Marshwood + November 2022

‘Milton Impossible’ in Bridport Page 42

Ritualistic Voodoo Brouhaha in Dorchester Page 41

Lord David Owen on Britain and Russia Page 36

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© Binny Mathews Photograph by Robin Mills

The best from West Dorset, South Somerset and East Devon No. 284 November 2022

COVER STORY Robin Mills met Binny Mathews in Beaminster, Dorset

© Binny Mathews Photograph by Robin Mills

’I

was born in Dorchester Hospital, and my first years were spent close to nature living in a caravan in Warmwell. My parents were house hunting; in the days before the internet you had to go and look at property in person. They eventually found a house in Portesham and my tom-boy childhood was spent go-carting and climbing trees around there. The village roads in the early 60s were unmetalled and I’d bump along as a passenger in my parents’ motorbike and sidecar.

My early education, at the progressive Portesham school, was unconventional. It was an experiment run by Dorset County Council in an attempt to nurture an individual’s creativity and identity and allow freedom of education. It was here that I was allowed to spend a whole term creating a huge papier-mâché dinosaur - and not much else!

Although it nourished my creativity, it was also a disaster because when I did the 11+, without knowing what it was, I spent the entire exam doodling. As a consequence, I ended up in a class in Weymouth for children with learning difficulties. I moved to various schools around Dorset, where my mother would also take teaching positions. A few times when she was unable to teach, she asked me to take her geography class – which sparked a long fascination with education.

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Binny Mathews I painted our whitewashed cottage in Winfrith with huge murals celebrating the royal wedding of Charles & Diana.

It became a bit of a tourist attraction. I also made a giant icy polar bear walking in front of the cottage one year when we had heavy snow. I think I liked the idea of celebrating any event by creating a spectacle for anyone passing.

At this tender age I was also working in a cafe at Durdle Door, tipping chips into customers’ laps and unknowingly scrubbing the non-stick off pans in the kitchen. I hadn’t a clue what I was doing but it gave me money to go off to Bournemouth to buy flares and boob-tubes. My Dorset childhood was idyllic and I have no doubt that, rather like Hardy’s Bathsheba, Dorset’s natural bounty underpinned an innate understanding of the visual world around me.

After an art foundation course at Bournemouth College, I went to Farnham Art College where I shared my halls of residence with twelve men. They would put their stomachs onto the table and draw around them and then every term do it again to see how much their beer bellies had grown. Farnham had some very good tutors but at the time the climate was very minimalist and abstract with no figurative content at all.

I found this exasperating and even spent a term just blowing glass. There were only two of us in our year that wanted to do figurative work and funnily enough we are the only two that are still painting today.

After painting a life model that was more portrait than object, a tutor pointed out

that I should be a portrait painter and the rest is history!

For my last year, I tried to get into the Slade, but despite getting an introductory letter from Elizabeth Frink, I didn’t even get an interview. So I went to Brighton to do teacher training. For the next twenty years I was a lecturer in fine art in various art schools and a portrait painter.

After painting portraits in Dorset of Martin Bond of Holme Priory and the Jaggard family, I wholeheartedly entered into the London art scene which, in the late 80s, was buzzing with champagne and money, people and parties. The ethos seemed to be ‘You’ve got the Porsche and now you need the portrait’. I was lucky enough to exhibit a number of works, including my portraits of Donald Swann and the Dilworth Sisters, at the National Portrait Gallery and others at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition.

I have always been inspired by the people around me; it’s a never-ending source of intrigue as portrait painting is intensely personal. I spend a great deal of time with my subjects, really getting to know them. It’s a very intimate process, investing huge amounts in being with and looking at the sitter, beyond even the way a spouse might look at their partner.

People often tell me things they might not have told anyone else. Two people came out to me as gay and another confided she was pregnant and didn’t know what to do about it. I’m very careful with the details I share; it’s like an unspoken rule that these conversations are private. The relationship I have with that person is unique to that moment

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and environment. One person told me that sitting for her portrait was the most important moment in her life. In my portraits, I endeavour to hold these abstruse contradictions between intimate personal struggles and their public presentation.

The atmosphere in the room and the atmosphere between me and the sitter is truly informative. It has an emotional effect on me, and then I tend to paint in the manner of the person I’m painting. I have to be open, a sponge, a conduit. And I think it gets embedded in the portrait. I might go as far as saying the sitter paints their own portrait.

Each portrait comes with its own story.

Normally I would just take a single canvas with me but I remember on one occasion bringing two and when I arrived at Castle Drogo, the gentleman I was going to paint was helping me carry my things when he accidentally put his foot through one of the canvases. I have no idea what made me bring a second canvas that day; I never had before and never have again.

On another occasion arriving for a different commission, a livery company this time. I was kept waiting for so long that I decided to come in to see what was going on. I was told to go through the tradesman’s entrance but I ignored that and went on up this very grand staircase, only to find the sitter was waiting for his valet to dress him. I said, ‘Come on, I’ll dress you’, and just got on with it, which he apparently found both disturbing and exciting.

There have been so many fascinating people that I have painted. I painted

© Binny Mathews Photograph by Robin Mills

Donald Swann, the composer, who was well known as part of Flanders and Swann.

He was unusually vulnerable with me; sometime during the painting of him, he told me he had a deep water dream where I had eaten him. He would sometimes pause sitting to compose at the grand piano behind us in the room. He was dying of cancer when I painted him and he had a Georgian cruciform sitting behind him on the mantelpiece. I composed the portrait around this cross, depicting his mercurial moods, artistry and philosophical intellect.

I painted the fascinating writer John Fowles twice. Although he didn’t report any strange dreams as a result, he did attempt to play some interesting psychological games with me. In the painting, he held a wooden orb in his hand.

Between sittings, he would change how he held the orb, refusing to acknowledge

the change, despite the proof I had in my painting! I wonder if he found the artist role reversal discombobulating.

I’m an avid people-watcher. My most significant painting (pictured behind me on the front cover) of the Dillworth sisters came from observing two sisters on a station platform. I was fascinated by their interaction; complacent but connected.

I expressed this in my painting by subtle asymmetry within the obvious symmetry of the girls and the backdrop.

Once I moved back to Dorset and had my children, my portrait painting took a back seat to family life. I found myself doing many of the same things with my children that my mother had done with me - although I didn’t follow them from school to school as a teacher. There is obviously something genetically passed down as my two boys, Rufus and Quentin,

are a sculptor and painter respectively; my uncle, my mother and my sister all went to art school. But I think that nurture is crucial and that with the right encouragement, any child can learn to express their creativity.

It’s fun to watch my children doing many of the things I did when I was their age. I’m surprised my maternal instinct is so strong in me; I never expected to feel so fulfilled by motherhood. We’re a strong trio, incredibly supportive of one another. We have a studio in Lyden Way, Beaminster, where the boys and I work and exhibit together. Our next show is 2-17 December 2022. I am still taking commissions and I am working on a project at the moment that I can’t talk about. But once that is complete, I may look to work with one of the London galleries again.

’

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UP FRONT With all the chaos in Westminster, we could be forgiven for being distracted from the challenges of day-to-day life, but that’s not an option. The ups and downs of our own small lives go on and we have to deal with personal trials regardless of government absurdity. Sadly, this month we said goodbye to Cecil Amor who passed away at the end of September. Cecil first began his column for this magazine in 2007 and his local history and at times autobiographical articles were very popular. He will be sadly missed. We will be publishing a tribute to Cecil in our next issue. I imagine he might have enjoyed many of the items on this month’s pages, particularly our interview with Lord David Owen, a fellow historian. Lord Owen’s book Riddle, Mystery, and Enigma: Two Hundred Years of British-Russian Relations delves into the history of British relations with Russia and the Soviet Union in the past 200 years. Reading it last week, I couldn’t help thinking how difficult it is becoming for other countries to see modern-day Britain as a force for change or stability in today’s world. With a government in disarray and no guarantee of a steady hand on the horizon, it seems hard to imagine Britain as a power on the world stage for some time. Hopefully, that will change. Also in this issue, Dr. Sam Rose, former CEO of the Jurassic Coast Trust tries to bring some clarity to the question of rewilding. As with many new initiatives, interpretation of the definition of a word can distract from the goal of the project. Words can be construed in more ways than one. Most of us can remember when Donald Trump’s press secretary, Kellyanne Conway, once said whilst answering questions about the turnout for his inauguration, that some people use ‘alternative facts’. There is no such thing, she was told, there are facts and there are falsehoods. But to be fair to those who enjoy dissecting nitty gritty, there are also grey areas. Which is why it’s always useful to have insight from those on the ground.

As Dr. Rose says in his article, rewilding is here to stay and ‘the fundamental principle underlying it is that of allowing natural processes to act to help biodiversity recover’. Rewilding is not, as one local wit suggested to me this week’ ‘another word for reinventing the same government’.

Fergus Byrne

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

THIS MONTH

3 10 24 25 26

Cover Story By Robin Mills Event News and Courses News & Views Nature Studies By Michael McCarthy The R word: What’s in a name? By Dr Sam Rose

28 28 30 32

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

34 34

35 36

Food & Dining Parsnip & Chilli Soup with Cardamom Crumbs

By Lesley Waters Winter Grayling By Nick Fisher Braised Beef Short Ribs with Red Wine and Carrots

By Mark Hix

38 Arts & Entertainment 38 Riddle, Mystery and Enigma By Fergus Byrne 40 Galleries 42 Preview By Gay Pirrie Weir 46 Screen Time By Nic Jeune 47 Young Lit Fix By Nicky Mathewson

48 Health & Beauty 48 Who will look after the grandchildren By Fergus Byrne 50 Services & Classified “If at first you don’t succeed, redefine success.”

Like us on Facebook

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Editorial Director Fergus Byrne

Contributors

Deputy Editor

Helen Fisher Nick Fisher Mark Hix Nic Jeune Russell Jordan Michael McCarthy Robin Mills

Victoria Byrne

Design

People Magazines Ltd

Advertising

Fergus Byrne info@marshwoodvale.com

8 The Marshwood Vale Magazine November 2022 Tel. 01308 423031

Gay Pirrie Weir Dr Sam Rose Antonia Squire Philip Strange Lesley Waters Ashley Wheeler

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

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

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

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

November

EVENTS AND COURSES 29 October

Bridport & West Dorset Rambling Club 8 mile walk from Smitten Corner. For further information please ring 01308 898484 or 01308 863340.

‘Halloween Spooky Trail and film’ Trail starts at 2pm, film from 3.30pm Tickets: Trail £1 per trail sheet, on the day, film £7 per person. Tickets from 01297 625699, www.thegatewayseaton.co.uk or in person Tue - Thur 10am - 1pm.

Axe Valley Centre, National Trust Autumn Fair 10.00-12.00 at Colyford Memorial Hall, cakes and produce, books, plants, crafts, bric-a-brac and Sidmouth National Trust Shop. Admission £1.00 including tea/coffee and biscuit.

Mark Simmons: Quip Off The Mark As Seen on Mock The Week, BT Sport and ITV, ‘Master of one-liners’ 8pm Bridport Arts Centre, South Street, Bridport, DT6 3NR. White Tara 2:1s Stour Row Village Hall, Stour Row nr.

Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 0QG £60 per individual session please book via ahiahel@live.com 01935 389655.

30 October

East Devon Ramblers 10.00. 10.5 miles moderate walk. Shipton Gorge. 07759-324849.

Dorchester Repair Cafe 10-12 am in Brewery Square at The Seventh Seal. Bring your broken things for volunteers to repair.

Details on Instagram/Facebook @dorchesterrepaircafe.

Singing Bowl Soundbath 2pm-4pm Oborne Village Hall, Oborne, nr. Sherborne, Dorset DT9 4LA £15 please book via ahiahel@live.com 01935 389655.

Bridport Vintage Market St Michael’s Trading Estate, Bridport.

31 October

Scottish Dancing in Chardstock Evening of Scottish Dancing in Chardstock Village Hall 7.30 - 10.00 p.m. Cost £2.00 Contact David on 01460 65981 www.chardscottishdancingclub.org.

Bridport Folk Dance Club dance sessions from 7.15 to 9.30 on Monday evenings in the W.I.Hall. Occasional live music. All welcome especially beginners. Tel 458165 or 459001 for details.

Grace Petrie Protest singer Grace Petrie has an army of loyal fans across the alternative, folk, political and comedy scenes. 7:30pm Bridport Arts Centre, South Street, Bridport, DT6 3NR. Illustrated talk by well-known garden and travel writer Rosemary LeGrand – Lyrical-La Mortella. Talk about the Italian island garden of the late Sir William and Lady Walton and the gardens of Capri and Pompeii. 2.30 pm at United Church Main Hall, East Street, Bridport. Members £2.00, Visitors £5.00. Information 01308 459855.

1 November

Scottish Country Dancing at Ashill Village hall Nr Ilminster TA19 9LX every Tuesday evening from 7.30 to 9.30 pm. £3.00 per evening. Further information contact Anita on 01460 929383 or email anitaandjim22@gmail.com.

2 November

West Dorset Ramblers Moderate 8 mile walk taking in Puncknowle, Chilcombe and Hammiton. Contact 07952 517764.

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East Devon Ramblers 10.00am 8 mile moderate walk. Colyton.

01395-488959.

Bridport Scottish Dancers will meet for an evening of social dancing at 7.30. Church House, South Street, Bridport, DT6 3NN. All welcome, no partner required but please wear soft shoes. £2.00 which includes tea/coffee & squash (please bring your own mug). Contact: Malcolm on 07790 323343. Check out bridportscottishdancers.

Scottish Country Dancing every Wednesday evening at Ash Village Hall Nr Martock TA12 6PB from 7.30 to 9.30 pm. Hot drink and biscuits at the interval. Further information contact Anita on 01460 929383 or email anitaandjim22@gmail.com. All welcome.

3 November

Dance Connection restorative movement practice, Bridport St Mary’s, 07787752201, danceconnectionwessex@gmail.com.

National Theatre Live: ‘The Seagull’ (12A) -doors at 6.30pm, starts at 7pm. Tickets £13.50 adult £7 age 15 & under. Tickets from 01297 625699, www.thegatewayseaton.co.uk or in person Tue Thur 10am - 1pm.

Archaeology for the Autumn ‘Face the Past 2’. A 6 week course 2pm-3.45pm. Fee: £96. East Dorset Heritage Trust, Allendale House, Hanham Road, Wimborne Minster BH21 1AS. Tatworth Flower Club have Ash Stockton as our demonstrator Doors open at 2pm and we raffle the arrangements. There is also cake and tea for a donation. On 1st December we have the famous Pam Lewis as our open Christmas demonstrator. £10 non members.

Christmas Flower Arranging Demo by Angie Blackwell of Cottage Flowers - 3rd November 2022 at 2.30pm. Morcombelake Gardening Club - JH Hall, Morcombelake, contact J Coates 01297 678303 for more details. Free for Members, Guests £4 on the door.

Only Human (2004, Spain, 15, 89 mins, Subtitles, Directors: Dominic Harari) Doors 6:45 pm, 7:30 pm start. Clapton & Wayford Village Hall (TA18 8PS).). Membership £25, guests £5 per film.

Contact mickpwilson53@btinternet.com or ring Mick Wilson on 01460 74849 or Di Crawley on 01460 30508.

West Dorset Ramblers Moderate 10 mile walk around Winterbourne Stickland and Stourpayne. Contact 07715 760884.

