THE Okehampton Local History Society has an unusual talk at its next meeting on Wednesday, September 10. Tim Pearkes of the Crediton Cheese Cafe will be speaking on the history of cheese making — the oldest method of preserving milk. It is known that cheese has been made for 7,000 years as evidenced by deposits of cheese found on Neolithic pottery from Poland. Mr Pearkes and his wife Penny opened the cafe five years ago, having previously had a stall in the Tiverton Pannier Market. There may well be the opportunity to taste and buy some of their cheeses at the Okehampton Local History Society meeting. There was no talk last month, though members had an outing to the Norman Lockyer observatory in Sidmouth. Next month there will be a talk on The Great War by Lt Col Tony Clark, who has spent much of his life on and around Dartmoor and was formerly officer in charge of Okehampton Army Camp. Meetings of the history society are held on the second Wednesday of the month, at 7.30pm in the Ockment Centre. New members are always welcome and anyone interested should contact the secretary, Jane Lehni on 01837 840087. Non-members may attend meetings at a charge of £2 per person including coffee and biscuits.