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Events

Events


I love bringing history to life through my unique blend of theatre, history and re-enactment, which draws on my extensive research into Devon’s sixteenth century past, and intoTudor life and Tudor/Elizabethan dress. 

I offer a flexible range of talks and costume demonstrations, all over the West Country and beyond. I am also available for living history/re-enactment events and to talk about my writing at book club meetings. For bookshops I offer talks or can simply come along to sign copes of my books.

While I’m often dressed in clothing of the time which I create myself, but am also happy to present in twenty-first century attire when appropriate.

Talks available include:

An Audience with the Lady Katherine and a peep inside her wardrobe Travel back in time with the Lady Katherine and learn about her life in Tudor Devon and the amazing clothes she wore.  Includes a full demonstration of the costume of a wealthy sixteenth century woman.

A Woman of Noble Wit Devon produced some larger-than-life sixteenth century characters and the stories of men like Drake and Raleigh are well known. But behind those famous men stood wives, sisters, daughters, and mothers who also have a story to tell. In this presentation I introduce Katherine Champernowne, the mother of both Sir Walter Raleigh and Sir Humphrey Gilbert and discuss the research that underpins my historical novel of her life A Woman of Noble Wit

Bessie’s tale — the life of a typical sixteenth century serving woman Adopting the clothing and persona of a Tudor working woman I give a flavour of life for the lower and “middling” sorts. Includes a full costume demonstration and discussion of fabrics, needlework and knitting.

A Tudor Christmas with the Lady Katherine Appearing in full period costume I bring the festivities, feasting and fun of a Tudor Christmas to life in a lively presentation interspersed with songs from the peasant David. As a guest invited to join Sir Philip Champernowne’s Christmas feast at the Court House Modbury you will discover the etiquette, menu and customs of the twelve days of a sixteenth century Christmas.

Daughters of Devon Join me for a unique blend of history, theatre and re-enactment. Appearing in full sixteenth century dress and drawing on extensive research into 16th century Devon, Tudor and Elizabethan life and the clothing of the time, I introduce some of the fascinating women I have discovered amongst families whose influence stretched beyond the West Country. Meet the forgotten women of history. The wives, sisters, daughters and mothers who played their part during those tumultuous Tudor years: The Daughters of Devon. 

