Latest news with #Teignmouth
BBC News
18-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Illuminations could return to Teignmouth seafront
Illuminations could return to a Devon seafront if a £60,000 town council scheme gets the backing of the county old decorative lights in Teignmouth were removed in 2021 when the lampposts supporting them were condemned by Devon County Council's health and safety Town Council has set aside the funding for 40 fish-and-anchor-themed illuminated panels to be installed on the replacement lampposts, subject to plans being approved by the county Mayor Councillor Cate Williams said the illuminations would be an "investment in our town's economy and vibrancy" if approved by Devon County Hall. The town council said £60,000 had been set aside in its 2025 to 2026 budget for the illuminations. "It's seaside, it's family friendly and what people expect when they come to a seaside town," said Williams."It's colourful and bright, it uplifts people when they come and sit by the sea or have a stroll along the promenade."She added: "Money is always tight of course but it's how you use the money you do have that counts, and also that you explain to residents why you're spending their council tax.'This will be an investment in our town's economy and vibrancy and we'll all reap the benefits in due course by maintaining Teignmouth's enviable reputation as both a great place to live and visit." Town Clerk Iain Wedlake said the current designs for the illuminations were "motifs which you see all around Teignmouth, of the fish and anchor"."The actual installation would be swift but we cannot proceed without the two permissions from Devon and Teignbridge," he said. "That process has taken about four months so far and we're hopeful that decisions will soon be made and we can appoint contractors to start work."
Daily Mail
17-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
'Highly talented' university lecturer, 53, killed herself after husband started affair and wanted a divorce, inquest hears
A 'highly talented' university lecturer killed herself after her husband began an extra marital affair and wanted a divorce, an inquest has heard. Dr Claire Dinan began suffering from anxiety and depression following the breakdown of her 28-year marriage when husband Frank O'Friel revealed he had met someone at work, Exeter Coroner's Court heard. The Area Coroner Nicholas Lane said Dr Dinan struggled with her mental health in the weeks and months before she died and was suffering anxiety and depression largely due to the news of her husband's affair. The 53-year-old also believed her two children, who she adored, would be better off without her and thought her death would allow her friends and family to 'get on with their lives'. Dr Dinan had also written a journal which highlighted the turmoil she was going through, adding that the ordeal had left her 'sad and broken'. The inquest heard she had twice made plans to kill herself by using plastic bags and also jumping off cliffs. She had lost weight because she was not eating properly and was also suffering with a lack of sleep in the weeks before her death in April 2023. The coroner said Dr Dinan also thought she was being a burden on her sister and mother, who later discovered her body hanging at her home in Teignmouth, Devon, where she had gone to stay the night before. Dr Dinan completed her PhD at the University of Exeter in geography in the marketing of sustainable tourism in the Business School. The university said the mother of two was 'a highly skilled researcher and educator whose work on sustainable tourism influenced national policy'. The inquest heard Dr Dinan had self referred to Talk Works, Devon NHS Talking Therapies Service, but it was felt she was too high risk for them to take on. Dr Dinan was then in contact with the Community Mental Health Team who she called in the hours before she died, but she was told that she would not be taken on to their caseload as her risk was low. The coroner referred to a 'potential gap in the service' which can have catastrophic consequences but was told that improvements have since been made although funding was still an issue. Mr O'Friel said his wife was a 'very anxious person' who liked routine and certainty. He said her journal 'made it clear to me the turmoil she was going through and had made plans to end her own life'. Days after her death he found notes addressed to family members in her bedroom drawers and a rope tied into a noose. The inquest heard in December 2022 Mr O'Friel wanted them to separate and in February 2023 she was left devastated when told he had met someone at work. Her mother said the marital breakdown left her daughter with a loss of confidence, incoherent with grief and impacted her mental health. The night before she died Dr Dinan was upset at the marital home they shared, so her husband drove her to her mother's home where she stayed the night and called the first response team the next morning to help her. But she was left feeling 'bemused' at their response because 'no one believed her'. When her mother went out for the morning, she returned to find her daughter hanged. She left a note for her parents apologising for what she had done but saying: 'I don't have a role any longer, I cannot go on. All my love, Claire.' Her sister said Claire was 'an intelligent and articulate individual with a very responsible job' but was in a 'sea of chaos' as she took 'one step forward and two steps backwards'. Coroner Mr Lane said: 'Clearly there were many significant issues in recent days, weeks and months prior to her very sad death.' He said Dr Dinan suffered an acute stress reaction to the marital breakdown. Mr Lane said her family were unaware of the extent of her thought processes about killing herself which came to light later in notes and the journal. He said the phone call she had that morning with the mental health team may have contributed to her decision to kill herself but was not the direct cause, as that her 'ongoing personal problems'.
