talks programme
19th april to 30th august 2023
Wednesday 19 April 2023
Peter Selley
Grave Robbing and Body Snatching in Devon
Two hundred years ago, the practice of grave robbing and body snatching was not uncommon in Devon, but why did this happen and what were the consequences. Peter will tell the macabre and sometimes bizarre story of these activities and why they eventually ceased to occur.
_______________________________________________________________________
Wednesday 26 April 2023
Alex Leger
Working with the military - presenters under stress
Former BBC producer and Director of Blue Peter will draw on his experience working with the military for TV programmes to tell the story of some of the exciting and at times hair-raising ways presenters were challenged whilst filming with the military. programmes that he was involved with. His stories, all absolutely true, will show that life as a television programme maker is full of surprises.
_______________________________________________________________________
Wednesday 3 May 2023
Vicki Samuels
The story of the Britannia
The Britannia is the last remaining Class 1 East Coast Smack. She is being restored in Devon as a sea going vessel. Vicki’s talk will tell the story of how the Britannia was saved from destruction, her restoration and the mission to tour the coastline of the British Isles to educate people about our maritime heritage and provide opportunities to develop skills of working with sailing ships. The Britannia will visit Exeter in September 2023 as part of the events celebrating Exeter’s Inland Haven.
_______________________________________________________________________
Wednesday 10 May 2023
Peter Kiff
Early years of the Salvation Army in Exeter
Peter will look at the importance of Exeter in the early years of the Salvation Army, and its impact on the city. Peter is a Redcoat guide and has a lifelong experience of the Salvation Army.
This short talk will be followed by the Exeter Forum AGM.
_______________________________________________________________________
Wednesday 17 May 2023
Bob Ball
Three Battles that could have changed our World
Bob will follow up his talk on King Arthur by looking at three crucial battles that changed the course of history in the UK and the wider world.
_______________________________________________________________________
Wednesday 24 May 2023
Roy and Lesley Adkins
Jack Tar – Life in Nelson’s Navy
This week’s talk is a joint presentation with Exeter Heritage Harbour Festival, part of the summer-long maritime event being held to celebrate Exeter’s Quay, Heritage Harbour and Ship Canal. The talk will look at the life of ordinary seamen at that time, both locally and nationally. For example, did you know that 103 men from Exeter served at the Battle of Trafalgar, four of them on the Victory herself? Roy and Lesley are authors of maritime history and archaeology books and have appeared at literary festivals across the country.
_______________________________________________________________________
Wednesday 31 May 2023
No meeting
Half term break
_______________________________________________________________________
Wednesday 7 June 2023
Peter Wingfield-Digby
Exeter Cathedral Memorials
Peter has been a guide and steward at Exeter Cathedral for the last ten years. His talk will give a fascinating insight into the different memorials that can be seen in Exeter Cathedral including their origins and the stories connected to them. Peter spent his working life as an international statistical consultant, living and working in developing countries. The cathedral memorials that interest him most are those that have overseas connections, and he has recently published a book about these memorials.
_______________________________________________________________________
Wednesday 14 June 2023
Derek Gore
The Vikings in the West Country
This talk is the follow up to Derek’s story about the Kingdom of the Dumnonia.
He will show how the Scandinavians, mostly Danes, first came to Britain by sea in search of portable wealth. The long coastline with many estuaries was ideal for their highly manoeuvrable, shallow draught ships. As their raids increased, they sought land and power. This had important effects on the West Country and the Saxon city of Exeter. Derek Gore is a historian and archaeologist from the University of Exeter
_______________________________________________________________________
Wednesday 21 June 2023
Alan Pewsey
Dartmoor Search and Rescue
Alan is a volunteer with Dartmoor Search and Rescue Ashburton team. He will show the many different ways that they help people in difficulties on Dartmoor and the roles they perform,including their use of search dogs. Alan will explain the importance of training, and how a rescue is organised and co-ordinated.
_______________________________________________________________________
Wednesday 28 June 2023
Lisa Tame
Farms for City Children
Farms for City Children is a charity that enables children from disadvantaged communities to experience the adventure of working together on farms. It was co-founded by Sir Michael and Lady Morpurgo. Lisa's talk will look at the development of this important charity, and how its work has benefitted children from our major cities. The charity has its base near Exeter and one of their main centres is Nethercott House near Iddesleigh. Lisa is Grants Development Manager for Farms for City Children.
