I MOVED to Tavistock three years ago and knew little about the history of this attractive town and the surrounding areas.

My interest was sparked when I was shown a wealth of history with interesting stories attached, during a town walk with Alex Mettler, chair of the Tavistock and District Local History Society.

I joined the society and have never regretted it! What knowledge, passion and commitment for Tavistock and the greater area the committee all have. I have been to some wonderful talks which have informed and interested me – the talk on the painter Turner in the Tamar Valley by Dorothy Kirk springs to mind, and in the spring and summer we visit some well chosen places, often not open to the public. The visit to Exeter Cathedral Library housing ancient books some dating to as early as the twelfth and thirteen century was special. Being shown, and able to handle manuscripts touched, signed and sealed by Henry VIII, Queen Mary and Elizabeth I was a real privilege, followed by a walk through medieval Exeter which included an unknown street hardly wide enough for modem man to walk through.

The committee is continually quietly beavering away for the good of Tavistock. Recently one of the team after many years of perseverance managed to help obtain Lottery funding of around £2-million to enhance Tavistock. We were shown the vision of a greatly improved and attractive Guildhall Car Park using some of the funding which skilfully uses the existing buildings in an enhanced layout to provide new premises.

I hope I may have encouraged others to join and support the society; you will be made most welcome, especially younger residents.

Marysu Godfrey Whitchurch