Marshwood+ June 2022

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THE

© Mick Smith Photograph by Robin Mills

The best from West Dorset, South Somerset and East Devon No. 279 June 2022

COVER STORY Fergus Byrne met Mick Smith in Bridport

’I

© Mick Smith Photograph by Robin Mills

was born in Reigate. My father was an Anglican vicar and Mum was a midwife, then later a health visitor and marriage guidance councillor. We moved quite a lot, probably every six or seven years. My parents had three girls and then I came along, followed sometime later by my younger brother. When I was about two, they moved to Lewisham in Southeast London where I grew up very happy, absolutely loving the diversity of the area and feeling part of “the world”. I enjoyed primary school but when I was about eleven, we moved to Slough. It felt like I had been ripped out of Southeast London and brought to this “other” place. One of the worst things for me was that, without knowing what it was, I took the Eleven-plus and passed! So I ended up going to a grammar school that felt like it was run by a group of teachers that had tried and failed to get work at Eton. Their stock-in-trade was arrogance and humiliation, and I went from getting an A-merit to a D-merit in quite a short time, quickly falling into a habit of just not going into school. To distract myself I began obsessively playing the piano which I had tinkered with since I was young. I had started on guitar, playing things like the Beatles and David Bowie but I realised I was more comfortable playing the piano. I played with my brother who played drums with wooden spoons on an old Tupperware kit. Music became my counterpoint to “education”, funded by a Saturday job as a stockroom boy in Woolworth.

Tel. 01308 423031 The Marshwood Vale Magazine June 2022 3

By fifteen or sixteen I was skirting around with getting in trouble with the law and things could have gone really badly, but my Mum and Dad, who were amazing people, worked really hard to get me to see other options in case music didn’t work out. So I decided to become a psychiatric nurse. I think I had inherited a sense of service and contribution to community from my parents. My Dad was also a hospital chaplain and he had helped form what later became the Samaritans.

At one point he was offered the option of becoming one of their first Directors but he decided to stay working as a vicar. With their support, I resat an O level to give me the minimum entry qualifications and got into an institution in St Albans called Hill End. In those days nurse training was vocational, whereas now it’s a degree. This allowed me to leave home at 18 and live with about a hundred and fifty other people from all over the world. It was absolutely brilliant - an incredible experience. But although I loved the social life, the work was a trial by fire. I learnt a lot of what not to do and witnessed a lot of abuse and dehumanisation. However, on the same site there was a separate Regional Adolescent Unit, run on a social model by a radical psychiatrist called Dr Peter Bruggen, which used every new kind of approach you could think of, including family and group therapies. Drugs were only used if a child became physically impossible to deal with. It was diametrically opposite to the rest of my experience when I went there for a student placement, and I was overjoyed. It felt like all the institutional things that were taken for granted in the main institution had been dismantled and reassembled to make some sense.

After I qualified I managed to get a job working there and when one of the charge nurses went off with a long term illness, I was put in charge of a shift. So at 21, I found myself with a great deal of responsibility.

It was an incredible experience. I stayed for a year and then moved back to London to work in a mental health project in Fulham.

We were allowed to work on outside projects there, so I helped set up an agency to assist people with mental health history to get back into the workplace. That entailed everything from producing and delivering the concept to getting on the telephone to hundreds of potential employers to get businesses to offer people jobs. At the time it was Thatcher’s Britain, so it caught the eye of the public and we ended up on You & Yours and Thames at Six. We had a lot of success and I realised that developing new projects was something I 4 The Marshwood Vale Magazine June 2022 Tel. 01308 423031

Mick Smith

© Mick Smith Photograph by Robin Mills

really enjoyed.

All this time I had also been working as a musician, doing gigs, recordings, putting singles out with various bands and giving an enormous amount of time to that - in a way equal to what I was doing in my day job. I was getting very little sleep but quite happy.

One band I was in played dance music tinged with Middle Eastern music. That was the early 80s, so it was about ten years before its time. We had interest from record companies and were convinced we would one day get “the big one”. We never did but despite that, I decided in 1988 to do music full time, which I did for the next twelve or thirteen years. I travelled a lot, did TV in four countries and gigs in eighteen countries or so, in different bands and sometimes as a singer-pianist, as well as one or two tours and a stint on a cruise ship with a jazz trio. I was also writing songs which I managed to place with a few people who had a profile.

During those years I also got married and when our third child came along it was obviously time for a more settled life, so I got a job in Dorset as area manager for twelve mental health services and moved to Bournemouth. That job gave me my first experience of Bridport when I helped set up a drop-in centre there in around 2000. Then ironically, having moved out of London, I was promoted to Director of Operations based in London! It was quite a job, in charge of hundreds of services and organisational lead for various initiatives, dealing with MPs, local councils and generally firefighting.

After about four years I decided to take a break from all that and felt that it was time to combine my creative interests with my management experience and look for something that combined the two. So I took a job in Bournemouth to deliver a creative business incubation centre for what eventually became Arts University Bournemouth. That

led to a full-time mentoring job based in Southampton. Having had my own creative businesses of various kinds, my experience suited the mentoring role. I was quite openminded in terms of not thinking there is only one answer and aware that a lot of creatives don’t like rules or focusing on traditional marketing and sales, so I saw my job as turning business planning into a creative act. I really enjoyed it and over three years I helped establish 35 new creative businesses. One of these, a group of artists from Southampton Solent, had decided to stay on after graduating and set up studio spaces. I ended up helping them voluntarily for fifteen years and as chair of Trustees for nine years.

I then took a job as Director of an Arts Centre on the Isle of Wight where I worked for five years, promoting the idea that we were an arts organisation, not a building, and aiming to provide artistic opportunities for all, including those unlikely to enter the arts centre building. We set up a very successful presence at the Isle of Wight Festival, the Kashmir Café and ran an art tent at Bestival.

After the Isle of Wight, my next job was in Tower Hamlets interviewing 150 community organisations, assessing them and offering support with relevant training, governance, finance, quality assurance etc. I then took another Operations Director role with a National Mental Health charity, but after five years and a combination of family loss, and lack of funding I realised that I no longer wanted to work at that level and with my kids now adults, decided to go travelling again.

In Bangalore, preparing to return to the UK after volunteering in India and Nepal I saw the Bridport Arts Centre job and applied.

It’s been a challenging time to run a venue and the arts centre has had both an illustrious history and various recent traumas, but the charity has survived the pandemic, engaging thousands of people in creative events and opportunities even during lockdown, via the Bridport Prize and our investment in filming and streaming equipment. As before, I am focused on providing creative experiences and opportunities for everyone, both in and out of the building, through projects with young people and supporting underrepresented writers with bursaries and residencies as part of the Bridport Prize. But we do have an excellent theatre and gallery, and it’s great to be open again. And with events such as Mi Flamenco and Ballet Central and our ‘Mash P’ exhibition showcasing the work of a talented young photographer and former child soldier in Sierra Leone, suddenly I feel like part of “the world” again!

’

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UP FRONT When I was growing up—in what has to be said was quite a religious environment—I remember Judgement Day being something that was discussed with a certain amount of fear and trepidation. As far as I could gather, somebody very fierce was going to decide whether I had been good or bad, and depending on which box they ticked, I was to be either thrown into a very large fire or could live happily ever after. There was also a third, interim option, but that never seemed very clear. However, the point of how to behave in life was pretty binary. I got the impression that judgement would be swift; there would be no option of appeal, and if the wrong box was ticked, things got warm and smokey very quickly—usually after a long drop and a very loud scream. And for some reason, there was always a fluffy cloud involved. Being a little boy I imagined this would all happen in a grown-up world which, to my young mind, would be at least centuries away. How that has changed. It feels lately as if Judgement Day is an ever-repeating nightmare that people wake up to daily, and it generally doesn’t have anything to do with a firepit or a person with a list of names. But it does seem to be delivered through a cloud—just not the fluffy kind that I had imagined. Judgement today is dished out through the internet via untraceable cloud servers. And it seems that verdicts passed through cloud-based forums, article comments and social media are to be even more feared than that meted out by religious icons. And who knew that there might be so many transgressions? They seem to grow daily. Having an opinion of any kind is best avoided. It doesn’t really matter what it is, there will always be someone with fire-breathing anger ready to disagree, and rarely in a constructive way. And judgement comes in so many forms. Apart from the obvious, such as looks, personality, religion or political interest, it seems judgement extends to the reinterpretation of history and even mindreading—today people don’t even have to know what you think to disagree. It’s like a Bill Murray Groundhog Day nightmare. If waking up every day means being attacked just for breathing, one can see why so many people are disillusioned with modern forms of communication.

Fergus Byrne

Published Monthly and distributed by Marshwood Vale Ltd Lower Atrim, Bridport Dorset DT6 5PX For all Enquiries Tel: 01308 423031 info@marshwoodvale. com

THIS MONTH

3 8 18 19

20 22

Cover Story By Robin Mills Event News and Courses News & Views Social Capitalism - an economy to benefit the people

By Andrew Blackwood Spring Flowers at Cogden By Philip Strange Signs of the Past By Cecil Amor

24 24 26 28

House & Garden Vegetables in June By Ashley Wheeler June in the Garden By Russell Jordan Property Round Up By Helen Fisher

30 30 32

Food & Dining Roasted New Potato Salad By Lesley Waters Wild Garlic and Nettle Soup with Dorset Snails

By Mark Hix

34 Arts & Entertainment 34 Jeanette Kerr at Slader’s 36 Galleries 39 Preview By Gay Pirrie Weir 41 The Siren Call of the Sea By Fanny Charles 44 Screen Time By Nic Jeune 45 Young Lit Fix By Antonia Squire

46 Health & Beauty 46 Hearing the Voice of the Wild By Fergus Byrne 47 Services & Classified “Madness takes its toll. Please have exact change.”

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Editorial Director Fergus Byrne

Contributors

Deputy Editor

Cecil Amor Andrew Blackwood Fanny Charles Helen Fisher Richard Gahagan Mark Hix Nic Jeune

Victoria Byrne

Design

People Magazines Ltd

Advertising

Fergus Byrne info@marshwoodvale.com

8 The Marshwood Vale Magazine June 2022 Tel. 01308 423031

Russell Jordan Robin Mills Gay Pirrie Weir Antonia Squire Philip Strange 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.

NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS Trades descriptions act 1968. It is a criminal offence for anyone in the course of a trade or business to falsely describe goods they are offering. The Sale of Goods Act 1979 and the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982. The legislation requires that items offered for sale by private vendors must be ‘as described’. Failure to observe this requirement may allow the purchaser to sue for damages.

Road Traffic Act. It is a criminal offence for anyone to sell a motor vehicle for use on the highway which is unroadworthy.

June

EVENTS AND COURSES 28 May

Bridport Big Band presented by Bridport Rotary Club celebrating Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, United Church, Bridport, 7.30pm.Tickets £12 from Bridport TIC & Members, in aid of Rotary charities.

Contact 01297 489567.

Bridport & West Dorset Rambling Club 6.5 mile walk from Netherbury. For further information please ring 01308 898484 or 01308 863340.

Annual Plant and Garden Sale, Colyton & District Garden Society, Colyton Town Hall – 9.30am to 12.30pm. Entry £1 to include tea/ coffee. If you have any plants, garden tools or equipment to donate, please bring to the Hall between 6 and 7pm on Friday 27 May. Cakes also welcome, please bring on the morning.

28 May - 12 June

Pirate themed fun and activities at West Bay Discovery Centre.

Drop in. No need to book. Open daily (excluding Mondays) between 11am – 4pm. Admission free, donations welcomed. Further details www.westbaydiscoverycentre.org.uk/

29 May

East Devon ramblers 7 milie leisurely walk. Ottery St Mary. Tel: 01395-513974.

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Divine Union Soundbath 2pm-4pm Oborne Village Hall, DT9 4LA £15 bookings only 01935 389655 or email ahiahel@live.com

31 May

Scottish Country dancing every Tuesday at Ashill Village hall TA19 9LX from 7.30 to 9.30 pm. All welcome including beginners and you don’t need a partner. Contact Anita on 01460 929383 or email anitaandjim22@gmail.com.

1 June

Duplicate Bridge every Wednesday at St Swithun’s Hall, Bridport from 7 to 10 pm with tea/coffee break. Good standard bridge at EBU affiliated Bridport Bridge Club. Visitors welcome. For more information contact Roy on 01308 425298 or website www. bridgewebs.com. Also 8th / 15th / 22nd/ 29th June.

West Dorset Ramblers Moderate 8.5. mile walk through 7 villages starting at Dowlish Wake church. Contact 01460 62060

2 June

Burton Bradstock Village Fayre will be held in the delightful Rectory Walled Gardens from 2.00 pm to 4.15pm. It’s an ideal afternoon out for all local and visiting families, with tests of skill for children and people of all ages, lots of stalls and games, ice creams, soft drinks, barbeque and renowned Dorset cream teas. Entry is £1

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June

EVENTS AND COURSES for Adults, children under 12 enter free. Please note that a section of Church Road, Burton Bradstock outside the Village Hall will be temporarily closed from 09:00 to 18:00 on the day of the Fayre.

Live Music Psychadelephant Firepit lit, garden bar open, guest ales, guest ciders and a special evening menu at the Pymore Inn, Pymore, Bridport. DT6 5PN 8.30 to 11pm. 01308 422635.

Happy Days: Platinum Jubilee Show 2.30pm Come and join us for a street party on stage, have a good old sing song and a lot of fun.

The Beehive Honiton www.beehivehoniton.co.uk 01404 384050 Coffee Morning St. Swithun’s Church Hall Allington, Bridport 10.45 - 11.45 Fresh coffee and cakes. All welcome.

2 - 3 June

Wine Tastings at Selected Grapes Wine Shop Unit 88 St Michael’s Trading Estate. These casual events are all about the wine - Will will guide you through a flight of samples, allowing you to try wines that are more adventurous than your everyday bottle yet modest on the pocket. Find a new favourite, expand your palate, and head off with new knowledge and appreciation.

From 6:00pm-8:00pm. £20 per person.

2 - 5 June

Moreton Flower Festival open daily 10am to 4pm on the Thursday

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till Sunday. Admission is free and there will be refreshments every day with stalls outside the church Thursday - Saturday. There will also be a free concert (Songs for a Summer Evening) at 7pm on the Thursday evening.

Jazz Jurassica a bumper music line-up for this year’s festival in Lyme Regis. More information and tickets from: www.jazzjurassica.co.uk.

Art and fossil exhibition at St Andrew’s church, the Street, Charmouth. Preview night 2nd June 6pm-7.30pm come and meet the artists and Chris East, local fossil collector. Wine available. Open daily 10am-4pm until Sunday 5th June. Coffee and cakes available Saturday morning, a warm welcome awaits you. Tel 01297 560487.

Thorncombe voluntary groups say it with flowers for the Jubilee.

St Mary’s church will host a flower festival over the Jubilee holiday.

The display will be open daily, 10am to 5pm. Entry of course is free, but viewers can give a donation towards the costs (so remember to bring cash or notes, as we do not have a card machine!).

3 June

Quiz in The Bell Inn Winsham to celebrate the Queens Platinum Jubilee. Teams of 4, first question at 8pm. £2.50 per head to include a selection of cheeses and wine tasters. All welcome, whether as a single, couple or team, but please book first otherwise we might not have enough cheese to go round!!! Telephone Rose on 01460 30677.

West Dorset Ramblers Moderate 8 mile walk around Portland.

Contact 01308 459159 or 07889 921435.

Live Music Jinder Firepit lit, garden bar open, guest ales, guest ciders and a special evening menu at the Pymore Inn, Pymore, Bridport. DT6 5PN 8.30 to 11pm. 01308 422635.

Elizabeth: A Portrait in Part(s) (12A) 4pm Directed by the late, great and much celebrated Roger Michell (Notting Hill, The Duke). A nostalgic, uplifting and fresh modern chronicle of the extraordinary 70-year reign of Her Majesty the Queen. The Beehive Honiton www.beehivehoniton.co.uk 01404 384050 Duplicate Bridge on Fridays at St Swithun’s Hall, Bridport from 2 to 5 pm with tea/coffee break. Relaxed bridge session at Bridport Bridge Club. Visitors welcome. For more information contact Roy on 01308 425298 or website www.bridgewebs.com. Also /10th /24th June.

