The oldest civic society in Britain marked its 175th anniversary, fittingly, with a trip down memory lane.
Members of the Sid Vale Association welcomed colleagues and visitors alike when they staged a celebration at Kennaway House.
The SVA’s origins are rooted way back in time when on September 18, 1846, the first meeting of the Sidmouth Improvement Committee took place with a vision to ‘conserve the charm and attractiveness of Sidmouth and the Sid Valley’.
Since then, the organisation has registered as a charity and bought land in the valley and worked hard to both preserve and improve the appearance and amenities of the area.
Ann Tanner, curator of the Sidmouth Museum, which is run by SVA volunteers, organised a fascinating display of photographs and other artefacts collected locally over the years.
Many of the items on show were previously unseen, including a fine collection of vintage ladies’ underwear, souvenirs depicting Sidmouth and several feather fans.
An item which had been donated many years ago but not been exhibited as nobody knew its function, was identified by a visitor as a medical cautery machine!
There was also a display of all of the blue plaques that the SVA has recently renewed and updated.
Valerie Huntington from SVA said: “The event was well attended by many members and non members who all commented on how much they enjoyed seeing a photographic display of all that the Sid Vale Assocaition has done over the last 175 years.
“Visitors to the exhibition were impressed by the record of all the grants so far totalling over £1m, that the Keith Owen fund - which the SVA administers - has made to various organisations in the valley.”
Keith, who was originally from Devon, moved to Canada and became an investment banker. On a visit to Sidmouth where he had relatives in May 2007, he discovered that he had a terminal illness with only months to live.
He contacted the SVA to say that he wished to place his life savings into its care so that the income could be used as a permanent endowment for the benefit of the people and organisations locally.
The Keith Owen fund was duly set up, with a then capital of £2.256m.
The Toastrack, a 1927 Austin SPL Charabanc was on display outside during the event and Sidmouth Town Band ended proceedings on a high note with a grand finale concert.
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