Sight Support Event Heads to Barnstaple

Are you based in North Devon? Are you, or is someone you know, living with a visual impairment? Devon in Sight, the county’s leading charity for those living with sight loss, has announced it will be bringing its popular ‘Living Well with Sight Loss’ event to The Roundswell Community Centre, Barnstaple.

The event, which runs from 09:30am until 2:30pm, serves as a one-stop shop for anyone affected by sight loss, their families, friends and carers. The aim of this event is to connect the community with the experts.

The Experts in Question

Attendees will have the opportunity to meet with a wide range of exhibitors. These include:

• Charity & Support Groups: Age UK Devon, Age Well North Devon, Barnstaple Macular Support Group, Disability Together and North Devon Talking News.

• Sensory & Healthcare Services: Devon County Sensory Team/ROVI, Scrivens, SpaMedica, and Vision Express Barnstaple.

• Assistive Technology & Resources: All Things Dotty, HumanWare, Optelec, and Vision Aid.

• Community Partners: National Trust North Devon.

A message from Devon in Sight

"We’re shaking things up a bit for this North Devon event!" says Sarah, Marketing and Office Manager at Devon in Sight. "We’ve designed it to be not only a hub of information, but also a friendly social gathering. Attendees can drop in, chat with our experts, and enjoy a delicious Devon cream tea between 10:00am and 2:00pm.

Our sight loss community gains so much from these events, and getting to spend time together in person is always the highlight for us. We can't wait to welcome everyone to Barnstaple."

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Event Summary

• What: Living Well with Sight Loss Event – North Devon
• Where: Roundswell Community Centre, Gratton Way, Roundswell, Barnstaple, EX31 3NL
• When: Monday 21^st September 2026, 09:30am until 2:30pm
• Cost: Free admission
• Accessibility: Fully accessible venue. Up to 3 hours of free parking is available in the adjacent Sainsbury's car park (please check signage).
• Refreshments Available: Complimentary tea and coffee served all day, alongside traditional Devon cream teas (which must be booked in advance) available from 10:00am to 2:00pm.

To register your interest, call the Devon in Sight helpline on 01392 876 666. Or head over to their website for more information - https://devoninsight.org.uk/independent-living/living-well-with-sight-loss-events.

Sight Support Event Heads to Barnstaple. Photo ©️Devon in Sight 2026 (

About Devon in Sight

Devon in Sight is your Local Sight Loss charity providing practical help and advice to people who are blind or partially sighted to help them to live life to the full.

Our Sight Loss Services focus on four key areas, Information, Advice and Guidance, Independent Living, Health and Wellbeing, and Influencing Change (Making the world a better place for people with sight loss).

 

Aloha from North Devon! Heanton Nursing Home gets a Hawaiian makeover

Family members at Heanton Nursing Home went to bed in North Devon and woke up to a taste of Hawaii after the home’s night team spent the night transforming their surroundings for a surprise Hawaiian Day.

While family members (residents) slept, the night team decorated the different households within Heanton with tropical decorations, grass skirts and colourful table displays, ready for everyone to discover when they woke the following morning. The celebrations were inspired by Hawaii Statehood Day, which marks Hawaii becoming the 50th US state, but at Heanton it was also an opportunity to turn an ordinary summer day into something a little different.

Hawaiian shirts had been ordered for family members who chose to dress for the occasion, while a mocktail bar returned after proving particularly popular during a previous Hawaiian-themed day at the home. Relatives also came into Heanton especially to join in with the celebrations. Some family members already had exactly the right wardrobe for the occasion, with bright colours, bold florals and tropical prints appearing from their own wardrobes!

The team were very much part of the day too, with many ordering Hawaiian shirts of their own and competing for the title of Hawaiian King or Queen. Pineapples were awarded to those who had made the greatest effort, with winners chosen from different parts of the home as well as the night team.

Home Manager Abigail Denford said: “I think what made the day particularly lovely was that it started long before everyone woke up. Our night team wanted family members to have that surprise in the morning, so they spent the night putting up all the decorations and transforming the households for them.”

