As you will all be well aware the Executive Committee have always had a policy of on-going maintenance for the entire building. During recent inspections by our Architect and Structural Engineer they have found serious deterioration in the roof structure of both the inner and the outer libraries.
At the time of writing we only have verbal reports but when the written reports are available more detailed information will be promulgated to everyone.
Suffice it to say that all necessary steps are being taken to ensure the safety of the buildings, our collections and members. Members will see during the early part of January that the roof in both libraries is being supported by scaffolding towers. This is a precautionary step and we hope that it will not impede your enjoyment of the Library.
Your Executive Committee is actively engaged in raising the necessary funds to complete the works that are envisaged by our Architect.
John Manley-Tucker
Chairman Executive Committee
21 December 2011
Held on Monday 1.10pm - 1.50pm and are now open to the public - no booking required
17th Oct 2011
Speaker: Kim Ebanks
Subject: The history of the book.
28th November 2011
Speaker: Aaron Macleod
Subject: Exeter's Underground Passages: Eight Centuries of Change
23rd January 2012
Speaker: Mike Passmore
Subject: 20th-century Military & Civil Defence in Devon
20th February 2012
Speaker: Claire Donovan
Subject: Poltimore House
19th March 2012
Speaker:Hilary Bradt
Subject: On Writing a Devon Guide Book
20th April 2012
Speaker: Julian Novill
Subject: A Week in Baghdad
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK OR KNOW OF SOMEONE WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED,PLEASE EMAIL juliannowill@aol.com
Held on Friday evening 6 pm. Booking is essential and payment should be made at the time of booking via the office.
October 14th 2011
Speaker: Dr David Oates. Honorary Fellow, University of Exeter
Subject: The Colourful Arms of Devon’s Colourful Gentry
November 11th 2011
Speaker: Marilyn Tucker and Paul Wilson of Wren Music
Subject: Songs of the West and Beyond a presentation illustrated with songs and music’
January 20th 2012
Speaker: Jill Smallcombe and Jackie Abey of AbeySmallcombe
Subject: Cob: Travel and Museums
February 17th 2012
Speaker: Ben Bradshaw MP, Member of Parliament for Exeter
Subject: On Being A Cabinet Minister
MARCH 9th 2012
Speaker: Roger Brien. Librarian, the Devon and Exeter Institution
Subject: One Hundred Years of Advertising
APRIL 20th 2012
Speaker: Dr David Stradling. Chairman, Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust
Subject: Paignton Zoo: Past, Present and Future
The talks at last winter’s Social Evenings were well received and I hope that this season’s will prove just as varied and equally well attended. The speakers are all knowledgeable and enthusiastic about their subjects and are generously pleased to talk to us.
Several have spoken to us before. Ben Bradshaw last did so eleven years ago, on being an MP, so we look forward to further insights. Since we last heard them Jill and Jackie of AbeySmallcombe have visited more exotic countries and created more earth built structures in this country: at the Eden Project, a la Ronde and many more. Roger Brien is creating a new talk for us, which he will illustrate with well-researched slides and film. Members of Cinema Club will know just how interesting he is on this subject.
The ‘newcomers’ include a member, David Oates, whose illustrated talk will cover the genealogy, country seats, portraits and even hatchments of his colourful gentry. To illustrate their subject the well-known performers Marilyn and Paul, directors of Wren Music, will sing and play on several instruments…a delight we have not had before at our social evenings. In April David Stradling, like David Oates a retired academic, will so enthuse us about Paignton Zoo, its younger sibling Living Coasts at Torquay and the distant zoo at Newquay that we may well visit them all before the summer has ended.
Members of the Devon and Exeter Institution are cordially invited to the meetings of the Historical Association, Exeter Branch. All our meetings are held as free public lectures.
13th October 2011
Speaker: Dr. Richard Huzzey (University of Plymouth)
Subject: The Decoy Elephant? British Anti-Slavery and the scramble for African Empire.
Venue and time: Amory Building, 5.30 pm
3rd November 2011
Speaker: Professor Val Maxfield (University of Exeter)
Subject: River and Desert: the frontiers of Roman Egypt. (Joint meeting with the Classical Association)
Venue and time: Lecture Theatre 1, Queen’s Building, 5.30 pm
17th November 2011
Speaker: Professor Eric Evans (Lancaster University)
Subject: A Victorian 'Big Society'? The age of laissez-faire revisited.
Venue and time: Exeter School, 5.30 pm
6th December 2011
Speaker: Dr. Laura Sangha (University of Exeter)
Subject: ‘The proper armes for this holy warre’: Angels and belief in Reformation England.
Venue and time: Amory Building, 5.30 pm
19 January 2012
Speaker: Dr Peter Ward (University of Exeter)
Subject: Admiral Rainier and his impact on British India and the Royal Navy.
Venue and time: Amory building, 5.30 pm
2 February 2012
Speaker: Professor George Boyce (Swansea University)
Subject: The odd couple. Gladstone, Parnell and Home Rule.
Venue and time: Exeter School, 5.30 pm
1st March
Speaker: Professor Richard Toye (University of Exeter)
Subject: Churchill and the Empire: Myth and Reality.
Venue and time: Lecture Theatre 1, Queen’s Building, 5.30 pm
A site visit to a place of historical interest is planned for 2012.
For those members of the Institution who have joined the Cinema Club, run by Chief Library Officer: Roger Brien.
Trailers commence at 6:30 Main Film at 7pm, followed by coffee
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