Life in the Lias Seas new Discoveries using the Lyme Regis Museum Collection The Friends of Lyme Regis Museum are hosting this talk by Dr Paul Davis, museum geologist, on 3rd November 2022 at 2.30 pm in theWoodmead Hall, Hill Road, Lyme Regis, DT7 3PG. Admission £2 for members, £3 for visitors.

Tickets not required. For enquiries please contact David Cox 01297 443156.

Dorset lunch with a bring and buy sale and a raffle. Soup and Apple Cake £5 per head. Loders Village Hall 12pm – 2.30pm.

Contact Rosemary Hendry, 01308 426698 or rosemaryhendry@ hotmail.com.

3 - 5 November

Agatha Christie’s The Hollow presented by Honiton Community Theatre Company. 7.15pm The Beehive Honiton www. beehivehoniton.co.uk 01404 384050.

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November

EVENTS AND COURSES 4 November

East Devon Ramblers 10.00am. 6 mile moderate walk. Woodbury common. 07812-433184.

Local Band Jess Upton, Robbie McIntosh and Steve Wilson to perform at Eype Centre for the Arts, 7.30 – 10.30 p.m. Cost £13.50 Tickets: https://concertsateype.eventbrite.com. Venue: St. Peter’s Church Eype DT6 6AP. Bar available and plenty of parking.

Or contact: Simon@eypechurcharts.co.uk or see https://www. eypechurcharts.co.uk.

5 November

Bonfire Big Breakfast full English breakfast + fruit juice, toast, tea/coffee; advance booking advisable, £6.50; on the door, £7.50. 9 – 11.30am, at Clapton & Wayford Village Hall. Further information from Julia (01460 72769) or Adrienne (01460 75313).

The Friends of Weymouth Library (F.O.W.L.) monthly talk will be held in the library (DT4 8NM) at 10-30 a.m. The speaker will be Brian Margetson and his subject is his search for his great grandmother’s farm in East Germany. Admission fees are £3 for non-members and £2 for members. Contact no. for F.O.W.L. speakers secretary is 01305 832613.

Bridport & West Dorset Rambling Club 6 mile walk from

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Portesham. For further information please ring 01308 898484 or 01308 863340.

Fireworks The Friends of Perrott Hill and North Perrott Cricket Club from 5:30pm to 8pm. Hot Food & Drink. Licensed Bar. North Perrott Cricket Club Bar open 8pm til late. Tickets: Child under 3 Free; Child aged 3-16 £5; Adult £10; Family, 2 Adults and up to 3 Children £25. Advance Tickets from North Perrott Farm Shop & School Reception. Tickets also available on the Gate.

Indoor Bowls Session at the Bridport & W D I Bowls Club St Andrew’s Trading Est. DT6 3EX. Every Sat in Nov from 10 - 12 noon. All equipment and tuition provided. (1st session FREE) Tel. Arthur 01308 425278.

6 November

Dance Connection Dance Day Workshop, 07787752201, danceconnectionwessex@gmail.com.

East Devon Ramblers 10.00am. 12 mile strenuous walk.

Branscombe. 01395-445872.

Film: Limbo 7.45pm Warehouse Theatre, Brewery Lane, Ilminster Contact: robrainbow5@gmail.com.

7 November

Scottish Dancing in Chardstock Evening of Scottish Dancing in

Chardstock Village Hall 7.30-10.00 p.m. Tea and coffee provided but please bring your own mug. No partner required. Cost £2.00 Contact David on 01460 65981 www.chardscottishdancingclub.org.

Hawkchurch Film Nights in association with Devon Moviola, proudly presents ‘Operation Mincemeat’ (122 mins, Cert. 12).

Doors open 6.30pm, film starts 7.00pm at Hawkchurch Village Hall, EX13 5XD. Ticket reservations £6 from csma95@gmail. com or leave a message on 01297 678176 (socially-distanced seating available if booked in advance) or pay at the door.

Art lectures for the Autumn 2pm-3.30pm, ‘Observing the everyday and new approaches to British painting’. 6 consecutive wks course. United Hall East St, Bridport. Fee £65. 1950’s British Art and culture. Contact Pam to book via email: chris. pamsimpson@btinternet.com or tel 01300 321715. The same course runs on Fridays online via Zoom 2pm, fee £60.

Bridport Folk Dance Club dance sessions in the W.I. Hall on Monday evenings from 7.15pm-9.30pm. All welcome, especially beginners. Occasional live music, and always a caller. Tel: 458165 or 459001 for more information.

Indoor Bowls Session at the Bridport & W D I Bowls Club St. Andrew’s Trading Est DT6 3EX Every Mon in Nov from 7.30 9.30 pm. All equipment and tuition provided. (1st session FREE) Tel. Arthur 01308 425278.

8 November

West Dorset Ramblers Leisurely 5.5 mile walk from Mapperton Hall. Contact 01308 538101.

Laughter and Loss: British Artists in WWII a lecture by James Russell. The Beehive, Dowell Street, Honiton EX14 1LZ at 2pm. www.theartssocietyhoniton.org.uk. Email: info@ theartssocietyhoniton.org.uk. Visitors welcome at £10 each, please email for details.

Seasonal crafting workshop with local artist Sara Butterworth, making sustainable and novel decorations. Loders Village Hall, Time 7.30p, Cost £5 toward materials. Tea and coffee and cake served after. Further info see: LodersWI.org.

Scottish Country Dancing at Ashill Village hall Nr Ilminster TA19 9LX every Tuesday evening from 7.30 to 9.30 pm. £3.00 per evening. Further information contact Anita on 01460 929383 or email anitaandjim22@gmail.com.

9 November

East Devon Ramblers 10.30. 7.5 miles leisurely walk. Otterton.

01395-266668.

Colyford Memorial Hall at 2.30 pm. Talk by Kay Townsend entitled “Fairgrounds at War 1939-45. Members £1.00 nonmembers £2.00 including refreshments.

Bridport Scottish Dancers will meet for an evening of social dancing at 7.30. Church House, South Street, Bridport, DT6 3NN. All welcome, no partner required but please wear soft shoes. £2.00 which includes tea/coffee & squash (please bring your own mug). Contact: Malcolm on 07790 323343. Check out bridportscottishdancers.

Scottish Country Dancing every Wednesday evening at Ash Village Hall Nr Martock TA12 6PB from 7.30 to 9.30 pm. Hot drink and biscuits at the interval. Further information from Anita on 01460 929383 or email anitaandjim22@gmail.com. All welcome.

9 - 10 November

Operation Mincemeat (12A) Kilmington Community Cinema will be screening at the Village Hall (EX13 7RF). Doors open

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

BY NOVEMBER 12

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November

EVENTS AND COURSES 6.45 film starts 7.15. Matinee on Thursday 10th doors open 1.45pm film starts 2pm advance booking required for this matinee, limited seating, cream teas (£3) available if booked with the ticket reservation. Tickets can be pre-booked by email: wattsjohn307@ gmail.com or Tel: 01297 639758 see www.kilmingtonvillage.com/ other-organisations.html for more information.

10 November

Dance Connection restorative movement practice, Bridport St Mary’s, 07787752201, danceconnectionwessex@gmail.com.

National Theatre Live: The Seagull (12A) Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones) makes her West End debut in this 21st century retelling of Chekhov’s tale of love and loneliness. 7pm The Beehive Honiton www.beehivehoniton.co.uk 01404 384050.

11 November

East Devon Branch, Devonshire Association A photographic journey around the SW Coast Path; Gary Holpin, a professional photographer, will describe how an initial fascination with walking the SW Coast Path led him into a career change. He will take us on an illustrated journey around the Coast Path and describe his many and varied experiences over the last few years as he has completed the route; 2.30pm, Manor Pavilion Theatre Sidmouth EX10 8RP;

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contact Brian Ludford 01395 513232 or edevon.sec@devonassoc. org.uk.

Operation Mincemeat 7.30pm at the upper site of Holyrood Academy. Tickets £5 in advance from Eleos, Barron’s & the PO or online at Ticketmaster/ cinechard. Holyrood has well-lit free parking, level access, tiered seating and refreshments.

Snazzback explode onto the dance-floor with an exciting mix of latin, African rhythms and dubstep. 8.00pm, Marine Theatre, Church Street, Lyme Regis DT7 3BG. More: www.jazzjurassica. co.uk.

Lyme Regis u3a at 11am at Woodmead Hall, Lyme Regis My TV Times – 40 years behind the scenes: Eric Harwood. We are guaranteed an entertaining hour. Guests of the u3a are welcome for a donation of £2. Details available on www.lymeregisu3a.org East Devon Ramblers 10.00am. 6 mile moderate walk.

Aylesbeare common. 07706-078143.

Mrs. Harris goes to Paris (PG) The enchanting tale of a widowed cleaning lady in the 1950s, who falls in love with a couture Dior dress. 7.30pm The Beehive Honiton www.beehivehoniton. co.uk 01404 384050.

‘See How They Run’ (12A) Picnic Night screening, 7th - doors 6.30pm, Screening 7.30pm. Tickets £7. In the West End of 1950s London, plans for a movie version of a smash-hit play come to an abrupt halt after the film’s Hollywood director is murdered.

When world-weary Inspector Stoppard (Sam Rockwell) and eager rookie Constable Stalker (Saoirse Ronan) take on the case, the two find themselves thrown into a puzzling whodunit within the glamorously sordid theatre underground, investigating the mysterious homicide at their own peril.Tickets from 01297 625699, www.thegatewayseaton.co.uk or in person Tue - Thur 10am - 1pm.

The Ile Valley Flower Club present A Christmas Demonstration by the popular Pam Lewis from Devizes Titled The Bell’s Ring out for Christmas Tickets £12 Broadway Village Hall close to Ilminster.

Doors open at 1.30 pm for a 2. pm Start. Tickets are Available by phoning 01460 75025/67149/419755.

Firelight Trio Scotland based ensemble Firelight Trio play European folk music that is evocative, inventive, and endlessly exciting. With over 25 years of experience as professional musicians in bands including Moishe’s Bagel, Gavin Marwick’s Journeyman and more, Firelight Trio’s repertoire is built upon a bedrock of European folk music, encompassing both traditional material and superb original compositions which are strongly influenced by the band members individual, diverse and broad musical experience.

Driving fiddle and stately nyckelharpa meet deep accordion grooves in a rich tapestry of lively Swedish polskas and Scottish reels, lilting French waltzes, toe tapping klezmer, dazzling original tunes and more at 7.30pm Wooton Fitzpaine Village hall DT6 6ND with European Food on sale from Claire’s Country Kitchen food van from 6.45. Tickets £10 from www.artsreach.co.uk or from 01297 560948.

12 November

The Odyssey The fabulous Dave Mynne brings to Shipton Gorge

a tale of gods and monsters more exciting than excitement itself.

A love story. The journey of all journeys. To Hell and back again.

Meet a host of exciting and daft characters including a one-eyed Cyclops, Circe the sorceress and the terrifying sea god Poseidon.

Based (very loosely!) on the epic poem by Homer, with all the boring bits removed. Utterly compelling and laugh-out-loud funny.

Recommended age 12+. Cash bar. 7.30pm Venue: Shipton Gorge Village Hall Tickets: £10, £5 (u18s), £25 (fam 4 – max 2 adults) online at www.artsreach.co.uk For enquiries, call 01308 897407.

Lyme Bay Moonrakers ‘Songs for the Wellerman’ 7.30pm. Royal Manor Theatre, Portland.

Bridport & West Dorset Rambling Club 6 mile walk from Netherbury. For further information please ring 01308 898484 or 01308 863340.

Riviera Dogs – Back to the 80s - Gig doors 7.30pm, show 8pm tickets £20. The Gateway is excited to welcome back the amazing Riviera Dogs, a 5 piece band based in South West England who deliver quality music from the decade that taste forgot. They are guaranteed to keep you dancing all night!

Tickets from 01297 625699, www.thegatewayseaton.co.uk or in person Tue - Thur 10am - 1pm.

Prize bingo Raffle tea and cakes children’s games doors open 2pm eyes down 2.30 Maiden Newton village hall.

Yarcombe village market 10- 12 noon in Yarcombe village hall. Local produce stalls – cakes,pies and pasties, plants,eggs, metalwork and woodwork , gifts and bric a brac, christmas gift ideas and much more ..tea, coffee and cake stall – any queries – Helen 07858625421.

Guardians of Martock Church Concert The Glastonbury Brass Band. The Band perform a variety of music from popular songs to a traditional brass band repertoire. An excellent opportunity to see a first-class band. Martock Church; TA12 6JL.

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November

EVENTS AND COURSES Performance time: 7:30pm Tickets: £12 or £10 at Guardianstickets@gmail.com /Martock Gallery/ Martock Newsagent www.martockonline.co.uk/events www.facebook.com/ glastonburybrass.

Dalwood Jazz. “Three Good Men” The music of Benny Goodman featuring Nick White (from the Chris Barber Jazz Band) on clarinet, James Clemas - keyboard & Jim Newton - drums.at 3pm Dalwood Village Hall EX13 7EG (near Axminster) Bar for beer/wine/soft drinks and tea & coffee etc. Parking at the Village Hall. Ticket £12.50p info: t.mackenney111@btinternet.com 07999 553477.

13 November

East Devon Ramblers 10.00am. 11 mile moderate walk. Ashclyst forest. 07792-024346.

Lyme Bay Chorale sing Duruflé’s Requiem for Remembrance Sunday. Free with a retiring collection in aid of the Royal British Legion. Lyme Regis Parish Church at 4pm.

Robert Vincent at The Ilchester Arms Symondsbury 5pm (doors open at 4.30) and lunch is available before the show from 12 - 4pm. Tickets are £12.50 - Call us on 01308 422600 to book Fresh Fiction – Fire Fresh Fiction is a series of new short story nights read live by writers at The David Hall, South Petherton, Somerset. Original short stories on a theme are hand-picked from writers across Somerset and surrounding counties. 7.30pm. The David Hall, Roundwell Street, South Petherton. Somerset TA13 5AA. Contact details for tickets www.thedavidhall.org.uk.

14 November

Devon & African Enslavement at Emancipation an impartial look at the evidence’. 7pm Hawkchurch Village Hall Doors open from 6.30pm. Todd Gray.

Dorchester Townswomen’s Guild Meeting 2 p.m. Richard Cunningham from the Royal National Lifeboat Institute will be the Speaker. The meeting will take place in Dorchester Community Church, Liscombe Street, Poundbury, DT1 3DF. Enquiries 01305 832857.

Bridport Folk Dance Club If you like exercise, socialising and maybe learning something new, then come along to our dance sessions in the W.I. Hall on Monday evenings from 7.15pm9.30pm. All welcome, especially beginners. Occasional live music, and always a caller. Tel: 458165 or 459001 for more information.

West Dorset Flower Club will be holding a demonstration by Nicky Heal entitled “Christmas at Home”. This will take place at the WI Hall in North Street, Bridport at 2.30 pm. Visitors welcome, entrance £5. Further details 01308 456339.

Scottish Dancing in Chardstock Evening of Scottish Dancing in Chardstock Village Hall 7.30-10.00 p.m. Tea and coffee provided but please bring your own mug. No partner required. Cost £2.00 Contact David on 01460 65981 www.chardscottishdancingclub.org.

15 November

West Dorset Ramblers Moderate 8 mile circular walk in the area of Frampton. Contact 07498 604486.

