Events
Our next event
Wednesday 7 October 2026 · evening
In the Wake of Drake
Colonel John Blashford-Snell CBE
Explorer, soldier and author
At the invitation of Emperor Haile Selassie, in 1968 the British Army commissioned him to select, train and lead a sixty-strong expedition to make the first descent of the Blue Nile. He went on to make the first vehicle crossing of the Darién Gap between Panama and Colombia in 1971 and 1972, and to explore almost the whole 2,700 miles of the Zaire, now the Congo, in 1974 and 1975. More than a hundred expeditions have followed.
He founded the Scientific Exploration Society in 1969. Under the patronage of the then Prince of Wales, now King Charles, he led Operation Drake from 1978 to 1980, taking four hundred young people from twenty-seven nations to work alongside scientists in sixteen countries aboard the brigantine Eye of the Wind. Operation Raleigh followed, and between 1984 and 1992 more than ten thousand young people from fifty countries took part.
He was appointed CBE in 2019 for services to scientific research overseas and to young people in the UK. His talk covers Operation Drake and Operation Raleigh and a number of his other expeditions, with plenty of highly humorous stories, and is followed by a question and answer session.
- Venue
- The Palace Theatre, Palace Avenue, Paignton
- Time
- Doors open 5.30pm for a 6.00pm start
- Tickets
- £15 members · £20 non-members · £15 veterans · £10 under 18
Tickets are sold only by the Palace Theatre, online or from the box office on 01803 665800.
Torbay Civic Society
Calendar
An inspiring programme of talks for 2026 and 2027
Monthly meetings are held on the last Friday of each month at 10.00am, at the Palace Theatre, Palace Avenue, Paignton. A few special events fall on other dates, noted below.
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7OctWednesday
Evening event
Colonel John Blashford-Snell CBE
One of the world's most famous explorers. Founder of Operation Drake, Operation Raleigh and the Scientific Exploration Society.
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30OctFriday
An Auctioneer's Life
Bring along any hidden treasures and he will value them at the meeting.
Stephen Large
Auctioneer
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2NovMonday
Blue plaque unveiling
Blue Plaque to Agatha Christie
Marking her honeymoon night at The Grand Hotel. To be unveiled by Alison MacMillan LVO DL JP.
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27NovFriday
Supporting the Fleet in Torbay and Plymouth in the Age of Fighting Sail, 1689 to 1815
Why Torbay was chosen as the anchorage for the Channel Fleet, and its vital relationship with Plymouth as the premier western naval base.
Rear Admiral Bob Mark
Chair, Britannia Trust
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7DecMonday
Social
Christmas Lunch
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29JanFriday
Why Bother Saving Them?
The difficult choice behind protecting Torbay's landmark buildings.
Dave Thomas
Leader, Torbay Council
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26FebFriday
Torquay's Antarctic Connections
Torquay's links with Scott and Shackleton's expeditions to the Antarctic, and new research into Roald Amundsen's talk at Torquay Pavilion in 1912.
Paul Davies
President, Devon & Cornwall Polar Society
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24MarWednesday
AGM
Annual General Meeting
Chaired by Dr Kevin Dixon, followed by a talk on the South West Coast Path chaired by Tino Savvas.
All members and guests welcome.
Save the dates. We look forward to welcoming you. Further details will be announced nearer each event.
Monthly meetings
Refreshments available
£4 members · £5 non-members
payable at the door