4 June

Stockland Country Fair 1.30pm -5pm. This is a traditional country fair with old-fashioned games & stalls, country crafts and demonstrations, plant stalls, ferret Racing, Dan the fab magician, live music from The Big Noise Street Band & Honiton Band, Sheep shearing, Farrier, Puppetry & storytelling with The tales of Robin Hood, Belly dancing with Eastern Promise and of course the world renowned Stockland Eggathon! After jumping on the bouncy castle, batting the rat or climbing the greasy pole, refreshments will be needed and we have plenty- ice-creams, afternoon teas, delicious locally produced burgers and sausages on the BBQ and a bar stocked with local Otter ales and cider. This year’s Fair is in aid of the local Hospice & Village organisations. Adults £2.50 Children under 16 free. Some events may be subject to change. Stockland Village EX14 9EF, 6 miles equidistant Honiton, Chard & Axminster. Free parking, please follow the steward’s instructions. Disabled drop off point & parking.

Live Music Double D Junior Firepit lit, garden bar open, guest ales, guest ciders and a special evening menu at the Pymore Inn, Pymore, Bridport. DT6 5PN 8.30 to 11pm. 01308 422635.

The FOWL (Friends of Weymouth Library) are hosting a talk titled ‘Under Our Feet’ by Steve Wallis, Senior Archaeologist at Dorset Council at 10.30am. Weymouth Library in support of the library’s events and activities. Booking is essential. Please contact Weymouth Library on 01305 762410 or email weymouthlibrary@ dorsetcouncil.gov.uk.

5 June

Platinum Picnic in the Park Bridport Millennium Green, Mountfield. 2-4.30, with live local bands. Free, but donations towards the upkeep of the Green appreciated. Cake stall. Details Sandra Brown, 01308 423078.

Live Music Jess Upton and the Guilty Pleasures Firepit lit, garden bar open, guest ales, guest ciders and a special evening menu at the Pymore Inn, Pymore, Bridport. DT6 5PN 3 - 6pm. 01308 422635.

6 June

Bridport Folk Dance Club meets every Monday 7.15 to 9.30 in The W.I.Hall, North Street, Bridport. If you enjoy music, dancing and socialising do come along. Beginners welcome. Tel: 458165 or 459001. Also June 13, 20 and 27.

EVENTS IN JULY

Live or Online send your event details to info@marshwoodvale.com TH

BY JUNE 10

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June

EVENTS AND COURSES 7 June

Scottish Country dancing in Ashill. Every Tuesday at Ashill village hall TA19 9LX from 7.30 to 9.30 pm. Why not come along and join us? All welcome including beginners and you don’t need a partner.

For more information contact Anita on 01460 929383 or email anitaandjim22@gmail.com

8 June

Upholstery class Dalwood village Hall 9.30am – 3.30pm, £20 including tea/coffee, bring own lunch. Not for profit class. Tutor: Laura Anderton. Booking: 07789 514269 or 07748 981345. Also 29 June.

West Dorset Ramblers Leisurely 5.5 miles around Powerstock and West Milton. Contact 07932 466663.

Sea Shanty Sessions Marine Theatre, Lyme Regis. Devon Shanty men, The Chantry Buoys, perform an informal shanty singalong, with other well known songs,and maritime frolics. A free event, the Buoys start at 7.30pm. Join them for a fun evening, all monies raised go to local charities. Tel. Peter. 07761 469676.

Axminster Heritage Centre ‘Woad, weld and madder - the history and cultivation of dyer’s plants.’ Anne Swithinbank. 7pm Tickets £8.

Anne Swithinbank, writer, broadcaster and a panellist on Radio 4’s ‘Gardeners’ Question Time’, will be talking.

Upholstery class at Dalwood village Hall - 9.30am – 3.30pm, coffee & tea included, bring own lunch, not for profit class, Tutor Laura Anderson - booking 07789 514269 or 07748 9821345

9 June

Tatworth Flower Club has Catherine Brown as demonstrator. Her title for us is ‘Fifty things that make you happy.’ Doors open at 1.30, Tatworth Memorial Hall, TA20 2QW. £6 for visitors. Also a donation for tea and cake afterwards and a raffle for the flowers. Details Julie Kettle, 01934 248536.

West Dorset Ramblers Moderate 8.5 miles around Corfe Castle and Kingston. Contact 01300 320346.

Dorchester and District Probus Club Meeting at 12 noon at the Gamekeeper, North St., Charminster. Lunch and speaker.

Club welcomes new members. Contact secretary: Bill Lowes on 01305261417 or email: billlowes@sky.com Chard Royal Naval Association The branch will be holding a social meeting for a quiz set by one of the members at 7.30 pm for 8 pm in Chard Rugby Football Club. Anyone interested in a quiz or indeed wanting to get to know more of the association should call in where they would be made most welcome. Further information can be obtained via the chairman Paul on 07929291401 or by visiting the official RNA website.

10 June

Kilmington Garden Club Talk 7.30pm The Bishop’s Palace Gardens, Past, Present and Future by head gardener James Cross Kilmington village hall. Whitford Road, EX13 7RF Non members £3.

Downton Abbey: A New Era (PG) 4pm & 7.30pm From awardwinning creator, Julian Fellowes comes the much-anticipated

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cinematic return of the global phenomenon. The Beehive Honiton www.beehivehoniton.co.uk 01404 384050 Net Zero by 2040 at 11am During East Devon’s Sustainability month, the Environment Officer, Catherine Causley, will present to Lyme Regis u3a plans to attain the target for the community of net zero by 2040. Bring all your queries on how to reduce your carbon footprint most effectively to Woodmead Hall, Lyme Regis.

Non members are welcome for a donation of £2. Please see www. lymeregisu3a.org for details.

11 June

Sponsored Musicathon in Bridport United Church from 9am to 5pm in aid of the Richard Ely Trust for Young Musicians and Weldmar Hospicecare. Audience welcome all day. Interested performers to contact 01308 427851 or 01308 456297. Coffee morning, lunches and afternoon teas. Music and charity stall in Bucky Doo Square 10-12-30. Interested performers to contact 01308 424103.

Yarcombe Village Market 10am -12 noon – Fantastic local produce – Eggs, Cakes, plants, Jams, pickles, woodwork, Metal work, Pottery , also bric a brac and homeware – Coffee and Cake -Yarcombe Village Hall EX14 9BN- queries 07858625421 Voodoo Room: A Night of Hendrix, Clapton & Cream 8pm Be part an incredible homage to Three Legends in Music in this explosive production. The Beehive Honiton www.beehivehoniton. co.uk 01404 384050 Bridport & West Dorset Rambling Club 8.5 mile walk from Kimmeridge. For further information please ring 01308 898484 or 01308 863340.

Concert by the Axminster and District Choral Society of Mendelssohn’s Elijah with professional orchestra and soloists.

Minster, Axminster 7.30 pm. Tickets are £15.00 central aisle or £12 side aisles. Under 18s are half price. Covid precautions will be followed including wearing of masks as appropriate and not attending if suffering from a cold or other symptoms. Tickets will be refunded if potential Covid symptoms prevent attendance or if Covid rules change. BYO cushion and refreshments! Tickets may be purchased from Archway Bookshop, Trinity Square, Axminster (cash only), online via the link on the website, https://www. axminsterchoral.co.uk/ or direct from Members. There may still be some available on the door at the event.

11 - 12 June

West Milton Open Gardens 2.00 - 6.00pm £5 per adult, children free and dogs welcome on leads. In aid of Powerstock Church.

Delicious teas, local cider and ice reams await you as well as a plant and produce stall. Contact: aajanewhite@gmail.com.

12 June

Fun Quiz St. Swithun’s Church Hall Doors open 4.30pm starts 5.00pm. Bring your own drinks and nibbles. Max of 6 per team.

Price £5 a head to pay on the door includes refreshments.

Refreshments served during the interval and the raffle drawn. To book a table call 07741457505.

HPS Summer Plant Fair Somerset Group 10am till 3pm at Lower Severalls, Crewkerne TA18 7NX. South Perrott Village (A356) Stroll. Come on a stroll around the village and hear about the history of South Perrott. Meet at the Village Hall at 2:30 pm, have a stroll and return to the hall for tea, where Village archives will be on display. £5 in aid of St Mary’s Church roof fund. Contact Ann on 01935 891224.

12 - 24 June

Bridport Food Festival Fortnight a host of different events in the Town and surrounding area. For the full calendar of events visit www.bridportfoodfestival.co.uk

13 June

Nigel Huish, Head Gardner, Kingston Marwaurd 2.00p.m.

Dorchester Community Church, Liscombe Street, Poundbury, Dorchester, DT1 3DF. Visitors welcome for £2.50. Dorchester Townswomen’s Guild. Any queries 01305 832857.

West Dorset Flower Club will be holding a demonstration by Julia Harrison entitled “The Magic Box”. This will take place at the WI Hall in North Street, Bridport at 2,30 pm. Visitors welcome, entrance £5. Further details 01308 456339.

Hawkchurch Film Nights in association with Devon Moviola, proudly presents ‘Belfast’ (Cert. 12, 94 mins). Doors 6.30pm for our new regular start time of 7.00pm at Hawkchurch Village Hall, EX13 5XD. Reservations £5 from csma95@gmail.com or 01297 678176 (socially-distanced seating available if booked in advance) or pay at the door. Wine and home-made cake and other scrummy refreshments available. We’ll be back in September.

Dorchester Townswomen’s Guild 2 p.m. Meeting. Dorchester Community Church, Liscombe Street, Poundbury, Dorchester, DT1 3DF. A talk by Nigel Hewish, Head Gardner, Kingston Maurward.

Visitors will be made most welcome £2. Enquires 01305 832857.

14 June

West Dorset Ramblers Moderate Circular 8 mile walk taking in Colmer’s Hill, Thorncombe Beacon and Eype Down. Contact 01308 459875 or 07952 517764.

Scottish Country dancing in Ashill. Every Tuesday at Ashill village hall TA19 9LX from 7.30 to 9.30 pm. Why not come along and join us? All welcome including beginners and you don’t need a partner.

For more information contact Anita on 01460 929383 or email anitaandjim22@gmail.com.

15 June

“The Duke” (12A) starring Jim Broadbent and Helen Mirren, Kilmington Community Cinema will be screening at the Village Hall (EX13 7RF). Doors open 6.45 film starts 7.15. Matinee on Thursday 16th afternoon doors open 1.45pm film starts 2pm advance booking required for this matinee very limited seating, and cream teas (£3) available if booked with the ticket reservation. Tickets can be prebooked by email: wattsjohn307@gmail.com or Tel: 01297 639758 see www.kilmingtonvillage.com/other-organisations.html for more.

Community Coffee Morning including croissants & bacon rolls, 10.30am – noon, at Clapton & Wayford Village Hall. More details from Julia (01460 72769) The Beehive Acoustic Night 7.30pm Hosted by Terry Stacey.

Perform or listen in the Beehive bar. Free entry. The Beehive Honiton www.beehivehoniton.co.uk 01404 384050 Colyton & District Garden Society Talk ‘Vertical Gardening’

by Claire Hart. Re-arranged from April. Colyford Memorial Hall, 7.30pm. Members free, guests £3. For information, call Sue Price 01297 552813.

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June

EVENTS AND COURSES 16 June

Arts Society West Dorset Ambitious Architecture Rethinking the Meanings of Blenheim Palace. Speaker Dr. James Legard. 2.30pm Bridport Town Hall. Visitors welcome - £7.50.

West Dorset Ramblers Moderate 9 mile linear walk along Jubilee Trail West of Cranborne. Contact 07826 150114.

The Producers 8pm UK award-winning Blues band. The Beehive Honiton www.beehivehoniton.co.uk 01404 384050 Bridport & District Gardening Club monthly meeting is at the W.I. Hall North Street Bridport at 7.30. Colin Varndell, well known local speaker and award winning Dorset wild life photographer and ecologist will speak about The Hedgehog Predicament. The meeting is open to non-members for a fee of £2.00 and further information about the club can be found on www.bridportgardeningclub.co.uk.

18 June

Chideock WI presents a Murder Mystery Evening 7.00pm for 7.30pm in Chideock Village Hall. Tickets, in advance only, £10 per head to include buffet supper; £7.00 for WI Members. Tickets available from Janet Carey 01297 489782 or email janet.carey747@ btinternet.

Scottish Dancing Party in Chardstock Evening of Scottish Dancing at Chardstock Village Hall 7.30 - 10.30 p.m. No partner required. Please bring a plate of food to share and your own mug.

Tea and coffee provided.. Cost £4 Contact David on 01460 65981 www.chardscottishdancingclub.org.uk.

Bridport Food & Beer Festival at Asker Meadows, Bridport Food: 9.30 - 5pm Beer: 11am - 11pm. A chance for everyone to celebrate and enjoy the best of local food and drink. Adult tickets £5 in advance £3.50 from the Bridport TIC 01308 424901 or online www. bridportandwestbay.co.uk Entry free to over 18s from 5pm.

Shute Festival East Devon Street Dance Workshop (all ages 7+) with Carla Steenkamp Sheills 10-11:30 am, £10. Nature Walk & Draw with Alex Boon 10-11:30 am (limited spaces, £15). Hannah Bourne Taylor on Fledgling 12-1 pm, £10. Landscape tree walk with Jill Butler 1:30-4:30 pm (limited spaces, £15). Anastazie Toros on Ukrainian Theatre (Workshop 16+) 1:30-3 pm, £10. Hilary Bradt & Janice Booth on Dragon’s Blood and Desert Roses - talk on the Yemeni island of Socotra 3:30-4:30 pm, £10. I am A Spider Mother: Poetry with Flora Cruft 5-6 pm, £10. Flamenco Performance with Jason Webster & Salud Botella 7-8:30 pm, £12.50. All tickets booked via www.shutefest.org.uk

18 - 19 June

Axminster’s Axe Vale Show. After a two year absence, the Axe Vale Show team of volunteers is working flat out to bring Axminster a fun-filled weekend! This local 2 day charity event, just on the outskirts of Axminster, has two aims: firstly to bring the whole community together and showcase the best that the South West can offer and secondly to plough any profit back into the local community via a grant-application process. Tickets via www. axevaleshow.co.uk. Online tickets are £10 for adults and children 5-16 come in for just £1, under 5’s are free.

46th Cerne Abbas Open Gardens About 25 Private Gardens Open 2-6pm. Day ticket to all gardens £7. Ticket for 2 days £10.

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Accompanied children free. Plant Stall. Free Car Park (DT2 7GD) from 1pm. Teas in St Mary’s Church from 1pm. Equal proceeds to: Cerne Valley Youth Trust, Dorchester Youth Theatre. www. cerneabbasopengardens.org.uk.

19 June

Bridport Chamber Orchestra: Queen’s Jubilee Concert, 3 pm.

St Swithun’s Church, Bridport. Tickets £10 on the door and from Bridport Music Centre and The Book Shop. Refreshments after the concert. Further information: 01935 824786.

Farm Walk at Tamarisk Farm West Bexington DT2 9DF. A chance to walk around the farm and hear all about the homegrown meat, flour, grain, pulses, fruit, veg, undyed knitting wool and sheep skins that is produced by the family on this organic farm on the beautiful West Dorset Coast. Visit www.bridportfoodfestival.co.uk for more details.

Shute Festival East Devon Ukrainian Theatre Workshop with Anastazie Toros (limited spaces) 10:30 am - 1 pm, £15. Landscape walk with Richard Edmonds 11-12:30 (limited spaces, £15). Film Screening and talk Memory Scrubbing on the eradication of civil society in Russia 1-2:30 pm, £10. Ben Short in conversation on Burn 3-4 pm, £10. A Time Traveller’s Guide to Donbass by Anastasia Kosodii (versionised by Andy Barrett): a reading with Anastazie Toros 4:30-5:30 pm, £10. All tickets booked via www.shutefest.org. uk.

Open Gardens in Upottery 1pm - 6pm - 9 parish gardens open for £5. Start at the Manor Room (Upottery Village Hall), Upottery, EX14 2PL. Light lunches from 12 noon and garden teas from 3pm. Children’s Treasure Hunt, plant sale, royal theme scarecrow competition. Proceeds to village hall funds. For information contact Marianne on 07746-961892.

Organ recital by Emma Gibbins Director of Music, Newport Cathedral. Lyme Regis Parish Church (St Michael the Archangel) at 3pm. Free entry with a retiring collection. Organised by the South Wessex Organ Society.

20 June

Honey Production: From Flower to Jar at Corscombe 10.30am - 12.30 £10 pp. If you enjoy honey and would like to know more about bees, this is a rare opportunity to visit a local apiary to see the work that is involved in producing genuine delicious honey. The session also includes a short walk to the wildflower meadows nearby.

