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.

2023ExeterJenny Pery BA MA
2022BidefordProf. John Mather PhD, DSc, FGS, CGeol
2021[AGM held online]Robin Wootton BSc, PhD, FLS, Hon FRES
2020[AGM held online]Clare Broom DL
2019LauncestonJohn Allan, BA, MPhil, FSA
2018DartmouthDame Suzi Leather
2017BuckfastDavid Fursdon, MA, FRICS, FRAgS, (H.M. Lord Lieutenant of Devon)
2016CullomptonTodd Gray, MBE, BA, PhD, FRHistS
2015TavistockTom Greeves, MA, PhD
2014BarnstapleChristopher Cornford, BA, MSc, PhD, CertEd, FGS
2013KingsbridgeAndrew Cooper, BSc, Esq.
2012TorquayThe Revd Peter Beacham, OBE
2011AxminsterCanon Professor Nicholas Orme, MA, DPhil, DLitt, FSA, FRHistS
2010HolsworthyMr Roger F. S. Thorne, JP, CEng, MICE, FSA
2009DulvertonRachel Thomas, CBE, DL, BA, DrSc.h.c., FRGS
2008Bovey TraceyAnthony Beard, Esq.
2007IlfracombeJustin Leigh, Esq.
2006SalcombeAnthony Gibson, Esq., OBE, MA, Hon. MSc, ARAgS
2005SeatonProf. Malcolm Hart, BSc, PhD, DSc, ARCS, DIC, FGS, CGeol, CSci
2004South MoltonProf. Ivan Roots, MA, FSA, FRHistS
2003ChagfordHM Lord Lieutenant of Devon (Eric Dancer, CBE, KStJ, JP)
2002PlymouthBarrie Williams, Esq.
2001TotnesHis Grace the Duke of Somerset
2000ExeterThe Rt Revd Richard Hawkins (Bishop of Crediton)
1999Great TorringtonThe Lady Margaret Fortescue
1998ExmouthJ. Bosanko, Esq., BA, FSA
1997CreditonSir Hugh Stucley, Bt
1996TavistockG. T. Boalch, BSc, PhD, CBiol, FIBiol, FLS
1995BidefordThe Rt Hon. the Lord Clinton
1994TorquayR. C. Scrivener, Esq., BSc, PhD
1993SidmouthSir Jack Boles, MBE, DL
1992OkehamptonSir John Quicke, CBE, DL, Hon. DSc
1991DartmouthMiss M. E. Lorenz, BA
1990TivertonF. J. M. Laver, Esq., CBE, Hon. DSc
1989BarnstapleProf. Joyce A. Youings, BA, PhD, FRHistS
1988PlymouthLt-Col. the Rt Hon. the Earl of Morley, JP
1987ExeterBrendan Moore, Esq., MD, BSc, FRCPath
1986BuckfastleighThe Rt Rev. Leo Smith, PhD
1985Ottery St MaryThe Rev. Amos 5. Cresswell, MA
1984HatherleighDr Basil Greenhill, CB, CMG, PhD, FSA, FRHistS (afterwards Hon. DLitt)
1983TeignmouthR. Crispin Gill, Esq., OBE, FRGS (afterwards Hon. MA, FSA)
1982MoretonhampsteadIan Mercer, Esq., BA (afterwards Prof., CBE, Hon. LLD, DSc, FLI)
1981IlfracombeProf. Frank Barlow, MA, DPhil, Hon. DLitt, FBA, FRSL (afterwards CBE)
1980ExmouthSir Eric Smith, CBE, FRS, ScD
1979SalcombeG. M. Spooner, Esq., MBE, MA, FRES
1978TavistockProf. W. G. Hoskins, CBE, FBA, MA, Hon. DLitt, FRIBA
1977AshburtonCol. The Rt Hon. the Lord Clifford, OBE, DL
1976BidefordSir Denis Stucley. Bt, JP, DL
1975SidmouthSir Charles Cave, Bt
1974TivertonSir Richard Acland, Bt
1973PlymouthThe Rt Hon. the Lord Foot
1972DartmouthHon. Margaret Lambert, CMG, PhD
1971BarnstapleProf. G. Wilson Knight, CBE, Dlit
1970HonitonA. Stuart Hibberd, Esq., MBE, MA
1969DawlishProf. J. Caldwell, DSC, PhD (afterwards OBE)
1968PaigntonA. P. G. Michelmore, Esq., MA (afterwards MBE)
1967Great TorringtonThe Bishop of Crediton (The Rt Revd W. A. E. Westall)
1966OkehamptonH. G. Hurrell, Esq., JP, MA (afterwards MBE)
1965TotnesNorman Capener, Esq., FRCS (afterwards CBE)
1964CullomptonThe Rt Hon. the Viscount Amory, GCMG
1963BudleighDom. J. Stéphan, OSB, FRHistS, FAMS (afterwards FSA)
1962ExeterThe Lord Bishop of Exeter (the Rt Rev. R. C. Mortimer, DD)
1961IlfracombeJ. W. (afterwards Sir James) Cook, Esq., DSC, ScD, PhD, FRIC, FRS
1960South MoltonThe Rt Hon. the Earl of Halsbury, FRIC, FInstP
1959AshburtonL. K. Elmhirst, Esq., MA, Hon. DrPolSci
1958KingsbridgeMiss Mary Coate, MA, FSA, FRHistS
1957ExeterThe Revd S. C. Carpenter, DD
1956LyntonThe Rt Hon. the Earl Fortescue, KG, CB, OBE, MC
1955CreditonMiss Ursula Radford, FSA
1954SeatonSt John Ervine, Esq.
