► THE shocking rise in energy bills puts vital community swimming pools at risk of going under.

It’s not just households that are struggling with the soaring costs, the Mid-Devon Advertiser spoke to the people running the life-saving pools at Chagford, Kingsteignton, Chudleigh, Buckfastleigh, Newton Abbot, Moretonhampstead and Bovey Tracey.

All say they are struggling to keep afloat the vital service they provide in giving local children the opportunity to learn to swim at their local pool.

► A 99-year-old great grandmother is kayaking as many laps as possible around Decoy Lake to raise funds for the NHS in Devon.

Elaine Gray is set to complete another mission to raise money for the NHS Royal Bristol Hospital for Children, by kayaking as many laps as she can around the lake in Decoy Country Park, Newton Abbot.

This is the second challenge that Elaine has set herself; late last year she kayaked almost seven miles on the Exeter canal in aid of the NHS, Devon Partnership Trust.

► A HIGHLY anticipated event in Teignmouth’s calender certainly did not disappoint as it is estimated more than 30,000 people attended the three-day, high-octane event.

Teignmouth Airshow 2022 came back with a bang, drawing huge crowds from far and wide who eagerly gazed up at the skies to catch a glimpse of some of the aeroplanes on display.

Team Raven, The Starlings, RAF Lancaster and, of course, RAF Red Arrows thrilled record audience numbers.

► DEVON County Show was delighted to report that ticket sales hit their targets for the 2022 event.

The three-day show took place for the second consecutive year in high summer. Sam Mackenzie-Green, Devon County Show manager, was pleased that the mammoth team effort required to put on a show of this scale had paid off.

‘We knew it would be a challenge with the economy as it is but we also had to wrestle with the unpredictable British weather. What’s clear is that the Devon show going public sim-ply won’t be deterred and they turned out on the show ground in their droves.’

► IT was nostalgia central at this year’s Lets Rock music festival. The event, staged at Powderham Castle, provided the thousands of festival goers with an opportunity to relive their younger days by watching acts from the ’80s including The Selecter, Heaven 17 and Belinda Carlisle.

Everyone enjoyed the music, but the less said about the toilet facilities the better.

The end of the month provided another treat for music lovers, as Chagstock went ahead without a hitch.

The Selecter at Lets Rock.
The Selecter at Lets Rock. (-)

► RATHER than put her feet up and have a slice of cake with a glass of bubbly, one intrepid Dawlish pensioner chose to celebrate her 80th birthday with a bit of an adventure.

Bernice Johnson decided the best way to mark her special day was to take to the skies and do a charity wing walk.

► FOLLOWING A ‘significant rockfall’ at Ness Beach, Shaldon, visitors have been warned not to sit under the cliffs at the southern end of the beach.

A Teignbridge Council spokesperson said: ‘The beach is backed by natural red breccia sandstone slopes and cliffs.

‘This is a relatively soft rock which is prone to erosion and landslips at any time of year.’