talks programme
3rd September to 17th december 2025
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Wednesday 3 September
Sally Smith - Cancelled See below.
The Women Who Went Round the World
Sally will make a welcome return visit to follow up her talk on magnificent women in the air. This talk will look at the amazing journeys of women who circled the globe, by land, sea and air, including the adventures they had and some of the trials they had to overcome.
As Sally Smith was unable to give her talk owing to illness, John Davidson stepped in and gave us a talk on "The Teign Valley Line".
Wednesday 10 September
Rob Darch
Ash trees in the UK Landscape
Robert Darch is a British artist-photographer based in Devon, England, recognised for his practice that blends documentary, fiction, and personal narratives. In 2020 Robert Darch was commissioned by the Devon Wildlife Trust and Beaford Arts to make an artistic response to Ash
Dieback in Devon as part of The Saving Devon’s Treescapes Project. Rob will show why these wonderful trees are suffering and how the Saving Devon’s Treescapes project is responding.
__________________________________________________________________
Wednesday 17 September
Professor Mark Stoyle
The Western Rising, 1549
Mark Stoyle will tell the story of the revolt against the Crown sometimes called the Prayer Book rebellion. He will explain what the grievances were, and describe impacts on Devon and Cornwall and particularly Exeter._____
Wednesday 24 September
Bill Lindsay
William Schaw Lindsay, a Victorian Shipping Magnate with links to the South West
Bill will tell the amazing rags to riches story of his ancestor William Lindsay who ran away to sea, set up a shipbroking company in London, became an MP and met many of the most influential people of his day.
Wednesday 1 October 2025
Lottie Dale
Treading the Wards
Lottie is well known for her humorous talks about her life in Nursing. From Carry on Nurse to Oooh Matron, you'll hear about her experiences and adventures in the early 1970s at Bart's Hospital in London. Lottie has had a varied career with both two-legged and four-legged patients and also enjoys skydiving!
Wednesday 8 October
Ben Lowings
The traditional sailing brig; its continuing relevance as 21st Century transport
Ben Lowings grew up in Devon and then spent 20 years working as a journalist at BBC World Service radio. He now contributes to boating magazines and is a member of the Society for Nautical Research. Sailing Brigs were often seen in and around the Exe Estuary in the past.
_______________________________________________________________________
Wednesday 15 October
Robert Hesketh
Devon’s Ports and Harbours
Robert will make a welcome return to the Exeter Forum to tell us about the story of Devon’s ports and reveal many unusual facts about their history.
_______________________________________________________________________
Wednesday 22 October
Jonathan Turner
Devon’s atmospheric railway – a Victorian engineering experiment
There are many myths surrounding the atmospheric railway that was built from Exeter to Newton Abbot. Jonathan will explain why atmospheric propulsion was chosen and why it was abandoned. He will show how we can still see the legacy of the atmospheric railway and explain why, in principle, it should have worked.
_______________________________________________________________________
Wednesday 29 October
Jon Bell
VE Day in Exeter and its aftermath
Jon will take a virtual walk around the sights and sounds of the city of Exeter on VE Day 1945 and immediately afterwards. His talk captures an extraordinary moment in Exeter’s history when residents were still dealing with the aftermath of wartime destruction whilst at the same time
planning for the future. Jon will show astonishing archive photographs and there will also be a couple of songs!
_______________________________________________________________________
Wednesday 5 November
Phil Badcott
Folklore of bygone Devon – anecdotes from the nineteenth century.
We welcome Phil back to give a light-hearted look at the folklore of Devon. He will dip into the accounts of several of our 19th century Devonian writers and find out about what our ancestors really believed about sneezing, cures for ailments, counteracting evil and many other Devon customs.
_______________________________________________________________________
Wednesday 12 November
Stuart Raine
Kindertransport
Stuart will go back to the build up to the Second World War and to show how the organised rescue effort of children from Nazi controlled areas in 1938–39 came about and what the consequences were. Nearly 10,000 children came to the UK as part of this lifesaving mission.
_______________________________________________________________________
Wednesday 19 November
Hedley Saunders
Sailing to St Kilda - an epic adventure
Hedley will tell the story of the dramatic and often dangerous mission to sail to the remote Scottish Island of St. Kilda to raise money for charity.
Wednesday 26 November
John Ellis
Barge Transport on the Teign 1875-1920 - the human cost.
One hundred years ago, health and safety at work was not widely considered. John will look at the life of those who worked the barges up and down the Stover Canal and some of the everyday dangers they faced.
Wednesday 3 December
Adrian Ferraro
Tourism and ethical travel
Adrian will look at how tourism has developed and the ways in which it can be sustainable and ethical. Adrian is Founder and Director of The Bioasis, running award winning outdoor adventures to encourage planet-positive behaviour for both individuals and organisations.
Wednesday 10 December
Exeter School Musicians
A Celebration of Christmas Music
A talented group of young local musicians will perform festive music with both instrumental and choral numbers.
Wednesday 17 December
Maggie Duffy
Devon Historical and Hysterical
Westcountry singer/songwriter and poet, Maggie Duffy, will provide a feast of entertainment, music and fascinating stories. You will hear many of her favourite Devon songs, poetry, and anecdotes in this special Christmas event.
