Russian Artist Captures Lyme Regis Lifeboat Crew

A Russian - born artist based in Lyme Regis has launched a portrait painting project involving nearly thirty members of the town’s volunteer lifeboat crew.

Maria Barbashina, 38, offered to paint the portraits, and some 26 crew members have volunteered for a 90 minute sitting.

Maria, who trained as an artist in Russia from the age of 12, specialises in portraits and still life.

Her first lifeboat crew subject was volunteer Lifeboat Operations Manager Nick Marks and he was followed by sea-going crew members including senior helm Tim Edwards.

Maria said: “I enjoy a challenge and like to choose subjects who I feel play an important role in local life.

“I hope my portraits will help to promote the volunteer duties of the RNLI in Lyme Regis.

“I also find this sort of project a very nice way to meet new and interesting people.

Nick Marks said: “It’s a great project which Maria has offered us and one day we may have a display of the portraits in the lifeboat station.

ARE YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY?

MAKE A CHANGE AND BECOME A COUNCILLOR

By now, everyone has heard the name, Jackie Weaver. But, did you know there are over 2,000 local (parish and town) council elections taking place this year?

Are you passionate about your community? Do you want to help make a long-lasting change? Do you have innovative ideas for the council? Do you have concerns about a specific issue and want to do something about it? If this is you, then your community needs you. 

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) is looking for people from all backgrounds and experiences who reflect their community to put themselves forward for election this May, as part of its #MakeAChange campaign.

Local councils are the first tier of local government and make a massive difference to local people's quality of life. They run numerous services — many you will see day-to-day, but some are less known. These include introducing solar panels, setting up dementia-friendly groups, organising community buses, creating neighbourhood plans, implementing suitable housing, establishing youth projects, managing allotments and open spaces, maintaining footpaths, public seating and litter bins.

Visit www.nalc.gov.uk/elections to find out more about how you can become a councillor.

News Team Wins Regional Media Innovator Award 2020

Congratulations to Pulman's Weekly News digital team named "Best Local News Publication 2020 - West Country" by Corporate Vision Magazine in their Media Innovator Awards.

PULMAN'S WEEKLY NEWS & ADVERTISER SERIES was founded in 1857 by West Country publisher George Philip Rigney Pulman. For generations his papers have been highly regarded by communities as a reliable source of news and for their local advertising services. Today this honourable tradition continues. New and growing readership demands have required a gradual transition from print to digital.

This long-term technology investment has already resulted in the company being presented with the West Country 'Media Innovator Award' for 2020 by Corporate Vision Magazine.

Says Devon born Managing Editor, Duncan Williams: "This validation for our digital outreach, particularly during these Covid-19 aware times, has been been most welcome. We are seeing more readers and businesses needing to read, promote and connect to our local news services than ever before."