MEMBERS of the Okehampton and District Local History Society were taken back to Crediton in 1901 at their last meeting. Robin Langhorne, former head of the history department at Queen Elizabeth College, took on the persona of W J Southwood, printer and stationer of High Street, Crediton, and speaking from his ?diary? gave graphic accounts of events in that year. William Southwood had obviously been an eminent citizen, helping to run many of the activities of the town. The talk began by taking members back to the end of the previous year and the homecoming of General Sir Redvers Buller VC, to Crediton after the Boer War. He had printed the official programme, which was on display together with a banner made seemingly from bedsheets, decorated and hung from windows in the town, bearing a welcome to Crediton?s war hero. The next meeting of the group will be next Wednesday, November 9, at 7.30pm at the Ockment Centre. Janet Daynes will be speaking on the ACE Archaeology Survey of Winkleigh Airfield. New members are welcome and non-members can attend at a charge of £1.50. Further information is available from secretary Malcolm Francis-Lang on 01837 840158.
