‘Grand Designs’ can be a Piece of Cake!

The National ‘Tea with an Architect’, (TWAA) scheme founded by Gabrielle Omar, member of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and a former contestant on BBC1’s ‘The Apprentice’, comes to Exeter.  TWAA seeks to give architects a ‘brand overhaul’ and the regular ‘tea sessions’ hope to integrate communities and address common misconceptions about the role of architects in a relaxed and friendly environment over a cup of tea and a slice of cake.

The RIBA and its members has backed Gabrielle Omar with the launch of this campaign and the first of a planned series of Exeter-based events was held at The Magdalen Chapter Hotel.  Members of the public had the opportunity to meet local RIBA architects and get free impartial advice and ideas for their build project.  The Exeter event held a charity raffle with all funds going to ShelterBox, the South West based disaster relief charity that provides emergency shelter and supplies for families around the world.

Exeter RIBA chair Kirsty Curnow Bayley says: “Making ourselves more accessible to the public is important to give them have a greater understanding of what we do as a profession and how we can help them achieve better designed homes.  We are going to hold regular events and this, our first, was a perfect opportunity for people to get some great free design advice.  Whether they are planning a new kitchen or a ‘Grand Design’ scheme, these events will help them get the process started in order to transform their dreams into a reality."

Gabrielle joined local architects at the Exeter launch to greet guests and give a presentation on the profile of modern architecture as part of the ‘Love Architecture’ campaign. 

Gabrielle Omar – Director Gabrielle Omar And Associates says: “Tea with an Architect’ attempts to produce a platform where members of the public can find their local ‘tea session’ whether it be a ‘Tea With An Architect’ organised event or an existing running session that local architects have formed themselves. Within these ‘tea sessions’, people are invited to bring along ideas, designs and questions for a free consultation with a local architect on topics relating from anything to personal home renovation to desired community aspirations.”

www.teawithanarchitect.com

Ground-Breaking Health Screening Company Launches in South-West

A newly formed local company is to provide a ground-breaking health screening service to clients across the South West.  Exeter-based business partners Terri Bainbridge and Lisa Portman have launched Thermalogica, providing revolutionary Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging (DITI).  A sophisticated camera is used to detect heat in order to measure the physiological activity, creating a map or thermal fingerprint of the infrared patterns of the body.

Still relatively new to the UK, DITI is widely established throughout America and some parts of Europe and is supported by 30 years of research and over 8000 published medical studies.  Thermal Imaging is used as an aid for diagnosis and prognosis for various health issues including strokes, heart disease and cancers.  The thermal scans also provide an insight for people who have incurred injuries and wish to monitor their rehabilitation.  This non-invasive procedure is painless and emits no radiation therefore it is even safe for use on children.

 

Two years ago Terri was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer at just 39.  Whilst undergoing chemotherapy her daughter Billie aged 4 was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour and the ‘Billie Butterfly fund’ was launched to fundraise for her treatment in America and research into the disease raising nearly £400,000.  Sadly, Billie passed away last summer shortly after her 5th birthday.

Following her operation Terri was advised that a large tumour found, which had not shown up on the mammogram, had probably started growing in her mid-twenties.  Her subsequent research into this disease led her to thermal imaging which specialises in early disease detection throughout the whole body and although not yet widely available in the UK it is extensively used in America for breast screening.

 Terri Bainbridge co-founder of Thermalogica says: “When I found a small lump in my breast and was diagnosed with cancer I was given the choice to have the whole breast removed or just the lump.  I chose to have the whole breast removed just to be sure and was shocked when told that this had probably been growing undetected for approximately 15 years. Lisa and I carried out extensive negotiating and training and set up Thermalogica Health Screening this year to enable people to take charge of their own health.  In particular, we wanted to give women concerned about breast cancer the opportunity to monitor this potential risk from a younger age to help catch disease at its earliest stage.”

Thermalogica offers a number of screening packages which can be tailored to individual clients, including upper or lower half body screening; full body screening; breast screening and regions of interest which work particularly well to help visualise pain and monitor injury rehabilitation.  Unlike X-rays, ultrasounds and mammography that show the structure of the body, Thermography detects subtle physiological changes and can identify how your body functions. 

Images are taken by Terri and Lisa; both fully trained clinical thermographers, before being sent via a secured server to a professional group of physicians trained in the protocols of reading thermal images. A full medical report is then produced by the dedicated team of doctors who are registered Thermologists. The images are archived in a secure data base and future scans are compared to the earlier images to monitor any changes over a period of time.