Barrington and District Gardening Society Barrington Village Hall 7.30pm. Talk – ‘Conservation on the Somerset Levels’

16 The Marshwood Vale Magazine November 2022 Tel. 01308 423031

by Damon Bridge, RSPB. Members free, Guests welcome £2.

Refreshments and raffle. More info: 01460 54691.

The Lyme Regis Society present A Talk The Lyme Regis Boat Building Academy: Behind the Workshop Doors by Will Reede at 2pm Woodmead Halls, Hill Road, Lyme Regis. DT7 3PG. All Welcome. Members Free. Visitors £3.00. Refreshments Included.

Check website for further information: www.lymeregissociety.org. uk.

Beaminster Museum Winter Talk 2.00pm. One of the most dramatic shipwreck disasters on an English shore will be the subject of a talk by Dorset writer, Philip Browne. Entry £5.

Scottish Country Dancing at Ashill Village hall Nr Ilminster TA19 9LX every Tuesday evening from 7.30 to 9.30 pm. £3.00 per evening. Further information contact Anita on 01460 929383 or email anitaandjim22@gmail.com.

16 November

East Devon Ramblers 10.00am. 10 mile moderate walk.

Broadhembury. 07922-651426.

Coffee Morning including croissants, cakes, and bacon rolls, 10.30am – noon; all welcome. Clapton & Wayford Village Hall.

More details from Julia (01460 72769).

Colyton & District Garden Society Talk - ‘Bulbs and their Selection’ by Micky Little from Avon Bulbs. Colyford Memorial Hall at 7.30pm. Members free, guests £3. Information: Sue Price 01297 552362.

The Beehive Folk Café Perform or listen in the Beehive bar. Free entry. 7.30pm The Beehive Honiton www.beehivehoniton.co.uk 01404 384050.

Bridport Scottish Dancers will meet for an evening of social dancing at 7.30. Venue: Church House, South Street, Bridport, DT6 3NN. All welcome, no partner required but please wear soft shoes.

Cost: £2.00 which includes tea/coffee & squash (please bring your own mug). Contact: Malcolm on 07790 323343. Check out bridportscottishdancers.

Scottish Country Dancing every Wednesday evening at Ash Village Hall Nr Martock TA12 6PB from 7.30 to 9.30 pm. Hot drink and biscuits at the interval. Further information from Anita on 01460 929383 or email anitaandjim22@gmail.com. All welcome.

17 November

Dance Connection restorative movement practice, Bridport St Mary’s, 07787752201, danceconnectionwessex@gmail.com.

West Bay Memories Open Morning Join us for tea and coffee and share your memories of West Bay through the years with us and visit our new exhibition ‘ West Bay Memories’ at West Bay Discovery Centre 10:00am -12:00 noon. Admission free .Further details http://www.westbaydiscoverycentre.org.uk.

Illustrated talk popular speaker and local author Anne Mosscrop will give a lively and humorous ;account of her Himalayan trekking expedition. £6 includes cheese & wine; please book in advance if possible. 7.30pm, at Clapton & Wayford Village Hall. Further information from Mary (01460 74849).

India Electric Company Fabulous Indie Pop/Folk. 7.30pm The Beehive Honiton www.beehivehoniton.co.uk 01404 384050.

The Breeding Birds of the Bridport Area Talk by Professor Tom Brereton and Gavin Haig. Tickets £5 are available in person from West Bay Discovery Centre or in person or on-line from Bridport Tourist Information Centre. Further details http://www. westbaydiscoverycentre.org.uk.

Arts Society West Dorset Sadler’s Wells-The Theatrical Mothership. Speaker: Nigel Bates. 2.30pm Bridport Town Hall.

Visitors welcome-£7.50. Further details: www.taswestdorset.org.uk.

Antarctica, The Falklands and South Georgia – Birding in the Footsteps of Shackleton. 2.30pm at Bridport WI Hall, North Street. In support of Bridport Millennium Green. £5, Friends of BMG £4. Raffle. Details Sandra Brown 01308 423078.

Sea Shanty Sessions Marine Theatre, Lyme Regis. Devon Shanty Men, The Chantry Buoys start at 7.30pm. Tel 07761 469676.

Bridport & District Gardening Club monthly meeting is on at 7,30pm at the W I Hall North Street Bridport when Paul Atterbury returns to give a talk: Don’t be afraid of the Digger. The meeting is open to non members for a fee of £2.00 and further information can be found on the website bridportgardeningclub.co.uk.

18 November

Operation Mincemeat at 7.30pm Village Hall, The Causeway, Milborne St Andrew DT11 0JX. Doors and bar open 7.00.Tickets cost £5, which includes a drink or an ice-cream. It’s 1943.

John Law/Iain Ballamy – The Art of the Duo Pianist John Law, a regular at Tincleton, features the world-renowned Iain Ballamy, a multi-award winning saxophonist and composer and acclaimed ECM recording artist in this new duo. Tincleton Gallery, The Old School House, Tincleton, nr Dorchester, DT2 8QR. Opening / performance times: doors open 19:30; concert starts 20:00.

Admission fee: £15. Tel 01305 848 909. www.tincletongallery.com.

Lyme Bay Moonrakers ‘Songs for the Wellerman’ 7.30pm Gateway Theatre, Seaton.

Hamstonelive Presents “The Syrian Baker-Knowing Where You Belong” 8pm at Norton Sub Hamdon Village Hall.

Tickets available at Norton Community Shop. Adults £11; £6 Children( 12-16) or purchase online at takeart. org/event/the-syrian-baker (subject to a booking fee).

Ticket To Paradise (12A). 7.30pm The Beehive Honiton www.beehivehoniton.co.uk 01404 384050 Lyme Bay Moonrakers – music doors 7pm, starts at 7.30pm, tickets £12. Lyme Bay Moonrakers, a Lyme

Regis based vocal group of twenty men and women, bring you ‘Songs for the Wellerman’ Tickets from 01297 625699, www. thegatewayseaton.co.uk or in person Tue - Thur 10am - 1pm.

East Devon Ramblers 10.00am. 5 mile moderate walk. Seaton and Beer. 01297-552860.

West Dorset Ramblers Moderate 5.5 mile circular walk around the Giant Hill at Cerne Abbas. Contact 07974 756107.

19 November

Concert by the Axminster and District Choral Society of Gabriel Fauré’ Requiem and other works by him and César Franck with professional orchestra and soloists in the Minster, Axminster 7.30 pm. The concert will be conducted by Judy Martin. Tickets are £15.00 central aisle or £12 side aisles. Under 18s are half price. Covid-19 precautions will be followed including wearing of masks as appropriate and not attending if suffering from a cold or other symptoms. Tickets will be refunded if potential Covid symptoms prevent attendance or if covid rules change. BYO cushion! Refreshments will be available in the interval. Tickets may be purchased from Archway Bookshop, Trinity Square, Axminster (cash only), online via the link on the website, https:// www.axminsterchoral.co.uk/ or direct from members. There may still be some available on the door at the event. Registered charity no.900458.

John Law/Jon Lloyd – Renaissance Revisited Earlier in 2022 John Law and Jon Lloyd toured the UK for the Arts Council, appearing in major cathedrals such as Gloucester, Durham, Truro, Malmesbury Abbey and Christchurch Priory, presenting John’s project Renaissance, which mixes samples of sacred vocal music with electronics and improvised saxophone and keyboard. Tincleton Gallery, The Old School House, Tincleton, nr Dorchester, DT2 8QR. Opening / performance times: doors open 19:30; concert starts 20:00. Admission fee: £15. Tel 01305 848 909. www.tincletongallery.com.

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November

EVENTS AND COURSES Beaminster Museum 10.00 – 12.30, there is a bric-a-brac sale at the museum. Items for sale can be left at the museum on Friday mornings 10 – 12, or phone for collection - 863912. Anything decorative, useful or smallish; no clothes, furniture or electricals please.

Dorset Chamber Orchestra Mendelssohn Hebrides Overture Dvorak Serenade for Strings. Tchaikovsky Symphony No 5 Conductor Walter Brewster. St Mary’s Church, Edward Rd, Dorchester DT1 2 HL 7.30pmTickets £16, (18yrs and under £1) available from www.dorsetchamberorchestra.org.

Simon & Garfunkel Through The Years – live tribute. 7.30pm The Beehive Honiton www.beehivehoniton.co.uk 01404 384050.

Autumn Fair raffle tombola bric a brac jumble 2pm Maiden Newton village hall in aid of the Ivy Club.

Beginners Sewing Workshop 10 until 2 pm at Axminster Heritage Centre, Silver St , Axminster EX13 5AH. Contact for a materials list. Contact : gina.youens@btinternet.com or Axminster Heritage Centre on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays to book a place.

Bookbinding workshop 10am - 3.30pm. Hand made photo album - a portable boasting book for 6x4” photos. Suitable for beginners. £45, includes all materials. James Hargreaves Community Hall, Morcombelake, DT6 6EA. Details and booking: nesta@leafwork.co.uk or call - 07984 001830.

Bridport & West Dorset Rambling Club 8 mile walk from Powerstock. For further information please ring 01308 898484 or 01308 863340.

Liane Carroll the queen of British jazz , launches new jazz supper club in Seaton. Tickets include 2-course supper. 7.00pm, The Gateway, Fore Street, Seaton EX12 2LD. Booking essential. More: www.jazzjurassica.co.uk.

Art and Craft Fayre at Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre, DT6 6LL. 10.00 - 4.00 Raising money for the CHCC a small educational charity. Entry free.

Concert No.1 Ladies Accordian Orchestra returning to Bridport from across the U.K., playing tunes from around the 7.30 Bridport United Church East street, Bridport DT6 3LJ. Tickets £12 /£10 concessions from www. brown paper tickets.com/event/5578575or on the door. Tea and home-made cakes available. Check out our website page: www.no1ladiesaccordionorchestra.co.uk.

20 November

Bridport Chamber Orchestra Autumn Concert, 3 pm. Music for string orchestra by Nordic composers, including Grieg, Sibelius and Neilson, followed by teas. St Swithun’s Church, Bridport. www.bridportchamberorchestra.co.uk Tel: 01935 824786 for further information.

The Royal Opera: ‘A Diamond Celebration’ (12A) doors 1.30pm screening 2pm, tickets £13.50 adult, £7 age 15 & under.

The Royal Ballet’s dazzling Principles lead an evening not to be missed, their sparkling talents a perfect fit for a diamond anniversary. Tickets from 01297 625699, www.thegatewayseaton. co.uk or in person Tue - Thur 10am - 1pm.

Relate Dorset and South Wiltshire are holding a Christmas craft fair on Sunday 20th November from 2 – 4pm at their centre 18 The Marshwood Vale Magazine November 2022 Tel. 01308 423031

in Poundbury, Dorchester. Entry is free and it is indoors, so no need to worry about the weather! There will a range of local crafts people selling their products as well as a tombola and cake and drinks available. Money raised from stall hire, the tombola and refreshments will be used by Relate to help fund those who cannot otherwise afford it to access their services. They still have a few tables available to hire so email conference@relatedorset.org.uk if you would like a stall’.

21 November

West Dorset Ramblers Moderate 7 mile walk around Powerstock and Eggardon Hill. Contact 07952 517764.

Scottish Dancing in Chardstock Evening of Scottish dancing in Chardstock Village Hall 7.30-10.00 p.m. Tea and coffee provided but please bring your own mug. No partner required Cost £2.00.

Contact David on 01460 65981 www.chardscottishdancingclub.org.

Bridport Folk Dance Club If you like exercise, socialising and maybe learning something new, then come along to our dance sessions in the W.I. Hall on Monday evenings from 7.15pm9.30pm. All welcome, especially beginners. Occasional live music, and always a caller. Tel: 458165 or 459001 for more information.

22 November

Scottish Country Dancing at Ashill Village hall Nr Ilminster TA19 9LX every Tuesday evening from 7.30 to 9.30 pm.

Beginners, returners and dancers of all abilities are very welcome to come and join us . Biscuits and hot drink at the interval. please wear soft, flat comfy shoes if possible. £3.00 per evening.

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

Charles Dickens: Christmas and the Carol Dr Keith Hooper will present an entertaining and informative discourse on Dickens’ moral crusade to expose the plight of the poor in this talk for Seaton u3a. The talk will take place at The Gateway, Fore Street, Seaton at 2pm. All welcome. Entrance free for members; a charge of £2 for non-members will include refreshments. More information about the many and varied activities available to members can be found on or website: https://u3asites.org.uk/ seaton/home.

Bridport U3A Monthly Meetings & Talks Bob Ayers Charles Dickens & Ghosts in London. Bob Ayers was a City of London Police Officer for over 30 years and is well placed to highlight London locations which have a relevance to the works of Charles Dickens. Who knows what may await down a dark alley .... whoooo..! The talk begins at 2pm in the Bridport United Church Hall in East Street. The talk will last for about an hour and there will then be an opportunity to ask questions. Refreshments will follow. The talk is free to members and there is a £2 charge for non-members. Please see the Bridport U3A website for further information about this and future talks and if you are interested in becoming a member: bridportu3a.org.uk.

23 November

West Dorset Ramblers Moderate 7.5 around Rodwell and Castle Cove Beach. Contact 07826 150114.

East Devon Ramblers 10.00am. 8 mile moderate walk. Bickleigh

My Ballet—Ten Years On The therapeutic joys of ballet have attracted farmer’s wives, nurses, lawyers, psychotherapists, house keepers and business women over the last ten years.

What will the future bring?

My Ballet is a local dance company that specialises in teaching women the therapeutic joys of ballet and was founded by Carla Sheills in 2012. Ten years later nobody thought that farmer’s wives, nurses, lawyers, psychotherapists, house keepers and business women would still gather every week to learn ballet.

Carla runs groups in Winsham and The Bull Hotel in Bridport. Her programmes are tailored for all abilities with ages running from 19 to 90+. Carla says that over the last ten years it has been ‘a very organic process’. It is very inclusive.

‘Some did ballet when they were young and the experience never left them. Others have never done ballet before.’ There are eight groups and each group has its own identity.

My Ballet has also developed internationally in a very exciting way. Carla’s film Let me Dance, made by Justin Owen went viral and was seen by millions across the world including America, Australia, France, Italy, Holland, New Zealand and Brazil inspiring many groups. Carla was consulted by the Boston Ballet Company and the Royal Academy of Dance who subsequently started Silver Swans.

‘Ballet for adults is becoming a bit of a craze just as yoga did some years ago. Not surprising, because ballet brings with it tremendous health benefits which builds up your stamina, develops your core strength and gives you better balance. It can help prevent falls, improve agility and fitness.

It also keeps the little grey cells active…’

Carla trained in ballet in South Africa from the age six with the Royal Academy of Dance and when she came to England in 1994 she studied Dance Movement Therapy in Bristol. Since then she has pioneered a holistic approach to ballet classes which includes traditional barre work and centre practice. My Ballet is unique in that it combines two very different methods which has many therapeutic benefits. ‘It is not so much about what you look like, it is all about how you feel within yourself.’

Comments from her dancers show not only their commitment but the true value of dancing and the inherent benefits it gives including good posture and a sense of well being. ‘An oasis of beauty and peace’ that brings ‘Space and Joy’. It is also described as ‘A tremendous confidence booster.’

Carla uses ballet music to uplift everybody and she is helped by several very experienced teachers. Fiona Harvey was a Tutor for the Royal Ballet and former ballerina herself.