To book and for more informationemail savagedebs51@gmail.com.

The Wessex Morris Men and Treacle Eater Clog groups will be performing a joint tour starting 7.30pm at the Square, Beaminster.

Then 8.15pm at The Cross Roads, Netherbury. Then 9.00pm at The Hare and Hounds Inn, Waytown.

21 June

West Dorset Ramblers Moderate 7 mile walk along the Rodwell Trail and more. Contact 01308 538101.

Farm Walk and Tasting at Hollis Organic DairyFarm, Urless Farm, Corscombe DT2 0NP 10.30 am - 1 pm. The ethos of the farm is to produce very high quality milk and food, whilst enhancing the environment for wildlife. During the walk you will find how the farm is managed, you’ll be introduced to their cows and be able to

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June

EVENTS AND COURSES taste their delicious dairy produce including the cheeses. Visit www. bridportfoodfestival.co.uk for more details.

Turn Lyme Green Talk “Farming and its Future on the Symondsbury Estate” (Free). Philip and Julia Colfox will talk about the challenge of living the dream in building a food based land business that respects nature to the full. 7.30pm at the Driftwood Cafe, Baptist Church, Lyme Regis, DT7 3NY. www.turnlymegreen. co.uk or 10297 446066.

Tony Christie 7.30pm The (Is This The Way To) Amarillo singer performs at The Beehive en-route to Glastonbury Festival. The Beehive Honiton www.beehivehoniton.co.uk 01404 384050 Barrington and District Gardening Society ‘All about Roses’

by Gold Club Speaker – Barrington Village hall, Barrington, Nr. Ilminster. 7.30pm Members free/Non-members £2 including refreshments tea/coffee/soft drink & biscuits.

Scottish Country dancing in Ashill. Every Tuesday at Ashill village hall TA19 9LX from 7.30 to 9.30 pm. Why not come along and join us? All welcome including beginners and you don’t need a partner.

For more information contact Anita on 01460 929383 or email anitaandjim22@gmail.com.

25 June

Uplyme and Lyme Regis Horticultural Society talk ‘Water Voles and Mink: Uncomfortable Bedfellows’ by Graham Roberts. 7.30pm, Uplyme Village Hall. Refreshments 7pm. Members free; guests £3.

25 - 26 June

22 June

23 June

West Dorset Ramblers Moderate circular walk west of Beaminster.

Contact 01308 281110 or 07715 760884.

Nostalgic Cinema: The Band Wagon (U) 2pm A 1953 American musical romantic comedy film starring Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse. It tells the story of an aging musical star who hopes a Broadway show will restart his career. A dementia-friendly screening with subtitles. The Beehive Honiton www.beehivehoniton.co.uk 01404 384050

24 June

Belfast (PG13) directed by Kenneth Branagh, and for which this year he won an Oscar for the best original screenplay, will be shown

by T & F Movies in Tatworth Memorial Hall.. The doors will open at 7.00pm and the film will start at 7.30pm. There will be the usual bar and raffle and the entry charge is £5.

Top Gun: Maverick (12A) 7.30pm After 30+ years of service as one of the Navy’s top aviators, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Tom Cruise) is where he belongs. The Beehive Honiton www. beehivehoniton.co.uk 01404 384050

24 - 26 June

Open Garden in aid of Axminster Hospital League of Friends Home Nursing Service. Garden is about one and a half acres, recently opened for the NGS, with many unusual trees, 230 roses, alpine house, scented leaf pelargonium collection, succulent collection, vegetable garden, small orchard, etc. Refreshments including large variety of delicious home made cakes. Plants, cards and fretwork stalls. Dogs on leads welcome. 1 pm - 5 pm. £5, under 12s free. Socks Orchard, Smallridge, Axminster EX13 7JN Tel: 07960191847.

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Bridport & West Dorset Rambling Club 7 mile walk from Thorncombe Wood. For further information please ring 01308 898484 or 01308 863340.

Axminster Heritage Centre Table Top Sale Axminster Heritage Centre Silver Street Axminster EX135AH 9.30am -1200pm. Hire of Table £5.00. To hire table please phone AHC on 01297 639884 or more information contact Shelagh Beak. 01404 881760.

Norton Show Safari 2022 4 Shows and a Stroll from 1:45pm.

HamstoneLIVE has booked another 4 high quality performances from professional Somerset performers for you to enjoy while taking a stroll around Norton Sub Hamdon. 1). Tor Theatre – Amelia Braveheart, inspired by Amelia Earhart, the aviation pioneer. 2). Jack & Jordon – a chaotic journey through the minds of two actors, nay, artists. 3). Bluebirds Theatre – The Popera House presents a quality musical show. 4). Out of the Forest Theatre – A dynamic piece from a local company (which means they haven’t told us everything yet). Numbers are limited; all shows are outdoors. Tickets are £10, available at the Village Shop from 30th May 2022 and online. Suitable for all ages. Call John Bailey on 01935 881227 if any queries, or check out HamstoneLIVE on Facebook.

Open Weekend at The Round Barrow A unique, stunning and exceptional creation offering an amazingly serene and beautiful permanent resting place for ashes. Niches may be chosen for immediate use or secured ready for the future. Higher Ground Meadow, Corscombe DT2 0QN. 01935 891245. office@ highergroundmeadow.co.uk.

26 June

Singing Bowl Soundbath quieten the mind calm the emotions relax and detox the body 2-4PM Oborne Village Hall £15 advance bookings only 01935 389655 ahiahel@live.com.

Friends of Lodmoor Country Park Table Top Sale Trail, dozens of households selling their goods from their driveways in the Lodmoor area of Weymouth, DT4 7 RG. 10-2.30. A sociable fundraising event, proceeds to enhance park facilities. O1305 750557 dinah.ellis@btinternet.com.

Table Top Sale Trail Dozens of table sales in driveways in the Lodmoor area of Weymouth. Fundraising for the Friends of Lodmoor Country Park to maintain and develop the Park amenities.

A fun day out for families to pick up a bargain HQ in Beaumont Avenue, DT4 7RG 01305 750557 dinah.ellis@btinternet.com

26 June - 3 July

Beaminster Festival An explosion of high quality music, theatre, art and literature to suit all tastes and ages. Full programme available at www.beaminsterfestival.com

28 June

West Dorset Ramblers moderate 9 mile walk past another Old Rectory to Ibberton Hill. Contact 07826 150114.

Scottish Country dancing in Ashill. Every Tuesday at Ashill village hall TA19 9LX from 7.30 to 9.30 pm. Why not come along and join us? All welcome including beginners and you don’t need a partner.

For more information contact Anita on 01460 929383 or email anitaandjim22@gmail.com.

‘Bridport & District U3A present a talk by Kevin Patience entitled ‘Send a Gunboat’ Bridport United Reform Church Hall in East Street. 2pm free to members £2 charge for non-members. Please see the Bridport U3A website for further information bridportu3a.org.uk’

29 June

Summer concert at 7-30p.m. by West Dorset Community Orchestra and Local Vocals Community Choir in St.John’s Church,West Bay. Free admission with retiring collection. Refreshments and raffle. More details 01308 456297.

Upholstery class at Dalwood village Hall - 9.30am – 3.30pm, coffee & tea included, bring own lunch, not for profit class, Tutor Laura Anderson - booking 07789 514269 or 07748 9821345 Bridport Scottish Dancers will be meeting at 7.30 for an evening of social dancing led by Elizabeth Beckinsale of the Somerset RSCDS. Church House, South Street, Bridport, DT6 3NN. All welcome, no partner required but please wear soft shoes. First evening free, thereafter £2.00 which includes tea/coffee & squash. Contact Malcolm on 07790 323343 or email johnstonealison@ hotmail.com for more information.

30 June

West Dorset Ramblers Moderate 7.5 mile Symondsbury Walk. Contact 07891 087195.

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News&Views

CHARDSTOCK More support for village shop

After successfully raising over £240,000 towards the preservation of its village shop and post office, Chardstock Community Shop Limited (CCSL) has enjoyed further success with the award of two grants.

Blackdown Hills AONB Sustainable Development Fund and The Norman Family Charitable Trust have both approved grants to CCSL in order to help with equipment and fitting out of the shop once it begins operating as a community run shop in two to three months time. A spokesman for CCSL said, ‘We are extremely grateful to both these organisations who recognised raising money to preserve the village shop was just the first stage of our journey.’

COLYTON & COLYFORD Support and sympathy at cafe Having gained their Quality Assurance mark, the Memory Café is looking forward to a summer season of special events. The Memory Café welcomes anyone who is looking for company, a change of scene and interesting activity to keep body and brain active. Most of the volunteers are Dementia Friends, able to listen sympathetically and talk through the challenges of living with dementia, and to offer contact details of agencies able to provide expert advice and support.

Visitors are assured of a friendly welcome and an afternoon of fun and laughter. For information, ring Sue on 07517054166 or email colymemcaf@gmail.com

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UPLYME Bell ringing for Ukraine

In continuing local efforts to support those affected by the crisis in Ukraine, on Saturday 30th April eight bell-ringing teams from across the region came to Uplyme Church to ring for Ukraine. Over £900 was raised. On Sunday an extra £350 was raised through a cream tea held at The Rectory. The money will be sent to the Red Cross. Rev Nicky Davies said: ‘Huge thanks must go to Andy Jarvis our bell-ringing co-ordinator for organising this day. We all continue to be horrified by the situation and glad to do something positive to help.’

DORCHESTER PJ Harvey donation to museum

PJ Harvey visited Dorset Museum recently and gifted proofs of her Dorset dialect narrative poem Orlam along with an exclusive photograph.

The singer-songwriter, musician and poet also gifted a published copy of Orlam, which she signed and wrote into the frontispiece ‘I’m so proud to be a local!’ Born in 1969 in Bridport, Polly Jean Harvey grew up in the Dorset village of Corscombe and released her first album Dry in 1992. She is the only musician to have been awarded the Mercury Music Prize twice, in 2001 and 2011.

WEST DORSET Show your Greener home

Could you open your home to visitors to show off your ideas for greener living?

Dorset Climate Action Network is organising a Greener Homes Event on the first two weekends in October to showcase examples of sustainable living. The focus this year is on low cost solutions to cut energy use, reduce waste and save money, as well as looking after nature in your garden. Alongside that will be an opportunity to view low carbon technologies like solar panels, heat pumps and electric cars. The event has been running in West Dorset for nine years. The organisers provide insurance cover, a website and a booking system. Anyone interested can email: dorsetgreenerhomes@gmail.com for more.

Social Capitalism—an economy to benefit the people Former teacher, Andrew Blackwood, has long been resolved to shed a clearer light on what he sees as the narrow focus of much political and economic analysis. He has recently published a book detailing his research and gives us a summary of his findings.

I

t sometimes seems as if we are living in a parallel universe—a kind of Alice-inWonderland world where alternative rules apply and dimensions are distorted. There is the high profile realm of government policy, national statistics and political rhetoric on the one hand, and then there are the instincts of ordinary, rational people, trying to cope with day to day challenges in the wake of Brexit, Covid and economic austerity. For example, we are continually told we must put all our efforts into raising GDP, for economic growth is the only way we can finance the NHS and social care. Yet—hold on! Annual GDP growth in the UK averaged a steady 2-3% from 1980 until the financial crash, and average income per head of population is now more than twelve times that in 1970. But for all this economic ‘progress’ our social landscape is still littered with food banks and rough sleepers—in one of the world’s richest nations. We might well think, as Alice did, Curiouser and curiouser!

This is just one of the many anomalies which bedevil our capitalist economy in modern Britain. Another is the question of the optimum conditions for an economy to thrive. Our Tory leaders tell us that ideally we need

...as President Joe Biden concluded last year, My fellow Americans, ‘trickle-down’ economics has never worked. less government involvement in economic life—limited regulation and lower taxation for a successful national performance. And yet the UK had a thriving economy and higher GDP growth in the 1950s and ‘60s, despite a highly regulated economy and high taxation. Contrary to popular myth supported by official rhetoric, ‘big’ government does not by itself reduce entrepreneurship or inhibit economic performance. And neither does reducing taxes on the rich contribute to raising livings standards for the poor; the suspect notion of trickle-down has been undermined by a wealth of evidence, and as President Joe Biden concluded last year, My fellow Americans, ‘trickle-down’ economics has never worked.

I could go on—and did so, at length, in the recently published Social Capitalism: The End of Neo-Liberalism and Where We Go Next. (Published by Austin Macauley on 31/3) The fact of the matter is that under current neoliberal capitalism we exist in an environment of blurred assumptions and plausible half-truths about how the free market works and how it might benefit us. They give sufficiently convincing coherence to notions about social and economic development, which then become popular

dogmas, not easily challenged. But they are myths, nonetheless. And where is government in all this, especially at a time of rising inflation and increasing poverty?—it simply repeats the mantra of growth, low taxes, privatisation, leave it to the market and the dynamism of our innovative entrepreneurs.

It hasn’t always been like this. Before the arrival of Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Andrew Blackwood Reagan, before what thriller writer Lee Child has called… a dramatic hinge in history, we had a different kind of capitalism, one which did more to serve the interests of ordinary people. But to return to this we need to remove the veil through which our economy is viewed, and overturn some of the myths that have bewitched us: economic growth by itself does not reduce poverty or inequality; lowering taxes on the rich does not raise the living standards of the poor; neither promoting a flexible labour market nor indulging corporate highfliers will produce a dynamic economy, (there is hardly any correlation between executive salaries and their firms’ performance, in terms of shareholder return or company profits); and neither reviving our lost social mobility, nor increasing equality of opportunity for the young, can ever be achieved until the vast inequalities of wealth and income in Britain are firstly reduced.

We are a nation of enormous talent and potential, but much of it squandered through inappropriate government policy and misguided leadership. Free market capitalism is important, but needs to be reined in to limit its more malign consequences and guide it to serve the interests of all in society. For example, public, social spheres, such as school playing fields or municipal property must be protected from the imperialism of market forces; not everything in life should be seen as a commodity. And by classifying essential, everyday goods as universal basic services (UBS), beyond the reach of normal market forces, important steps could be taken to creating a fairer, more equal society; this itself could increase economic dynamism by raising living standards and opportunities, as well as improving the morale of what is a growing underclass.

Social life is not merely a matter of economics.

Social Capitalism: The End of Neo-Liberalism and Where We Go Next is published by Austin Macauley at £14.99, and is available from bookshops in Sidmouth and Axminster.

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Spring Flowers AT COGDEN

With a gentle warmth in the air, Philip Strange sets out in search of spring flowers at Cogden beach in west Dorset

Sea Campion growing across the shingle beach at Cogden

I

t was an unexpectedly bright morning in the first week of May and I had come to one of my favourite places, Cogden in west Dorset. I stood in the car park for a few moments enjoying the gentle warmth of the air and taking in the familiar view set out below me.

There was the sea, calm that day and a uniform greenish-blue merging into the distant mist with no clear horizon. There, also, was the yellowish-brown shingle beach with its fringe of white water, part of the larger Chesil Beach sweeping eastwards towards Portland, the wedge shape barely visible in the mist. I was here to see what flowers were in bloom on this spring day and I hoped I might find some of the first orchids.

I began my search by heading eastwards through the gate from the Car Park into the meadows that slope down below the coast road towards the sea. Despite the traffic noise, skylarks trilled overhead and a green woodpecker “yaffled” nearby. The ground was quite uneven, perhaps churned up by cattle when wet and muddy, making for awkward walking.

Rough grass predominated but a few bright yellow cowslips were dotted about and spikes of bugle with their pale blue flowers were also showing well. Bugle is an unassuming flower, often overlooked but a closer examination revealed the delicately beautiful patterns of darker stripes and pale patches that decorate the flowers. Elsewhere in the meadow, the first yellow cushiony flowers of bird’s foot trefoil were emerging, a foretaste of times to come.

I asked some passing dog walkers if they had seen any orchids. They hadn’t, but kindly warned me to beware of adders. I continued to the east through several fields and across stiles gradually descending towards the sea. Traffic noise from the coast road gave way to the soothing sound of pebbles driven rhythmically back and forth by waves on the beach. When I reached the coast path, I turned to walk westwards, first along a narrow track enclosed by lush green vegetation and later above a broad grassy area bordering the reed bed and shingle beach. Colourful drifts of wild flowers grew here, mostly cowslip and cuckooflower.

