MEMBERS of Devon Dowsers celebrated their 25th anniversary at the Red Lion Hotel in Chulmleigh on Tuesday, October 10 starting with a meal and then holding a Members’ evening.

Two founder members were present, John Bowers and John Down, who spoke about how Devon Dowsers started as well as some of their own dowsing experiences over the years.

After the break and the two Johns cutting the big anniversary cake, there was a photo slide show of the summer events the members had attended.

Devon Dowsers was formed in late 1992 when John Bowers of Winkleigh was teaching “Dowsing for Beginners” at various Community Colleges in Devon.

It was decided to form a club so people could meet and practice together, visit places of interest and have talks on relevant subjects. The early meetings’ speakers included Donovan the Diviner and David Crow who ran the Henge bookshop at Avebury.

In 1993 the first magazine Devon Dowsers News, was published which included a competition for the Society’s logo, and details of the first all day field trip to Avebury in September 1993 which 47 people attended.

At one point Devon Dowsers was the largest dowsing society in the country with more than 200 members.

Devon Dowsers members meet at the Red Lion in Chulmleigh at 7.30pm on the second Tuesday in the month from September to May (excluding December) and have visits to places of interest in the summer months.

During this anniversary year they have visited Glastonbury and Lundy, held training workshops and courses, and had a programme of interesting and knowledgeable speakers.

Programme details are on the website: www.devondowsers.org.uk and new members are always welcome.

The next meeting is on Tuesday, November 14 with a talk on Stonehenge Landscape by Don Bryan, an archaelogical dowser from Hampshire.

Devon Dowsers’ 25th annual meeting is to be held at the Red Lion, Chulmleigh at 7.30pm on Tuesday, November 28, followed by a social evening with pizza and chips.

Sue Read