_______________________________________________________________________
Wednesday 5 July 2023
Angela White
Chinese Festivals
Angela will draw on her experience of living in Hong Kong for 14 years to provide an insight into a 12-month run through of festivals in the Chinese Zodiac. She will explain some of the symbolism and customs of celebrating showing many of the colourful banners and ornaments used.
_______________________________________________________________________
Wednesday 12 July 2023
Julie Owen
Devon Loves Dogs
Devon Loves Dogs is a local organisation for those who own dogs or go on walks with friends and family who have dogs. It sets out to inform dog owners and walkers about how they may impact on wildlife. It also provides a way to represent the needs of dog owners to landowners and managers. Julie is the co-ordinator for Devon Loves Dogs. She is often seen at work with her Cocker Spaniel x Labrador Maisie and on Waggy walks locally.
_______________________________________________________________________
Wednesday 19 July 2023
George Hislop
Lifeboats
George's talk will cover the whole range of RNLI activity, from history to crew training, the various boats, lifeguards, some rescue stories, and something on their overseas work.
_______________________________________________________________________
Wednesday 26 July 2023
Graham Forshaw
The work and challenges of the Exeter Port Authority
Exeter Port Authority Harbour Master Graham Forshawe will look at his day-to-day work that covers Exeter, the Canal and the Estuary, and describe some of its many challenges.
_______________________________________________________________________
Wednesday 2 August 2023
John Davidson
Slips, slides, slumps, flows and falls – the story of landslides.
Devon and Dorset have spectacular landslides which appear in the news from time to time. John’s talk will look at why landslides occur along the Jurassic Coast and elsewhere in the world, and what, if anything, we can do about them.
_______________________________________________________________________
Wednesday 9 August 2023
Robert Hesketh
Smuggling in Devon – The truth behind the fiction
Devon has a long history of smuggling, and many stories have been told about the battles between the smugglers and the revenue men. Following his talk on castles in Devon, photographer and author Robert will show how smuggling became a huge industry in Devon from 1700 onwards and the various romantic and more brutal stories that were told about these illegal activities.
_______________________________________________________________________
Wed 16 August 2023
No meeting
Summer break
_______________________________________________________________________
Wed 23 August 2023
No meeting
Summer break
_______________________________________________________________________
Wed 30 August 2023
No meeting
Summer break
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
Peter Selley
Grave Robbing and Body Snatching in Devon
Two hundred years ago, the practice of grave robbing and body snatching was not uncommon in Devon, but why did this happen and what were the consequences. Peter will tell the macabre and sometimes bizarre story of these activities and why they eventually ceased to occur.
_______________________________________________________________________
Wednesday 26 April 2023
Alex Leger
Working with the military - presenters under stress
Former BBC producer and Director of Blue Peter will draw on his experience working with the military for TV programmes to tell the story of some of the exciting and at times hair-raising ways presenters were challenged whilst filming with the military. programmes that he was involved with. His stories, all absolutely true, will show that life as a television programme maker is full of surprises.
_______________________________________________________________________
Wednesday 3 May 2023
Vicki Samuels
The story of the Britannia
The Britannia is the last remaining Class 1 East Coast Smack. She is being restored in Devon as a sea going vessel. Vicki’s talk will tell the story of how the Britannia was saved from destruction, her restoration and the mission to tour the coastline of the British Isles to educate people about our maritime heritage and provide opportunities to develop skills of working with sailing ships. The Britannia will visit Exeter in September 2023 as part of the events celebrating Exeter’s Inland Haven.
_______________________________________________________________________
Wednesday 10 May 2023
Peter Kiff
Early years of the Salvation Army in Exeter
Peter will look at the importance of Exeter in the early years of the Salvation Army, and its impact on the city. Peter is a Redcoat guide and has a lifelong experience of the Salvation Army.
This short talk will be followed by the Exeter Forum AGM.
_______________________________________________________________________
Wednesday 17 May 2023
Bob Ball
Three Battles that could have changed our World
Bob will follow up his talk on King Arthur by looking at three crucial battles that changed the course of history in the UK and the wider world.
_______________________________________________________________________
Wednesday 24 May 2023
Roy and Lesley Adkins
Jack Tar – Life in Nelson’s Navy
This week’s talk is a joint presentation with Exeter Heritage Harbour Festival, part of the summer-long maritime event being held to celebrate Exeter’s Quay, Heritage Harbour and Ship Canal. The talk will look at the life of ordinary seamen at that time, both locally and nationally. For example, did you know that 103 men from Exeter served at the Battle of Trafalgar, four of them on the Victory herself? Roy and Lesley are authors of maritime history and archaeology books and have appeared at literary festivals across the country.
