Sharing Stories Past and Present

Last night I had the pleasure of returning to the welcoming group at Lerryn W.I. to talk about the story behind Seeds of Doubt and the tragic Lynmouth floods of 1952. The evening had its own touch of drama—not just in the subject matter, but in the technology! The projector screen decided it had a mind of its own, rolling itself back up at intervals as if to punctuate the talk with its own commentary. Thankfully, the audience took it in good humour, and we carried on undeterred.

Next week takes me to the Lane Theatre in Newquay, where I’ll be speaking to the U3A about Reason or Rebellion: The Suffrage Story in the South West. This is a subject especially close to my heart. Having recently completed my book on women’s suffrage in Devon, my research has now carried me across the Tamar into Cornwall. The new project will be titled Voices for the Vote—a tribute to the courage, tenacity, and conviction of the women who campaigned tirelessly for the right to vote. From Lamorna Cove to the North Coast, from Lands End to Liskeard, Cornish women raised their voices against the injustice of political exclusion. Their determination helped pave the way for the freedoms we often take for granted today.
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It feels both a privilege and a responsibility to share these stories—of floods that changed lives, and of women who changed history.