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Clockwise from top left: Cowslips; Early Purple Orchids; Cuckooflower; Sea Campion

I have always loved cowslips for their clusters of bright yellow, frilly-edged, trumpet shaped flowers. Seeing so many here reminded me of my childhood when it was common to find large numbers growing across chalk grassland and railway embankments in Dorset. Nowadays, it is a treat to see even just a few of the flowers, a reminder of how much has been lost from our countryside, mainly through urbanisation and the relentless march of intensive agriculture.

Cuckooflower is a very attractive, rather delicate looking flower, also called lady’s smock. The petals here were white with variable amounts of lilac pigmentation and lilac filigree markings. Cuckooflower is one of several plants whose name honours the cuckoo; the flowers are said to bloom at about the same time as the bird arrives from its migration.

Cuckooflower is also one of the larval food plants for the orange tip butterfly.

In time, the reed bed petered out and I reached the first paved access track from the Cogden Car Park. The shingle beach near here is a very special place where many unusual plants flourish despite the harsh environment by throwing down long roots to harvest fresh water from the underlying soils. Sea kale is one of the main attractions. It is now rather uncommon in the UK but numerous clumps of the plant with their fleshy, cabbage-type, dark green leaves were evident that day. A few flowers, yellow at first then turning to white, were also showing. It was, though, too early for their great display when each clump will be covered with white flowers making the beach look as though a heavy snow has fallen. Another plant was, however, providing interest in the interim. This was sea campion and large mats of the plant were growing across the shingle, each covered in hundreds of white bowl-shaped flowers.

I still hadn’t found any orchids and was about to give up when, almost accidentally, I came across several groups of the flowers in an area of longish rough grass, bramble and

gorse behind the shingle beach. There were, perhaps, twenty or more spikes of flowers of a brilliant purplish-pink held on thick stems emerging through the drab, rough grass, looking as if someone had splashed pink paint across a dull canvas. Many were in peak condition. A few were already past their best but others were just emerging. The flower spikes were loosely decorated with florets, like jewels on a bracelet. Each floret comprised a prominent extended lower lip, mostly purplish-pink but white towards the throat with a pattern of pink spots. An overhanging hood, marked white on some spikes, contained the reproductive parts of the plant and behind the hood a spur curved upwards. These are early purple orchids (Orchis mascula), usually the first of the species to appear each year and they conjure an otherworldly beauty wherever they grow. Early purple orchids were once common across the UK but have suffered in the same way as cowslips.

My visit to Cogden had been fascinating, as always, and I was particularly pleased to have found the orchids. It was, though, early May and many flowers were only just beginning to show. In a few weeks, the shingle beach will be dominated by the white flowers of sea kale, large drifts of pink thrift will appear across the low coastal cliffs and yellow horned poppy will begin to bloom. In the meadows and in the grassy areas near the reed bed many flowers will appear including several species of orchid.

Tamarisk Farm, based at West Bexington, is putting on a wildflower walk across the meadows starting from the Cogden Car Park at 11am on Sunday June 12th (see “June’s wildflower walk at Cogden” on Eventbrite).

Philip Strange is Emeritus Professor of Pharmacology at the University of Reading. He writes about science and about nature with a particular focus on how science fits in to society. His work may be read at http://philipstrange. wordpress.com/

Signs of the Past

By Cecil Amor

B

One of the few remaining signs around Bridport is the recently repainted Rawles butchers sign in East Street. Photograph © Ismay Byrne

ack in the 1930s there was not much “razzledazzle” in our shop signs. Instead, static painted signs were used and these were often very attractive, colourful and artistic.

A small company was established at 71 East Street, Bridport, Dorset, in 1924, as sign writers and pictorial artists, entitled Bridport Signs Service Studios. The leader of the group was F.G Biles, who had been apprenticed himself in 1914. Biles employed two assistants, after five years or so, whom he trained up to his own standard. One of these was another local man, James (Jimmy) Hallett.

The company prospered, producing signs of all types and sizes for establishments throughout the south west of England, so that by 1932 an article, was published in the Town and Country News, under the title of The Art of the Modern Signwriter. This included a photograph of the three men at work in their studio, on three different signs. I am indebted to Mr Ken. J. P. Allen, of Yeovil, for sending me a copy and most of the information in this article. (Mr Allen is himself a signwriter).

It is no surprise that much of their work was of inn signs and they had the contract to produce public house signs for the local brewer Palmers of Bridport, and also for at least another 8 independent breweries, throughout the south coast. Many of these inns and brewers no longer exist, and the existing signs have since been repainted, or at least touched up. One local Bridport sign still hanging is that of the Odd Fellows Arms, North Allington, dated 1977, near the birthplace of Mr Biles in 1901.

Two other signs exist in East Street, Bridport,

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although one has recently been repainted. This is for Rawles butchers, on a side wall, adjacent to the United Church, facing the Town Hall. It shows a brown bull, two sheep and a pig, with a horse looking over a gate above. The other sign is opposite on the wall now of Leakers, Bakers, facing in the opposite direction and it has suffered from weathering, so is hardly legible. It has no picture, only words in white on a green ground and appears to advertise Rax Dairy, which is now no longer trading.

Apart from pub and wall signs, the company were awarded a contract for the Electric Palace, in South Street, Bridport, for internal decorations. Ten decorative panels were produced, showing pastoral scenes, in 1932. Unfortunately the Palace suffered closure for a period, almost threatened with demolition, until rescued by a buyer. It has since changed hands and is in regular use.

Sale and advertising boards were produced for many local firms, including Axminster Carpets from 1935 and Dorset Knobs. Of course the local Dramatic Society benefited from scenery paintings. Mr Allen also recalls a large painting of the inside of Noah’s Ark, including all the animals, approximately 4 feet high by 15 feet long, which took 21 days to complete, displayed at the Masonic Hall, Portland, and finally transferred to a country house in Radipole, Weymouth. Despite such enterprises, the studio was happy to produce small signs for shop windows and house and road signs.

When the Second World War intervened, large illustrated boards were painted to raise money for the war effort. In particular a large painting of Winston

Churchill for ‘Salute the Soldier Week’, with a target of £90,000 was fixed to prominent buildings in Bridport.

In 1953 the Studio was pleased to be commissioned to produce a manuscript to be presented to Princess Margaret during her visit to Bridport, on the 700th anniversary of the granting of the town’s charter. This was on velum and carried 5 miniature paintings around its edges.

Another aspect of the company’s work was gilding, using gold leaf, for shop windows and even the numerals on church clocks. They also painted signs on commercial vehicles, carts and drays.

Mr Biles was working to within days of his death in December 1987. Mr James Hallett had left and was working on his own account, some years earlier.

It is clear from his account of the work of the Bridport Signs Studios that Mr. Ken Allen held them in very high regard in their work, some of which is now a forgotten art. I am grateful to him for providing so much of this detail.

Bridport History Society will meet on Thursday 9th June at 2.15/2.30 pm for talks on “Americans in Bridport”, led by Jane, in the United Church, Main Hall, East Street, Bridport.

Cecil Amor, Hon President, Bridport History Society

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House&Garden

Vegetables in June

By Ashley Wheeler

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tend to like June as a vegetable grower. The pressure of Spring has subsided somewhat, most of the garden has been planted up and in some cases we are onto second plantings in some beds, and everything is looking lush and beautiful.

However, as always with veg growing it is important to continue making successional sowings to ensure consistent productivity later through the summer, autumn and winter.

This is important for salads, herbs and other crops like carrots, fennel, beets and chard.

We have been experimenting this year by undersowing crops with green manures and flowers, as well as sowing some of the paths with trefoil. The idea behind this is that rather than thinking of the paths as a bit of a nothing space that cannot contribute to the vegetable garden other than providing a space to walk on, we are attempting to have more plants photosynthesising. Therefore more root exudates are given out by the plants to provide food for microorganisms in the soil that in turn supply nutrients back to the plant after they have died. Many plants also form mycorrhizal associations, whereby the plants’ roots link up with hyphae of fungus and they mutually benefit one another. The hyphae of the fungus can in some cases penetrate the plant root and whilst the plant can give sugars and other carbohydrates to the fungus, the fungus can offer the plant access to more nutrients or water. This is a very simplified description of the relationship between plants and fungi, and the benefits can be far more complex such as increased pest and disease resistance for the plants when these mycorrhizal associations are made. So, by increasing the diversity of the plants in the ground, rather than simply growing a monocrop of one type of vegetable, these associations are encouraged more, and can be hugely beneficial to the vegetables that we are growing.

This, along with fewer and shallower cultivations mean that the build up of fungus in the soil will develop and continue to benefit future plantings.

In practical terms, planting lots of other plants around vegetables that we are growing is not always simple. Timing is critical, and we don’t want invasive weeds to overtake.

The undersowings will also need managing in some way to ensure that they do not compete too much with the vegetables for light, water and nutrients. We will mostly be using low growing plants such as trefoil, but also upright, but not bushy plants like buckwheat and linseed which will not reduce airflow too much around the vegetables. We will be mowing or strimming the paths to manage the trefoil, and also strimming some of the other plants before they seed too much. Other benefits that we can bring into this relationship is to plant or sow more flowers that encourage more pollinators and predatory insects into the garden. This will increase pollination of fruiting crops but also help to balance the garden in terms of keeping insects such as aphids and cabbage white caterpillars at manageable levels.

26 The Marshwood Vale Magazine June 2022 Tel. 01308 423031

Chard is one of the vegetables that can be planted outside this month

It is sometimes easy to think that we must always keep everything in our gardens very neat and tidy and constantly hoe everything off other than the vegetables that we are growing. However, it’s worth considering trying some new techniques like undersowings of vegetables to encourage a more balanced environment. Whilst it is a learning curve and there are bound to be things that we try that don’t work so well, overall the benefits will really show through the health of the vegetables.

WHAT TO SOW THIS MONTH: purple sprouting broccoli & January King type winter cabbage (early this month), french beans, chard, beetroot, chard, carrots, basil, late cucumbers, kale, fennel, salad leaves - summer purslane, buckshorn plantain, salad burnet, lettuce, chicory (Treviso and Palla Rossa varieties early in the month, other varieties later), endive, mustards and rocket (mesh to keep flea beetle off), goosefoot, anise hyssop, amaranth, orache, nasturtiums.

WHAT TO PLANT THIS MONTH: OUTSIDE: Dwarf french beans, beetroot, squash and corn (if not already done), lettuce and salads, squash, runner beans, kale, chard, autumn cabbage INSIDE: climbing french beans, cucumbers, basil, salads goosefoot, summer purslane OTHER IMPORTANT TASKS THIS MONTH: Undersow squash with a mix of red and white clovers, yellow trefoil, and other cornfield wildflowers—this will help to fix nitrogen, but more importantly cover the soil and provide organic matter and living roots for soil organisms to benefit from.

Buried in Time — history beneath our feet THE award-winning West Bay Discovery Centre is currently featuring a new exhibition. Buried in Time, which tells the story of the area’s history through an amazing selection of fossils from the Jurassic era.

West Bay itself, is situated around a third of the way along the ninetyfive miles of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. This stretch of coast’s unique value led to it being designated a World Heritage Site in 2001. As you move from west to east the rocks are generally younger. Between Eype and Burton Bradstock, they are between 185-165 million years old and were formed in shallow seas, much like the Caribbean of today.

Not all of the rocks contain fossils but the curiously-named Inferior Oolite limestone is the most astonishing demonstration of how a bustling ecosystem consisting of ammonites, belemnites, bivalves, brachiopods, sea urchins and sponges thrived in the warm waters and then was transformed into fossils. Amazingly it is thought that across the planet there were more than 10,000 individual species of ammonite, but not one persists today.

Fossil hunting in this area is not easy and best left to the experts but the Buried in Time exhibition contains a selection of high quality specimens loaned by expert collectors and the Bridport Museum, along with a recreation of the seabed from the Jurassic age. There is also a “touch table” of fossils to get closely acquainted with the look and feel of fossils and practice their fossil identification skills along with dinosaur and fossil colouring sheets to keep younger visitors entertained.

The Buried in Time exhibition is running at the West Bay Discovery Centre until the end of October 2022. Opening times, etc. can be found on the Discovery Centre website www.westbaydiscoverycentre.org.uk or on its Facebook page.

Tel. 01308 423031 The Marshwood Vale Magazine June 2022 27

June in the Garden

By Russell Jordan

L

ast month I was already mentioning that the spring had been unusually dry and bright, up to that point, and May started off in the same vein. There has now been a welcome few days of rain, cloudbursts of biblical proportions at the time of writing, which has reduced the threat of drought conditions checking the growth of summer flowering plants—what a relief!

There is, of course, ‘many a slip ‘twixt cup and lip’ but the sunny spring seems to have produced an amazing abundance of spring blossom on fruit trees. The ‘June drop’ notwithstanding, this could lead to a bumper crop of apples, plums, pears etc. as long as we have a ‘normal’ sort of English summer (i.e. plenty of rain) and not complete drought conditions (do you remember 1976 : “save water, bath with a friend”?).

The so-called ‘June drop’ is the natural shedding of tiny fruit, most typically seen on apple trees, which actually carries on for a period of weeks and is not really anything to worry about. Even in an average spring, an apple tree is likely to set more fruit, due to successful pollination, than it is able to support to full ripening. A proportion of immature fruit drops off and this can look quite alarming. In fact this natural phenomenon is saving you some work because, especially if the tree is carrying a super abundance of fruit, you would have to intervene at some point to thin out the developing apples. Thinning is necessary in order to avoid damage to the tree, especially if it’s a young specimen, due to the weight of the crop and also in order to guarantee that the apples you eventually harvest are of a decent size; fewer and larger being preferable to an over abundance of tiny fruit.

It also seems to have been an unusually good spring for dandelions, the dry and bright days encouraging maximum flowering and therefore maximum seeding. This is a timely warning that weeds can get the upper hand if you are not vigilant at this time of year. Dandelions are, as far as I’m concerned, perfectly welcome in lawns, verges and meadows but are one of those weeds which can get out of hand if allowed too much free rein in the ornamental garden. The key, as with so many horticultural tasks, is a timely intervention.

They are relatively easy to weed out when they are still small, yet to develop their infamous tap root, but they are really tricky to successfully weed out once established.

One of the most annoying things about dandelions is that

28 The Marshwood Vale Magazine June 2022 Tel. 01308 423031

their tap root is a really good evolutionary adaptation to survival. If you see a particularly fat old dandelion, brazenly flowering with its annoyingly yellow bloom in the middle of your herbaceous border, it’s practically impossible not to step forward, grasp the evil interloper, by its whorl of coarse leaves, and give it a good yank. This invariably leads to the dandelion leaves and flowers snapping off, at the point where they attach to the tap root, leaving you only the, short-lived, satisfaction of having removed the visible part but not the ‘root problem’.

The tap root, which can be absolutely huge, is left behind and this quickly sets about producing multiple new crowns of leaves and flowers with the added annoyance that, having been snapped off once, there is now a weak point between the foliage above ground and that established tap root. The next time you make an effort to pull it out you will come away with a handful of dandelion leaves but that nasty root will be left behind, once more, to start the whole regrowth process all over again.

The only way to remove dandelions successfully is to resist any urge to pull them out manually but to wait until you have a decent border fork in your hand. Deploy your fork carefully, to dig around the whole plant, feed your hand down through the loosened soil, to firmly grasp the troublesome tap root, so that it can be pulled out completely intact.

Where a dandelion, or other pernicious weed, has managed to establish itself in the heart of an ornamental plant, where digging it out would be impossible, then the strategic application, by paintbrush if necessary, of a total weedkiller, such as glyphosate, is the logical course of action. The presence of the tap root means that even a ‘total’ weedkiller may need more than one application to successfully eradicate it.

The good thing about June is that there is such an abundance of flowers and foliage that the odd weed can be overlooked in the greater scheme of things. All that winter rose pruning should be paying dividends now that these classic garden plants begin to fill the garden with colour and scent. I have them underplanted with traditional herbaceous plants, Campanula persicifolia or C. glomerata are favourites, because the old ‘rose beds’, where roses are kept in splendid isolation, are not something that’s really practical, or particularly attractive, in domestic gardens.

In fact, June is the time of year that the traditional ‘Cottage

Garden’, more of an ideal than an actual ‘thing’, really comes into its own. All those pretty mounds, spikes and spires of classic perennials such as carnations (‘pinks’), delphiniums, lavender, lupins, hardy geraniums et al, come together in a glorious hugger-mugger of floral exuberance.

