Marshwood+ August 2025

Thorne © Photograph by Robin Mills

COVER STORY

Iwas born in Eglinton, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, in 1953 and am one of four siblings, with only six years between us. Dad was in the Royal Navy, which he had joined at 16. We moved several times in my younger years and didn’t have the best accommodation because he wasn’t an officer. I have memories of mice running around my feet in one home that had an outside toilet, eek! A posting to Malta was lovely and a great place to learn to swim. When we returned to the UK from there, it was to Culdrose, Helston, and that’s where he finished after 21 years’ service.

My secondary school education was at Helston Grammar, from where I went on to train as a secondary school PE teacher. I had already met my to-be husband, Chris, at the same grammar school. When we graduated in 1974 he got a job in Bridport at Colfox School as a woodwork teacher, and so I stayed in the area, not in teaching but at the amazing Beaminster store called Pines, now the NFU office. Although we were engaged, times were such that we rented separate accommodation. Chris had a caravan in Pymore, and I had a little flat in Beaminster, so that it did not look as if we were living together. We put an end to this farce by getting married on 21st December 1974.

I worked at Pines until our first child was born in 1977. That also coincided with when we bought our first home, a 2-bed cottage in Middle St, Bradpole. With no maternity pay, etc, it was a case of working from home, which is when I did sewing

Jan Thorne © Photograph by Robin Mills

Fergus Byrne met Jan Thorne in Bridport, Dorset

Jan Thorne

for Humon Beings, (named after Hugh and Monique), sold tupperware and had a little stall in town, selling cakes, etc.

We have lived in Bradpole ever since, moving up to the top of the village to a larger cottage with a big garden when our third child was born. It’s a lovely leafy area of Bridport where our children spent many happy hours playing in fields and in the river at Happy Island.

I’ve only ever worked part-time. I started helping out at our children’s school which was voluntary, doing their PE, and then when the Leisure Centre opened in 1986, myself and another PE trained mum, Jane, were asked if we would run Gym Tots. They had lots of Artistic gym equipment and had no idea what to do with it. We had great fun making it up as we went along.

Within a few years, we were running classes for all age groups, including adults, and some of you may remember seeing some of the children at fetes doing gymnastics displays, or perhaps were one of them! Hard work but great fun. Teaching gymnastics in several of the local primary schools and further afield for Dorset Council followed.

My husband Chris, and children Duncan, Alison and Andrew have always enjoyed sport. One which I never knew about whilst living in Cornwall was Cornish Pilot Gig Rowing. I had a go in 2011 when Bridport Gig Club had not long been established, and have been a member ever since, training as a Coxwain and holding the post of General Rowing Captain for several years. I love it. Every time you row out of the harbour at West Bay it is magical.

I am also interested in wild gardening. In 2017, a neighbour, Rose, and I approached the parish council offering our time to plant bulbs, etc. They were supportive, and the group Let’s Get Bradpole Buzzing finally got going in 2019. There are six areas where we do two hours work every 10 days. We don’t maintain them, we just focus on improving biodiversity. It’s fun, and the parish council has provided us with a shed, loads of tools and money each year to buy bulbs and seeds. So, it’s worked out well for them, us, the residents of Bradpole and most importantly, the pollinators.

During our children’s school years, I was always involved with the Parents and Friends associations, helping to raise funds for extra activities or equipment. One memory that will always make me smile is creating a float for the Colfox School entry into the Carnival. It was called West Bay Watch with the good looking students suitably oiled on the float whilst several Mums trailed behind in our swimming costumes with our heads poking out of a very large piece of blue plastic.

When the Ukraine war broke out, I volunteered along with lots of others to pack donated supplies, which were sent to Ukraine. This was organised by Claire Nuttall and Jane Wain. However, a lot of the donations could not be sent, things like summer clothing and bedding. When the initiative ended, thousands of pounds were raised by selling some of the items.

A group headed by myself asked if we could use what was

left to set up a ‘shop’ for the Ukrainian refugees who we knew were heading to West Dorset.

We had no income, but Martin Ridley kindly let us have premises on St Michael’s Trading Estate free of charge, as did Palmers, who let us have premises at The White Hart Yard in Beaminster rent-free. The Bridport Round Table bought shop fittings too, so we were able to support the incoming Ukrainian refugees. We created a lovely space where folk could pick up items they needed without having to open their purse. Everything was donated and then given away free of charge.

Our Community group was first named Bridport Clothes Bank 4 Ukraine. We still count a lot of the Ukrainian refugees as part of our ‘customer‘ base, but have evolved and now support anyone struggling to make ends meet under the title Bridport Clothes Bank. We take cars filled with clothes, shoes, bedding, household goods, books and toys to outreach spaces weekly at St Mary’s Church, St Swithuns Church Hall in Bridport and twice a month to The Community Centre in Beaminster. On the first Saturday of each month, we fill the BYCC Hall with as much of our stock as we can, giving it all away for free, which leaves space on the shelves for the new donations. Details of where we can be found plus where donations can be left are on our Facebook page and soon to be up and running website.

In May this year we moved into a 500sq ft unit at the Bridport Youth and Community Centre. The manager and Trustees have been hugely supportive in helping us turn what was a dark and dirty ex car workshop into a bright and airy space where volunteers sort and pack.

The move to bigger premises could not have come at a better time. The increase in the number of uplifts shows the increased volume of clothing and other goods that our great team of volunteers need to process.

Alongside coordinating the Clothes Bank two years ago, I was drawn into supporting folk setting up home. One day, someone offered the Clothes Bank a free sofa. We displayed a photo, and it was requested and delivered to a flat. When the volunteer returned, he said the family had nothing else—no beds, no bedding, furniture, or kitchen equipment. Through the marvel of social media we were able to source the things they needed. Since then, a small group has helped 55 folk, mainly families set up homes. It is not something that we can sustain, but I do hope that one day Bridport will have a space where people can choose and have delivered household items for free.

My family continues to grow with four grandsons and two granddaughters, as well as a great-granddaughter aged three. I’ve helped out where I could over the years and am still going. My husband and I look after our great-granddaughter every Tuesday for the day. Being a grandparent is a special joy. I have no yen to live anywhere else. West Dorset and Bridport suit me perfectly. There are so many activities to choose from, and if support is needed, it can be found. ’

It’s hard to avoid the conclusion that this month’s Marshwood+ features a strong female voice. From the cover story about Jan Thorne, who is heavily involved with the Clothes Bank, to meeting local photographers and writers, women are prominently featured throughout these pages. It’s not because we’re celebrating USA Women’s Equality Day, which happens on August 26th, nor is it a nod to the ‘Lionesses’, whose remarkable football talent and resilience recently won them the European Women’s Championship; the feature choices are as random as following up on events happening in the community. This contrasts with John Davis’s article. Researching events in the recent past that happened in August, John recounts the story of Mathew Webb, a former sea captain and ‘water baby’ who was the first to swim the Channel. He is said to have consumed cod liver oil, beef tea, brandy, and coffee to keep him hydrated, and John also tells us that at one point, eight passengers from a passing ship stood in a rowing boat to shield him from the wind and rain, cheering him on with several renditions of Rule Britannia In another article, this time observing rural life in the summer of 2025, Christopher Roper examines the collective response to a party held in woodland near his home. Marked as ‘an unlicensed musical event,’ the gathering provoked furious reactions from local residents alongside milder comments such as ‘weren’t you young once?’ Social media may not have helped. After friction in a WhatsApp group, Christopher concludes that while social media is incredibly useful in many ways, ‘alerting us to hazards, both natural and man-made,’ it also acts as a cross between ‘a megaphone and an echo chamber, exacerbating our differences.’

Fergus Byrne

Marshwood Vale Magazine

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Contributors

Ancient muses and milking cows

East Devon author and farmer, Jill Dudley, talks to Fergus Byrne about a life of Greek Gods, divine inspiration and dairy cows.

Publishing her latest book at 93, East Devon author and farmer Jill Dudley recalls an extraordinary life of international quests, agricultural adventures, near-death experiences, and a surprising passion for ancient Greece, all while navigating the unscripted realities of farm life with unwavering spirit, and perhaps a touch of divine imagination.

Speaking from her home near Stockland Jill explains that when she first got married she wanted to make some money so thought she would write a drama. That was in the 1950s when a girl was not expected to have a career, but to go to dances and balls and find an eligible husband. She lived in London and her father worked in the city. As she says, life was comparatively easy for girls then; certainly she enjoyed herself.

While her husband went to his office—he worked in the Iraq Petroleum Company and was an oil executive, which sounded good—she thought she would supplement his income by writing. She decided to write plays as she thought dialogue would be easier than prose. She had beginner’s luck with a comedy which was accepted by Curtis Brown, a leading literary agent, and was produced by the Leatherhead Repetory Company and received a good write up in the Times. Unfortunately, she never saw it staged because by then she was living in Iraq and had just given birth to a daughter.

Things in Iraq were in a bad state. There was an army coup and the monarchy was abolished. Jill’s husband Robert was made redundant and they came back to England. For several years they lived in the

north of Scotland and helped with a cheese-making enterprise which Robert’s sister and husband had just started. But at the time it was not a viable business and often Robert was not paid. However, whilst there they met another young family and the father was going down to Cirencester Agricultural College to learn how to manage his father-in-law’s five thousand acre estate near Perth. This gave Robert the idea of becoming a farmer. ‘As long as you don’t expect me to be your farm labourer!’ was Jill’s first remark. ‘Of course not, I wouldn’t dream of it!’ replied Robert.

Jill says that any farmer’s wife knows that there are times, for instance, when she has to help—in rounding up escaped cows, or with a difficult calving. They bought a dairy farm with a hefty mortgage because at the time Robert had 7,000 pounds (not the 30,000 he was told he would need). He was extremely courageous but, as Jill says (and all that knew him remarked) he always smiled. ‘Of course I had to help,’ Jill admits. ‘When he didn’t finish milking and came in at eleven at night, which meant he wanted to sleep on, I found it easier to get up at six, bring in the cows and get the milking parlour ready.’ She would do the same for the evening milking, washing down the yard and dairy afterwards, and feeding the calves. ‘There were always a mass of chores to be done on the farm which Robert had to sort out—always smiling!’

luckily was only bruised. The word “goddess” led Jill to imagine the Greek gods. She doesn’t know what prompted her to want to learn Greek, but she enrolled in a Greek language course at Exeter University. There she met Greek enthusiasts who’d visited Greece and this in turn made her want to visit the country. The result were her books Ye Gods! and Lap of the Gods which in turn led to her Put it in Your Pocket series about the Greek sacred sites, the islands and early drama.

‘I’m always busy,’ Jill admits, ‘because when I’m not writing, I’m selling my work. Luckily, Gardners Book Distributors have my books so they are available from Waterstones, Blackwells and all bookshops. I’m very lucky, and feel I’ve led a charmed life. For this I can only thank my husband Robert, who tolerated all my foibles and kept smiling!’

The photo of Jill sitting on a swing was taken on her 93rd birthday. It hangs from a Scots pine at the top of a hill behind the farm which Jill has always thought of as a very special place—holy is the word she uses for it. It was there that Robert’s funeral took place and his ashes were scattered. From the swing, if you go high enough you can see over the hedges to Axminster some four miles away.

There were of course near-death dramas which luckily were never fatal, ‘but which prompted me to imagine there was a guardian angel watching over us. This is what made me think of the Goddess Muck living on the Beacon Hill behind our farm, keeping an eye on us.’ There was the occasion when Robert’s leg was trapped above his head between the metal back to the hay trailer and the girder to the haybarn which Jill just managed to release using a metal-handled shovel; or the occasion she was in a cowshed during a blizzard when there was no electricity, crouched between two cows hand-milking one when the one next door kicked and sent her sprawling backwards, and she thought she had broken her back which

Jill Dudley’s latest book ‘Damned Cows! Jottings and Confessions of a Farmer’s Wife’ is available from Archway Bookshop in Axminster, Paragon Books in Sidmouth and all good bookshops. ISBN: 97810686883-1-7.

For more information about Jill’s books visit: www. orpingtonpublishers.co.uk/

Jill and Robert at the Caledonian Ball in London © Jill Dudley

A Slice of Rural Life in 2025

Christopher Roper’s impression of ‘an unlicensed musical event’ in a Dorset village asks many questions, including why initial reactions or assumptions might differ from reality.

Our village was recently kept awake by an unannounced and, I am sure, unauthorised gathering in nearby woodland belonging to Forestry England.

Concerned messages on the Village WhatsApp Group began before midnight. Should the police be called? The police were there. Why weren’t they doing anything about it? A hot night in late June had frayed tempers.

I am suppressing the name of our village as it is not my aim to raise the temperature further; suffice to say that it is deep in Marshwood Vale territory, and similar events happen every year in West Dorset and elsewhere, with no more organisation than a WhatThreeWords location and a time, popping up on social media. I’m more concerned to consider our collective response.

Lest my readers think I am a hopeless romantic liberal, I will start with the problems that I recognise. These events can be very noisy; loud music played through the night can keep people unreasonably awake; wildlife can be unnecessarily disturbed, especially nesting birds; and, most seriously, camp fires, unless very carefully managed and extinguished, can easily turn into wild fires destroying acres of woodland and neighbouring homes.

On the other hand, I was dismayed by what seemed to me disproportionately angry responses, “Has anyone got a muck spreader…that would sort it!” … “On my way to the woods in the fire engine. Multiple Fires, please stay away from the woods”. As far as I could judge, after walking round the site on the morning after the party; an ‘Unlicensed Musical Event’ in police speak; and a ‘Rave’ to outraged neighbours, there was one small campfire, that certainly didn’t require a fire engine. A spade and a bucket of water would have been quicker and easier. I regularly walk my dog around the site, and had expected to be confronted by post-party glass and plastic debris, and trampled undergrowth. So I was pleasantly surprised to find the woodland unspoiled, with very little litter of any kind, and to meet well-behaved young people, camping quietly in

the woodland, happy to chat, and apologetic about keeping neighbours awake.

The following day, on my daily walk, I met a lady from Forestry England, and she too was pleasantly surprised by the gap between what she had been told to expect and the reality that greeted her. The partygoers had opened a locked gate, but without violence to the chain or padlocks; they had simply removed a single staple. She said that the organisers of such events in the West Country now seem better than previous generations at clearing up and not leaving too many traces of their festivities.

