News

November 2008

Each year The Topsham Society marks a significant improvement in the town’s physical environment with the Enhancing Topsham Award.  This year the award went to the Topsham Museum for the new River Gallery extension and last year it was won by St Margaret’s Church for its new entrance.  We are now seeking nominations for the Enhancing Topsham Award for 2009.  The development of Anchor House in the Strand has already been nominated, with particular reference to the view of the house from the river.  If you would like to make a nomination please get in touch with Bill Dickens (877496) or with me or any other member of The Topsham Society Committee.

The programme of Autumn and Winter talks is now on our website www.topshamsociety.co.uk.  On Thursday 27th November Kevin Cahill will talk on “Who owns Topsham? Who owns Devon? Who owns the World?” He is an investigative journalist and author of several books on land ownership.  The title of his talk speaks for itself.

On Friday 16th January Peter Villiers will speak on  “Joseph Conrad - exile, seafarer, writer”.  Peter is the son of Alan Villiers, who wrote the classic sailing book about the voyage he made around the world in the 1930’s as captain of the square-rigged ship, the Joseph Conrad.

On Friday 27th February our speaker will be Dr Sadru Banji who will talk on  “Barbary Pirates of the 17th Century”.   Dr Banji, who is an historian, lives in Topsham and his researches reveal that many of the hostages taken by the pirates came from this area, including some who were from Topsham.

The final talk in the series will be on Thursday 12th March and will be given by Christine Trigger.  The title of the talk is “Fred Karno ‘Master of Mirth and Tears’”. Fred Karno was born in Exeter in 1866 (died 1941) and was a theatre impresario. He transformed the music hall by creating a riot of laughter out of chaos. Christine Trigger is one of Exeter’s Red Coat guides.

GEOFF WILKINSON (879107)

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