Cover Story By Robin Mills

© Jess Upton Photograph by Robin Mills

son, was working with Hugh FearnleyWhittingstall in the early days of the River Cottage TV shows. I would come back to Dorset to visit my then boyfriend, who was also cooking with Gill and Hugh. It turned out I knew one of the girls on the River Cottage team from London when I’d worked as a PA, so when Hugh needed one, she suggested me. Until I actually had my first day at work with Hugh, I had only had two phone calls with him, so it was a bit of a baptism of fire. He handed me a huge file of correspondence and I’ve been trying to catch up ever since! That was 2005, so I’ve been with him 16 years. I’ve worked on all the books and TV series since then. It’s the most diverse job I’ve ever had, but it’s never, ever dull. I love working for Hugh; he’s so passionate about what he does, it’s hard not to. I was only in the office at HQ a couple of days a week before all this, so working from home isn’t that different, but I do miss the company sometimes. Just to have someone to bounce ideas off.

As a musician, at the beginning of the pandemic our entire diary was emptied within a few days. A year of work down the drain. I was lucky I had a job to fall back on. For those whose sole income it was, it has been devastating. And obviously there were weddings, parties etc… people’s plans up in smoke. Some postponed and rebooked, but some found that with the financial uncertainty, they just couldn’t afford to. It has been very sad.

Thomas and I sing harmonies in the car sometimes; he picks up a tune quite quickly. But in true offspring style he finds me acutely embarrassing—when I remind him people actually pay me to sing, he’ll say “yeah, Mum, I know, you told me already…” But he did wish me luck with this interview.

Having a last read through this issue and listening to Seth Dellow’s audio interview with Jane Ashdown, the encouraging impression I am left with—as ever—is the level of diversity and resolve in and around our little patch of the South West. From Caroline Julia Moore’s extraordinary story of how art has helped to express her vision, as well as support her though debilitating mental health issues, to the resilience and dignity expressed by the late Paddy Ashdown’s wife, there is so much to inspire and so much to give us hope. Tentative efforts to open shops after a bleak winter have seen businesses begin to trade again, while those such as the subjects in Tim Booth’s upcoming exhibition ‘Circus’ can see the possibility of performing for the first time in many months. Tim’s photographs capture more than a moment frozen as the shutter clicks—there is determination, perseverance and dedication in his subjects, which in many ways mirrors the efforts made by so many people throughout this area in the last year. Not least those that have given their time in volunteering roles across so many supportive initiatives in the community. That same dogged persistence helped turn a conversation at a long lost Bridport pub into a thriving local rugby club. Bridport team captain, Andrew Livingston, has given us a history of how the club began, and after watching premiership and international rugby played with no audience over the last few months, many of us look forward to a resumption of team sports—a vital element in the health, both physical and mental, of the wider community. Local sports, community groups and meetings will play an important role in offering a path toward recovery to the many who have struggled with the effects of both the pandemic and lockdowns. Margery Hookings writes about recently made recordings of elderly people talking about their experiences, one of whom mentions the need to participate in regular activities such as lunch clubs. We all hope for the gradual resumption of events, courses, exhibitions and classes over the coming months and look forward to that section of this magazine growing, as again we rebuild communication and normal interaction over the community. 3 Cover Story By Robin Mills

10 Past Present and Furture - Jane Ashdown 14 Event News and Courses 16 News & Views

17 Laterally Speaking By Humphrey Walwyn 18 Rugby in the Spotlight By Andrew Livingston

22 Recording Thoughts and Memories

by Margery Hookings 26 Islington or Ilsington? By Cecil Amor

28 House & Garden

28 Vegetables in May By Ashley Wheeler 30 May in the Garden By Russell Jordan 32 Property Round Up By Helen Fisher

34 Food & Dining 34 Asparagus with watercress and candied walnut salad

By Lesley Waters 36 Scrumpy Fried Asparagus By Mark Hix 37 Anchovies By Nick Fisher

38 Arts & Entertainment

38 Visually Speaking By Fergus Byrne

44 Galleries

48 Catching the Act By Fergus Byrne 52 Young Lit Fix By Antonia Squire 53 Screen Time By Nic Jeune

54 Health & Beauty 56 Services & Classified

“The greatest threat towards future is indifference.”

Published Monthly and distributed by Marshwood Vale Ltd Lower Atrim, Bridport Dorset DT6 5PX

For all Enquiries Tel: 01308 423031 info@marshwoodvale. com Fergus Byrne

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Contributors

Cecil Amor Seth Dellow Helen Fisher Nick Fisher Richard Gahagan Mark Hix Margery Hookings Nic Jeune Russell Jordan Andrew Livingston Robin Mills Antonia Squire Humphrey Walwyn Lesley Waters Ashley Wheeler

The views expressed in The Marshwood Vale Magazine and People Magazines are not necessarily those of the editorial team. Unless otherwise stated, Copyright of the entire magazine contents is strictly reserved on behalf of the Marshwood Vale Magazine and the authors. Disclaimer: Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of dates, event information and advertisements, events may be cancelled or event dates may be subject to alteration. Neither Marshwood Vale Ltd nor People Magazines Ltd can accept any responsibility for the accuracy of any information or claims made by advertisers included within this publication.

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Jazz Jurassica, the four-day jazz and blues festival in Lyme Regis, will go ahead at the end of May according to organisers. After a year in lockdown, Jazz Jurassica will kick off this year’s summer festival season with a bumper line up, featuring performers and sounds from around the globe.

After receiving special funding from the Arts Council to stage a socially distanced festival, organisers are confident they can press ahead over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend.

This year’s line-up features exuberant Afro-Cuban music, gritty blues from the Mississippi Delta, New Orleans boogie-woogie, vintage ragtime and 60s soul, and much more, says Julie Sheppard, its director. ‘We’ve chosen a diverse mix of music to attract those who’d never consider going to a “jazz” festival. And we’ve sourced music from around the world, so even if you can’t jet away to exotic shores just yet, you’ll be able to enjoy the sounds of the Caribbean, New Orleans and Mississippi on your doorstep’

Programme highlights include a seventeen piece Latin big band, Martin Harley’s new electric blues and a showstopping soul music revue recreating the 60s and 70s favourite soul classics.

‘Tickets are now on sale and the full programme is up on our website’ says Julie. ‘We can’t wait for the return of live music. There’ll be over a hundred musicians playing over the weekend and lots of music to enjoy for free. It’s been a difficult eighteen months for festivals, and we aim to make up for it. As a small independent festival, in an iconic location, we’ll blaze a trail for live music over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend.’

Because of social distancing the number of tickets will be halved compared with previous years. ‘We advise people to book soon to avoid disappointment. And they can book with complete confidence as we’re guaranteeing full and automatic refunds should we have to cancel’, says Julie Sheppard.

Jazz Jurassica runs from Friday 28 - Monday 31 May. For more information and tickets visit: www. jazzjurassica.co.uk.

Martin Harley Photograph by Michal Augustini