Salud Botella trained in ballet at the Valencia Conservatoire in Spain. She is also an accomplished flamenco dancer.

Christine Wylde has taught for 40 years and runs a My Ballet Zoom class from South Africa. Ele Hodgson has trained with My Ballet for over five years. She is also a ballet fitness instructor and an occupational therapist. Who knows what the next ten years will bring?

For more info email myballetuk@gmail.com or phone 07866 896978.

Photograph © George Wright

Tel. 01308 423031 The Marshwood Vale Magazine November 2022 19

November

EVENTS AND COURSES Mill. 01884-32039.

Uplyme and Lyme Regis Horticultural Society AGM and talk on Lyme Regis Town Mill. 7.30pm, Uplyme Village Hall. Short AGM followed by talk on how this medieval was brought back to life by the local community. Flour on sale. More information www. ulrhs.wordpress.com.

Dalwood Coffee Concert “Shiraz” Singer/song-writer Duo Shirley Ewart & Sharon Muhl from Dorset at 10.30am. St. Peter’s Church, Dalwood EX13 7EG (near Axminster) Free entry, coffee & biscuits. Retiring collection for local Cancer Charity FORCE info: t.mackenney111@btinternet.com 07999 553477.

Bridport Scottish Dancers will meet for an evening of social dancing at 7.30. Venue: Church House, South Street, Bridport, DT6 3NN. All welcome, no partner required but please wear soft shoes.

Cost: £2.00 which includes tea/coffee & squash (please bring your own mug). Contact: Malcolm on 07790 323343. Check out bridportscottishdancers.

Scottish Country Dancing every Wednesday evening at Ash Village Hall Nr Martock TA12 6PB from 7.30 to 9.30 pm. Hot drink and biscuits at the interval. Further information from Anita on 01460 929383 or email anitaandjim22@gmail.com. All welcome.

24 November

Dance Connection restorative movement practice, Bridport St Mary’s, 07787752201, danceconnectionwessex@gmail.com.

West Dorset Ramblers Leisurely 4.4 mile walk around Symondsbury Estate. Contact 01303 538101.

Alan Bowley’s talk, Wetlands, a Story of Change describes the new thinking that led to the Great Fen landscape project.

Alan Bowley worked for almost 40 years as a reserve warden on grassland, fen and woodland national nature reserves throughout England, where he oversaw major habitat restoration and wildlife research programmes. In 2001 he co-founded the Great Fen landscape project in East Anglia, which spear-headed a new approach to breaking down the barriers between nature conservation, farming and business, re- awakening our relationship with the natural world. 7pm start. Doors at 6pm, bar and hot snacks available. Sladers Yard, Contemporary Art, Furniture and Craft Gallery West Bay Bridport DT6 4EL www.sladersyard.co.uk. t: 01308 459511 e: gallery@sladersyard.co.uk.

Nostalgic Cinema: Chariots of Fire (PG) Dementia-friendly with subtitles. 2pm The Beehive Honiton www.beehivehoniton. co.uk 01404 384050.

Royal Ballet Cinema: A Diamond Celebration (12A) A dazzling showcase marking 60 years of the Friends of the Royal Opera House. 7.15pm The Beehive Honiton www.beehivehoniton.co.uk 01404 384050.

25 November

Somerset Wildlife Trust Ilminster/Chard group “From the Ocean to Otterhead – the Aquatic Wanderings of an Underwater Photographer”. Henley Spiers, professional photographer with a keen interest in underwater photography will give an illustrated presentation (probably including video clips) of his exploration of wetland habitats. Some of these are likely to be local and 20 The Marshwood Vale Magazine November 2022 Tel. 01308 423031

photography will be superb. www.henleyspiers.com. 7.30-9.00pm Parish Hall, North St. Ilminster TA19 0DG, roadside & town car parks. £3 SWT members, £4 non-members, no charge for children.

Sales table and raffle. Refreshments will be available. Enquiries Valerie Godsmark 01460 234551.

Cotley Christmas Fair Cotley Christmas Fair, The Tythe Barn, Cotley, Nr Chard Somerset TA20 3EP Doors Open 2pm until 7pm Handmade Christmas gift ideas, refreshments, free parking, free entry, charity raffle prize.

The Outfit is a slick crime drama, that will be shown by T & F Movies in Tatworth Memorial Hall at 7.30pm. It stars Mark Rylance, as a prim, English, master, taylor, who gets caught up in the underworld of 1950s Chicago. The doors open at 7.00 pm, there will be the usual bar and the entry charge is £5.

The History of Rock Exceptional live band celebrating Rock through the ages. 7.30pm The Beehive Honiton www. beehivehoniton.co.uk 01404 384050.

‘Mrs Harris Goes to Paris’ (PG) Picnic Night Screening, doors 6.30pm, screening 7.30pm tickets £7. Mrs Harris Goes To Paris is the enchanting tale of a seemingly ordinary British housekeeper whose dream to own a couture Christian Dior gown takes her on an extraordinary adventure to Paris. Tickets from 01297 625699, www.thegatewayseaton.co.uk or in person Tue - Thur 10am - 1pm.

East Devon Ramblers 10.00am. 5.5 mile moderate walk. Dorset.

07966-300919.

26 November

Chideock WI Christmas Fayre at Chideock Village Hall. 12 noon until 3.00pm. Entrance Free. Light lunch available plus cakes, produce and crafts.

Dorchester Repair Cafe 10-12pm at the Colliton Club in Trinity Street Dorchester. Refreshments available at the bar. Plenty of parking.

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

Film: Compartment No. 6 A Finnish student and an uncouth miner forge a hesitant connection when thrown together in a train on a journey across Russia. Time: 7.45pm Warehouse Theatre, Brewery Lane, Ilminster Contact: robrainbow5@gmail.com The Lost King (12A) The story of the amateur historian who became convinced that she knows the final resting place of King Richard III. 7.30pm The Beehive Honiton www.beehivehoniton. co.uk 01404 384050.

Cantamus presents ‘Angel Tidings’ beautiful choral music for Advent. St Mary Magdalene, Loders DT6 3RZ at 7.30pm. Tickets £10 on the door.

Christmas Craft Fair 2pm – 8pm Free entry. A lovely selection of craft stalls to look at and buy from. The café and bar will be open.

We will be selling mulled wine and mince pies!

Combe St Nicholas Art Exhibition in the village hall from 10.00 until 4.00 pm, the artwork is a result of a term’s work, a minimal entrance fee of 50p children free.

Flamenco Fiesta An evening of traditional flamenco dance

featuring Bridport based Salud Botella who will light up our November evening with her pasionate and fiery performance of traditional Andalusian flamenco folk dance. plus Special Guest Appearance of her husband renowned local author Jason Webster, “A clever, hugely readable interpreter of Spain” (The Independent), who will bring copies of his books. Bar and soft drinks available. 7.30pm Drimpton Village Hall. £10.00 per person, accompanied children under 16 free.

Advanced booking preferred. Bookings: Amanda Fogg 01308 868531.

White Tara Day 10am-5PM meditation workshop Oborne Village Hall DT94LA ffi www. centreforpuresound.org/events, www.white-tara.co.uk.

26 November - 8 December

Pop-Up Vintage in a different venue this year: The

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November

EVENTS AND COURSES Malthouse Gallery, Town Mill, Lyme Regis. 10.00am to 4.00pm everyday. All the usual lovely things, sourced, renovated, repaired and up-cycled by us so that you don’t have to. Shop at Pop-Up Vintage for a truly sustainable Christmas.

27 November

East Devon Ramblers 10.00am. 9 mile moderate walk.

Kilmington.07748-618089.

Advent Concert given by The Occasional Singers at 3.00pm St Mary’s Church, Edward Road, Dorchester DT1 2HL. St Mary’s Church in Dorchester will once again be filled with the glorious sounds of choral music, as the Occasional Singers perform a programme of Advent part songs. Taking us from 1600 through to the present day, the songs and carols will range from contemplative to joyful. Admission is free. There will be a retiring collection in aid of Weldmar Hospice at Home. Everyone is most welcome.

Singing Bowl Soundbath Oborne Village Hall DT9 4LA £15 advance bookings ahiahellive.com 01935 389655.

28 November

Scottish Dancing in Chardstock Evening of Scottish dancing in Chardstock Village Hall 7.30-10.00 p.m. Tea and coffee provided but please bring your own mug. No partner required. Cost £2.00.

Contact David on 01460 65981 www.chardscottishdancingclub.org.

Bridport Folk Dance Club If you like exercise, socialising and maybe learning something new, then come along to our dance sessions in the W.I. Hall on Monday evenings from 7.15pm9.30pm. All welcome, especially beginners. Occasional live music, and always a caller. Tel: 458165 or 459001 for more information.

UK Islands, Wildlife and Volunteering NT Golden Cap Association illustrated Talk by Colin Butcher. Colin and his wife and a small group of friends have been volunteering on small islands around the UK for over 20 years. Many of the islands are uninhabited and they have been checking on the wildlife and

22 The Marshwood Vale Magazine November 2022 Tel. 01308 423031

natural history which sustain these islands. United Church Main Hall, East Street, Bridport. 2.30 pm. Information from Mike Nicks 01308 459855.

29 November

Scottish Country Dancing at Ashill Village hall Nr Ilminster TA19 9LX every Tuesday evening from 7.30 to 9.30 pm.

Beginners, returners and dancers of all abilities are very welcome to come and join us. Biscuits and hot drink at the interval. please wear soft, flat comfy shoes if possible. £3.00 per evening.

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

Beaminster Museum Pauline Thorne, a museum volunteer, shares her research on Medieval Beaminster, 1330-1380: a time of change.

Examining how a Pandemic, Climate Change and a war in Europe changed the lives of the people of Beaminster and the surrounding villages! 2.00pm. Entry £5.

30 November

West Dorset Ramblers Moderate 8.6 mile walk through the villages around Beaminster. Contact 07715 760884.

East Devon Ramblers 10 mile moderate walk Dartmoor. 07940572330.

Bridport Scottish Dancers will meet for an evening of social dancing at 7.30. Venue: Church House, South Street, Bridport, DT6 3NN. All welcome, no partner required but please wear soft shoes.

Cost: £2.00 which includes tea/coffee & squash (please bring your own mug). Contact: Malcolm on 07790 323343. Check out bridportscottishdancers.

Scottish Country Dancing every Wednesday evening at Ash Village Hall Nr Martock TA12 6PB from 7.30 to 9.30 pm. Hot drink and biscuits at the interval. Further information from Anita on 01460 929383 or email anitaandjim22@gmail.com. All welcome.

Tel. 01308 423031 The Marshwood Vale Magazine November 2022 23

News&Views

BRIDPORT Popular bakery closes

Bridport residents were shocked to hear of the closure of popular bakery Leakers in October. Citing the energy crisis and the decision not to allow solar panels on the building, the owners said in a Facebook post: ‘It is with regret that we have made the very difficult decision to close the bakery.

Final orders will be taken over the coming days and our last day of shop trading will be Friday 14th of October 2022. ‘Sadly the current climate of escalating costs puts us in a position of uncertainty. In tandem with rising costs of raw ingredients, our energy costs particularly are unsustainable.’ The owners thanked customers for their loyalty over the last twenty years.

SOUTH SOMERSET Awards recognise volunteers

Dedicated volunteering groups have been praised after Yeovil Country Park, Chard Reservoir Local Nature Reserve and Ham Hill Country Park were awarded the Green Flag Award for another consecutive year. The award is the international quality mark for parks and green spaces. SSDC Health and Wellbeing Portfolio Holder, Councillor Mike Best said: ‘We are really proud to be recognised for our extraordinary countryside sites. Our dedicated and hardworking Countryside teams and volunteers are to credit for our success.’

EAST DEVON Rough Sleeper Initiative

A grant for more than £500,000 has been awarded to help tackle rough sleeping across East Devon. East Devon District Council (EDDC) has successfully bid for funding from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities through the Rough Sleeper Initiative.

The money has helped to provide a more stable platform allowing EDDC to finance and hire personnel. Councillor Dan Ledger, EDDC’s portfolio holder sustainable homes and communities, said: ‘With the cost-of-living crisis that we are currently facing as well as other winter pressures on the horizon, this funding is really welcomed.’

24 The Marshwood Vale Magazine November 2022 Tel. 01308 423031

DORCHESTER Climate Network plea

Dorset Climate Action Network has sent an open letter to Dorset’s Conservative MPs, urging them “to be more conservative” in their approach to the environment.

Following widespread recent coverage of threats to the countryside, wildlife and our rivers and beaches, DorsetCAN called on the county’s MPs to keep in place environmental regulations and controls that the new Government is promising to scrap.

The letter says that “…significant changes are being proposed by the Government which threaten serious harm to the environment and the future of our beautiful county”. To read the full text of the letter visit www.dorsetcan.org/mpletter

WEYMOUTH Down Memory Lane

103-year-old Ruby Morris got to relive the simple pleasures that were so important to her throughout her life by visiting Weymouth recently, all thanks to her carers at Cheriton Care Home. She wanted to sit on the beach with an ice cream, smell the sea air, and reminisce of times gone by. Once the landlady of The Rock, Ruby also visited the Old Boot Inn on High West Street. Pictured here in Herbert’s Photography shop in earlier times, Ruby was joined on the trip down memory lane by Sharon Best and Jo Casemore.

Ivy Bees © Photograph by Robin Mills

Nature Studies

By Michael McCarthy

H

ere’s an interesting zoological term: charismatic megafauna.

It’s used, sometimes slightly disparagingly, to denote the big beasts which have instant and widespread popular appeal, from lions and tigers to sperm whales and giant pandas; and the criticism inherent in the idea is that the big creatures tend to gobble up all the public attention, at the expense of lesser species which can be just as interesting, worthwhile or important.

I agree with that. I am a firm believer in charismatic minifauna too, and a perfect example came my way on a recent autumn morning of soft sunshine and still air, when my wife called me into the garden to cast an eye over what looked from a distance to be a swarm of wasps. Closer inspection showed they were not wasps; they were small bees, and perhaps 100 of them were flying up and down close to one of the edges of the lawn.

Such bees are not always easy to identify. Everybody knows bumblebees, of which we have 25 species, and honey bees, of which we have just the one; but hardly anyone other than specialists is aware of the other British bees, which do not live together in colonies but make solitary nests on their own.

This is not least because there are about 250 species of them: there are miner bees and mason bees, nomad bees and cuckoo bees, flower bees and plasterer bees and many many more. However, until relatively recently there was no comprehensive guidebook you could consult to work out which was which—the last one was The Hymenoptera Aculeata of the British Islands, written by Edward Saunders as long ago as 1896—and the vast majority had only scientific names, in Latin. So they remained under the radar for most people and have sometimes been referred to as the lost bees, or the forgotten bees.

Things changed in 2015 with the publication of Field Guide to the Bees of Great Britain and Ireland by the entomologist Steven Falk. This wonderful 400-page handbook has details of all our 275 bee species, with photographs of every one and paintings by the leading wildlife artist Richard Lewington, and not least, English names, more than 200 of which Steven Falk made up himself—you’ll find the little sickle-jawed blood bee in there, alongside the woodcarving leafcutter

An incomer’s discovery of the natural world in the West Country bee—and it was with its help, and the help of my naturalist friend Peter Marren, that we worked out that the small creatures buzzing about in the garden were ivy bees, Colletes hederae.

