President

The President’s Jewel
Each year a person of standing in the county is invited to be Honorary President of The Devonshire Association.
A president’s year of office commences at the Annual General Meeting (held as part of the Annual DA Conference). The outgoing President chairs the AGM and invests the incoming President with the silver-and-enamel ‘President’s Jewel’, given to the Association in 1935 by Lady Radford. The new President then gives a talk on a Devon subject of his or her choosing, which is normally published as a keynote address in the forthcoming Transactions.
The President also conceives and organises the President’s one-day symposium assisted by the Executive Committee.
Current President 2023–24
Jenny Pery BA MA
JENNY PERY was born in India, educated at Cranborne Chase School in Dorset and at Oxford, where she read Modern Languages (Russian and French) at Lady Margaret Hall. She worked briefly in publishing at Pergamon Press, helping to inaugurate a program of Russian language books for schools. After marriage and a year in Istanbul, she settled with her family in Argyll, where she ran a children’s playgroup, and founded the still flourishing Oban Art Society. She attended art schools in Glasgow and London before acquiring a degree in Fine Art in Exeter. She later gained a Masters in Printmaking at Camberwell College of Art in London, and took a further degree in German with Creative Writing at the Open University.
For over thirty years she divided her time between Devon and Argyll, finally settling full-time in Devon in 2012. A practising artist, she has had many solo exhibitions, and as a member of Devon Open Studios she exhibits regularly in her Dartmoor studios. She is also a contributing member of the South West Academy, the Plymouth Society of Artists, the 21 Group of Artists, and the Society of Wood Engravers. As an art historian she is the author of many biographies and monographs on artists, including Claude Rogers OBE, Tristram Hillier RA, Anthony Eyton RA, Daphne Todd OBE, Andrew Festing MBE, Alan Cotton MBE and the painter Benedict Rubbra. She has written papers for DA’s Transactions on the Victorian painters Benjamin Haydon, Sir Charles Eastlake, Samuel Prout, and the Barbican artist William Gibbons.
September 2023: Inauguration conference, held in Exeter.
Former Presidents
Some details of our most recent presidents are here.
List of all our Presidents
Including the locations of the AGMs at which they were inaugurated.
2023 | Exeter | Jenny Pery BA MA |
2022 | Bideford | Prof. John Mather PhD, DSc, FGS, CGeol |
2021 | [AGM held online] | Robin Wootton BSc, PhD, FLS, Hon FRES |
2020 | [AGM held online] | Clare Broom DL |
2019 | Launceston | John Allan, BA, MPhil, FSA |
2018 | Dartmouth | Dame Suzi Leather |
2017 | Buckfast | David Fursdon, MA, FRICS, FRAgS, (H.M. Lord Lieutenant of Devon) |
2016 | Cullompton | Todd Gray, MBE, BA, PhD, FRHistS |
2015 | Tavistock | Tom Greeves, MA, PhD |
2014 | Barnstaple | Christopher Cornford, BA, MSc, PhD, CertEd, FGS |
