Our last meeting before the Summer break will be on:

Monday, 30^th June at 7.30pm in the Village Main Hall

when Tessa Gibson, our Assistant Archivist,  will present:

The Life and Times of Don Currie and the Union Castle Line

Born in Greenock in 1825, Donald Currie spent his long life in the shipping industry, initially with the newly formed Cunard Company where he rose to a senior position at headquarters in Liverpool.  But in 1862, as his own man, he formed the Castle Shipping Line between London and Calcutta, followed in 1876 by the Castle Mail Packet Company between England and South Africa which eventually after merger later became the   Union-Castle line.  His close knowledge of conditions and leading people in South Africa proved helpful to the British Government on a number of occasions, notably during the Zulu War, for which he was knighted in 1881. 

All this and more of  his eventful and varied life - leading industrialist and one time  MP  but also sponsor of the British Rugby Team  to South Africa and owner of  a professional  football  club – will be presented by Tessa,  together with photographs of some of the lovely ships which were so much a part of  “the South Africa run”.

After coffee we will be showing a DVD by Gordon Thomas of the building of the replica of the “Mayflower” in Brixham harbour and hope some in the audience may have memories of it happening.

An evening too good to miss so do be with us in the Hall on 30^th June.

Doors open at 7.15 for a 7.30 start.  All welcome (guests £4).

Looking Ahead

10 August          The Fire Engine will be on display at the Kingswear Regatta.

29 September    Subject and speaker to be announced..

27 October`       Robbie Robinson  “Exercise Tiger”

24 November     John Risdon         “Coastal Fortifications in the South Hams”

                             AGM

Membership is continuing to rise and is now well into the 80’s but still with lots of room for more renewals and new members.  Contacts: David Williams (752716) and David Evans (752777).