases with this road closure. Do the infrastructure improvements before closing roads.”
Another remarked: “I am seriously thinking of giving my job up in Plymstock as the commute would mean I would have to leave half an hour earlier and get home half an hour later at a minimum.”
Not everyone though is against the proposed closure. There are some who favour it. One who does said: “If you lived in Plympton St Maurice you would understand the need for this closure. Over 200 cars an hour were found to be passing through at peak times – the road was not built for this. Just use the new road built for Sherford, simples. I go that way making the effort to take the pressure off St Maurice.”
Letters of support or objection can be sent by e-mail to nationalcasework@dft.gov.uk quoting reference NATTRAN/SW/S247/6207 or by postal mail to National Transport Casework Team, P.O. Box 1393, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE998 5FQ, again quoting the reference number. Responses should have some detail explaining the reason for support or objection.
The Plymouth Chronicle is excited to announce a collaboration with Argyle Life to provide regular Plymouth Argyle content from the perspective of the fans. We’ll be publishing regular pieces from Argyle Life contributors in print and via our website at www.plymouthchronicle.co.uk. Our latest article is written by Sam Down, one of the founders of Argyle Life. He reflects on Argyle's run in to the end of the season and the opportunity to develop some of the youngsters in the Argyle Academy
Plymouth Argyle are in a surprisingly unique position. It may be a shock to those of you who don't share an encyclopaedic knowledge of the club's recent history (trust me, it's as much a curse as a blessing) but the final day of the season is likely to see a scenario that Argyle fans haven't (technically) experienced since the 2013/14 season drew to a close, a full 12 years ago.
Our season ends at Northampton in May and whilst it is not yet certain, it is increasingly likely that we will be going into that final game with nothing to play for in terms of either a league title, automatic promotion, the play-off race or relegation. There is a chance of it, obviously.
Technically, we still (at time of print) need at least one more win to make certain of our League One status. We are still in theory very much in the play-off race, only a handful of points off nearest rivals Huddersfield and yet to play them.
Alas, our squad is so injury depleted that it seems unlikely we overhaul so many teams in the top half. Similarly, it seems almost impossible that we won't manage the three to seven points needed to stay in the division. So whilst the 'dead rubber' finish isn't certain, it's highly probable and it's a very new feeling.
Yes, the 2020/21 season was meaningless for the last few games but (almost) the entire campaign was behind closed doors.
Yes, it's true that in 2024/25 and (less so) 2017/18, there would have been huge goal difference swing required – but nevertheless, the mathematical possibility remained and the tension was high octane late into April.
For a fanbase of adrenaline junkies, there is the danger that this becomes a bit of an anticlimax. And look, there's no getting away from the fact we were all hoping (even expecting) this season to be a play-off push. But I'd argue that after so many years of being put through the emotional ringer, a nice quiet end to the season in balmy 23 degree spring weather (who am
overwhelming pressure to secure immediate results can stifle tactical experimentation. And (whilst we'd all take an unlikely day in the sun at Wembley) there is such a thing as going up too soon.
There is no more obvious example here than the summer of 2022. Whilst on that occasion, Argyle did have last day drama (and the less said the better of it) we still probably benefited from nonpromotion. Schmuacher's greens changed their formation from 3-5-2 to 3-4-3 and we saw the benefits of the attacking. And when we did go up, we competed well in the league (at least until our team was stripped apart, but that is another matter).
Cleverley's 4-4-2 has worked to great aplomb over winter. Despite this, we shouldn't rest on our laurels and assume this is as good as it gets. The stress-free run of games gives us time to experiment, fine tune tactical adaptations and work out what shape would work best for a tilt at promotion.
I kidding?) could be just what the doctor ordered.
Quite aside from the breathing space for a fanbase who could be forgiven for having each aged 20 years in the last 10, the opportunities for youth development are absolutely paramount to securing the future of the club. I mentioned in my earlier column about the importance of youth development in 'working smarter' to get our Argyle back.
Tegan Finn, to name just one, is a player who would hugely benefit from a quieter end to the season. There's an obvious problem that occurs when the club are always pressed for a short-term outcome and it's that we focus on 'win now' players of a certain age over sustainable development.
First choice
Mike Cooper for example, may well have not been risked as first choice keeper had the 2020/21 season had higher stakes. It would be too trite to say 'the rest is history' but had he been dropped, who knows whether he would have gone on to give Argyle the financial benefit of his sale (not to speak of the priceless memories of a successful youth product).
Finn has actually had far more match action at a younger age than Cooper (although this is somewhat a product of him being an attacking player). Whilst he's had many fantastic moments, especially in the Vertu Trophy, you can see that he's still got some learning to do and understandably so. No 17-year-old is ever the finished product and there's no better way to maximise his chances of starting regularly next season than the experience of battling against men rather than boys.
ever
Finn isn't the only player of our young crop who could do with action. Sam Hayman has been promoted to the squad at a very young age and Seb Campbell became our youngest ever goalscorer against Tottenham under-21s in September. If those two even get a taste of first team action, their odds of becoming the next Adam Randell will shorten markedly. Young players get better with exposure. Dead rubber games give us exactly that. We could even look to recall Freddie Issaka and Caleb Roberts from their loans at Truro.
