Author, researcher, history enthusiast, public speaker, social worker - even founder and director of a murder mystery company, Pamela Vass has had a varied career. Her focus now lies in unearthing the stories buried in archives across the country, a passion that has led to her characteristic style of historically accurate, research-led storytelling.
A rumour that outside agencies played a part in the floods that devastated Lynmouth in 1952 led Pamela to the National Archives at Kew and evidence that formed the core of her novel Seeds of Doubt. A scrap of paper with the unlikely headline ‘Wooden Computer Invented in North Devon’ launched her on a search for the truth about Torrington mathematician and inventor, Thomas Fowler. In 2016 she was delighted to be awarded the Devon History Society W.G. Hoskins prize for The Power of Three, her meticulously researched account of Fowler's life and ground-breaking work. In Reason or Rebellion?, Pamela combines in-depth research, first hand accounts and fictionalised sequences to bring the previously untold story of women’s fight for the vote in Devon vividly to life. The legend of an elderly Newlyn fishwife who walked from Cornwall to London to see the Great Exhibition of 1851 was the next mystery to spark her imagination. In Cornwall to the Crystal Palace; the Extraordinary Journey of Mary Kelynack she reveals the truth behind the legend.
Pamela has given numerous presentations on her books. To make a booking for your group please contact her via the button below.
From Cornwall to the Crystal Palace: The Extraordinary Journey of Mary Kelynack
In August 1851 a curiously dressed, elderly woman was seen trudging along Southampton High Street. Passers by couldn’t fail to notice her. She wore a huge beaver bonnet and carried a corracle-like basket on her back. Curious onlookers stopped to ask where she was headed. Her answer astonished them. She was Mary Kelynack, a Cornish fish seller from Newlyn, and she was walking all the way to London to see the Great Exhibition.Mary claimed to be in her eighty-fourth year. She had never travelled far from Newlyn in West Cornwall and could not afford the cost of a coach, train or steamer. But when she heard of the wonders gathered beneath the vast glass roof of the Crystal Palace, she made an extraordinary decision. She would walk.
What followed was one of the most remarkable and uplifting stories of Victorian Britain. As news of her journey spread, Mary became an unlikely celebrity. She had an audience with the Lord Mayor of London, sat for a famous sculptor, inspired songs and a polka, and even greeted Queen Victoria. But who was the real Mary Kelynack? What drove a woman of advancing years to undertake such an ambitious journey? And what happened after her fame faded and the headlines moved on?
This entertaining and richly illustrated costumed presentation uncovers the true story behind the legend, drawing on contemporary newspaper reports, original documents and eyewitness accounts to bring Mary's world vividly to life. A tale of determination, humour and endurance, it is the story of an ordinary Cornish woman who achieved the seemingly impossible—and captured the imagination of a nation.
Interesting, informative and engaging speaker. Brilliant presentation. Speaker was an excellent storyteller. Great presentation. Really good delivery, excellent research! Interesting and informative, well studied. Brought history to life. Morrab Library, Penzance
I have to say, and those I spoke to afterwards agreed, what an excellent talk. So well illustrated and you put it over so well. It was so interesting and entertaining. Plympton Civic Society
Chris and I were totally absorbed by Pam's presentation, it was brilliant! She's such an engaging communicator and the topic was fascinating. Buckland Brewer History Society (Zoom Talk)
Reason or Rebellion? Women's Fight for the Vote in Devon
On a warm August night in 1913, a motor car was seen speeding away from a Devon mansion. Moments later, flames lit up the sky. By morning, newspapers across the country were asking the same question: Had the suffragettes struck again? This mystery provides a dramatic starting point for an extraordinary journey into Devon's forgotten suffrage story. Far from being a quiet rural backwater, Devon women challenged politicians, disrupted meetings, organised rallies, marched in London processions and risked arrest in pursuit of a cause they believed in.Some endured imprisonment in Holloway and the brutal ordeal of force-feeding. Others travelled the county inspiring packed audiences to join the campaign and participate in what may well have been the largest sleepover Devon has ever witnessed!