_______________________________________________________________________
Sally Smith - Cancelled See below.
The Women Who Went Round the World
Sally will make a welcome return visit to follow up her talk on magnificent women in the air. This talk will look at the amazing journeys of women who circled the globe, by land, sea and air, including the adventures they had and some of the trials they had to overcome.
As Sally Smith was unable to give her talk owing to illness, John Davidson stepped in and gave us a talk on "The Teign Valley Line".
Wednesday 10 September
Rob Darch
Ash trees in the UK Landscape
Robert Darch is a British artist-photographer based in Devon, England, recognised for his practice that blends documentary, fiction, and personal narratives. In 2020 Robert Darch was commissioned by the Devon Wildlife Trust and Beaford Arts to make an artistic response to Ash
Dieback in Devon as part of The Saving Devon’s Treescapes Project. Rob will show why these wonderful trees are suffering and how the Saving Devon’s Treescapes project is responding.
__________________________________________________________________
Wednesday 17 September
Professor Mark Stoyle
The Western Rising, 1549
Mark Stoyle will tell the story of the revolt against the Crown sometimes called the Prayer Book rebellion. He will explain what the grievances were, and describe impacts on Devon and Cornwall and particularly Exeter._____
Wednesday 24 September
Bill Lindsay
William Schaw Lindsay, a Victorian Shipping Magnate with links to the South West
Bill will tell the amazing rags to riches story of his ancestor William Lindsay who ran away to sea, set up a shipbroking company in London, became an MP and met many of the most influential people of his day.
Wednesday 1 October 2025
Lottie Dale
Treading the Wards
Lottie is well known for her humorous talks about her life in Nursing. From Carry on Nurse to Oooh Matron, you'll hear about her experiences and adventures in the early 1970s at Bart's Hospital in London. Lottie has had a varied career with both two-legged and four-legged patients and also enjoys skydiving!
Wednesday 8 October
Ben Lowings
The traditional sailing brig; its continuing relevance as 21st Century transport
Ben Lowings grew up in Devon and then spent 20 years working as a journalist at BBC World Service radio. He now contributes to boating magazines and is a member of the Society for Nautical Research. Sailing Brigs were often seen in and around the Exe Estuary in the past.
_______________________________________________________________________
Wednesday 15 October
Robert Hesketh
Devon’s Ports and Harbours
Robert will make a welcome return to the Exeter Forum to tell us about the story of Devon’s ports and reveal many unusual facts about their history.
_______________________________________________________________________
Wednesday 22 October
Jonathan Turner
Devon’s atmospheric railway – a Victorian engineering experiment
There are many myths surrounding the atmospheric railway that was built from Exeter to Newton Abbot. Jonathan will explain why atmospheric propulsion was chosen and why it was abandoned. He will show how we can still see the legacy of the atmospheric railway and explain why, in principle, it should have worked.
_______________________________________________________________________
Wednesday 29 October
Jon Bell
VE Day in Exeter and its aftermath
Jon will take a virtual walk around the sights and sounds of the city of Exeter on VE Day 1945 and immediately afterwards. His talk captures an extraordinary moment in Exeter’s history when residents were still dealing with the aftermath of wartime destruction whilst at the same time
planning for the future. Jon will show astonishing archive photographs and there will also be a couple of songs!
_______________________________________________________________________
Wednesday 5 November
Phil Badcott
Folklore of bygone Devon – anecdotes from the nineteenth century.
We welcome Phil back to give a light-hearted look at the folklore of Devon. He will dip into the accounts of several of our 19th century Devonian writers and find out about what our ancestors really believed about sneezing, cures for ailments, counteracting evil and many other Devon customs.
_______________________________________________________________________
Wednesday 12 November
Stuart Raine
Kindertransport
Stuart will go back to the build up to the Second World War and to show how the organised rescue effort of children from Nazi controlled areas in 1938–39 came about and what the consequences were. Nearly 10,000 children came to the UK as part of this lifesaving mission.
_______________________________________________________________________
Wednesday 19 November
Hedley Saunders
Sailing to St Kilda - an epic adventure
Hedley will tell the story of the dramatic and often dangerous mission to sail to the remote Scottish Island of St. Kilda to raise money for charity.
Wednesday 26 November
John Ellis
Barge Transport on the Teign 1875-1920 - the human cost.
One hundred years ago, health and safety at work was not widely considered. John will look at the life of those who worked the barges up and down the Stover Canal and some of the everyday dangers they faced.
Wednesday 3 December
Adrian Ferraro
Tourism and ethical travel
Adrian will look at how tourism has developed and the ways in which it can be sustainable and ethical. Adrian is Founder and Director of The Bioasis, running award winning outdoor adventures to encourage planet-positive behaviour for both individuals and organisations.
Wednesday 10 December
Exeter School Musicians
A Celebration of Christmas Music
A talented group of young local musicians will perform festive music with both instrumental and choral numbers.
Wednesday 17 December
Maggie Duffy
Devon Historical and Hysterical
Westcountry singer/songwriter and poet, Maggie Duffy, will provide a feast of entertainment, music and fascinating stories. You will hear many of her favourite Devon songs, poetry, and anecdotes in this special Christmas event.
_______________________________________________________________________
