Our meetings for 2026/27 are as follows;
5th Feb 2026: The Societies AGM, followed by a short talk on Woodbury House by Sue Maunder. Woodbury House is entering a new chapter following the passing of the owner, Anthony Stamp. Sue was a cousin of the late Mr Stamp. The talk is followed by light refreshments.
5th March 26: Andrew Chatterton, 'Britians secret defence forces in WW2'
Andrew Chatterton is a Second World War historian and Public Relations professional. His role as Press Officer for the Coleshill Auxiliary Research Team (CART) led to his fascination with the secret layers of defense in place in case of an attempted German invasion during the Second World War.
7th May 26: Mark Stoyle, 'Witchcraft in Exeter, 1563-1685'
Mark Stoyle is an English historian of the Tudor and Stuart periods, specialising in the English Civil War, the history of Witchcraft, and the history of the South West peninsula.
The ancient city of Exeter is the last place in England where people are known to have been hanged for the alleged crime of ‘witchcraft’.
25th June 26: Social evening with light refreshments, live music, fun quiz and raffle.
3rd September 26: Brian Golding, 'History of Weather Forecasting'
Professor Brian Golding OBE has played a leading role in weather forecasting science at the Met Office for over 50 years.
5th November 26: Rosemary Griggs, 'A Woman of Noble Wit, Katherine Champernowne, the mother of Sir walter Raleigh.
Rosemary Griggs is an author, researcher, seamstress and speaker, using costume to illustrate Tudor and Elizabethan life.
"A Woman of Noble Wit" tells how Katherine became the woman who would inspire her famous sons to follow their dreams.
4th February 2027: The Societies AGM, (activity TBC) Followed by light refreshments.
4th March 27: Todd Grey, "Devon's Home Front Diaries 1937-1945. The Mass Observation Archive was set up in 1937 to document the lives and times of ordinary British people. Devon historian Todd Gray has collated writings from the archive of over 100 people living in Devon documenting their experience of World War II.
6th May 27: Maureen Bond, "the Templar Way" story. 18 miles between Haytor on Dartmoor and Teignmouth on the south coast; the late 18th century "Way" traces the route by which granite was exported from Dartmoor via the unique Haytor Granite Tramway and the Stover Canal.
24th June 27: Social evening.
2nd September 27; Jim Causley, "Sabine Baring-Gould and the Traditional Folk Songs of Devon". A proud Devonian, award winning folk singer and musician, Jim has dedicated much of his career to researching and reviving many of the forgotton gems of his native western peninsula.
4th November 27: Jowan Albon from Teignbridge Archaeological Society, "What's in a name". The meanings behind local place names, what we can find from place names, and what we can find from tithe maps, and how all these relate to each other. This presentation shows how language itself can become archaeological evidence — and how the past sometimes survives in words long after it has vanished from the ground.
All talks and events will take place in Woodbury Village Hall, Flower Street, at 7.30pm, unless stated otherwise.
Visiting non members welcome, admission £4 . Annual membership available upon entry £10