By the time the decorations eventually came down, Heanton may have looked a little less tropical, but the day had shown that creating moments together is not something reserved for particular hours. Whether it is morning, afternoon or the middle of the night, there is always life happening at Heanton.

For more information about life and activities at Heanton Nursing Home, please visit Activities in Care – Heanton Nursing Home

Heanton Nursing Home welcomes former pupils back for St Christopher’s reunion

Heanton Nursing Home welcomed dozens of people from the local community through its doors when former pupils of St Christopher’s School, which was based in the historic building until 1985, returned for a special reunion.

For former pupils, walking through the building brought back plenty of memories, from the rooms and original staircases they once used to stories of travelling to and from school. While the former classrooms have since become living areas for family members at Heanton, many were pleased to find the beautiful view across the burrows unchanged. There was plenty that was new to discover too, from the extension to the grounds and flowering lawn.

The reunion also gave family members at Heanton the chance to be part of a much wider community occasion, sharing their home with people who had their own memories of the building. Family members spent time outside amongst the visitors, enjoying the company and conversations, alongside a friendly neighbourhood cat who regularly visits Heanton and also joined the gathering!

Home Manager Abigail Denford said: “One of the things we heard again and again was how beautiful the view still is. Heanton has obviously changed enormously since it was a school, but it was lovely seeing people recognise parts of the building and then share those memories with the people who live here now. Being connected to the community around us is really important to life at Heanton. A nursing home shouldn't feel separate from the community it belongs to, and days like this are a lovely example of what can happen when people come through our doors and spend time together.”

There is something rather special about seeing people return to a building that was once such a big part of their childhood. Heanton has changed considerably since the days of St Christopher’s, but at its heart, it is still a place filled with people, friendships, conversation and care. The children who once filled its classrooms have grown up, and today a new generation of people call Heanton home.

For more information about life and activities at Heanton Nursing Home, please visit Activities in Care – Heanton Nursing Home

'The Peopling of North Devon' Exhibition at the Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon.

Set right at the edge of England, North Devon's rich and varied history has been shaped by many peoples and cultures. Are we Celts, like the Cornish, or Saxons? And are there traces of later migrants in our population? The arrival of Vikings, Normans, Africans and Native Americans are all recorded in our history, but have they left genetic traces behind?

In modern times, North Devon has welcomed workers from Ireland, Wales, the Commonwealth and Eastern Europe. We have been a refuge, including in the 18th century for Huguenots fleeing religious persecution in France, in the 19th and 20th centuries Jews from central Europe, and, most recently, a place of safety for Ukrainian families.

The exhibition 'The Peopling of North Devon' is inspired by research undertaken by the Francis Crick Institute, a London-based biomedical research centre, which has analysed some of the Saxon skeletons discovered on the site of the former Barnstaple Castle as part of its 1000 Ancient Genomes Project. It will showcase objects from the Museum's collections, which evidence North Devon's ancient and recent migrations and which tell the stories of some of our local families.

Portraits of Mr and Mrs Rendle from the Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon Collection.

' The Peopling of North Devon' Exhibition

 17th October 2026 - 30th January 2027 

Explore how migration has shaped North Devon, from Celts, Saxons and Vikings to more recent arrivals. Featuring Museum objects and local family stories.

Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon, The Square, Barnstaple EX32 8LN

Photography, Identity and Complex Care at Heanton Nursing Home

Some people spend their lives searching for ordinary comforts like a favourite song on the radio, the warmth of a cup of tea or the sight of birds in the garden. Others spend their lives searching for the edge of the world.

Martin Baker was always drawn towards the latter.

Long before Martin moved into Heanton Nursing Home, he travelled across some of the world's most amazing places. Antarctica. Namibia. Morocco. India. The Arctic. Places filled with extraordinary wildlife, cultures and landscapes that few people ever witness with their own eyes.

His camera became more than something to take photographs with. It became how he understood the world around him.

