Cruwys Morchard is a large rural parish in Devon, consisting mostly of farms, together with the hamlets of Way Village, Nomansland and Pennymoor. My family lived, farmed and were millers in the parish from at least Tudor times to the start of World War One, when the majority moved to neighbouring parishes. I was brought up in the neighbouring town of Tiverton and went to school with children of families who still live in the parish today, and I was married in the parish church of Holy Cross. I have been researching my family and realised that the most important thing for me was to bring life and colour to them and the communities in which they lived. For example, ploughing matches have long been a feature of Devon rural life – I took part in the children’s classes myself. I was very amused to read a local newspaper report of races held after one of the community’s ploughing matches in the 1800’s. Apparently the lady who won the donkey race fainted at the finish, and a punch-up broke out half way round the mens’ pony race. It is highly likely that my great grandfather was one of those watching the races (although hopefully not one of the protagonists!). My study currently covers the period up to World War One.