Exploring the rich multicultural history of Devon.

Exeter Community Stories

Summary

Oral history has been a large part of the Telling Our Stories project. Sharing and recording Exeter’s local histories has helped to presereve the personal stories of individuals from dicers communities that have helped to shape Exeter today. Volunteers...

Maurice Hawker Interview

Maurice Hawker was born in St Thomas in 1934, and still lives in Exeter. He remembers the second world war, especially the Black GIs stationed near his home in Union St, and the Blitz. Maurice and his wife Ruth are in the Salvation Army – we are very grateful to them...

Sue Evens Interview

Sue Evens was born in Exeter in 1950, and has lived here ever since. Her mother was Mrs Hendy (pictured right), who came from the first black family in Cornwall. Read more about Mrs Hendy’s fascinating story.   Mr and Mrs Hendy met at the end of the war –...

Mosque Founders Interview

Mohammed Abdullah, Shahidur Rahman (far right), and Sayed Masuad Ali (right) are three of the founders of Exeter mosque. They are all British Bangladeshis from Sylhet, who came to Exeter in the late 60s and early 70s, and have run some of the oldest...

St James School Interview

Samantha Cruzada, Kemberly Espina, Nikoleta Raikova and Tina Liu were (at the time of recording) all year 11 students at St James Secondary school in Exeter. Sam was the Head Girl, and the others were prefects. They were interviewed at the Global Centre in 19th...

George Walker

George Walker was born in Exeter in 1930, and grew up in Newtown. He still lives near Exeter. George contacted us after this website was launched to tell us about Madam Josephine. His story opened up a fascinating new piece of research. Ghee Bowman and Crystal Carter...

Magda from Poland Interview

Magda came to Exeter from Poznań in Poland in 2004. She has married a local man, and has worked in a variety of jobs. She is now a freelance consultant in the fields of health and social care. She was interviewed at her home on 27th February 2013 by Chantal Kouadio...

Tony Cheung

Tony Cheung (also known as Zorro) moved to Exeter in 2004, having previously lived in Hong Kong and Somerset. In Hong Kong he had worked as a travel agent and an ice skater. In 1982 he was the Hong Kong men’s champion, and the pairs champion too. Here in Exeter,...