Budleigh Past and Present

Photo of Her Majesty the Queen during her visit in 2015 to HMS Ocean in Devonport at a ceremony to rededicate the ship.  Image credit: Joel Rouse/ Ministry of Defence News of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II has been met with sadness around the world. Here in Budleigh messages have been received from Americans who feel a special link with our area thanks to memories of their ancestor Roger Conant, born in East Budleigh in 1592. Noted as a peacemaker in American history he is celebrated for founding the city of Salem in 1626. Among the thousands of his living descendants many meet in Conant family reunions in different parts of America. Some have visited or are planning visits to East Budleigh especially in the run-up to Salem’s 400 th anniversary. From California, Luli and Frank sent this message, following their visit to East Budleigh in June this year. ‘ We send our condolences about the loss of your Queen Elizabeth. The news of her passing evoked such sadness and shoc...

Budleigh Salterton is not generally spoken of as having been officially honoured by many royal visitors who stayed in the town, although HRH The Prince of Wales - later to become Edward VIII -  is recorded as having visited the town in 1914 and some years later, in May 1921, he played on the East Devon Golf Club's course.   However, judging by what the author R.F. Delderfield wrote in his essay 'Budleigh Salterton and Mrs.Simpson', published in his Overture for Beginners (1970) it's likely that after 1936 the town would not have wanted to remember that particular visitor.   And the romantic but furtive walks made by the late Diana, Princess of Wales along Budleigh beach, as described in Anna Pasternak's book Princess in Love , were never publicised by local residents. Nearby Sidmouth on the other hand boasts of its past glories associated with Queen Victori...