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Artists are often quite resourceful people. The challenges posed by the pandemic have been manifold, but many are managing to adapt and find new ways to explore their passions. Crediton artist Vin Jelly lost much of his paid work during lockdown, but kept painting regardless. He also started filming his paintings as they developed and sharing the videos on YouTube. Not only has the filming process helped him concentrate, but he has gathered a new audience for his work.

Since the start of Covid 19, many counsellors have transferred to online or telephone consultations. Whilst some are slowly going back to seeing clients face to face, it would certainly seem that remote therapy is here to stay and might well play a bigger role in the future. Local counsellor Laura Sollis suggests some questions to ask when considering remote counselling.

Our Lockdown competition attracted entries of all kinds including a ‘Covid’ adapted version of The Nightmare Song from Gilbert and Sullivan’s Iolanthe. The stresses of a Zoom call were ably expressed in a humorous, tongue twisting monologue by Jenny Saunders. Of course, it really needed to be sung at our prize giving ceremony in early September and we are grateful to Gareth Davies from the St David’s Players, Exeter’s G&S Society, for helping us make this happen. Gareth sang this hilarious rendition, with local pianist Roger Stephenson accompanying, and Jenny was delighted to see her piece performed in front of an enthusiastic audience in the town square. Emma Mills from Crediton, a long standing member of the St David’s Players, reports on the history of this popular society and how they have been coping with lockdown.