This isn't the only upside. The
Finally, it gives us a chance to seriously address the biggest underlying problem stopping this team from reaching its full potential: the injury crisis. Argyle's injury list this season has consistently ranged from between three and nine – usually somewhere in the middle of that.
Just when it was getting somewhat more under control, Argyle amassed a staggering eight new injuries in the week after the Cardiff City game. We clearly need to hire a new head of fitness to work alongside existing staff and this gives them the chance to build a framework.
Is it important we finish the season with good energy, and good form? It certainly helps, but it isn't essential. Argyle only won twice after February in the 2020/21 season mentioned above and the year after was one of the most enjoyable supporting Argyle in recent times. What's really important is that we take stock, develop the right players (for either their future goalscoring ability or to sell big) and gather knowledge.
That's what gives us the best chance of making next season a winning one.
Touring for the first time since it was saved for the nation in 2023, Portrait of Mai by Plympton-born Sir Joshua Reynolds has arrived at The Box in Plymouth where it is now taking centre stage in a large-scale immersive exhibition.
Displayed across four gallery spaces, Journeys with Mai re-examines what is generally considered to be Reynolds' finest work within the context of Plymouth's local and global histories.
Mai's dramatic portrait is displayed alongside paintings, etchings, watercolours and ethnographic objects from both The Box and a range of national collections. Together they build a picture of early encounters between Europeans and South Pacific Island peoples from different perspectives: inviting visitors to look and then look again.
Formerly known as ‘Omai’ in England, Mai travelled between French Polynesia and England as part of Captain James Cook’s second and third voyages, both of which departed from Plymouth.
He was in Britain from 1774-1776 and it was during this time that Plympton-born Reynolds painted his celebrated work which was jointly acquired by The Getty and National Portrait Gallery for £50m in 2023.
The painting is shown alongside depictions of many of the key players behind Britain's seafaring expansion in the 1700s, including Cook, Joseph Banks and The Earl of Sandwich. A portrait of Captain Tobias Furneaux, the man who was responsible for bringing Mai to Britain and painted by Reynolds' assistant James Northcote (1746-1831),
is also on public display for the first time.
Bringing the sights and sounds of Tahiti to life, a new soundscape by Tahitian artist Hinatea Columbani records the making of tapa, the highly valued cloth made by Pacific Islanders from tree bark which Mai is pictured wearing.
A new commission by Devon-based artist Mohini Chandra responds directly to the themes of the exhibition. Expedition into a Volcano considers the idealised landscape suggested in Portrait of Mai and how notions of a pacific 'paradise' have entered our collective consciousness over the last 250 years. Presented as a single room moving image and audio experience, the work uses archival film from The Box's archives combined with contemporary footage shot around Mount Edgcumbe, in nearby Cornwall.
New research into Mai's time in Plymouth in the late 1770s, and the city's key role in early encounters between people from Europe and the South Pacific also forms part of the exhibition and utilises archival materials from The Box. A newly commissioned animation for schools will explore this story and support curriculum topics such as migration, empire, and the transatlantic slave trade.
Victoria Pomery, chief executive at The Box said: "Plymouth is the birthplace of Sir Joshua Reynolds, and the city was the starting point for all of Cook’s voyages, so we are thrilled to be able to share this extraordinary portrait and ambitious exhibition with our audiences. Journeys with Mai is a valuable opportunity for The Box to continue its ongoing work to address Plymouth's colonial past, and
Last month’s answers
for our visitors and collaborators to meaningfully engage with some of the many complex histories and narratives around it."
Journeys with Mai is a national partnership project led by the National Portrait Gallery, Bradford District Museums and Galleries, the Fitzwilliam Museum, in collaboration with the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Cambridge and The Box, Plymouth. The project is generously supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Art Fund and other supporters. Find out more from www.theboxplymouth.com.
Down
2 Keeps (7)
3 Scrabble game piece (4)
5 Oriental (7)
(11) 18 Unusual (8)
20 Applications (4)
22 Pale pinkish-violet (5) 23 Arousing intense feeling (7) 24 Renter (6)
25 Forest god (5)
6 Saint ---, Wren's masterpiece (5)
7 Welsh county (5)
8 Ponds (5)
9 Lottery (11)
15 Resident of e.g. Cape Town or Cairo (7)
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(4)
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25 Overdue.
Down: 1 Bypass, 2 Sediment, 3 Idea, 4 Performs, 5 Polo, 6 Teensy, 8 Dusty, 13 Panorama, 15 Lemonade, 16 Encamp, 17 Taboo, 19 Saucer, 21 Eddy, 23 Apex.
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