Budleigh Past and Present

  Roger Conant’s descendants have been thrilled to learn about the activities of the East Budleigh-based local history group which has been investigating the Devon origins of the founder of Salem, Massachusetts.  Two American visitors, Luli and Frank, flew all the way from California to spend some time in the area over the recent Jubilee weekend. Luli is  Roger Conant's 9x-granddaughter.  The couple learnt about other aspects of East Budleigh. It's the Devon village where in the 16 th  century two important figures in the history of America were born. A third - a naval hero celebrated for helping to establish a landmark in transatlantic communications - is buried there.   Passing Hayes Barton, birthplace of Sir Walter Ralegh on Hayes Lane, a mile or so west of East Budleigh: the word ‘barton’ simply meaning a farm. The house is not open to the public        Vicars Mead on Hayes Lane, where the young Walter Ralegh and Roger Conant are likely to have received their early schoolin

  Both the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were among thousands of young people who took part in Raleigh International  expeditions during their teens. This photo from 2012 shows the royal couple visiting Danum Valley in Borneo, where RI was a project partner with the Sabah Foundation. Image credit: www.raleighinternational.org   It’s been great to see East Budleigh’s Sir Walter Raleigh pub re-launched as a community venture. But not such great news to read of the collapse last month of another institution named after the village’s most famous historic figure. Many people were shocked to learn that Raleigh International Trust would cease operating from 19 May 2022.     Colonel John Blashford-Snell OBE.  Image credit: www.gibraltarliteraryfestival.com Raleigh International had its origins in the Scientific Exploration Society, founded in 1969 by Colonel John Blashford-Snell, who ten years later established Operation Drake.  This developed into Operation Raleigh, later to become