Rich in colourful characters, dramatic incidents and surprising local connections, this engaging multimedia presentation reveals the courage, determination and ingenuity of the women who refused to remain silent. Featuring rare photographs, original film footage, contemporary illustrations, first-hand suffragette accounts and readings from Reason or Rebellion?, the talk brings to life the local contribution to a movement that changed British democracy forever.
Thank you for your presentation which attracted a sell out audience of 100 festival fans. Feedback following your event has been outstanding: the quality of your presentation materials, the delivery style and pace have all been acknowledged. Following Michael Palin’s event was never going to be easy but I am delighted to say that we need not have worried! A very entertaining and informative event. Appledore Book Festival.
Your presentation and talk of those indomitable Women, who we need to thank for campaigning all those years ago to give us the vote, was excellent. It was so interesting and everyone who I have spoken to agreed with me. Torpoint and Rame U3A
Your talk was very much enjoyed and was so interesting. It was lovely that you dressed 'of the period'. Tavistock U3A
Thank you so much for a quite wonderfully presented and well researched talk, which I know was much enjoyed and appreciated. Modbury History Society
Voices for the Vote: The Women’s Story in Cornwall
Far from London, Cornish women were making history in their own bold and determined ways. From the first petition of 1866 to dramatic acts of protest in the early twentieth century, women across Cornwall campaigned tirelessly to have their voices heard. Crowds gathered in their hundreds in towns from Penzance to Launceston, Newquay to St Austell, inspired by powerful speakers demanding representation in Parliament. Some campaigners took even greater risks. Suffragettes were imprisoned in Holloway; some endured hunger strikes. At Lamorna Cove, exhausted activists recovered among friends and supporters before returning to the struggle; in Falmouth women refused to pay taxes in protest at laws imposed without their consent, while suffragists undertook an extraordinary pilgrimage from Land’s End to London for the cause.
This inspiring and thought-provoking talk reveals the forgotten stories of the women of Cornwall who refused to remain silent.
Thank you again for such an incredible session! It was absolutely fascinating. (Zoom talk)
Thank you so much for your very interesting and professional presentation yesterday. I am always struck by the bravery of individuals who risk everything for causes born out of a wish for change. Newquay U3A
Thomas Fowler: Devon’s Forgotten Computer Pioneer
"Wooden Computer Invented in North Devon!" It sounds like the stuff of science fiction. Yet in the 1840s, a self-taught Devon bookseller and printer designed a revolutionary calculating machine made largely of wood — a machine that anticipated key principles of modern computing more than a century before the digital age. His name was Thomas Fowler. Born in the small market town of Great Torrington, Fowler had little formal education, yet his remarkable mathematical abilities led him to challenge the accepted limits of what machines could achieve. His inventions attracted the attention of leading scientists and even reached the corridors of power in London. So why has history largely forgotten him? The answer is a fascinating story of brilliance, ambition, missed opportunities and the social prejudices of Victorian Britain. While better-known inventors entered the history books, Fowler's pioneering work slipped into obscurity, leaving one of Devon's greatest scientific achievements almost entirely unknown.
This engaging multi-media presentation brings Fowler's extraordinary story back to life through original documents, illustrations, video and contemporary accounts. Discover the man behind the invention, explore the machine that could have changed computing history, and uncover the reasons why one of Britain's most remarkable innovators was all but forgotten. A tale of genius, invention and injustice that asks an intriguing question: what if the computer age had begun in rural Devon?
Thank you for the excellent talk you gave to Otter Vale Probus club, our members were amazed to learn about Thomas Fowler. (Zoom talk)
Thank you so much for venturing to Modbury again to give such a fascinating and extremely well researched talk. Modbury History Society
Many thanks for your excellent talk yesterday. It was very interesting and I think it highlighted yet another forgotten genius. Very informative and enjoyable indeed. Scientifique, Sidmouth
‘Computers might have changed history and our world almost a century sooner had the ideas of Fowler been understood and adopted by Babbage.’ Professor, Ralph Merkle, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Molecular Manufacturing, California.
The Lynmouth Floods - Act of God or Act of Man?
On the night of 15 August 1952, one of Britain’s worst post-war disasters struck the picturesque village of Lynmouth on the North Devon coast. In a matter of hours, torrents of water tore through the valley, sweeping away homes, bridges and lives. By dawn, 34 people were dead and an entire community had been changed forever. But was this simply a tragic natural disaster?
