SOME wonderful stories about Copplestone in days gone by came from the two-day photograph exhibition in the Methodist Church, organised by Mike James.

Mike, who moved to Copplestone with his wife Shirley in 1993, started his village history search at Exeter Record Office.

"I expected to find something about businesses and shops here, but I found one card. I can't remember what was on it because it was inconsequential, so I have spent the last I don't know how many years looking for photographs people would let me copy.

"We have had mini exhibitions in the shop, asking people to put names to photographs. We've had people who used to live here call at the shop and slowly we have collected information and photographs," said Mike.

He added that someone now living on the Isles of Scilly heard about his project and sent him post cards and photographs to copy.

Visiting Clannaborough, Mike became fascinated by the church and the hamlet. He has transcribed information such as burial records and baptisms.

"Looking at the census for Clannaborough it is so interesting how the families tie together. I would very much like to do the same for Down St Mary and Coleford, but I just don't have the time," he added.

But there are still many photographs where there are gaps in the names and Mike would like to fill these holes.

However, he does not intend to stage any more such exhibitions about Copplestone. His plan is to send all his information to the Exeter Record Office with copies made for groups such as the village school, Crediton Area History and Museum Society and the Library.

That does not mean Mike is not still interested. "If anyone has anything to do with Copplestone in the years gone by, till receipts, books, photographs, posters, or anything else, I would like to be able to copy this to add to the collection," he added.

With the school photographs, the railway and station, the road, houses, and farms, this exhibition included several of Copplestone Carnival.

One showed the huge shoe for The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe float. It kept winning prizes and photographs of it in the Carnival went back to 1912. Frank Conibere, who has lived at Copplestone all his life, used to repair the shoe until the 1950s.

Mike's enthusiasm for the project shines through. He explained it all began fairly impersonally. "As it grew it became a thing that had life, not just names and words, but people, many are still here with their families. It is about connecting people," he said.