A Note from Dr. Todd Gray

A message from Todd Gray for everyone - hope you are all keeping well, 
Geoff.


Good morning, Would it be possible to draw to the attention of the
society’s members (by email or on your website?) the following two
messages?

Thank you, Todd

Dr Todd Gray is currently broadcasting 15 minute pieces on aspects of
Devon history every weekday on BBC Radio Devon at 1.10pm.  These will
run through June, and possibly July, and while all of our societies have
stopped meeting for lectures these are meant to help alleviate the sense
of isolation some of us are feeling.

The Devon & Cornwall Record Society is sponsoring a series of daily
blogs by our leading heritage specialists (historians, archivists,
archaeologists, librarians, writers and curators) in Devon and Cornwall
on how life in quarantine has made them reevaluate history.  These are
running through June and July and can be found on the society’s
Facebook page.  The society exists to publish original documentary
material and this year’s volume is a facsimile reproduction of
Devon’s only woollen cloth collection - from the 1760s.  It comes free
with this year’s membership (at £16.50) or on publication later this
year (at £30).  Details can be found on our website.

VE Day 8 May 1945 to 8 May 2020 --- 75 Years

I have been trying to glean notes on this day relating to the mood of the village.

I imagine the news would have reached the rural areas by wireless. Speeches from the King and the Prime Minister were broadcast.

There must have been a mixture of joy and sadness for the families who had lost loved ones and many were still fighting abroad.

The newspaper of the day gave the two reports:




  Feniton had lost four of its sons.
 The men are commemorated on a stained glass window in Feniton Church.

Name
WW
Rank
Date
Age
Gordon Channon
2
Sgt Air Gunner
29/1/1944
19
Paul Clifford
2
Flt Lt
16/10/1945
24
Ernest Lovering
2
Petty Officer Regulating
9/4/1942
34
Frederick Woodly
2
Cadet (Radio)
1/7/1941
17

Today the country is in lockdown due to the Corvid - 19 so the villagers marked the day by having  a cream in their front gardens, keeping the prescribed 2 meters distance.  A Willey's Jeep was driven through the village, a vehicle well know in the day.

Our Daughter in Law and Grandsons sent over a lovely VE Day tea.


The children are not at school due the virus, doing their school work remotely. William has made this wonderful model to mark VE Day with a Spitfire flying over the White Cliffs of Dover.



Corvid-19

Sadly I have to notify our Group that there will be no more meetings until further notice.

Please take care and stay safe .