Wharf Talks

TEA TIME TALKS 2024 /5– MONDAY AT 2PM

FOR UP TO DATE INFO VISIT www.TAVISTOCKWHARF.COM        or 

                                                               CALL THE BOX OFFICE ON 01822 611166         OPEN MON-SAT 11.15am-2.15pm and 6pm-8pm TICKET PRICE includes cuppa and cake.

Should you have any suggestions for a talk please speak to Amanda or ring 01822 613928

Nov 4th                THE DARTMOOR CONCIES                  By Simon Dell

SIMON DELL MBE: One of our ever popular speakers at The Wharf, Simon is one of the most sought-after public speakers in the county with talks on a range of themes from his vast historical knowledge of Dartmoor, Lundy and local policing through to his adventures in Tibet and across the world’s most fascinating mountain ranges. He is also a keen walking guide giving fellow walkers a great understanding of the environment around them and bringing each and every walk alive.

TALK: Based upon Simon’s book of that title and is a thought provoking account of the men who refused to fight and kill during the Great War 1914-1918. These men were held at the Princetown Dartmoor Work Centre where they did work of National Importance instead of going to The Front in France and Belgium. This is the account of the hardships they endured in the name of their conscience not to kill.  Simon will have some copies of his book for sale (£4.99) after the talk.

 

NOV 11th      WW1: A COLLECTION OF SHORT STORIES  By Don Lewis

DON LEWIS:  Don Lewis, a retired military officer includes amongst his hobbies, military history. Over recent years he has planned and led many tours of the Western Front. An accomplished presenter, he has also addressed many groups over the years.

TALK:   During his illustrated talk, the role and influence of Edwardian society on the “Act of Remembrance” is examined. This will include some famous personalities such as Wilfred Owen but also others equally important but perhaps less well known. In

addition some of the iconic sites are visited, by way of example the Thiepval

Memorial which has a connection with Tavistock. Hopefully the audience will leave

with a slightly wider perspective.

 

NOV 18th        A VERY LONG HISTORY OF BECKY FALLS (The short version!)                                       By Pippa Richards                                                           

PIPPA RICHARDS: Pippa and her husband purchased Becky Falls as a visitor attraction in 2016 and have lived and worked there with their grown up children and now their granddaughter ever since.

TALK:  The talk will take us from the formation of the granite which forms the cascade to the present day visitor attraction, with photos and a selection of old postcards and old souvenirs. Pippa may bring a selection of lichens (for which they are famous) with hand lenses for exploration after the talk should anyone be interested.

 

NOV 25th        WEST DEVON EXCERSIONS: In the FOOTSTEPS OF 18th and 19th CENTUARY TRAVEL WRITERS             By Andrew Thompson

  ANDREW THOMPSON: An archaeologist and historian who has spent his working life exploring, explaining and interpreting the history and heritage of South West England.

TALK: The Georgian and Victorian period saw an explosion of travel writing including tourist guides, walking adventures and foreign visitors’ accounts of the wonders of the English industrial revolution. This talk examines the changing reasons why travel writing became so popular and how this affected the varied ways in which the contemporary life and landscape in West Devon was represented. It also considers how far travel writing can be a reliable source for understanding our area’s recent past.

 

DEC 2nd          A FLAVOUR OF JAPAN IN WINTER          By Ian Gasper

IAN GASPER:   Former head teacher and much-travelled individual he has volunteered with V.S.O. twice in Ethiopia and Nigeria offers a variety of talks covering his wide range of interests. Ian is a trustee and volunteer with Devon & Cornwall Refugee support to whom his Speaker fees go. He has spoken to various local groups in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset: many U3As, RSPB and Devon Bird groups as well as Ladies Luncheon, W.I. and Probus. His wonderfully illustrated talks are always well received.

TALK: This talk, based on Ian’s recent three week, fascinating trip to Japan, will cover customs, food, transport, gardens and wildlife including snow monkeys and birds. It involved travelling from snow and ice covered Hokkaido in the north to Kyushu with its majestic cranes in the south.

 

DEC 9th          VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS CARDS       By Felicity Goodall

FELICITY GOODALL: Former journalist for regional newspapers before spending several years as a freelance correspondent in Norway. Work appeared in The Guardian, The Sunday Times, The New York Herald Tribune and Business Week. Written 5 popular history books and written a play and community pantomimes.     