Growing up, Martin developed a resilience that would shape the rest of his life. Diagnosed with diabetes at just nine years old, he faced challenges from an early age, yet those closest to him remember someone who persevered through almost everything life placed in front of him.

His family still affectionately describe him as a "daredevil". One of his favourite photographs captures a rhino charging directly towards him, while another unforgettable adventure took him aboard an icebreaker in Antarctica, where he spent three weeks camping in freezing conditions and travelling through waves reaching twenty feet high. While many around him became seasick, Martin somehow remained completely unaffected.

Even a serious car accident caused by a diabetic hypo became, in Martin's telling, another remarkable story. After crashing upside down into a tree, he walked away physically unharmed, something he still speaks about with pride.

Yet alongside his adventurous spirit there has always been sensitivity too. Despite being a smoker, Martin stopped smoking completely throughout his time in Antarctica because he did not want to pollute the untouched environment he had travelled so far to experience.

Today, Martin lives at Heanton Nursing Home with bipolar disorder and changing cognitive needs. There are moments when frustration can rise if he loses the words he wants to say, but the team understand that these moments are not something to correct. They are often an expression of emotion, confusion or the distress of losing hold of a thought that mattered.

Rather than drawing attention to what Martin cannot remember, conversations are gently guided back towards the parts of his life that continue to bring him confidence.

Today, his photographs from those journeys cover the walls of his room. Wildlife frozen in single moments of intensity. Memories captured from a life lived with enormous curiosity and determination.

When the team sit with Martin and begin talking about his photography, they often notice an immediate change in him.

"You can see him light up," one member of the team shared.

Alongside those conversations are the familiar comforts that make each day his own: a strong coffee in the morning, cigarettes throughout the day, naps whenever he feels tired and time spent walking around the home chatting with those around him. There is no expectation for Martin to fit into somebody else's routine.

At Heanton Nursing Home, complex care is about understanding the person behind the diagnosis. It is about recognising what brings comfort, confidence and connection, while protecting the identity that has been built over a lifetime.

For Martin, that identity still lives in the stories of his travels, the extraordinary wildlife he photographed and the adventures that continue to shape the conversations he enjoys today.

To read the whole story:  Photography, Identity and Complex Care at Heanton Nursing Home - Heanton Nursing Home

New exhibition opening soon: North Devon’s Home Front Writers, 1937-45

An exhibition reflecting on the lives of people visiting and living in North Devon during a significant period in history, as captured in the nation's Mass Observation diaries.

 

Between 1937 and 1946, just over 100 men and women were recruited as untrained volunteers to keep diaries and respond to questionnaires that would document their lives in Devon in what formed part of a national social research project known as Mass Observation.

The writers were encouraged to be honest and truthful as they wrote about a wide range of topics. The result was a milestone not only in detailing everyday life but in understanding British values, opinion and perspectives. Writers not only documented otherwise unrecorded events but also revealed views and attitudes about a variety of subjects including ones relating to the war, such as evacuees, bombing, rations, blackout, foreign servicemen, and politicians. Perhaps more unexpectedly, the writers commented upon race, the empire, the place of women in society, religion, the press, and sex.

 

Thirteen of the writers recorded life in North Devon. They were based in Barnstaple (2), Bideford (3), Clovelly (1), Ilfracombe (2), Lynmouth (1), North Molton (1), South Molton (1), Westward Ho! (1) and Woolacombe (1). Some were on holiday but most were longstanding residents who wrote of local life as it descended into war.

 

The diaries and questionnaires were sent each month to a central archive that is today housed at The Keep in Brighton.  Few of the descendants of the Devon writers were aware that their family members had written for Mass Observation.

 

The exhibition will be accompanied by a series of talks, including one by Dr Todd Gray MBE, historian, Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Exeter, and author of Devon's Home Front Diaries, 1937 to 1945, published in 2025. More information and booking details will be made available soon on our website.