For decades, rumours have persisted that secret Government weather experiments may have played a part in the catastrophe. Conspiracy theory or uncomfortable truth? When previously classified documents became available, I set out to investigate for myself. What I discovered was a remarkable story of extreme weather, Cold War science, hidden records and enduring questions that refuse to go away. Drawing on original research, newly released documents and the real events that inspired my novel Seeds of Doubt, this fascinating multi-media talk explores the facts behind the flood, the origins of the weather modification claims, and the evidence that continues to fuel debate more than seventy years later.
Featuring photographs, archive material, readings from the novel, and behind-the-scenes insights into the research and writing process, this is a story of tragedy, mystery and unanswered questions that will leave you wondering where the truth really lies. Could one of Britain's most devastating floods have been more than a natural disaster? Time to decide for yourself.
I just wanted to thank you once again for your excellent talk in Thursday. I had so many people come up to me afterwards telling me how superb it was and how they enjoyed it. Many comments like "brilliant talk" and "wow, that was the best talk for a long time". Bude U3A
Whispers, Mysteries and Forgotten Lives: Uncovering the Hidden Stories of the West Country.
The West Country is rich in remarkable people, significant events and local legends, but how do writers uncover the stories that history has overlooked? Join me for a fascinating and entertaining talk exploring the journey from first spark of curiosity to finished book.
A story might begin with a whispered rumour, a newspaper headline that raises more questions than it answers, curiosity over how national events touched ordinary lives closer to home or a determination to uncover the truth behind a local legend. Drawing on my own research and writing, I reveal how hidden stories emerge from the archives, newspapers, top secret documents, photographs and personal accounts, gradually piecing together lives and events that might otherwise have been forgotten. Along the way you'll discover some of the surprising characters, mysteries and moments from Devon and Cornwall that have inspired my books, and gain an insight into the detective work that lies behind historical research and storytelling. This is a talk about discovery, persistence, surprises and the thrill of finding history overlooked by others. Whether you're interested in local history, family history, writing or simply enjoy a good story, you will leave looking at the past with fresh eyes.
A rumour that outside agencies played a part in the floods that devastated Lynmouth in 1952 led Pamela to the National Archives at Kew and evidence that formed the core of her novel Seeds of Doubt. A scrap of paper with the unlikely headline ‘Wooden Computer Invented in North Devon’ launched her on a search for the truth about Torrington mathematician and inventor, Thomas Fowler. In 2016 she was delighted to be awarded the Devon History Society W.G. Hoskins prize for The Power of Three, her meticulously researched account of Fowler's life and ground-breaking work. In Reason or Rebellion?, Pamela combines in-depth research, first hand accounts and fictionalised sequences to bring the previously untold story of women’s fight for the vote in Devon vividly to life. The legend of an elderly Newlyn fishwife who walked from Cornwall to London to see the Great Exhibition of 1851 was the next mystery to spark her imagination. In Cornwall to the Crystal Palace; the Extraordinary Journey of Mary Kelynack she reveals the truth behind the legend.
Pamela has given numerous presentations on her books. To make a booking for your group please contact her via the button below.
From Cornwall to the Crystal Palace: The Extraordinary Journey of Mary Kelynack
In August 1851 a curiously dressed, elderly woman was seen trudging along Southampton High Street. Passers by couldn’t fail to notice her. She wore a huge beaver bonnet and carried a corracle-like basket on her back. Curious onlookers stopped to ask where she was headed. Her answer astonished them. She was Mary Kelynack, a Cornish fish seller from Newlyn, and she was walking all the way to London to see the Great Exhibition.Mary claimed to be in her eighty-fourth year. She had never travelled far from Newlyn in West Cornwall and could not afford the cost of a coach, train or steamer. But when she heard of the wonders gathered beneath the vast glass roof of the Crystal Palace, she made an extraordinary decision. She would walk.