2013 | Kingsbridge | Andrew Cooper, BSc, Esq. |
2012 | Torquay | The Revd Peter Beacham, OBE |
2011 | Axminster | Canon Professor Nicholas Orme, MA, DPhil, DLitt, FSA, FRHistS |
2010 | Holsworthy | Mr Roger F. S. Thorne, JP, CEng, MICE, FSA |
2009 | Dulverton | Rachel Thomas, CBE, DL, BA, DrSc.h.c., FRGS |
2008 | Bovey Tracey | Anthony Beard, Esq. |
2007 | Ilfracombe | Justin Leigh, Esq. |
2006 | Salcombe | Anthony Gibson, Esq., OBE, MA, Hon. MSc, ARAgS |
2005 | Seaton | Prof. Malcolm Hart, BSc, PhD, DSc, ARCS, DIC, FGS, CGeol, CSci |
2004 | South Molton | Prof. Ivan Roots, MA, FSA, FRHistS |
2003 | Chagford | HM Lord Lieutenant of Devon (Eric Dancer, CBE, KStJ, JP) |
2002 | Plymouth | Barrie Williams, Esq. |
2001 | Totnes | His Grace the Duke of Somerset |
2000 | Exeter | The Rt Revd Richard Hawkins (Bishop of Crediton) |
1999 | Great Torrington | The Lady Margaret Fortescue |
1998 | Exmouth | J. Bosanko, Esq., BA, FSA |
1997 | Crediton | Sir Hugh Stucley, Bt |
1996 | Tavistock | G. T. Boalch, BSc, PhD, CBiol, FIBiol, FLS |
1995 | Bideford | The Rt Hon. the Lord Clinton |
1994 | Torquay | R. C. Scrivener, Esq., BSc, PhD |
1993 | Sidmouth | Sir Jack Boles, MBE, DL |
1992 | Okehampton | Sir John Quicke, CBE, DL, Hon. DSc |
1991 | Dartmouth | Miss M. E. Lorenz, BA |
1990 | Tiverton | F. J. M. Laver, Esq., CBE, Hon. DSc |
1989 | Barnstaple | Prof. Joyce A. Youings, BA, PhD, FRHistS |
1988 | Plymouth | Lt-Col. the Rt Hon. the Earl of Morley, JP |
1987 | Exeter | Brendan Moore, Esq., MD, BSc, FRCPath |
1986 | Buckfastleigh | The Rt Rev. Leo Smith, PhD |
1985 | Ottery St Mary | The Rev. Amos 5. Cresswell, MA |
1984 | Hatherleigh | Dr Basil Greenhill, CB, CMG, PhD, FSA, FRHistS (afterwards Hon. DLitt) |
1983 | Teignmouth | R. Crispin Gill, Esq., OBE, FRGS (afterwards Hon. MA, FSA) |
1982 | Moretonhampstead | Ian Mercer, Esq., BA (afterwards Prof., CBE, Hon. LLD, DSc, FLI) |
1981 | Ilfracombe | Prof. Frank Barlow, MA, DPhil, Hon. DLitt, FBA, FRSL (afterwards CBE) |
1980 | Exmouth | Sir Eric Smith, CBE, FRS, ScD |
1979 | Salcombe | G. M. Spooner, Esq., MBE, MA, FRES |
1978 | Tavistock | Prof. W. G. Hoskins, CBE, FBA, MA, Hon. DLitt, FRIBA |
1977 | Ashburton | Col. The Rt Hon. the Lord Clifford, OBE, DL |
1976 | Bideford | Sir Denis Stucley. Bt, JP, DL |
1975 | Sidmouth | Sir Charles Cave, Bt |
1974 | Tiverton | Sir Richard Acland, Bt |
1973 | Plymouth | The Rt Hon. the Lord Foot |
1972 | Dartmouth | Hon. Margaret Lambert, CMG, PhD |
1971 | Barnstaple | Prof. G. Wilson Knight, CBE, Dlit |
1970 | Honiton | A. Stuart Hibberd, Esq., MBE, MA |
1969 | Dawlish | Prof. J. Caldwell, DSC, PhD (afterwards OBE) |
1968 | Paignton | A. P. G. Michelmore, Esq., MA (afterwards MBE) |
1967 | Great Torrington | The Bishop of Crediton (The Rt Revd W. A. E. Westall) |
1966 | Okehampton | H. G. Hurrell, Esq., JP, MA (afterwards MBE) |
1965 | Totnes | Norman Capener, Esq., FRCS (afterwards CBE) |
1964 | Cullompton | The Rt Hon. the Viscount Amory, GCMG |
1963 | Budleigh | Dom. J. Stéphan, OSB, FRHistS, FAMS (afterwards FSA) |