 

6 year old Maureen Foley and her 9 year old brother Maurice look through a life-ring at Bideford harbour, North Devon in 1941 ©️ Imperial War Museum (All rights reserved)

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NEW EXHIBITION AT THE MUSEUM OF BARNSTAPLE & NORTH DEVON

 North Devon's Home Front Writers, 1937-45

25th July – 17th October 2026

 

FIND OUT MORE >- North Devon's Home Front Writers, 1937-45 – Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon

Ralph the Therapy Dog Makes a Paw-sitive First Visit to Heanton Nursing Home

At Heanton Nursing Home, a new four-legged visitor has already made a strong impression to everyone at the home.

Ralph, a therapy dog from Pets for Therapy, recently made his first visit to the home alongside his owner, Gemma Darke, spending time with residents (who the home fondly refers to as family members) and team members across the home. From the moment he arrived, Ralph quickly became a popular guest, bringing plenty of smiles as he made his way around

The visit marks the start of regular visits, with Ralph now set to return each month. During his first visit, he spent time enjoying plenty of fuss and helping to create natural moments of conversation. One family member, Roger, particularly enjoyed spending time with him, making the most of the visit and the chance to have Ralph by his side.

Abigail Denford, Home Manager, spoke about the value of introducing visits like these. She said: “Animals can often bring something different into the day. They can help people feel settled and can encourage conversations about pets from earlier in life. It was lovely to see how naturally people responded to Ralph and how much they enjoyed having him here.”

Therapy animal visits can play an important role in care settings, offering companionship, encouraging interaction and helping to create moments of familiarity. For some, it can also be a simple source of enjoyment and a welcome change to the day. At Heanton Nursing Home, introducing regular visits from Ralph is another way the home continues to create meaningful and enjoyable experiences for family members as part of everyday life.

 

For more information about life and activities at Heanton Nursing Home, please visit Activities in Care - Heanton Nursing Home

Continuing Faith, Community and Connection at a North Devon Care Home

Faith is something many of us have held onto throughout our lives, something we’ve turned to in moments of worry, loss and hope, something that has helped make sense of things when life hasn’t always been easy, and something that has connected us to a community, where people know us, remember us and we feel they belong.

When a move into a care home begins to feel like something that may soon need to be considered, we of course start by asking the practical questions about the location, care needs, food, activities, but then there are the more personal parts of life like faith, and the sense of connection that comes with it and whether those things will still be there, especially at a time when so much is changing and that sense of familiarity can matter more than ever.

For those that live at Heanton Nursing Home, that connection remains close.

St Augustine’s Church, the 13^th century parish church for Heanton Punchardon in North Devon, sits beside Heanton Nursing Home and has been part of the village’s parish life for many years.

Reverand Glyn Lewry is Priest in Charge at St Augustine’s, and he visits Heanton as a familiar and reassuring presence for many people living at the home.

People who call Heanton home can continue to visit the church if they wish. Some attend services, others spend time sitting quietly inside or in the churchyard. For those who have always had faith, these small continuations matter.  Hymns are still recognised. Prayers still hold meaning, and the sense of being part of something beyond the home remains.

Rev Lewry shared “there was someone who used to come regularly from Heanton, people knew him and he was part of the church community and that sense of being known does not disappear.”

A Continued Connection Through Life’s Difficult Moments

There are moments in life when that continued sense of connection can mean even more.

Rev Lewry supports people across the local community through some of life’s most difficult and emotional moments, often simply by being there when words are hard to find.

During more emotional and uncertain times in life, it is often that quiet presence and reassurance that matter most. A known voice, someone sitting beside you, or the comfort of being recognised can mean a great deal.

In those moments, faith can offer comfort. A prayer, a reading, or simply someone being there without expectation. Not to lead, but to sit alongside.

Moving into Heanton doesn’t mean leaving those parts of life behind, they continue, just in a different way.

Community tea garden created by refugees opens in Barnstaple

A community tea garden co-designed and built by people navigating the asylum process and the refugee community has been opened in the heart of Barnstaple. 