Social media is incredibly useful in many ways, alerting us to hazards, both natural and man made, but it also acts as a cross between a megaphone and an echo chamber, exacerbating our differences.

Interestingly, the reaction of people living closer to the site was more restrained. Although one second home owner had called the police, a retired farmer asked her, “Weren’t you young once?”, and two other octogenarian neighbours were totally relaxed, saying they liked to hear young people enjoying themselves. I thought it significant that relative newcomers to our village, living half a mile further away from the party, were most vociferous in their demand that “The Police should do something”.

Had there been excessive consumption of alcohol and illegal drugs? Possibly, but no sign of it to my untrained eye. “The bags of white powder” observed by a fireman could just as easily have been sugar for the tea and coffee that the campers were drinking over breakfast, as cocaine or heroin; and vans were departing in orderly fashion, without any erratic

driving. The general vibe was more reminiscent of the Quaker Camp that takes place annually in our village than the Glastonbury festival.

We can’t restore a lost night’s sleep, and it might have improved matters if someone from the village had gone up and asked the partygoers to turn the amps down. Judging from the age and comportment of the campers I met, I think it would have had more effect than anything the police might have said or done. I might have gone myself, but slept through it all, barely conscious of the music half a mile away. It certainly would constitute an unreasonable nuisance if it happened every week, but most of us over the age of fifty should be able to cast our minds back to parties that might have disturbed the neighbours. We all have particular social prejudices; the urban population of Britain became so incensed by foxhunting that they banned it. I mention that one only because many of the people upset by Unlicensed Musical Events would be completely unruffled by fox

hunters galloping across fields, and their followers’ cars clogging the lanes.

I don’t like mountain bikes churning up my favourite footpaths, especially in winter, but I would think it completely unreasonable to ban them. I just feel lucky to live in a beautiful corner of our country, and try to remember that other people have different views from me as to how we should be allowed to enjoy it. Social media is incredibly useful in many ways, alerting us to hazards, both natural and man made, but it also acts as a cross between a megaphone and an echo chamber, exacerbating our differences.

The party in the woods, and the WhatsApp storm that followed, brought to mind Lord Macaulay’s comment on the odium heaped on the head of poor Lord Byron (“Mad, bad, and dangerous to know”), “I know no spectacle so ridiculous as the British public in one of its periodic fits of morality.” We should all bear his words in mind when we are in the grip of outrage.

New

service at Axminster Hospice at Home

AT THE ANNUAL Open Meeting of Axminster Hospital League of Friends on May 20th 2025, Richard Anderson, Health and Social Care Community Services Manager for East Devon announced the recruitment of three nurses with very high levels of experience and training to begin the Axminster Hospice at Home service. This would not have been possible without the generosity of the people of Axminster and the dedicated work of Axminster Hospital League of Friends.

On average in the country, only around 50% of people die in their preferred place of death. In Seaton and Sidmouth, where there is an established Hospice at Home service, that number is nearer 98%. This brings great comfort to both the patient as well as their loved ones, as well as very substantial savings in terms of reduced hospital and nursing home placements.

Once Hospice at Home is fully established in Axminster, these services will be provided across the entire Seaton, Axminster and Sidmouth area. Richard said, ‘We are on the verge of having some of the most comprehensive hospice and dementia services anywhere in the country where everybody who wants the involvement of hospice at the end of life would be offered it.’

Axminster Hospice at Home will initially be offering enhanced end of life services integrated with, and based with, the Community Nursing team. It is hoped that the service will continue to grow so that it is a fully functioning 24/7 service, working alongside community teams in the hospital and in the community; and working in partnership with colleagues in the RD&E and the palliative care in-patient team from Hospiscare in Wonford.

New Director for ‘BridLit’

BRIDPORT Literary Festival (‘BridLit’) has announced the appointment of its new Festival Director.

Adrian Turpin OBE, currently the creative and strategic director of the Wigtown Book Festival in south-west Scotland, will formally take up the post on 1 January 2026 after this year’s BridLit which runs from Sunday 2 to Saturday 8 November. He will succeed the late Tanya Bruce-Lockhart, who cofounded the Dorset-based festival and played the leading role over two decades in turning it into one of the UK’s best-loved and most respected literary gatherings.

Turpin joined Wigtown Book Festival in 2006, having previously worked as a writer and editor on national newspapers, including The Independent and Sunday Times. Under his leadership, the event moved from three to ten days and has increased its audience to 27,000 visitors a year. In 2024, it was named Best Festival or Cultural Event in The Thistles, Scotland’s national event awards.

A passionate advocate for the role that festivals play in the social and economic regeneration of communities, in 2017 he was awarded an OBE for services to literature and the economy.

Adrian Turpin said: ‘Tanya’s passion, enthusiasm and commitment to excellence made BridLit into a mainstay of the region’s cultural calendar and a nationally respected literary festival.

‘Hers are big shoes for me to fill. I’m honoured to have that trust placed in me and I’m excited at the prospect of building on such a strong legacy.

‘Literary festivals currently face many challenges. As it enters its third decade, my priority is to make sure that BridLit is ready to meet those challenges and to continue to grow in stature.’

Stuart Rock, chair of the Bridport Literary Festival’s board of trustees, said: ‘We are delighted that Adrian is joining us as our new Festival Director. He has an exceptional track record at Wigtown of running and growing a world-class literary festival. The fact that BridLit can attract somebody of such proven talent and experience is testament to Tanya Bruce-Lockhart’s legacy to Bridport.

‘The trustees were excited about Adrian’s thinking and vision for BridLit. With him as its Festival Director, BridLit – and with it, the wider community of Bridport – has a very exciting future.’

This year Bridport Literary Festival runs from Sunday 2 to Saturday 8 November. Tickets will be on sale for Friends priority booking from Friday 15 August and will go on general sale from Friday 29 August.

A special event with the novelist Alexander McCall Smith will take place at the Electric Palace on 23 October. For more information visit: https://www.bridlit.com.

Adrian Turpin OBE

The Trustees of Axminster League of Friends and one of the Community Nurses

Who are the Oddfellows?

The Oddfellows is a national organisation, and the Dorchester Branch, the “Loyal Hand in Hand Lodge”, is part of one of the UK’s oldest and largest friendly societies. Its aim is to improve people’s lives through friendship and support.

Members can access a large range of benefits, including care and welfare support.

We support local charities and organisations with grants and pride ourselves on spreading this to a wide variety of organisations. Recently, we have supported Dorset County Hospital, The Hub in Weymouth, and The Lifeboat, to name just a few. Lodge members, depending on their membership, can claim financial benefits against dental and optical expenses. Details of the range of benefits can be found at the Lodge Office. Annual subscription ranges from £25 to £35 for full membership, while junior membership costs £10. Young members, who after a five year qualifying period, when they reach entry into university are able to claim a grant of up to £900 each year for Degree Courses to help with fees. All we ask is a letter of thanks.

The Lodge holds regular meetings for members at the Sleeping Bear Hotel. After the meeting closes, there is time to mingle and to generally catch up with old and new friends. We currently have some 600 members. Our secretary, Mike, operates from our office in Great Western Road.

We believe that it’s never too late to try something new, and our social coordinator would welcome ideas and proposals. Our Welfare officer will contact all members and, whenever required, offer help and assistance. Our aim is to ensure that any support that we can offer is available to all our members, as and whenever they need it.

For more information about your local branch of

Oddfellows please contact Mike at 01305 260081, email mike.clarke@oddfellows.co.uk, or browse the main website www.oddfellows.co.uk, which offers you an insight into the National Organisation that supports all Lodges around the country.

Mike is in the Office at 21 Great Western Road Dorchester every Friday. You would be very welcome to call in.

Please see the advert listing some of the social events that are currently being organised by The Oddfellows. In addition to those advertised, there are regular coffee mornings held at Crossways Village Hall. Please do not hesitate to contact us for more information.

EVENTS August

Thursday, 31 July

Colyton Town History Walk leaving from Colyton Dolphin Car Park at 2 pm – Guided walk approximately one hour. Cost £5, children under 16 free. No booking required, all weathers. Group bookings by arrangement –Contact 01297 552514 or 01297 33406.

Friday, 1 August

9.5 miles Walk with West Dorset Ramblers. Mosterton to Beaminster (linear). To book and for further details please contact Chris 07715 760884.

The Salt Path (12A) 115 mins, 7:30pm, Bridport Electric Palace, DT6 3NY. Tickets £8.50 To book electricpalace.org.uk.

This Is Your Trial! Original award- winning, critically acclaimed, improvised court room comedy show. “All rise for some proper off -the- rails anarchic humour and wit” The Mirror. You submit accusations against your friends or family; the judge and jury ( IE Audience!) decide their guilt or innocence. 7.30pm. Licensed Bar & plenty of parking at Stockland Village Hall EX14 9DR. To Book visit: https:// villagesinaction.co.uk/ or call Wendy 01404 881207.

Alex Clarke & the Craig Milverton Trio As finalist in the BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year 2020 and winner of the Rising Star category in the 2019 British Jazz Awards, Alex Clarke is known as one of the most versatile saxophonists. Praised for her intelligent ear for harmony and deep knowledge of repertoire across a broad spectrum of styles, her sound is steeped in the tradition of bebop. Tickets: £20. 7.30pm at Ilminster Arts Centre, TA19 0AN. 01460 54973 www. ilminsterartscentre.com.

Saturday, 2 August

Loders fete, 2-5pm, near Bridport in the idyllic grounds of Loders Court (DT6 3RZ, next to Loders Church). Stalls include tea tent, bar, bbq, grand raffle, tombola, coconut shy, crockery smash, fresh produce, cakes, plants, artisan’s alley, books and more – there will be magic and mayhem from children’s entertainer Count Backwards, music from Lyme Bay Brass Band, a dog show and a classic vehicle display.

Bridport & West Dorset Rambling Club 7 mile walk from Axminster. For further information please ring 01308 898484 or 01308 863340. New members/visitors welcome.

Scottish Dancing Party in Chardstock An evening of Scottish Dancing at Chardstock Village Hall 7.3010.30p.m. No partner required. Please bring your own mug and a plate of food to share. Tea and coffee provided. Cost £5.00. Contact David on 01460 65981 https://chardscottishcountrydance.co.uk.

Uplyme Summer Flower and Produce Show. Competition marquee, stalls, cream teas, gardening advice. Uplyme Village Hall and Playing Field 2-5pm. All adults £1, children free. More information https:// ulrhs.wordpress.com.

Wareham Shanty Festival. The Kings Arms, North Street, Wareham. Come along to this lively event, run by the Sea Fury Shanty Crew, featuring many local and not so local shanty bands, including the East Devon lads, The Chantry Buoys, amongst many others. Starts at 12pm. Come along and have fun!

Elio (PG) 98 mins, 11am, Bridpor Electric Palace, DT6 3NY. Tickets from £6.50 To book electricpalace. org.uk.

Saturday, 2 - 30 August

“Get Weaving” exhibition. Launch at Coffee morning on 2nd August. Working with “Awe & Wonder” to create a giant weave and mini weaving projects for all ages. Crewkerne Heritage Centre, Market Square. Crewkerne TA18 7LP. www.crewkernemuseum.co.uk. admin@crewkernemuseum.co.uk.

Monday, 4 August

Come and play or learn to play: Scrabble; Rummikub; Bananagram; chess; backgammon; mah jong; canasta. The Oddfellows Hand in Hand Lodge, Dorchester. Please contact Rosemary Rogers, rosemarywdt2@gmail. com or phone 07788 436797 for more information.

Tuesday, 5 August

9 miles or 6 miles walk with West Dorset Ramblers

Old Harry & Swanage – paths & tracks to the coast. Start 10.30am . Dogs with permission from the walk leader. To book and for further details please contact Ian 07826 150114.

Wednesday 6 August

My Devonshire Darlings – The Women’s Land Army in Devon’, a talk by Rebekah Pearson, 7:30pm, Bradshaw Meeting Room, Axminster Heritage Centre, EX13 5AH. Tickets: £5 can be purchased or reserved from Axminster Heritage Centre. For details email:

info@axminsterheritage.org or telephone 01297 639884.

Electric Palace Backstage Tours 11am + 2pm, Bridport Electric Palace, DT6 3NY. Tickets £10 To book electricpalace.org.uk.

Thursday, 7 August

Colyton town history walk leaving from Colyton Dolphin Car Park at 2 pm – Guided walk approximately one hour. Cost £5, children under 16 free. No booking required, all weathers. Group bookings by arrangement – Contact 01297 552514 or 01297 33406.

The Salt Path (12A) 115 mins *Suntitled* , 2pm, Bridport Electric Palace, DT6 3NY. Tickets £7.50 To book electricpalace.org.uk.

Garden Open for Charity The Old Rectory, Pulham, Dorchester DT2 7EA. 4 acres of formal and informal gardens surrounding C18 rectory with splendid views. Yew pyramid allées and hedges, circular herbaceous borders with late summer colour. Exuberantly planted terrace, purple and white beds. Box parterres, mature trees, pond, sheets of daffodils, tulips, glorious churchyard, ha-ha, pleached hornbeam circle. Enchanting bog garden with stream and islands. 10 acres of woodland walks. Mostly wheelchair accessible. Open 2-5pm. Adm: £9, chd free. Home-made teas. Visits also by arrangement 1 May to 15 Sept for groups of 5 to 50. Dogs on short leads welcome.

Garden Open for Charity Broomhill, Rampisham, Dorchester DT2 0PT. A former farmyard transformed into a delightful, tranquil garden set in 2 acres. Clipped box, island beds and borders planted with shrubs, roses, grasses, masses of unusual perennials and choice annuals to give vibrancy and colour into the autumn. Lawns and paths lead to a less formal area with large wildlife pond, meadow, shaded areas, bog garden, late summer border. Orchard and vegetable garden. Gravel entrance, the rest is grass, some gentle slopes. Open 2-5pm. Adm: £5, chd free. Home-made teas. Dogs on short leads welcome. Visits also by arrangement 5 June to 9 Aug for groups of 8 to 45. There is room for a coach to park.

Friday, 8 August

Dave’s Big General Knowledge Quiz Come and support the Arts Centre with a wonderful evening of quizzing! Fiendish questions, bar and a raffle await. Tickets: £15 per team of 4. 7.30pm at Ilminster Arts Centre, TA19 0AN. 01460 54973 www. ilminsterartscentre.com.