1953PlymouthF. S. (afterwards Sir Frederick) Russell, Esq., DSC, DFS, CBE, LLD, FRS
1952TivertonMrs M. C. S. Cruwys, FSA
1951BrixhamComdr (S.) A. W. B. Messenger, LRIBA, FSA, RN
1950SidmouthE. Emery Adams, Esq., DCM
1949TavistockB. W. Oliver, Esq., FRIBA
1948BidefordThe Rt Hon. L. S. Amery, PC, CH
1947ChagfordC. A. Ralegh Radford, Esq., MA, FRHistS, FSA (afterwards Hon. DLitt, FBA)
1946Newton AbbotR. Waterfield, Esq., BA
1945ExeterP. Morris, Esq., FRIBA, FSA
1944ExeterThe Ven. A. H. Thompson, MA
1943ExeterCol. Ransom Pickard, CB, CMG, MD, FRCS
1942No MeetingMrs F. Rose—Troup, FRHistS
1941ExeterHugh Lloyd Parry, Esq., OBE, BA, BSc, LLB
1940ExeterC. W Bracken, Esq., BA, FRES
1939HonitonG. M. Doe, Esq., JP
1938BarnstapleG. T. Harris, Esq.
1937TavistockProf. W. J. Harte, MA
1936TorquayThe Rt Hon. the Lord Mamhead, DL, JP
1935SidmouthProf. Sir John Satterly, ARCSc, MA, DSc, FRS (CAN)
1934PlymouthSir John C. Squire, MA, Hon. FRIBA
1933IlfracombeProf. Sir Westcott Stile Abell, KBE, MEng, MINA, MICE
1932PaigntonJ. J. Alexander, Esq., MA, FRHistS, JP
1931ExeterThe Lord Bishop of Plymouth (Dr J. H. B. Masterman)
1930PrincetownR. Hansford Worth, Esq., MICE, FCS, FRMS
1929DartmouthG. P. Bidder, Esq., ScD, FZS
1928LyntonLady Radford, FRHistS, JP
1927ExmouthW. C. Dampier-Whetham, Esq., MA, FRS (afterwards Sir William C. Dampier, ScD, FRS)
1926BidefordR. Pearse Chope, Esq., BA, JP
1925OkehamptonThe Revd Prebendary (afterwards Treasurer) J. F. Chanter, MA, FSA
1924AshburtonJ. S. Amery, Esq., JP
1923SalcombeA. E. H. Tutton, Esq., DSC, FRS
1922CreditonThe Rt Hon. Sir Henry Duke, KC (afterwards Lord Merrivale)
1921Lyme RegisSir Oswyn A. R. Murray, KCB (afterwards GCB)
1920TotnesEdward Windeatt, Esq., JP
1919TivertonThe Very Revd H. R. Gamble, DD (Dean of Exeter)
1918TorquayH. R. Watkin, Esq.
1917BarnstapleW P. Hiern, Esq.