An under-pinning of plant supports, or interspersed twiggy shrubs, is necessary if this informal mass of flowering perennials is to survive much beyond June and, as always, one of the tasks this month is to step in and intervene, with a well aimed pair of secateurs / ball of twine / emergency pea stick, whenever a collapse threatens. Heavy downpours of rain and/or unseasonally strong winds can wreak havoc while all this soft, floppy, growth is doing its stuff but the joys of having a good mix of flowers and foliage, in this first month of summer, far outweigh the risks.

Into this mix you can add those tender bedding plants, or potted displays of tender perennials that you’ve been ‘hardening off ’, now that all risk of frost has passed. Remember that plants grown in pots and containers, or those that need to put on a real spurt of growth, will require feeding during the summer months: I find that a proprietary water soluble fertiliser, added at every other watering, generally suffices. I have recently invested in one of those ‘hose end’ feeding contraptions, where the soluble feed is added to a canister / spray applicator, but have yet to discover whether this is as good as manual mixing of the feed using my trusty old ‘Haws’ watering can—time will tell.

Hopefully this summer will play out in the traditional English way of enough rain to keep everything lush but also enough sun so that you can get out there and enjoy your own garden, or to visit other peoples; again, “time will tell”!

Tel. 01308 423031 The Marshwood Vale Magazine June 2022 29

PROPERTY ROUND-UP

Homes for Jubilation!

By Helen Fisher

STOCKLAND £1,000,000

Characterful country house with 5 bedrooms in a beautiful rural hamlet surrounded by woodland. Recently renovated featuring a hand crafted central staircase. With a gated driveway through mature gardens, wild flower meadow, wild copse and streams. Plus a newly built summerhouse. Ample parking. All set in approx 1 acre.

Savills Tel: 01392 455710

YETMINSTER £1,750,000

A creatively converted series of barns set around a central yard with 5/6 bedrooms. With a southerly aspect, there is a feeling of light throughout.

Kitchen with Aga overlooking a walled garden. Plus private, fully contained guest cottage with wood burner and vaulted ceiling. Outbuildings, kitchen garden, small orchard all set in about 1 acre with ample parking.

Knight Frank Tel: 01935 808498

COLYTON £1,000,000

BURTON BRADSTOCK £1,200,000

Rural position in a completely walled garden. 5 bedroom single storey family home. Plot extends to around an acre and was originally the kitchen garden for Netherton Hall. The site features a duck pond, mature shrubs and trees, various outbuildings, swimming pool plus a Victorian gypsy caravan. Ample parking.

Gordon & Rumsby Tel: 01297 553768

A handsome Grade II listed Queen Anne house with 6 bedrooms in the heart of this popular coastal village. Set over 3 floors with lovely countryside views. Numerous character features. Beautiful part walled gardens and grounds featuring a palm tree and summerhouse. First time on the market in 41 years. Double garage and private parking.

Stags Tel: 01308 428000

EYPE £425,000

BRIDPORT £850,000

A stylish detached 2 bedroom seaside chalet with panoramic sea views.

Built in 2013, literally a stone’s throw from the beach. Open plan living space with vaulted ceiling and contemporary kitchen. Double glazed throughout with LPG central heating plus parking for 2 cars. The chalet can be used as a holiday let/home only.

Symonds and Sampson Tel: 01308 422092

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A detached 1930s house with 3/4 bedrooms and magnificent views to the sea and coast. New doors, floors and lighting while retaining original character features. Mainly south-facing garden with a verandah, water garden and unique pod/home office.

First time on the market in 22 years. Good parking and detached double garage.

Kennedys Tel: 01308 427329

An intriguing residence in Chickerell LOCKED down by the pandemic local resident Chris Miller decided this offered him the perfect opportunity to research a property that had long fascinated him. He recalled first entering Montevideo House in Chickerell as an eight-year-old and it left a lasting impression on him.

Its vast kitchen, billiards room and library with floor to ceiling bookshelves were impressive but for a young boy the bells that summoned the servants were an early introduction to class distinction.

Chris set to work spending countless hours navigating Ancestry and was delighted to find a diary kept by the nephew of one of the property’s residents, celebrated London silversmith, John Bridge (1754-1834), who bought Piddletrenthide Manor.

Starting with the story of Weymouth solicitor Joseph Horsford who purchased the land on which the house was built, Chris Miller leads us through a history of owners and those in residence from 1816 when John Spencer ‘a

natural son’ of John Bridge was living there. Spencer is described by his cousin Robert as ‘overbearing and given to excess’. He also records that an acquaintance with him was ‘awkward and critical.’

The intriguing history of a gentleman’s residence in Dorset offers detailed information about the Bridge family who occupied the house until it was sold to the Elds when Lionel Percy Denham Eld lived there in 1861. Advertisements for the sale mention valuable oil paintings by Rubens, Rembrant and Vandyke amongst others.

After her father’s death in 1863, Lionel Eld’s eldest daughter Louisa married William Greaves in 1866. The wedding was described in a press report as ‘One of the gayest and grandest weddings witnessed in Weymouth’.

The wedding breakfast took place in Montevideo House and the press report highlighted the ‘profuse array of delicacies’ and the ‘magnificent bridecake’ that was the crowning ornament of the table. The writer also pointed to the hospitality of Mrs Eld which was dispensed ‘with a liberal hand’ to the neighborhood and the villagers of Chickerell.

A final chapter in the book makes reference to the Richardson and Rogers families who were resident in Montevideo House from 1885 to 1949.

Available from The Book Shop, South Street, Bridport or visit www.the-edward-press.com.

Tel. 01308 423031 The Marshwood Vale Magazine June 2022 31

Food&Dining

ROASTED NEW POTATO SALAD INGREDIENTS

DIRECTIONS

•

1. Preheat the oven to Gas Mark 6 / 200C / 400F. 2. Put the potatoes into a large pan, cover with water, bring to the boil and simmer for 5 minutes. Drain the potatoes well and toss with the olive oil. Transfer to a roasting tin and roast in the oven for 25-30 minutes or until golden and crisp.

3. Meanwhile, mix together the dressing ingredients in a large bowl and season generously with salt and freshly ground pepper.

4. Toss the hot roasted potatoes with the dressing, mix thoroughly and serve at once.

• •

LESLEY WATERS

• • • • • •

450 g / 1 lb Pentland Javelin new potatoes 1 tablespoon olive oil For the dressing 1 bunch watercress, washed & picked over ½ small red onion, finely chopped 1 clove garlic, chopped 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar pinch sugar salt and freshly ground black pepper Serves 4

32 The Marshwood Vale Magazine June 2022 Tel. 01308 423031

Tel. 01308 423031 The Marshwood Vale Magazine June 2022 33

WILD GARLIC AND NETTLE SOUP WITH DORSET SNAILS © Photo Jason Lowe

The wild garlic season is near the end so a great opportunity to make a simple soup with some nettles too, and what’s more it’s free. I quite like to add some of our local Dorset snails to this vibrant green soup which are produced just up the road in Wimborne by the Walker family and they taste better than any of our overseas friends’ snails. www.dorsetsnails.co.uk.

INGREDIENTS

DIRECTIONS

•

1. Melt the butter in a thick-bottomed pan and gently cook the leek for 2-3 minutes to soften, stirring every so often. Stir in the flour then gradually stir in the hot stock. Bring to the boil and simmer on a medium heat for about 20 minutes.

2. Add the nettles and wild garlic and simmer for another couple minutes.

3. Blend in a liquidiser until smooth then return to the pan.

4. Add the double cream and the snails and simmer for a few more minutes, seasoning again if necessary then serve.

•

MARK HIX

• • • • • • •

1 leek, trimmed, cut into rough 1cm squares and washed A couple of good knobs of butter 1tbls flour 1.5litres vegetable stock Salt and freshly ground black pepper 3-4tbsp double cream A handful of wild garlic leaves, washed and chopped A handful of young nettle tops 12 Dorset snails Serves 4 - 6

34 The Marshwood Vale Magazine June 2022 Tel. 01308 423031

Popular festival returns after two-year break

Bridport Food & Drink Festival is back in June

LIKE so many annual events affected by the pandemic Bridport Food & Drink Festival is making a comeback this year in June. To be held back at Asker Meadows in Bridport the Festival has grown from small beginnings to become a must-attend event for all food and drink lovers living and visiting the area.

It kicks off at 6pm on Friday 17 June in the evening with the opening of the Bridport Round Table’s Beer Festival, a free event. Over 80 beers and ciders will be on offer. Alongside there will be a Pimms Bar, a good selection of street food and live music to enjoy.

On Saturday 18 June, the field is transformed into a real family celebration of the best local food and drink available in the area. As well as great food and drink to suit all tastes, mainly from producers and suppliers within a 25-mile radius of Bridport, there is lots of foodie fun and entertainment for the whole family to enjoy including a children’s and teens marquee. There will be cookery demonstrations by local chefs including Mark Hix, Gill Meller, Pam Corbin, Sally Fishcamp and Chris Chatfield as well as cocktail making from Dark Bear. There will also be a Festival tearoom offering a good cup of Dorset Tea with homemade cakes and scones, and live music by local musicians.

With the overall theme for this year’s Festival being ‘Reducing Food Waste’, in the #lovefoodhatewaste tent visitors will see and find out through a selection of demonstrations, talks including from special guest, eco nutritionist Daphne Lambert, and activities how: • Saving food from the bin is good for our pockets and also for the planet • Most of the food wasted is in our homes - and it’s easy to make a big difference • Food waste contributes to climate change and also wastes precious resources - water and energy - which has gone in to producing and transporting it.

The food festival runs from 9.30 am – 5pm. The Beer Festival runs from 11am – 11pm. Adult tickets are £5 on the gate or £3.50 in advanced. Free entry for children under 17 years. Entry after 4pm is free.

The Bridport Food and Drink Festival is part of the Bridport Festival fortnight which runs from Sunday 12 – Friday 24 June. During the fortnight there are a host of different events in the town and surrounding area that showcase and celebrate the areas diverse and resilient food and drink producers, retailers and hospitality industry. For the full calendar of events visit www.bridportfoodfestival.co.uk.

Jubilee flavour for local gin WHAT could be more quintessentially English than a summer pudding? A summer pudding gin of course.

Dorchester based Fordington Gin has launched a limited edition gin to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Handmade in the heart of Dorset this excellent summer pudding inspired gin includes wild strawberries and blackcurrants. It is delicious and quintessentially English for those perfect summer celebrations.

Fordington Gin began at home on a Dorset kitchen table. A huge fan of gin all her life Ros Nelmes, founder of Fordington Gin, has a longstanding heritage rooted in a real passion for food, drink and flavours, especially locally grown and organic produce. Often traveling to all parts of the country tasting and experiencing new and exciting food and drinks, Ros samples the very best in the industry, ‘It’s about the gin, the people, the energy and the spirit’ she says. ‘The spirit of the gin and the people behind it.’

Fordington is a gin that offers an exceptionally smooth, soft, elegant and sophisticated experience and the limited edition Summer Pudding is a sunny treat. It is available now at www.fordingtongin. co.uk.

New life for village pub THERE was no shortage of smiling faces when the White Lion at Broadwindsor recently reopened as a community pub.

It followed months of negotiations with owners Palmers Brewery, a hugely successful public fundraising campaign and weeks of hard work by volunteers to refurbish the West Dorset village’s only public house.

The campaign had been spearheaded by parish council vice-chairman David Leader, who died suddenly last month at the age of 64.

Rick Dyke, chairman of the White Lion Management Committee, paid mtribute to David saying that without his ‘energy, enthusiasm and diplomacy’ it would not have been possible to reopen the pub. ‘We hope that The White Lion will become the community hub that David envisaged’ he said.

He also paid tribute to the local community which has so generously supported the committee’s fundraising efforts.

The pub will be open from Tuesday to Friday, from 6pm until 11pm, and on Saturdays from 11am11pm and Sundays from 12 noon to 10.30pm.

Tel. 01308 423031 The Marshwood Vale Magazine June 2022 35

Arts&Entertainment

A Thousand Kilometres Between

Janette Kerr at Slader’s Yard

JANETTE KERR is an experimental contemporary artist whose work explores the boundaries between what is felt and what is seen in wild windswept places. She paints the weather, sea, light and wind, the more energetic the better, working both outside en plein air and in the studio.

Her fascination extends to the people who live and have lived in the places she paints. Moving between abstraction and representation, she carries forward the ideas of the 18th Century Romantic Sublime in paintings that embody terrifying thrilling confrontations with nature.

Janette Kerr is known for her paintings of the far North and Arctic. She goes regularly to the Shetland Isles to work. As well as Shetland paintings, this exhibition includes works that have resulted from her time at the Nes International Art Residency, Skagaströnd, NW Iceland in 2020. Numerous collaborative projects with other artists, historians, scientists, and geographers include time spent studying the unpredictability of waves and wind alongside Norwegian oceanographers at the meteorological Institute in Bergen which had a profound influence on her work.

Underpinned by her exceptional drawing skills, Janette’s relish for the physical processes of drawing and painting can be felt in the dynamic quality of her marks and brushstrokes. When not away on a residency, she divides her time between her two studios—one in the West

Country near Bath, and the other in Shetland, 200 miles north of Aberdeen and west of Bergen, Norway.

Her work is in national and international public collections including the Maine Maritime Museum, USA; Royal Collection, London; Shetland Arts, Shetland Isles; NorthLink Ferries, Scotland; Norwegian Meteorological Institute, Bergen, Norway; Dublin Office of Public Works; RWA Permanent Collection Tallboys Bequest Bristol; Victoria Art Gallery Print Collection, Bath; Grizedale Society, Cumbria and the Colle Verde Art Trust, Tuscany.

This exhibition at Slader’s Yard in West Bay also features work by Dorset based Petter Southall who converted Slader’s Yard. He maintains a permanent changing exhibition here of his furniture and large-scale pieces for the garden.

An exceptional designer craftsman, Petter’s family come from the fjords around Bergen. His furniture designs are inspired by the traditional Oselvar Faerings, boats he made as a young boatbuilder in Norway to designs that reach back through the generations via the Vikings to the Bronze Age. Since 1991 he has been making his distinctive furniture at his studio outside Bridport.

The exhibition continues until 2 July and there is a talk

by Janette Kerr on Friday 17 June at 6.30pm. Tickets: £10 or £25 with dinner to follow. For more information visit www.sladersyard.co.uk.

Above: Janette Kerr in her studio. Left: Crossing the North Sea 100x150cm.

Top right: The Walkers No 6 oil on canvas 800x1200mm.

Right: Waiting oil on canvas 80x95cm 36 The Marshwood Vale Magazine June 2022 Tel. 01308 423031

June

GALLERIES

Until 29 May

Living Landscapes Antonia Phillips Paintings exploring Antonia’s enjoyment of working within the landscape, from journeys near and far. Celebrating our amazing British countryside, unique National Parks & glorious Scottish Highlands. Sou’-Sou’-West Arts Gallery, Symondsbury Estate, Bridport DT6 6HG. Open daily 10:30-4:30.

Free admission & parking. Contact 01308 301326 www.sousouwest. co.uk.

1 - 19 June

‘Jubilee!’ Mixed Open Sou’-Sou’-West Arts Gallery, Symondsbury Estate, Bridport DT6 6HG. Open daily 10:30-4:30. Free admission & parking. Contact 01308 301326 www.sousouwest.co.uk. A celebratory exhibition to commemorate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Visitors are encouraged to create sketches, prints or paintings to display in the Gallery Shop.

1 - 25 June

Unique Framecraft welcomes Marie Blake as guest artist throughout the month of June. Marie will be exhibiting original screenprints under the title ‘Echo and Refrain’, a graphic narrative resurrected by dreams in which an unexplained childhood bereavement has been resolved through the healing processes of drawing, painting and printmaking. Viewing daily from 8.30 am to 4pm at Unique Framecraft, Units 4-5 Millway Rise Workshops, Second Avenue, Axminster. EX13 5HH. Telephone 01297 631614 or 07801 260259. Instagram@ uniqueframecraft.

Until 12 June

Waterline 2022 Contemporary abstract photographs by Lois Wakeman and Tricia Scott of weathered and textured boat hulls.

Rotunda Gallery, Lyme Regis Museum, Bridge Street, Lyme Regis DT7 3QA, Tues-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 10am-4pm, www. lymeregismuseum.co.uk.