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Airshow weekend 'brings £5m boost' to Torbay trade
Business leaders believe this year's English Riviera Airshow has brought in millions of pounds of trade to the area. The third and final day of the event took place on Sunday, with aircraft including the Red Arrows and RAF Typhoon Display Team taking to the skies above Paignton Green. Thousands of people have attended the free event during the three days it has been on, which has helped bring at least £5m of trade to Torbay, according to English Riviera Business Improvement District chief executive Carolyn Custerson. She said the financial boost the event had given the area meant it was in a "good position" for the future. Ms Custerson said: "The airshow is going to be worth at least £5m to Torbay's visitor economy and we see a great return on investment. "For every pound we invest, we see £15 returned. "So we've got now in a good position to take the event forward." More news stories for Devon Listen to the latest news for Devon Traders who set up stalls at the airshow said it had been a "phenomenal" weekend with the large crowds attending. James Guthrie, from Torbay Gin, said: "We did strong sales on Saturday and the crowds were just wooed by the Red Arrows and the Typhoon that came in. "It was a great day for business." Councillor Jackie Thomas, cabinet member for tourism, culture and events at Torbay Council, said holding such an event when other airshows, such as Bournemouth and Teignmouth, were either not happening or unlikely to happen this year due to funding issues was a big boost. "We have managed to keep going and you can see what a spectacular event that we have produced," she added. Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@ Thousands flock to action-packed day at airshow Airshow pilots looking to 'give something back' Devon's English Riviera Airshow set for take off English Riviera Airshow English Riviera BID Torbay Council
Daily Mail
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Escape To The Country guest breaks down in tears as stunned BBC host scrambles to apologise for 'upsetting her' outside property
An Escape To The Country guest broke down in tears as stunned BBC host Steve Brown scrambled to apologise for 'upsetting her' during a recent episode of the show. The instalment saw Jane and her daughter Bella asked for help from the property expert in a bid to find Jane a dream home in Devon. Jane decided that she wanted to move from her current home in Henfield, West Sussex, and head back to county in the southwest of England after growing up there. She explained that she had outgrown her current pad and had a maximum budget of £425,000 for a minimum of two bedrooms, an office, a small garden, a parking space, located near a large village and church. Before heading to to their next property in the episode, the trio stopped by Teignmouth seafront to catch up and talk about Jane and her reason to come back home. Steve said: 'Dare I say it, your mum, I think, moving down here, doing it on her own, is very, very brave.' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. The instalment saw Jane and her daughter Bella enquire help from the property expert in a bid to find Jane a dream home in Devon Bella replied: 'I think having the painful slog of raising me and my sister probably made her strong enough that moving down here it's a quick one! 'The main thing is packing, that's the worst bit! Hate packing!' Steve asked her: 'Is this a big leap for you that you just take in your stride? Because not many people just decide...' Before the host could finish his question, Jane wiped away a tear from her face and Steve continued: 'Sorry I don't mean to upset you!' Jane told him: 'No! No you haven't.' 'I hope this is pride that we're talking about here,' Steve said. Jane explained: 'It's hearing what Bella's saying.' Bella joked: 'Sorry I'll say horrible things now.' Jane told Steve: 'It's a fresh start. I'm looking for something new, and a new adventure and a new chapter. 'I just turned 60, now's the time to do it.' Steve asked: 'Has today cemented it for you?' to which she said: 'Definitely.' He added: 'I'm so pleased to be part of this with you.' It's not the first time recently that there were tears involved in the programme. A buyer broke got very emotional after 'having a hard time' with her doomed property search during the most recent episode of the BBC show. Property expert Ginny Buckley returned to our screens to help couple Debs and Colin find their dream property on the Norfolk/Suffolk border. The pair - who had lived in Caterham, Surrey, for 29 years - tried to find their perfect home seven years ago, but it didn't work out, and only now were they ready to try again. Ginny took them to Norfolk end to the village of Forncett End, near a market town of Wymondham. The thatched cottage, costing £500,000, boasted a kitchen, breakfast room, two reception rooms, three bedrooms and a workshop. And they certainly liked the look of what they saw. Colin said: 'That is full-on Escape To The Country character, isn't it?' Debs added: 'It's beautiful. It is really pretty. I love it.' Just moments later she got very emotional and said: 'Oh it's making me - a bit - cry...' A shocked Ginny asked: 'Oh why? What? What's making you?' 'I don't know,' Debs replied. It's just making me a bit, like, emotional. It is so pretty. So pretty.'
BBC News
23-05-2025
- BBC News
Teignmouth Pier and cafes evacuated after ordnance found
A Devon seaside town's pier, cafes and nearby properties have been evacuated after a suspected explosive device was found on the beach.A 656ft (200m) cordon has been put in place in Teignmouth after the discovery of the "suspected ordnance", said Devon and Cornwall Police."Please steer clear of the area while emergency services are in attendance and assessing the item," the force said officers were "engaging with those impacted directly".