Saturday, 9 August

Bridport & West Dorset Rambling Club 7.5 mile walk from Cerne Abbas. For further information please ring 01308 898484 or 01308 863340. New members/ visitors welcome.

Electric Palace Backstage Tours 11am + 2pm, Bridport Electric Palace, DT6 3NY. Tickets £10 To book electricpalace.org.uk.

Saturday, 9 - 10 August

A flower celebration - Our Green and Pleasant Land - is being staged by Axminster Flower Club at Holy Cross Church, Woodbury Lane (off Lyme Road), Axminster EX13 5TL on Saturday 9th August 10am to 4pm and Sunday 10th August 11am to 4pm. Refreshments available. More information Tel: 01297 598953.

Sunday, 10 August

Wicked Sing-A-Long (PG) 160mins, 2pm, Bridport Electric Palace, DT6 3NY. Tickets from £8 To book electricpalace.org.uk.

The Dorset Vegan Summer Market will be at Maumbury Rings, Dorchester DT1 1TY from 10am to 4pm. Entry to the Market is free. There will be 50+ stalls with delicious hot & cold food and drink, yummy cakes, lush pastries, health and beauty and so much more! And, weather permitting, gong bath sessions and, for the children, inflatable play zone. Wellbehaved dogs on leads welcome. For more info e-mail : wdveganevents@gmail.com.

Garden Open for Charity Stillpoint Garden & Nursery. Sheepwash Barn, Symondsbury, Bridport DT6 6HH. Set in heavenly Dorset countryside, the ½ garden is composed of an intricate web of gravel paths weaving between deep and colourful borders to create an intimate experience for the extensive collection of new and unusual plants, especially Itoh peonies and hydrangeas. At the heart of the garden is a Japanese styled koshi-kake ‘waiting room’, surrounded by dwarf pines, grasses and ferns. Open 1-5pm. Adm: £5, chd free. Home made teas Dogs on short leads welcome

Sunday, 10 - 17 August

Burton Bradstock Festival of Music and Art. The 43rd Festival of Music and Art will get underway in this lovely village, close to Hive Beach and served by the local Bridport to Weymouth bus service, in just under 2 months. There is now a huge buzz of activity behind the scenes by dozens of volunteers to bring this very popular feature of the Dorset summer calendar to a perfect pitch. Concerts are always extremely well attended and, this year, with Lunchtime, Evening and Late Night Concerts, should be no different. Six days of classical, jazz and international music from 10 to 15 August with acclaimed performers offers something for every musical taste. All concerts are held in the lovely St. Mary’s Parish Church. Full details of the programme are available on the Festival website. Tickets are on sale from June 30th from the Bridport Tourist Information Centre, South Street, Bridport DT6 3LF, at the counter, by post, by phoning 01308 424901, or online at

https://bridportandwestbay.co.uk/tickets/.

Burton Bradstock Art Exhibition Affordable West Country Arts and Crafts by a selection of fine artists, mostly from Dorset. Venue: Village Hall, Burton Bradstock DT6 4QS. Open daily from 10am.

Wednesday, 13 August

Holiday Hangout 11 to 4pm – Free event for 9-14 years. The Great Field, Poundbury, Dorchester. Back by popular demand, the Holiday Hangout will be taking place on the Great Field in Poundbury from 11am4pm. Aimed at young people aged 9-14 years, this free event includes a huge range of fun activities to take part in including inflatables, craft, football coaching, clay modelling, printmaking, critter handling - and much more! Children can bring a picnic or purchase a delicious burger or sausage and salad with a piece of fruit for just £4. Children who are eligible for free school meals and who have a HAF passcode will receive their BBQ lunch for free. This is a drop off event (just head to the Pavilion in the Park café) so once adults have brought their children for registration, they are free to spend the day how they wish! For more information and links to booking, visit the Summer in Dorset listings on the Help and Kindness website or email e.scott@dorchester-tc.gov.uk. Alongside this event people will also be able to see the huge range of activities taking place across Dorset as part of the

Holiday Activity and Food Programme. The Holiday Hangout is being hosted by Dorchester Town Council and the Pavilion in the Park café who are grateful to have received funding from Dorset Council, Waitrose, Dorchester Town Council, The Talk About Trust, and the Poundbury Community Trust.

Thursday, 14 August

Help our Planet talk. Steward McPherson, retracing Charles Darwin’s Voyage of the Beagle Part 2. 7pm doors open 6.30pm. Sladers Yard Contemporary Art & Craft Gallery, Cafe Sladers, West Bay, Bridport Dorset DT6 4EL. Open Wednesday to Saturday 10am –4.30pm. t: 01308 459511. gallery@sladersyard.co.uk sladersyard.co.uk.

1940s VJ Day 80 Themed Coffee Morning. 10am –12pm, Bradshaw Meeting Room, Axminster Heritage Centre, EX13 5AH. Join us for tea or coffee and a slice of cake made from an original wartime recipe. For more details email: info@axminsterheritage.org or telephone 01297 639884.

Chesil Bank Writing Shed. Do you write? Would you like to be a writer? Whatever you want to write why not come and learn with our creative writing group. New writers always welcome. 7pm - 9pm, Portesham Village Hall. Find out more by calling Linda on 01305 871802. Colyton town history walk leaving from Colyton Dolphin Car Park at 2 pm – Guided walk

approximately one hour. Cost £5, children under 16 free. No booking required, all weathers. Group bookings by arrangement – Contact 01297 552514 or 01297 33406. Seaton Garden Club. A talk by Peter Cantrill on perennials with plants for sale. 2.30p.m. The Masonic Hall Seaton. Members free and £2.00 for visitors including refreshments. Contact 01279 22869 for further information.

Friday, 15 August

Cinechard are pleased to announce a very special collaboration between Chard Museum and Cinechard. At 3.30pm and 7.30pm at Chard Museum in the High Street there will be very special screenings of Night At The Museum (PG). This is a real family event with drinks and hot dogs in the interval. Please get your tickets from Eleos, the PO, Communitea Waffle Cafe and the Museum for £6 and £3 in advance only or online from Ticketsource/ cinechard for a small fee.

Voces Amici Voces Amici return to Ilminster after their triumphant visit last autumn for another evening of exciting vocal music. Accompanied

by Jonathan Delbridge, the group will take the audience on a musical trip around the world, ending in their beloved Somerset. Tickets: £16. 7.30pm at Ilminster Arts Centre, TA19 0AN. 01460 54973 www. ilminsterartscentre.com.

Saturday, 16 August

Loders Flower and Produce Show. Calling growers and makers! The Loders Flower and Produce show is an all-inclusive community event for people of all ages to come together to demonstrate their skills in crafting, growing and home produce. Entrants are welcome from the wider Bridport community. We have flower and vegetable classes, together with preserves, baking, handicrafts and photography. Children’s classes include miniature ‘show gardens’, diorama, painted stones and collage with fun classes such as the largest sunflower head and longest nettle. The show has been a feature of village life for many years and this year a team of volunteers from the WI have come together and organised the event following the passing of our show organiser Pippa Davis. Pippa along with her husband Charles and members of the village community had organised the show over many decades. We have a new trophy awarded in her honour to the highest scoring entrant across classes for flowers, produce and handicrafts, which were the classes that Pippa most enjoyed entering herself. These types of events are what makes a vibrant community, do put 16 August in your diary, get growing and making, and come and enjoy the show and our WI home baked refreshments. The show schedule and entry form are available from at www.loderswi.org/loders-flower-produce-show or attached to the boards in Loders Village and pub, the Loders Arms. Enquiries: LodersWI@gmail.com or 07557 525493.

Bridport & West Dorset Rambling Club 8 mile walk from Musbury. For further information please ring 01308 898484 or 01308 863340. New members/visitors welcome.

The Crewkerne Flower and Produce Show At The Henhayes Centre, South Street, Crewkerne. Entries submitted on the morning 8am - 10am - Judging 10am11.15am. Show Open from 11.15 - 2pm. Refreshments available. Entry 50p. Show Schedules available in Town or from Rosemary Prince, Holmlea, Tower Hill Lane, Crewkerne. 01469 74290. Please submit entry form to her by Wednesday 13th. Entry few 20p per item, 10 classes or more maximum fee £2. Please come along on the day and bring your friends.

8 miles walk with West Dorset Ramblers Rousden Peek Frean Estate – via Musbury Castle and Combpyne using paths & tracks. Start 10.30am. Dogs with walk leader’s permission. To book and for further details please contact Ian 07826 150114.

Living History Day is back. The museum’s brilliant

team of volunteers will be bringing our displays to life, sharing their passion and a host of fascinating stories behind our collection. The event includes a great line-up of themed children’s activities, a weaving demonstration and a Fossil Fun stall in Beaminster Square. Entry is free but donations are very welcome. Saturday 16 August 10.30am – 4.00pm, Whitcombe Rd, Beaminster DT8 3NB. www.beaminstermuseum.co.uk.

Sunday, 17 August

As You Like It The 5 actors in the Festival Players International production of As You Like It certainly play many parts - 20 in all! The performance, sponsored by Mr and Mrs Michael Ryan, and in aid of the RNLI, will be held in the delightful gardens of Meerhay Manor, Beaminster, Dorset DT8 3SB at 3.00 pm (picnics from 1.30 pm). Tickets: Adults £18.00, under 18s £10.00. Book online at www.tickettailor.com/ events/thefestivalplayers or visit Yarn Barton Centre, Beaminster (tel: 01308 862715). Please bring low back chairs or rugs. Guide dogs only. The Company is celebrating its 40th year since forming as part of the Three Choirs Festival. Continuing the legacy of Shakespeare’s own touring players, this remarkable troupe brings theatre to the countryside, honouring a centuries’ old tradition. This year’s production of As You Like It is one of Shakespeare’s most beloved comedies – bursting with wit, romance and mistaken identity, all set in the enchanting Forest of Arden. The Shanty Sessions. Marine Theatre. Lyme Regis. Come along to our regular monthly event, and listen(or join in!) to our local East Devon Shanty group, The Chantry Buoys from Colyton. They will be singing some traditional Sea shanties and some old favourite songs of the sea. The event is free, and all proceeds go to local charities. The licensed bar is open from 7.15, serving local ales, wine and spirits. The Buoys start at 7.30pm.

Pizza night organised by the Oddfellows Hand in Hand Lodge Dorchester. 7pm, £15.00. Bar available. Dewflock Farm, Winterbourne Monkton, Dorchester, DT2 8NP. Please contact Rosemary Rogers, rosemarywdt2@gmail.com or phone 07788 436797 for more information.

Wednesday, 20 August

Coffee Morning, including cakes, scones & savouries, and bacon/egg rolls (made to order), 10.30am – noon; all welcome. Clapton & Wayford Village Hall. More details from Julia (01460 72769).

Thursday, 21 August

Colyton town history walk leaving from Colyton Dolphin Car Park at 2 pm – Guided walk approximately one hour. Cost £5, children under 16 free. No booking required, all weathers. Group bookings by arrangement – Contact 01297 552514 or 01297 33406.

Friday, 22 August

Time for Tea – Nick Goodwin Sings the Songs of George Formby’, 2pm – 3:30pm, Bradshaw Meeting Room, Axminster Heritage Centre, EX13 5AH. Tickets: £3.50, includes tea or coffee and a slice of cake made from an original 1940s recipe. For further details email: info@ axminsterheritage.org or telephone 01297 639884.

10 miles walk with West Dorset Ramblers Drimpton & around – circular walk via Seaborough & Wayford Woods. Start 10am. Dogs with permission of walk leader. To book and for further details

please contact Heather G 07587 098079. Cinechard Extra aims to celebrate lesserknown award-winning films. Flow (U) won the Oscar for the best animated film this year and is described as ‘breath-taking’ and ‘poignant’. At 7.30pm at the Communitea Waffle Cafe in Holyrood Street. Please get your tickets in advance ONLY from the Communitea Waffle Cafe for £6 and £3 or online from ticketsource/ cinechard for a small fee. Making this a true community event, the Communitea Waffle Cafe are

offering a two-course meal for £12.50 or three courses for £15 so please order your food as you purchase your ticket. The cafe is licenced.

Saturday, 23 August

Bardfest Presents: River Voices An evening in celebration and defence of the River Bride and all our precious waterways in poetry, storytelling, and song. Featuring Aidan Simpson, Basslines (Ged Duncan & co.), Bards of Dorset and beyond, and more! Profits to the Dorset Wildlife Trust. Bring cash. Marquee or on the lawn, weather permitting. 7-10pm The Crown, Puncknowle, DT2 9BN. FFI: 07853 568 517.

Lee - Saturday Matinee, starring Kate Winslet as war photographer Lee Miller. 3pm, Bradshaw Meeting Room, Axminster Heritage Centre, EX13 5AH. Tickets: £7 includes tea or coffee served with a slice of cake made using an original wartime recipe. For details email: info@axminsterheritage.org or telephone 01297 639884.

Winsham Annual Show will be held at 2.30pm (£1 to enter, children go free) at the Upper Recreational Ground (Bakersfield TA20 4JN) with a host of all things floral, vegetable, home-craft, handicraft, photography & art. There will be a delicious array of cakes, tea, coffee & soft drinks on offer to enjoy while you wait for the presentation of cups at 4pm. Schedules can be obtained from Winsham Village Shop should you wish to enter, entries are only 25p per class (children’s classes free) and entries close at 7pm on Wednesday 20th August. There will also be a car boot sale running alongside the show so do come along and join in the fun. For more details please contact Debbie 07808 505357. Car Boot Sale running alongside Winsham Annual Show. Cars are £5 each and can set up is from 1.30pm with gates opening to the public at 2.30pm the same time as the show. For more details please contact Debbie 07808 505357

Tuesday, 26 August

U3A talk starts at 2.00 pm in the Bridport United Church Hall, East Street, Bridport DT6 3LJ The talk lasts for approx 1 hour followed by Q&A then refreshments. The speaker is Karen Herbert & she will be conducting an interesting talk entitled ‘Pearls’. A lifetime making jewelry & training as a silversmith. The regular talks are free to members, Visitors welcome, cost £3.00

Wednesday, 27 August

7.5 miles walk with West Dorset Ramblers Up the Frome Valley – circular walk from Maiden Newton around Wraxall, Cattistock & Chalmington. Start 10am. Dogs with walk leader’s permission. To book and for further details please contact Heather T 07798 732252.

Wednesday, 27 - 30 August

BMTC presents Shrek The Musical, Bridport Electric Palace, DT6 3NY. Tickets from £18 To book electricpalace.org.uk.