‘Reflections of Venice: Robert Crisp’ Sou’-Sou’-West Arts

38 The Marshwood Vale Magazine June 2022 Tel. 01308 423031

Gallery, Symondsbury Estate, Bridport DT6 6HG. Open daily 10:30-4:30. Free admission & parking. Contact 01308 301326 www. sousouwest.co.uk. Robert’s new exhibition at Sou’-Sou’-West Gallery in Symondsbury is the result of five years of study, experimenting with different surfaces, grounds and mediums. Entitled ‘Reflections of Venice’, Robert showcases the culmination of many hours spent sketching and testing colours which would best represent the light and tones of Venice, and striving to capture the atmosphere of the city in a visually recognisable way, but in an abstract style.

Until 16 June

Mixed Spring Exhibition of Gallery and Guest Artists. Returning to normality we hope with an exhibition featuring all our gallery artists including sculptors Johannes von Stumm and Sarah Moore, ceramicist Alison Wear and many paintings and prints from Phillippa Headley, Kim Pragnell, Colin Moore, Ruth Ander, to name but a few.

Visitors also welcome outside normal hours by prior appointment.

Tincleton Gallery, The Old School House, Tincleton, nr Dorchester, DT2 8QR. Opening / performance times: Fri/Sat/Sun/Mon from 10:00 – 16:00. Tel. 01305 848 909. www.tincletongallery.com.

17 - 23 June

Five go to Lyme exciting exhibition by this diverse quintet of artists: Liz Vonberg, Susan Paradise, Lesley Hook, Alison Summerfield & Lynsey Pickwell. Malthouse Gallery, the Town Mill, Lyme Regis DT7 3PU. www.townmill.org.uk Friday – Thursday 10 a.m. - 4.30 p.m.

Until 18 June

AKA Mash P – Photography Exhibition Nathaniel Sesay, aka Mash P, was forced to fight aged 9 in Sierra Leone’s brutal civil war.

Later, living on the street, alone with his camera, but supported by WAYout Arts he began taking photographs on the Bume Dirty Box rubbish dump in Freetown where many families scrape an existence.

Bridport Arts Centre, South Street, Bridport DT6 3NR. Opening hours: 10am - 4pm Tue – Sat.

20 June - 3 July

‘Mainly Flowers of the Wayside Sally Maltby’ Sou’-Sou’-West Arts Gallery, Symondsbury Estate, Bridport DT6 6HG. Open daily 10:30-4:30. Free admission & parking. Contact 01308 301326 www. sousouwest.co.uk. A photography and digital art exhibition of plants that thrive in unlikely situations; Swanage artist Sally Maltby will also show some garden plant images and some of beads.

exceptional poise and presence. Petter Southall’s superb furniture designs and craftsmanship. Our pick of new work by Dorset artists to celebrate the summer. Gabriele Koch ceramics, Petter Southall furniture. Sladers Yard Contemporary Art, Craft and Furniture Gallery, West Bay Bridport Dorset DT6 4EL Open Wednesday to Saturday 10am - 5pm Entry: free Phone: 01308 459511 www. sladersyard.co.uk.

Until 25 June

Until 23 July

In Xanadu: Coleridge and the West Country An exhibition in partnership with the British Library to showcase the earliest manuscript of Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s extraordinary poem Kubla Khan. 10.00 am – 5.00 pm Tue – Sat (some Sunday opening) The Museum of Somerset, Taunton Castle, Castle Green, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 4AA Museumofsomerset.org.uk See website for booking information.

FRESH! Devon Artist Network FRESH! brings together new works by leading artists and creatives from Devon Artist Network.

Featuring work selected from an open call including painting, sculpture, pottery, glass work, textile and markmaking. Open Wednesday – Saturday, 10-5. Thelma Hulbert Gallery, Dowell Street, Honiton EX14 1LX, 01404 45006 www.thelmahulbert.com.

25 June - 3 July

Canvas & Rock an exhibition by Philomena Harmsworth. A fusion of paint, charcoal and neon - some of the media used in this latest collection. New Inn, Stoke Abbott, DT8 3TJ. Opening hours are 122pm & 6-11pm Weds - Sunday. Check website before travelling.

Trio During the Beaminster Festival three artists from the town will be exhibiting paintings at a new pop-up gallery in White Hart Yard at the centre of the town. Moira Baumbach, Alan Green and Chris Kennedy have exhibited widely, nationally as well as internationally, but rarely get to show their work in Beaminster. The gallery will be open afternoons. White Hart Yard, Hogshill Street, Beaminster DT8 3AE.

25 June - 3 September

“Our World, Your Choice” An exhibition examining how we lived in the past; workshops and exhibits by local businesses all relating to the issue of climate change and how we can all make small adjustments to our lives to help. Mon, Thur, Fri, Sat 10am-4pm. Free.

Crewkerne & District Heritage Centre, Market Square, Crewkerne.

Somerset. TA18 7LP. www.crewkernemuseum.co.uk.

Until 25 September

Until 31 October

‘Buried in Time’ at West Bay Discovery Centre. Open daily 11 am - 4 pm excluding Mondays. Admission free, donations welcomed. There will be various walks, talks and events associated with this exhibition during this period. Further details. http://www. westbaydiscoverycentre.org.uk/

Until 26 June

FOUND Form, Texture, Improvisation A Conversation with the Land in ceramic, plaster, textiles, found objects, print and drawings.

Dave King, Jenny Graham, Jacy Wall. Shippon Gallery, Hook Farm, Chardstock EX13 7DD. Every Saturday 11am - 4pm. Other times by arrangement. alisonoldhamart@googlemail.com. 01460 220021 Directions on website: theshippongallery.com.

Ray Balkwill’s The River’s Voice is a celebratory exhibition of painting the Exe Estuary for over four decades. The Cafe at RAMM, Queen Street, Exeter, EX4 3RX. Open Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 5pm. Closed Mondays and Bank Holidays. Admission free and all work is for sale. rammuseum.org.uk. raybalkwill.co.uk.

Until 2 July

Janette Kerr recent paintings A thousand kilometres between from Shetland to Skagaströnd in the Ground Floor Gallery, Sladers Yard. Janette Kerr’s energetic paintings of sea, wind, and light express what is felt as much as seen. Gabriele Koch makes ceramics of

GALLERIES IN JULY Live or Online send your gallery details to info@marshwoodvale.com

BY JUNE 10TH

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Mash P into the smoke

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A MUSICIAN and photographer from Sierra Leone in West Africa, Nathaniel Sesay’s story epitomises the struggle from poverty and destitution to another life. Nathaniel, also known as Mash P, was born in Taiama, Southern Sierra Leone. Captured by rebels when he was nine years old and forced to fight in Sierra Leone’s brutal civil war, he spent five years in the jungle. After the war he was rejected by family and lived on the streets of Freetown for 12 years. He used music to explore corruption, his isolation and the stigma of being a child soldier.

Mash took up photography in 2018. Alone with his camera and supported by WAYout Arts he began taking photographs on Bume Dirty Box, the biggest rubbish dump in Freetown where many families scrape an existence. He followed a young boy called Mamadu who was the same age as Mash was when he was captured by rebels. These images give an honest portrayal of life on the dump, and Mash’s story demonstrates the power of the arts to transform lives. He has had exhibitions in London, Manchester and Portland, USA. There is an exhibition of his photographs and video at the Allsop Gallery in Bridport Arts Centre until June 18. For more information visit www.bridport-arts.com.

June

PREVIEW

Rising Dance Stars

BRIDPORT BALLET Central returns to Bridport Arts Centre on Saturday 11th Jun at 7.30pm, as part of the company’s 2022 tour, with a new cast of rising stars of the dance scene.

They will perform a mixture of new pieces from distinguished choreographers Ashley Page OBE, Mthuthuzeli November, and Mikaela Polley, alongside a re-staging of Cathy Martson’s 2020 piece Moving, Still.

Mikaela Polley’s new piece is a celebration of the dynamism of the ensemble featuring classical ballet and contemporary dance. New choreography by Ashley Page is set to music by composer John Adams. Ballet Black’s Mthuthuzeli November has created a new piece which demonstrates his distinctive choreographic voice.

A Renaissance and Baroque tapestry

DORCHESTER MUSIC from the Renaissance and Baroque periods are woven into a fascinating musical tapestry in Historical Fiction,

at Dorchester’s St Mary’s Church on Sunday 12th June at 7pm.

Making a welcome return to Dorchester Arts, saxophonist Christian Forshaw is joined by soprano Grace Davidson and Libby Burgess, organ.

The programme includes Handel’s Eternal Source of Light Divine and Gibbons’ The Silver Swan. Davidson’s soprano voice intertwines with Forshaw’s saxophone over the majestic backdrop of the organ, to create a performance which travels through dramatic grandeur and spacious serenity.

Christian Forshaw last visited Dorchester with Tenebrae for their magnificent Drop, Drop Slow Tears concert, and this beautiful programme of voice, saxophone and organ makes an ideal follow-up to that memorable evening of music.

Jazz Jurassica

LYME REGIS IF you want a change from the platinum jubilee diet of street parties, royal puddings and regal tributes, the first weekend of June at Lyme Regis sees the return of Jazz Jurassica with a dazzling line-up to suit all tastes from Thursday 2nd to

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June

PREVIEW

Sunday 5th June. The opening night brings Ashton Jones’ Legends of Funk to the stage of the Marine Theatre, followed on Friday by Neil Maya’s Cartoon Jazz on Friday at 11.30am, blues singer Elles Bailey at 4.30pm and the James Taylor Quartet at 7.30.

On Saturday at 11.30am, ex-Communards singer Sarah Jane Morris celebrates the music of the late John Martyn, followed by the Matt Carter Septet at 4.30 and the Dockside Latin Orchestra in the evening slot.

Sunday’s double bill features Veronica and Max in an Americana programme of acoustic blues, ragtime, vaudeville and jug band music at 11.30am, and the great boogie-woogie pianist Tom Seals bringing the weekend to a rousing close at 4.30.

Folk Fest is back

SOUTH PETHERTON AFTER a two-year Covid-related absence, the Petherton Folk Fest is back this year on Saturday 18th June, with a packed programme of folk song, music and dancing—all completely free, as always.

Folk musicians will perform in the Market Square, the David Hall, The Brewer’s Arms, Blake Hall and in St Peter and St Paul’s Church and its grounds. There will also be stalls and other attractions in and around Market Square.

The day will start at 10am with a parade by Morris dancers into the Square, where there will be music and dancing all day until 6.30pm.

Anquebus, a local contemporary folk trio, will launch events on the stage in the Square and the duo, Mitchell & Vincent, are scheduled to begin a whole day of entertainment in the David Hall. The popular Dambuskers return to bring everything to a rousing finale with a gig in The Brewers Arms at 9pm.

Attractions for children include Punch & Judy in the church grounds and entertainment by Tor Theatre and The BearCat Collective in The Blake Hall—as well as workshops for adults, given by Morris dancers. The day will also feature some of South Petherton’s traditional events, such as The Ceremony of the Glove and Clipping the Church. For full details visit www.pethertonfolkfest.org.uk

The voice of a generation

BRIDPORT REGINALD D Hunter returns to the Electric Palace at Bridport on Friday 18th June at 7.30pm, heading a line-up of stand-up comedy.

Unafraid to tackle head on the subjects the rest of us skirt around, Reginald is the voice of his generation—searingly honest, brutally funny and uniquely placed to commentate on the unfolding meltdown of life as we know it.

More than 20 years since moving to the UK from the US,

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the three-time Perrier Award nominee has forged a reputation for his brilliant comedy and powerful delivery. His TV appearances include Live at the Apollo, Have I Got News for You and 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, and he won audience and critical acclaim for his two BBC series, Reginald D Hunter’s Songs of the South and Reginald D Hunter’s Songs of the Border.

Visit the Electric Palace website www.electricpalace.org.uk for the full line-up.

Songs and stores of the sea

LYME REGIS TIDAL Tales Collective comes to the Marine at Lyme Regis on Wednesday 1st June at 2pm with a new show that is ideally suited to the theatre on the sea shore.

Kesty Morrison’s Stars and Sails is an exploration of the sea through songs, sights and stories. Listen to worldwide folk tales, music and history. Join the global quest to protect our beautiful oceans.

With local sea shanties, ancient world music and seafarers across the centuries and from all over the world, this innovative show blends live singing, beatbox, puppetry and storytelling with a set, costumes and props created from marine detritus.

New crime writing festival

LYME REGIS A FORMER Home Secretary and one of the country’s leading forensic scientists will be among the speakers at a new literary festival, Lyme Crime, at Lyme Regis from 23rd to 25th June.

A prolific memoirist, former Home Secretary Charlotte Philby coming to Lyme Regis Alan Johnson will be talking about his first foray into crime writing, a contemporary thriller called The Last Train to Gypsy Hill.

Angela Gallop, a practising forensic scientist for more than 45 years, who personally oversaw the cases of Rachel Nickell, Damilola Taylor, Roberto Calvi and Stephen Lawrence, will be discussing her latest book, How To Solve A Crime, which reveals the ways in which criminals, however skilled, always leave a trace.

Angela joins an impressive line-up of crime writers at the festival at the Marine Theatre. Panellists include Nicci French, Erin Kelly, Fiona Cummins, Heidi Perks, Laura ShepherdRobinson, Harriet Tyce, Antonia Hodgson, Abir Mukherjee and Laurence Anholt.

Charlotte Philby will be talking about her new novel, Edith and Kim, which looks at the relationship between her double-agent grandfather Kim and Soviet spy, Edith Tudor-Hart.

Tim Horton recital

CONCERTS IN THE WEST BRILLIANT pianist Tim Horton makes a welcome return to the Concerts in the West programme with three recitals at Bridport, Ilminster and Crewkerne on 17th and 18th June.

Horton is one of the UK’s leading pianists, equally at home in solo and chamber repertoire. He is a founder member of both the Leonore Piano Trio and Ensemble 360 and has been a regular guest pianist with the Nash Ensemble.

He made his solo debut at Wigmore Hall in 2016.

Between 2011 and 2015 he presented a complete Beethoven Sonata cycle at Sheffield’s Crucible Studio for Music in the Round, where he returned for a cycle of Schubert Sonatas in 2017-2019, and is currently undertaking a Chopin cycle.

As a soloist he has performed with the City of Birmingham Symphony orchestra and Sir Simon Rattle, the RLPO, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Birmingham Contemporary Music Group and Trondheim Symphony Orchestra.

The programme for the coffee concert at Bridport Arts Centre on Friday 17th at 11.30am, at Ilminster Arts Centre on Friday at 7.30pm and Crewkerne Dance House on Saturday at 7.30pm will include sonatas by Schumann, and nocturnes, mazurkas and sonatas by Chopin.

Goodbye to the blues

BRIDPORT BYE-BYE blues—the great Blues Band, with the charismatic Paul Jones as always on harmonica and vocals, is playing its farewell tour, coming to Bridport’s Electric Palace on Thursday 9th June at 8pm.

After 42 years, more than 30 albums and 4,000 gigs, The Blues Band is finally saying goodbye. When they got together, the five experienced musicians were already big names from the pop charts of the 60s and 70s, with pedigrees that included playing with some of the great names in blues—including Howlin’ Wolf and John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers. Bucking the trends of disco or punk they went back to their roots in the blues.

The line-up was harmonica hero Paul Jones, already famous as front man of Manfred Mann, fellow Manfred Tom McGuinness, with drummer Hughie Flint (the other half of McGuinness-Flint), slide guitar virtuoso Dave Kelly (singer with the John Dummer Blues Band and brother of renowned blues singer Jo Ann Kelly) and the talented young bass player Gary Fletcher.

Hughie Flint, who had played with John Mayall alongside Eric Clapton, left the line-up in 1982 to be replaced by another legend, Rob Townsend, ex

The Siren Call of the Sea Andrew Rattenbury talks community plays with Fanny Charles

J

ack Rattenbury was a famous smuggler along the Jurassic coast of Dorset and Devon. He went to sea at the age of nine, and a few years before he died at the age of 65 recounted his life in Memoirs of a Smuggler, written with the help of a Unitarian minister—perhaps he repented of his sins.

He was known as ‘the Rob Roy of the West’ so there were probably many who saw him as a Robin Hood Andrew Rattenbury figure—seafaring communities often benefitted from the activities of the ‘gentlemen’ who dealt in contraband.

Villain or hero, Jack is just one of the characters in the new Lyme Regis community play, Lyme And The Sea, which will be staged outside the Marine Theatre from 15th to 18th June—and his story will be told by his descendant, Andy Rattenbury, who has written the three previous Lyme community plays.

