The Friends of Manning's Pit

Saki Short Story Competition

The Judges

CH, CBE, scientist, inventor and best selling author, originator of the Gaia Hypothesis. 

James Lovelock invented the Electron Capture Detector, and designed the Life Detection experiments for the first Martian lander. The Science Museum in London put on a year long Exhibition of his work. He has visited Manning's Pit, and has many family connections with it - all four of his children and several of his grandchildren have walked there many times.

CH, CBE, film, theatre, television, and opera director.

Sir Richard has won numerous awards.   He can be seen at this clip discussing the making of his most recent film, The Children Act, which starred Emma Thompson.  A list of his many awards and achievements can be found on his Wikipedia Page.  He was born in Barnstaple and participated in Shaun Ley's Radio Four Extra programme about Saki (In the Lumber Room)

Writer, Historian, Lecturer and District Councillor (Torridge)

Peter Christie is well known in North Devon most especially for his knowledge of local history, Peter took part in Shaun Ley's 2016 Radio programme In the Lumber Room that commemorated the death of Saki . He was also helpful to us when we were setting up our Exhibition about the cultural and historical aspects of Manning's Pit in the Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon in 2017. Peter is an author and especially well known for the many talks he gives on Local History.  After signing one of our petitions, Peter wrote this: 'Saki is one of my favourite writers and his connection to this area  guarantees my support for preserving it.