There will be a short meeting for the AGM followed by an illustrated talk by Bob Mark entitled ‘South West Coast Path – A Smuggling Legacy’
Bob Mark is a former Chair of the Board of Trustees of the South West Coast Path Association, the charity which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2023, and which has been largely responsible for the restitution of the 630 mile coast path.
Bob’s lecture will trace the origins of the path from its earliest days as a key tool in the deadly battle between the revenue and smugglers. The role of tea, taxes, high-finance, and Napoleon’s scheme of economic warfare against his arch-foe Britain. Along the way we will meet a few colourful local characters.
The second half of the talk will bring the story up to date as a key part of the SW economy and social fabric.
About Bob Mark
Bob lives in Kingswear, returned to his roots, having trained as a young Naval Officer at Britannia Royal Naval College, and then subsequently teaching navigation at the College to young officers in his turn.
Bob specialised as a Hydrographic Surveyor in the navy, after twenty years at sea, he spent the latter third of his naval career in policy and strategy roles in the Ministry of Defence, before embarking on a second career in the private sector. He was fortunate to command several specialist naval hydrographic ships in various parts of the World, including charting UK shores so this coast has been part of his profession.
In tandem with his later work in the private sector, he spent a dozen or so years as a volunteer non-executive on various National Trust Boards, giving him a good understanding of the conservation, recreational, and economic background of the SWCP – the NT owns about a third – and something of the West Country elites who in their turn added layers to the rich history of the coast path.
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