The ivy bee is fascinating not least because it has been recognised as a separate species only since 1993, and only known in Britain since 2001, having first been identified in Dorset. It is our only true autumn bee, the last solitary bee to emerge each year, and it does indeed feed on ivy flowers; it lays its eggs in holes tunnelled into the soil which it lines with ivy pollen and nectar for the larvae to consume when they hatch the following year.

It is a very attractive, not to say charismatic, piece of minifauna.

But what were the bees doing when we spotted them? Some of them seemed to be digging their tunnels into the small cliff-like side of the lawn but many others were flying around, if not quite excitedly, then certainly with serious intent, and if you looked closely you would see that one would often grab another. Peter took the view that this was a mating swarm—a gathering where the males competed among themselves to mate with as many females as possible. A sort of party, in human terms.

I found it charming; I think some of the bees’ enthusiasm rubbed off on me, a tiny drop of the party spirit, you might say. But more satisfying still was to know precisely what they were, something which until a few years ago would have been difficult if not impossible. When we came to the village last year I saw at once what everybody sees, how beautiful it was, how lovely the river and how stunning the church, but I also quickly noticed how comparatively rich in insect life it was too: small tortoiseshell butterflies and hummingbird hawkmoths fed on the red valerian flowers in our garden, and occasionally from the river mayflies drifted in. And now, I say to myself, we have ivy bees.

It might not be quite up there with having swallows in your garden. But it’s pretty good.

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 November 2022 25

The R-word: What’s in a name Controlling nature seemed like an achievement for centuries but allowing it to recover from that control may take patience and a leap of faith. Dr Sam Rose explains.

© Beaver in enclosure at Mapperton, Dorset. Photograph Sam Rose

I

was listening to Radio 2 a couple of months ago—quite by accident, I must add—when I heard that they were going to have a piece on rewilding. I noticed that it was said in that way in which there is a very subtle, but pronounced, pause before the word, as if to imply that it isn’t something real or serious. So, despite that misgiving, and being someone who is involved in the world of rewilding, I texted in offering to contribute. To my surprise they called asking me to be on standby in about a half hour.

Dutifully I waited, and in the end they didn’t call back, and on listening to the show I was delighted they hadn’t.

The ‘chairing’ came across as confrontational and divisive.

He pitted a Welsh sheep farmer against the well-known environmental writer and activist George Monbiot in a polarised debate that, if I remember, focused on wolves.

There was little room for nuance—just an implication that rewilding was either good or bad. This is such a shame as the act of rewilding is all about nuance, it is about a spectrum of approaches based on one fundamental principle… which I will come to below.

On this occasion, and indeed in many others, the negative connotations of the word rewilding put a taint of

26 The Marshwood Vale Magazine November 2022 Tel. 01308 423031

disapproval onto the concept, as if the very act of trying to restore nature was a bad thing. Rewilding—the word— has been perceived like this by some people, buoyed by the misinformation that accompanies it. Reports in the media, such as the famous “royal family’s corgis risk being eaten by wolves or bears” and opinions about rewilding leading to insufficient food production are all too common, and without any basis in truth. Even some of our major conservation bodies have railed against using it, referring to it as the ‘R-word’, or ‘process that must not be named’; actually, I made the last one up, but you get my point.

Despite what some might have you believe, the word is, in my opinion, really no more than a brand. I see it as a banner or flag behind which a whole range of people—including landowners and farmers as well as conservationists—rally behind to help slow and reverse the ongoing erosion on the diversity and abundance of nature in this country. It is a word that represents a big tent, or yurt if you prefer, full of approaches to help biodiversity return, reduce soil erosion and improve its quality, capture carbon quickly and mitigate flooding.

If the Radio 2 discussion had been billed as a discussion

© Knepp Wildlands - the english savanna Photograph Sam Rose

© The Eurasian Lynx, formerly native, in an enclosure.

Photograph Sam Rose

© ‘Messy’ tree in the Knepp Wildlands.

Photograph Sam Rose

© Young Roe deer at Wild Woodbury, Dorset.

Photograph Sam Rose

© Ecosystem regeneration at Wild Woodbury, Dorset.

Photograph Sam Rose

© Beaver-created wetland, Devon.

Photograph Sam Rose

on “natural-process led ecosystem restoration”, which is what rewilding basically is, then well, to be honest I don’t think they would have had the debate, let alone bring in George and his nemesis! But the fundamental principle behind rewilding is just that; of allowing, as best we can, nature to take the lead and make the decisions in its own conservation. This is not to the exclusion of people. People are a part of nature and we have to work with it, but rewilding is about letting go of control and saying, actually, we don’t really know how nature can recover best, but we do know what conditions we need to give nature the best chance So let’s do that and see what happens! In places where this has happened the results have been outstanding, but I will save that for another occasion.

Despite the use of the word ‘wild’ in rewilding, the concept as we see it in the UK is not about creating a truly wild space, that is impossible in our small and overcrowded Island. It is about creating spaces for nature to flood back in. It is not land abandonment, nor is it trying to replicate past times, but rewilding is about using what we know about nature from the past—before we systematically took it apart—and also using what we know from other places in the world where nature is doing better.

In practice, what does this mean? It might mean leaving ‘marginal’ farmland alone for a few years, letting the scrub take hold, then putting on some large grazing animals to ‘engineer’ an ecosystem. It might involve reintroducing beavers into our rivers to make wetlands, improve water quality and reduce flooding downstream, and now that beavers have just been made a protected ‘native species’ again after being wiped out over 400 years ago, this has a real chance of happening. It might involve allowing straightened (canalised) rivers, to ‘re-wiggle’ out into the floodplain, reducing flooding, creating new ecosystems and bringing life back to our rivers. It might, at some point in the future, when the time is right and people want it, mean bringing back the top predators such as lynx or wolf to selected parts of the UK, finally bringing some balance

back to our natural ecosystem, but that is a way off.

Understandably people have concerns about the concept.

Will it impact on food production? No, and anyway, we waste 40% of our food in the UK, so let’s work on that first. Is it messy? Yes, but so what, nature is messy, it tends not to do straight lines, that way more nature comes back!

Will beavers eat all the fish in the rivers? No, beavers are vegetarian. My firm belief is that if people understand more about what’s inside the rewilding tent, then they will see that it is not black and white, and that there is nothing to fear and everything to embrace. If it is good for nature, it is good for us, a subject that warrants another whole article.

This is not to the exclusion of people, people are a part of nature and we have to work with it So where does that leave us? Rewilding—the word, and the approaches that fall under it—is here to stay. It can be interpreted in different ways, but the fundamental principle underlying it is that of allowing natural processes to act to help biodiversity recover, with an outcome that is not planned or prescribed. This means that we are no longer in full control, something that human beings are not particularly keen on. For me, that is the source of the dislike of the word. The whole idea of ‘just leaving it’ and trusting nature to know what to do is alien to us, but if we are serious about nature recovery in this country, we really need to get over ourselves and give nature that trust.

Dr Sam Rose is a geographer, photographer and podcaster, with a focus on rewilding through his website whatifyoujustleaveit.info and podcast of the same name. He is also part time Exec Director for new Dorset Charity, West Dorset Wilding.

House&Garden

Vegetables in November

By Ashley Wheeler

N

ovember is the moment to breathe as a market gardener. Finally all of the planting has finished (with the exception of just a few late plantings in the polytunnels such as broad beans, sugarsnap peas and spring onions), and outside all of the green manures have been sown and the garden can rest. We can take a step back and review the year, trying to get our notes in some semblance of order so that we can make changes for the next season.

It is a good time to start planning for next year, whilst the memories of this year are still fairly fresh in our minds. We make slight tweaks to sowing dates to ensure that we have continuity to the harvests.

It is also a time of year that we can process some of the seed that we have harvested through the summer and early autumn. We grow a range of seed not just for ourselves but for sale to a couple of great seed companies like Real Seeds in Wales and Vital Seeds in Devon. Some of these are biennial crops, meaning that we grow the vegetable such as parsnips, chard or turnips as we would grow them to sell, usually sowing them around early august time. We then grow them through the winter (or harvest them at the end of autumn to store them away from rodents). The healthiest and strongest plants are then selected to replant them in late winter/early spring at wider spacings to allow plenty of space for the plant to flower and form seed, with good airflow between the plants so that the seed dries well.

For some crops we have to consider whether or not it is an outbreeder, meaning that it requires other plants to cross with to produce viable seed. If so, we need to make sure that we have a large enough population of plants to maintain genetic diversity. This varies from crop to crop, and some plants are actually self incompatible (for example brassicas—including kale, broccoli etc), which means that the stigma recognises if the pollen comes from flowers on the same plant or from one on another plant. If it comes from a flower on the same plant it will reject it and not be pollinated. This is a way that the plant can ensure that it crosses with other plants and maintains genetic diversity in future generations, meaning that it is more resilient to change, pests and diseases. Some crops will cross with others in the same species, for example chard will cross with beetroot if they are flowering at the same time in the same area, whilst others like lettuce do not tend to cross—so you can grow a few different varieties of lettuce close to each other and if you save seed from them they will come true, meaning that they will grow out with the same traits as the parent plant.

So, there is lots to think about and it is best to start out seed saving with some of the simple crops that are inbreeders (do not cross with others) and that you can save from just one plant if you wish. Examples of these easy crops are lettuce, tomatoes, peas and French beans.

Once we have harvested the seed from a crop we leave it to dry further on sheets in the polytunnel. After a couple of

28 The Marshwood Vale Magazine November 2022 Tel. 01308 423031

Harvesting seed from mustard this year

weeks the seed is usually ready to thresh, and the process is different for different crops, but generally we lightly hit the seed off the stalks so that it falls to the bottom of the pile.

We then remove the stems of the plants and are left with seed and a bit of chaff (bits of the plant and seed pod).

The next step is sieving this to try to remove some of the chaff, and then winnowing will remove the lighter bits from the seed, leaving you with a clean batch of seed that you can further dry before putting into airtight containers to store. There is not much better as a grower than to produce your own seed and sow it in future years, and by repeating this process over a few seasons and selecting the healthiest plant to save from, the plants will be adapting to the specific conditions in your garden - the soil type and local climate.

WHAT TO SOW THIS MONTH: Not a lot! We have made all of our sowings by now, and will start tentatively with a few sowings again in January, but nothing else before then.

WHAT TO PLANT THIS MONTH: OUTSIDE: Garlic (if not planted already) INSIDE: peashoots, sugarsnap and early pea varieties, spring onions, broad beans, garlic (for extra early garlic) OTHER IMPORTANT TASKS THIS MONTH: If the weather dries, continue preparing beds for the winter if you need to plant them early in the spring (either mulch with compost, cover with straw or cover with black plastic). Don’t be tempted to tidy up too much, as old crops and flowers act as a habitat for many beneficial insects. Start going through your winter job list - whether its cleaning glasshouses or polytunnels, tidying up your propagating area, cleaning and oiling your tools or even looking through seed catalogues for a bit of inspiration for next year!

Tel. 01308 423031 The Marshwood Vale Magazine November 2022 29

November in the Garden

By Russell Jordan

I

t’s always rather pleasing when a prediction comes true.

Earlier in the year it looked like everything was in place for a bumper harvest from fruit trees, apples in particular, and that’s exactly what’s happened—I’ve even heard it being discussed on Radio 4. The only fly in the ointment was the summer drought could have jeopardised the harvest, and it must have had some effect on fruit size, but mature trees seem to have been able to deal with the stress and hold onto their fruit in abundance. The hot temperatures and extra hours of sunshine have also resulted in an even tastier crop than usual, a ‘vintage’ year in many respects.

Now that we are well into autumn there could be some other effects of the summer drought that begin to show up. Last month I mentioned that autumn colour should be enhanced due to the higher levels of photosynthesis crucial compounds built up in sun blessed foliage, another positive effect of the good summer, but there could be downsides too. Over-mature trees, trees and shrubs which are already succumbing to disease and plants which are not yet fully established could suffer from drought induced loss of limbs or even death of the whole specimen. It’s worth taking a good look at your garden at this time of year to spot early signs that any of your trees or shrubs may be suffering in such a way because the upcoming winter months, when deciduous plants are dormant, are when any major tree work needs to take place.

Dead or diseased parts of trees and shrubs will show up as the plant begins to shed its leaves because the poorly parts will tend to lose their foliage first and any change in leaf colour, not all deciduous plants produce autumn colour, will tend to be exhibited in the most stressed specimens, or parts of the plant, first. General pruning of small trees and shrubs is possible with standard pruning saws, loppers and small chainsaws, if you are confident in using such machinery. I still swear by my cordless ‘mini chainsaw’ which can tackle surprisingly thick branches, within reason, and is much easier to wield than even the smallest petrol machine.

If any major tree surgery or felling is required, having spotted serious signs of death or disease this autumn, then contacting qualified tree surgeons, in order to receive at least a couple of quotes for any work required, should be a priority because competent tree surgeons are bound to be

30 The Marshwood Vale Magazine November 2022 Tel. 01308 423031

busy this winter if the summer drought has had the kind of effects predicted.

At this point it’s worth mentioning again the serious problem of ‘Ash Dieback Disease’. Ash trees are not common in domestic sized gardens, they are not generally recommended as suitable for ornamental use due to their potential massive size. Having said that, mature specimens are prodigious self-seeders so if there is a large ash tree in your vicinity, possibly as a ‘sentinel’ in a nearby hedgerow, there is a good chance that a seedling ash tree could get established in your garden even if you did not plant it yourself. Such seedlings grow quickly and, especially if it was already there when you bought your house, it’s easy for them to be left by the unsuspecting home owner until they are fully grown trees. If such a mature ash is exhibiting signs of ‘Ash Dieback’ then now’s the time to call in the professionals (search the internet for plenty of resources relating to this disease—e.g. “ash dieback latest advice”).

Other tree species have their own problems which may have been exacerbated by being drought stressed this summer so keep an eye on any tree or large shrub which could potentially cause a problem if it was to lose limbs, or get blown over, during autumn and winter storms. I remember, decades ago, working on an estate which had a long avenue of ‘Sweet Chestnut’ (Castanea sativa) trees which would habitually shed whole, massive, limbs simply because that was their habit in old age. This was well before any report of the introduction of ‘Sweet Chestnut Blight’ which is the chestnut’s equivalent (not the same pathogen) of ‘Ash Dieback’ and potentially just as serious : according to the ‘Forest Research’ website it has “.....almost wiped out North America’s sweet chestnut population”. It has been present in the UK since at least 2011, around the same time that ‘Ash Dieback’ first hit the headlines, and is probably only less well known due to the relatively lower abundance of sweet chestnut trees in our landscape.

Anyway, after all that talk of ‘death and disease’ it’s worth remembering that autumn is actually a good time of year for establishing a lot of new, exciting, plants in your garden. Of course planting spring flowering bulbs can still be undertaken and November is traditionally the best time for planting tulips—later than all the other autumn

planted species. It’s the beginning of the ‘bare root’ planting period, which is generally any time between leaf fall and new leaf emergence, so woody plants which are suited to being established this way can at least be ordered now even if actual dispatch and planting won’t happen until the winter months.

Similarly there’s still a little time, probably until we start to get overnight frosts, to lift, divide, replant or pot up those herbaceous beauties which are clump forming and which have now died down / been chopped back while tidying the borders. There are some border stalwarts, such as those members of the daisy generally referred to as ‘Michaelmas Daisies’, or ‘Asters’ of old, that may still be providing a show and are therefore left standing amongst those more structural inhabitants of the mixed border including statuesque perennial grasses, chiefly various Miscanthus selections with their showy flower plumes.