1962 | Exeter | The Lord Bishop of Exeter (the Rt Rev. R. C. Mortimer, DD) |
1961 | Ilfracombe | J. W. (afterwards Sir James) Cook, Esq., DSC, ScD, PhD, FRIC, FRS |
1960 | South Molton | The Rt Hon. the Earl of Halsbury, FRIC, FInstP |
1959 | Ashburton | L. K. Elmhirst, Esq., MA, Hon. DrPolSci |
1958 | Kingsbridge | Miss Mary Coate, MA, FSA, FRHistS |
1957 | Exeter | The Revd S. C. Carpenter, DD |
1956 | Lynton | The Rt Hon. the Earl Fortescue, KG, CB, OBE, MC |
1955 | Crediton | Miss Ursula Radford, FSA |
1954 | Seaton | St John Ervine, Esq. |
1953 | Plymouth | F. S. (afterwards Sir Frederick) Russell, Esq., DSC, DFS, CBE, LLD, FRS |
1952 | Tiverton | Mrs M. C. S. Cruwys, FSA |
1951 | Brixham | Comdr (S.) A. W. B. Messenger, LRIBA, FSA, RN |
1950 | Sidmouth | E. Emery Adams, Esq., DCM |
1949 | Tavistock | B. W. Oliver, Esq., FRIBA |
1948 | Bideford | The Rt Hon. L. S. Amery, PC, CH |
1947 | Chagford | C. A. Ralegh Radford, Esq., MA, FRHistS, FSA (afterwards Hon. DLitt, FBA) |
1946 | Newton Abbot | R. Waterfield, Esq., BA |
1945 | Exeter | P. Morris, Esq., FRIBA, FSA |
1944 | Exeter | The Ven. A. H. Thompson, MA |
1943 | Exeter | Col. Ransom Pickard, CB, CMG, MD, FRCS |
1942 | No Meeting | Mrs F. Rose—Troup, FRHistS |
1941 | Exeter | Hugh Lloyd Parry, Esq., OBE, BA, BSc, LLB |
1940 | Exeter | C. W Bracken, Esq., BA, FRES |
1939 | Honiton | G. M. Doe, Esq., JP |
1938 | Barnstaple | G. T. Harris, Esq. |
1937 | Tavistock | Prof. W. J. Harte, MA |
1936 | Torquay | The Rt Hon. the Lord Mamhead, DL, JP |
1935 | Sidmouth | Prof. Sir John Satterly, ARCSc, MA, DSc, FRS (CAN) |
1934 | Plymouth | Sir John C. Squire, MA, Hon. FRIBA |
1933 | Ilfracombe | Prof. Sir Westcott Stile Abell, KBE, MEng, MINA, MICE |
1932 | Paignton | J. J. Alexander, Esq., MA, FRHistS, JP |
1931 | Exeter | The Lord Bishop of Plymouth (Dr J. H. B. Masterman) |
1930 | Princetown | R. Hansford Worth, Esq., MICE, FCS, FRMS |
1929 | Dartmouth | G. P. Bidder, Esq., ScD, FZS |
1928 | Lynton | Lady Radford, FRHistS, JP |
1927 | Exmouth | W. C. Dampier-Whetham, Esq., MA, FRS (afterwards Sir William C. Dampier, ScD, FRS) |
1926 | Bideford | R. Pearse Chope, Esq., BA, JP |
1925 | Okehampton | The Revd Prebendary (afterwards Treasurer) J. F. Chanter, MA, FSA |
1924 | Ashburton | J. S. Amery, Esq., JP |
1923 | Salcombe | A. E. H. Tutton, Esq., DSC, FRS |
1922 | Crediton | The Rt Hon. Sir Henry Duke, KC (afterwards Lord Merrivale) |
1921 | Lyme Regis | Sir Oswyn A. R. Murray, KCB (afterwards GCB) |
1920 | Totnes | Edward Windeatt, Esq., JP |
1919 | Tiverton | The Very Revd H. R. Gamble, DD (Dean of Exeter) |
1918 | Torquay | H. R. Watkin, Esq. |
1917 | Barnstaple | W P. Hiern, Esq. |
1916 | Plymouth | E. J. Allen, Esq., DSC, FRS (afterwards CBE) |
1915 | Exeter | A. W. Clayden, Esq., MA, FGS |
1914 | Tavistock | Prof. A. M. Worthington, CB, FRS |
1913 | Buckfastleigh | Ashley A. Froude, Esq., CMG, MA, JP |
1912 | Exeter | The Rt Hon. the Viscount StCyres, MA, JP |
1911 | Dartmouth | Robert Burnard, Esq., FSA, JP |