The garden is the work of Project Unitea – a partnership initiative between Devon Wildlife Trust, Pickwell Foundation and Barnstaple Town Council. The project has been made possible thanks to £18,000 support from the National Lottery Community Fund through its Awards for All (England).

The Unitea garden was opened on Tuesday 16^th June as part of Refugee Week - ‘the world’s largest arts and cultural festival celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary’.  

Project Unitea is bringing people together through a shared love of nature, conversation and connection. The project centres around a small community tea garden, using space donated by Barnstaple Town Council close to the town’s clock tower and museum.

Project Unitea involves people supported by the Pickwell Foundation, as they settle into the area, offering them the opportunity to take part in practical outdoor activities, improve their wellbeing, and build confidence in using English through informal learning.

Participants have worked with Devon Wildlife Trust Wilder Communities Lead Katie Wilkinson, along with Barnstaple Town Council Estates Apprentice Matt Simmons, to co-design and construct the tea garden. It has used plants – including chamomile, lemon balm and rosemary - which can be harvested and blended into tea.

The garden has been developed following nature-friendly principles. Its plants have been carefully selected to attract pollinating insects, while the beds have used peat-free compost, and avoided the application of herbicides and pesticides.

A Unitea participant with lived experience of resettlement, said:

“It was a unique and enjoyable project. Even though it was short and small, it was incredibly fun especially for growing herbs. This is a new project, and I hope it will be well received and welcomed by others.”

Nicola Jenner, Communications and Events Manager, Pickwell Foundation said:

“Project Unitea demonstrates the powerful role that nature can play in bringing people together. Through simple, shared activities such as planting, harvesting, and making tea, participants can build relationships, practise language skills, and support their wellbeing.

The project also plays an important role in broadening awareness and promoting community cohesion, helping people to learn from one another and build a stronger, more inclusive local community.”

Barnstaple Town Council Estates Manager, Wayne Palmer said: 

 “Barnstaple Town Councill are pleased to be involved in the Unitea project and to continue working in partnership with Devon Wildlife Trust and Pickwell Foundation. Initiatives like this play an important role in supporting the Town Council’s ambition for cleaner and greener spaces. 

We encourage residents to make use of this resource responsibly, ensuring it can continue to be enjoyed by others”.   

Mayor of Barnstaple, Councillor Loki Dawson said: 

“Project ‘Unitea’ is a valuable addition to Barnstaple, providing a shared community resource. The tea garden offers something simple, an opportunity for people to utilise nature and enjoy a cup of tea. Launching during Refugee Week, this project highlights the importance of community and inclusive, shared spaces.” 

Katie Wilkinson, Devon Wildlife Trust said:

‘’This pilot project has been a wonderful collaboration between three organisations who are working for people and nature in Barnstaple. It’s been a real joy to work with volunteers from Pickwell Foundation to build this little tea garden. We’ve had so much support from the community of Barnstaple too and we’re looking forward to welcoming more people into the space with some creative events.  

We want the tea garden to act as a catalyst to bring people together over a freshly foraged cuppa tea. Sharing tea, sharing experiences and building stronger connections with one another.’’

Photo (left to right) Matt Simmons (Barnstaple Town Council), Unitea participant), Katie Wilkinson (Devon Wildlife Trust) and Wayne Palmer (Barnstaple Town Council)

People can find out more about project Unitea via its webpages at www.devonwildlifetrust.org/project-unitea

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National Lottery players raise over £32 million a week for good causes across the UK. Thanks to them, The National Lottery Community Fund distributes over £600 million a year through over 13,000 grants. The funder plans to invest over £4 billion of funding into communities by 2030. It supports projects across the whole of the UK to turn their truly life-changing ideas into reality.

To find out more visit The National Lottery Community Fund website.

The Pickwell Foundation

Barnstaple Town Council

Homepage | Devon Wildlife Trust

Summer Exhibition. Sir Alfred Munnings: Exmoor Through the Seasons at the Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon

An exhibition of paintings by Sir Alfred Munnings, former President of the Royal Academy of Arts, capturing the evocative landscapes, people and ponies of Exmoor.

