Westward Ho! and Bideford Art Society Annual Open Exhibition

The Westward Ho! and Bideford Art Society (WHOBIDARTS) Annual Open Exhibition returns to The Burton at Bideford later this month.

Founded in 1922, WHOBIDARTS' annual exhibition has been held at The Burton since 1954 and it remains the Society's most important event and showpiece, featuring work in a range of media.

The annual show gives artists from across the South West the opportunity to see their work exhibited at The Burton. The exhibition is open to members and associates of the Society as well as non-members, with over 300 artworks on display and available to purchase.

Come along to experience works by some of the top artistic talents in the region, with the opportunity to take home your favourite.

Image Credit: Jenny Smy, Headland II. Winner of the Ken Doughty Prize 2024. 

Westward Ho! and Bideford Art Society

Annual Open Exhibition

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Exhibition Dates

Saturday 27th September – Sunday 2nd November 2025

*Free entry*

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For more details about WHOBIDARTS see their website at whobidarts.co.uk 

Storybook Magic: Winnie the Pooh Lunch Delights Edenmore Residents

What began as a simple Mad Hatter’s Tea Party for World Book Lovers Day in 2024 has led to the creation of The Edenmore Book Club, led by Home Admin Sarah Dullaghan, offering moments of connection and comfort for residents, fondly referred to as family members.

Each book club meeting involves Sarah reading a chapter of a book aloud, surrounded by themed decorations and food throughout the home that the whole team get involved with! In the past, family members have enjoyed timeless classics such as Peter Rabbit, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Paddington, with the latest example being Winnie the Pooh for World Book Day.

A Community Effort

This year’s Winnie the Pooh afternoon was made even more special with generous donations from the Ilfracombe community, with Winnie the Pooh soft toys being gifted to the home. Family members were encouraged to sit back, close their eyes, and enjoy the storytelling over a glass of nosecco (alcohol-free sparkling wine), creating a relaxed and engaging atmosphere.

Shared Memories

Many family members shared how the event brought back ‘happy memories’ of reading Winnie the Pooh to their own children and grandchildren. Sarah reflected on the impact of these gatherings, saying, ‘Their smiles and reactions brought the story to life for me!’’

More Than Just a Book Club

The Edenmore Book Club is about more than just reading, it’s a space for sharing stories, reminiscing, and creating meaningful moments together. Held in the main lounge, it remains easily accessible to all, where family members can choose to be involved in the activities, reinforcing the home’s commitment to recognising the values, beliefs, and identity of each person who calls Edenmore Nursing Home their home.

 

 For more about life at Edenmore Nursing Home, 

visit: www.edenmorenursinghome.com

The Sundial Summer Fair

Sundial Care Home in Tipton St John hosted its Summer Fair in their three-acre grounds, drawing strong support from family members (residents), relatives, members of the community, and volunteers for an afternoon of activities, stalls, and entertainment to celebrate the end of the summer season.

Visitors enjoyed a range of games, including Guess How Many Sweets Are in the Jar, Name the Teddy, Hook a Duck, and the ever-popular Splat the Rat. The fair also featured a variety of stalls, such as hair braiding, a book stall, locally handmade children’s clothes, tea and coffee, cake sale, face painting and more.

Singer Zara King provided live entertainment throughout the afternoon which had a couple of family members dancing non-stop, and later announced the winners of the raffle as the day came to a close. Signature mocktails were served by small business Botanic, alongside ice creams from the East Devon Ices van. Local neighbours Bella and her mum Liz sold home-baked cakes to support Bella’s school trip to New York and Hospice Care also supported the fair with a tombola stall.

Team members brought along their children to enjoy the activities and help run stalls, creating opportunities for intergenerational connections within the home. Leftover books and prizes from the stalls have since been donated to the Tipton Fete, ensuring the community continues to benefit from the day’s success.

Sundial Care Home is nestled in the heart of Tipton St John, and has long been known for their strong community involvement. The care home places great importance on maintaining strong community connections for those who live there, supporting their wellbeing and sense of identity. Many family members come from the surrounding area, and events like the Summer Fair support them to stay close to their community, while also giving those from further afield the chance to build new community connections.