_______________________________________________________________________
Wednesday 31 May 2023
No meeting
Half term break
_______________________________________________________________________
Wednesday 7 June 2023
Peter Wingfield-Digby
Exeter Cathedral Memorials
Peter has been a guide and steward at Exeter Cathedral for the last ten years. His talk will give a fascinating insight into the different memorials that can be seen in Exeter Cathedral including their origins and the stories connected to them. Peter spent his working life as an international statistical consultant, living and working in developing countries. The cathedral memorials that interest him most are those that have overseas connections, and he has recently published a book about these memorials.
_______________________________________________________________________
Wednesday 14 June 2023
Derek Gore
The Vikings in the West Country
This talk is the follow up to Derek’s story about the Kingdom of the Dumnonia.
He will show how the Scandinavians, mostly Danes, first came to Britain by sea in search of portable wealth. The long coastline with many estuaries was ideal for their highly manoeuvrable, shallow draught ships. As their raids increased, they sought land and power. This had important effects on the West Country and the Saxon city of Exeter. Derek Gore is a historian and archaeologist from the University of Exeter
_______________________________________________________________________
Wednesday 21 June 2023
Alan Pewsey
Dartmoor Search and Rescue
Alan is a volunteer with Dartmoor Search and Rescue Ashburton team. He will show the many different ways that they help people in difficulties on Dartmoor and the roles they perform,including their use of search dogs. Alan will explain the importance of training, and how a rescue is organised and co-ordinated.
_______________________________________________________________________
Wednesday 28 June 2023
Lisa Tame
Farms for City Children
Farms for City Children is a charity that enables children from disadvantaged communities to experience the adventure of working together on farms. It was co-founded by Sir Michael and Lady Morpurgo. Lisa's talk will look at the development of this important charity, and how its work has benefitted children from our major cities. The charity has its base near Exeter and one of their main centres is Nethercott House near Iddesleigh. Lisa is Grants Development Manager for Farms for City Children.
_______________________________________________________________________
Wednesday 5 July 2023
Angela White
Chinese Festivals
Angela will draw on her experience of living in Hong Kong for 14 years to provide an insight into a 12-month run through of festivals in the Chinese Zodiac. She will explain some of the symbolism and customs of celebrating showing many of the colourful banners and ornaments used.
_______________________________________________________________________
Wednesday 12 July 2023
Julie Owen
Devon Loves Dogs
Devon Loves Dogs is a local organisation for those who own dogs or go on walks with friends and family who have dogs. It sets out to inform dog owners and walkers about how they may impact on wildlife. It also provides a way to represent the needs of dog owners to landowners and managers. Julie is the co-ordinator for Devon Loves Dogs. She is often seen at work with her Cocker Spaniel x Labrador Maisie and on Waggy walks locally.
_______________________________________________________________________
Wednesday 19 July 2023
George Hislop
Lifeboats
George's talk will cover the whole range of RNLI activity, from history to crew training, the various boats, lifeguards, some rescue stories, and something on their overseas work.
_______________________________________________________________________
Wednesday 26 July 2023
Graham Forshaw
The work and challenges of the Exeter Port Authority
Exeter Port Authority Harbour Master Graham Forshawe will look at his day-to-day work that covers Exeter, the Canal and the Estuary, and describe some of its many challenges.
_______________________________________________________________________
Wednesday 2 August 2023
John Davidson
Slips, slides, slumps, flows and falls – the story of landslides.
Devon and Dorset have spectacular landslides which appear in the news from time to time. John’s talk will look at why landslides occur along the Jurassic Coast and elsewhere in the world, and what, if anything, we can do about them.
_______________________________________________________________________
Wednesday 9 August 2023
Robert Hesketh
Smuggling in Devon – The truth behind the fiction
Devon has a long history of smuggling, and many stories have been told about the battles between the smugglers and the revenue men. Following his talk on castles in Devon, photographer and author Robert will show how smuggling became a huge industry in Devon from 1700 onwards and the various romantic and more brutal stories that were told about these illegal activities.
_______________________________________________________________________
Wed 16 August 2023
No meeting
Summer break
_______________________________________________________________________
Wed 23 August 2023
No meeting
Summer break
_______________________________________________________________________
Wed 30 August 2023
No meeting
Summer break
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