Sir Alfred Munnings and his wife, Violet, escaped the restrictions of their requisitioned Essex home, during the Second World War, by moving to a cottage in the Exmoor village of Withypool. During this period, Exmoor provided a joyful retreat. The oil paintings he produced while there capture the wild beauty of Exmoor through all four seasons. This exhibition showcases his love of Exmoor and its changing landscapes, its people and wild Exmoor ponies. The exhibition brings together art works and selections from Munnings’ published diaries and poetry written while living in Withypool. These offer a rare personal insight into his artistic process, the people he befriended while living there, and his relationship to the land.

 

Our summer exhibition is complemented by a series of events and activities for both adults and children, including En Plein Air sessions in Barnstaple and on Exmoor, and our regular Curious Creators programme of family-friendly artist-led sessions on Wednesdays throughout the school holidays.

Sir Alfred Munnings: Exmoor Through the Seasons

Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon, The Square, Barnstaple EX32 8LN

4th July – 10th October. 2026

Website link - Sir Alfred Munnings: Exmoor Through the Seasons – Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon

International Nurses Week: Care Rooted in Compassion

Nursing is often spoken about as one profession, but the day-to-day reality can look very different depending on where a nurse works, who they support and the kind of care being given. While some nurses work in fast-paced hospital environments focused mainly on treatment and recovery, nursing within social care can offer more opportunity to build long-term relationships and support people not just physically, but emotionally and socially too.

As part of International Nurses Week, we spoke to Lucy Hernaman, a social care nurse at Heanton Nursing Home in North Devon. Reflecting on her experiences supporting people living with dementia and complex needs, Lucy shared how working in social care changed her understanding of compassionate nursing and the importance of truly knowing the people you care for.

Lucy, who joined Heanton in 2021, spoke about how different the home felt compared to more traditional and institutional care settings she had previously experienced.

“Heanton is about as far from institutionalised as it could possibly be,” she said. “I wish more nurses had the opportunity to experience placements in homes like this during their training.”

Lucy explained that one of the biggest things she learned was the importance of understanding the emotional and social needs behind a person’s behaviour, rather than simply reacting to the behaviour itself.

“When I first started at Heanton I had very little dementia knowledge,” she said. “I soon found that people behaved a certain way for many different reasons and that it was important to identify those reasons, especially when someone may not have the capacity to tell us themselves.”

She also spoke about the home’s flexible approach to care and supporting people to continue living life in a way that feels natural to them.

“In some places I had worked before, people were expected to fit into the home’s schedule,” Lucy said. “At Heanton, family members are supported to live as they wish. There is no strict routine, and people aren’t made to fit into a mould.”

Lucy described the home’s approach to medication as another area that stood out to her, explaining that understanding distress and recognising early signs of discomfort could often help avoid situations escalating.

“I love Heanton’s stance towards medication and that it is always used as a last resort,” she said. “Far more work and skill goes into meeting a person’s needs than simply managing the after-effects of an incident.”

Speaking about what matters most to her as a nurse, Lucy said human connection remained at the heart of good care.

“The thing I most love about my job is that I am allowed to love the family members as if they were my own family,” she said. “Sometimes that human connection is what makes a person’s day. The people we look after are our equals and this is how we should care for them.”

To read the whole story:  International Nurses Week: Care Rooted in Compassion - Heanton Nursing Home

This Is Me: New photography exhibition celebrates the people of North Devon

The Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon’s annual Documentary Photography Open exhibition opens this April featuring works submitted by members of the public in response to the theme, ‘This Is Me’.

The exhibition provides a fascinating insight into who the people of North Devon are today. Alongside contemporary photographs, the museum will display a collection of historic portraits by acclaimed photographer and documenter of North Devon life, James Ravilious.