If you would like to learn more about Sundial Care Home, please visit https://www.sundialcare.com/lifes-journey-continued/

Heritage Open Days Talk: Bideford Ceramics and International Maritime Trade

As part of Heritage Open Days, The Burton is presenting a mini-exhibition of ceramics selected from its archive, displaying works not typically accessible to the public (13th-21st September). This will focus on the relationship between Bideford’s history of ceramics and international maritime trade, both of which saw the town’s influence stretch across the globe. 

Come along on Sunday 14th September to hear more about this fascinating topic from Sadie Green, an expert in North Devon Pottery and its export to the Eastern seaboard of America in Elizabethan times. Sadie’s talk is free to attend but booking is required.

Call the gallery on 01237 471455 or book via our website at https://www.burtonartgallery.co.uk/exhibitions-activities/heritage-open-days-talk-bideford-ceramics-and-international-maritime-trade/

 

 

Sunday 14th September, 2025

Heritage Open Days Talk: Bideford Ceramics and International Maritime Trade

With Sadie Green

11.30am-12.30pm | FREE | Booking essential

 

Looking on the Bright Side of Bideford.

Always a pleasure to visit the Burton Art Gallery & Museum and yesterday we checked out the ‘Into Abstraction: Modern British Art and the Landscape’ exhibition with works by a host of well-known 20th century artists including Barbara Hepworth, Henry Moore, L.S. Lowry, Patrick Heron and Elisabeth Frink.

A fusion of vibrant and sombre modern art and landscapes including a change of location for the famous ‘Matchstick People’, Glasgow, not Salford, Manchester was the focus of the painting by L.S. Lowry.

The Summer might be over but the Summer Exhibition is running until the 14^th September so if you love art and the history do check it out.

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‘Into Abstraction: Modern British Art and the Landscape’ runs until 14th September at The Burton at Bideford, Bideford, North Devon EX39 2QQ. Free entry.

See www.theburton.org for more details on the exhibition and upcoming exhibitions and  events.

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About: ‘Into Abstraction: Modern British Art and the Landscape’ examines the intersection of abstraction and landscape in British art from the 1920s to the early 1970s. Organised in collaboration with The Hepworth Wakefield, ‘Into Abstraction’ draws on their extensive holdings of modern art to explore how artists used abstraction during periods of social upheaval to engage with the natural world and human experience. Tap here to read all about the exhibition and the Burton at Bideford >

Ilfracombe Soapbox Derby – Edenmore Wheels to Glory

Edenmore Nursing Home is no stranger to getting involved in an array of activities for their residents (fondly referred to as family members) to choose to be involved in, however not normally ones that involve four wheels and rolling through Ilfracombe! I am of course, talking about the recent Soapbox Derby, put on by Ilfracombe Round Table to support their own charity, as well as Children’s Hospice South West.

From the moment the idea was announced to take part (and sponsor the event too!), the nursing home was keen to include as many people as possible. The team, family members and their relatives got together to plan Edenmore’s soapbox kart. In true community style, everyone pitched in – from the hands-on builders of the kart with drills and saws (thanks Gayle Cooper, Home Manager’s husband and grandson!) to family members offering design ideas, colour schemes, and even a few cheeky suggestions for how to make it go faster! The result was a colourful, Edenmore shaped kart that looked right at home among the other imaginative entries.

Race day saw team members making the short walk down to the town and joining the buzzing streets of Ilfracombe. Families lined the route, the sun was shining, music was playing, and the atmosphere was one of pure community spirit. Edenmore was the first kart to attempt the course involving sharp corners, ramps and lots of hay bales (which Captain Jesu made friends with on the test run!).

Team member Jesu shared ‘manuvering down the course was quite challenging! The steering was all over the place as the kart was not designed to have a house built on it – but I had so much fun and the turnout was absolutely amazing – bring on next year!’

‘It was just brilliant to be part of the first-ever derby,’ shared Gayle. ‘The atmosphere was electric, and the community spirit made all the hard work worth it. We’ve already started talking about ideas for next year!’

As the day came to a close, it was clear the Soapbox Derby had sparked something special in the community. Edenmore was proud to help launch what is sure to become a new Ilfracombe tradition.

For more information about Edenmore Nursing Home, please visit: www.edenmorenursinghome.com