TALK: The Victorians ‘invented’ many of our Christmas traditions: a tree festooned with lights, Christmas crackers and Christmas cards. Printers, Charles Goodall and Sons were one of the first producers of Christmas cards in the early 1850s, transforming humble visiting cards into colourful missives of bonhomie. It was thanks to Goodalls that the robin became forever associated with the festive season. Queen Victoria was among their customers and although her taste veered more towards the sentimental, Goodall cards were often bizarre, humorous and topical, rarely religious.                               Charles Goodall was the speaker’s great- great- grandfather.

 

DEC 16th          WHO DOES SHE THINK SHE IS?! My Family and 10 heirlooms                                By Hilary Bracegirdle

HILARY BRACEGIRDLE:  Exhibition curator of Beryl Cook Exhibition.

TALK: A deathbed promise led Hilary to stitch together her family history and realise just how much she owes to her ancestors – artistic and bohemian leanings, a love of silk and fabrics, appreciation of the countryside  as well as a tendency to hoard.  There were also some shocks in store.   Hilary will bring along a few of her inherited items and promises not to bore you with her family tree. Previously with us talking about Beryl Cook.

DEC 23rd             NO TALK

DEC 30th        NO TALK

JAN 6th           NO TALK         

JAN 13th        ROMAN BRITAIN                              By Bryan Short

BRYAN SHORT: A retired Systems Analyst who embarked on an interest in ancient history. Diploma in Classical Studies, Post graduate in Ancient History. Reads ancient Greek to intermediate level and is a Fellow of the Royal Numismatic Society.

TALK: This talk covers the evolution of Roman Britain over nearly 4 centuries from invasion to withdrawal. Aspects include conflict, co-operation, construction and culture, highlighting dramatic events with their causes and effects along the way. Suitably illustrated, with a look at current archaeological finds and the prospect of future discoveries.

JAN 20th        WILDLIFE IN DEVON                          By John Walters

JOHN WALTERS: A lifelong naturalist and ecologist who explores the natural world through field sketching, photography and video. He grew up on Hayling Island in Hampshire and has lived in Devon since 1990. He works as an ecologist, artist and public speaker and is based in Buckfastleigh. He has published several books and guides including The Wildlife of Dartmoor and has appeared in many television and radio programmes including the recent BBC David Attenborough Wild Isles series.

TALK: Many photos, videos and field paintings to show some of the amazingvariety of wildlife found in Devon. Including Cuckoos and their Meadow Pipit foster-parents on Dartmoor. The world’s largest slug, dancing Adders, Emperor Moths,giant Atlantic Bluefin Tuna and roosting Long-tailed Tits.

 

JAN 27th    THREE MURDERS AND A SUICIDE      By Simon Dell

SIMON DELL:  Currently a Director and Co-ordinator of Moorland Guides with over twenty books to his name. Retired as a full-time police constable after 30 years’ service in September 2007. Has since led the volunteer policing teams throughout the Devon and Cornwall area in respect to wildlife crime. In 1997 awarded the MBE for services to the community and mountain rescue, Queen’s Commendation for Bravery in 2003 with several other awards to his name along with playing in the local town band or with the band of the South Wales Police.

TALK:  Simon's talk about three historic murders which are all joined together by one person - the pathologist Dr Denis Hocking. Simon, a retired police officer who served over 40 years in the constabulary, also has a connection to all three murders and draws the story together with a single suicide which again links everything together in an intriguing tale. The truth is indeed stranger than fiction.

COMING FOR FEB/MAR /APR

FEB        3             COST OF LIVING                                                             Deborah Cunningham (Yorkshire B/S)   

               10           SUSTAINABLE TOURISM                                              Jackie Young

17           MINERS OF THE TAMAR VALLEY AND TAVISTOCK Vanni Cook

               24           JOHN COUCH ADAMS – Discovery of Neptune       Malcolm Wright

MAR        3           DARTMOOR PUBS                                                                        Paul Rendell

               10           A VICTORIAN HEAD GARDENER                                 Francis Burroughes

               17           RAILWAYS ROUND DARTMOOR                                 Bernard Mills

               24           GALILEO AND THE ROMAN INQUISITION                Jan Diamond

               31           THE TALE OF THREE SCHOOLS                                    Life Stories team at TASS

APR          7           COLOURFUL INMATES                                                 Paul Finnegan

                14          BRITISH EMPIRE AND EXETER                                    Todd Gray

                21          EASTER MONDAY – BANK HOLIDAY

               28           29th INFANTRY REGIMENT IN DEVON (1943-44)   Harry Bennett