Finally, now that there is a good chance of freezing or near freezing overnight temperatures, any tender plants need to be lifted from their summer positions, if, like dahlias, they were planted out in beds or containers, and potted up, where necessary, to be overwintered in a frost-free place. If that frost-free place is a greenhouse then it’s a good idea to check that whatever supplementary heating is in place, to guard against frost, is correctly set up and working. Given the cost of energy these days it is even more essential than usual to insulate your greenhouse, coldframe etc., remembering that adding material such as ‘bubblewrap’ will also cut down the light levels and will have implications for air circulation: it’s all ‘swings and roundabouts’ in the world of gardening.

Tel. 01308 423031 The Marshwood Vale Magazine November 2022 31

PROPERTY ROUND-UP

Remember, Remember to buy a home in November

By Helen Fisher

CHIDEOCK £325,000

A Grade II listed characterful cottage with 2 bedrooms recently re-thatched and well maintained. Period features inc: window seats, open fireplaces and exposed ceiling beams. Good sized, enclosed rear garden with seating area. Parking permit available. No forward chain.

Kennedys Tel: 01308 427329

COLYTON £675,000

THORNFORD £695,000

A lovely Grade II listed 4 bedroom cottage with many original features inc: chamfered ceiling beams, window seat, flagstone flooring and an inglenook fireplace. Side and rear mature, private gardens with established copper beach and damson trees plus greenhouse. Attached single garage and parking.

Knight Frank Tel: 01935 810064

BRIDPORT £800,000

A charming and spacious Grade II listed family home with 4 bedrooms and bathrooms (currently run as a B&B) immaculately presented throughout with many original features inc: leaded windows and window seats, flagstone flooring and fireplaces. Rear kitchen garden and cottage garden plus private off-road parking. Set in the heart of the town.

Gordon and Rumsby Tel: 01297 553768

Impressive detached chalet style contemporary home with 4 bedrooms plus balcony/home office/guest suite. Extended and updated with the latest modern amenities inc: underfloor heating, UPVC windows, bi-folding doors and high-tech keyless front door plus security alarm system. Large gardens and decking area. Far reaching views plus ample parking.

Stags Tel: 01308 428000

BRIDPORT £400,000

BRIDPORT £750,000

A one-of-a-kind property with 2 bedrooms, set in a tucked away position, yet right in the heart of the town. Both double bedrooms are on the ground floor, one with doors leading out onto a small courtyard garden. The upstairs living area is light-filled from 2 box bay windows. Double glazed plus a low maintenance garden.

Symonds and Sampson Tel: 01308 422092 32 The Marshwood Vale Magazine November 2022 Tel. 01308 423031

A spacious & immaculately presented family home on the edge of town with 5 double bedrooms. Dual aspect sitting room with feature fireplace and double doors onto the garden. Modern fitted kitchen plus utility room. Double glazed throughout. Beautiful landscaped rear garden. Double garage and driveway parking.

Goadsby Tel: 01308 420000

Nun on the run in Axminster Silvey Webber is set to wow audiences to Axminster Musical Theatre’s forthcoming musical Sister Act when she plays Deloris Van Cartier, a club singer whose life takes a surprising turn when she witnesses her gangster boyfriend Curtis and his henchmen shoot a man they believe is a grass. She goes to the police and under the witness protection programme she is sent to the last place they think Curtis will look for her—a convent called The Holy Order of the Little Sisters. The Mother Superior is suspicious of the newcomer but Deloris helps her fellow sisters find their singing voices and, unexpectedly, rediscover her own. But with Curtis and his gang on her trail, can Deloris survive?

Based on the well-loved film Sister Act, starring Whoopi Goldberg, the musical was a smash hit in the West End and on Broadway.

It features music written by Tony and Oscar award-winning Alan Menken, who lists Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and Little Shop of Horrors amongst his credits.

Axminster Musical Theatre is delighted to be presenting this funpacked musical at the newly re-furbished Axminster Guildhall from Wednesday 16th to 19th November at 7.30pm and with a matinee on the Saturday at 2.30pm.

With a 12 piece orchestra and professional sound and lighting and costumes hired from Spotlight Productions in Peterborough, no expense has been spared to bring this fabulous musical to Axminster.

Tickets are available from seaty.co.uk/sisteractaxminster or by visiting Axminster Guildhall.

Tel. 01308 423031 The Marshwood Vale Magazine November 2022 33

Food&Dining

PARSNIP & CHILLI SOUP WITH CARDAMOM CRUMBS The root vegetables in season at this time of year lend themselves beautifully to being transformed into rich, wholesome soups to fill your mug. Look around for swede, pumpkins and leeks, all great soup fodder that can happily be left chunky or whizzed up for a smoother finish. But for a creamy, sweet and velvety soup I look no further than a few, mud encrusted parsnips

LESLEY WATERS

INGREDIENTS

DIRECTIONS

• • • • •

1. Heat the oil in a pan and cook the onion, leek and chilli for 5 minutes until softened. Add the parsnips, lime zest, stir well and cook for 2 minutes.

2. Add the vegetable stock, bring to the boil and simmer for 15-20 minutes.

3. Remove chilli from soup, split in half and remove the seeds and stalk.

4. Liquidize the soup in a blender with the chilli until smooth.

5. Return the soup to a clean pan and add the cream (if using). Stir well, season to taste and heat through gently.

6. To make the crumbs: melt the butter in a large non-stick frying pan. Stir in the cardamom seeds and cook for 30 seconds. Add the breadcrumbs, cashews and fry, stirring frequently for 5 minutes until golden and crispy.

7. Serve the soup topped with the crispy crumbs.

• • •

• • • •

2tbsp olive oil 1 onion, chopped 1 small leek, chopped 1 red chilli 700g/ 1lb 9oz parsnips, peeled and chopped 1 lime, zest only 1 litre/ 1 ¾ pints vegetable stock 150ml double cream (optional) For the crumbs 25g/ 1 oz butter 7 cardamom pods, crushed and seeds removed 115g/4oz fresh white breadcrumbs 40g/ 1 ½ oz roasted, salted cashew nuts, finely chopped Serves 6

34 The Marshwood Vale Magazine November 2022 Tel. 01308 423031

Winter Grayling

By Nick Fisher

T

he first time I seriously attempted to catch some big eating-sized grayling, I just couldn’t help but catch trout after trout after trout. The trout season was closed and I’d bought myself a day’s winter grayling fishing on the River Kennet. Being closed season meant the club water allowed coarse fishing techniques to target the grayling, perch and pike in the river, and encourage ‘maggot-drowners’ like myself to strap on a centre pin reel, break out my best fat-bellied balsa wood grayling float, and have a crack at trotting a pair of maggots, or a single fat caster, down through the deeper swims.

If you’ve never tried trotting, or ‘long-trotting’ a chubby float down a chalkstream river in winter time, then you’re in for a rare and fin-bristling treat. There are so many joys incorporated in fishing an out of season fly-only river with a fat float and maggots, that it’s hard to know where to start. For kick-off, there’s the sheer fact that you’re being allowed to do something, just because it’s closed-season, which you’d never be allowed to do for all the rest of the year. Sort of like being allowed to drive a combine harvester down Oxford Street, naked.

Then there’s the beautiful accessibility of a winter river which is relatively inaccessible for so much of the rest of the year.

The brambles, Himalayan balsam and hook snatching overhanging willows, have all died away, leaving a clear path to swing your rod and to see along vast stretches, past bends and twists, which in the summer months would be obscured by foliage.

But, the real thrill, is not knowing what species of fish is going to suck on your maggot and tug on your string. On southern chalk streams, I’ve caught a whole catalogue of fish on trotted maggot, from sea trout to carp and from eels to catfish.

It’s quite amazing the range of species that can gather in even what appears to be one of the most transparent of fisheries, with visibility all the way to the river bed for most of the year.

And yet still, there are odd and alien finned things lurking, things which can only be winkled out with a tasty bait like a maggot or worm.

On my Kennet grayling hunt, nearly every maggot that got eaten, was eaten by vast silver flanked rainbow trout. As I said, I couldn’t help catch them. Ironically, the way to catch the big Kennet grayling actually turned out to be with a large weighted nymph on a fly rod. The method that worked best was to fish with a bite indicator tied to the join of the fly line and leader, to make gentle bites instantly recognisable, and most of all, to concentrate on the deepest and slowest pools. On all the faster water the grayling, who are traditionally supposed to love gravel bottoms, were invariably beaten to my bait by the voracious bully-boy rainbows.

I once followed an electro fishing team along the Frome, a river famous for its massive grayling, which still holds the British record, for largest rod caught specimen of 4lb 3oz. A fish caught downstream of Dorchester in 1989. The electro fishing team were hired by the local angling club to remove pike, but unlike many other rivers, any grayling were all returned safe and sound. The electro fishing equipment turned up most of the big grayling from the deeper slower pools. The biggest fish of all seemed to be found lying hard to the bottom on deep bends, where the river current was probably at its weakest.

Grayling have down slung mouths and swivelling eyes which means they’re perfectly equipped to feed from the bottom, although they can feed in mid water and also they’re more than capable of taking floating flies off the top. They are in fact better equipped than trout to feed in all depths of a river. And grayling can happily survive and thrive in fast flowing murky deep rivers in the depth of a hard winter, when most trout would starve.

Sort of like being allowed to drive a combine harvester down Oxford Street, naked.

It’s the grayling’s ability to survive through all manner of hardship, that first made them so unpopular with the purist wild trout brigade. Grayling lay up to three times as many eggs as trout, they can out-compete brown trout for feed. And they’ll happily supplement their diet by eating trout eggs and fry, when needs must. So, not surprisingly the protectors of the native wild brown trout see grayling as a threat.

These days grayling are rarely persecuted in chalk stream rivers however, most sensible anglers would now enjoy the thrill of catching grayling just as much, if not more, than catching wild brownies. So their presence in rivers is tolerated and even encouraged.

One of the best things about grayling is, apart from their stunning elegance and beauty in the water; with their single huge sail like fin, is that they’re delicious to eat. This time of year they’re plump and wide bellied, but I also love to catch them in early spring too, before the trout season’s kicked off, when there’s fresh wild garlic leaves just sprouting from the ground. A whole baked grayling or a fried fillet speckled with thinly sliced wild garlic leaves and a generous knob of butter, can put a chin-dripping grin on the face of both fluff flicker or maggot drowner alike.

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BRAISED BEEF SHORT RIBS WITH RED WINE AND CARROTS These ribs are the by-product of the Sunday rib roast. They would normally get sawn off in the factory, stripped of their meat for mince and discarded, or sold to chefs for the stock pot. Between these ribs you find probably the tastiest morsels on the beast, perfect for traditional British, French and Asian braises where cuts such as flank, brisket or shin would normally be used. Your butcher may have some to hand and if he does would probably part with them for a nominal price - well, hopefully. Or, ask them to save you some.

INGREDIENTS

DIRECTIONS

•

1. Pre-heat the oven to 220C/Gas mark 7.

2. Season and scatter 1tbsp of the flour on the beef ribs. Cook them in a roasting tray in the oven with the onion and celery for 30-40 minutes, turning every so often until nicely browned. Transfer the vegetables and ribs to a heavybottomed saucepan, leaving any fat in the pan.

3. Add the rest of the flour and tomato purée to the roasting pan and stir over a low heat on top of the stove for a minute.

Gradually add the red wine and beef stock, stirring well to avoid lumps forming.

Bring to the boil and add to the pan with the ribs and vegetables.

4. Add the bay leaf, thyme and peppercorns, season, cover and simmer gently for 1 ½ - 2 hours, or until the meat is tender. Check it by removing a piece from the pot, it should be almost falling off the bone without being too soft.

5. Remove the ribs and vegetables from the sauce and continue simmering the sauce until it thickens to a rich gravylike consistency. You can dilute a little cornflour in water and stir it in if it’s not thick enough.

• •

MARK HIX Midweek Meat Night at The Oyster & Fish House starts November 2nd and will run throughout the winter every Wednesday night.

The weekly changing set menu offers a choice of starter, main and dessert using the best of local meat and game from the South West. https:// theoysterandfishhouse.co.uk/ news-events/mid-week-meatnight/

• • • • • • • • •

• • • •

2kg beef short ribs, cut to about 10cm 2 onions, peeled and roughly chopped 2 sticks of celery, roughly chopped 2tbsp flour 1tsp tomato purée 300ml red wine 2 litres beef stock 3 cloves of garlic, peeled and chopped 1 bay leaf A few sprigs of thyme 5 black peppercorns Salt and freshly ground black pepper For the carrots 250g small carrots, peeled A good knob of butter 2tsp sugar 1tbsp chopped parsley

Serves 4

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Tel. 01308 423031 The Marshwood Vale Magazine November 2022 37

Arts&Entertainment

Riddle, Mystery and Enigma After many years doing business in Russia, former foreign secretary Lord David Owen has a unique knowledge of relations between Russia and the West. Talking about his latest book on British and Russian history, he gives Fergus Byrne insights into the role that Britain has played in a changing relationship.

I

n the introduction to his recently updated book Riddle, Mystery, and Enigma: Two Hundred Years of British–Russian Relations, Lord David Owen expands on the title taken from the famous Churchill phrase that Russia is a “riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma” by explaining that Churchill suggested there was a “key” to understanding Russia. Churchill saw that key as “Russian National Interest”. Fast forward nearly seventy years to the story of how British American financier Bill Browder was targeted by Vladimir Putin’s administration to ban him from entering Russia and systematically relieve his company of its Russian business interests, Browder also quotes Churchill. He says Churchill’s observations are still correct, with one big proviso. Instead of the national interest guiding Russia’s actions, Browder says they are guided by money, “specifically the criminal acquisition of money by government officials.” Browder’s experience and the slick, thriller style that he has chosen to relate his story in his books Red Notice and Freezing Order may not deliver the heft of more academic offerings but they shine a light none the less.

His efforts to bring into law the Magnitsky Act, allowing the US to withdraw visas and freeze assets of human rights offenders came about as a direct result of what he believed was a targeted murder of one of his Russian colleagues.

Browder’s story shows just how dangerous it is to get on the wrong side of Putin.

With twenty years of experience doing business in Russia, Lord Owen also has personal familiarity with how ruthless Putin is. He eventually stopped doing business there in 2014 after Putin’s first invasion of Ukraine. But as chairman of Russian oil giant Yukos International, he saw first-hand what could happen when Mikhail Khodorkovsky, one of Russia’s first oligarchs and founder of Yukos was targeted by Putin’s administration and thrown in jail. ‘The action he took over Yukos and imprisonment of its chairman, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, when I was Chairman of Yukos International, was indefensible’ he told me. ‘The process was corrupt and Yukos shareholders in effect had their share values stolen.’ What happened to Khodorkovsky under Putin was shocking and put a marker down for any other oligarchs that might have had a political opinion against Putin. But Lord Owen sees little hope of the rule of law changing anything. ‘There are ongoing international legal actions over the treatment of Yukos by the Russian government but I see little prospect of any serious financial compensation. No British or any government can do much to change the situation while Putin remains in control.’

