Well, it has certainly been a busy year for BH!
Here are just some of the things we’ve been up to:
On the website we have instigated our hugely successful “Born and Raised” series with so far eight articles published of the 40s, 50s and 60s remembered by Colin Back and the first two of the 60s and 70s (80s and 90s to follow) by Dave Robbins.
Dave Robbins and Colin Back Born and Raised in Bishopsteignton
Natalia has published three articles about the Modern Wives featuring interviews with Betty Aplin and Edna Atkinson.
Modern Wives Betty Aplin and Edna Atkinson
We have added a huge amount of research carried out by Alistair Wallis to the Clifford Wallis WW1 article. This includes transcriptions of his letters home from basic training and then active service at the front in France together with letters of condolence to his parents from friends, relatives and fellow servicemen.
Clifford Wallis WW1
We have started a kids’ interactive section with some online jigsaws to encourage research for young and not so young alike.
Over 750 items have been added to the catalogue.
The 1921 census has been added to our Parish Census Search Tool.
Talks have been given to years 5 and 6 at Bishopsteignton Primary School, residents at Bishopsteignton House and the Memory Café.
We assisted the Primary School in celebrating their 50th anniversary.
We exhibited at Bishopsteignton Village Festival.
At our Hub we have displayed various aspects of our wonderful parish throughout the year and 2 themed exhibits: “Philip Coombe – the Building of a Legacy” and an update to our annual Remembrance presentation including a selection of the Clifford Wallis letters.
Philip Coombe Building a Legacy
This year’s Molly Coombe Lecture – “Bishop’s Great” was presented by Viv Wilson MBE who we are very pleased to announce is contributing items from her archive to our growing collection. Tickets for this event were sold in aid of 1st Bishopsteignton Scouts.
We held our first annual photographic competition with some very impressive views of our parish from over 150 entries. See the winning entries here.
We collaborated with Bishopsteignton Parish Council, Sustainable Bishop and local designer Chez Designs to establish information boards at strategic points about the village. So far they are located at the Cemetery and the Village Green, with more to follow.
Bishopsteignton Information Boards
We have welcomed new contributors to our core Hub team: Colin, Natalia, Sally, Hilary, Ruth, Imogen, Dawn and James have been on hand Fridays and selected weekends and evenings throughout the year creating articles and welcoming visitors, often supported by our Trustees past and present: John Parkes, Jess Gibby, Kim Ford, John Reynolds, Liz Kirkland, Dave Robbins, Chris Wikeley, Ken Irvin, Nigel Edwards, Surya Paterson and Nigel Wollen.
Exeter College students Ed and Prayata joined us to produce various videos of the Remembrance Service and Exhibition, some scenes of which featured on BBC’s Spotlight.
Ed is also joining Exeter University student Emily to help us generate some creatively presented content about our parish aimed predominantly (but not exclusively) at a younger audience in the new year.
We have several exciting projects lined up for the new year – we will be in touch shortly with news of what to expect and how you can join in.
In the meantime all of us at Bishopsteignton Heritage would like to wish all of you a very happy festive season!