Programme 2026
Our talks and activities in 2026
The Dartmoor Newtakes
A Zoom talk by Andy Crabb on 27th January
Andy Crabb is an archaeologist with Dartmoor National Park and Historic England. He has worked on Dartmoor for over 15 years.
Andy’s role is wide ranging and diverse, covering all aspects of archaeological management, providing advice, and even organising the occasional excavation! Andy has been a regular contributor to our programme of talks and has overseen our summer, archaeological walks and picnic.
Operation Tiger? Operation Disaster!
A talk by Graham Lovegrove in Harbertonford Village Hall on 12th May
A talk about the events of April 28th, 1944 when a combination of failures resulted in the deaths of 946 American Servicemen.
Graham is a professional stand-up comedian who has a passion for collecting militaria and studying both World War 1 and World War 2.
Graham will bring along some of the kit that these soldiers/sailors would have been equipped with on the night of the disaster.
Summer Walk
A guided walk around the Higher Uppacott on 11th July at 10:30 till 12:30
Booking details nearer the time. Max 20 people.
The Devon Historic Graffiti Survey, and what we found at St Andrew’s Harberton
A talk by Pru Manning in St Andrew’s Church, Harberton on 29th September
The talk will explain what we mean by graffiti, the different types we find, and possible reasons people may have had for ‘making their mark’. We will focus on the wonderful and varied graffiti at Harberton.
Pru Manning is a retired archaeologist. She set up the graffiti survey six years ago, after reading Matthew Champion’s book, ‘Medieval Graffiti’. She is not an expert on churches, but is passionate about them, and especially about their graffiti, which give us a fascinating personal link to ordinary people of the past.
‘Ten Amazing Days’- when Napoleon was in Plymouth Sound in 1815, as a prisoner aboard HMS Bellerophon, following defeat at Waterloo.
An online talk by Clive Charlton on 17th November
The title: ‘Ten Amazing Days – when Napoleon was in Plymouth Sound as a prisoner in 1815’.
The illustrated talk includes:
“Napoleon’s journey from defeat at Waterloo, his surrender to Captain Maitland of HMS Bellerophon off Rochefort and the voyage to Plymouth in July 1815. The core of the story is the short, but very dramatic ten days when HMS Bellerophon was in the Sound as a prisoner on the ship. It caused a great sensation before Napoleon was taken in into exile on St. Helena. I also tell the outline story of HMS Bellerophon, which was a much-travelled and battered ‘veteran’ by the time Napoleon came aboard. I provide some background on Napoleon and how he was perceived.“
Clive taught geography at the University of Plymouth for 42 years. On retirement, he volunteered at the former Plymouth City Museum. His fascination with the Napoleon story developed when, in 2015, he ‘co-curated’ the exhibition in the museum that celebrated the 200th anniversary of Napoleon’s short stay in the Sound. Since retirement he has become fascinated by both local and maritime history. Clive lives at Bere Ferrers, just north of Plymouth.