Contact me to discuss your group's  particular interests 

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Diary

Date Location Event
Sept. 3, 2024 For Harberton and Harbertonford History Society An Audience with the Lady Katherine
Sept. 4, 2024 Dartington Hall Dartington Tour for Ilsham WI
Sept. 5, 2024 Historical Novel Society Conference Dartington Hall Historical Novel Society Conference - Tours on 5pm on 5 September and at 2pm, and 4pm on 6 September
Sept. 6, 2024 Dartington Hall - meet at arch at 11am Dartington Gardens Tour
Sept. 11, 2024 For Bere Ferrers WI Bessie's Tale
Sept. 12, 2024 The Old Exeter Inn, Ashburton, Devon - evening event The Physic Garden and The Dartingtont Bride - Book event, reading etc
Sept. 14, 2024 Newton Abbot Museum at Newton's Place - from 10am Heritage Open Days - meet Lady Katherine
Sept. 16, 2024 Dartington Hall at 10.30am Dartington Tour for Newton Abbot Association of the National Trust
Sept. 20, 2024 The Flavel Centre, Dartmouth at 2pm - tickets available via The Flavel Centre Dartmouth Book Festival - a new talk -- Daughters of Devon
Sept. 25, 2024 For Teignmouth Gems WI Bessie's Tale
Sept. 26, 2024 For Altarnum Local History Society, near Launceston, Cornwall An Audience with the Lady Katherine
Oct. 9, 2024 For Newton Abbot Trefoil Guild Bessie's Tale
Oct. 15, 2024 For Salcombe WI Bessie's Tale
Oct. 21, 2024 For Tipton St John Ladies Group An Audience with the Lady Katherine
Oct. 23, 2024 For Livermead and Preston U3A at Preston Conservative Club, Paignton An Audience with the Lady Katherine
Nov. 6, 2024 For South Hill WI, South Hill, Cornwall A Tudor Christmas with the Lady Katherine
Nov. 7, 2024 Devon Rural Archive Daughters of Devon
Nov. 12, 2024 For Dawlish WI A Tudor Christmas with the Lady Katherine
Nov. 15, 2024 Speedwell Hall, Crewkerne - *Tickets will be available via the Speedwell Hall* A Tudor Christmas with the Lady Katherine
Nov. 19, 2024 For Yeovil u3A A Tudor Christmas with the Lady Katherine
Nov. 20, 2024 Mortonhampstead History Society at 7.30pm A Tudor Christmas with the Lady Katherine
Nov. 25, 2024 For Pinhoe Angels A Tudor Christmas with the Lady Katherine
Nov. 27, 2024 For the Lustleigh Society A Tudor Christemas with the Lady Katherine
Nov. 29, 2024 For Whimple History Society A Tudor Christmas with the Lady Katherine
Dec. 11, 2024 For Uffculme WI at 7pm A Tudor Christmas with the Lady Katherine
Dec. 17, 2024 For Exeter Ladies Probus A Tudor Christmas with the Lady Katherine
Dec. 19, 2024 For Totnes WI A Tudor Christmas with the Lady Katherine
Jan. 15, 2025 For Aylesbeare WI Bessie's Tale
Jan. 21, 2025 For Newton Ferrers and Noss Mayo WI Daughters of Devon
Jan. 28, 2025 For retirement community at Maple Court, Plymstock An Audience with the Lady Katherine
Jan. 30, 2025 For Friends of Newton Abbot Museum at Newton's Place, Newton Abbot Daughters of Devon
Feb. 3, 2025 For Crewkerne U3A An Audience with the Lady Katherine
Feb. 5, 2025 For Crediton Probus Ladies Lunch An Audience with the Lady Katherine
Feb. 10, 2025 For Wellswood Afternoon WI Daughters of Devon
Feb. 17, 2025 For Ipplepen Local History Group at Ipplepen Village Hall An Audience with the Lady Katherine
Feb. 20, 2025 For Buckfastleigh History Society An Audience with the Lady Katherine
Feb. 24, 2025 Monday Club, Avenue Church, Newton Abbot Daughters of Devon
March 4, 2025 For the "R" club, The Mint Church, Exeter tbc
March 5, 2025 Coffee Time Talk for Fairlynch Museum, Buddleigh Salterton A Woman of Noble Wit
March 11, 2025 For Bickington Tuesday Club An Audience with the Lady Katherine
March 19, 2025 For Newton Abbot Trefoil Group An Audience with Lady Katherine
March 25, 2025 For Trinity Ladies Fellowship, Quaker House, Mutley Plain, Plymouth Bessie's Tale
May 1, 2025 For Sidmouth Ladies Probus Bessie's Tale
May 6, 2025 For Cheriton Fitzpaine Ladies Evening Organisation An Audience with the Lady Katherine
May 14, 2025 For Crediton Ladies Circle at the Boniface Centre, Crediton An Audience with the Lady Katherine (TBC)
May 22, 2025 Speedwell Hall, Crewkerne, Somerset Daughters of Devon
June 4, 2025 For Plymouth Hartley WI An Audience with the Lady Katherine
June 11, 2025 For Cornwood WI, Cornwood Village Hall at 7.30pm An Audience with the Lady Katherine
June 25, 2025 For East Budleigh and Bicton WI An Audience with the Lady Katherine
July 9, 2025 For Exeter Quilters - St Thomas Parish Hall, Exeter. Bessie's Tale
July 16, 2025 For Churston and Galmpton Ladies club An Audience with the Lady Katherine
July 21, 2025 For Dawlish U3A at The Manor House, Dawlish An Audience with the Lady Katherine
Sept. 30, 2025 For Salcombe History Society A Woman of Noble Wit
Nov. 11, 2025 For Lutra Vallis Ladies Probus Group at the Blue Ball Inn, Sidford A Tudor Christmas with the Lady Katherine
Nov. 12, 2025 For Newton abbot Trefoil Group A Tudor Christmas
Nov. 17, 2025 For Tipton St John Ladies Group A Tudor Christmas with the Lady Katherine
Nov. 18, 2025 For Axe Valley WI A Tudor Christmas with the Lady Katherine TBC
Nov. 19, 2025 For Honiton U3A at the Beehive Centre, Honiton A Tudor Christmas with the Lady Katherine
Nov. 20, 2025 For Babbacombe History Society A Tudor Christmas with the Lady Katherine
Nov. 25, 2025 For Ashburton U3A, Town Hall, Ashburton A Tudor Christmas with the Lady Katherine
Nov. 27, 2025 For Teign U3A A Tudor Christmas with the Lady Katherine
Dec. 9, 2025 For Withycombe Raleigh WI A Tudor Christmas with the Lady Katherine
Jan. 22, 2026 For Altarnum History Society - TBC Bessie's Tale
March 12, 2026 For Christow WI An Audience with the Lady Katherine