The museum’s long-standing annual Documentary Photography Open is open to both amateur and professional photographers. This year’s open introduced a dedicated category for 14-18 year olds for the first time, aiming to capture the voices and perspectives of younger people in North Devon.

The exhibition also features photographs taken by GCSE students from Pilton Community College. These images were created as part of a ‘Selfies to Self-Aware Portrait Project', facilitated by a local artist and funded by the Richard and Siobhan Coward Foundation Fund.

Alison Mills, Director of the Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon, said: “Our annual Documentary Photography Open is an exhibition truly shaped by local people and a highlight of our year! This year’s theme, This Is Me, asked people to explore their own identity and place in a fast-moving world – it asked them to share their own personal story through the medium of photography.

“Museums are storehouses for stories past and present, and part of our mission is to tell as many of those stories as possible. We also welcome the opportunity to share photographs by James Ravilious from our collection. They capture the spirit of our region from a not-so-distant past and never fail to move and delight.”

'This is Me'. Prom dresses are useless if you only ever go to muddy fields. Photo © Nell Savage (All Rights Reserved)

The Documentary Photography Open exhibition opened on the 25th April and runs until 20th June 2026.

The Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon is open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 4.30pm. Entrance is free.

Website link - This is Me! Documentary Photography Open 2026 – Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon

 

01271 388784 | barnstaplemuseum.org.uk

The Square, Barnstaple EX32 8LN

Barnstaple Reflections. 'This is Me!' Documentary Photography Open 2026 Exhibition

The Documentary Photography Open 2026 is an exhibition of photographs sent in by the public in response to the theme, This Is Me.  The theme asked the public to explore who they are, as people living in North Devon today.  In a world that is constantly changing, where people are constantly moving, the public was invited to reflect on what makes them unique.

To complement the Open, a selection of historic portraits by photographer, James Ravilious, will also be on display. The warmth and affection that Ravilious felt for his subjects shines out, each bringing to life the unique character and personality of each individual.

 

In addition, the exhibition will include photographs taken by GCSE students from Pilton Community College as part of a portrait project run by local photographer, Carole Evans and funded by the Richard and Siobhan Coward Foundation Fund. The ‘Selfies’ to Self-Aware Portrait Project encouraged students to explore what makes a good portrait, how to use low key and natural lighting and consider the question ‘what one word captures what is it to be a young adult in 2025’ in their portraiture.

Bill Cooke in his kitchen, Colehouse, May 1988, James Ravilious © Beaford Arts (All Rights Reserved)

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This is Me! Documentary Photography Open 2026

Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon

25th April – 20th June 2026

 

Website link - This is Me! Documentary Photography Open 2026 – Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon

 

01271 388784 | barnstaplemuseum.org.uk

The Square, Barnstaple EX32 8LN

New exhibition opening at the Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon

A new exhibition opening at the Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon on Saturday 21st March sheds light on the life and work of former Mayor of Barnstaple, Bruce William Oliver, who died 50 years ago this year.

The exhibition, Bruce Oliver: A Grand Old Man of Barnstaple, has been created in collaboration with North Devon Athenaeum and paints a portrait of an accomplished local man as of many talents. In his professional life Oliver was a well-known local architect, but he was also an accomplished artist, photographer, musician, actor, historian, and sportsman.

Bruce Oliver was elected Mayor of Barnstaple in 1931 on the strength of his services to community, charity, and entertainment. He joined the North Devon Athenaeum in 1932 as a board member, and he became Trustee and Chair in 1951. Following his death in 1976, Bruce Oliver left the bulk of his estate to the North Devon Athenaeum – which includes notes, drawings, watercolours, photographic slides and more, including his house, Homestead in South Park, Barnstaple. Some of the items from his estate will be shown as part of this exhibition.