What followed was one of the most remarkable and uplifting stories of Victorian Britain. As news of her journey spread, Mary became an unlikely celebrity. She had an audience with the Lord Mayor of London, sat for a famous sculptor, inspired songs and a polka, and even greeted Queen Victoria. But who was the real Mary Kelynack? What drove a woman of advancing years to undertake such an ambitious journey? And what happened after her fame faded and the headlines moved on?
This entertaining and richly illustrated costumed presentation uncovers the true story behind the legend, drawing on contemporary newspaper reports, original documents and eyewitness accounts to bring Mary's world vividly to life. A tale of determination, humour and endurance, it is the story of an ordinary Cornish woman who achieved the seemingly impossible—and captured the imagination of a nation.
Interesting, informative and engaging speaker. Brilliant presentation. Speaker was an excellent storyteller. Great presentation. Really good delivery, excellent research! Interesting and informative, well studied. Brought history to life. Morrab Library, Penzance
I have to say, and those I spoke to afterwards agreed, what an excellent talk. So well illustrated and you put it over so well. It was so interesting and entertaining. Plympton Civic Society
Chris and I were totally absorbed by Pam's presentation, it was brilliant! She's such an engaging communicator and the topic was fascinating. Buckland Brewer History Society (Zoom Talk)
Reason or Rebellion? Women's Fight for the Vote in Devon
On a warm August night in 1913, a motor car was seen speeding away from a Devon mansion. Moments later, flames lit up the sky. By morning, newspapers across the country were asking the same question: Had the suffragettes struck again? This mystery provides a dramatic starting point for an extraordinary journey into Devon's forgotten suffrage story. Far from being a quiet rural backwater, Devon women challenged politicians, disrupted meetings, organised rallies, marched in London processions and risked arrest in pursuit of a cause they believed in.Some endured imprisonment in Holloway and the brutal ordeal of force-feeding. Others travelled the county inspiring packed audiences to join the campaign and participate in what may well have been the largest sleepover Devon has ever witnessed!
Rich in colourful characters, dramatic incidents and surprising local connections, this engaging multimedia presentation reveals the courage, determination and ingenuity of the women who refused to remain silent. Featuring rare photographs, original film footage, contemporary illustrations, first-hand suffragette accounts and readings from Reason or Rebellion?, the talk brings to life the local contribution to a movement that changed British democracy forever.
Thank you for your presentation which attracted a sell out audience of 100 festival fans. Feedback following your event has been outstanding: the quality of your presentation materials, the delivery style and pace have all been acknowledged. Following Michael Palin’s event was never going to be easy but I am delighted to say that we need not have worried! A very entertaining and informative event. Appledore Book Festival.
Your presentation and talk of those indomitable Women, who we need to thank for campaigning all those years ago to give us the vote, was excellent. It was so interesting and everyone who I have spoken to agreed with me. Torpoint and Rame U3A
Your talk was very much enjoyed and was so interesting. It was lovely that you dressed 'of the period'. Tavistock U3A
Thank you so much for a quite wonderfully presented and well researched talk, which I know was much enjoyed and appreciated. Modbury History Society
Voices for the Vote: The Women’s Story in Cornwall
Far from London, Cornish women were making history in their own bold and determined ways. From the first petition of 1866 to dramatic acts of protest in the early twentieth century, women across Cornwall campaigned tirelessly to have their voices heard. Crowds gathered in their hundreds in towns from Penzance to Launceston, Newquay to St Austell, inspired by powerful speakers demanding representation in Parliament. Some campaigners took even greater risks. Suffragettes were imprisoned in Holloway; some endured hunger strikes. At Lamorna Cove, exhausted activists recovered among friends and supporters before returning to the struggle; in Falmouth women refused to pay taxes in protest at laws imposed without their consent, while suffragists undertook an extraordinary pilgrimage from Land’s End to London for the cause.
This inspiring and thought-provoking talk reveals the forgotten stories of the women of Cornwall who refused to remain silent.
