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Diana Dors when she visited the ABC Cinema in the early 1960s with the manager Robert "Bob" Parker. For the younger amongst us, Diana Dors was a 1960s British film star noted for her blonde hair and female attributes. Can anyone identify the two gents on the right? The Wine and Spirit Vaults was a Heavitree House at the top of Quay Hill, in Holloway Street. The earliest reference to this business is in April 1819 when an advert for Cognac Brandy from Charante was placed in the Flying Post, when it was known as Crockett and Davies Wine and Spirit Vaults.

This graphic appeared on the rear of the official Exeter City Council guidebooks for about 15 years, from the 1920s to 1942.

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St Mary Major Church opposite the Great West Window was demolished in 1972. They discovered the Roman Baths beneath. Never before published photo © Michael T J WrideThe winter of 1962/3 is etched into many older people's memories for its severity, especially in the west-country. The River Exe froze allowing people to cycle along the centre, in front of the quay. Never before published photo © Michael T J Wride

EXETER ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO this JANUARY
This Month in Exeter - 1915 also see 1913 and 1914
EXETER BOYS
Do Their Best to Frighten Tram Passengers
It is not a rare occurrence for the passengers our City tram-cars to be very much startled by the sound of a loud report from underneath the car. The trouble is nearly always caused by mischief-loving boys, who think it huge fun to place a detonator, used on the railways as fog signals, on the tram rails. This prank, however, landed a couple of lads into trouble at the City Police Court, yesterday, before Mr. T. Linscott (in the chair), and Mr. J. Stokes. They were Reginald William Bird, of 32, Clifton-road, summoned for unlawfully placing on the tramway track certain explosive material on the 19th inst., and Edward Bird, Albert-street, for knowingly aiding him.—Both defendants acknowledged the offence, and Inspector Sanford said that about 10.45 p.m. the day in question, whilst the car was going up Paris-street, a loud explosion was heard. The conductor (Archibald Hallett) got off, and saw a gang of boys running away. He gave chase, and caught one of them, and he learned that the elder of the two lads had given the younger one a detonator, and had told him that would go off if placed it on the tramway rails. Inspector Sanford added that there had been two other explosions that evening, but they had been unable trace the culprits.
Detective Hoyle said the detonators were kept by the Railway Companies. There was a certain amount of danger with them; they burst by the sides, and the little pieces were likely to fly out. People, at a time like the present, added Detective Hoyle, got very much alarmed at such explosions.
The Chairman pointed out the seriousness the offence, particularly that it might tend frighten horses, and added that the Act of Parliament covering the charge allowed them inflict a penalty of £5.—A fine of 5s inclusive was imposed.
Western Times - Friday 01 January 1915
Spy Scare Exeter
Several rumours were current in Exeter yesterday to the effect that some German spies, who are supposed have visited the City motor-car, had been arrested by the police. The police at both the City and County Stations, however, state thai there no truth in the statements.
Western Times - Thursday 07 January 1915
Street Accidents at Exeter
A shoeing smith named William Robertson, who resides in Cowick-road, St. Thomas, met with a serious accident on Saturday. He was driving a pony and trap, and when turning round corner into Queen’s-road the pony shied, and threw him to the ground. He was severely injured, two small bones in one his legs being fractured. He was removed to the hospital in the horse ambulance by Supt. Bowden of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, and P.C. Reed.
Western Times - Monday 11 January 1915
Letter home
Rifleman F. L. Thompson, of Queen Victoria's Rifles, son of Mr. and Mrs. Thompson, of 7, Paris-street, Exeter, writes home:
We are down for six days' rest after two spells of three days in the trenches. We have been rather unlucky during the Year, having lost many men killed by German shells. One burst about fifteen yards below our billet in the village behind the firing line. It pitched right in the midst of a lot of our men who had gone out to sea where an earlier shell had burst, and the sight of the havoc it caused was awful. I happened to be playing cards at the time, and might easily have been in it.
Such a treat is in store for us! We are having a bath to-morrow, and won't it be appreciated!
Western Times - Saturday 16 January 1915