Press Officer Rick Purnell writes..........

Unfortunately, our scheduled talk this month about Teignmouth Orangery didn’t take place and the emergency plan for members to give mini talks/anecdotes about their lives and careers was both interesting and well received. Our speaker finder, Chris Inch served 24 years service with GCHQ Cheltenham is preparing a talk on the history of Mulberry Street, Teignmouth and asked if anyone had  any old photo’s or information about this old road behind the docks.

Member David Jeffery pondered what would happen if the internet stopped working such as a massive geomagnetic storm? It was interesting how much we rely on ‘being connected’ for almost everything we do but we were reminded that the Internet still remains unregulated. We were challenged to try days of abstinence – internet free days. Peter Lewis enquired if members knew the origins of several sayings such as ‘An arm and a leg’ referring back to the old days of affordability of artists painting costing more for images with several limbs. Or ‘Rule of thumb’ how flour millers tested the grit between his thumb and first finger to see if it needed to return for finer milling. Then ‘Mad as a hatter’ related to working environment where hats were shaped using mercury vapour, the inhaling of which caused industrial illness leading to insanity.

On a much lighter note, 6 members of our club plus supporters entered a darts team in the recent fund raiser held at the Teignmouth Social Club in support of the local Dementia Club. Despite our Secretary John Polly’s determination ‘going for double top’ – see photo, we failed to progress beyond the first round of 8 teams from local pubs and businesses, which was eventually won by the Teign Brewery pub team who donated the 1st prize of £100 to the charity. Local businesses generously donated nearly 50 raffle prizes which raised £2000. Organiser John Pearce of this third annual event, thanked everyone taking part for making it such a success and much fun was had by all.