The Rotary Club of Sidmouth has raised around �7,500 for the 1st Sid Vale Scouts. Read this and more.

SWIMATHON: The Rotary Club of Sidmouth was delighted to announce that its Swimathon in October has raised around �7,500 for the 1st Sid Vale Scouts.

There are still some sponsorship monies to collect and the sterling sum is subject to receipt of Gift Aid monies from Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs.

The sum will go a long way to helping the scouts to install a power supply to their facilities on Salcombe Hill.

The Rotary Club of Sidmouth this week issued its sincere thanks to all those who participated in the event and all those who so generously provided sponsorship to enable the magnificent amount to be raised.

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BUSINESS: A district council committee will begin an inquiry into the controversial East Devon Business Forum (EDBF) next week.

The first meeting of a task and finish forum that will look into the workings of the group will take place on Tuesday (December 11) at 6pm at Knowle.

The meeting is open to the public.

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TRIBUTE DAMAGED: ‘Mindless’ individuals have been slammed for using a tribute to wartime Sidmouth as a climbing frame.

The man who made the eagle-topped landmark in Blackmore Gardens become a reality was unhappy to find it had been superficially damaged.

Dave O’Connor, chairman of the Sidmouth branch of the Royal British Legion, said: “The structure is not a climbing frame as some thoughtless individuals might think having left marks made by their shoes.

“Why can’t some mindless individuals look at and admire the tribute and not cause damage. It is more than 70 years since the Armed Forces were stationed in our Sid Valley and seven years in bringing this project to life by myself.”

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POPPY TALLY: Poppy Appeal organisers in Sidbury, Sidford and Newton Poppleford have announced they have raised �6,740 so far this year.

The total is �500 less than at the same time in 2011.

“Bearing in mind the difficult times in which we live this is an excellent result,” said Colin Kingman of the Royal British Legion Sidford and Sidbury branch.

He expressed his gratitude to all those who have donated or collected money.

The appeal year does not finish until September 30, 2013, and Mr Kingman said he was confident of getting close to last year’s total of �9,256.

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NEW YEAR BUZZ: A beekeeping course starts in January next year near Axminster.

For details see eastdevonbees.org.uk.