HELEN Harris will be the speaker at the next meeting of the Okehampton Local History Society on Wednesday March 8 at 7.30pm at the Ockment Centre. The title of her talk will be Devon?s Century of Change, and will cover farming and rural activities, transport, communications and health and education. Helen Harris is a Devon-born local historian who has written several books about the county, including the Handbook of Devon Parishes in which she lists and describes the 422 parishes of the county. The speaker in February was Dr Sadru Banjii who talked about pirates on the River Exe - those who were pirates, those who suffered from them and those, including some eminent Exeter residents, who received some secondary gain from the pirates? activities. The society would welcome new members and anyone interested in joining should contact the secretary Malcolm Francis-Lang on 01837 840158. Non-members may attend meetings at a cost of £1.50.