Bruce Oliver: A Grand Old Man of Barnstaple. Photo copyright Bruce Oliver Exhibition (All Rights Reserved)

Bruce Oliver: A Grand Old Man of Barnstaple

21st March – 16th May 2026

All welcome | Admission FREE

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01271 388784 | barnstaplemuseum.org.uk

The Square, Barnstaple EX32 8LN

 

Heanton Nursing Home: A Career in North Devon That Became a Place of Belonging

Sometimes the most important part of care is not what you say, but how well you can see the world through another person’s eyes. At Heanton Nursing Home in North Devon, that understanding shapes everyday life. For Pamela “Pam” Manning, working in dementia and complex care has taught her that distress often comes from fear, loss or confusion that feels completely real to the person experiencing it. Responding to that emotional reality, rather than correcting it, can be the gentlest form of care.

Pam did not begin her working life in social care. After many years working as a funeral arranger, she and her husband moved to North Devon, a place they had long loved from holidays in Croyde. “Retirement was meant to be the dream, but after a while we both realised, we needed a reason to get up, get out and meet people again,” she says.

Hearing about a nearby dementia care home, she applied for a part-time role despite having no previous experience. “I remember thinking, I’ve never done care before, how hard could it be?” she said with a smile. “I soon learned that care is one of the most skilled and meaningful roles you can do.”

Her motivation was deeply personal. Having seen how dementia had affected someone close to her, she carried with her determination. “My lovely uncle Bill had been in a Dementia Home the very year we moved and had sadly passed away, my cousin sent me photos of him, and he didn't look like Uncle, he was unshaven and unkempt with a blank expression. It broke my heart. He had been a proud smart man. After his funeral I vowed that somehow, I was going to make a difference and learn about Dementia in memory of my uncle. Hello Heanton.”

Pam remembers her first day as though it were yesterday. Among the first people she spent time with was Lillian, a resident whose anxiety and restlessness often led her to walk the hallways for long periods during the day. “We must have walked those hallways 15 or 20 times,” she recalls. “I remember thinking she must be as bored as I was, but there was something about Lily that kept me curious. That’s what made me come back.”

Then one moment changed everything. Lillian suddenly stopped and pointed towards the floor, admiring something Pam could not see. “Flowers,” she said, “beautiful blue flowers.” Instead of correcting her, Pam bent down, pretended to pick them up, and suggested they take them home to place in a vase before baking a cake for the children returning from school.

“The smile on her face and the warm twinkle in her sea-blue eyes melted my heart quicker than ice cream on a hot beach,” Pam recalls. “Then Lily reached out, grabbed my hand and said softly, ‘Come on, let’s go home.’ That was the moment I understood the word connection.”

That experience shaped the way Pam approaches dementia care. “I realised it was because I didn’t say, ‘There’s nothing there, Lily.’ I stepped into her reality. I lived those hours in her world, in her time, on her terms,” she explains. “That’s when everything changed between us. She trusted me. Over time, she became more relaxed, more confident and happier in herself. I would go home thinking about it, being in her reality was helping her feel calmer.””

It was through experiences like this that Pam began to understand what is often described in dementia care as the careful use of therapeutic lies.

The phrase can sound stark. But in practice, it is not about deception. It is about responding to the emotional reality someone is living in. Validation means acknowledging the feeling without correcting the belief, for example, allowing someone to talk about their mum without challenging whether she is still alive. A therapeutic lie goes further. It offers reassurance that may not be factually accurate, but prevents immediate distress, such as gently saying, “She’s safe, you don’t need to worry,” when someone is panicked or grieving.

The distinction matters. In dementia and complex care, repeatedly correcting someone who cannot retain new information can cause them to experience shock or loss again and again. In those moments, strict truth-telling can unintentionally cause harm. For Pam, therapeutic reassurance is never automatic. It is considered, proportionate and rooted in knowing the person. The question is always the same: what response will reduce distress and protect dignity right now?

Now, five years on from her first day at Heanton, Pam believes the most important lesson remains simple: meaningful care is built on connection. “This is not just a job,” she says. “Heanton to me is home. They don’t need me; I simply need them.”  

To read the full story : Heanton Nursing Home: A Career in North Devon That Became a Place of Belonging - Heanton Nursing Home