It was ‘quite a struggle to find a theme that worked well enough to span a whole evening, and was specific to Lyme,’ says Andy.

The eventual chosen theme for the play, which was delayed by the pandemic and lockdowns, is a celebration of the thousand-plus year relationship of Lyme Regis and the sea. It tells stories of trading and fishing, of the notorious and notable people who lived in or passed through the town, the writers, the scientists, the fossil-hunters and the beach-combers, and of the way the sea dominates everything.

The characters range from the Duke of Monmouth, landing in Lyme to launch his doomed campaign against King James II, and the mother of paleontology, Mary Anning, to Dr Richard Russell, who in 1750 published A Dissertation on the Use of Seawater in the Diseases of the Glands, Particularly, the Scurvy, Jaundice, King’s Evil, Leprosy and the Glandular Consumption. This is credited with encouraging the 18th century interest in seawater bathing. The stories, linked with narration by various real people, including the late John Fowles, are told with sea shanties, folk songs and new music, sung by members of the 60-strong company, accompanied by a live band, under the musical direction of Declan Duffy.

‘I want it to feel like a ceilidh,’ says Andy, whose previous successful community plays were Tempest of Lyme, Monmouth: A West Country Rebellion and Are you Going to the Marine?, to mark the theatre’s 125th anniversary.

The Rattenbury roots are deep in Lyme—two of Andy’s brothers will be in the play, along with two of his nieces and a sister-in-law. With great-great-great-great.... grandfather Jack on stage, it will be something of a family affair!

While two of his brothers still live in Lyme, Andy lives in London, where his ‘day job’ has for years been script-writing for some of British television’s most popular dramas and soaps, including Holby City, Teachers, Peak Practice, Monarch of the Glen, Torchwood, The Golden Hour (which he created), Hollyoaks, Casualty, Eastenders and Doc Martin, an episode for the new and final series.

Andy trained as an actor at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. As an actor he worked for both the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre. He made his first successful venture into writing, winning the Bristol Old Vic/HTV prize.

His play Soundings, which was set in Lyme, won a new play-writing award at the Old Red Lion in Islington. Other early theatre projects were adaptations of The Postman Always Rings Twice and Hardy’s The Return of the Native.

A friend got him into writing for television, where he started on The Bill. Writing for the soaps has to be very fast, he says: ‘You learn to deliver at pace.’

Lyme Regis has a long history with community plays, dating back to 1978 when Ann Jellicoe wrote and directed the first play, produced by the then Colway Theatre Trust (now Claque Theatre), The Reckoning.

Ann Jellicoe, who lived in Dorset for many years, and whose best known play is The Knack, came to see Andy’s play about Monmouth before she died, in 2017, at the age of 90.

Although he lives away from the town, Andy loves Lyme Regis, returns frequently and has been a patron of the Marine Theatre for 15 years. ‘I love writing community plays,’ he says. ‘I love being involved.’

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Festival Treats Beaminster Festival from Verdi to Celtic Folk

TICKETS are selling fast for the whole range of events at the 2022 Beaminster Festival, 26 June – 3 July. The Festival’s 25th anniversary will particularly be celebrated at an entertaining evening of Opera Gala highlights from Verdi’s Rigoletto, Mozart’s Cosi fan tutti and Magic Flute and including the famous tenor solo Nessun dorma, sung by the brilliant Merry Opera Company. It’s the excuse for prosecco and dressing to impress.

There is Art at the Museum and at Yarn Barton, and poetry and comedy as fringe events so come and join us in this small but vibrant town of Beaminster—you are sure of a warm welcome.

See full list of events on Page 43.

Tickets and more information www. beaminsterfestival.com

Shute Festival

Family and Medicine Head.

The idea behind The Blues Band was simple—five musicians steeped in the blues would get together in a pub (The Bridge House in London) one night in April 1979 and enjoy themselves. Tom McGuinness recalls: “It took us by surprise. You couldn’t park a car within three quarters of a mile from the pub.

We didn’t realise until we got there that they were all there for us. The place was packed.”

There was a buzz around the band and venues began throwing gigs at them.

They recorded a live LP, The Bootleg Album, which was soon selling 5,000 copies per week, and tracks were even being played by Simon Bates on Radio One. Record deals followed. They played everywhere—America, Australia, Europe, Canada, Scandinavia. They toured with the Allman Brothers Band and Dire Straits.

Although this is farewell to The Blues Band, there will still be chances to hear them individually and with other bands—including Dave Kelly and Paul Jones as an entertaining and erudite blues duo, and bassist and song-writer Gary Fletcher with his own band.

But this is the last chance locally to experience a quintet with authentic roots who have kept the flame of a great tradition burning for more than 40 years.

A journey of love and survival

DORCHESTER OPERA is often cruel to women—but they also often get the best songs, as Opera Anywhere and Sorelle will show when they bring Opera’s Heroines to the Corn Exchange at Dorchester on Saturday 25th June at 8pm.

The evening is a journey through some of opera’s most compelling music and drama, exploring the fate of women in opera, with the second half featuring a fully-staged performance of the one-act Puccini opera, Suor Angelica, performed in English.

The first half tells the stories of feisty, wronged women determined to win back their love or seek their revenge at whatever cost. The traditional image of the tragic, scorned heroine is pushed aside to make way for the women forging their own routes to happiness no matter who gets in their way.

The production of Suor Angelica is set in the Republic of Ireland in the 1950s, in a rural convent set deep into a superstitious and isolated community. The interpretation reflects the very real problems facing women in Ireland at the time.

It is not their religion that drives the other characters to ostracise and persecute Angelica—it is their disgust at her social fall from grace and their refusal to face their own hypocrisy. But despite the social and political background, at its core the opera is a story of faith and of the love between mother and child.

Happy days and voodoo nights

HELD in the hamlet of Shute, in the midst of East Devon’s AONB, Shute Festival was established in 2016 to bring inspirational and stimulating speakers—including botanists, biographers, explorers, documentary makers, gardeners, historians, poets, novelists and travel writers—to a stunning corner of the West Country.

In the intimate, beautifully lit venue of St Michael’s Church, Shute, audiences have, over the years, been treated to an extraordinary selection of speakers and this year is no exception. This year’s event features landscape and art walks, books, dance, drama, Flamenco, film and poetry. For a full lust of events and tickets visit www.shutefest.org.uk. See page 39.

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HONITON HONITON’s Beehive Centre celebrates the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with two special events over the anniversary weekend, followed by the usual eclectic programme of live music and film.

Happy Days, on Thursday 2nd June at 2.30pm is a “street party on stage” with a sing-a-long and lots of laughs.

And on Friday 3rd at 4pm, there is a screening of Elizabeth: A Portrait in Parts, directed by the late great Roger Michell (whose famous films include Notting Hill and the brilliant recent Jim Broadbent/Helen Mirren true story, The Duke). This new film is a nostalgic, uplifting and fresh modern chronicle of the extraordinary 70-year reign of Queen Elizabeth.

The month’s other films include the new Downton (Downton Abbey: A New Era), with two screenings on Friday 10th, the 1953 musical comedy The Band Wagon (Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse), on Thursday 27th at 2pm, and Top Gun: Maverick on Friday 24th.

Live music kicks off on Saturday 11th with Voodoo Room: A Night of Hendrix, Clapton and Cream, a noisy homage to these rock legends, followed by an acoustic night on Wednesday 15th, and the award-winning blues band The Producers on Thursday 16th.

Do you know the way to ... join Tony Christie of Is This The Way To Amarillo fame, as he makes a Honiton stopover en route to Glastonbury Festival on Tuesday 21st.

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Screen Time with Nic Jeune

Top Six at the Flicks Plaza Cinema Dorchester Lightyear (2022) Buzz Lightyear the star of the Toy Story franchise gets his very own film. Chris Evans is the voice of this “the definitive origin story of Buzz Lightyear…veteran Pixar animator Angus MacLane who co-directed 2016’s Finding Dory helms Lightyear” Disney Press Release.

Cineworld Weymouth Jurassic World Dominion (2022) In an interview with Empire magazine, Jurassic World Dominion director Colin Trevorrow teased the appearance of a new dinosaur named Giganotosaurus in the upcoming film, comparing it to a classic DC villain: “I wanted something that felt like the Joker,” Trevorrow said of the late Cretaceous period dinosaur, also known as Giga. “He just wants to watch the world burn.”

Amazon Prime Ladybird (2017) A lovingly observed, pitch perfect comingof-age comedy, Gerwig’s warm, astute account of the end of adolescence is a stunning solo debut. CineVue. Christopher Machell.

BBC iPlayer Passport to Pimlico (1949) “Loveably dotty, while still smartly caustic (with a broad political message beneath its sly humour), this is the Ealing ethos at its very best.” Empire. Ian Nathan.

BBC iPlayer The Miseducation of Cameron Post (2018) “In the end, Cameron Post is a damning indictment of institutional Christianity and adults who make it their mission to tamp down kids’ spirits in the name of God.” Village Voice. Lara Zarum Apple TV + Cha Cha Real Smooth (2022) Written, directed and starring Cooper Raiff (S#!%house), with Dakota Johnson and Evan Assante. “Cha Cha Real Smooth is an affable, heart-on-its-sleeve winner.” The Playlist.

Rodrigo Perez.

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In the Weeds at Dorchester Corn Exchange

A creature of myth and mystery

DORCHESTER SCOTTISH performers An Tobar and Mull Theatre come to Dorchester Corn Exchange on Wednesday 15th June at 8pm, for a performance of a new play which explores ancient Hebridean myths.

In The Weeds by Joseph Wilde, directed by Rebecca Atkinson-Lord, is the story of Kazumi, who is hunting a sea monster which he believes drowned his family.

Arriving on a remote Hebridean island, he meets Coblaith, a local woman whose family have lived there for generations. When she offers to help him find the mythical creature, their relationship blossoms.

But there’s something strange about Cob’s obsessive affection for the lochs and something even stranger about the way the other islanders treat her.

Suspicious of his new lover, Kazumi’s imagination gets the better of him.

Could it be that Coblaith is the mythical creature he has been searching for? Or are humans the real monsters after all?

Plays under the stars

THE summer of 2022 offers a bonanza of alfresco shows, with 13 companies staging shows across our area, in the gardens of stately homes, castles, on village greens and other unusual locations. Running from June through into September, there are 24 productions providing something for all the family.

First on the sward of the South West are the ever inventive Rude Mechanicals, always with an original show which this year is Gods and Dogs, described as a comic dystopian allegory set in 2084. See it at the Square and Compass at Worth Matravers on Friday 3 June, Abbey House Abbotsbury on 4 June or Mill Farm at Bradford Abbas on Friday 22 July.

Next comes the Festival Players production of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, at Halstock on Friday 10 June. The show also visits Tiverton High School on Sunday 26 June, and in August Powderham Castle near Exeter on Wednesday 10, Abbotsbury Sub-Tropical Gardens on Thursday 18 and Meerhay Manor at Beaminster on Sunday 28.

Illyria has three shows on the road this summer, Peter Pan, another Midsummer Night’s Dream and their popular version of The Pirates of Penzance. Peter Pan begins on Friday 17 June at Castle Gardens, Sher­borne, also stopping at Castle Drogo the following night. In August, it returns south to Corfe Castle on 4th, Cockington Court on 28 and Filleigh Castle Hill near Exeter on 29. The Pirates return to Cornwall’s Minack Theatre (worth the trip for the setting) from 17 to end July, Castle Gardens Sherborne on 27 July and Cockington Court on 1 September. The Dream is at Sherborne on 20 July, and Cockington Court on 10 August.

The Handlebards, whose performers travel from venue to venue on bicycles, bring Twelfth Night to Maumbury Rings in Dorchester on Sunday 19 June, Lyme Regis Marine Theatre on Wednesday 22 June and the Museum of Somerset in Taunton on Thursday 23 June.

The Pantaloons are touring two plays, The War of the Worlds coming to

Montacute House on 25 June and The Plough at Torrington on 19 August, and Much Ado About Nothing to Montacute on 1 July and Torrington on 7 July.

Quantum Theatre also has two productions, both of which are performed on the same day at each venue. The Tale of Peter Rabbit, for a family audience, is at Brympton D’Evercy near Yeovil at 4pm on Sunday 26 June, followed in the evening by A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The same pattern is followed at Buckland Monachorum Garden House on 9 July. Peter Rabbit is out on his own at Davey Fort, Lyme Regis at 2pm on Saturday 23 July.

One of the most unusual shows this year is Farquhar’s The Recruiting Officer, performed by the weather blind company Rain or Shine. See this hilarious comedy at Beaminster Manor on Sunday 26 June, at Cullompton Corn Barn on 11 August or Swanage on 15 August.

The all-male Lord Chamberlain’s Men, a company famous for its music and singing as well as versatile acting, has Hilarious comedy in Beaminster in June chosen Shakespeare’s As You Like It, coming to the new venue of Octagon in the Country Park, Yeovil on Wednesday 29 June, and to Killerton House on 26 July.

The long-established Chapterhouse has three shows on offer. Romeo and Juliet is at Holme for Gardens on the Purbecks on 7 July, followed by Pride and Preju­dice on 8 July. The Jane Austen classic will also be performed at Octagon Theatre in the Country Park on Saturday 27 August. The third Chapterhouse show is Cinderella, coming to Powderham Castle on Sunday 31 July.

Three productions are on tour with the Heartbreak companies this year—Awful Auntie, Jane Eyre and Much Ado About Murder. Jane Eyre is at Killerton House on Thursday 14 July. Much Ado About Murder, a Shakespearean murder mystery skit, is at Athelhampton House on 21 July, and at Rosemoor Gardens, Torrington on 28 August. And Awful Auntie, the show for all the family, is at Killerton House on Saturday 6 August and at Maumbury Rings, Dorchester on 13 August, both at 6pm.

Not just a classic comedy, but tea (with cucumber sandwiches) are on offer from Slapstick Picnic, a branch of the Handlebards company. See their The Importance of Being Earnest at Lyme Regis Marine on Friday 15 July or Taunton Brewhouse on 22 July.

The Last Baguette has adapted some of the immortal tales of King Arthur for the 2022 summer tour, coming to Bridport, Millennium Green on Sunday 24 July and Lyme Regis Marine on 28 July, and to Yeovil’s Octagon Theatre in the Country Park on Saturday 6 August.

Folksy Theatre has chosen two classics of the open air repertoire, Much Ado About Nothing and Alice in Wonderland, for the 2022 tours. Much Ado is at Burrow Farm Gardens, Axminster on Wednesday 27 and Thursday 28, July, at Forde Abbey near Chard on Tuesday 2 August, Lyme Regis Marine on 4 August, Cannington Walled Garden on 13 August, and Hes­ter­combe Gardens on 14 August. Wonderland comes to Hestercombe on Thursday 28 July, Forde Abbey on 29 July, Burrow Farm Gardens on 2 August, Cannington Walled Garden on 3 August and Lyme Regis Marine on Friday 12 August—all daytime performances for younger audiences.

The final company, Three Inch Nails, is another troupe recruited as musicianactors. They will perform two shows this summer, Twelfth Night and The Gunpowder Plot. The second show has only one outing in the south west, at Powderham Castle near Exeter on Sunday 14 August. The Shakespeare play can be seen at Mothecombe House near Plymouth on 20 August, Stone Lane Gardens at Chagford on 24 August and at Powderham Castle on 18 September.

Visit the company or the venue websites for more details, book early and hope that the weather gods cast a kindly eye on the night you have chosen.

The Young Lit Fix MIDDLE GRADE REVIEW Wilder than Midnight

by Cerrie Burnell Penguin Children’s Books. RRP £7.99 Reviewed by Antonia Squire ‘AT the edge of a fathomless forest, in a castle grey as cloud, a baby was born at the stroke of midnight. But, alas, all was not well.’

So begins a the thrilling adventure of Wild Rose, the girl born with the mark of the witch, handed to the Huntsman to drown—but saved instead by the good hearted man who in turn left the castle to become a humble woodcutter. Raised by the wolves of Silverthorne Forest, and by the forest folk themselves, Wild Rose knows she can never be seen by anyone from the outside.

In the village, on the outskirts of the forest, lives another young girl, daughter of a humble woodcutter who knows the legend of the wild girl in the woods. Saffy, a kind hearted girl who does her best to help others, sets off to visits her grandmother in the woods. But she has forgotten the cardinal rule— never wear red in the forest if you want to be safe from the wolves.