1916PlymouthE. J. Allen, Esq., DSC, FRS (afterwards CBE)
1915ExeterA. W. Clayden, Esq., MA, FGS
1914TavistockProf. A. M. Worthington, CB, FRS
1913BuckfastleighAshley A. Froude, Esq., CMG, MA, JP
1912ExeterThe Rt Hon. the Viscount StCyres, MA, JP
1911DartmouthRobert Burnard, Esq., FSA, JP
1910CullomptonJohn D. Enys, Esq., FGS, JP
1909LauncestonThe Lord Bishop of Truro (Dr C. W. Stubbs)
1908Newton AbbotThe Rt Hon. the Lord Monkswell, DL, LLB, JP
1907AxminsterThe Lord Bishop of Exeter (Dr A. Robertson)
1906LyntonF. T. Elworthy, Esq., FSA
1905PrincetownBasil H. Thompson, Esq. (afterwards Sir Basil H. Thompson, KCB)
1904TeignmouthSir Alfred W. Croft, KCIE, MA
1903SidmouthSir Edgar Vincent, KCMG, MP (afterwards Viscount D’Abernon, PC, GCB, GCMG)
1902BidefordThe Revd W. Harpley, MA, FCPS
1901ExeterSir Roger Lethbridge, KCIE, MA, DL, JP
1900TotnesThe Rt Hon. the Lord Clifford, MA, JP
1899TorringtonThe Revd Canon W. J. Edmonds, BD
1898HonitonThe Rt Hon. the Lord Coleridge, MA, QC (afterwards Justice of the King’s Bench)
1897KingsbridgeJ. Hine, Esq., FRIBA
1896AshburtonThe Revd S. Baring—Gould, MA
1895OkehamptonThe Rt Hon. the Lord Halsbury, DCL (afterwards Earl of Halsbury)
1894South MoltonSir Frederick Pollock, Bt, MA
1893TorquayT. N. Brushfield, Esq., MD (afterwards FSA)
1892PlymouthA. H. A. Hamilton, Esq., MA, JP, CC
1891TivertonR. N. Worth, Esq., FGS
1890BarnstapleThe Rt Hon. the Lord Clinton, MA
1889TavistockH. W. Hudleston, Esq., MA, FGS, FLS, FCS, FRS
1888ExeterThe Very Revd B. Cowie, DD (Dean of Exeter)
1887PlymptonThe Revd W. H. Dallinger, LLD, FLS, FRS
1886St MarychurchSir John B. Phear, MA, FGS, JP
1885SeatonR. F. Weymouth, Esq., Dlit
1884Newton AbbotThe Revd T. R. R. Stebbing, MA (afterwards FLS, FRS)
1883ExmouthThe Very Revd C. Merrivale, DD, DCL
1882CreditonJ. Brooking Rowe, Esq., FSA, FLS
1881DawlishThe Revd Prof. C. Chapman, LLD
1880TotnesH. W. Dyke Acland, Esq., MD, LLD, FRGS, FRS (afterwards Sir Henry Acland, Bt, KCB)
1879IlfracombeThe Rt Hon. Sir R. P. Collier, MA (afterwards Lord Monkswell)
1878PaigntonSir Samuel White Baker, MA, FRGS, FRS
1877KingsbridgeThe Ven. H. Earle, MA (afterwards Bishop of Marlborough)
1876AshburtonThe Revd Treasurer J. M. Hawker, MA
1875TorringtonR. J. King, MA
1874TeignmouthThe Rt Hon. the Earl of Devon
1873SidmouthThe Rt Hon. S. Cave, MA, MP (afterwards Sir Stephen Cave)
1872ExeterThe Lord Bishop of Exeter (Dr F. Temple) (afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury)
1871BidefordThe Revd Canon C. Kingsley, MA, FIS, FGS
1870DevonportJ. A. Froude, Esq., MA
1869DartmouthG. P. Bidder, Esq.
1868HonitonJ. D. Coleridge, Esq., QC, MA, MP (afterwards the Rt Hon. Lord Coleridge, FRS, Lord Chief Justice)
1867BarnstapleW. Pengelly, Esq., FGS, FRS
1866TavistockThe Rt Hon. the Earl Russell, KG, KGC, FRS
1865TivertonC. G. D. Daubeny, Esq., MD, LLD, FRS
1864TorquayE. Vivian, Esq., MA
1863PlymouthC. Spence Bate, Esq., FLS, FRS
1862ExeterSir John Bowring, LLD, FRS