THE Devonshire Association's 153rd annual conference and meeting was held at the Bedford Hotel, Tavistock, earlier this month.

It included presentations on 'The Distinctiveness of Tavistock' by the DA sections and town walks led by Andrew Thompson and John Killingbeck.

In the evening there was the president's reception in the presence of the mayor and deputy mayor of Tavistock and a public lecture by Dr Ann Pulsford entitled 'John Taylor and the Tavistock Canal'.

More than 120 people attended the lecture, many of whom were non DA members drawn from the town and surrounding areas.

Saturday was dedicated to the reading of papers to be published in the 2015 transactions and a particularly lively annual meeting where life membership of the association was conferred on Helen Harris and Dr Gerald Boalch.

A farewell gift was also presented to Geoff Bulley, registrar for many years, and his successor, Dr Bridget Gillard, was introduced to the assembly.

The investiture of Dr Tom Greeves to the 2014/15 presidency was followed by his heartfelt address on Dartmoor and the displacement of culture: analysis and remedy.

Dr Greeves is a cultural environmentalist who was born in Plymouth. He joined the Devonshire Association in 1967 and has served on both the council and its executive.

There was a choice of Sunday visits for members to Collacombe Barton, Kelly House, Bradstone Manor and Coombe Sculpture Garden; or to Lydford Old Railway Reserve (in search of rare butterflies) led by Dr Bob Hodgson; or a Dartmoor Excursion and a tour of Lydford led by Dr Tom Greeves.