So what has changed since Churchill first led Britain against the Bolsheviks and then allied with Russia against Hitler? How did we get to this? Understanding Russia, a country that has seen the collapse of communism and an inability to install stable democracy, is a challenge that has tested historians and politicians over many years, and will likely do so for many more years to come. To try to understand where Britain lies within such a complex history, Lord Owen’s latest book takes an interesting angle by concentrating specifically on relations between Britain and Russia over the last two hundred years.

Starting with the battle of Navarino in 1827, which took place on the west coast of the Peloponnese peninsula in Greece near where Lord Owen once had a home and where he kept a boat, he details what he considers one of the most famous battles in naval history. Britain, alongside France and Russia defeated the Ottoman fleet, paving the way for Greek independence. It was a great victory and an alliance with Russia that, undertaken by the then Prime Minister George Canning was later downplayed by the Duke of Wellington. Lord Owen was as horrified by Wellington’s attitude as were Britain’s then allies Russia and France. ‘Wellington was hopeless as a politician though a lucky General’ he says.

‘After the greatest victory under sail in October 1827 in the Battle of Navarino, when under the command of the British Admiral Codrington 27 British, French and Russian ships sunk all 65 ships of the Ottoman Fleet, Wellington described it as the “Untoward Event” though it was hailed by the people in London as a great victory and by the governments and people in Paris and Moscow! Wellington even apologised to the Ottoman rulers!’

Riddle, Mystery, and Enigma: Two Hundred Years of British–Russian Relations follows Britain’s relations with Russia and The Soviet Union through conflict in Afghanistan in The Great Game, to aligning with The Whites against the Bolsheviks and then Churchill’s agreement with Stalin against Hitler in the Second World War, right through the Cold War and our current relations with Russia. It is a roller coaster of strategic alliances that shows just how delicate—and strategic—the balance of diplomacy and politics can be. “In my own lifetime the relationship has gone from wartime allies to cyber adversaries with periods of deep mutual fear” he writes.

In his talk with historian and career soldier, John Dean, at Bridport Literary Festival in November, Lord Owen will

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expand on stories from the book and perhaps talk about how our shared history has brought us to where we are today. However, the questions that are on everyone’s lips are those relevant to the current conflict in Ukraine and Britain’s support for the defence of a country whose independence was recognised by Russia as recently as the 1994 Budapest Memorandum.

Military options are now very much in the hands of NATO and if there has been any benefit to the current conflict, it is signs of a cohesive attitude within the alliance that have surfaced since the invasion. Lord Owen believes NATO is the best military alliance in world history and sees no benefit to the idea put forward by those in Europe who would like to see it replaced with a new defensive alliance. He has also said that having American troops stationed in Europe since the end of the last war has stopped Russia from attacking Europe.

But military defence is not the only threat that needs to be taken into account.

In updated chapters written for the paperback version of his book, Lord Owen discusses how Putin thought Hilary Clinton was working to deprive him of votes when he was standing for re-election in 2012 and how that may have been a factor in him interfering in the US election against her. If true, the interference was very successful. I asked him how we in the West can ‘reality check’ against this sort of interference in the future. He said it was ‘very difficult in a world of cyber warfare and where there are ever increasingly sophisticated techniques to manipulate the results. We need far greater protection against foreign interference in all democratic countries if we are to retain public support for our democracies.’

Although he believes that relations with Russia are worse now than they have ever been in the 200 years of history that his book covers, Lord Owen is not without hope. ‘Yes Russia can change back to the optimistic days when Yeltsin abolished the Communist party’ he told me. However that may be some time off.

Historically, commerce and trade are as much purveyors of peace as they are of war and if we are to avoid the decimation of a third world war or a drawn out battle with Putin’s generals punishing adversaries by targeting infrastructure away from the front lines, alliances will need to be made and cemented by pragmatic tradeoffs. ‘It has never been easy to have normal business relations with Russia. Though under the Tsars it was better than the Communists’ he says. ‘Yet we traded with Russia throughout the Cold War. For a short time under Yeltsin when price controls were lifted it was possible to hope that a proper market economy was developing in Russia. But Yeltsin, by then a sick man, chose to support Putin rather than the Mayor of Moscow supported by Gazprom. He did so because he believed Putin was the strong man who would protect him and his family.’

With Putin’s KGB background Lord Owen sees a culture that is hard to change.

He cites former KGB chief Yuri Andropov as a key influence on Putin, however, he sees elements of Putin’s behaviour that may cause him problems. ‘Andropov was for 15 years head of the KGB’ he explained. ‘Tough-minded, he was admired by Putin, but Putin seems to ignore that the key characteristic of Andropov, in marked contrast to Putin, was he had the admiration of Russians in or outside the KGB, because he was not personally corrupt.’

Lord Owen recalls periods of optimism between the West and Russia in the recent past and writes that what worried the US and its allies was “the divergence between Russian statements of principle and the reality of their behaviour. It appeared that Russia was simply paying lip service to global norms while continuing a campaign of disruption and destabilisation in what it regarded as its sphere of influence.”

Under the current Russian administration this is unlikely to change. Talk of regime change is often tempered by concern that there is no obvious better option. Therefore the question of how NATO deals with Ukraine’s application for membership and what Britain can do to influence Russia’s relationship with the West are open to discussion. I asked Lord Owen for his views on these questions and he said he would rather speak about them during his talk at BridLit. I imagine by the time this comes to print there may be many more questions and points for discussion.

David Owen will be speaking at the Electric Palace, Bridport for Bridport Literary Festival on Saturday 12th November 2022 @ 4.00pm. Tickets are available from Bridport Tourist Information Centre, in Bucky Doo Square (telephone 01308 424901 and email bridport.tic@bridport-tc. gov.uk) and online at bridlit.com.

November GALLERIES

GALLERIES IN DECEMBER

Live or Online send your gallery details to info@marshwoodvale.com BY NOVEMBER 12th

1 - 30 November

Kit Glaisyer: The Marshwood Vale & Beyond coincides with the release of Kit’s recent book documenting his evolving series of West Country landscape paintings over fifteen years, with a range of works on show in his gallery and studio. The book is available in local bookshops or at Bridport Contemporary Gallery, 11 Downes Street, Bridport, Dorset DT6 3JR which is open on Saturdays from 10am-3pm or by appointment. 07983 465789 www.bridportcontemporary. com @bridportcontemporary

2 - 25 November

‘Moonlit Horizons’ Martin Goold Solo exhibition Artwave West, Morcombelake, Dorset DT6 6DY. 01297 489746. www.artwavewest.com.

Until 6 November

Time & Light: Dorset Independent Photographers Dorset Independent Photographers has remained a constant presence in the region’s visual arts scene. The secret of its staying power has been its informality, its members’ willingness to share work in progress and to exchange honest but constructive criticism. Sou’-Sou’West Arts Gallery, Symondsbury Estate, Bridport DT6 6HG. Open daily 10:30-4:30. Free admission & parking.

Contact 01308 301326 www.sousouwest.co.uk.

11 - 30 November

Dorset, Dream Country Recent paintings by Nicholas Hely Hutchinson at The Jerram Gallery, Half Moon Street, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3LN.

Until 12 November

Coast Lines - Martyn Brewster at 70 alongside the ceramic sculpture of Peter Hayes and Petter Southall’s beautiful furniture. Sladers Yard, West Bay Road, West Bay, Bridport, Dorset DT6 4EL. Wed to Sat 10am 4.30pm. Café Sladers and the ground floor gallery are also open Sundays 10am - 4pm. Admission free. 01308 459511. www.sladersyard.co.uk.

Time After Time & The Wild Ones An exhibition of work by Nick Berkeley. Bridport Arts Centre, South Street, Bridport, DT6 3NR.

12 - 27 November

Memories: Members of Regional Arts Societies Sou’Sou’-West Arts Gallery, Symondsbury Estate, Bridport DT6 6HG. Open daily 10:30-4:30. Free admission & parking. Contact 01308 301326 www.sousouwest.co.uk Members of local arts societies respond to the theme of ‘memories’.

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Until 13 November

Poetry of Nature: Richard Corbett Richard specialises in landscapes and seascapes; always aiming to capture the spirit of a place. Sou’-Sou’-West Arts Gallery, Symondsbury Estate, Bridport DT6 6HG. Open daily 10:30-4:30. Free admission & parking. Contact 01308 301326 www.sousouwest.co.uk.

16 November - 8 January

Unwrapped: A Festive Exhibition Get festive preparation done early with the opening of SSW Shop’s ‘All Wrapped Up’: a special selling exhibition featuring some of the best handmade decorations, tableware, greetings cards and gift inspiration our local artistic community has to offer. Sou’-Sou’-West Arts Gallery, Symondsbury Estate, Bridport DT6 6HG. Open daily 10:30-4:30. Free admission & parking. Contact 01308 301326 www.sousouwest.co.uk.

From 19 November

David Inshaw recent paintings, drawings and prints.

Petter Southall furniture. Sladers Yard, West Bay Road, West Bay, Bridport, Dorset DT6 4EL. Wed to Sat 10am - 4.30pm. Café Sladers and the ground floor gallery are also open Sundays 10am - 4pm. Admission free. 01308 459511. www.sladersyard.co.uk.

2 - 17 December

Binny Mathews and sons Rufus and Quentin Martin 5, Lyden Way, Beaminster, DT8 3AX 10am - 5pm or by appointment 07572 880769 or 07547 154917. Closed on Mondays and Tuesday.

Until 4 December

The Jurassic Coast on Ceramics Bridport-based ceramicist Janine Roper. Rotunda Gallery, Lyme Regis Museum, Bridge St, Lyme Regis DT7 3QA, Tues-Sat 10am-5pm; Sun 10am-4pm, www.lymeregismuseum. co.uk

Until 6 December

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

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November PREVIEW

Shock Horror coming to Dorchester

Kafka classic

DORCHESTER FRANZ Kafka wrote three of the greatest and most troubling works of the early 20th century, stories that have haunted the collective nightmare of Europe through two world wars, the Bolshevik revolution, the Cold War and beyond. Dorchester Drama has chosen a dramatisation of one of these, The Trial, for its autumn production, at the Corn Exchange on 25th and 26th November.

Joseph K is under arrest. He does not know what he has done, but he is most certainly under arrest. As he becomes embroiled in an arbitrary legal process by an unnamed and inaccessible authority, he seeks answers from friends, family and counsel without any clarification as to what might happen to him if he is found guilty.

The fiction created by this German-speaking Czech Jew, who died aged just 40, has been interpreted as exploring themes of alienation, existential anxiety, guilt and absurdity.

The short story, The Metamorphosis, famously opens with the protagonist, Gregor, waking to find he has been transformed into a large beetle. His last novel, the unfinished The Castle, features a protagonist known only as K who arrives in a village and struggles to gain access to the mysterious authorities who govern it from a castle. The term Kafkaesque has entered English to describe situations like those found in his writing.

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Thunder Road

DORCHESTER IF the words Thunder Road fuse images of Mad Max movies, Beyond Thunderdome and Fury Road, maybe picturing a grim Tom Hardy strapped to the front of a dust-blasted armoured car driven by Charlize Theron as a one-eyed female warrior, you won’t be overly surprised to find that Thunder Road Theatre, coming to Dorchester Corn Exchange on Wednesday 9th November, is a cutting-edge chiller that will take you into a world of fear and hysteria.

In this new play, Shock Horror, the Yorkshire-based company introduces us to Herbert, a horror-obsessive, misfit filmmaker, who gets his kicks from scaring viewers.

But his last act has awoken a nightmare and now he’s the one being haunted…

Thunder Road, whose previous plays include The Body Snatcher, promise to excite, unsettle and thrill those brave enough to book. Enter a sinister world of fear and hysteria, where iconic horror cinema unravels live on stage. Shock Horror is the vivid ghost story of a fanatic… his film… and the thing that hides inside.

Weird sisters

DORCHESTER WITH a November line-up that includes gothic horror and a play based on a novel by Franz Kafka, Dorchester Arts is definitely in the mood for Hallowe’en—even the

Join Abigail and Emma on a Witch Hunt at Dorchester Corn Exchange

comedians are getting in on the act with Witch Hunt at the Corn Exchange on Saturday 5th November.

The performers, Abigail and Emma, who call themselves A&E Comedy, weave a cautionary fairy tale for our time. It celebrates the wisdom of the witch, unpacks the notion of predator and conjures a world of coven-ready weird sisters.

Using buffoonery, puppetry and magic, and armed with a ‘wiccan’ sense of humour, A&E Comedy ask “Can we use witchcraft to take down the Patriarchy?” Yes we can.

The show is described as “ritualistic voodoo brouhaha designed to enchant and hex the pricks and predators”.

Abigail and Emma say: “Imagine Vic and Bob doing The Crucible.” You have been warned!

Oysterband on the Road

LYME REGIS FANS of the legendary folk-rockers, Oysterband, have just one chance in the West Country to see them on their autumn tour, promoting their new album, Read the Sky. They will be playing the Marine Theatre at Lyme Regis on Saturday 26th November.

From their earliest days as a noisy, politicised ceilidh band in the late 1970s, Oysterband has kept evolving, long enough to put out not one, but two best-of compilations— Granite Years (2000) covering their career between 19861997, and This House Will Stand (2016) for the 1998-2015 period.

Maybe it was partly forced on them by the absurd complexity of trying to record a six-piece band under COVID regulations that were no sooner adopted than changed, but there’s a definite sense of urgency to many of

the songs on Read The Sky. If anything, the band’s storytelling, with tales from Hong Kong to Huddersfield, has become more personal and more emotional.

Politically, they’re expressing themselves in greener terms now, both in anger and in elegy. The closing track, The Time Is Now, was released to coincide with the COP26 conference in Glasgow and premiered on the BBC Radio 2 Folk Show.

Dark comedy—Beautiful People

LYME REGIS THE ever inventive and hilarious Ridiculusmus Theatre is on the road this autumn with a new show, Beautiful People, coming to the Marine Theatre, Lyme Regis, on Friday 18th November—the only West Country date.

It is a hilarious dark comedy about ageing and death.

The work has been called ‘existential clowning’ by The Guardian. It won the top Herald Archangel Award in Edinburgh. Veteran reviewer and columnist for The Stage, Lyn Gardner wrote: “Every laugh is like a sharp physical pain in the heart.”

It used to be called Die! Die! Die! Old People Die! but the company had to change the title after the pandemic. In Scotland, however, they’ve complained about the change of title, and want them to revert to the old one.

The play is about an incredibly old couple ,Violet and Norman, who are both 120 years old. It takes them a full ten minutes to sit down in a chair. Then another five to get up again and fart. Things speed up occasionally when it’s time for coffee, or when a shady figure called Arthur arrives and stirs confusing memories of a love triangle.

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Baroque on Tour

CONCERTS IN THE WEST THE November series of Concerts in the West brings a period instrument trio, Naomi Burrell, violin, Gavin Kibble, viola da gamba, and David Gerrard, harpsichord, for five concerts, beginning at Minehead, Methodist Church, on Thursday, 3rd November at 7pm.

There are two concerts on Friday 4th, at Bridport Arts Centre at 11.30am, and at Ilminster Arts Centre at 7.30pm.

On Saturday 5th the trio will be at The Dance House, Crewkerne at 7.30pm, and on Sunday 6th, the final recital will be at Upwey’s St Laurence Church at 3pm.

The concert is called Les Gouts Reunis, with works by French, Italian and German baroque composers, Stradella, Corelli, Tresor, Couperin, Marais, Morel and Telemann.