In the castle there is a princess, Aurelia, under a curse and locked in a tower for her own protection but desperate to escape and live her own life. The forest calls to her but first she must break free.

How then are these three girls brought together to take control of their own destinies?

Wilder than Midnight is a richly drawn adventure, weaving images from classic fairytales into something wholly original, something like the origin stories of superheroes. I loved it!

10% off for Marshwood Vale readers at The Bookshop on South Street, Bridport.

01308 422964 www.dorsetbooks.com

GPW

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Health&Environment

Hearing the Voice of the Wild A seven year spell living in Ghana helped expand Hannah Bourne Taylor’s already deep affection for nature. She talked to Fergus Byrne about the profound effect that experience had on her mental health.

P

ottering around the garden of his South Somerset home near the Dorset border, Hannah Bourne Taylor’s father warned her about the many snakes that she might encounter on her impending trip to Ghana.

‘There are at least twelve species of snake there that can kill you’ he told her. Steadfast in her excitement at moving to an exotic country to follow her husband’s new job with a sports development foundation, she brushed off this terrifying information and joined her mother enjoying the familiar smells of cut grass, honeysuckle, and sweet peas. After offering further information on yellow fever, rabies, typhoid, cholera, and malaria, Hannah’s father received a glare from his wife when he casually mentioned how West Africa had been known as “white man’s grave”. This was unhelpful conversation, throwing a shadow over the bonding moments of a family farewell before a big trip. However, whether any of them could have guessed that it was a bronze-winged mannikin finch that was to change Hannah’s life forever is hard to imagine. But that’s what happened.

In April, Aurum Press published a memoir, Fledgling, about her time in Ghana, which she describes as ‘the finch’s legacy’.

Arriving in Ghana, her first inkling that life might not be as exciting and idyllic as hoped came when the word ‘dependent’ was stamped on her passport. Used to running in the gardens and fields, welcoming the arrival of swifts and singing, laughing, skipping, and spinning while watching the ebb and flow of nature in all its forms, Hannah had really only enjoyed socialising with people in her teens. But having had a busy life in London she quickly found her apartment in Accra had become a cage. Her husband was immediately thrown into long working days and there was little support for his ‘dependent’, and neither was there an instant social network for Hannah to try to latch onto. Her first foray into a coffee morning group left her feeling even more isolated.

The warning to beware of snakes and diseases hadn’t taken into account what she described as “the silent and lonely perils of being unable to feel at home”. The trip to Ghana quickly began to feel like a prison sentence—until she began caring for two birds that had been orphaned.

Fledgling is the beautiful story of how Hannah cared for a swift and a finch and built up a motherly trust, especially with the finch. However, it is also a story of much more.

Although Fledgling carries what Hannah describes as a ‘strong conservation message’ the story is a fascinating journey through the mental strains of loneliness, anxiety, and awakening. Having moved to the grasslands outside the city, a point comes where Hannah becomes obsessed

48 The Marshwood Vale Magazine June 2022 Tel. 01308 423031

with saving the lives of drowning ants, beetles, butterflies, and even lizards and mice. She finally admits to the OCD that had, at various times in her life, flared to heights that made her think she might be ‘bonkers’.

‘I decided to write the story because I wanted the finches’ voice to be heard’ she says ‘I wanted to become the voice of the wild— because the wild is voiceless. But I couldn’t do our coexistence justice without delving into exposing myself mentally. I had never ever spoken about the fact that I had OCD, not even admitting it to myself until I wrote the book.’

She explains how the idea of loss of identity and severe anxiety and really not knowing who you are, is a very relatable subject. ‘Especially coming after Covid lockdowns where a lot of people found their own routine had changed Hannah Bourne Taylor overnight. They suddenly had a lack of purpose and they were left with this huge expanse of time without a routine, and I think a lot of people really suffered. So I felt that in order to be powerful to a reader I had to be vulnerable myself, and actually what I found is liberating. I’m really glad I wrote about it.’

Hannah’s relationship with nature and especially the finch that she cared for in Ghana allowed her to understand both her own, and society’s collective responsibility for the world around us. ‘There’s nothing like looking into a creature’s eyes’ she says. ‘You can actually see the pinprick eyes and that connection and the fact that we are on this life at the same time.’ She recognises the massive power we have over such tiny creatures but also how important they are and why we should care about every living thing. ‘Caring gives us life’ she says. ‘Because if we don’t connect to the environment we will be doomed ourselves. You don’t have to care about the insects for the sake of yourself, but you do if you want to live! Because they are completely and utterly instrumental to the ecosystem.’

Fledgling will offer different messages to different people but Hannah is hopeful that it can also help readers to see that all those creatures that we have such enormous power over can help us to better understand our role in the world. ‘One fledgling’ she says, ‘really encompasses the whole wild, and each one of us has the ability to protect it. We can all make a little difference. Even to a really little life—and it’s priceless. So that’s my hope, and it’s not really for nature Published by Aurum Press lovers per se, it’s for humanity.’

ISBN: 9780711266674

Tel. 01308 423031 The Marshwood Vale Magazine June 2022 49

Services&Classified FOR SALE including new luxury mattress. 2 part bases for no-tool assembly. Head and foot lift and lower control Dog bed, unused. Luxury with handset. Length 6 foot 6 inches. 28 stone weight sofa style. Overall 42” limit. £850. Phone 01935 x 24”. Suit labrador etc.

824029. £38. Tel 07831 316536 Canon Powershot A85 evenings(Sidford).

Hi-Fi speakers. Celestion Digital Camera. 4.0, pixel CCD, high quality 3 x DL8 Series 2, 10 – 150w, optical loom lens. Complete in black. VGC. £55. West with user guide, interface Dorset. 01935 891538. cable IFC-400 PCU, 2 Pine chest of drawers. 6 drawers. 36ins wide X 44ins compact flash cards, Canon FC-32MH & Fuji tall X 18ins deep. As new. film 128MB. In original £75 Tel 01308 898374. presentation box. £45.

New, unused 3 foot Phone 01935 824029. adjustable electric bed

Brookes and Adams Indoor Carpet Bowls Set as new. £40. Buyer collects.

(Axminster) 07902 088166.

100 Litre slimline waterbutt. Brand new. £10.

Tel. 01297443118.

Trespass Ladies 5mm long sleeve full wetsuit, UK size 10, never worn. £45.

Tel. 01297443118.

HP 364 Printer Inks - 4 Combo pack (unopened) + 1 Combo pack (opened without black cartridge) + 1 black single cartridge. £45.00. Tel: 01395 516543.

Glass top garden table approx 3ft x 5ft with parasol hole. Good condition but legs need attention hence £25-00 o.n.o. buyer collects Bridport 01308 281200.

HOME DECORS

RESTORATION

Chalk & Chisel: Distinctive Vintage Mirrors. We sell beautiful, well-priced vintage mirrors. Visit our store at The Emporium, 39 Princes Street, Yeovil BA20 1EG. Discover more at chalkandchisel. co.uk Jul 22

FURNITURE. Antique Restoration and Bespoke Furniture.

Furniture large and small carefully restored and new commissions undertaken. City and Guilds qualified.

Experienced local family firm. Phil Meadley 01297 560335

Wasps Rodents Insects Professional eradication and control from Three Counties Pest Control 07484 677457 www.3cpestcontrol.co.uk Aug 22

FOR SALE Large dog cage - Savic brand in good condition.

Width 28”71cm x Height 30” 76 cm x Length 42” 107cm. Plastic coated, plastic tray. Two doors.

(Pet Planet price £99). Price £40. Tel 07831 316536.

(Sidford).

Approx 25 sheets of greenhouse glass. Also 4 greenhouse end pieces. All at £ 2.50. Tel 01297 678602.

Raleigh ladies shopper bike, 6 gears, 26inch wheels, hardly used. £125. ono.

01297 22603.

Graco Junior Maxi Lightweight High back Booster Car Seat, Group 2/3 (4 to 12 Years Approx, 15-36 kg) Immaculate condition. Bought for grandson and hardly used.

With instruction booklet and fixings. £20 Tel: 01308 863340 Beaminster area.

Ralph Lauren’s male trench coat, size 40s.

Excellent condition £75.

Telephone 01297 442800.

Headboard/Storage unit: Floor to ceiling, retro-style, as new, by Nolte Moben of Germany. Canadian light maple veneer, complete with shelves, cupboards and four 50 The Marshwood Vale Magazine June 2022 Tel. 01308 423031

June 22

PEST CONTROL

PROOFREADING Proofreading, editing, transcription, secretarial for writers and businesses.

Excellent references.

Penny Dunscombe 07825339289.

aug 22

THERAPIES Somerset Reiki: Complementary therapy for body & mind in South Somerset. Read about Reiki & its practical benefits at somersetreiki. com. Contact sara@ somersetreiki.com Jul 22 07484 636577

FOR SALE built-in electric light fittings.

Dimensions H 235, W 230 D 60 cm. To accommodate king-size bed-base. Contains ample storage space. Images on request. Purchaser to dismantle and remove. £ 100 cash or nearest. Telephone Yeovil 01935 825246 (can leave message).

Lawn bowls Almark Stirling slim-line bowls x four black. Size 1hm. Super condition. Plus trolley bowls case. Bowls carrier. & bowls measure. Photos can be e-mailed. £100. 01297 33889.

Tent Kampa Fistral 4 with extras £325, used twice.

Sewing machine Toyota RS2000, as new, £70.

Colyton 01297 551455.

ELECTRICAL

WANTED

CHIMNEY SWEEP

Vintage & antique textiles, linens, costume buttons etc. always sought by Caroline Bushell. Tel. 01404 45901.

Apr 22

Secondhand tools. All trades and crafts. Old and modern. G & E C Dawson. 01297 23826. www.secondhandtools. co.uk.

Aug 22

Dave buys all types of tools 01935 428975

Jul 22

Wanted: Old tractors and vehicles. Running, non running. Good price paid. 01308 482320 07971 866364 Dec 22

Coins wanted. Part or full collections purchased for cash.

Please phone John on 01460 62109

Jul 22

Too much clutter in your Loft, shed, Garage, barn. I buy job-lots of vintage items.

07875677897

July 22

FOR SALE Polti dress makers ironing board with heated surface. £65. 0129722603.

Seagull outboard engine.

4hp, short shaft (l think).

No little about these, there is a spark but have not tried to start it. £50 call 07479474392 and leave a message. I’m near Membury.

Stihl chainsaw 14” model 181, private use only, £200.

GP 17.5” ideal leather saddle, old but sound. £100. 01300 321405.

Pine farmhouse table 5’x3’ £50. Four solid oak chairs £50. Tel. 07891 705598.

FOR SALE Men’s Felldale real sheepskin coat. Lakeland sheepskin centre. Chest 42” 107cm. Light Beige £50 Tel. 01404 814094.

Dresser hardly used cane couch and chair,, beautiful condition plus two storage stools to match, original cost £2,000+, will sell for best offer over £100. Genuine reason for sale. 01823 431484.

Curtains for sale, ex village hall, blue pattern, gold stripes, 8 – 2m drop x 1.3m wide, 2 0 1.8m drop x 3m wide. Good condition, blackout, fire retardant, donation to village hall. 01460 220339.

National Geographic magazines about 150 copies 2001 to 2015, vgc, free but must be collected Dorchester area, 01305 213377.

Brown WW2 replica sheepskin flying jacket, XL with RFC badges £150ovno. 07870 603345.

Telescope National Geographic Dobson 76/350£35 collection only. Television 19” great for games £20. 0777 8190639.

Soup Tureen Portugeuse, blue and white china, £15.

Teapot Turkish turquoise pattern £10. Ikea standard lamp £10. 07879 880250.

New adjustable electric bed, new luxury mattress,

remote control handset, head and foot lift and lower, single bed, 6ft 6in, bed is new. £850. 01935 824029.

Ercol (1960) size-med Rocking Chair, v gd condition. £600ono.

Groves Swing Chair, indoor, outdoor, cover + cushions, New, unused.

New £480, will accept £400ovno. Charmouth 01297 647342 with answerphone.

Dining room table, oval extending, 4 chairs, brown leather seats, colour teak. £50. 01935 415411.

Tefal Pro Express steam iron £20ono. A Small life size Bambi, ideal for display purposes, £20.

01297 678692.

Petrol lawn mower, serviced last year, not used since. £70. Two suit cases unused £10 each.

01935 813967.

Aqua-Roll and bag, £15.

Wastemaster and bag £15.

Milenco Optimate Solar Panel £45. Alko Hitchlock £10. Milenco ramps £10.

Milenco towing mirrors £25 pair. Awning floor mats £2 each. Truma Ultraflow water pump £25. 01460 220116.

N Gauge model railway 122 x 22cm Terminus Freight Yard British Rail 1970’s-1980’s Ballasted track. Buildings, figures, road vehicles, cement

DISTRIBUTION

FOR SALE hopper. Low relief scenery, good trackwork, runs well. Buyer collects. £50. 01935 427066.

Free Electric sewing machine includes spare spools and needles.

Unused for 8 years so needs attention possibly only oiling. Seaton 01297625112.

Large Mahogany brown leather ¾ length satin

lines jacket suitable for classic car or motorbike. £150ovno. 07870 603345.

Veritas concave spokeshave new unused still boxed. Complete with A2 blade and instructions £75. 07905 627483.

Ercol Welsh dresser, dark wood width approx 5 ft. 60 years old. Needs little tlc £200.00 ono. Tel. 01297 24198.

Tel. 01308 423031 The Marshwood Vale Magazine June 2022 51

FREE ADS for items under £1,000 This FREE ADS FORM is for articles for sale, where the sale price is under £1000 (Private advertisers only — no trade, motor, animals, alcohol, firearms etc). All ads must include the price. Just fill in the form and send it to the Marshwood Vale Magazine, Lower Atrim, Bridport, Dorset DT6 5PX or email the text to info@marshwoodvale. com. Unfortunately, due to space constraints, there is no guarantee of insertion of free advertising. We reserve the right to withhold advertisements. For guaranteed classified advertising please use ‘Classified Ads’ form

Name ............................................................. Telephone number .................................

Address ................................................................................................................................

Town .......................................... County....................... Postcode ..................................

Monthly Quiz –

Win a book from Little Toller Books

Send in your answer on a postcard, along with your name and address to: Hargreaves Quiz, Marshwood Vale Magazine, Lower Atrim, Bridport, Dorset DT6 5PX. Study the clues contained in the rhyme and look carefully at the signposts to work out which town or village in South Somerset, West Dorset or East Devon is indicated. The first correct answer drawn out of a hat will win a book from local publisher Little Toller Books.

There is no cash equivalent and no correspondence will be entered into.

Last month’s answer was Wayford. The winner was Mrs Ackerman from Bettiscombe

52 The Marshwood Vale Magazine June 2022 Tel. 01308 423031

BUSINESS NEWS

What next for Exeter high street?

A unique collaboration between the University of Exeter, Exeter City Council, Art Work Exeter, and the Royal Albert Memorial Museum (RAMM) seeks to find out what future there may be for our high streets.

Exeter High Street has been around in some form since Roman times but now as the internet changes the way we shop, socialise and live, Exeter’s university, city council and museum are exploring how our High Street could evolve to meet our needs—and they want to hear from the public.

A pop-up shop, located in the old Gap store on the High Street, will be open until Saturday 11 June where visitors will find a wealth of information, charting the evolution of the street over the past 2,000 years, as well as opportunities to create their own ideas for the city centre using LEGO® bricks and Minecraft.

Stuart Crewes of Art Work Exeter (AWE) said, ‘We use LEGO® bricks as they are a really accessible way of setting people at ease, to have some of the deeper conversations and let bigger ideas come together. By considering the variety and depth of history that has played out on this street, we’re hoping to guide people to think about how we can enter new ways of being and doing together.’

Visitors can also explore museum objects and volunteers from RAMM and AWE will facilitate conversations with members of the public about what they would like to see on the High Street of the future.

Ian Collinson, Exeter City Council Director of Planning and Development said, ‘We are excited to offer the public the opportunity to let us know what they think about the future of their High Street, in a fun and creative way. The feedback we receive will feed into the Exeter Plan, informing the development of our wonderful city.’

RAMM about Town is a pilot project of the Creative Arc, a unique collaboration between the University of Exeter, Exeter City Council and RAMM to explore how the museum and its collections can help shape a better Exeter. Visit rammuseum.org.uk/ramm-about-town to find out more.

Tel. 01308 423031 The Marshwood Vale Magazine June 2022 53