AGM 2025 and President’s talk (S Devon Branch)

Branch Annual General Meeting and a talk by DA’s President, Simon Timms, entitled “Delving into Deepest Devon”.

To be followed by a free afternoon tea, courtesy of the Branch Committee.

Report on the talk

Simon Timms, the 164th President of the DA, gave his illustrated talk to members and friends of the Branch.

Simon’s career was as an archaeologist and he is now passionate about our heritage, whilst imploring us to concentrate on the good days in the future. Change has always been with us and will remain with us; we have to be adaptable.

Devon is the third largest county in England. It covers 106 miles north to south and 90 miles east to west. It has 535 parishes, 618 churches, is 400 million years old and even has a geological period named after it!

Simon looked back at some local history and information. Oliver Heaviside (1850–1925), mathematician and engineer, lived here in Totnes Road for over 30 years and is buried in Paignton. The South Devon Branch of the DA was formed in 1945. Kent’s Cavern was excavated by William Pengelly in the 1840s and 50s. All 156 volumes of the DA’s Transactions are available in Plymouth library and give examples of local research into Devon’s rich past.

Changes in farming illustrate change generally and Simon had photos of old methods and equipment that brought back memories to many! He mentioned the Seaton Hoard and how staff at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum and Art Gallery (RAMM) had engaged children in its discovery with chocolate replica coins. The Exeter Book will go on display later this year, as will the Isca Photographic Collection.

Finally, Simon spoke about our Devon cream tea which should have whortleberry jam (not strawberry). But there are so many different delicacies on which to put your cream and jam. You could have a tuff, a skit, a split or even a chudley. In Lynton you can even put your cream and jam on a “Bobby Dazzler” – what a wonderful county we live in!

Chris Reader
February 2025