A Wonderful afternoon at South Milton Thursday Club March 10, 2023, 11:34 a.m.by South Milton Thursday Club

Feb. 23, 2024, 9:41 a.m. by March 10, 2023, 11:34 a.m.by South Milton Thursday Club

It's good to find a speaker who can hold the attention of both the men and the women in the audience so well.

a Wonderful afternoon at South Milton Thursday Club
March 10, 2023, 11:34 a.m.by South Milton Thursday Club
Thank you so much for giving us such a wonderful afternoon yesterday.

I have been getting messages from lots of people, saying how much they enjoyed your presentation, how informative it was and what fun it all was. Appearing in full period costume which you make yourself, you brought your book on the life of Lady Katherine Champernowne 'A Woman of Noble Wit' to life through a fascinating and fun presentation. I think we all learnt something, and we certainly had a good laugh!!

We …



Your research, attention to detail, and your performance as Lady Katherine are outstanding -

An Audience with the Lady Katherine - talk for Kenton WI
Dec. 4, 2021, 10:52 a.m.A review for 'A Woman of Noble Wit', by Kenton WI

Your research, attention to detail, and your performance as Lady Katherine are outstanding -

I can't tell you how much I enjoyed your presentation last night - it was absolutely fascinating.
Several of our members sew and embroider (me included) so the details of fabrics, stitches, social etiquette in dress etc were most interesting.

Your research, attention to detail, and your performance as Lady Katherine are outstanding -
I can't wait to read your book!


Talk for Tremanton WI - An Audience with the Lady Katheirne - 16th November 2021

Feb. 23, 2024, 9:37 a.m. by Original review from Tremanton WI member

Everyone very much enjoyed your enthusiasm and the unique way you share your knowledge.

Talk for Tremanton WI - An Audience with the Lady Katheirne - 16th November 2021
Nov. 18, 2021, 2:52 p.m.A review for 'A Woman of Noble Wit', by Tremanton WI member
Brilliant is the only word to describe you

Dear Rosemary
Thank you again for your delightful talk to our WI on Tuesday evening. Everyone very much enjoyed your enthusiasm and the unique way you share your knowledge. Brilliant is the only word to describe you. Thank you again.

I have also started reading your lovely book and I was immediately transported back into the meadow on the estate,............

Original review from Tremanton …



... much appreciated by members

Nov. 8, 2021, 10:52 a.m.by The Exeter Forum
Thank you very much for your excellent presentation to the Exeter Forum today. It was very impressive how you switched from Catherine to “the impersonator” and how much information about her and the history you covered. The talk was very much appreciated by members.

https://www.exeterforum.org/