Thank you again for such an incredible session! It was absolutely fascinating. (Zoom talk)
Thank you so much for your very interesting and professional presentation yesterday. I am always struck by the bravery of individuals who risk everything for causes born out of a wish for change. Newquay U3A
Thomas Fowler: Devon’s Forgotten Computer Pioneer
"Wooden Computer Invented in North Devon!" It sounds like the stuff of science fiction. Yet in the 1840s, a self-taught Devon bookseller and printer designed a revolutionary calculating machine made largely of wood — a machine that anticipated key principles of modern computing more than a century before the digital age. His name was Thomas Fowler. Born in the small market town of Great Torrington, Fowler had little formal education, yet his remarkable mathematical abilities led him to challenge the accepted limits of what machines could achieve. His inventions attracted the attention of leading scientists and even reached the corridors of power in London. So why has history largely forgotten him? The answer is a fascinating story of brilliance, ambition, missed opportunities and the social prejudices of Victorian Britain. While better-known inventors entered the history books, Fowler's pioneering work slipped into obscurity, leaving one of Devon's greatest scientific achievements almost entirely unknown.
This engaging multi-media presentation brings Fowler's extraordinary story back to life through original documents, illustrations, video and contemporary accounts. Discover the man behind the invention, explore the machine that could have changed computing history, and uncover the reasons why one of Britain's most remarkable innovators was all but forgotten. A tale of genius, invention and injustice that asks an intriguing question: what if the computer age had begun in rural Devon?
Thank you for the excellent talk you gave to Otter Vale Probus club, our members were amazed to learn about Thomas Fowler. (Zoom talk)
Thank you so much for venturing to Modbury again to give such a fascinating and extremely well researched talk. Modbury History Society
Many thanks for your excellent talk yesterday. It was very interesting and I think it highlighted yet another forgotten genius. Very informative and enjoyable indeed. Scientifique, Sidmouth
‘Computers might have changed history and our world almost a century sooner had the ideas of Fowler been understood and adopted by Babbage.’ Professor, Ralph Merkle, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Molecular Manufacturing, California.
The Lynmouth Floods - Act of God or Act of Man?
On the night of 15 August 1952, one of Britain’s worst post-war disasters struck the picturesque village of Lynmouth on the North Devon coast. In a matter of hours, torrents of water tore through the valley, sweeping away homes, bridges and lives. By dawn, 34 people were dead and an entire community had been changed forever. But was this simply a tragic natural disaster?
For decades, rumours have persisted that secret Government weather experiments may have played a part in the catastrophe. Conspiracy theory or uncomfortable truth? When previously classified documents became available, I set out to investigate for myself. What I discovered was a remarkable story of extreme weather, Cold War science, hidden records and enduring questions that refuse to go away. Drawing on original research, newly released documents and the real events that inspired my novel Seeds of Doubt, this fascinating multi-media talk explores the facts behind the flood, the origins of the weather modification claims, and the evidence that continues to fuel debate more than seventy years later.
Featuring photographs, archive material, readings from the novel, and behind-the-scenes insights into the research and writing process, this is a story of tragedy, mystery and unanswered questions that will leave you wondering where the truth really lies. Could one of Britain's most devastating floods have been more than a natural disaster? Time to decide for yourself.
I just wanted to thank you once again for your excellent talk in Thursday. I had so many people come up to me afterwards telling me how superb it was and how they enjoyed it. Many comments like "brilliant talk" and "wow, that was the best talk for a long time". Bude U3A
Whispers, Mysteries and Forgotten Lives: Uncovering the Hidden Stories of the West Country.
The West Country is rich in remarkable people, significant events and local legends, but how do writers uncover the stories that history has overlooked? Join me for a fascinating and entertaining talk exploring the journey from first spark of curiosity to finished book.
A story might begin with a whispered rumour, a newspaper headline that raises more questions than it answers, curiosity over how national events touched ordinary lives closer to home or a determination to uncover the truth behind a local legend. Drawing on my own research and writing, I reveal how hidden stories emerge from the archives, newspapers, top secret documents, photographs and personal accounts, gradually piecing together lives and events that might otherwise have been forgotten. Along the way you'll discover some of the surprising characters, mysteries and moments from Devon and Cornwall that have inspired my books, and gain an insight into the detective work that lies behind historical research and storytelling. This is a talk about discovery, persistence, surprises and the thrill of finding history overlooked by others. Whether you're interested in local history, family history, writing or simply enjoy a good story, you will leave looking at the past with fresh eyes.
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