Thursday, 28 August

Colyton town history walk leaving from Colyton Dolphin Car Park at 2 pm – Guided walk approximately one hour. Cost £5, children under 16 free. No booking required, all weathers. Group bookings by arrangement – Contact 01297 552514 or 01297 33406.

Friday, 29 August

Paul as Elton John Close your eyes and you won’t believe your ears, open your eyes and you won’t believe them either! You simply won’t find a closer tribute to Sir Elton John. Tickets: £22. 7.30pm at Ilminster Arts Centre, TA19 0AN. 01460 54973 www. ilminsterartscentre.com.

Saturday, 30 August

Annual Stamp Fair in Sherborne. Yeovil & District Philatelic Society is holding its Annual Fair in the Digby Memorial Church Hall, Digby Road, Sherborne, DT9 3NL from 10.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. Quality dealers of stamps, postal history and postcards in attendance. Entrance 50p, children free. Refreshments available. Contact Peter Westman on 07831 821990 for further information.

Dalwood Jazz Club presents The Jake Leg Jug Band (on their way home from 3 concerts at Bude Jazz Festival) with Duncan Wilcox - vocals, double bass, Warren James - vocals, guitar, banjo, Phil Shotton - clarinet, soprano sax, bass clarinet, Richard leach - trombone & jug and Cohen Wilcox - washboard at 3pm.Dalwood Village Hall, EX13 7EG (near Axminster). Bar for beer/wine/soft drinks and teas/ coffees/cake etc. Parking at the Village Hall. £12.50p. If possible, please book in advance and pay (cash or card) at the door. t.mackenney111@btinternet.com.

Saturday, 30 - 31 August

Garden Open for Charity Pugin Hall, Rampisham, Nr Dorchester DT2 0PR. Pugin Hall was once Rampisham Rectory, designed in 1847 by Augustus Pugin, who also helped to design the interior of the Houses of Parliament. A Grade I listed building, it is surrounded by 4½ acres of garden, inc a large front lawn with rhododendrons, a walled garden filled with topiary and soft floral planting, orchard and beyond the River Frome a woodland walk. The walled garden is planted with shrubs, roses, clematis, masses of unusual perennials, and Japanese anemones against a backdrop of espalier fruit trees, box hedging with spirals.

Pugin Hall is the only intact Pugin designed building currently in private ownership and is considered

to be the most complete example of domestic architecture designed by him. The plan of the house encompasses Pugin’s characteristic pinwheel design: an arrangement of rooms whose axis rotate about a central hall and lends itself well to the varying effects of light and shade within. Open 12-5pm. Adm: £6, chd £3. Home-made teas. Dogs on short leads welcome. Visits also by arrangement May to Sept for groups of 10+.

Sunday, 31 August

Cream teas at the Manor. 2.30 - 5.30. Treasure Hunt, Tombola, Cakes, Raffle, Plants, Home produce. In aid of the church. Manor House Gardens, Wooton Fitzpaine, DT6 6NQ.

Bridport Vintage Market at St Michael’s Trading Estate. Traders pride in stocking a range of vintage pieces at the Bridport Vintage Sunday Market. Whether you are looking for vintage items such as clothing, art, decor or just like to rummage around, take the time to enjoy a coffee or a meal and make it a day out. Last Sunday of the month from March to October. 10:00am to 4:00pm at The Art & Vintage Quarter on the St Michael’s Trading Estate in Bridport DT6 3RR.

Sunday 31 August - 1

September

Choreography Geography, a site specific performance by Bridport Youth Dance contemporary dancers together with BYD alumni at Symondsbury Estate - by kind permission of Philip and Julia Colfox. At 6pm. Tickets available from Bridport Tourist Information Centre. Box office 01308 424901. Adults £9.50/ Children £7.50. This is a static performance. Please feel free to bring a rug, foldable chairs and a picnic. Bar and refreshments open from 5pm. Supported by Symondsbury Estate, Abderrahim Crickmay Charitable Settlement, Bridport Town Council, Vicary and Co., Nantes solicitors, Clocktower Records and Bridport Charities. www.bridportyouthdance.org.uk

EVENTS IN SEPTEMBER

Live or Online send your event details to info@marshwoodvale.com BY AUGUST 14th

Pedal Power to raise money for Solar Power

TWO friends, Ed Loveridge from Broadwindsor and Max Hansen, both former students at Canford in Wimborne, have set out on an extraordinary cycling challenge, riding from the Arctic Circle all the way back to England. Their ambitious journey aims to raise essential funds for a school in Ghana.

Ed and Max’s route promises breathtaking scenery as they cycle along Norway’s rugged coast, take a ferry to Denmark, and then continue through Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. The journey will finish in Calais, from where they will cross the Channel back to the UK.

This month-long adventure will be completely selfsupported. They are carrying everything they need on their bikes, including a tent, stove, clothes, food, and even a fishing rod. They intend to rely on wild camping and meals from their catches.

Beyond the personal challenge, this epic ride supports the EDP Trust, a charity dedicated to the Awutu-Winton Senior High School in Ghana. This fee-free school offers vital educational opportunities for young people in the region. However, frequent power outages severely disrupt learning and access to clean water. The funds raised will be used to install solar panels to reduce the school’s dependence on the local power grid, ensuring more reliable electricity in classrooms and enabling the school’s water purifier to operate 24 hours a day.

Ed, who previously volunteered at the school for three months during his gap year, teaching Maths and climate change, is deeply passionate about the cause and believes that access to energy will improve education, healthcare, and opportunities for everyone.

The duo have set up a JustGiving page to support the school. To make a donation, visit: https://www. justgiving.com/page/ed-loveridge-1?newPage=true

Ed and Max, raising funds for a school in Ghana

INature Studies

By Michael McCarthy

n stark contrast to last year, this has become a super summer for butterflies. After the sunniest-ever spring, the baking hot weather of early July produced a true butterfly abundance in my part of the world: on the hill above the village there were thousands of meadow browns and gatekeepers in the air, with amongst them hundreds of one of our most attractive insects, the marbled white, which looks like the airborne version of a pocket chessboard, all black-and-white chequer, as well as dozens of large and small skippers buzzing about. And the village itself was butterfly-blessed. One memorable, sweltering day—it was Wednesday July 9—we had ten species in the garden. On one of the buddleias, all at the same time, we had a red admiral, a peacock, a painted lady and to our great delight, a small tortoiseshell, now so diminished in numbers after the dreadful wet spring of last year. (There have been fears that it might disappear altogether). On the lavender border we had a meadow brown, and on the yarrow in the wild part of the garden we had a gatekeeper, while cabbage whites flew in and out, that is, large whites and small whites; my wife saw a blue which was probably a holly blue; and to cap it all, towards the end of the afternoon, a whacking great male brimstone flew in, brilliant lemon-yellow. Talk about cups running over…

These are all familiar names to many butterfly-lovers, but there is also one I have seen this summer whose name you may only know if you are a bit of a butterfly nerd, and this is hutchinsoni. It is a genetic variant of a common species, the comma, that attractive close relative of the peacock and the tortoiseshell whose ragged-edged wings when closed look for all the world like a dead oak leaf—perfect camouflage. The comma overwinters as an adult butterfly (as opposed to an egg, a caterpillar or a chrysalis, all overwintering strategies used by other species) and when it wakes up in the spring and starts to flit around we see attractive dark orange wings

An incomer’s discovery of the natural world in the West Country

dotted with big black spots. But when these overwintered butterflies breed, some—perhaps twenty per cent—of the new generation which hatch out in high summer have a brilliant golden hue, like the brightest orange marmalade. Their scientific name is Polygonia c-album var. hutchinsoni and according to our leading butterfly scientist, Dorset-based Professor Jeremy Thomas, the variant was named after Emma Hutchinson, a butterfly collector from Leominster in Herefordshire who worked out how to breed it in the 19th century, when the comma was very rare and confined to the Welsh borders. (Since then it has rebounded and has had the most remarkable recovery of any British butterfly, spreading right through England and colonising Scotland.)

The hutchinsoni comma is a quite stunning insect, flashing brilliantly in strong sunshine. It puts a smile on your face just to glimpse it, and I have been lucky enough to see two of them this summer, both by the river below the village, while our photographer Robin Mills was even luckier and had one fly into his garden, where as you can see, he snapped it on a bloom of echinacea.

There are other attractive variant forms of some of our lepidoptera. A very striking one is a form of my favourite British butterfly, the beautiful silver-washed fritillary, which is called valezina; it is dusky green and was highly-prized by the butterfly-collectors of the past, but you will struggle to see it because it is mostly found in dark woodlands. Yet this is to get into specialist territory, into deep entomology; personally I could not be more thankful for the common—or oncecommon—butterflies which in this splendid summer have graced our world. Indeed, seeing that single small tortoiseshell on our buddleia was a highlight of the year.

Recently relocated to Dorset, Michael McCarthy is the former Environment Editor of The Independent. His books include Say Goodbye To The Cuckoo and The Moth Snowstorm: Nature and Joy.

Bright as orange marmaladethe hutchinsoni variant of the comma butterfly.

© Photograph by Robin Mills

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The Art of the Photograph

This month featuring Alison Webber

For much of her life, West Dorset-based photographer Alison Webber felt like she never quite belonged. Diagnosed with autism just six years ago, she says she remembers when she was young thinking that ‘something was going on.’ She describes a constant feeling of oddness. Growing up, especially in an all-girls grammar school, she tried desperately to fit in, wearing ‘various masks’ to avoid being bullied and to ‘sneak under the radar.’ However, this ongoing effort to conform was never truly successful. ‘It was never going to work,’ she admits. When she was very young, her parents worked in service and held high hopes for her academically. She

would eventually become the first in the family to earn a degree, but not without facing many challenges along the way.

‘Throughout my school years, I never came across the word “autism” so I would never have been able to attribute my odd behaviour to it’, she explains. Autism wasn’t talked about in those days, and Special Educational Needs didn’t exist. ‘As a result of this, nobody seemed to understand me, which led me to believe that I was just odd. As you can imagine, this led to a lot of bullying, and the only defence I had was to try to behave like the other girls so as not to draw attention to myself. This, however, had limited

Urban Barcode © Photograph by Alison Webber

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success and I left school feeling very isolated and confused.’

However, inspired by one of her teachers, she chose to study politics at the University of York. The university offered a fresh start. She elected to pursue a degree because she believed she would have the opportunity to meet new people. ‘At this stage, I still had no inkling of what autism was, and so I continued to see myself as different.’ After the difficulties at school, she knew she needed to get away. ‘However, living away from home proved more challenging than I had imagined, and I soon became overwhelmed, which resulted in a brief stay

in a psychiatric hospital. Fortunately, on returning to university, I met some friends who accepted me for who I was, and they are still close friends to this day.’

But Alison’s autism diagnosis was a turning point. It wasn’t a sudden revelation but a gradual dawning, and it coincided with her burgeoning photography career. Her son, who was diagnosed with autism at age 11, had always been her main focus as she helped him navigate his own challenges. He now works in London after completing an integrated master’s in physics at university and has recently become a father. The day I meet Alison, she has just become a grandmother. It was thanks to conversations with her

Angel of the South West © Photograph by Alison Webber

son and husband that she decided to find out more about her own unusual traits. ‘My autism diagnosis has been invaluable to me,’ she says. ‘The diagnosis has made me more aware of my behaviour, enabled me to understand myself better, and recognise and accept my autistic traits as part of my individuality. It has also helped my family understand why I behave the way I do.’

After university, Alison worked for a bank before tutoring primary school children in maths and English. ‘I really loved that,’ she says of the teaching, though she admits she didn’t enjoy the bank work at all. Moving to France, she continued to enjoy teaching, but when she returned to England, she found the education system too hard to navigate. ‘The main two things which put me off teaching in England were the behaviour issues within schools and the increasing lack of support for pupils with special educational needs,’ she explains.

Photography was to become her primary focus, and her diagnosis had indeed changed everything. ‘With regards to my photography, my ability to understand and accept my autism has given me the confidence to express my individuality through my images. I no longer take photos in the hope that other people will

like them. I take photos for me, and if others like them, then that is a bonus.’

However, she believes a diagnosis is not for everyone; ‘not everyone wants to know that,’ she says. But the benefit of knowing has helped both her son and her to navigate challenges, giving her confidence and allowing her to develop her natural photographic eye.

‘I fell in love with photography after a trip to Nova Scotia’ she says, ‘and it snowballed from there.’ She recalled visiting a lighthouse at Peggy’s Cove when a man came running towards her, excited by an amazing reflection of the lighthouse in a rock pool. She photographed it, and the experience motivated her to pursue further photography. ‘After a period of time capturing “classic” landscapes, I began to experiment with a less conventional photographic style,’ she says, ‘I discovered that I was drawn to taking pictures of patterns and shapes in monochrome.’

When she returned to Dorchester, she went to a photography exhibition. ‘I had just got into photography,’ she remembers, ‘and I very boldly said to the steward at this exhibition, I’d like to join their group. He was very diplomatic and sort of gently moved me away from that topic, and suggested I join a camera club, which I did.’

Bullseye © Photograph by Alison Webber

Alison then completed her Royal Photographic Distinctions, LRPS, ARPS and FRPS, at a rapid pace due to her love of deadlines and structure. ‘One of the main things about my autism is needing to have focus on projects and deadlines,’ she explains. ‘I absolutely love deadlines, because I like to have something to work towards. So putting a panel of images together for the RPS, I thought, “this is just me.”’ Using her natural aptitude for light and visual awareness, she presented her images while submitting the written work as a series of poems. ‘I don’t think anyone had ever done that before. I love writing poetry, so it made sense to me.’

In August, Alison will participate as part of Dorset Independent Photographers at Borough Gardens House in Dorchester. Combining her passion with train travel, she says she can be mesmerised by the views outside as a train navigates its way through the countryside and towns. She is creating a series of images titled Through the Window, which captures those moments. She will also participate in an exhibition of the Dorset Monochrome Collective, a group founded in 2018.

From September and throughout the winter months, she will be giving talks to various camera

clubs on the subject of autism and photography. She hopes to increase awareness and understanding not only of autism but also of the concept of individuality within the field of photography. ‘I see it in some photography clubs where people are all tied up with the latest photography trends, and they’re trying to keep up with those trends. People tell me it’s really difficult to let go of that, and they’re trying to please judges in competitions, instead of stepping back and asking, “What do I really want to do?”’

