talks programme
April 2022 - June 2022
Wednesday 20 April No meeting
Easter Holiday Break
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Wednesday 27 April
Dr Julia Neville Exeter and the Trams 1882-1931
Julia will describe the establishment of a horse-drawn tram service in Devon and the change in the early 1900s to an electrically powered system. Her talk will highlight the benefits of the trams to the city of Exeter and some of the people who work on them, and finally take the audience on a tram ride from Heavitree to Exeter City Centre.
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Wednesday 4 May
Dr Clare Maudling ‘Be Bold, Courageous and Wise’: Building an Exeter for the future from 1942 to the present.
Special talk to mark the 80th anniversary of the Exeter Blitz
The story of Exeter’s blitz is well known, but the process of rebuilding the city remains hidden behind misconceptions and myths. This talk will uncover the hidden story of Exeter’s rise from the destruction of the blitz, through the post-war struggle to rebuild, to the shaping of the modern city.
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Wednesday 11 May
Brenda Parsons The Civil War in Exeter – 1642 to 1646 – An eyewitness report!
Brenda will provide an illustrated eye-witness account about the effects of the English Civil War on the City of Exeter.
This short talk will be followed by the Exeter Forum AGM
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Wednesday 18 May
Michael Parrott The Polish 307 Squadron – The Eagle Owls
In this second special talk to mark the 80th anniversary of the Exeter Blitz, Michael will tell the story of the Polish 307 Squadron nightfighters. The Eagle Owls helped defend Great Britain from enemy bombers during the Second World War. For two years the squadron was based at Exeter Airport and prevented the total destruction of Exeter during the blitz in May 1942.
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Wednesday 25 May
Ian Johnston The work of the Devon and Somerset Fire Rescue Service (DSFRS)
and fire safety in the home.
This talk will look at the various roles of the Devon and Fire Rescue Service and how it responds to the demands it has to face. It will also cover the importance of fire safety in the home with some practical advice.
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Wednesday 1 June No meeting
Spring Bank Holiday week break
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Wednesday 8 June
Kalkidan Legesse Ethical Consumptiomn and Fashion using Sanchos as a case study
Kalkidan will tell the story of Sanchos in Fore Street, Exeter which was founded in 2015, with the aim of making sustainable fashion accessible on the high street and beyond. She will explain her mission to support the growth of a fair, safe and equitable fashion industry around the world. Kalkidan's story and its development in Exeter was recently featured on BBC ONE in the documentary series 'Bossing it'.
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Wednesday 15 June
Brian Freedland The view from the Wings
A slightly saucy talk about the theatre from a stage manager’s view. Brian will draw on his own experience from variety (Butlin’s Holiday Camps and the London Palladium) to the Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre, Scottish Opera and Sadler’s Wells Ballet.
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Wednesday 22 June
Richard Parker Victorian Architecture in Exeter
Exeter is often noted for its Mediaeval and Georgian buildings, but the city also has many examples of fine Victorian architecture. Historic Buildings Consultant Richard Parker will look at examples of Nineteenth Century buildings in the City, and why they are so important and worth celebrating.
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Wednesday 29 June
Mark Richardson The Exeter Food Bank and the challenges of recent months
Mark will describe the current work of the Exeter Food Bank which is based alongside the Mint Methodist Church. He will look at the challenges of Covid, the cost-of-living crisis and other uncertainties, and how the food bank has responded.
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