I hope you enjoyed last week’s article and as it appeared as close to April 1 as I could get it, I do hope you saw the joke!

The Pole however, does really exist and the Facebook group, Exmouth’s Rusty Pole, do have a lot of fun with it. I do hate to be the bearer of real facts about The Pole as opposed to letting all the ancient tales and myths surrounding it stay with you; but it is actually a ventilation shaft for South West Water for the combined sewer and overflow pipe for the sewer below – not very romantic I grant you!

Exmouth Journal:

Back in 1909 the council considered a surveyor’s report to put in twelve additional ventilation shafts around Exmouth. It was recommended that two be placed in Salterton Road, one at the junction of Douglas Avenue and Cranford Avenue and one on The Maer. They were estimated at £100 each which proved too costly for the council and was quietly dropped. At least The Maer got one for it to inspire poets and philosophers and it is revered to this day!

The museum’s new season kicked off in fine style when Simon Jupp,MP and long standing supporter of the museum, Geoff Perriam, performed the opening ceremony of the new Reception Room for visitors on Friday, March 31. The Town Crier rang in the occasion and the Mayor Steve Gazzard gave a vote of thanks. The museum opened again on 3 April so do come and see the new room and the many different displays and exhibitions that await you in 2023.

As many of you know the museum is run entirely by volunteers and relies on entrance fees, donations, both regular and stand-alone, fundraising events such as our monthly coffee 'n' cake mornings and legacies, for its income. In 2021 the museum was able to secure the building for the town and therefore the museum itself by purchasing the premises. This was partly funded by a grant and partly by a loan, which of course has to be repaid over time, with interest. If we add this to the existing overheads, you can imagine that the museum has to generate quite an income each year to keep going.

We are grateful to all who donate regularly by standing order and to all the businesses in the town who support the museum by giving of their time and materials without charge – this really helps us to maintain the building which was built in the late 19th century – so requires some upkeep!

We really do need the help of everyone to enable the museum to keep going and prosper for generations ahead.

So – how can you help support your local museum? You can volunteer to help either as a steward or with maintenance – there is always a job to do!

You can set up a standing order for as little as £2 per month

You can donate a lump sum and tell us if you want this used for a specific purpose.

Come and buy something from our range of museum souvenirs.

Come to our monthly coffee 'n' cake mornings on the third Thursday of every month at The Axis Centre, Market Street, Exmouth from 10.30 – 12.30. Bring your friends and buy a raffle ticket or two for a chance to win an amazing prize.

Support our fundraising events – 2023 will see the return of our ever popular Tribute to The Armed Forces, Past, Present and Future, at the museum. This year’s event will be even bigger and better with even more displays as Sheppard’s Row will be closed for the event on Saturday 10 June. Come and support your museum and thank our armed forces for all that they do to keep us safe.

If you would like to find out about Exmouth Museum please visit www.exmouthmuseum.co.uk or email Mike at mike.menhenitt@btinternet.com