talks programme
10th april to 5th june 2024
Wednesday 10 April 2024
Dr Julia Neville
Follow your Nose! Fish, beer and candle-making along Exeter’s waterfront in the 1920s
Julia, an Honorary Research Fellow in the History Department of Exeter University will tell the story of the thriving industries that thronged Exeter’s waterfront before WW2, and the people associated with these trades.
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Wednesday 17 April
Emma Laws
The Reformation in Exeter
Emma is the Cathedral Librarian of Exeter Cathedral. The Reformation was a very significant time for Exeter, and Emma will show some of the important effects using original sources from the extensive collection in the Cathedral Library.
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Wednesday 24 April
Brian Fernley
Hunting the Hunter- the wartime role of Dunkeswell airport
In World War 2, RAF Dunkeswell airport near Honiton played a vital role in the Battle of the Atlantic. Brian is a member of the South West Airfields Heritage Trust and will show how cooperation between RAF's Coastal Command and the USAAF and the US Navy helped limit the effects of U-Boats on allied shipping.
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Wednesday 1 May
Richard Crangle
The Magic Lantern - an (almost) forgotten entertainment medium
Before PowerPoint, and even modern slide projectors existed, talks were illustrated by magic lantern slides. Richard will tell the story of the magic lantern, and why the slides are so important, both as part of our history but also today as an important archive source.
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Wednesday 8 May
Miriam Guard
Followed by the AGM
The incredible story of the All Age, All Ability Play Park on King George V Playing Fields. The Play Park on King George V Playing fields is rated the sixth most accessible in the World. Exeter Mencap led the project to create this truly inclusive playpark and Miriam will tell how this incredible project came about, and some of the challenges encountered on the way. This short talk will be followed by the Exeter Forum AGM.
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Wednesday 15 May
Peter Kiff
An Indian childhood. - Growing up as a missionary’s child in the 1960’s
Peter will tell the fascinating and often humorous story of his early life in India, attending boarding schools and often separated from his parents for many weeks at a time. This talk is a wonderful insight into life in India when the country was still adjusting to independence.
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Wednesday 22 May
John Allan
Recent archaeological discoveries at Exeter Cathedral
Cathedral Archaeologist John Allan will make a welcome return to the Exeter Forum and will show how recent excavations and building work at Exeter Cathedral has unearthed hidden and often unexpected aspects of Exeter’s history from Roman times to the Middle Ages.
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Wednesday 29 May
No meeting
Spring half term break
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Wednesday 5 June
John Davidson
Impact of the railways on Exeter - A Festival of Steam
To introduce the 2024 Festival of Steam at Exeter’s Heritage Harbour on the weekend of 8/9 June, John will show how the arrival of the railways and steam engines changed Exeter. The talk will also explain the important links between Exeter’s Canal Basin, steam power and coal.
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