She explains that her talk, entitled The Cloak of Conformity and the Corset of Expectation, is a combination of awareness of autism and how it can be viewed in a positive light. ‘It can be viewed in a negative light or, at the very least, totally misunderstood’, she says. ‘But there are so many positives. I think it’s really good to put autism in a positive light and say, it’s not negative, it’s different.’

From August 22nd to 31st, 2025, Alison will participate in a joint exhibition as part of Dorset Independent Photographers at Borough Gardens House, Borough Gardens, Dorchester. For more information about her work, upcoming exhibitions, and talks, visit https://alisonwebber.co.uk.

Tidal Treasures © Photograph by Alison Webber

Unique plants, expert advice, and tranquil design

NESTLED on the edge of the tranquil village of Symondsbury in the beautiful Dorset countryside, Stillpoint Garden & Nursery offers an enchanting experience for garden enthusiasts. Created by renowned garden designer Charles Chesshire, the garden is opening for charity on Sunday, 10th August, from 1 pm to 5 pm.

Charles Chesshire, a name synonymous with exceptional garden design, has carefully crafted Stillpoint over the past five years. His extensive travels and international projects have given this garden a distinctive character, reflecting his deep knowledge and innovative spirit. Charles’s impressive CV includes roles as a curator of Burford House Gardens and a consultant for notable estates such as Sudeley Castle and Sezincote gardens. He is also a prolific author of many gardening publications, making him an interesting person to meet and gain insights from.

The garden itself offers a fascinating display of design and planting. An intricate network of gravel paths winds through deep and colourful borders—a treasure trove of new and unusual plants, with a particular focus on stunning Itoh peonies and hydrangeas.

At the centre of Stillpoint Garden is a Japanesestyle koshi-kake, or ‘waiting room’. This tranquil space, surrounded by artfully arranged dwarf pines, grasses, and ferns, offers a calming Zen-like aura – a

subtle nod to Charles’s time spent in Japan. It’s an ideal spot for quiet reflection, allowing visitors to fully appreciate the beauty of their surroundings.

Enhancing the appeal of Stillpoint is its direct link to Charles’s plant nursery. This allows visitors not only to admire the mature plants in the garden but also to buy high-quality plants for their own outdoor spaces. Charles himself is often on hand to offer advice on planting schemes, sharing his expertise to help visitors recreate a touch of Stillpoint’s magic in their own homes.

Beyond the horticultural wonders, Stillpoint offers a warm and inviting atmosphere. Delicious homemade teas are available, and for those wishing to bring their furry friends, dogs are welcome on short leads.

As an added bonus, Charles’s wife, Karen, runs an inviting interior design shop on the premises. This charming space is filled with an assortment of books, pottery, and decorative items, providing an opportunity to find unique treasures and perhaps gain inspiration for your own home décor.

Stillpoint is situated about 1 mile west of Bridport. From the A35, drive through Symondsbury, go past Shear Plot on your right, and continue downhill until you see the garden on your right. Alternatively, from Bridport, take the Symondsbury Estate road to Mill Lane, and the garden will be on your left. Admission is £5 (children free).

Stillpoint Garden & Nursery open for charity in August

August in the Garden

By Russell Jordan

Unless there has been a biblical amount of rainfall, between writing this and publication, then your garden is likely to be showing some degree of stress due to lack of water and high temperatures. Your lawn has probably gone brown in places, or less than vibrant green at least, but this will soon remedy itself as soon as we get an appreciable amount of rainfall. As I’ve said many times before, watering the lawn is a waste of water no matter how droughted it becomes.

Watering needs to be concentrated on anything that literally would die without it; plants in pots and container, recently planted specimens (especially trees and shrubs which have not had time to establish), seedlings and young plants which would get a ‘check’ in growth if not watered. It’s best to water things overnight, trickling the water onto the specimen in question, rather than just light sprinkling during the heat of the day. If we get a hosepipe ban, like other areas have already received, then all of this watering has to be done with a watering can, filled directly from the tap, as using a hosepipe for any reason is not allowed.

On a cultural level some intervention may be necessary. In a wetter summer there is a good chance that many herbaceous plants, that have finished flowering, can be cut back and they will reliably respond with a fresh flush of foliage and probably new flowers. If very dry they may not be able to reclothe themselves so cutting them back to nothing could prove too stressful for them so just a light tidy up is the order of the day. If wet weather is forecast they can always be cut back further, initiating fresh growth, and assisted by forking in a handful of ‘fish,

blood and bone’ to give them a little boost.

Dead-heading of summer bedding plants and tender perennials is even more important than usual as they will quickly go to seed in hot, dry, weather and if they do that then they will not provide a flowering display for the whole of the summer. One of the benefits of plants flowering well in hot weather and setting seed is that it gives you the best opportunity to collect seed from any plant which you may wish to propagate in this way. Collected seed should be kept in paper bags, so that they can dry out completely and not ‘sweat’ in a sealed container.

It’s worth sowing some seed from perennial plants immediately, when fresh, but keeping a proportion back, in a cool, dry, place for further sowings in the spring to see which works best. Many plants require exposure to winter cold in order to germinate, ‘vernalisation’, so seed sown now should be clearly labelled and the pots, top dressed with horticultural grit, left in a sheltered spot outdoors. Choose a place where you will see the pots on a regular basis so that they don’t get forgotten, can be watered whenever they need it and any weeds that get into the pots can be removed before they get established.

As mentioned last month, taking cuttings in high summer is a good idea as the higher hormone levels within the plants makes the cuttings ‘strike’ (produce roots) more easily. This can carry on in August and the higher temperatures, with elevated light levels, means that any cuttings material that you take is likely to have ripened this year even better than usual. In theory, the massively sunny summer should be encouraging perennial plants, especially flowering trees and shrubs, to lay down maximum flowering potential for next Click Here for an Easy Read version of

year. The above average sunshine should also mean, other factors being favourable, that there is extra vivid autumn colour this year as this depends on the leaves containing the maximum amount of photosynthetic by-products within the leaf cells.

Depressing though it may be to have to consider this but August is, officially at least, the last month of summer. The next major garden activity, which you really need to consider now, is bulb planting for spring displays next year. Even if you don’t actually start planting your bulbs this month, in Holland they certainly will, you do need to get ahead and order them. Really popular varieties, i.e. those that were plastered all over ‘Instagram’ this spring, may well sell out so ordering early ensures you don’t get substitutions.

From a cultural point of view, it’s optimal to get your bulbs in the ground as soon as possible because they will only deteriorate the longer they are out of the ground. If it remains dry well into autumn then planting may be tricky as the ground is simply too hard, at the moment, to allow you to dig holes deep enough to satisfy all but the smallest of bulbs.

If you have an area of meadow, or a wildflower display instead of a lawn, this will need cutting this month and the resulting vegetative material removed

in order to keep on lowering its nutrient level as this encourages the most diverse range of meadow species. If you use ‘Yellow Rattle’ (Rhinanthus minor), as a means to weaken the more vigorous grass species, then it’s worth collecting this by hand, before cutting the meadow, so that it can be specifically sown into any areas where grasses still predominate over other meadow species.

Rattle establishes best where it falls on bare patches of soil and needs to be sown completely fresh as it doesn’t store well. It requires a period of winter cold (see earlier!) in order to germinate successfully so any seed collected now needs to be scattered immediately, in areas which have been cut as short as possible, and gently scarified so that the soil surface is sufficiently broken up to allow the seed to get down into it.

Similarly, also looking forward to next year, hardy annuals can be sown directly where you want them to flower, in sunny spots in beds and borders, so that they get a chance to establish before the onset of winter. It seems odd to be thinking of frosts and winter wet but, as with so much in gardening, anything that you do now, while it’s hot and sunny, may well not come to fruition until many months, in the case of trees many decades, from now—that’s kind of the point of it!

Food&Dining

SALMON CRUNCH

This bowl illustrates how immensely satisfying a crunchy texture can be. When you pair crunch with healthy greens, it can be just as satisfying as a packet of crisps, but instead it rewards you and your body with so much more.

Wholesome Bowls

MELISSA

DELPORT

Published by Nourish, an imprint of Watkins Media Limited

ISBN: 978-1-84899-414-0 (Hardback)

ISBN: 978-1-84899-415-7 (eBook)

INGREDIENTS

• 1 teaspoon black sesame seeds

• 150g (5 ½ oz) slim stalks of broccoli, blanched

• 250g (9 oz) edamame beans (green soybeans), blanched

• 4 spring onions/scallions, finely chopped

• 150g (5 ½ oz) smoked salmon

• 1 handful sprouts

• 1 avocado, sliced

Dressing

• Juice of ½ Lemon

• ½ chilli, finely chopped (optional)

• 1 tablespoon tamari

• 1 teaspoon honey

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• Salt and pepper

Serves 1

DIRECTIONS

1. Place the sesame seeds, broccoli, edamame, spring onions/scallions and salmon in a small salad bowl.

2. In a separate bowl, add all the ingredients for the dressing, mix well and season to taste. Pour over the salad and toss.

3. Top with fresh sprouts and the avocado and serve!

This salad also goes wonderfully with brown rice. If you wish to use it, cook ½ cup as per the packet instructions and add to the salad before the dressing.

Ilaria’s Italian KITCHEN

A TRADITIONAL Italian cow’s milk cheese, Scamorza Affumicata is like a smoked mozzarella, from the same cheese type as ‘pasta filata’. After it has rested for a few hours it is hung and smoked to produce a complex flavour that works well in many dishes.

Scamorza Affumicata is hugely popular at Mercato Italiano, not only for it’s quirky pear shape but also because it is delicious once melted or slightly grilled. ‘The smokiness comes through’ says Ilaria, who also recommends it as a wonderful summer cheese, lovely to eat as it is, with a fresh summer salad. ‘Everything gets eaten, nothing to remove, not even the rind.’ Ilaria also recommends it grilled with courgette or for a nice change use it to layer aubergine parmigiana in a baking tray dish.

Originally established as a weekly market stall, supplying high quality cured meats and cheeses directly imported by Ilaria using her Italian produce contacts, Mercato Italiano has become the popular destination for authentic pizza, coffee, cocktails and so much more.

The café and deli on the Dreadnought Estate is also a great stop for lunch from 12-3pm, Monday to Saturday. The pizza and pasta lunchtime specials are not to be missed!

Be sure to visit https://mercatoitaliano.uk and subscribe to their newsletter to keep up with events, tastings and exclusive offers.

Scamorza Affumicata from Mercato Italiano in Bridport

Challenging Ageism with Wit

Bridport author Ros Huxley talks to Fergus Byrne about her debut novel Kendal Acts Up

As a reader of short stories for the Bridport Prize, Ros Huxley, whose debut novel Kendal Acts Up comes out in August, has given her time to a vast number of words over the years. With every new Prize, she would read many of the stories before recommending a short list for the final judging. The process was fascinating, introducing her to a wide range of writing styles and abilities, and although she cites the ‘cliché’ that she had ‘always wanted to write’, it became the inspiration away from copywriting, press releases and journalism to an MA in creative writing.

‘One day,’ she says, ‘I just sat up in bed and thought “I could do this.”’ So she did. Her conviction inspired her to seek out a creative writing group, and after a serendipitous lunch with a friend, she found one. Despite having quite stringent entry requirements, the group welcomed her, and it became the genesis of Kendal Acts Up

Based on the adventures of Kendal Tudge, a single Londoner in her forties who inherits her Uncle Clem’s flat in a retirement home on the Jurassic Coast, the book is a warm and humorous story that explores some of the hidden prejudices and stereotypes faced by those labelled as ‘elderly.’

Her story weaves together a host of characters, including Gary the handsome warden and various residents of Jurassic Court, as Kendal learns the ways of the countryside in a seaside area remarkably similar to West Bay and Bridport.

The core idea for Kendal’s adventures came from personal experience. While her father was in a care home, Ros often found herself relaxing there after long workdays. If he was sleeping when she arrived, she would lie on the bed looking out the window. ‘I thought “God, I could live here,”’ she says. ‘There’s no hassle. Everything done for you. No stuff that needs to be fixed, cleaned, or maintained.’ Her father’s amused response was that she wasn’t old enough. This sparked an intriguing thought: ‘What if somebody pretended to be older than they are, just to live in a retirement home?’

Kendal Tudge decides to attempt that very pretence and moves into Jurassic Court. Despite initial agent feedback questioning the plausibility of 44-year-old Kendal passing for 60, Ros remained convinced. ‘I disagreed with that’ she says. ‘I find it very difficult to

judge people’s age’. She has since encountered real-life individuals attempting similar deceptions, albeit with a shorter age gap. This unique situation became the foundation for Kendal’s adventures.

‘There are significant differences between people in their 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s’

Fuelled by her main character’s various quandaries and further motivated by her creative writing group, Ros decided to pursue an MA in Creative Writing at Exeter University while continuing her job working for a charity. ‘It was quite hard,’ she admits, also noting the age gap between herself and many younger students. ‘I hadn’t been doing academic studying for 40 years.’ However, a mature perspective proved to be an asset. The head of the course suggested that people who have spent their lives on a career and raising their children often work harder and are more likely to succeed. This observation held true, especially during the pandemic when online learning posed challenges for many of the younger students. The MA course was modular, with each module concentrating on a different aspect of writing. This enabled Ros to incorporate elements of Kendal’s story in her dissertation.

However, as the book and the course progressed, a bold decision faced her. After a lifetime in the creative industries, where thinking outside the box was an advantage, Ros had taken a job working for an international charity with a structure that was completely new to her. She describes it as ‘very much out of my comfort zone’. She found herself in a world of targets, KPIs (key performance indicators), forecasting, training scenarios, and often baffling corporate language. Although she was somewhat of an outsider, she was very successful in the role, but Kendal Tudge was tempting her away to a place where she felt a more natural connection. She elected to resign from the job and, like Kendal, focus on a radical new journey. Transitioning from short stories to a novel was initially challenging, but she soon identified a pattern. ‘Once I got into a rhythm,’ she says, ‘it becomes so

real that you live it.’ She even used a text-to-speech feature to occasionally listen back to her writing, and sometimes heard her husband chuckling as he overheard it from another room. One of Kendal’s charming qualities is her quick wit.

Kendal also draws from Ros’s observations of the corporate world. ‘There aren’t that many books that are about the world of work,’ she says. Ros had found that, occasionally, if she got irritated in meetings, she would quietly write down what was happening. ‘I gathered masses of words and phrases.’

