East Budleigh's most famous son, Sir Walter Ralegh (also spelt Raleigh), lived a very full life. Born in 1554 (or thereabouts), he was destined for fame and fortune and, ultimately...the chop. His main occupation was as a seafarer and explorer, but he wasn't averse to the odd bit of piracy.

He managed to wangle his way into Queen Elizabeth I's favoured circle. The Queen saw use of him as a politician and sent him to Ireland to suppress an uprising. He once, famously - according to legend - laid down his cloak so the Queen did not have to step into a muddy puddle. But it was his trip to the New World in 1585 which really endeared him to the Queen. His ship landed on the east coast of America, and Ralegh named the area Virginia, after the Virgin Queen.

Following his expeditions, he returned with tobacco and potatoes - which he took great delight in presenting to the Queen, who knighted him. Ralegh apparently believed that smoking tobacco was a cure for coughing! He also built a ship called Ark Ralegh, which he gave to the Queen. She re-named it Ark Royal, which was the flagship during the spat with the Spanish Armada. The name continues in the Royal Navy.

Unfortunately for Ralegh, the Queen demanded 100% attention - and she never forgave him for getting married. Ralegh and his wife were sent to the Tower for punishment.

Worse was to come...Elizabeth's successor, James I, didn't like or trust him and he had him beheaded for treason in 1618.

His violent end didn't stop him being commemorated with a statue outside the Ministry of Defence building in London.

The statue was taken down in 2001, and its new resting place is the former Royal Naval College at Greenwich - despite a campaign by the people of East Budleigh for the statue to be brought "home" to the East Devon village.

Ever wondered why Jack Russell dogs are called Jack Russells?

The answer can be found right here in Devon, where the breed's creator was born and lived most of his life.

John - also known as Jack (obviously!) - Russell was born in Dartmouth in 1795. Following his university days in Oxford, he returned to the county to work as a churchman in North Devon. As a youngster, he loved to hunt, and he became obsessed with the notion of finding a hard working breed of terrier which could flush out the fox.

Which is why he found himself acquiring his first terrier from a milkman while he was studying at Oxford in around 1815...and the dog in question was called Trump.

The story goes that Trump was crossed with a Devon hunt terrier to create the Jack Russell breed - also known as a Parson Terrier. Parson Russell is still remembered fondly at Swimbridge, near Barnstaple, where he was vicar from 1832 after moving from his previous post of curate at Iddesleigh.

The parson - who was a founder member of the Kennel Club in 1873 - died in 1883 and his body is buried in the church yard at St James Church, Swimbridge.

The village has a pub called the Jack Russell Inn, and its sign is a reproduction of a painting of Trump which was commissioned by the then Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII).