Marshwood + August 26

‘Riotous’ Pickwick Papers coming to Dorchester Page 47

Su Gilroy on the weekly rep coming to Lyme Regis.

Page 42

FREE COMMUNITY

Magazine

Marshwood + THE

Lisa Loader © Photograph by Robin Mills

Linking Environment, Culture and the Arts - www.marshwoodvale.com - Issue No. 329 August 2026

COVER STORY Fergus Byrne met Lisa Loader in Bridport

’I

Lisa Loader © Photograph by Robin Mills

grew up in Montreal. My dad came from a working-class background and was determined to make life easier for his family, by working incredibly hard. He’s diligent and dedicated to everything he does, including being a dad and now a grandfather.

My mum was a nurse, and is a super committed Mum, Grandmother, and homemaker. They both still live in Montreal. A big part of my childhood was that I was bullied—very badly, for many years—and I don’t know what I’d have done without my parents, who showed me unconditional love.

Eventually I found some good friends, did a BA at Mount Allison University in New Brunswick, and then came to Bristol Uni to do a master’s in film and television production. As a kid, I retreated into film to escape the real world, becoming those characters instead of myself. To this day, I love stories so much—watching films, then watching them again with someone I know will love them. I’ve seen so many films again through the eyes of my two daughters, Joni and Jessie, and I think mine and their father’s passion for film has spread to them.

Anyway, I landed in Bristol in 1996—the year Trainspotting came out, which had a big impact on British film culture. We felt like anything was possible and were determined to make great films. It was there that I met my ex-husband, Chris. We were excited about moving to London, but first we got married at Bristol registry office with just two witnesses, and two years Tel. 01308 423031 The Marshwood Vale Magazine August 2026 3

Lisa Loader

later we got married twice more, once in Canada and once here. So, we were actually married three times to each other.

Our second and third weddings were in 1999, and it felt like the whole year was one big rave.

My first job in the industry was in sales and distribution.

I started at PolyGram as a PA and eventually worked for United International Pictures. Box office results mattered; there was no Netflix or streaming back then. I got to meet some famous people or at least talk to them on the phone.

Hugh Grant called me one morning because he knew I’d be first to receive the weekend results, and I spoke to the Coen brothers around the time of The Big Lebowski. They really cared; they wanted to know about the global reach of their films.

Then the UK Film Council opened—another revival for British film industry. The idea was that anybody, without an agent, could send in a script and have it read and considered.

So, I applied there, took a half-pay cut, and went into Development. I loved it and worked with many inspiring people, but then I had my two babies and just wanted to get home to see my girls.

So, it all changed… We decided to try living in the country, travelled all around the UK, and chose Bridport—there was something about the vibe, a more progressive, creative energy than in the other places we visited. We sold our house in London, found a bit of land with a falling-down bungalow on it, and built an eco-house. With planning, it took about three years. But we were on our last dime and needed to make a living.

Ever since I was 15 hanging out in Montreal cafes, I’d thought I’d love to run a cafe. We saw a building for lease in Bridport, and it felt right, so we went for it and opened Soulshine Cafe. The vision came from Montreal and LondonI’m really passionate about design and colour and perhaps I get some of that instinct from my mum. Bridport was ready for that kind of cool city cafe, so there was no slow learning curve—we were thrown in at the deep end right away.

The name comes from a Michael Franti & Spearhead song we listened to all the time. I was talking to friends on a train once about what to call the cafe—a bit loudly, maybe—and when I said Soulshine, the whole carriage went, “Yeah, yeah!” My little girls liked it too, and I always believed in their creative input. I did it for seven years and it was both tough and amazing. We got through Covid, and then these guys walked in and bought the assets, along with my coffee roastery, which is now Goose and Badger Coffee. I feel very lucky that the right people came. It’s changed a lot but they have made it a wonderful new Soulshine.

After that, I followed another dream and retrained as a Craniosacral Therapist. When I was 26, working in Oxford Circus, I hurt my back. It went on for months; I’d seen specialists and tried many things, and nothing worked. Then someone suggested Craniosacral Therapy. I wasn’t sure what it was, but two days later I was better—pain free. I thought then that I’d love to learn to do that one day. About five years

4 The Marshwood Vale Magazine August 2026 Email info@marshwoodvale.com Tel. 01308 423031

ago I trained in Stroud under Paul Vick and Nina Molyneux.

Now it’s something I just want to do all the time. If I won the lottery tomorrow, I’d do it for free. That’s how much I love it.

When I was being bullied, I’d get home from school, walk straight through the house, jump in this pool we had for a while, and float on an inner tube. These days I’m often reminded of those hot Canadian summers. All I knew back then was that I’d get home feeling terrible, and by the time I got out of the pool I’d be okay again. In hindsight, I think when floating in that meditative state, I was tapping into a rhythm we work with in Craniosacral Therapy—a slow rhythm in the body, like a slow-motion wave. We help people drop down into it, and it reminds the body of its vitality and potential. Who’d have known the same state that helped me as a kid is what I’m connecting to now, to help others? Maybe I was always meant to come back to it. I’m running a series of workshops that stem from this experience called Floating light, so keep your eye out for them.

Right now I’m practising in Bristol once a month and in Bridport a couple of days a week, which leaves room for other work. I love being creative and working to strengthen community. I’m at Bridport Food Matters (BFM) just over a day a week as communications and community engagement coordinator, and I’m loving it. BFM is about growing, cooking, eating, and sharing—a sustainable path for good food to be accessible to everyone in Bridport. There are so many amazing small producers and beautiful projects like Edible Bridport, and it’s a joy to spread the word and get everyone working together.

Just in the past few weeks, I’ve started working with Victoria Upton, who’s bought the NatWest bank in Bridport and is turning it into 22 East Street Studios—eight or nine artist studios for a collective of visual artists, with a visual arts community and open space on the ground floor, and a beautiful garden too. She’s asked me to be studio manager.

It’s an inspiring project, a chance to be part of generating creativity, which is such a huge part of a healthy community.

I’m constantly amazed by the people of Bridport and what they put out there. As soon as I landed in England, I started meeting great people, and that’s continued. A mentor told me, before I opened Soulshine, that one of the hardest things would be finding good people, and I remember thinking, “That won’t be hard for me.” I hired a bunch of young people at Soulshine and watched lasting friendships form, and now I see them all, in their varied lives, just being awesome. However hard it was I’m proud of creating a space that brought people together, and I retain those friendships to this day.

I guess the thing I’m most happy about in my life is somehow bringing into this world my two daughters, who are kind, lovely people. I’m really proud of them every day.

Now that my girls aren’t home as much, I am looking forward to more post graduate Craniosacral courses and really increasing my practice alongside working in my community, on bringing people together in great spaces.

’

UP FRONT

THIS MONTH i n yo u r M a r s h wo o d Va l e M a g a z i n e

While chatting with Lisa Loader for our cover story in this issue, I was struck by her interest in community and connectedness.

It’s an attitude that resonates with this magazine’s roots. In November, we will have been publishing the monthly Marshwood Vale Magazine for 25 years. But it nearly didn’t happen. With 9/11, Foot and Mouth disease, and a significant personal loss converging as we launched, it’s a miracle we managed to get the first issue out. From the start, we were keen to highlight what sometimes feels like a living collage of life across West Dorset, South Somerset and East Devon.

The key aim was to celebrate the connections between people, place, and local culture— hence the determination to cross borders rather than be constrained by them. Across the pages of this issue, you’ll find the same common thread—the power of communitydriven innovation and openness. Whether it’s Lisa’s inspiring journey or the many festivals and gatherings—such as Bardfest, Lyme Folk Weekend, and the Dorset One World Festival—each event shows how shared experiences bring a sense of belonging.

Local events create opportunities for all ages to engage—from horticultural shows and garden openings to music and theatre.

Community initiatives like Bridport Food Matters and 22 East Street Studios show how collaboration can change spaces and lives.

Stories of pioneers like that of Amy Johnson on page 28 remind us of the courage to break boundaries, while features on nature help us nurture both our environment and our locality. While it’s fair to say that many people across the country will claim the place they live is particularly special, that magic evolves from an attitude. It is creativity, kindness, and a willingness to come together that can shape a thriving, inclusive community.

Fergus Byrne

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

Editorial Director

3 8 19 20

Cover Story By Fergus Byrne Events Nature Studies By Michael McCarthy The Art of the Photograph By Fergus Byrne

24 26 28

House & Garden August in the Garden By Russell Jordan Reflections By John Davis

30 30 31

Food and Dining Fig and Goat’s Cheese Salad By Melissa Delport Ilaria’s Italian Kitchen

34 34 36 38

Arts & Entertainment Bardfest Burton Bradstock Festival of Music and Art Galleries

40 46 47 48

Preview By Gay Pirrie Weir Screen Time By Nic Jeune Young Lit Fix By Nicky Mathewson The Box By John Davis

50 51

Services & Classified Health & Environment

D O N AT I O N S If you missed our Crowdfunder and would still like to donate to support the Marshwood Vale Magazine, please send donations either by cheque to Marshwood Vale Limited (address below) or direct to Marshwood Vale Limited at Monzo Business Sort Code 04-00-06 - a/c number 65919314 - Ref: Donation

Fergus Byrne

Contributors

Deputy Editor

Fanny Charles John Davis Melissa Delport Nic Jeune Russell Jordan

Victoria Byrne

Design

People Magazines Ltd

Advertising

Sarah Hill info@marshwoodvale.com

Michael McCarthy Nicky Mathewson Robin Mills Gay Pirrie Weir

Instagram marshwoodvalemagazine

6 The Marshwood Vale Magazine August 2026 Email info@marshwoodvale.com Tel. 01308 423031

The views expressed in The Marshwood Vale Magazine, Marshwood+ and People Magazines are not necessarily those of the editorial team. Unless otherwise stated, Copyright of the entire magazine contents is strictly reserved on behalf of the Marshwood Vale Magazine and the authors.

Disclaimer: Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of dates, event information and advertisements, events may be cancelled or event dates may be subject to alteration. Neither Marshwood Vale Ltd nor People Magazines Ltd can accept any responsibility for the accuracy of any information or claims made by advertisers included within this publication.

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

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

August EVENTS

Saturday, 1 August

Uplyme and Lyme Regis Horticultural Society. Summer Flower and Produce Show. Competition marquee; cream teas and refreshments; gardening advice; stalls and exhibits. This year celebrating Pollinators. Uplyme Village Hall and Playing Field 2-5pm. Entry £1 adults, 16 and under free.

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, games, fresh produce and preserves, cakes, plants, books, silent auction and more – there will be magic and mayhem from children’s entertainer Count Backwards, Punch and Judy, music from Lyme Regis Town Band, a dog show and a classic vehicle display.

Entry: Adults £2, U12s free. Parking free.

Axminster Flamingo Pool Fun Day from 12 till 4 at the Axe Valley Academy sports field EX13 5AZ, bar, food, stalls, games, entertainment and much more to raise funds for the community pool and hydrotherapy facility.

Adults £2 children free, cash and cards accepted, sorry no dogs on site.

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

Scottish Dancing Party in Chardstock An evening of Scottish Dancing in Chardstock Village Hall EX13 7BJ, 7.30-10.30 pm. 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://www.chardscottishdance.co.uk.

Beaminster Museum summer exhibition Fire Flood Frost explores how Beaminster and the surrounding villages have battled the elements – from floods and violent storms to bitter freezes – along with the three great fires that devastated the town. The exhibition tells the story of how local people pulled together in times of crisis and learned lessons for the future. Visitors will also find exciting new Pre-history and Geology displays with eye-catching accompanying graphics, as well as a wide range of children’s activities. The Museum is open Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Bank Holidays, 10.30am – 4.00pm, Sundays 2.00pm – 4.30pm. Admission is free, but donations are very welcome. Whitcombe Rd, Beaminster DT8 3NB. www. beaminstermuseum.co.uk

8 The Marshwood Vale Magazine August 2026 Email info@marshwoodvale.com Tel. 01308 423031

Thursday, 6 August

Colyton Town History Walk leaving 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, 7 August

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland An unforgettable open-air performance of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Join Alice as she tumbles down the rabbit hole and encounters a whirlwind of curious characters that come to life on stage in a dazzling production full of humour, music, and a touch of madness. Tickets can be purchased from www.fordeabbey.co.uk/events.

Move and Groove - 10.15am to 11.15am - a dance group for ages 55 to 90 years - exploring movement and dance in a friendly and creative environment. Classes take place at Steps studio, Crepe Farm Business Park, Symondsbury. For more details and to enrol contact Nikki Northover at nikkinorthover43@gmail.com @ gmail.com.

Saturday, 8 August

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

One World Festival is back once again to celebrate the diversity of cultures in Dorset through world music, dance, food, and activities. This free event will be held from 11am-4pm at the Borough Gardens in Dorchester and will feature a programme of traditional and modern music involving local communities.

Drimpton & District Gardening Club 80th Summer Show including teas, raffle, and a chance to view all the entries from 1.30pm; all welcome. Drimpton Village Hall. Entry to the show is open to all ages, within a 20 mile radius of Drimpton – classes for baking & preserves, floral art, handicrafts, painting etc, flowers, fruit & vegetables. More details and entry forms are obtainable by emailing the show secretary: drimptonshow@btinternet.com Be bold, give showing a try – you may be surprised how well you do.

Sunday, 9 August

3pm Dalwood Jazz Club presents Amy Roberts & The Craig Milverton Trio with Amy on saxophone, clarinet & flute, Craig Milverton keyboard, Sandy Suchodolski

- d/bass and Nick Millward - drums. Dalwood Village Hall, EX13 7EG (near Axminster). Bar for beer/wine/ soft drinks and tea/coffee/cake etc. Parking at the Village Hall £12.50p If possible, please book in advance and pay (cash or card) at the door.

Wednesday, 12 August

6:00pm, Choral Evensong, St Michael’s Church, Lyme Regis. The Gloral of Choral Evensong performed by visiting choir Laudemus, under Musical Director Jeremy Jackson and Organist Sam Hanson as they tour from Broadstone to Wimborne Minster.

Thursday, 13 August

Colyton Town History Walk leaving 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, 14 August

Move and Groove - 10.15am to 11.15am - a dance group for ages 55 to 90 years - exploring movement and dance in a friendly and creative environment. Classes take place at Steps studio, Crepe Farm Business Park, Symondsbury. For more details and to enrol contact Nikki Northover at nikkinorthover43@gmail.com @ gmail.com.

Saturday, 15 August

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

Saturday, 15 - Monday, 31 August

Cockney Lines: The Paintings of Jim Buckingham Jim’s cockney family has a common and uncommon history.

The exhibition traces the lines of his legacy through memorabilia, portraits and abstract explorations of ancestry.

Open daily 10.30 — 16.30. Sou’-Sou’-West Gallery, Symondsbury Eastate, Bridport DT6 6HG. Contact: 07708 852 067.

Sunday, 16 August

French + Breton Folk Dance, Bal Crewkerne with live house band, in the Speedwell Hall, Abbey Street, Crewkerne, TA18 7HY. Dance workshop for beginners 6-7pm followed by main dance 7-9.30pm. Admission £4 (cash). Tea and coffee available or bring your own drinks. Free parking in the town centre car parks. More information on our website:https://balcrew.wixsite.com/ balcrewkerne

Wednesday, 19 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, 20 August

Colyton Town History Walk leaving 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, 21 August

Move and Groove - 10.15am to 11.15am - a dance group for ages 55 to 90 years exploring movement and dance in a friendly and creative environment. Classes take place at Steps studio, Crepe Farm Business Park, Symondsbury. For more details and to enrol contact Nikki Northover at nikkinorthover43@gmail.com @ gmail.com.

Tuesday, 25 August

Bridport U3A Talk starts at 2.00 pm. The talk is in The British United Church Hall, East Street, Bridport, DT6 3LJ. Pamela Simpson is telling us about ‘Scottish Colourists’ Talk lasts for 1 hour followed by Q & A then refreshments. Members free, visitors £3.00.

Thursday, 27 August

Bridport & West Dorset Rambling Club 7.25 mile walk from Winsham. For further information please ring 01308 898484 or 01308 863340. New members/visitors welcome.

Colyton Town History Walk leaving 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, 28 August

Lyme Folk Weekend Four brilliant artists will share the stage with Eliza Carthy, honouring and celebrating her father Martin’s immense legacy and musical back catalogue. The set features some of Martin’s best loved work from all eras of his career, spanning from his debut to final albums, via Waterson:Carthy and beyond. Eliza Carthy is one of the most recognisable faces in British folk. She has received an 10 The Marshwood Vale Magazine August 2026 Email info@marshwoodvale.com Tel. 01308 423031

MBE; numerous BBC R2 Folk Awards; two Mercury Prize nominations; was the first English traditional musician to be nominated for a BBC R3 Award for World Music, and in 2021 became President of the English Folk Dance & Song Society. From the purest unaccompanied traditional songs to original music incorporating myriad influences, she has moved through English folk music like a force of nature, both stirring it up and putting it back on the map. Tim Van Eyken is a highly respected singer, melodeon player, and interpreter of English folk music. Rising to prominence as a member of Waterson:Carthy, Tim has established himself as a distinctive solo artist with a rich, expressive voice and a powerful instrumental style. His performances are marked by both passion and precision, breathing new life into traditional songs while showcasing his skill as a captivating storyteller. Many will no doubt remember Angeline Morrison after her captivating show at Lyme Folk Weekend 2024. She is a superb singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose music blends folk tradition with powerful storytelling.

Her album The Sorrow Songs was named The Guardian’s Folk Album of the Year in 2022. Nick Hart will be another familiar face from Lyme Folk 2024. Nick is an awardwinning singer and multi-instrumentalist whose work with English folk song has earned him a reputation as one of the most acclaimed performers of his generation. Finn Curran-Carthy is the grandson of Martin, son of Eliza, and the latest in the lineage to take to the stage, playing his grandfather’s guitar. Marine Theatre Lyme Regis. For more information and to buy tickets for all the shows, visit www.lymefolk.com.

Bardfest 2026 Welcome Concert, 7pm10pm, Puncknowle & Swyre Village Hall.

Featuring music, poetry, and storytelling by James Hollingsworth, Simon Andrews, Izzy Darkwood Monica Ciriani. Refreshments by donation. Book & CDs for sale. Bring cash. £15 advance ticket, £20 on door. Gold Weekend Ticket: £50 – entry to all events.

Silver Ticket: £25 – entry to 3 events. Bronze Ticket: £10 – entry to 1 event. Paypal: kevanmanwaring@yahoo.co.uk. FFI: See Eventbrite for individual event bookings.

2pm and 6pm ‘The Homecoming’ Bridport Youth Dance contemporary dance company presents ‘The Homecoming’ - a site specific performance on the Upper Lawn at Symondsbury Estate. Tickets are on sale from Bridport Tourist Information 12 The Marshwood Vale Magazine August 2026 Email info@marshwoodvale.com Tel. 01308 423031

Centre 01308 424901. Also online through the TIC website. ‘The Homecoming’ takes elements of Homer’s “The Odyssey” story told through dance. Produced by Nikki Northover ‘The Homecoming’ is a part of BYD’s 25th anniversary celebrations and will be a fusion of dance, movement, music, puppetry, nature and land performed by BYD contemporary dancers and alumni. Please bring a foldable chair, rugs and picnic if you wish. ‘The Homecoming’ is supported by Dorset Council, Bridport Town Council, Vicary and Co., Bridport Ladies Circle, Bridport Charities, Nantes solicitors and one anonymous angel.

Saturday, 29 August

Lyme Folk Weekend The six musicians in the Sandy Denny Project share a love and respect for her music, and also boast an impressive folk-rock pedigree, with each at the very top of their musical game. Since the band’s creation in 2019, they have been hailed as the finest performers of Sandy’s material by those who knew and played with her. Their joy in performing the work is contagious, taking their audiences on an emotional musical journey through her best loved songs, leaving them

Tel. 01308 423031 The Marshwood Vale Magazine August 2026 13

dazzled. The is approach is not one of a tribute band, slavishly copying the records, but as a tribute in its best sense — an interpretation of Sandy’s wonderful work.

The band consists of singer Sally Barker (The Poozies, Fotheringay MkII) guitarist PJ Wright (TradArrr, The Dylan Project), Marion Fleetwood (Feast of Fiddles, TRADarrr), Gemma Shirley (keyboard and vocals TRADarrr), plus bassist Mat Davies and drummer Mark Stevens from folk-rock legends Little Johnny England.

Marine Theatre Lyme Regis. For more information and to buy tickets for all the shows, visit www.lymefolk.com.

Bardfest 2026 Goblin Market & Small Press Fair, 10am-4pm, Puncknowle & Swyre Village Hall.

Lunchtime Concert: The Fairies’ Bazaar. Storytelling & Poetry by Izzy Darkwood. 1pm-2pm, £10. Teatime Concert: Healing Waters. Storytelling & Poetry by Kevan Manwaring, 4pm-5pm £10. Bardic Cabaret. Music, Storytelling & Poetry in aid of the Dorset Wildlife Trust. Beer garden of The Crown, Puncknowle, 6.30pm10.30pm – Donations (bring cash). Gold Weekend Ticket: £50 – entry to all events. Silver Ticket: £25 – entry to 3 events. Bronze Ticket: £10 – entry to 1 event. Paypal: kevanmanwaring@yahoo.co.uk. FFI: See Eventbrite for individual event bookings.

Record Sale Large collection of Vinyl records for sale, LPs from treasured collection, plus singles. Huge variety including some rare items. Something for everybody!

Some books, mainly paperbacks, also for sale.

Bank Holiday - Saturday 29th August 10am to 5pm. in Chaffcombe, Chard, TA20 4AP Enquiries to Dave 01460-61116 davidbracher@btopenworld.com.

Sunday, 30 August

IT wouldn’t be Lyme Folk Weekend without another wonderful, atmospheric, collaborative musical evening curated by festival patrons Ninebarrow. Jon and Jay’s guests for 2026 will be Honey & The Bear and Nick Wyke & Becki Driscoll. Honey & the Bear are a multiinstrumentalist husband and wife duo who have become a tour de force on the UK Folk Festival circuit in recent years. The British folk and roots duo combine delicately interweaving vocal harmonies with emotive and evocative songwriting. With a diverse range of sounds and textures, and rhythms that flow from the fast and furious to gentle ballads, their live performances are spirited and dynamic. Nick Wyke and Becki Driscoll return to Lyme Folk Weekend for the first time since 2016. This musical partnership has its roots in the traditional music of the South West but explores a contemporary sound that draws on inspiration from across the globe. All that and the fabulous Ninebarrow too! Marine Theatre Lyme Regis. For more information and to buy tickets for all the shows, visit www.lymefolk.com Matinee Following the great success in previous years of Magellan: Circumnavigation (2022) and Anne Boleyn: Wolf at the Door (2023), Bob Whitley (guitars and mandola) and Lee MacKenzie (cello) return to Lyme 14 The Marshwood Vale Magazine August 2026 Email info@marshwoodvale.com Tel. 01308 423031

Folk Weekend with their brilliant brand new show, Ophelia. Written and composed by Bob, Ophelia is a musical story of love, treachery and tragedy. Bob and Lee perform as Shakespearian Players to bring you the tragic love story of Ophelia and Hamlet, set in the Danish coastal castle of Elsinore, another magical combination of vivid storytelling and beautiful music.

Marine Theatre Lyme Regis. For more information and to buy tickets for all the shows, visit www.lymefolk.com.

Bardfest 2026 Goblin Market & Small Press Fair, 10am4pm, Puncknowle & Swyre Village Hall. Lunchtime Concert: Ricky Romain, 1pm-2pm, £10. Teatime Concert: Giants & Kings with Peter Roe and Rebecca Katya Danici, 4pm-5pm, £10. Sunday Sing ‘n’ Strum.

Beer garden of The Crown, Puncknowle. Free.

Monday, 31 August

Bardfest 2026 Folk Song Walk with Alastair Braidwood, 11am, Meet outside The Crown, 2 hr walk, wear suitable footwear and clothing. Bring water. £10.

Discount advance tickets onlly: Gold Weekend Ticket: £50 – entry to all events. Silver Ticket: £25 – entry to 3 events. Bronze Ticket: £10 – entry to 1 event. Paypal: kevanmanwaring@yahoo.co.uk. FFI: See Eventbrite for individual event bookings.

11:30am, Organ Recital, St Michael’s Church, Lyme Regis A fun and sparkling organ recital by Peter Irving.

Favourites for all the family including the Finale of Saint Saens’ ‘Organ Symphony’, Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, and Elgar’s Nimrod. Retiring collection with all funds raised in aid of the new church toilets.

First-Ever Symondsbury Summer Dog Fête promises fun for the Whole Family. A fun-filled day of entertainment, activities and community spirit is on the menu at one of Dorset’s most dog-friendly destinations.

With free entry, the event will transform Symondsbury Estate into a traditional summer fête with a canine twist, offering a packed programme of attractions for dogs and their owners, while ensuring there’s plenty for visitors without dogs to enjoy too. A highlight of the day will be the Symondsbury Dog Show, featuring a variety of fun classes and culminating in the ever-popular Paws Got Talent showcase. There will also be the chance to strike a pose at the Pooch Smooch Booth, browse the Pup-Up Market packed with doggy gifts, treats and accessories from local traders, and enjoy delicious food and drink provided by The Symondsbury Kitchen. Fourlegged guests won’t miss out either, with puppaccinos, doggy ice creams and plenty of tasty treats on offer.

The Summer Dog Fête is the perfect chance for people to experience the Estate for themselves, whether that’s exploring the scenic trails, getting a culture fix at the art gallery, browsing the independent shops, going on our family Summer Explorer Trail, enjoying great food and drink at The Symondsbury Kitchen, or simply relaxing and soaking up the atmosphere. Symondsbury Estate, Bridport DT6 6HG. 10am – 4pm. Free Entry.

Anonymous Festival returns Borough Gardens in Dorchester from 11am to 5pm. This family friendly event, now in its 16th year, is literally bursting to the seams with activities for all ages, from craft and clay to bouncy castles and bungee trampolines. And not only is the event free to attend, but there is absolutely no charge for any of the activities either! You will have the opportunity to battle your friends at inflatable gladiators, get your hair feathered or a glitter tattoo or have your photo taken in a vintage horsebox. You will even have the chance to do a masterclass in how to create a special effect wound! And to top it all there will be musical entertainment taking place throughout day by way of 2 stages which will feature some of our most talented young performers, as well as the locally loved Vinyl Van who will be spinning discs in the chill out corner. There will be a range of affordable, delicious food on offer, including burgers, sausages and chips, mouth-watering freshly cooked Thai dishes, authentic falafels, and delicious curries. For the sweet of tooth there will also be popcorn, candy floss and ice-cream, and the park kiosk will be open for light snacks and drinks. Feel free to bring your own blanket or deckchair and make a day of it. Borough Gardens in Dorchester, 11am - 5pm.

EVENTS IN SEPTEMBER send your event details to info@marshwoodvale.com

BY AUGUST 14th

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16 The Marshwood Vale Magazine August 2026 Email info@marshwoodvale.com Tel. 01308 423031

DORSET

One World

FESTIVAL

D

orset One World Festival is back once again to celebrate the diversity of cultures in Dorset through world music, dance, food, and activities.

This free event will be held on Saturday 8th August from 11am-4pm at the Borough Gardens in Dorchester and will feature a programme of traditional and modern music involving local communities.

There is a packed programme of performances including what will be a scintillating and spiritually uplifting session on the sitar from the highly accomplished Ricky Romain. Later the audience will hear from Gugge 2000—a Swiss carnival band who never fail to bring a smile, and the ever-popular Mustafa Mamu who will be singing some lively traditional Syrian and Kurdish songs accompanied in his performance by the captivating Meena belly dancing—they’re guaranteed to get you on your feet!

The afternoon will be topped off by the Four Corners Collectif who will be providing smooth soul, funky reggae and afrobeat inspired tunes.

There will also be a variety of exciting and diverse dance performances including The Dorchester Malayali Association who will share a traditional Indian dance, Rhythm and Beats with a special performance giving us a ‘taste of Bollywood’, Grains of Hope who will demonstrate some Ukrainian folk dancing, and Dragon of the South who will be sure to raise energy with their historic Chinese lion dancing.

Be prepared to turn up hungry as the Global Food Village will offer a wide selection of mouthwatering fresh food and drinks from around the world. Come and taste some incredible cuisine, from Tibetan dumplings and Middle Eastern falafel to appetising Greek food, authentic Keralan curries, Spanish paella, Italian pizza, Afro-Caribbean jerk chicken, a Turkish meze, or some Nepalese momos! You can finish your meal with a choice of some delectable baklava or scrumptious churros, and wash it all down with a drink from the bar, or a refreshing tropical beverage from World of Juice.

As well as music and food, the event will feature a wide range of stalls and additional activities to get involved with, including crafts, traditional basket weaving, a singing workshop and a free bouncy castle for the children.

The Festival is a free family event and is on Saturday 8th August 2026 – 11 to 4pm at Borough Gardens, Dorchester.

Tel. 01308 423031 The Marshwood Vale Magazine August 2026 17

Tail-Wags, Treats, and Trails Dogs get a day out in Symondsbury

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he first-ever Symondsbury Summer Dog Fête promises fun for the whole family.

Dog lovers, families and four-legged friends are invited to the very first Symondsbury Summer Dog Fête from 10am–4pm on Monday 31st of August.

Expect a fun-filled day of entertainment, activities and community spirit at one of Dorset’s most dog-friendly destinations.

Elizabeth Swan, Events & Workshop Co-ordinator at Symondsbury Estate, said: ‘We’re very excited to be launching our very first Symondsbury Summer Dog Fête. Dogs have always been at the heart of life here at the Estate, so it felt only right to create a special event dedicated to them and the people who love them. It’s going to be so fun!’

There are hopes that this event will be one that dogs and owners will look forward to every year.

‘We hope this will become a much-loved annual event and a highlight of the Bank Holiday calendar for families and dog lovers across Dorset and beyond—with lots of fun to be had, whether you’re coming with your four legged- friends, or just your human friends!’

Symondsbury Estate, Nr Bridport, West Dorset DT6 6HG. 10am – 4pm. Free Entry. For more information, visit www. symondsburyestate.co.uk or follow @ symondsburyestate on Instagram and Facebook.

18 The Marshwood Vale Magazine August 2026 Email info@marshwoodvale.com Tel. 01308 423031

The rewilded garden: three years ago this was concrete © Photograph by Robin Mills

Nature Studies

By Michael McCarthy

I

grew up in a 1960s suburb which was the epitome of thencurrent suburban values. It was a close, a cul-de-sac, where the houses faced each other, so everyone could see what everyone else was doing, which created in that lower-middleclass and aspiring community an unspoken but real pressure: to conform, not least in the matter of the upkeep of gardens.

Lawns were to be mown; hedges were to be trimmed; borders were to be weeded. Regularly. Neatness was all. And none of the fifteen households, in my time growing up in Norbury Close, ever transgressed these unwritten rules.

This attitude was one I absorbed: inside me still is a suburban garden-snob. Even today, I look at an overgrown lawn and instinctively think, mow the bloody thing! It has stayed with me all my life, and its grip only began to loosen about fifteen years ago when a very wise environmental figure pointed out to me: Nature doesn’t do neat. Nature likes scruffy.

I have come to see the wisdom of this. I know that an untrimmed hedge holds more wildlife than a trimmed one.

Yet old prejudices die hard, and when Jo my wife, who runs our garden, insists on no-mow-May, an involuntary shiver still runs down my spine. And when she decided, three years ago, that half our garden was to be rewilded, I nearly had an attack of the vapours.

For I support rewilding, the idea that we should not just try to hold onto the wildlife we have, but also restore the wildlife we’ve lost—on the grand scale, that is. I strongly support the idea of turning whole landscapes, usually farmed intensively, back into something wilder and richer. I have seen what a wonderful success in can be in places like the Knepp estate in Sussex (and indeed in what is becoming a Knepp of the West, the Mapperton estate near Beaminster.) But Jo wasn’t thinking of anything Knepp-style glamorous, like sending in wild Highland cattle to graze our plot. She wanted rewilding on the small scale. She just wanted to leave it alone.

An incomer’s discovery of the natural world in the West Country It’s the site of three horrible garages at the back of the garden which we had pulled down, and their concrete base removed, exposing the greensand underneath. And while my instinct was to have this rough bare patch laid to lawn, with new topsoil, Jo wanted to leave it entirely to its own devices, and just see what happened.

Well, in the end, despite my misgivings, we did. And in its third summer, it is now an arresting place, of great drifts of colour, of purple knapweed and creamy-white heath bedstraw, of bright yellow ragwort and browny-yellow hop trefoil. A botanist friend of mine came in June and found 31 species of wild plants colonising the once-bare hard earth, including seven grass species: Yorkshire fog, soft brome, common meadow grass, cocksfoot, crested dog’s tail, false oat grass and red fescue. Some plants we have seeded, like ox-eye daises, but most have arrived of their own accord, including personal favourites of mine, like fox-and-cubs, whose flowers are a thrilling burnt orange; four different cranesbills (meadow, bloody and shining, plus herb Robert); and a raft of others, from hedge mustard and yarrow to bugle and the gloriouslynamed nipplewort. Hummingbird hawk moths take nectar from the flowers; goldfinches feed on the seeds.

A confession: we didn’t just leave the plot alone entirely. We put in a pond, a dynamic addition which gives us newts below and dragonflies above, and we planted two trees, a rowan and an apple (an Egremont russet). But leaving-alone was key; and this small plot, which once I would merely have seen as neglected, now I see as rich. I see that rewilding works on the minor scale as well as the grand; and I have the mantra that Nature likes scruffy gradually overcoming the old suburban neatness-snob inside me.

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. Tel. 01308 423031 The Marshwood Vale Magazine August 2026 19

The Art of the Photograph This month featuring Margaret Preuss Higham

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Suspended moment © Photograph by Margaret Higham

CELTIC SAINTS often described a place where the atmosphere made it easier to connect with God as a ‘thin place’. For former hairdresser, retired priest and photographer Margaret Preuss Higham, that place is the Dorset coast. It can be a place where the noise of the world falls away and one can contemplate the quiet shifting waves and sands, perhaps connecting the spiritual with the spectacular natural world we live in.

Margaret’s life has been punctuated by remarkable transitions. For decades, she was a mobile hairdresser, travelling from house to house around Bridport, listening to local residents’ life stories. At 51 she submitted to God’s call to become a priest, ultimately serving as vicar of three coastal parishes.

Now, having officially retired, she has stepped into

20 The Marshwood Vale Magazine August 2026 Email info@marshwoodvale.com Tel. 01308 423031

a new calling: capturing the fleeting beauty of the world through the lens of a camera.

‘I started work as a hairdresser when I was 16, and I didn’t stop until 2020,’ Margaret tells me. She wryly recalls politician Edwina Currie once suggesting that those who weren’t “very clever” could always fall back on hairdressing—Margaret found the work deeply fulfilling. Yet a deeper, spiritual calling had lingered since childhood.

‘I remember I announced to one of my school teachers that I was going to be a missionary when I was ten years old,’ Margaret laughs.

However, it wasn’t until her father was diagnosed with terminal cancer and expressed a wish to return to church that Margaret began accompanying him to St Swithin’s Church in Bridport. Over the years,

as she taught Sunday school and served on the parish council, she decided to train as a vicar.

It was a huge challenge. Having left school at 16 with no degree, the academic side of theological training was daunting, particularly as Margaret suspects she is dyslexic. ‘The church turned me down to start off with because of my lack of education,’ she admits. ‘They are still quite academic.’ But her local priest, Trevor Stubbs, believed in her. He persuaded the bishop to let her begin. ‘On my 52nd birthday, my training officer knocked on my front door and gave me a thumbs-up.’

In time, she took on leadership of three parishes. It was the move to the picturesque village of Portesham that reignited her interest in photography.

‘Time for the last 12 years had been quite busy,’ Margaret says, ‘looking after three churches and still hairdressing.’ But there were times when she could go out to the Fleet at Langton Herring with a passage from the Bible in her head and find her thin place.

It became her sanctuary. If she had a challenging sermon to write, or had just conducted a funeral and needed space to decompress, she would wander down to the water’s edge to listen to the birds. ‘Seeing the light drop over the Fleet, the reflections in the water, the clouds, and the light shining right over to Golden Cap—it moved me.’ Those same reflections can now be seen in her photography as it has developed.

Above: Tidal marks. Below: Oxidation © Photograph by Margaret Higham

Tel. 01308 423031 The Marshwood Vale Magazine August 2026 21

Fractured reflection © Photograph by Margaret Higham

Above: Tidal Flow. Below: Coastal Downs © Photograph by Margaret Higham

Her father had been a passionate amateur photographer and a frequent visitor to Pinns, the legendary camera shop in Bridport.

Margaret still treasures a photograph of herself as a toddler, clutching her father’s camera bag at London Zoo. But it was a local exhibition organised by the Friends of Portesham Church that prompted her to share her work. Though she entered with trepidation, the experience introduced her to members of the Bridport Camera Club, an organisation she credits with completely transforming her understanding of ‘light, shape, and form.’

For Margaret, photography is more of an active, experimental conversation with nature rather than chasing traditional landscapes. These days, she is drawn to the abstract, the textured, and the overlooked.

One of her favourite techniques is Intentional Camera Movement (ICM). In one striking image of silver birches, she used a slow shutter speed to turn the trees into streaks of liquid silver against a vibrant backdrop of gorse.

In another photograph of a sunset, she set her camera to bulb mode and physically moved the camera to draw shapes in the night sky. ‘I wiggled it around, drawing shapes like an artist with a paintbrush,’ she explains.

Her curiosity extends to the smallest details: the mathematical parallel lines on a tumbled stone at Westward Ho!; the deep, salty texture of a knotted harbour rope in Cornwall, captured with a shallow depth of field; or the simple, evocative shape of a lone footprint left on a wet beach.

She is also fascinated by rust. ‘Rust is about metal starting in its raw form in the ground,’ she explains. ‘Man processes it, shapes it, uses it to moor a boat, and over time nature gradually takes it back. It’s the story behind the image that informs why I take the photograph.’

Although officially retired from active ministry, Margaret finds that the roles of priest and photographer are inextricably linked.

Both require a willingness to slow down, pay attention, and look beneath the surface. ‘I feel very close to God when I’m on the

22 The Marshwood Vale Magazine August 2026 Email info@marshwoodvale.com Tel. 01308 423031

beach,’ she says, describing the coast as her ultimate ‘thin place.’ She often writes poetry to accompany her images, weaving the two mediums together to express her gratitude for the natural world.

Her retirement promises to be anything but quiet.

Alongside upcoming exhibitions with the Bridport Camera Club and local artist groups, she is planning a book that combines her photographs of Portland with her personal poetry and reflections, and she is also going through an archive of slides from a trip to the Holy Land.

She is also hoping to collaborate on an ambitious, community-led eco-art installation. Inspired by the environmental work of photographer Mandy Barker, Margaret wants to create an installation that highlights the significant impact of plastic. ‘It’s about loving the planet,’ she says, ‘highlighting our responsibility to look after the created world.’

From snipping golden locks to the quiet solemnity of the pulpit, the creative freedom of the lens is enabling Margaret Preuss-Higham to continue a journey of exploration grounded in spiritual reflection.

Look for her work at the Bridport Camera Club exhibition on 19th September at Bridport Town Hall, or at The Dorset Monochrome Collective exhibition at Borough Garden House Community Room in Dorchester from 14th to 20th September.

Margaret’s blog is at: https://margarethigham. wordpress.com.

Above: Path to the summit. Below: Impressionist Wetlands © Photograph by Margaret Higham

Tel. 01308 423031 The Marshwood Vale Magazine August 2026 23

House&Garden

“Inspirational” Beaminster garden opens for NGS

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pecial event openings have become a highlight for garden lovers across the country, and there are many opportunities available throughout the southwest over the summer.

Farrs in Beaminster is one such gem that will open to the public on the 20th of August this year.

However, be quick, as tickets are limited and prebooking is essential.

Owned and developed by John and Jennie Makepeace, visitors can enjoy several distinctive walled gardens, rolling lawns, sculpture and giant topiary around one of Beaminster’s historic town houses.

John’s inspirational grass garden and Jennie’s very contrasting garden, with an oak fruit cage, are a riot of colour. Look out for a glasshouse, a straw bale studio, and an orchard, along with remarkable trees, planked and seasoning in an open-sided barn for future furniture commissions.

A limited number of tickets are available for this special afternoon, hosted by John and Jennie, from 2 to 4.30pm. John will offer a warm welcome at 2pm in the main rooms of the house, followed by a talk on his furniture design and recent commissions. Jennie will then lead a guided walk around the gardens,

24 The Marshwood Vale Magazine August 2026 Email info@marshwoodvale.com Tel. 01308 423031

Farrs in Beaminster

followed by a cream tea in the house or garden, weather-dependent. There are some gravel paths, with an alternative wheelchair route through the orchard.

Admission is £40, with children free. Pre-booking is essential; please visit ngs.org.uk for information and booking. Farrs is at 3 Whitcombe Rd, Beaminster DT8 3NB. www.johnmakepeacefurniture.com. On the southern edge of Beaminster, on B3163. Car parking is available in the Square, Yarn Barton Car Park, or the side streets of Beaminster.

Tel. 01308 423031 The Marshwood Vale Magazine August 2026 25

AUGUST IN THE GARDEN

By Russell Jordan

L

ast month I made the mistake of starting with “At the time of writing, we’ve had a decent amount of rain”; what a difference a month makes! Heatwaves and practically zero rainfall, since then, have made giving gardening advice somewhat tricky. I am praying that by the time this appears we have had some rain because, otherwise, everything that needs to be done in the garden is largely academic during drought conditions.

If you have a lawn the chances are it is pretty brown by now but, as always, irrigating it would be a criminal waste of water because it will soon turn green as soon as we get a decent amount of rainfall. During drought conditions it will virtually stop growing so mowing can be reduced and, if it is needed at all, the cutting height should be raised to reduce the stress on the sward.

I get the feeling that ‘bedding displays’ and ‘annuals in containers’ are not exactly on trend, when it comes to gardening in 2026, but, especially in smaller spaces, they may be all the gardening you can manage. They will be your priority, when it comes to watering, as they rely totally on you to provide them with all the moisture and nutrients they need to survive. The good thing is that they will be revelling during periods of high temperatures and plentiful sunshine, as long as you can provide them with the necessary hydration and regular feeding. If they do dry out completely it can be very difficult to rewet the compost so, assuming the pot or container isn’t too heavy to lift, it will need to be plunged into a large bucket, or plastic trug, full of water.

You’ll know the compost is completely saturated when air bubbles cease to emerge from the submerged container.

If we get a hosepipe ban, or just because it’s a good practice to conserve water, it’s possible to use ‘greywater’ (water recycled from baths, showers, washing up bowls etc.) on garden plants as long as it doesn’t contain excessive amounts of contaminants or detergent. Also, if saved for later use, it shouldn’t be kept for more than about a day just in case it contains bacteria which would multiply over time.

For the same reason it’s advisable not to use greywater on any salad or vegetable crops which are eaten raw.

If you must irrigate the garden then your use of water needs to be prioritised with newly planted specimens, especially trees in their first year of establishment, being 26 The Marshwood Vale Magazine August 2026 Email info@marshwoodvale.com Tel. 01308 423031

top of the list. A good occasional soaking, using multiple watering cans, is always better than constant, but minimal, sprinkling. Just going out and waving a hosepipe around may do more harm than good because water only penetrates a few centimetres into the ground. This encourages plants to produce shallow roots, at the soil surface, rather than encouraging stronger rooting into the deeper soil structure.

With roots concentrated at the surface, plants will be even more susceptible to drying out if at any point you are unable to go out and water them—when you go on holiday for example.

Soil which contains a good amount of ‘humus’, the organic matter usually derived from rotted down plant material, can hold onto more water, and is easier to rewet, than an unimproved one. This is why using a humus rich surface mulch, generally added during border maintenance over the winter months, is a good habit to get into. Also, incorporating as much organic matter into the soil, when making new beds and borders, is generally advisable in ‘everyday’ gardens.

This just reminds me of what I wrote following the death of Nigel Dunnett, earlier this year, and I am haunted by the concept of “sensible citizens rather than needy aristocrats”.

Looking at his work, along with James Hitchmough, reminds me that the whole ‘right plant, right place’ philosophy, especially if taken to a naturalistic extreme, negates the use of soil improvement and relies instead on creating gardens based on plant populations capable of establishing and thriving in unimproved soil.

Most of us have gardens which were created before this ‘naturalistic’ style became widespread, so soil improvement still has its place when it comes to trying to reduce the need for artificial irrigation at times of drought. The ‘cottage garden’ style has something of the naturalistic philosophy about it. It relies, to a certain extent, on allowing a degree of self-seeding and the use of plant cultivars which are closely related to some of our native plants—herbaceous geraniums being a case in point. Also, I find that roses, a cottage garden stalwart, seem to be surprisingly resilient, when it comes to being droughted, as are a lot of the early flowering shrubs, such as Deutzia, Weigela and Philadelphus. They may wilt a bit but are generally tough enough to survive, without supplementary watering, once they are established.

Usually, I would suggest that herbaceous perennials that have finished flowering, excepting those which have ornamental stems or seedheads, can be chopped down to the ground where they will still have time to produce a fresh flush of foliage, even a second flowering, before the season is over. However, during drought conditions, this is not a good idea as they will already be stressed so cutting them down to nothing could just finish them off. Better to just remove faded flowers, giving them a light tidy up, to keep the border looking as good as possible but to avoid any major intervention until we get a decent dollop of rain.

A timely task which is still possible is hedge cutting,

traditionally yew hedges are cut this month, although even this is best avoided on searing hot days when newly exposed, lower layers, of foliage may scorch if very hot and dry.

Looking ahead to next spring, which I always find a little depressing as, to my mind, it signals the end of summer, now is the time to order autumn planted, spring flowering, bulbs.

They need to go into the ground as soon as possible, after delivery, assuming by then we’ll have had enough rain to soften the ground. Of course, I am hoping that, by concentrating on how hot and dry it’s been, the weather Gods will have been triggered to deliver the rain we need to make all this watering advice out of date—fingers firmly crossed!

Tel. 01308 423031 The Marshwood Vale Magazine August 2026 27

REFLECTIONS

EVENTS AND PERSONALITIES FROM RECENT HISTORY Mobbed by crowds wherever she went, Amy Johnson is highlighted

by John Davis for her spirit and daring

I

t seemed just like an ordinary routine mission when ace pilot Amy Johnson, the 85th anniversary of whose death is being commemorated this year, took off in a World War Two aeroplane in 1941. She worked as a civilian pilot for the Air Transport Auxiliary and it was her job to deliver new and repaired aircraft from the works to the operational airfields of the Royal Air Force throughout the United Kingdom.

What happened during the flight from Prestwick in Scotland to Oxford has never been conclusively established although it is clear the aeroplane, a twinengine Airspeed Oxford, often used for training pilots, must have encountered serious difficulty. Some have speculated that the aircraft was not identified correctly and was shot down (friendly fire), or that poor weather may have closed in making location finding using just instruments difficult.

28 The Marshwood Vale Magazine August 2026 Email info@marshwoodvale.com Tel. 01308 423031

A flotilla of wartime vessels operating in the Thames Estuary at the time spotted a parachute drifting down and later what appeared to be a person in the water calling for help. After attempts to throw a rope to the person had failed repeatedly, an officer on one of the ships, Lt. Cmdr. Walter Fletcher, dived into the water despite the fact there was a heavy sea with strong currents and freezing temperatures. He seemed to reach something in the water but when the ship’s lifeboat got to him, he was unconscious. He died from hypothermia several days later. Amy Johnson’s body was never recovered. All that was later found were her flying bag, a log book and her cheque book.

Johnson, who was 38, has no known grave although she is commemorated on the Royal Air Force Memorial at Runnymede. Fletcher was posthumously awarded The Albert Medal.

During her lifetime, Amy Johnson recorded a series of groundbreaking achievements in which she pioneered flying as a career for women and did much to break down the barriers prohibiting long distance flight.

Amy Johnson was born in Hull in January 1903, the daughter of a wealthy fish merchant. She lived in the city until moving to study at Sheffield University in 1923. Graduating with a degree in economics she moved to London where she worked at first for a firm of solicitors. It was during her spare time that she first became interested in flying and during the winter of 1928-29 she started to take lessons at the London Aeroplane Club.

It was not only her desire to master the skills of a pilot that drove her on but also her determination to enter a world that previously belonged exclusively to men. Soon after gaining her flying qualifications, she also demonstrated her ability to maintain and repair aircraft engines, becoming the first British trained ground engineer.

At the beginning of 1930, Amy began to plan the first of what were to be a series of adventurous long-distance flights. Her first objective was to fly in stages from Britain to Australia beating the existing record of sixteen days. Initially there were problems raising the capital needed to finance the venture, but eventually Lord Wakefield, the owner of an oil company, and Amy’s father found the £600 needed to buy a second hand De Havilland Gypsy Moth aircraft.

The craft, given the name Jason after the family business trademark, can still be seen in London’s Science Museum.

Amy set off alone on the dangerous and exhausting journey from Croydon near London on May 5th, 1930 and arrived in Darwin on the north west coast of Australia on May 24th. There had been a number of hold-ups on the way involving ‘lost’ days caused by weather, damage to the aircraft and fuel problems.

The journey of almost 18,000 kilometres had failed to beat the record by three days but Amy became the first woman to fly single-handed to Australia and she had won a prize of £10,000 from the newspaper, The Daily Mail.

Other epic flights were to follow. In the summer of 1931, she set an England to Japan record in a different aircraft with another pilot, Jack Humphreys.

The following year Amy was setting records between London and Cape Town in South Africa and she repeated this feat in 1936 to reclaim her record after it had been bettered.

In 1932 she married the Scots flier, Jim Mollison, and they were to set a number of other important

records flying together. These included a non-stop flight from Wales to the United States in 1933 using a De Havilland Dragon. Here they crash landed after running out of fuel and were both injured. They also made a record-breaking journey to India in 1934, this time aboard a De Havilland Comet as part of the England to Australia air race.

Amy became the first woman to fly single-handed to Australia and she had won a prize of £10,000

The outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 put an end to Amy Johnson’s commercial and competition flying and resulted in her joining the Air Transport Auxiliary, a group of highly experienced pilots who were unable to join the Royal Air Force.

It was while working for this organisation that she so tragically lost her life.

Many people admired the spirit and daring Amy displayed during her lifetime and she was an extremely popular figure, mobbed by crowds, wherever she went. Awarded the CBE (Commander of the British Empire), she was given the nickname “The Queen of the Air”. A popular song about her called Amy, Wonderful Amy was recorded and reached the popular records charts at the time. In 1942, a film of Johnson’s life called They Flew Alone was released. Directed by Herbert Wilcox, it starred Anna Neagle as Johnson and Robert Newton as Jim Mollison. In 2023, screenwriter Sally Wainwright, well known for Happy Valley and Last Tango in Halifax, revealed she was interested in writing a drama about Johnson but to date none of the TV channels have taken up the offer.

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.

Tel. 01308 423031 The Marshwood Vale Magazine August 2026 29

Food&Dining

FIG AND GOAT’S CHEESE SALAD

By Melissa Delport

The fig really shines as the hero of this dish and is a prime example of how fruit can fit perfectly into a savoury dish.

INGREDIENTS • • • • • • • • • • •

2 red onions, quartered 2–3 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves 2 teaspoons coconut oil Salt and pepper 3 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 10 ripe fresh figs, washed and quartered 2 handfuls rocket 50g (13/4oz) goat’s cheese, crumbled 80g (23/4oz) hazelnuts, crushed

DIRECTIONS • •

•

Serves 4 • • WHOLESOME BOWLS

Melissa Delport Published by Nourish, an imprint of Watkins Media Ltd. ISBN: 978-1-84899-414-0 (Hardback) ISBN: 978-1-84899-415-7 (eBook) 30 The Marshwood Vale Magazine August 2026 Email info@marshwoodvale.com Tel. 01308 423031

Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas 4.

Mix the onions, thyme, coconut oil, salt and pepper together in a roasting pan until the onions are well coated. Roast for 25 minutes or until soft and some of the edges have started to char.

In a mixing bowl, mix the olive oil, balsamic vinegar and cinnamon together well. Add the figs to the bowl and coat with the mixture.

Use a large bowl to assemble the salad.

Layer the salad, starting with the rocket, then the red onions, figs and finally the goat’s cheese. Top with crushed hazelnuts and serve.

Ilaria’s Italian KITCHEN

Bresaola di Punta d’anca

APART from being absolutely delicious, Bresaola di Punta d’anca has a lot going for it.

Lean and flavourful, it is one of the most popular cured meats. It is crafted from the highest-quality cut of meat from mature, grass-fed cattle. The beef is carefully seasoned with aromatic herbs, spices, and sea salt, then air-dried and aged for several months to develop its best flavour.

Ilaria highlights how simple it is to make a delicious dish on warm summer days. ‘It can be served as carpaccio. No cooking involved in this hot weather! Only a drizzle of fresh lemon, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Parmigiano and a rocket salad.’

She also alludes to the cultural benefits of Bresaola di Punta d’anca. Low in fat and high in protein, Ilaria says it is ‘really lean’ and may help contribute to a happier ‘prova costume’ or swimsuit test when it’s time to be ‘beach ready’.

Mercato Italiano is a popular destination for authentic pizza, coffee, cocktails, and a great stop for lunch from 12-3pm, Monday to Saturday.

Recently launched, Mercato Pronto! now brings Ilaria’s curated selection of rare, regional formaggi, salumi, and pantry essentials to kitchens across the UK. Visit: www. https://mercatopronto.uk today.

Unit 3B Dreadnought Trading Estate, Bridport, Dorset DT6 5BU T: 01308 459274 - E: retail@mercatoitaliano.uk Tel. 01308 423031 The Marshwood Vale Magazine August 2026 31

Popular wine expert joins singing cyclists for charity fundraiser

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f, between 8 and 11 September, you happen to encounter a cycling group of saddle-sore musicians accompanied by a familiar-looking wine expert, put a few quid in their donation bucket, buy a concert ticket, and give them a cheer to encourage them on their way.

They’re members of the renowned choir and music charity Armonico Consort who, together with TV celebrity Oz Clarke and founder director Christopher Monks, are donating their time and talent, tackling the punishing climbs of the Jurassic Coast in a fundraising bid to establish children’s choirs and dementia choirs across the region.

Gluttons for punishment, this is the eighth year the team have undertaken their charity bike challenge and this year’s, whilst not the longest, is certainly the toughest.

Riding from Exeter Cathedral in the West to Wimborne Minster in the East, the merry minstrels will make a number of stops, busking at cafes, pubs and local landmarks; calling in at care homes to bring music and laughter to people living with dementia; and inspiring children through singing workshops in schools.

And as if that weren’t enough of a challenge, after a hard day conquering the hills, Armonico’s sensational professional singers and instrumentalists will give concerts in Budleigh Salterton (8 September), Lyme Regis (9 September) and Wimborne (11 September)— and you’re invited!

They’ll perform excerpts from the greatest of all oratorios, Handel’s Messiah, together with the iconic Zadok the Priest. At each venue, Oz and Armonico will be joined by special guest choirs for an hour of music, storytelling and entertainment. At Budleigh Salterton, the Budleigh Salterton Ladies’ Choir and Budleigh Salterton Male Voice Choir will join in the singing; in Lyme Regis, Lyme Bay Chorale and Woodroffe School choir are involved; and at Wimborne Minster, special guests include the Bournemouth Symphony Chorus and local schools.

Every performance will help raise vital funds to establish children’s choirs and dementia choirs across the region, bringing the transformative power of music to people of all ages. This is something Armonico has been doing for many years—including in the Poole and Bournemouth area—and is now building new relationships in Devon and Dorset, bringing its signature school Choir Creation programme and Memory Singers projects to the area.

Oz Clarke may be best known as one of the world’s leading wine experts and for his TV road trips with James May, but before wine took over his life Oz was a full-time actor and singer, appearing in West End hit shows and touring with the Royal Shakespeare Company. A long-time super supporter of Armonico Consort, which celebrates its 25th anniversary in September, he regularly appears with the criticallyacclaimed choir, and has fronted the charity’s bike challenges for many years.

After departing Exeter on 8 September, the cycling singers plan to give a schools workshop and busk at a pub the Dog and Donkey in Knowle ahead of their concert at St Peter’s Church, Budleigh Salterton.

Gluttons for punishment, this is the eighth year the team have undertaken their charity bike challenge As the tour passes through the Lyme Regis area on 9 September, busking spots at The Clock Tower, Sidmouth and Masons Arms Branscombe are envisaged, and a visit to a care home is planned before their concert at St Michael’s Archangel Church, Lyme Regis.

On 10 September, a schools workshop and a care home visit in Weymouth are interspersed with café stops in Charmouth and Chesil Beach.

Setting off for their final concert at Wimborne Minster on 11 September, cafés and pubs in Moreton, Wareham and Broadstone are planned, alongside a care home.

Check the website for up-to-date information and come and cheer them along.

Armonico’s Great Bike Challenge Charity Concerts are at St Peter’s Church, Budleigh Salterton on Tues 8 September (6pm); St Michael’s Archangel Church, Lyme Regis on Wed 9 September (6pm); and Wimborne Minster on Fri 11 September (6pm).

Tickets and details from www.armonico.org.uk/ whats-on.

For busking stops and how to donate to the appeal please visit www.armonico.org.uk/bike2026.

Opposite page : Oz Clarke and founder director Christopher Monks

32 The Marshwood Vale Magazine August 2026 Email info@marshwoodvale.com Tel. 01308 423031

Tel. 01308 423031 The Marshwood Vale Magazine August 2026 33

Arts&Entertainment

34 The Marshwood Vale Magazine August 2026 Email info@marshwoodvale.com Tel. 01308 423031

Bardfest

in the Bride Valley

B

ardfest is an annual celebration of the ‘Bardic Arts’—poetry, storytelling, singing, drama, and music. Founded by author and academic, Dr Kevan Manwaring, with early versions of the annual gathering of Bardic friends going back to 1999, a year after he became Bard of Bath, he held the first one in Bridport in 2022, when he moved to the town. Initially a single evening event, Bardfest has now become a four-day programme, held over the August bank holiday weekend, 28-31 August, in the village of Puncknowle. Centred around Puncknowle and Swyre village hall, there are also events taking place in the beer garden of The Crown on Church Street, and in the surrounding area.

The programme starts on Friday 28th August with the Welcome Concert, running 7pm-10pm in the village hall. The evening features Prog-Rock by Frome-based guitar wizard James Hollingsworth, Americana by Simon Andrews, and enchanting poetry and storytelling local wordsmiths Izzy Darkwood and Monica Ciriani. Refreshments will be available by donation. There will be books and CDs for sale. Guests are invited to bring cash. Tickets are £15 in advance or £20 on door.

On Saturday, 29th August there will be the 1st Wessex Book Fair (featuring local authors and small presses) and an Art Exhibition, taking place 10am1pm and 2-4pm in the village hall. This will be free to enter. There will be the first Lunchtime Concert: The Fairies’ Bazaar—magical storytelling and poetry

by Izzy Darkwood (1pm-2pm, £10 on the door); and a Teatime Concert: Healing Waters—storytelling and poetry exploring holy wells and sacred rivers

by Kevan Manwaring (4pm-5pm, £10 on the door).

In the evening the Bardic Cabaret will be held in

the beer garden of The Crown. This will comprise music, storytelling and poetry in aid of the Dorset Wildlife Trust. It will take place between 6.30pm10.30pm. Bring a blanket if staying after sunset and cash for donations. Hot food and drink will be available from the bar.

On Sunday, 30th August, the second day of the Wessex Book Fair & Art Exhibition will take place (10am-1pm; 2-4pm, free entry) The second Lunchtime Concert will take place, this time featuring the sublime sitar of Ricky Romain (1pm-2pm, £10); and the second Teatime Concert, featuring Bards of Dorchester, Peter Roe and Rebecca Katya Danicic, with their show Giants & Kings, which celebrates the history and legends of Cerne Abbas (4pm-5pm, £10). The day ends with a Sunday Sing ‘n’ Strum in the beer garden of The Crown, Puncknowle (5-7pm, free). All welcome.

Bardfest ’26 ends on Monday, 31st August with A Folk Song Walk (Puncknowle) with folksinger Alastair Braidwood. Meeting outside The Crown at 11am, this 2 hour walk explores the local landscape via folk ballads. Participants are asked to wear suitable footwear and clothing, and to bring water and a packed lunch. Tickets are £12 in advance.

Accompanied children go free. Well-behaved dogs on lead are welcome.

There are discounted advance tickets available: Gold Weekend Ticket: £50 – entry to all events; Silver Ticket: £25 – entry to 3 events; and Bronze Ticket: £10 – entry to 1 event. These can be purchased direct via Paypal: kevanmanwaring@ yahoo.co.uk For individual bookings, book via Eventbrite (booking fee).

Tel. 01308 423031 The Marshwood Vale Magazine August 2026 35

Opposite page Craig Ogden © Olivia Wild. Above Art Exhibition and Festival Director David Juritz © Olivia Wild.

Below: Atea Wind Quintet.

B

urton Bradstock celebrates a vast spectrum of music with the 44th annual music festival, running this year from 16th to 21st August, the heart of a nine day festival, which includes an exhibition of art and ceramics from the south west at the historic village hall.

The music programme, led by the artistic director, violinist David Juritz, is based in the village’s beautiful St Mary’s Church, but the festival music starts with the now-traditional tea party in the rectory gardens, on Sunday 16th, followed by festival evensong in the church.

Musical polymath David Gordon, a composer, jazz pianist and one of the UK’s most in-demand harpsichordists, opens the main programme as the Castaway, at St Mary’s on Tuesday 18th at 11.30am, talking about his unusual and varied career—and studying logic.

The 7pm concert features the “folk-horror songstress” Amelia Coburn, who hails from Middlesborough on Teeside, whose honest, occasionally hilarious and quintessentially northeastern persona disarms and beguiles in equal measure. Drawing inspiration from gothic literature and the shadowy allure of film noir, there is a darkness at the heart of many of her songs, populated by vivid characters and nocturnal creatures that inhabit the liminal space “between the moon and the milkman”.

The late night (9.45pm) concert has the trio of Craig Ogden, guitar, David Juritz, violin and Milos Milivojevic, accordion in a programme called Monks, a Monastery and a Pilgrim with music from Dowland to contemporary composer Carlo Domeniconi.

Wednesday’s lunchtime concert with picnic platter in the rectory gardens is already sold out, but at the time of writing there are still tickets for the evening’s jazz concert, featuring singer and tap dancer Lucy Dixon and the country’s finest jazz violinist Christian Garrick, and a late-night recital with husband and wife Natalia Lomeiko, violin, and

36 The Marshwood Vale Magazine August 2026 Email info@marshwoodvale.com Tel. 01308 423031

Yuri Zhislin, viola and their pianist daughter Anya Zhislin.

At noon on Thursday, Songs and Dances features six festival musicians playing works by Malcolm Arnold, Gershwin, Ravel and Otto Mortensen.

The Festival Players’ evening concert includes quintets by Sam Reider, Hans Gal and Mozart. The Festival Players also join David Gordon, piano, percussionist Paul Cavaciuti and Sandy Burnett, bass, for a romp through musical time—including Dowland, de Falla and Miles Davis.

The concluding gala concert, on Friday at 7pm in St Mary’s, has the full festival orchestra playing Wagner’s Siegfried Idyll, Sweeney’s accordion concerto “Winter”, Vivaldi’s concerto for four violins in B minor, Glazunov’s Meditation and de Falla’s Suite No 1 from The Three-Cornered Hat. The art exhibition, from 15th to 23rd August, is put together by a small committee, this year led

by Liz Orza, who has succeeded the long-time chairman Wendy Hart. The revenue from the sale of the art and crafts in the show goes towards funding the festival and to support art education workshops in the local area.

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August

GALLERIES

1 - 29 August

Until 5 August

Until 2 August

Until 8 August

Cliff Towler is a contemporary British wildlife artist, landscape painter, and photographer based in Dorset and Cornwall, South West England. Born in Poole in 1957, he is renowned for his highly detailed, vibrant, and realistic depictions of British wildlife and coastal scenes. He is an active fellow of the Dorset Artists Guild. Cliff will be exhibiting his wildlife paintings on the walls at Mangerton Mill from Wednesdays to Saturdays for the month of August. Mangerton Mill, Mangerton Lane, Bridport, Dorset DT6 3SG. Kaleidoscope Eight artists, all living within 15 miles of Eype, have come together to celebrate the colours and landscapes of the Jurassic Coast in a new exhibition. Wessex Artists will present their work at Eype Centre for the Arts. It features original prints, paintings and drawings by Alison Boyland, Sally Bowsher, Richard Corbett, Jane Coxhill, Deborah Harris, Tash Hayball and Hank Harp. Kaleidoscope is on daily from 10:30am - 4:30pm at Eype Church, near Bridport, DT6 6AR. Artists will be there every day and art is for sale priced from £50 - £1000.

2 August - 29 September

The Wider Circle The artists’ collective, The Wider Circle, is made up of poet James Sale, multimedia artist Angela Perrett, calligraphy artist Judith Warbey, mixed media artist Linda E Sale, and digital artist Mark Burden. Each of the artists has created work inspired by poet James Sale’s books of poetry, The English Cantos. The work includes vibrant glass art, 3D calligraphy art, contemporary surrealist and pop art, and mixed media works. Monday to Sunday, 11am - 5pm. Athelhampton House and Gardens, Athelhampton, Dorchester, Dorset DT2 7LG.

38 The Marshwood Vale Magazine August 2026 Email info@marshwoodvale.com Tel. 01308 423031

Landmarks 2026 the Colours and Patterns of Dorset – an exhibition of vibrant paintings by Hilary Buckley. After three previous successful shows, this will be the fourth solo exhibition of vibrant paintings by Hilary Buckley, a Lyme-Regis-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.

Constable Generations 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of John Constable RA, inspiring exhibitions nationwide celebrating one of Britain’s most beloved landscape painters. In 1816, Constable and his wife Maria Bicknell spent part of their honeymoon in Osmington, Dorset, establishing a lasting family connection with the county. Generations brings together works by John Constable’s descendants: the late Richard Constable, his daughter Sasha Constableand her son Valya Constable, alongside selected pieces by other family members. The exhibition celebrates a remarkable artistic lineage, their Dorset connections and the enduring creativity of the Constable family across generations. Tuesday - Saturday, 10am - 4pm. Dorchester Arts, Dorchester, High East Street, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 1HF.

Until 15 August

Many Worlds, One Mind Gordon Cheung. The exhibition brings together key works from across Cheung’s practice, exploring his distinctive approach at the intersection of art history, global economics, and technology. Influenced by Chinese philosophy and European painting, Cheung’s work

reflects a cross-cultural perspective shaped by his London upbringing and Hong Kong heritage. CLOSE Gallery, Hatch Beauchamp, Somerset TA3 6AE. Thursday 11-4.

Friday 11-4. Saturday 11-3. Or by appointment, please email info@closeltd.com.

15 - 31 August

Cockney Lines: The Paintings of Jim Buckingham Jim’s cockney family has a common and uncommon history.

The exhibition traces the lines of his legacy through memorabilia, portraits and abstract explorations of ancestry.

Open daily 10.30 — 16.30. Sou’-Sou’-West Gallery, Symondsbury Eastate, Bridport DT6 6HG. Contact: 07708 852 067.

Until 22 August

Punk Bridport This exhibition of Adrian Boot’s photographs explores the raw, unfiltered spirit of punk rock through a series of powerful images that capture the scene’s energy, attitude, and urgency. The work focuses on punk in the UK and USA as both a visual and a cultural movement, highlighting its fast, confrontational nature and its uncompromising rejection of established social and cultural norms. 10am-4pm, Wed-Sat. Allsop Gallery, Bridport Arts Centre, 9 South St, Bridport DT6 3NR. Free (voluntary donation to Bridport Arts Centre).

Until 24 August

EX14 1LX. thelmahulbert.com / 01404 45006. Free admission.

Until - 5 September

To mark their 20th Anniversary Sladers Yard Gallery is showing work by the painters, ceramic artists, printmakers, sculptors and furniture maker Petter Southall who have all contributed to make it the artistic community that it is. This is a celebratory selling exhibition that brings everyone together from David Inshaw to Philip Sutton and from Richard Batterham to Gabriele Koch. Including collages by Marzia Colonna, paintings by Frances Hatch, Vanessa Gardiner, Alex Lowery, Tim Nicholson, Janette Kerr, Julian Bailey, Simon Quadrat and many more, prints

by Sally McLaren, Martyn Brewster, Merlyn Chesterman and Howard Phipps, sculpture and drawings by Clare Trenchard, ceramics by Yo Thom, Björk Haraldsdóttir, Emily Myers, Lise Herud Braten and more it will be a voyage of discovery and re-discovery. The Georgian flax warehouse, Sladers Yard was converted into an art gallery in 2006 by Petter Southall and Anna Powell who have run it with a great team ever since. The Café opened in 2007 and is now an acclaimed and award-winning seafood restaurant. Sladers Yard Contemporary Art & Craft Gallery, West Bay, Bridport, DT6 4EL. Open Wednesday to Saturday 10am – 4.30pm Tel: 01308 459511 Website: sladersyard.co.uk. www.instagram.com/sladersyard.

The Longest Yarn exhibition Following the success of the original The Longest Yarn 80-metre depiction of the D-Day landings, this new exhibition continues the project’s mission of bringing history to life through large-scale, handcrafted textile art. Come and see this powerful 80-metre textile installation that explores the social history of the Second World War — learn how ordinary people coped, endured, and adapted during years of wartime hardship and change. The exhibition also features life-sized, hand-crafted “Army of Duty Calls” figures, honouring those who served both at home and on the front lines. 10am - 4pm. Nothe Fort Barrack Road, Weymouth, Dorset DT4 8UF.

Until 29 August

Printmaking Tradition and Transformation Exhibition celebrating 30 years of the Double Elephant Print Workshop featuring contemporary works by Double Elephant members showcasing printmaking processes. Tuesday to Saturday, 10 to 5. Thelma Hulbert Gallery, Dowell St, Honiton

GALLERIES IN SEPTEMBER send your gallery details to info@ marshwoodvale.com

BY AUGUST 14th

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August PREVIEW

Su Gilroy with scenes from some of the many productions she has directed

Reviving summer rep LYME REGIS THE summer rep season, often in a seaside theatre, used to be a staple of this otherwise quiet part of the theatrical calendar. But over the years—war, political turbulence, changing taste in entertainment—the support declined and the genre almost died.

Two theatres, coincidentally both on the Jurassic Coast and about 25 miles apart, continue the tradition of two or three months of plays, changing every week, at Sidmouth’s Manor Pavilion Theatre and the Marine Theatre at Lyme Regis.* Director Su Gilroy, whose eponymous company stages the Marine’s season, now in its third year, relishes the challenges for actors and back-stage of putting different plays on every week and stresses the importance of choosing plays that audiences will want to come and see.

Putting on a summer season of five plays is a lot of work, she says, and it wouldn’t be possible without the help of so many people—‘from the actors and stage management team on the season to everyone who works at the theatre, who helps us technically, 40 The Marshwood Vale Magazine August 2026 Email info@marshwoodvale.com Tel. 01308 423031

and with ensuring everyone knows the plays are on, the volunteers, who sell the tickets and greet our audiences every evening; and the good people of Lyme, who have been so incredibly welcoming and appreciative, and very helpful in lending us props, furniture, and costumes for our plays!’

Su is a dramaturg and freelance theatre director, working in theatre for more than 30 years, with more than 50 productions to her credit, from short rehearsed readings to full scale productions in number one venues. Her early career included time spent as a runner for a film production company, a blue-coat on a holiday camp, a drama counsellor on an American summer camp and a background artist on TV. In a rep season, each play is rehearsed for a week, and at the Marine performances are on Thursdays, Fridays, Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. ‘We try and make sure that the season has something for everyone, so there is a variety of plays on offer,’ she says. ‘We also try to make it so that if someone is on holiday for a week, there are two plays that they can see in that week, and that those plays are very different, so hopefully they’ll like at least one of

them. I love stories, and each of the plays has a very different story, so as you go from play to play, you’re going from story to story, and the stories keep it fresh.’

Weekly rep, with its severely restricted rehearsal time, means there is ‘a practical limit on what you can do in the rehearsal process. There is much less time for anything to evolve, but the actors always bring so much to it, ways to make the characters into real people.’ Actors usually come to rehearsal more or less knowing their lines and Su as director will have worked out the moves (called “blocking”).

‘Sometimes this can be taken from the script—the French’s acting editions of the scripts have the moves from the original production written in. Following those directions used to be known as acting “en français”!’

Choosing the plays is ‘one of the really tricky parts of the season,’ she says. ‘I think of it as being a threedimensional jigsaw puzzle—there are so many things to take into consideration. First and foremost, they have to be plays that people will want to come and see—plays that have popular appeal. That generally means comedies, thrillers and some drama, and some that cross genre—this year the Alan Ayckbourn play we’re staging, Communicating Doors, is a time-travelling comedy thriller.’

Designing the sets is complicated—closing one play on a Wednesday and opening the next on Thursday means the set has to be simple, so some have minimal scenery, while the thriller Dead Guilty will have a traditional box set. The final play, the very funny Ladies Day will be performed in-the-round, on the auditorium floor with the audience all around.

The numbers of actors and stage management team are the biggest element in the budget for the season. The largest cast (seven) this year is for George Bernard Shaw’s Arms & the Man, ‘but as there will be no royalties to pay on that, I can afford a slightly larger cast.’

For a director, a rep season offers the chance to work on many different plays. ‘Every time you do a new play you learn something new, which is always exciting.’

For the audience, there is not only the opportunity to enjoy several plays over a short time, but also to see the same actors in different roles—one actor, Victoria Porter, is in all five.

Su is a theatre person to the heart of her being— she loves directing, even under the pressure of summer rep, and she enjoys the ability as a producer to choose the actors and the plays: ‘Arms & the Man is a play I’ve always wanted to work on, so I’m really looking forward to that.

‘The Marine is such a lovely theatre, in such an idyllic spot, and who doesn’t want to spend their summer by the seaside? Lyme itself is such a pretty

town, and I never get tired of that view as you come down the high street with Lyme Bay in the background.’ * There are a few other summer rep seasons, led

by Frinton Summer Theatre, founded in 1934 and believed to be England’s oldest surviving festival staging a new play weekly over eight weeks, Sheringham Little Theatre in Norfolk, which has been going for 65 years, and Oxford’s Creation Theatre which goes on the road in the summer taking classic stories to beautiful open air venues. Sidmouth’s summer-long rep began in 1958.

Summer madness BRIDPORT IF you loved the sounds of ska, exemplified by the band Madness, don’t miss Bridport Musical Theatre Company’s summer show, Our House, on stage at the Electric Palace from 26th to 29th August, with a 2.30pm matinee on Saturday 29th.

Meet Joe Casey, on the night of his 16th birthday.

Hoping to impress Sarah, the girl of his dreams, Joe breaks into a building site overlooking his home on Casey Street to show her the view across London.

When the police arrive, Joe faces a life-changing decision: stay and face the consequences, or run.

In that moment, Joe’s life splits in two. We follow Good Joe and Bad Joe as two parallel stories unfold, one shaped by responsibility, the other by rebellion, building towards an explosive and emotional climax.

Written by Tim Firth, whose credits include Neville’s Island, Kinky Boots and Calendar Girls, Our House is the Olivier Award-winning jukebox musical featuring the songs of the ska and pop band Madness.

Down the rabbit hole with Artsreach BUCKLAND NEWTON TREEHOUSE Theatre, a company that specialises in interactive performances and workshops, comes to Dorset with Artsreach, the county’s rural touring charity, with performances of Alice in Wonderland at Buckland Newton village hall on Wednesday 12th August at 10.30am, and an afternoon show at Cranborne’s Cecil Memorial Hall at 3pm.

Specialists in history and great story-telling, Treehouse aim to introduce young people to the magic and drama of live theatre, in an inclusive and accessible way. Their production of Lewis Carroll’s great story is a madcap adventure with peculiar creatures and chaotic fun.

Lost in Wonderland, Alice meets a very late White Rabbit, gets caught up in a crazy tea party, and plays a game of croquet with a tyrannical Queen—but will she ever find her way home? Expect a colourful and interactive show filled with excitement, laughter and live music, where you can even play a part on Tel. 01308 423031 The Marshwood Vale Magazine August 2026 41

Nasty Fishmonger is a fist-raising, fearsome fivesome of folk-punk coming to Bridport in August stage if you want to! Up to 30 audience members can volunteer to join the cast on stage—arrive from 10am in Buckland Newton, and 2.30pm in Cranborne if you’d like to take part.

Punk rebooted BRIDPORT BRIDPORT is celebrating the raucous, chaotic, energetic, musical blast that was punk, with an exhibition and gigs on the theme of Punk Bridport, running to 22nd August. As part of this, there is a two-band gig at the arts centre on Friday 21st August, in collaboration with Clocktower Records.

Nasty Fishmonger is a fist-raising, fearsome fivesome of folk-punk from Bristol. With a new album in the works, and a slew of festival appearances under their belt, they continue to win new fans and friends everywhere they go with their rousing antiausterity anthems. They have become firm festival favourites after blistering sets at Boomtown, Shambala, Bearded Theory, Beautiful Days and more.

Hailing from the south coast, Pussyliquor is a rambunctious five-piece promising “pleasant sounding music and a stream of consciousness that unfortunately they can’t turn off—all nonsense, completely missed the point punk music delivered with a smile and a satirical twist.”

The events run alongside an exhibition of photographs by Adrian Boot, who recalls: “UK punk erupted in 1976 like a cultural thunderbolt, driven by economic despair and a fierce rejection of the rock establishment. The Sex Pistols lit the fuse, while the Clash broadened punk’s horizons with reggae, politics and social conscience. Bands like the Damned, Buzzcocks, and Siouxsie and the Banshees added their own voices to a scene that was short-lived but seismic,

42 The Marshwood Vale Magazine August 2026 Email info@marshwoodvale.com Tel. 01308 423031

reshaping British music, fashion, and attitude for decades to come.”

This exhibition explores the raw, unfiltered spirit of punk rock through a series of powerful images that capture the scene’s energy, attitude and urgency. Hard to believe this all began 50 years ago! Where has the time gone?

Remembering Martin and more LYME REGIS LYME Regis Folk Weekend returns from Friday 28th to Sunday 30th August, with a lineup that includes a celebration of one of the all-time great folk singers and a tribute to a folk star who died too young.

Eliza Carthy comes to the Marine Theatre on Friday 28th with a group of musician friends to perform the Songs of Martin Carthy. Following the unexpected recent retirement of her father, his daughter Eliza has drawn together an ensemble of varied and talented musicians, all of whom have played a role in Martin’s long and outstanding career.

These artists, who may include Nick Hart, Tim Van Eyken and Eliza’s son Finn Curran Carthy, will share the stage with her, honouring and celebrating Martin’s immense legacy and musical back catalogue.

On Saturday, the Sandy Denny Project is brought to the stage by six musicians—Sally Barker, Marion Fleetwood, PJ Wright, Gemma Shirley, Mat Davies and Mark Stevens. With every passing year, Sandy Denny’s reputation as a songwriter and interpreter of traditional material continues to grow.

Sandy Denny, briefly a member of the Strawbs, but best-known as the charismatic singer and songwriter with Fairport Convention, died at the tragically early age of 31 after a fall down a flight of stairs.

The two concerts on Sunday 30th begin at 1pm

Eliza Carthy comes to the Marine Theatre to perform the Songs of Martin Carthy in August with Ophelia, the latest musical story created

by Bob Whitley (guitars and mandola) and Lee Mackenzie (cello). Known for their previous musical explorations, Magellan: Circumnavigation and Anne Boleyn: Wolf at the Door, the pair have now turned their attention to tell a story of “love, treachery and tragedy”, inspired by Shakespeare’s Hamlet.

The evening features Dorset-based favourites Ninebarrow, who are patrons of the festival, with friends Honey & The Bear and Becki Driscoll.

Not the angry Osborne BUCKLAND NEWTON AND DRIMPTON IF the name John Osborne says “angry young man” to you, think again. The John Osborne who is coming to Dorset with Artsreach on 12th and 13th August wants to spread a little happiness!

Already familiar to Artsreach audiences with his John Peel’s Shed solo show, the poet and storyteller returns with a new show, To Make People Happy, on Wednesday 12th at The Gaggle of Geese at Buckland Newton, at 8pm, and Thursday 13th at The Royal Oak, Drimpton, at 7.30.

Tel. 01308 423031 The Marshwood Vale Magazine August 2026 43

Screen Time with Nic Jeune

Top Six at the Flix Sun is out and sitting under the shade of an old oak tree whilst reading the latest edition of Marshwood Vale is much to be preferred to a darkened cinema, so here are my favourite films that I have watched in the last 12 months.

Sentimental Value (2025) Mubi.

Following a failed father and filmmaker attempting to connect with his daughters by turning the former family home into a set, Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value is a subtle yet sweeping tapestry of art, family and connection that takes the breath away.

TheWrap. Chase Hutchinson Train Dreams (2025) Netflix.

A Western epic of breathtaking visual splendor and formidable lyrical cinematic poetry, it’s a work containing all the wondrous, devastating layers of an entire life, which it explores with a gentle grace without hiding from the agony that comes with it.

TheWrap. Chase Hutchinson One Battle After Another (2025) Sky In years to come, when this appears on TV late at night, it’ll be impossible to switch off. It’s just one of those films. A stone-cold, instant classic. Empire. Alex Godfrey Sinners (2025) Apple TV It’s a sweaty, intoxicating, all-nighter of a movie, and its allure cannot be denied.

TheWrap. William Bibbiani Secret Agent (2025) Mubi It’s a major achievement, and for my money, sure to be one of the best films of the year.

The Hollywood Reporter. David Rooney The Voice of Hind Rajab (2025) BFI player It is deliberately punishing material, channelled through unapologetic, galvanising film-making. Politicians should see it.

Decision-makers should see it. The Times.

Kevin Maher

Let’s face it, there has never been a better time for an uplifting show, something to cheer us all up. Poet and Bard of Barnsley Ian McMillan calls Osborne’s work “beautifully written, funny and poignant”.

To Make People Happy explores the humour section of secondhand book shops, jokes overheard on market stalls and finding the positives in life, even if that means finding friendship with your end-of-life carers and sharing a love of Chas and Dave with a taxi driver after the world’s least appealing wedding. With audio clips of moments guaranteed to make an audience happy, this is a poetry show with a difference.

Unpredictable from the Pyrenees HONITON NOTHING Concrete, a six-piece band based in the French Pyrenees, led by Scottish songwriter Fergus McKay, comes to the Beehive centre in Honiton on Saturday 22nd August.

Rooted in original songwriting, the band brings together a wide range of influences, blending blues, world music, jazz, cabaret, folk and swing into a sound that is both distinctive and hard to categorise. The music is deeply danceable, often witty and always alive with a sense of mischief and purpose.

The songs often carry a political edge, but never lose their sense of humour or playfulness. That balance of substance and style has helped define a band identity that feels eclectic yet coherent, adventurous yet accessible.

In 2025, they released their fourth album, The Imperfectionist, to widespread praise, with reviews calling it “a masterpiece” and “joyful, nostalgic and just a little unpredictable.”

Your music, your way BSO COMPETITION NON-professional musicians and instrumentalists across the UK are invited to enter their home recordings for the second annual BSO Music-Making Competition, which returns for a second year, sponsored by Lark Music. Entry is free and the closing date for applications is 3rd September.

The panel of industry judges includes broadcaster and writer Tom Service, guitarist Dagan Wilkin, and presenter Helen Arney.

Winners will be announced in the autumn. With a prize pot of £3,000, the process is simple—simply submit one short video from any genre via bsolive.com/create.

There is a £1,000 cash prize for each age category, spanning 1824, 25-39, and 40 plus. Performances which display confidence and control will impress the judging panel, with notes and rhythms that feel clear and intentional—as will recordings displaying musicians at ease with their instruments.

Winners of the 2025 inaugural event included student Amy Jerman from Wareham, counsellor and manager Llewella White from London and former art teacher Rob Johnston from Southsea.

The winners deepened their creativity, aspiring to record projects and experience more live music.

Dougie Scarfe, the BSO chief executive says: “The BSO MusicMaking Competition exists to get people creating music—to pick up a new instrument, or revisit an old one, and simply start playing.

If you’re over 18 and music isn’t the day job, then this is for you.

Feel free to let your creativity roam, taking any genre or musical

44 The Marshwood Vale Magazine August 2026 Email info@marshwoodvale.com Tel. 01308 423031

The Young Lit Fix Traitors’ Nest

By Frances Hardinge Published by First Ink Hardback £16.99 Age 12+ Review by Nicky Mathewson

A riotous adaptation of The Pickwick Papers, comes to Dorchester in August instrument as your starting point.”

Lark Music, sponsor of the competition, is a specialist insurance provider dedicated to protecting musicians and their instruments.

Through its partnership with the BSO, Lark Music is proud to support the Music-Making Competition and wider initiatives that give more people the opportunity to play, perform and be heard.

Find out more about Lark Music’s support of the BSO and the Music-Making Competition at larkmusic.com/bso For full details and to enter, visit bsolive.com/create—entries close on Thursday 3rd September.

Whatever the weather ...

DORCHESTER RAIN or Shine theatre live up to their name—they perform whatever the weather. So, despite the July heatwave, be prepared for possible August storms when they roll into town with their summer 2026 show, a riotous adaptation of Charles Dickens’ The Pickwick Papers, coming to Maumbury Rings at Dorchester on Sunday 16th August at 6pm.

Journey into a delightfully chaotic and quintessentially Victorian world. Misadventure and merriment collide in a whirlwind of Dickensian absurdity! Join the lovable Mr Pickwick and his eccentric band of companions as they bumble their way through confusing courtships, courtroom shenanigans, questionable duels and carriage rides gone terribly wrong.

Expect fast-paced wit, slapstick, more multi-rolling mayhem and a cast of larger-than-life characters in this new and hilarious adaptation by Jon Legg.

GPW

LEGEND has it that the Great Game began when the magpie maiden first shared her secrets with a man close to death after being defeated in battle, a man who yearned for power that was not yet his.

The magpie maiden showed him her castle, a real castle, not just a stockade built from earth and timber, and promised to show him how to build such a thing for himself.

In return the magpie maiden and her kin should always be welcome in all of the castles and those who dwell in them should always “remember those to whom you owe your power”.

A pact was formed and the man gained the power he craved but along the line of time, one of his descendants broke the pact, so the Great Game began and the castles began to move. Faceless lords in an otherworldly competition for power became the masters of fate for those on earth.

For teenager Burr and his younger sisters who have lived in the shadow of only one castle, things are about to change. Their loyalty will be tested and in order to survive a tumultuous game, they will have to dig deep to find their courage.

Captivating historical fantasy fiction from a master storyteller.

10% off for Marshwood Vale readers at The Bookshop on South Street, Bridport. 01308 422964 www.dorsetbooks.com Tel. 01308 423031 The Marshwood Vale Magazine August 2026 45

The Box

OUTRAGEOUS

Review by John Davis

Outrageous A six-part drama series available on BBC IPlayer.

Written by Sarah Williams, directed by Joss Agnew and Ellie Hayden.

G

iven the need to spark immediate interest in any new drama venture, I can well see why the word ‘Outrageous’ was chosen to headline this new series. It is based on Mary Lovell’s

biography of the The Mitford Sisters which, particularly to the uninitiated, would have been far too tame a sobriquet.

Some background first. The six Mitford sisters are the daughters of Lord and Lady Redesdale (affectionately known as Favre and Muv), downat-heel but landowning aristocrats who live at the stately pile in Oxfordshire.

The girls, Nancy, Pamela, Diana, Unity, Jessica and Deborah, in terms of seniority, are numbers

46 The Marshwood Vale Magazine August 2026 Email info@marshwoodvale.com Tel. 01308 423031

one, two, four, five, six and seven in the family tree.

The Redesdale’s only son, Tom, occupies position number three and, hereditary being what it was in those days, he stands to inherit the title. (See spoiler at the end or not as the case may be.)

With such a large family group, the action is seamlessly able to switch from one character to another although, because of their fame and/or notoriety, several siblings demand more dramatic attention than the others. Eldest daughter Nancy, a novelist (Love in a Cold Climate), narrates and acts like glue to bind the whole thing together. Diana is best known for her association and later marriage to Sir Oswald Mosely, the leader of the British Union of Fascists (Blackshirts) in the 1930s, and Unity for her time spent in Munich and her love affair with all things Nazi. Jessica, the communist, swings as far to the left as Unity does to the right. She was later to fight for the Republicans in the Spanish Civil War, while Pamela, the quiet daughter, seems the only one capable of actually making enough money to be self-supporting. Deborah remained very much an aristocrat and later, as the Duchess of Devonshire, is well-known for her efforts to transform the estate at Chatsworth House.

While the attention to detail in the costumes, interior décor and locations is impressive, the opening episode of the series can seem a little frivolous and glitzy-reminiscent of the roaring twenties. But stick with it, the production matures with time to present a brief yet perceptive insight into aristocratic life during the period immediately before the Second World War while also attempting to reflect some of the serious political issues that pre-occupied Britain both at home and abroad.

The cast list is impressive. James Purefoy and Anna Chancellor anchor the production as Lord

and Lady Redesdale, Bessie Carter (Nancy) is both feisty and conciliatory while Shannon Watson (Unity) has that air of reckless abandon that only comes with youth. Joanna Vanderham (Diana) captures the characters’ fluctuations between arrogance and vulnerability while Joshua Sasse is both suave yet menacing as Sir Oswald Mosley.

Interesting subtleties in the script include Unity scratching a swastika on the pew of an Oxfordshire church and Pamela’s solitary European road-trips in an open-top car. Disappointing though are the sparse crowd scenes, a handful of soldiers in ill-fitting SS uniforms and a distant shot of searchlights which is intended to represent the mass hysteria of the 1936 Nuremberg Rally. Robert Daws does several brief but passable impressions depicting Churchill but a non-speaking Hitler is only seen from the back when Unity waylays The Fuhrer in his favourite Munich restaurant, Osteria Bavaria and later in fuzzy long shots.

The question of how a group of women, seemingly all brought up in the exactly the same way in an identical environment, could develop into such a clan of rebels remains an enigma but, given that many of the sisters went on to live into their seventies and beyond, subsequent series, dare I suggest, may come somewhat closer to providing a solution.

Footnotes: Tom, the third born of the Mitford family, never did inherit the title, Lord Redesdale.

He was killed fighting the Japanese in Burma in 1945 before his father had died. The title passed to Tom’s uncle.

An executive producer on Outrageous was Matthew Mosley, the great grandson of Sir Oswald Mosley.

Tel. 01308 423031 The Marshwood Vale Magazine August 2026 47

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

May 26

Ex Display sheds. Stables, Fieldshelters, Garages, Summerhouses, Offices, Workshops, Agricultural. 01935 891195 Nov 26

WRITING

CHIMNEY SWEEP

WANTED WANTED: Vintage collections, job-lots & estate items. (Antique, wartime, toys, Motoring, advertising, Curio & interesting items) Seeking larger collections (typically £300+ in value).

Fair offers & instant cash payments.

Friendly approach, no obligation & Free Home Visits. Discrete Local Buyer. Darren 07875 677 897 May 26

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

Dec 26

Wanted Old tractors.

Any condition 4x4 pick-ups, estates, Peugeot 205D. Complete clearance undertaken. Tel. 07971 866364 Mar 27 Coin & Stamp Collections Wanted.

Discerning collector / investor seeks pre-war collections of stamps and coins. Individual items considered. Tel Rod on 07802261339.

Sept 26

Dave buys all types of tools 01935 428975 Jan 27

SPECIALIST BUILDING

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.

48 The Marshwood Vale Magazine August 2026 Email info@marshwoodvale.com Tel. 01308 423031

DISTRIBUTION

Health&Environment

West Dorset Carers Group ARE YOU A CARER looking after someone affected by mental health issues? West Dorset Carers is a small friendly and welcoming group with various lived experiences, caring for someone affected by mental illness.

While the charity Carers UK suggests that 1.7 million people in the UK are providing 50 or more hours of care per week, there are few opportunities for carers to gather and share their experiences.

The West Dorset Carers group is run by volunteers and they meet on the first Monday of the month at the Chapel in the Garden in Bridport from 3.30 to 5pm.

It is a safe space where people can come and talk, in confidence, get support or just have time and space and enjoy tea and biscuits in a calm quiet setting. Anyone wishing to learn more should contact: westdorsestcarers@rethink.org.

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Tel. 01308 423031 The Marshwood Vale Magazine August 2026 49