A central theme in Kendal Acts Up is the depiction of older people and community dynamics. Ros has a long history of volunteering. One of her earliest voluntary activities was Books on Wheels, where she, with her three-year-old son accompanying her, delivered books to those unable to reach the library. During this period, she started to see that the term ‘elderly’ was a misnomer. She explains, ‘There are significant differences between people in their 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s, yet when we’re young, we think anyone over 65 is elderly.’ Ros hopes her book will encourage a broader understanding of older generations.

She also champions the idea of intergenerational living, citing examples from Holland and a BBC programme where nursery children interacted with care home residents. ‘Their lives are genuinely changed,’ she says about the impact of having younger people around.

The novel also explores the significance of community, a force Ros deeply values in her life. ‘I’m a huge believer in the power of community, and we have that here, and of course, there are occasions when it’s annoying, but most of the time, it’s a hugely positive force.’

With Kendal Acts Up scheduled for launch in August, Ros Huxley is already considering her upcoming projects. She’s working on a series of interconnected short stories about retirement activities as well as a memoir exploring the impact of baby loss on families. An intensely personal project that was inspired by a family tragedy she had previously been unaware of.

Ros’s insightful observations of life, from the corporate world to the nuances of ageing, make Kendal Acts Up a relatable and engaging read. As Ashley Pharoah, screenwriter of Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes, says, Kendal Tudge is both chaotic and mesmerising. He likens her to a ‘Jurassic Coast Bridget Jones’.

Published by WriteSideLeft on August 1st, Kendal Acts Up will be available at Waterstones, Amazon and all good bookshops. ISBN: 9781068518829. EPUB ISBN: 9781068518836

August

GALLERIES

Until 2 August

The Fugitives Jane Harris Throughout August & By Appointment. A solo exhibition celebrating the acclaimed artist Jane Harris (1956–2022). Made possible by the Estate of Jane Harris, this exhibition marks the first time a selection of her work has been released and offered for acquisition under the stewardship of Freeny Yianni (founder of CLOSE Gallery) and Prue O’Day, on behalf of her husband Jiri Kratochvil and their son George Kratochvil. Opening Hours, Thursday: 11-4, Friday: 11-4, Saturday: 11-3, Sunday: Closed. For appointments, please get in touch info@closeltd.com. CLOSE Gallery, Close House, Hatch Beauchamp, Somerset TA3 6AE. info@ closeltd.com. 01823 480 350. closeltd.com.

Until 8 August

Jackie Cox & Chris Sinden: Take Two – Take Two is a joint exhibition exploring landscape and wildlife through the distinctive styles of Jackie Cox and Chris Sinden. Featuring scraperboard, coloured pencil, mixed media paintings, and complex multiblock linocuts. Open Tuesday to Saturday, 9.30am – 3.00pm. Free entry at Ilminster Arts Centre, TA19 0AN. 01460 54973 www.ilminsterartscentre. com.

9 - 17 August

Art Exhibition, The 53rd Annual Art Exhibition by the Seaton & District Art Society, 10am - 4pm (1pm on 17 August), United Reformed Church Hall, Cross Street, Seaton EX12 2LH, exhibitions@seatonartsociety.co.uk.

Click Here for an Easy Read version of this article

Until 10 August

Landmarks: the Colours and Patterns of Dorset – an exhibition of vibrant paintings by Hilary Buckley. After two successful solo exhibitions, this will be the third exhibition of vibrant paintings by Hilary Buckley, a LymeRegis-based artist, who specialises in depicting the local Dorset landscape in her own colourful style. For more information visit dorset-artist.uk. The Malthouse Gallery, Town Mill, Lyme Regis DT7 3PU. Daily 10.00am to 5.00pm. Free admission. Contact: 01297 444111. Website: Dorset-artist.uk.

11 - 25 August

Richard Kaye, Recent Works This exhibition is incredibly varied and includes abstract landscapes of Exeter, vibrant, geometric wooden reliefs, some Brutalist screen prints, and some hugely accomplished drawings too. The common thread is a constant focus on dramatic compositions and explosive use of colour. The Malthouse Gallery, The Town Mill, Lyme Regis DT7 3PU. Opening times: 10 – 5:30 daily (including Sundays).

12 August - 5 September

Community Focus: A Workshops Collection An exhibition showcasing the work of our regular workshop participants – from painting and drawing to creative writing. This exhibition celebrates the creativity and skills developed through the excellent workshops hosted at the Ilminster Arts Centre. Free entry. Open Tuesday to Saturday, 9.30am – 3.00pm at Ilminster Arts Centre, TA19 0AN. 01460 54973 www.ilminsterartscentre.com.

18 - 21 August

Diana Parker (Ceramicist) and Maria Bolton (Fine Artist) . Diana Parker is a local potter working with porcelain and stoneware, her work is largely domestic ware, but also incorporates some sculptural decorative pieces. Maria Bolton is a mixed media artist living and working in Derbyshire. She studied Textiles at Goldsmiths college and incorporates fabric and stitching in her multi layered landscape paintings. Using a variety of techniques, her work is contemporary, atmospheric and evocative. Exhibition at Eype Centre for the Arts, Mount Lane, Eype, Bridport DT6 6AR. 10.30am – 4.30pm.

21 - 25 August

Morcombelake Art group Exhibition showing, paintings, etchings and pottery with a display of print making methods. Preview 6pm to 9pm.on 21st August. 10am to 4pm at Morcombelake Village Hall just off the A35.Take the turning to Whitchurch Canonicorum (near Art Wave West). Barbara Green 01297489438.

25 - 30 August

Malak Mattar Art Exhibition An opportunity for local audiences to experience the powerful artistic voice of one of Palestine’s most compelling contemporary artists. At Loving by Nature, Antelope Walk, Dorchester. Opening Hours: 10am – 4pm (10am – 2pm Monday) Special Event: Children’s book reading at the Festival in Borough Gardens on Saturday 30 August, 5pm.

Until, 7 September

Recurring Intricacies brings together photography, ceramics, papercuts, and sculptures made by three female artists: Helen Sear, Charlotte Hodes, and Amanda Benson. The exhibition takes visitors through the ‘recurring intricacies’ of the eighteenth century, celebrating Sherborne House’s fascinating, colourful, cultural, and theatrical past. The Sherborne Newland Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3JG.

Until 13 September

An exclusive photographic exhibition exploring the world of reggae – from its origins to its icons. The exhibition features the work of internationally acclaimed photographer and West Dorset resident Adrian Boot, with images of Bob Marley and the Wailers, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, Gregory Isaacs and many other reggae legends. It also includes other key figures from the period including lovers rock star Janet Kaye, poet Benjamin Zephaniah, Mick Jagger, Nelson Mandela and even a very young

Naomi Campbell! The exhibition is a partnership between Bridport Arts Centre, Urban Image, Greensleeves Records and Clocktower Records. Bridport Arts Centre, South Street, Bridport DT6 3NR. 10am – 4pm, Tues – Sat. Free. Sladers’ Summer Print Show Original wood engravings, woodblock, aquatint, carborundum and drypoint prints by Julian Bailey NEAC, Martyn Brewster ARE, Merlyn Chesterman RE, Michael Fairclough RE NEAC, Sally McLaren RE, Howard Phipps RWA ARE SWE; furniture by Petter Southall; ceramics by Björk Haraldsdóttir. Affordable works of art that celebrate the places, people and things that make life worth living made by brilliant contemporary printmakers with exceptional ceramics by Björk Haraldsdóttir and wonderful furniture by Petter Southall. Sladers Yard Contemporary Art & Craft Gallery, Cafe Sladers, West Bay, Bridport Dorset DT6 4EL. Open Wednesday to Saturday 10am – 4.30pm. t: 01308 459511 gallery@sladersyard.co.uk sladersyard.co.uk

Björk at sladers

Exploring the Tactile Art of Björk Haraldsdóttir

Dorset-based Icelandic ceramic artist Björk Haraldsdóttir makes strong sculptural forms on which she drapes monochromatic geometric patterns. At the core of this work is a conversation between three-dimensional form and twodimensional pattern. She creates ambiguity in her work by placing a rigid geometric pattern on an organic form, or vice versa, altering our perception of the piece in subtle and fascinating ways.

Born and raised in Iceland, Björk Haraldsdóttir trained and worked as an architect for over twenty years before she began to make ceramics. During this time she worked for renowned architects including Richard Rogers. At first she made ceramics as an antidote for the many creative constraints placed on an architect, seeing it as ‘small architecture with no brief and no client’. In 2011 she made the switch to work professionally as a ceramic artist, constantly developing her ideas, pushing her work further, becoming more and more interesting and exciting.

What she calls her ‘pattern journey’ began in references to old textile work and stitching patterns from Iceland and the Nordic Culture. Over time this has developed into patterns inspired by ideas and images she comes across in nature and daily life.

‘The basic premise of “draped” pattern over architectural form is straightforward but the range of expression it allows is vast’ explained Björk. ‘I feel I am still growing into an understanding of those possibilities and, while there is much more to explore, I intend to continue to produce work that is recognisable as part of a continual series. The work changes subtly and incrementally with every firing and every exhibition so I don’t expect work in the future to look like it did in the past. I will continue the process of producing well-conceived and well-executed work that hopefully brings joy.’

Björk is a member of the Craft Potters Association and has shown her work widely across England including at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, selected by Grayson Perry. This is her first solo show at Sladers Yard.

Björk Haraldsdóttir ceramics is at Sladers Yard until 13 September 2025 Sladers Yard, West Bay Bridport Dorset DT6 4EL Open: Mon to Sat 10 – 4pm. All work can be viewed www.sladersyard.co.uk t: 01308 459511. e: gallery@sladersyard.co.uk

Arts Centre welcomes a masterpiece

SSEVENTEEN years since she exhibited as part of the Marshwood Arts Awards in 2008, a monumental work by internationally acclaimed sculptor, Emily Young, will be showing in the forecourt of Bridport Arts Centre until the end of August.

The sculpture, Lost Mountain Head I, was first shown at the Venice Biennale in 2013. It was part of Emily’s solo show We Are Stone’s Children in the cloister of the Madonna del ‘Orto.

In 2008 Emily exhibited Onyx Head when she selected sculptors Greta Berlin, Chris Dunseath and Marzia Colonna to join that year’s Marshwood Arts Awards mixed exhibition.

As Emily’s solo show Comparative Stillness closes at The Richard Green Gallery, New Bond St. London, Lost Mountain Head I comes to the forecourt of Bridport Arts Centre for the summer months of 2025. The piece has remained part of Emily’s Artist’s collection, and has been shown at international and UK venues including Berkeley Square, Christies and Bankside (next to the Tate Modern). It returned to the Venice Biennale last year, along with five other works, where Emily’s show won the European Cultural Centre’s ‘Sculpture and Installation’ prize.

Born in London into a family of writers, artists, politicians, naturalists and explorers Emily worked primarily as a painter, studying briefly at Chelsea School of Art, Central St Martins in London and Stonybrook University, New York.

Bridport is the home of Emily’s UK workshop and private gallery, with most of the studio team being residents of the town.

Bridport Arts Centre director Claire Tudge said ‘We are delighted and honoured to be hosting Lost Mountain Head I on the forecourt of the Arts Centre during the summer months where it can be enjoyed by residents and visitors to our town.

For more information about Emily Young visit: www.emilyyoung.com or follow her on Instagram @emilyyoungsculpture.

To keep up to date on all that is happening at Bridport Arts Centre visit: www.bridport-arts.com.

Emily Young’s ‘Onyx Head’ shown at Bridport Arts Centre for the Marshwood Arts Awards in 2008

Placing Emily Young’s ‘Lost Mountain Head I’ in Bridport Arts Centre forecourt. Photographs by Stephanie Bird and Dee Fenton

PREVIEW August

Return of Dorset’s folk stars

Lyme Regis

DORSET’s own folk music stars, Ninebarrow, make a welcome return to the Lyme Folk Weekend, appearing at the Marine Theatre on Saturday 30th August at 8pm.

Jon Whitley and Jay LaBouchardiere, who are patrons of Lyme Folk, are back by popular demand, and will be joined on stage by friends and fellow musicians, Will McNicol and Jack Rutter.

Will wowed the Lyme audiences with his virtuoso guitar playing as part of the Ninebarrow show back in 2018. He was Guitarist Magazine’s UK Acoustic Guitarist of the Year 2011, and Guitar World called him “one of the best acoustic players on the planet”.

Yorkshire folk singer Jack Rutter has established himself as one of the standout voices of the folk, roots and acoustic music scene in recent years. He came to Lyme with the Sam Sweeney band in 2019, impressing the audience with his soaring vocals, powerhouse guitar and bouzouki playing and masterful arrangements of traditional songs and contemporary covers.

Another highlight of the weekend, the finale concert on Sunday 31st, will feature Australia’s Spooky Men’s Chorale, a magnificent, many-headed beast which has single-handedly turned the world of men’s singing upside down. Formed in New South Wales in 2001, the Spooks have become rock-solid festival and theatre favourites in Australia, UK and Europe, with seven albums and 900 gigs under their

belts. No subject is too trivial or weighty for their attention, and such ability to find new musical rooms to explore contributes greatly to their astonishing fan loyalty.

Both gigs begin at 8pm.

West Dorset’s festival by the seaside BURTON BRADSTOCK

DORSET hosts a packed programme of festivals— classical, jazz, folk and chamber music, literature, food and walking, many of them in beautiful settings and venues. But few have a finer location than the Burton Bradstock Festival of Music and Art, this year running from 10th to 17th August.

Close to the dramatic Jurassic coast, with famous eateries on the doorstep, and the beautiful St Mary’s Church as the principal venue, this is a celebration of music from across the centuries and musical genres.

The musicians—many of them now familiar faces—include outstanding violinists and violists, one of the world’s leading accordionists, brass players and singers, and the programmes include classical favourites, modern masterpieces and a bluegrass and Americana trio.

The festival opens with the traditional Sunday tea party in the rectory gardens with live music and delicious cakes! That evening there is a festival evensong in St Mary’s, with organist Paul Cheater and the choir from Litton Cheney.

Monday’s exciting programme starts with a castaways event in St Mary’s at 11.30am, when

Ninebarrow return to Lyme Folk Weekend in August

virtuoso accordionist Milos Milivojevic talks to festival artistic director, violinist David Juritz, about the music that has played an important part in his life.

