City charity needs you to help bring its history to life

Exeter Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) is marking its 65th anniversary with a special project – and it is appealing to people to come forward with their memories.

Exeter CAB has been awarded a grant of £8,500 from the Heritage Lottery Fund to celebrate its history and reflect on its work in the city since 1947. And it is planning to use people’s memories of the service as a main feature of a publication and exhibition next year.

The project, Our City Charity – A History of Exeter’s Citizens Advice Bureau, aims to collect and record memories from local people who have been helped or who have worked as volunteers over the last 65 years.

Steve Barriball, Exeter CAB chief executive, said: “We are thrilled to receive this grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. We would love to speak to people who perhaps remember their parents or grandparents being helped by Exeter CAB after the war.

“We are aiming to paint a picture of how life was in Exeter 65 years ago and look at how many of those problems still affect people in a similar way today. This is an amazing way to celebrate the history of the CAB in Exeter, but, just as importantly, mark the work that is done by our volunteers today.”

The group is planning an exhibition, publication and other events to mark the anniversary. Early records show that the CAB was set up as part of the Exeter Council of Social Service and was based in St David’s Hill in Exeter.

The chairman of CAB at that time was Mr A Kettlewell and in its first year it dealt with 1,770 enquiries, including questions like ‘how can my German fiancée get to England?’ and ‘where can I apply for a permit to build a house?’.

The charity moved to the Wynards building in Magdalen Road in 1972, along with the Samaritans and Relate, and to its present address at Wat Tyler House in King William Street in 1998.

Sue McQueenie, who is co-ordinating the project on behalf of CAB, said: “The thing which will bring this project to life is the recollections of people who have used the CAB service or volunteered for the charity over the years. I really look forward to chatting to people and hearing their memories. I would love to talk to them, even if they think they don’t have a huge amount to contribute I would encourage them to give me a call or send an email.”

Contact Sue on 0845 9003555 or email sue@exetercab.org.uk

Was your relation one of the first members of Exeter CAB?

The chairman of CAB in its first year was a Mr A Kettlewell, the other members of the committee were: Mr W J Elliott, Capt G Evered, Miss N Gough, Miss KM Heath, Miss IE Hosking, Mrs PW Inch, Mrs Bedford Johns, Mrs GM McCallum, Major H Nimmo, Mr E Pedlar, Mr JS Pope, Mr NSE Pugsley, Dr M Richardson, Mrs AH Roberts, Mr RK Shipman.

The role of Exeter Citizens Advice Bureau today

The Citizens Advice service helps people resolve their legal, money and other problems by providing free, independent and confidential advice, and by influencing policymakers

Trained volunteers are on hand to advise on a wide range of issues and problems affecting residents in the city. Chief executive Steve Barriball, said: “Many of the problems faced by people today are not dissimilar to those faced by our clients 65 years ago. A free, confidential service like this is vital in a city like Exeter.”

To contact Exeter CAB visit the website at at www.exetercab.org.uk or for advice or enquiries telephone 0844 4994101.