Lisa Portman co-founder of Thermalogica says “Thermal imaging is set apart from any other health screening tool and can show signs of disease such as diabetes before it would be detected from a blood test and potential cancer up to 8-10 years before it shows on a mammogram.  Having supported Terri over the past two years, we decided  to create a company that could  bring Harley Street technology to the South West without the London price tag. This technology is widely used in other countries for health screening, and what we can detect sometimes at its earliest stage is astounding – so why not have it available to everyone in the South West?’ Lisa says ‘We can help Men, women and children of any age to screen for unexplained pain or injury as well as early stage disease detection – especially cancer.’

www.thermalogica.co.uk

What's On...

HOST: Devon & Somerset Law Society

SEMINAR: Contentious Probate aimed at Legal Practitioners

DATE: Thursday 17^th October

TIME: 09.45 – 17.15

VENUE: Exeter Racecourse

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO BOOK YOUR PLACE CONTACT:

TEL: 01392 366 333

EMAIL: hetty@dasls.com

Devon & Somerset Law Society is holding a seminar at Exeter Race Course on the 17^th October to bring legal practitioners up to speed with the latest developments in the world of contentious probate.   The Wills, Trusts and Probate Team of St John’s Chambers, the largest set in the South West with 80 members and seven Silks, will be speaking at the seminar on a range of topics.  This includes Inheritance Act claims, the role of Trustees, Mutual Will disputes and highlights of the Contentious Probate and Trust litigation over the past 12 months. 

http://www.stjohnschambers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Contentious-Probate-Part-1.pdf

http://www.stjohnschambers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Contentious-Probate-Part-2.pdf

Tea with an Architect...

An audience with Lord Julian Fellowes

An audience with Lord Julian Fellowes @ Gidleigh Park, Chagford

Thursday 10^th October – in aid of Families for Children Adoption Agency

Sponsored by Brewin Dolphin Exeter

Brewin Dolphin Exeter Office www.brewin.co.uk/exeter is delighted to be the main sponsor of this prestigious event, an exclusive evening with actor and creator of Downton Abbey, Lord Julian Fellowes in aid of a worthy South West charity: http://www.familiesforchildren.org.uk/

This is the latest in a succession of highly successful fundraising events organised by prominent West Country businessman John Casson. Previous events have welcomed other high profile guests such as Sir Michael Parkinson, General Sir David Richards and the Falklands war veteran Simon Weston raising thousands of pounds for a variety of charities.

A special dinner will be prepared and cooked by award-winning Chef Michael Caines MBE, one of Britain's most acclaimed chefs with two Michelin stars. AA Chef's Chef of the Year in 2007 and awarded an MBE in 2006 for services to the hospitality industry, Michael is Executive Chef at Gidleigh Park, the acclaimed and prestigious country house hotel on the edge of Dartmoor at Chagford.   Adopted by Exeter-based parents he is a Patron of the Families for Children (FFC) charity.  The gourmet dinner with Petit Fours is complemented by high-quality wine generously supplied by Private Cellar together with a Champagne reception

Richard Pike Divisional Director of Brewin Dolphin Exeter says: “We are delighted to once again be the main sponsor for this wonderful charity fundraising event.  John Casson works extremely hard to make these events highly-successful and raise substantial monies for worthy causes.  Gidleigh Park is a renowned and prestigious restaurant and Exeter-based Michael Caines a revered Chef; it has all the ingredients to be a memorable evening.  This high-profile fundraiser with celebrity guest Lord Fellowes coincides with the new autumn series of the popular Downton Abbey drama so promises to be an event not to be missed.”

The ultimate VIP experience! Rolls Royce... Champagne... Diamonds...

Fabulous charity prizes generously donated by local business include a unique auction for an 18ct white gold diamond cluster pendant worth over £1,000 from independent South West jeweller Michael Spiers.  The winning bid includes a chauffeur driven 1978 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow II formerly owned by Oscar-winning actor, the late Sir John Mills.  On arrival the successful bidder and guest will be welcomed at one of Michael Spiers’ four South West showrooms with champagne and a delicious lunch.  www.michaelspiers.co.uk.  More fabulous prizes can be seen on this link: http://johncasson.com/auctionitems/

Renowned Artist Diana Mackie, will be exhibiting some of her breath-taking oil on canvas paintings at the event one of which will be auctioned to raise funds for the charity.  Based on the Isle of Skye, Diana’s paintings seek to capture the effects of the elusive ‘Skye Light’ on the stunning landscape that surrounds her on the island.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Diana-Mackie-Artist/412168012136663?fref=ts

For details on how to purchase tickets, please contact: Alice Edmonds –

aliceedmonds@johncasson.com

M: 07718 425 742