That evening, Jaywalkers bring the infectious rhythms and tunes of traditional American bluegrass music to the church, with soaring fiddles, three-part harmonies and dazzling mandolin playing.

The first of three concerts on Tuesday 12th at St Mary’s is a lunchtime concert with violinist Natalie Lomeiko and violist Yuri Zhislin and their daughter Anya Zhislin on violin and piano, playing works by Bach, Mozart, Ravel and Grieg. The 7pm concert features jazz, “From Ellington to Evans,” and the 9.45pm late-night event is the guitar-violin duo of Craig Ogden and David Juritz playing works by Part, Satie and Bach.

Incidental music from Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde opens the chamber concert on Wednesday evening, followed by Beethoven, Satie and Ravel chamber works. The late night event features Milos Milivojevic and his wife, violinist Anja Petkovic with pianist David Gordon playing works by Rachmaninoff, Franck, Saint-Saens and An Ordinary Balkan Day by Boiko Milosevic.

Lunchtime on Thursday brings the exuberant Atea Quintet of wind players to St Mary’s with works by Saint-Saens, Paul Dukas and Henry Wood. The evening concert is a celebration of film and television

music, with all the week’s instrumentalists taking part. David Gordon, piano, Paul Cavaciuti, percussion, and Richard Pryce, bass are joined by the Festival Players for the late-night concert, UnRavel, exploring how Maurice Ravel was influenced by jazz.

The music programme of the festival ends on Friday 15th at St Mary’s with a gala concert, at 7pm. All the week’s singers and musicians will take part in a delightful programme that includes music by Mozart, Louise Farrenc, Bizet, Vivaldi, Ravel and Oscar Peterson.

The art exhibition runs in the village hall from Sunday 10th to Sunday 17th August and features a wide range of affordable original paintings, prints, ceramics, glass and wood crafts by West Country artists. Proceeds of the exhibition go towards the cost of running the festival.

Sherwood Forest by the sea

LYME REGIS

FOLKSY Theatre comes to the Marine Theatre at Lyme Regis on Saturday afternoon, 2nd August, at 2pm, with Robin Hood, a new musical adaptation of an ever-popular story.

Set against the enchanting backdrop of the eerie Sherwood Forest, this whimsical production sees King John and the Sheriff of Nottingham trying to thwart the legendary outlaw, Robin Hood and his

Jaywalkers come to Burton Bradstock Festival of Music and Art

band of merry men, as they steal from the rich to give to the poor.

Will Robin and his band escape the Sheriff’s clutches? And whose side is Maid Marian truly on?

Filled with Folksy’s signature live music, audience interaction and delightful silliness, this adaptation promises to have you laughing and singing along! Don’t miss out on this unforgettable summer adventure.

This is an outdoor production, so please bring a picnic and a chair or blanket to sit on, and dress for the weather.

Improv on trial

Stockland

COURT rooms are the stuff of drama—comedy, not so much. Improv comedy comes to Stockland village hall on Friday 1st August at 7.30pm with This Is Your Trial!, a show in which the audience is fully involved.

When you come to this court, your role is that of juror. You’ll decide the guilt of those accused. You may be called to deliver evidence, give a witness statement or even be put on trial. You get involved as much as you want.

If you are facing charges, you’ll be provided with the best legal defence your ticket price can afford! And that could be any one of a long list of top comedians, including Al Murray, Clive Anderson, Susan Calman, Josie Long, Tim Fitzhigham, Jess Fostekew, Thom Tuck, Deborah Frances-White, Marcus Brigstocke, Daliso Chaponda ... or any of This is Your Trial’s regular, top class representation.

“All rise for some proper off-the-rails anarchic humour and wit,“said the reviewer in The Mirror. You submit accusations against your friends or family— the judge and jury (ie the audience!) decide their guilt or innocence.

To book visit: https://villagesinaction.co.uk/ or call Wendy 01404881207

Murder at the Beehive HONITON

HONITON’s hard-working and popular Community Theatre tackles a drama from the Queen of Crime for the summer show, A Murder is Announced, at the Beehive Centre from Thursday to Saturday, 7th to 9th August at 7pm.

An announcement in the local paper states the time and place when a murder is to occur in Miss Blacklock’s Victorian house. The victim is not one of the house’s several occupants, but an unexpected and unknown visitor.

What follows is a classic Christie puzzle of mixed motives, concealed identities, a second death and a determined inspector grimly following the case’s twists and turns.

Fortunately, Miss Marple is on hand to provide the

solution—at some risk to herself—in a dramatic final confrontation.

A home-grown dance star

YEOVIL AND VILLAGES

SOMERSET has a new dance star—the county that gave the world the award-winning choreographer and dancer Christopher Wheeldon is also the home of choreographer and dancer James Bamford. His Project Dance company is giving the premiere of an exciting new dance theatre work, Busk, at the Westlands entertainment centre at Yeovil on 28th and 29th August. The production is also at Exeter’s Northcott Theatre on 31st August as part of a national tour.

Project Dance is an award-winning, professional dance theatre company, known for presenting emotive, accessible productions that resonate with audiences of all ages. Busk is a bold and compelling new production that celebrates the raw energy of street performance and live music, brought to life entirely through dance.

As part of the company’s commitment to supporting local artistry, Busk features an original score by local composer Charles Harrison, further cementing the production as a celebration of homegrown creative talent.

“This collaboration represents our mission to commission and platform exceptional local artists, while creating work that remains accessible and meaningful to both seasoned dance audiences and first-time theatregoers alike,” says James, who has previously danced with the English National Ballet Youth Company, and is the founder and artistic director of Project Dance.

But it’s not just big theatres and exciting premieres—Project Dance also works hard at the grass-roots, this year collaborating with Dorset’s rural touring charity Artsreach to bring a dance workshop for young people aged six and over, at Marnhull village hall, on 5th August, from 10.30am to 3.30pm.

If you have ever wondered what it’s like to be part of one of those joyous dance numbers that you see in the movies, why not join James Bamford for an energetic and exciting day of showbiz music and dance. Participants will learn a number of musical theatre dance routines before performing them for friends and family at the end of the day.

A village opera festival

OBORNE

THERE is grand opera in world-famous venues, country house opera in historic and beautiful gardens—and there is village opera at Oborne, a pretty little village close to Sherborne. Here local music lovers, with Jon and Jenny Fletcher of the Grange at Oborne hotel, have established a small

Project Dance bring Busk to Yeovil and Exeter in August

but perfectly-formed summer festival which brings musical theatre from Puccini to silent movies to rural Dorset.

Opera in Oborne opens on 6th August with the first of three performances of Puccini’s great tragic melodrama, Tosca, famous for the peerless soprano aria Vissi d’arte, and the terrifying power of the corrupt and sadistic chief of police, Scarpia. Set in Rome during the Napoleonic Wars, the story focuses on the tempestuous love affair between opera singer Floria Tosca and painter Mario Cavaradossi, caught up in dangerous political intrigues and Scarpia’s ruthless machinations.

Performances are at St Cuthbert’s Church at 7.30pm, on 6th, 8th and 9th August.

Silent Movies on Thursday 7th August is an invitation to celebrate the heyday of film a century

ago, when the sound-scape was provided by live piano accompaniment. For this year’s screening of the classic comedy, Safety Last, the accompaniment will be provided by John Cuthbert. The 1923 film is best known for its iconic image of comedian Harold Lloyd hanging from a clock atop a skyscraper. Lloyd played an unnamed young man who poses as a departmentstore manager to impress his girlfriend.

Saturday 9th has an afternoon performance of Leonard Bernstein’s one-act opera, Trouble in Tahiti, in the church at 3pm. This portrait of a troubled marriage in 1950s suburban America follows the day-to-day lives of Sam and Dinah, who, despite seeming to have a comfortable life, are unhappy and disconnected from each other. The opera explores themes of marital discontent, consumerism and the search for happiness.

Opera comes to Oborne in August

The weekend festival ends with Opera in the Park, on Sunday from 3pm. This open air gala concert of arias and show tunes performed by Opera in Oborne’s talented singers, will be accompanied by John Cuthbert on the piano. The audience is invited to bring a picnic, and enjoy the music, washed down with a glass of Pimms.

For more information visit www.operainoborne.org.

Brilliant fungi

LITTON CHENEY

INVENTIVE Scratchworks Theatre comes to Dorset for two dates as part of the Artsreach summer programme of events and workshops for children. The Mushroom Show, which combines facts with fun, is coming to Litton Cheney community hall on Monday 18th August at 2pm.

There’s a secret kingdom full of mysteries ... a whole world of strange, smelly and surprising life all around us! Welcome to the extraordinary world of mushrooms.

Augustine Fogwoode might be the world’s MOST enthusiastic mushroom enthusiast! She is on a quest to make sure everyone knows about the brilliance of fungi—their scientific superpowers and amazing abilities. But it’s just her and her puppet friend Goldie. She might need a few more fun-guys to make it happen ...

Join the party and discover how fungi grow, connect and help the natural world, including us humans. Packed full of interactive games, playful music and lots of laughs for all the family, this Scratchworks Theatre show fuses the company’s signature style of physical comedy with the world of fungi, bringing

The Mushroom Show comes to Litton Cheney in August

Screen Time

with Nic Jeune

Top Six at the Flix

Plaza Cinema Dorchester

Opened on 10th July 1933 and in July 2025 was named the runner-up in a new study into the UK’s best cinemas. This month all the reviews are for films to be screened at The Plaza during August 2025.

The Materialists (2025)

“There’s a bit of quiet courageousness to the movie in its commitment to depth over trying to nakedly appeal to others, and that’s a quality which makes any person—and any film—more desirable.” Slashfilm. Bill Bria.

Nobody 2 (2025)

“Nobody 2 cements Bob Odenkirk’s action hero character as the anti-John Wick. The follow-up to 2021’s Nobody, Nobody 2 looks to be a riff on the family vacation formula that also embraces some big action and wacky fights.” Screen Rant Brandon Zachary

Eddington (2025)

“Its low-level strangeness jumps to surreal and gory heights – and it keeps going higher until it hits a peak of gonzo high-adrenaline fun that leaves you reeling and breathless.” BBC Nicholas Barber

Roses (2025)

“A reimagining of the hit 1989 comedy sees two powerhouse actors playing a couple whose marriage devolves into a hilarious divorce battle.” Vanity Fair Rebecca Ford.

The Life of Chuck (2025)

“The Life of Chuck is a modern fable told with the deftness of a fairy tale, with the sheer exuberance of a musical while exuding the same sense of wonder one gets staring up at the heavens.” Collider. Jason Gorber.

Freakier Friday (2025)

“The magic is back—but this time, it’s freakier than ever. Tess (Jamie Lee Curtis) and Anna (Lindsay Lohan) are once again caught in a body swap, but there’s a twist: their daughters, Harper and Lily, also find themselves switching places.” Malcolm Hoyle.

together science, music and participatory activities for whole families to experience together.

There is a second show and workshop on Tuesday 19th August at 11am at Alderholt village hall.

Learn circus skills

STALBRIDGE

IT’s a childhood fantasy to run off to the circus—but Artsreach can make a bit of that dream come true with a circus skills workshop at Stalbridge village hall, on 13th August, as part of the Dorset rural touring charity’s summer programme for children.

Kevin Burke, who has worked as an actor, magician and all-round entertainer for more than 30 years, will lead the afternoon event from 2 to 4pm, for children aged five and upwards to learn new skills that will impress friends and family.

Participants will have a chance to try juggling with clubs, rings, balls and scarves, diabolo, flowerstick/stuntstick, plate spinning, stilts, poi and rolla bolla!

Through the looking glass

Dorchester

THE ancient Roman arena of Maumbury Rings is transformed into Lewis Carroll’s magical world when Quantum Theatre brings its new adaptation of Through the Looking Glass (and What Alice Found There) for next Summer’s outdoor season to Dorchester on Tuesday 19th August, at 2.30pm.

With live music and the full array of Carroll’s fantastical characters, this lively new version follows Alice’s adventures in the looking-glass world she enters through the mirror above her drawing-room fireplace ... Adapted and directed by Michael Whitmore, this enchanting play faithfully charts the fabulous and wonderful world created by Lewis

Learn circus skills with Kevin Burke in August

Carroll, retaining all its quirky British charm, classic characters and comedic poems in a true theatrical treat for all the family.

All at sea BRIDPORT

CORNWALL’s much-loved Squashbox Theatre comes to Millennium Green at Bridport on Thursday 28th August at 3pm with an inventive new children’s entertainment, The Sea Show

Craig Johnson’s quirky and hilarious mix of puppet show, natural history and comedy cabaret will introduce the audience to crazy characters like Morwenna the ‘beautiful’ mermaid, Ruan the reformed seagull and salty sea-dog Captain Pemburthy, as well as a cast of mischievous sea-squirts, anemones, limpets, crabs and pilchards.

Celebrate the sea with tall tales, silly slapstick, fantastic facts, live music and songs—unmissable fun for children and adults of all ages!

Summer fun with favourite musical BRIDPORT

THE beautiful Electric Palace in Bridport plays host to the summer show by Bridport Musical Theatre Company—a “Shrektacular” production of the much-loved Disney’s Shrek the Musical, from 27th to 30th August at 7.30pm with a Saturday matinee at 2.30.

This award-winning musical adaptation of the original Dreamworks story brings to life the world of Shrek on stage in an unforgettable production to melt hearts of all ages.

Join Shrek and Donkey on their daring quest to rescue the feisty Princess Fiona. Meet a fire-breathing Dragon, a Gingerbread man with attitude, Pinocchio and a whole bunch of fairy tale misfits who’ll leave you in stitches.

The Young Lit Fix

Bear and Bird, The Picnic and Other Stories

Written and illustrated by Jarvis

Published by Walker Books Ltd

Paperback £6.99

Reviewed by Nicky Mathewson

BEAR and Bird are absolutely gorgeous. You may be familiar with Jarvis’ beautiful picture books such as The Boy With Flowers in His Hair and Tropical Terry , but you may not know that Jarvis has also written stories for new and emerging readers. The Bear and Bird series is charming and funny and each book comes with 4 short stories and beautiful colour illustrations throughout.

In the first book; The Picnic and Other Stories , we are introduced to the characters: Bear is cute and cuddly and rather sleepy. Bird is tiny and blue and very sensible. The two friends navigate life together with confusion, humour and love for one another. The stories remind me of Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel for their delightful look at the world through the eyes of two adorable characters.

