The fourth Dartmoor Society Award was presented by Dr Tom Greeves to Marilyn Tucker and Paul Wilson of Wren Trust during a concert that marked the start of the Baring-Gould Festival 2001, at Bratton Clovelly on Friday 26th October 2001.
The award is in the form of a specially commissioned and superbly decorated ceramic plate crafted by renowned Devon potter Penny Simpson, with calligraphy by Susanne Haines. The plate bears the inscription Presented to Wren Trust for giving new life to Dartmoor music and song’.
Dr Tom Greeves said, ‘We have been immensely impressed with the high quality and commitment of work by Wren Trust over many years to stimulate understanding and performance of music and song derived from Dartmoor and Devon. In particular, their discovery and presentation of hundreds of songs noted down from Dartmoor singers by the Revd Sabine Baring-Gould and his pioneer collaborators more than 100 years ago has been hugely significant in terms of sparking modem awareness of Dartmoor’s rich cultural heritage. It would be hard to overestimate the importance of this achievement, which has changed perceptions about music on Dartmoor. It has also made a major contribution to a revival of interest (locally, nationally and internationally) in ‘traditional’ Devon music and performance, and has stimulated new creative activity throughout communities in West Devon and beyond.’
https://www.wrenmusic.co.uk/
