The family of 21-year-old Able Seaman Kenneth Hooper were doubtless distraught after a telegram arrived telling them he was missing.

Hooper was serving on Devonport-based light cruiser H.M.S Gloucester which was sunk by the Luftwaffe during the battle of Crete in May 1941 with the loss of 722 lives, almost the entire ship’s company.

But much to his family’s relief, Hooper was not dead but recovering in hospital in Malta after having an abscess removed. He was reunited with his relatives and survived the war.

The story of AB Hooper is just one of the poignant real life histories behind the historic artefacts at the Devonport Naval Heritage Centre in Plymouth.

Curator Peter Dunlop told me the tale and it was a thrill see the original documents.

Watch out for more stories from Devonport’s rich naval history in future issues, and try to get along to this gem of a museum.

It’s open 10am to 3pm every Wednesday and on the second Saturday of each month until the end of October. Entry free, donations welcome. Learn more

READER POLL

Last week’s poll results: What’s your favourite Devon summer activity? (2,918 subscribers). Not much to choose between them!

An outdoor show 27%

A walk in nature 40%

Time at the beach 33%

Thank’s for all your replies. Here’s a selection:

• Outdoor show fan Veronica loves watching small touring theatre groups doing madcap versions of plays like Midsummer Night’s Dream and Pride & Prejudice in lovely locations, such as Killerton House, Exeter. “Take a picnic and enjoy it all in relaxing surroundings.”

• Michele chose a walk in nature but also loves events like Sidmouth Jazz & Blues Festival and is looking forward to the folk festival. “In summer the beaches aren’t for me but love them in winter. The coastal path is amazing”

• “I love them all!!!! How can you make me choose??” said Maddie.

Why this steam fair draws thousands

Get immersed in the noises of yesteryear, the steam whistles and grinding metal of working machinery at the atmospheric Torbay Steam Fair.

The fair attracts around 30 full size and 20 miniature steam engines, including several rare Showman types, and the organisers pride themselves on attracting a new one every year.

ALL VINTAGE: Not just steam but tractors, classic cars, military vehicles, stationary engines and motorbikes. Meet the enthusiastic owners.

Now in its 38th year, the 3-day fair is one of the biggest English Riviera events and marks the start of summer.

Friday 1st August to Sunday 3rd August. Just outside Brixham on the A3022. Buses go direct to the site from Paignton. More details.

Meet one of Britain’s rarest horses

Farmer Micheal Yorke has a deep love for the Suffolk Punch breed, one of the rarest and most at risk of the heavy horses.

Michael will be in the heavy horse paddock of the North Devon Show with his Suffolk gelding Wallace.

WHAT ELSE IS ON: Live music from 10.30am and a full day of show ring attractions: carriage driving, showjumping, tractor parade and the North Devon Working Gun Club demonstration.

• Wander 50 acres of North Devon agricultural life displayed under marquees or sit and watch the terrier racing with an ice cream.

Advance tickets adult £19.95, child £5.

She’s back! Catch her while you can

Paddle Steamer Waverley, the grand old lady of heritage cruising, starts her South Devon programme on Friday 29th August.

Four days of trips from Plymouth, Dartmouth and Torquay take in St Austell Bay and Looe Bay, the Rame Heritage Coast, Eddystone Lighthouse, Prawle Point and Start Point and the Torbay harbours.

MEET UP: On Saturday 30th August, Waverley makes her first public sailing from Torquay since the 1980s, and meets up with with her cousin the paddlesteamer Kingswear Castle.

TRAIN LINK: To really venture back into the steam era take a trip with the Dartmouth Steam Railway and connect with the PS Waverley at Paignton.

Tickets for the evening cruise to Cawsand, Rame Head and Plymouth Sound on August 29th are £47 adult, £23.50 child. Book all trips here.

Why collectors covet these slightly strange birds

John Hadfield’s stainless steel sculptures combine a love of nature with an engineer’s meticulous attention to detail.

With birds, like this one in his exhibition at Rosemoor, each feather is cut out and welding in place individually. John Hadfield’s work is sought after by collectors because of their slightly unusual poses. See prices.

THE ARTIST: John grew up in Taleford, just outside Ottery St Mary. He started sculpting on retiring from his engineering job in 2013, and now lives in a small cottage in East Budleigh.

RHS Rosemoor, Great Torrington. Tickets adult £15.85, child £5. Benefit claimants and their familes £1.

Devon Curiosities #69: The Gnome Reserve

Generations of excited and curious children visited Ann Atkin’s Gnome Reserve near Bradworthy to see the 2,000 or more charming and colourful residents.

RECORD GNOMES: The former art teacher established the reserve on 4 acres, made it into The Guinness Book of World Records for all the gnomes, and created beautiful meadow and wildflower gardens with 250 labelled species.

UNDER THREAT: But there was an uncertain future for the gnome community when Ann retired and sold her house to a private buyer who had no interest in the little folk.

Step forward the Merry Harriers garden centre at Woolsery near Bideford, which has become the new guardian of the collection.

There’s free entry 10am to 4pm, 7 days a week from Easter to end October, and now they even have their own gnomesite for you to visit.

• Did you visit the original Gnome Reserve as a child? What are your memories? Hit reply to comment.

WHAT ELSE IS ON?

🌊 North Devon 

🐬 South Devon

🏆️ Get lucky! Win Devon leisure prizes

FEATURED: 🏇 A table for 4 in the directors’ box at Exeter Racecourse at the opening meeting on Thursday 9th October (7th Aug)

NEW!  🌳 A 2-night stay for 2 in Woodman’s Wagon Treehouse in South Devon worth £400 (10th Aug)

NEW!  🏰 A 3-night family stay in a hot tub lodge at Cofton Holidays plus weekend tickets to the Gone Wild Festival at Powderham Castle (10th Aug)

NEW!  ♨️ A spa break at Boringdon Hall, Plymouth with a skin care bundle, worth a total of £440 (17th Aug)

🐑 A 4-night stay for 4 people in Dipple Mill Cottage, self-catering in the North Devon countryside (20th Aug)

NEW!  🌊 A 7-night stay for up to 5 guests in a platinum-rated caravan at a holiday park in Devon, plus £200 of park spending money (21st Aug)

NEW!  🍨 An 8-litre bundle of scrumptious, award winning Salcombe Dairy ice cream or sorbet (31st Aug)

🥳 A “Devon escape” package worth £900: a 1-night pub stay, £100 cafe voucher, cider mill tour and cider, dinner in a Kingsbridge restaurant, a 4-month coffee subscription and a £100 beer bundle and some cookware (31st Aug)

⛵️ A sailing weekend for 2 on a classic yacht from Dartmouth with an experienced skipper and all meals included (31st Aug)

🪙 A £500 holiday voucher for a Dawlish family holiday park, plus attraction vouchers - survey (30th Sep)

❓️ Have you won a prize from a link here? Let me know.

New member? Catch up here

🤹 10 days of open air events in Plymouth, many free

🎸 Quirky, unusual, offbeat autumn shows

🌳The Prior of Pilton takes on The Green Man

🫧 The legendary Bideford soapbox derby

That’s all for this week. Thanks for being a member.

NEXT WEEK: For the love of apple pie

Andy, Esme, Lara and the Go Devon! team