Soft illustrations in a pastel palette and poignant messages about friendship, delivered with a sense of humour. What’s not to love? These books can be read in any order and are a must for the bookshelves of new readers.

They are the perfect bridge between picture books and chapter books and we love them! There are 5 books published and another one to come in September. Also in the series: Bear and Bird, The Stars and Other Stories; Bear and Bird, The Adventure and Other Stories; Bear and Bird, The Stick and Other Stories and Bear and Bird, The Cave and Other Stories

10% off for Marshwood Vale readers at The Bookshop on South Street, Bridport. 01308 422964 www.dorsetbooks.com

The Sea Show comes to Bridport’s Millenium Green in August

This Month in the not so distant past

Looking back at historical moments that happened in August, John Davis highlights Mathew Webb

It is just before 1.00 p.m. at Dover in Kent on August 24th, 1875, one hundred and fifty years ago this month, and the waters of the English Channel look as cold and uninviting as ever. Suddenly the crowd part as a man wearing a bright red swimming costume walks out to the end of Admiralty Pier and dives in. The man, festooned in such bright attire, is former sea captain Matthew Webb, aged 27, and he is about to make his second attempt to swim the English Channel without buoyancy aids.

Webb, the son of a surgeon from Shropshire, had been a ‘water baby’ since an early age when he learnt to master the strong currents of the River Severn. At the age of twelve he joined the Merchant Navy and saw the world travelling to such places as China, India and the Middle East.

Even by this time he had earned a reputation for his aquatic activities. When docked in port he would often swim across a harbour to dine with friends on another ship. Once in the Suez Canal he made repeated dives below the water’s surface to cut free a rope that had become entangled around a propeller. Then, when a colleague went overboard in midAtlantic, he leapt over the side to affect a rescue. Unfortunately, his shipmate was not found and Webb remained in the icy water for some forty minutes while the ship turned tail and came back to him. For this brave act he received The Stanhope Medal, awarded by the Royal Humane Society for heroic acts.

After having worked his ticket and attained the rank of captain, Webb began to tire of a life at sea and encouraged by a small group of swimming trainers and sports journalists got into a dispute with the American Paul Bayton who had paddled across the Channel wearing a survival suit. Webb considered him to be a fraud. Egged on by the others, Webb set himself a training regime which he hoped would prepare him for a Channel attempt unaided. His training schedule included sessions at Lambeth Baths, London and along stretches of the River Thames but above all Webb enjoyed swimming in the sea because of the extra buoyancy. Having passed a medical and armed with a jar of porpoise oil for insulation Webb moved into the final phase of his preparations. He

would swim in the sea for an hour each day and for five hours every tenth day.

Webb’s first attempt at the crossing occurred on August 12th, 1875. Things did not go well. The weather got progressively stormy and soon, seven hours in, Webb found himself fourteen kilometres off course. Eventually he was forced to climb into the rescue boat.

‘He consumed cod liver oil, beef tea, brandy and coffee to keep him hydrated’

Undeterred, Webb opted for more promising weather twelve days later when he entered the water after a hearty breakfast of bacon, eggs and a glass of claret. Estimates for the crossing time ranged from fourteen hours to twenty hours but with back-up boats in attendance Webb was helped out into the Channel on a strong ebb tide. Several friends joined him in the water during the swim and he consumed cod liver oil, beef tea, brandy and coffee to keep him hydrated. He tried to keep his feeding stops brief in order to preserve body heat. As he neared the French coast, strong currents off Cap Gris-Nez prevented him getting to the shore. At one stage eight passengers from a passing ship stood in a rowing boat to shield him from the wind and rain and then spurred him on with several renditions of Rule Britannia. After nearly twenty-two hours in the water, he finally touched land. Despite suffering from several nasty jellyfish stings he was soon in the Hotel de Paris where he slept for twenty-four hours. It would be thirty-six years before some successfully emulated Webb’s feat.

Back in England, Webb was hugely feted. At home, flowers lined the route and the day ended with a bonfire and fireworks. He received many gifts from well-wishers and the London Stock Exchange established a testimonial fund amounting to £2,500 (worth some £300,000 currently). Following his accomplishments, Webb pursued a career as a

professional swimmer and a motivational speaker during which he advocated the huge benefits of especially sea and wild water swimming. He also advocated the importance of young children learning to swim by practising in shallow water first. Many of his ideas and suggestions were highlighted in his book The Art of Swimming. From then on, he would take on challenges in order to make a living but by 1879 he was in financial trouble and events arranged for him became increasingly more taxing. He went to America to try to further exploit his fame where he became involved again with his nemesis, Paul Bayton. The trip did little to ease the financial situation and he soon returned home only to go back again later to take on more challenges. In March 1883 he was forced to withdraw from yet another race when he was diagnosed with tuberculosis and spent the next two months bed-ridden while he tried to recover.

Totally ignoring the advice of family and friends, Webb announced in 1882 that he was going to swim through the Whirlpool Rapids at the foot of Niagara Falls on the Canada-USA border. The attempt was set for July 1883 and Webb went into training. Railway companies charged passengers to watch and promised him earnings that would have solved his money problems. According to accounts, the boat operator tried to dissuade him even at the last minute but with the words, “Goodbye, boy,” he exited the boat. The first part went well but, after being lifted by a huge wave, Webb shouted and raised his arm. He briefly

resurfaced several times but was eventually lost in the whirlpool never to be seen alive again. It was four days later that his body was recovered, the autopsy revealing that he had died from respiratory failure caused by the pressure of the water. He was initially buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Niagara but there was a second funeral later when his wife and two children travelled over from England. There are several memorials dedicated to Captain Matthew Webb in different parts of the country and the primary school in his home village of Dawley is named after him. Several of the memorials bear the inscription: “NOTHING GREAT IS EASY”. In 1965 he was inducted into the International Hall of Fame.

Footnote: His story is told in the film Captain Webb (2015) directed by Justin Hardy and starring Warren Brown in the title role.

Semi-retired and living in Lyme Regis, John Davis started working life as a newspaper journalist before moving on to teach in schools, colleges and as a private tutor. He is a history graduate with Bachelors and Masters degrees from Bristol University with a particular interest in the History of Education and Twentieth Century European History.

Captain Matthew Webb is sustained with hot coffee during his first-ever Channel swim

I AM NOT a particularly big person, well not tall anyway, but the only time I ever went into a submarine (at the submarine museum at Gosport in Hampshire) I felt claustrophobic and that was on dry land. It’s all those narrow passages, watertight doorways, intricate obtrusive pipework and the feeling of being hemmed in with limited air supplies.

You might realise from my comments and the title of this historical novel that the wolves in question are Nazi U-Boats that were the scourge of the Atlantic Ocean during the Second World War when packs of them were let off the leash by Admiral Karl Donitz to wreak havoc with Allied shipping.

Author Philip K. Allan, evidently no stranger to all things naval, captures the anxiety-ridden life of a war-time submariner while counterbalancing the narrative with other leading characters in completely contrasting situations.

Allan has focused on the navy of Nelson’s era in much of his previous writing but has decided to switch his focus and this is the first in a trilogy called The Wolves: WW2 Series

The subject matter, The Battle of the Atlantic, was the longest and hardest campaign of World War Two. The statistics are frightening. Three thousand five hundred Allied ships sunk, over 35,000 merchant seamen lost, some 780 U-Boats destroyed with crew fatalities totalling over 27,000-three quarters of those in the whole Nazi submarine service.

Pitting their wits against each other are Otto Stuckmann, the rookie commander of U-70, Leonard Cole, newly appointed first lieutenant on the corvette HMS Protea and crossword doyen Vera Baldwin back on dry land at Bletchley Park doing all things ‘enigmatically’. Sorry could not resist the pun.

It’s a fairly ‘cat and mouse’ scenario as you would expect with the action switching between the three central characters and the locations where they are working.

For those fascinated with this period of history it is a compelling and informative novel with excellent traction that has been well received by those who have studied the Atlantic War in some detail.

Up periscope: The definitive film about submarine warfare is usually regarded to be the German production Das Boot (The Boat), 1981, directed by Wolfgang Petersen and starring Jurgen Prochnow

Independently published

The New Neighbours by Claire

Douglas

The ‘For Sale’ notice board comes down and the feelings of trepidation begin to kick in straightaway. Who are the new neighbours going to be? What will they be like? Will they be as friendly and helpful as Jo and Jeff who have just moved out?

At first all seems fine. Mr. and Mrs. Morgan are the new occupants. An elderly retired couple, he’s a former surgeon and they look after their baby grandson one day a week.

To Lena, the chief protagonist of the novel, all appears fine on the surface but then while collecting some sound recordings to help her son with his school project, she chances on information which suggests malice aforethought.

Claire Douglas, a popular writer of crime fiction, comes from a journalistic background and her eye for detail is evident in a narrative that goes through more twists and turns than a corkscrew in a packed wine bar.

To be truthful, it is not an easy book to review as to reveal any more of the plot lines tends to give things away and it is better readers decide what side-tracks they want to follow and which individuals they align and sympathise with.

Fellow readers give the impression that it is rather a ‘Marmite’ book, you either love it or you hate it. Some have found the intricate plot lines and abundance of characters absorbing while others consider there is overwriting and unnecessary exposition not to mention a surfeit of convenient coincidences.

You can decide which and, for those who enjoy this level of suspense, other titles by the same author include The Wrong Sister, The Girls Who Disappeared and The Couple at Number Nine.

Penguin Books

Sea of Wolves by Philip K. Allan

Wildlife Gets a Boost from ‘The Big Count’

Somerset’s largest citizen science event, The Big Count, recently wrapped up its 2025 initiative, marking another successful year for wildlife conservation in the county. Over 800 enthusiastic participants from all corners of Somerset signed up to contribute vital information about the diverse species thriving right on their doorsteps.

A joint venture between the Somerset Wildlife Trust and the Somerset Environmental Records Centre (SERC), The Big Count initiative challenged individuals of all ages to capture photographs of their local wildlife, and upload their observations to the popular recording app, iNaturalist. Participants were encouraged to explore their gardens, local parks, and even their routes to school or work, keeping an eye out for a specific list of species and species groups. This year’s focus included snails, spiders, certain butterfly species, and, as a new addition for 2025, the elusive red fox.

Now in its fourth year, The Big Count has generated over 3,000 species records for Somerset since its launch in 2022. Nearly 100 different species were identified during this year’s event, with some notable frontrunners. The most frequently recorded species included the whitelipped snail (46 observations), the red fox (44 observations), and the garden snail (41 observations). Other top contenders were the common bird’s-foot trefoil (39 observations), the brown-lipped snail (28 observations), and the European goldfinch (27 observations).

Becky Fisher, Head of Engagement at Somerset Wildlife Trust, expressed her delight at the public’s engagement: ‘It’s been fantastic to see so many people getting involved in The Big Count 2025, and we would like to say an enormous thank you to everyone who got stuck in! Citizen science is such a quick and easy way of helping wildlife at home—or from anywhere across the county.’

Ellen Phillpot, SERC Manager, underscored the long-term impact of The

Big Count: ‘This year’s count has helped us get ever closer to a long-term data set that we can begin to draw trends from.’

Anyone interested in learning more about citizen science and how they can contribute to local wildlife conservation can visit the Somerset Wildlife Trust website at www.somersetwildlife.org/get-involved/ citizen-science.

Goldfinch photograph by Neil Aldridge

Exceptional interest at Bridehead sale

THE contents of Bridehead saw exceptionally strong results across various categories, with several pieces exceeding expectations.

Notably, both Regency oak pieces, a triple pillar dining room table and a library pedestal desk, crafted by George Bullock attracted significant interest. Ultimately selling for prices at the upper end of their estimated range, at £80,000 and £46,000 respectively.

A surprising highlight was a work from the studio of Carlo Dolci, which soared past its presale estimate of £5,000—£10,000 to achieve a remarkable hammer price of £80,000.

Chinese ceramics with esteemed provenances performed strongly, with a pair of Famille rose fishbowls more than doubling their estimate to reach £38,000. A Famille rose part service, scattered throughout the house before the sale, also garnered enthusiastic bidding, eventually hammering down at

Services&Classified

£19,000, significantly exceeding its presale estimate of £800—£1,500.

In the realm of fine art, a new auction record was established for Margaret Sarah Carpenter (1793 – 1872) with her family portrait of Frances Williams selling for £36,000. Furthermore, a rediscovered piece in the manner of Antonio Allegri Correggio, The Holy Family of the Cradle, found in the attic before the sale, achieved a hammer price of £19,000.

Finally, within the library, the two gilt-tooled red leather-bound volumes Oriental Scenery and Hindoo Excavations in the Mountain of Ellora by Thomas and William Daniell, published in 1812-1816 and complete with all their plates, reached a hammer price of £8,500. Duke’s hold regular specialist auctions every month, Interiors will be taking place at the end of August and Jewellery, Watches, Silver and Currency as well as The Graham Snow Collection in September.

Dining room table at Bridehead

Exdisplay sheds. Stables, Fieldshelters, Garages, Summerhouses, Offices, Workshops, Agricultural. 01935 891195 Jul 25

1960s G-Plan Teak Dining Table. 6 seater, extends to 8. Perfect condition £200. Tel. 01305 267857.

WANTED

Collectables, bygones, vintage, autojumble, Job-lots & collections a specialty. Good prices paid 07875677897 mar 24p x 4

WRITING

Budding Authors. Writing an interesting story, the past achievements of an organisation or a family history for self-publishing and need some advice with style, layout and editing? Contact freelance author and editor John Davis on johndavis77@ btinternet.com.

CHIMNEY SWEEP WANTED

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

Stamps & Coins wanted by collector / investor. We are keen to purchase small or large collections at this time. Tel Rod 01308 863790 or 07802261339.

Vintage & antique textiles, linens, costume buttons etc. always sought by Caroline Bushell. Tel. 01404 45901. Jan 25

Coins wanted. Part or full collections purchased for cash. Please phone John on 01460 62109 or 07980 165047. July 24

Dave buys all types of tools 01935 428975

RESTORATION FURNITURE.

Antique restoration and bespoke furniture. Furniture carefully restored and new commissions undertaken. French polishing and modern hand finishes. Phil Meadley. 01297 560335. phil.meadley@btinternet.com Sept 24

SPECIALIST BUILDING

DISTRIBUTION