1910 | Cullompton | John D. Enys, Esq., FGS, JP |
1909 | Launceston | The Lord Bishop of Truro (Dr C. W. Stubbs) |
1908 | Newton Abbot | The Rt Hon. the Lord Monkswell, DL, LLB, JP |
1907 | Axminster | The Lord Bishop of Exeter (Dr A. Robertson) |
1906 | Lynton | F. T. Elworthy, Esq., FSA |
1905 | Princetown | Basil H. Thompson, Esq. (afterwards Sir Basil H. Thompson, KCB) |
1904 | Teignmouth | Sir Alfred W. Croft, KCIE, MA |
1903 | Sidmouth | Sir Edgar Vincent, KCMG, MP (afterwards Viscount D’Abernon, PC, GCB, GCMG) |
1902 | Bideford | The Revd W. Harpley, MA, FCPS |
1901 | Exeter | Sir Roger Lethbridge, KCIE, MA, DL, JP |
1900 | Totnes | The Rt Hon. the Lord Clifford, MA, JP |
1899 | Torrington | The Revd Canon W. J. Edmonds, BD |
1898 | Honiton | The Rt Hon. the Lord Coleridge, MA, QC (afterwards Justice of the King’s Bench) |
1897 | Kingsbridge | J. Hine, Esq., FRIBA |
1896 | Ashburton | The Revd S. Baring—Gould, MA |
1895 | Okehampton | The Rt Hon. the Lord Halsbury, DCL (afterwards Earl of Halsbury) |
1894 | South Molton | Sir Frederick Pollock, Bt, MA |
1893 | Torquay | T. N. Brushfield, Esq., MD (afterwards FSA) |
1892 | Plymouth | A. H. A. Hamilton, Esq., MA, JP, CC |
1891 | Tiverton | R. N. Worth, Esq., FGS |
1890 | Barnstaple | The Rt Hon. the Lord Clinton, MA |
1889 | Tavistock | H. W. Hudleston, Esq., MA, FGS, FLS, FCS, FRS |
1888 | Exeter | The Very Revd B. Cowie, DD (Dean of Exeter) |
1887 | Plympton | The Revd W. H. Dallinger, LLD, FLS, FRS |
1886 | St Marychurch | Sir John B. Phear, MA, FGS, JP |
1885 | Seaton | R. F. Weymouth, Esq., Dlit |
1884 | Newton Abbot | The Revd T. R. R. Stebbing, MA (afterwards FLS, FRS) |
1883 | Exmouth | The Very Revd C. Merrivale, DD, DCL |
1882 | Crediton | J. Brooking Rowe, Esq., FSA, FLS |
1881 | Dawlish | The Revd Prof. C. Chapman, LLD |
1880 | Totnes | H. W. Dyke Acland, Esq., MD, LLD, FRGS, FRS (afterwards Sir Henry Acland, Bt, KCB) |
1879 | Ilfracombe | The Rt Hon. Sir R. P. Collier, MA (afterwards Lord Monkswell) |
1878 | Paignton | Sir Samuel White Baker, MA, FRGS, FRS |
1877 | Kingsbridge | The Ven. H. Earle, MA (afterwards Bishop of Marlborough) |
1876 | Ashburton | The Revd Treasurer J. M. Hawker, MA |
1875 | Torrington | R. J. King, MA |
1874 | Teignmouth | The Rt Hon. the Earl of Devon |
1873 | Sidmouth | The Rt Hon. S. Cave, MA, MP (afterwards Sir Stephen Cave) |
1872 | Exeter | The Lord Bishop of Exeter (Dr F. Temple) (afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury) |
1871 | Bideford | The Revd Canon C. Kingsley, MA, FIS, FGS |
1870 | Devonport | J. A. Froude, Esq., MA |
1869 | Dartmouth | G. P. Bidder, Esq. |
1868 | Honiton | J. D. Coleridge, Esq., QC, MA, MP (afterwards the Rt Hon. Lord Coleridge, FRS, Lord Chief Justice) |
1867 | Barnstaple | W. Pengelly, Esq., FGS, FRS |
1866 | Tavistock | The Rt Hon. the Earl Russell, KG, KGC, FRS |
1865 | Tiverton | C. G. D. Daubeny, Esq., MD, LLD, FRS |
1864 | Torquay | E. Vivian, Esq., MA |
1863 | Plymouth | C. Spence Bate, Esq., FLS, FRS |
1862 | Exeter | Sir John Bowring, LLD, FRS |