Naomi Burrell is a British-Swiss violinist who specialises in historical performance. She plays with many of the UK’s leading early music ensembles including the English Baroque Soloists, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, and the Academy of Ancient Music. Since 2018, Naomi has been concertmaster of the Old Street Band, the period instrument orchestra for English Touring Opera. She has played for theatrical and dance projects at Sadler’s Wells, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, and in the West End. Born in Southampton to a piano tuner and a bassoonist, Gavin Kibble studied at Oxford and the Royal Academy of Music, and performs as a cellist and viola da gamba player with many of the UK’s leading orchestras and ensembles, including the English Concert, the Academy of Ancient Music, and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.

He is principal cellist of the Old Street Band.

David Gerrard plays the harpsichord, clavichord, fortepiano and organ. In demand as a continuo harpsichordist and organist, he performs with both modern and period instrument groups including Dunedin Consort, The English Concert, Royal Northern Sinfonia, and The Sixteen.

Comedy at the EP

BRIDPORT BRIDPORT has an exceptionally busy month in November, with high profile speakers at Bridport Literature Festival—many already sold out—but there is plenty of entertainment as well, including an impressive comedy line-up at the Electric Palace, beginning with Milton Jones on Thursday 17th, followed by the Comedy Store on Friday 18th and Daliso Chaponda on Saturday 26th.

In his new show, Milton: Impossible, the eccentric and hilarious Milton Jones reveals the truth about being an international spy, before being given a disappointing new identity which forced him to appear on Mock the Week and Live at the Apollo. But this is also a love story with a twist, or even a really bad sprain.

The Comedy Store, which announces its line-up shortly before the performance date, is one of the biggest names in comedy, with nearly 40 years’ experience in the business. It is renowned as a breeding ground for new comedy talent, and remains the place to see tomorrow’s stars today. Big names from the Comedy Store archive include Eddie Izzard, John Bishop, Jimmy Carr, Rhod

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The eccentric and hilarious Milton Jones in Bridport

Gilbert and Sarah Millican. Check out the Electric Palace website for the line-up.

Daliso Chaponda was a finalist in Britain’s Got Talent and is the star of BBC Radio 4’s Citizen of Nowhere. It’s fair to say that 2020-2021 didn’t go to plan for Daliso … but he performed online daily to millions of viewers, and this is your chance to see what this master of satire has been cooking up!

Bear necessities

BRIDPORT LITTLE Bulb Theatre comes to Bridport Arts Centre on Saturday 26th November at 2pm, with a delightful show for children, Hibernation.

The biggest yawn, the cosiest bed, The softest blanket, the sleepiest head, Winter’s approaching, prepare for a rest, With some help from the animals who hibernate best.

Come and be transported to a magical forest full of mirth, live music and marvellous creatures.

As the nights drawn in and temperatures drop, staying wrapped up warm in our beds seems like a great idea. But have you ever imagined what it would be like to stay asleep for the whole of winter? Some creatures are experts and they’re here to show you how.

Contemporary Kathak

PORTLAND AND STURMINSTER NEWTON THE acclaimed South Asian dance and music performers, Sonia Sabri Company, are returning to the Artsreach circuit on 19th November at the Exchange, Sturminster Newton, and 20th at Royal Manor Theatre, Portland, with their new production, Roshni.

The name comes from the Persian word meaning light or brilliance,. The show is an intimate crafting of dance and live music, transporting and uplifting the audience on a journey of joy.

Sonia and Sarvar Sabri, with an ensemble of skilled

musicians, present a captivating combination of striking Kathak dance, with live music and vocals from a global palette of styles, driven by the bold rhythms of tabla percussion. Kathak is a movement language of virtuosic foot percussion, rapid spins, geometrical patterns, poignant mime and gesture, all intricately woven with the live music.

Sonia Sabri Company has an international reputation for presenting Kathak dance in a contemporary context. Through work relevant to modern audiences, the company presents traditional Indian culture in a contemporary setting.

Artistic director and dancer-choreographer Sonia Sabri was part of the creative team working on the opening show for the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Sarvar Sabri is a renowned tabla player and composer who regularly works across artforms and for theatre, TV, radio and film.

The musicians are Katie Stevens who specialises in eastern European, klezmer, Irish and Scandinavian music, playing traditional woodwinds such as the Bulgarian kaval, Irish flute and whistles, Swedish pipa and Arabic nay, and violinist Ruth Lyndsay specialises in folk and traditional music.

A Bolt of Horror

WEYMOUTH AND VILLAGES CLASSIC gothic horror movies of the 1930s have inspired Is That a Bolt in Your Neck?, the latest show from Gonzo Moose, which is coming to Dorset and Devon, starting at the Bay Theatre at Weymouth College on Tuesday 1st November.

There are two dates with Villages in Action in Devon, at Sticklepath village hall on Friday 4th November and Stockland on Saturday 5th and it’s back in Dorset for two Artsreach dates, at Stalbridge village hall on 19th and the Allendale Centre in Wimborne (a new venue) on the 20th.

Driving Social History THE world of cars that we have ‘loved and hated’ and that once gave us ‘unimaginable forms of freedom’ is ending says Bryan Appleyard in his elegantly written book The Car: The Rise and Fall of the Machine that made the Modern World. He says the car is now ‘limiting freedom’. Cities, he says, are now ‘choked with cars and littered with machines and buildings that feed them.’ The world of cars is changing, but what a history the internal combustion engine has created. Bryan will be in conversation with local author, Boris Starling at Bridport Literary Festival in November. It is an event for those with an interest in social history as much as for the petrolheads among us. More than any other technology, cars have transformed our culture. Almost everything we now need, want, imagine or aspire to assumes the existence of cars in all their complex systems. They have transformed our sense of distance and made the world infinitely more available—inspiring cinema, music and literature.

Bryan will also give a short appreciation and celebration of his great friend James Lovelock CH CBE FRS, the British independent scientist and originator of The Gaia Theory who lived locally at Abbotsbury and died last summer on his 101st birthday. Bryan and James became great friends over the years and shared a great many propositions. Cited as one of the world’s top 100 intellectuals, readers can also see Robin Mills’ memories of James Lovelock in our September 2022 issue at www.marshwoodvale.com.

Friday November 11, Electric Palace, 4.30 pm. Tickets from Bridport TIC, 01308 424901 email bridport.tic@bridport-tc.gov.uk or online at bridlit.com.

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Screen Time with Nic Jeune

Top Six at the Flix Bridport Arts Centre Bait (2019) “It’s a genuine modern masterpiece, which establishes Jenkin as one of the most arresting and intriguing British filmmakers of his generation.” The Observer.

Mark Kermode.

Bait is the main feature of an exciting line up of work by local and regional filmmakers. This is a fundraising event on the evening of November 1st, for a youth filmmaking initiative at BAC. Electric Palace Bridport.

Mrs Harris goes to Paris (2022) “Not to gush or go too far overboard, but the warmth of a movie like “Mrs. Harris” is downright restorative in the viewing, two escapist hours that remind us that everyone is entitled to courtesy, a fair shake and a little beauty and luxury, and most of all, the hope that life can get better.” Movie Nation. Roger Moore.

Odeon Dorchester Halloween Ends (2022) 42 years ago, film director John Carpenter launched this franchise starring Jamie Lee Curtis. Jamie Lee Curtis stars once again in this seasonal horror movie.

BBC iPlayer The Girl With a Bracelet.

“The Girl with a Bracelet is a clever, relevant film which makes you question the way society expects young women to behave.”

NME. Nick Levine.

Amazon Prime Brian and Charles (2022) “It’s all of a piece, and just as charming and engrossing as a silly mockumentary about a robot maturing from boot-up to rebellious teens can be.” Movie Nation.

Roger Moore.

Netflix Blonde (2022) “A towering work full of contradictions, designed to elicit the kind of extreme reactions that it’s been gathering, and will continue to do so for years to come.”

Proximo Tande. Mario Alegre.

46 The Marshwood Vale Magazine November 2022 Tel. 01308 423031

Prepare to be chilled to the bone … gothic horror from Gonzo Moose

The tour ends at the Drum studio at Plymouth Theatre Royal with a three-week Christmas run from 6th to 24th December.

This dark and hilarious tale is set in a castle looming dark and foreboding over a small mountain village. Inside, Dr Chekhov, the brilliant and reclusive scientist, works in secret. As the villagers prepare for Christmas, they become increasingly alarmed. Strange shadows can be seen at the castle windows, and every night blood curdling cries of pain can be heard. What is Dr Chekhov doing? What hideous experiments is he perpetrating? What unimaginable horror might emerge from his laboratory? And will it spoil Christmas?

Artsreach dates for Serbian Star

BLANDFORD AND CHETNOLE BRANKO Ristic, Serbia’s leading Roma violinist, returns to Dorset for two Artsreach dates on 18th November at Blandford Corn Exchange and Saturday 19th at Chetnole village hall, with his accordionist partner Faith Ristic and their trio.

Faith i Branko perform boisterous, fiery, high-energy, original Roma-jazz influenced music. They have played multiple tours of Australia, New Zealand and Europe; their award-winning documentary, Faith and Branko, opened the 2021 Aljazeera Film Festival, and they have statues erected in Serbia in honour of their outstanding cultural contribution.

Combining tabor pipe, double bass and guitar with the accordion and violin, Faith i Branko take audiences on a journey from melancholy Roma violin laments to storming Kolos and explorations into jazz improvisation, swing, gypsy rumba and Turkish and Indian influenced songs.

Faith Ristic will lead a Balkan circle dance workshop at Blandford, an opportunity to learn the basic steps of the Kolo, the 7/8 dance, the Sasa and Rumba, all of which would be danced at traditional Balkan and Roma parties and celebrations.

A Musical Feast

YETMINSTER OPERA Holloway returns to Dorset for a one-off gala night with Artsreach at Yetminster’s St Andrew’s Church on Friday 18th November at 7.30pm. It is the first time the company has performed in Dorset since the pandemic forced the cancellation of a planned visit with Carmen in 2020.

Opera Holloway originally formed in 2009 with the aim of giving young artists the opportunity to perform at the early stages of their careers. The company has developed a strong reputation for introducing new audiences to opera by making productions widely accessible. Touring across England for more than 10 years, Opera Holloway is proud to take high quality opera outside the big cities, performing in venues as diverse as village halls, farmyard barns, pubs and churches.

Expect a musical feast as Opera Holloway soprano Callie Gaston, tenor William Branston and baritone Sam Oram perform well-loved operatic arias, duets and ensembles as well as some musical theatre classics.

Artsreach assistant director Yvonne Gallimore says: “The Artsreach programme exists to make the arts more accessible, and this is exactly what Opera Holloway are striving to do for opera—we are delighted to welcome them back to our programme this autumn.”

The Young Lit Fix

It’s Greek to David

VILLAGES VETERAN and versatile Cornish actor David Mynne is back with Artsreach for three dates, 11th to 13th November, performing his uniquely clever and funny version of The Odyssey—Greek Stuff!

From the company that brought you Christmas Carol, Great Expectations, Dracula and Canterbury Tales, comes a tale more exciting than your wildest dreams. Based (very loosely!) on the epic poem by Homer, The Odyssey is the ultimate journey ... to hell and back again, with gods and monsters.

A love story that lasts decades, this is proper Greek stuff (sex! swords! sandals!) with all the boring bits removed, with a host of characters, including the terrifying Sea God Poseidon, Circe the Sexy Sorceress and the dreaded Siren of the Sea, who combine to conjure up a mighty storm and keep you on the edge of your seat.

Artsreach director Kerry Bartlett says: “Dave Mynne is quite simply an outstanding performer; his skill with just a few simple props and captivating storytelling never fails to entertain.”

David Mynne will perform The Odyssey – Greek Stuff! at the Memorial Hall, Piddletrenthide on Friday 11th November, Shipton Gorge on Saturday 12th and Langton Matravers on Sunday 13th.

Scottish folk trio

VILLAGES A NEW Scottish folk group, the Firelight Trio, who play a broad and colourful sweep of European folk music, from the Balkans to Scandinavia, Scottish reels to soulful klezmer, come to Wootton Fitzpaine village hall on Friday 11th November, Briantspuddle on Saturday 12th and Shillingstone’s Portman Hall on Sunday 13th.

With more than 25 years of experience as professional musicians in bands including Moishe’s Bagel and Journeyman, Firelight Trio has a repertoire of traditional material and original compositions which are strongly influenced by the band members’ individual experience.

Together, Phil Alexander, Gavin Marwick and Ruth Morris create a rich tapestry of folk dance and song on fiddle, nyckelharpa and accordion.

Classic Christie

HONITON HONITON Community Theatre takes over the town’s Beehive Centre from 3rd to 5th November, with a production of Agatha Christie’s 1946 whodunnit, The Hollow, with curtain up at 7.15pm.

A classic country house murder story, The Hollow features Christie’s famous Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot, and is better described as a will-she-get-awaywith-it tale of unhappiness, love and loyalty.

Other live performances at the Beehive during November include the regular folk cafe on Wednesday 16th, a tribute concert, Simon and Garfunkel Through the Ages on Saturday 19th and The History of Rock, with a live band travelling through decades of rock music, on Friday 25th.

There is a treat on screen for ballet lovers, with a live from Covent Garden screening of the Royal Ballet’s diamond anniversary showcase on Thursday 24th. The programme includes a new work by Christopher Wheeldon, the choreographer who was born and had his first dance lessons at West Coker.

GPW

Ghostlight

by Kenneth Oppel Published by Guppy Press.

RRP £7.99 Recommended

by Antonia Squire for ages 9+ WHEN Gabe takes a summer job guiding tourists around the island lighthouse, he happily invents ghost stories to intrigue the visitors. All in fun of course, Gabe doesn’t believe in ghosts.

Right up until Rebecca Strand makes herself known to him on his latest visit to the lighthouse.

100 years earlier Rebecca and her father, the lighthouse keeper, die in mysterious circumstances.

Their bodies found on the rocks below with no explanation of how they both fell to their deaths.

Rebecca needs Gabe’s help to find the Ghostlight to finally destroy a malevolent spirit that grows ever stronger and threatens to turn all living things into lost souls. With help from both the living and the dead, Gabe and Rebecca set off on a terrifying adventure to save humanity.

Fun and creepy, this is a heart pounding good adventure perfect for readers 9+. I loved every moment of it, and it’s perfect for Halloween!

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 November 2022 47

Health&Environment

Who will look after the grandchildren?

Do people really want to join an industry in crisis? In the second of a series of articles on heatlhcare, Dorset medical student Molly Harriman talks to Fergus Byrne about what it’s like to train to be a doctor.

R

eading a memoir of a country doctor recently I came across a story the author related about how one of his new patients wanted to go private. “I don’t take private patients,” he told her. She had insisted she wanted the best treatment possible, but he explained that he didn’t do private visits because he felt that would put pressure on him to ensure that every time he saw her it was financially in her best interests.

He felt that if he wasn’t worrying about whether it was in her financial interest he would see her more often and therefore take better care of her. Reading this, the two things that struck me were how nice it would be if all businesses could use the same logic, but more importantly, what a pity the medical industry seems to be leaning toward the American model of paid-for health care. To put this into context, however, the doctor was working in a small practice in Hawick in Scotland and it was at a time when there were no computers in the industry. So yes, quite some time ago—the joy of viewing the past through rose-tinted glasses.

We are undoubtedly incredibly lucky in this country to have the NHS. However, as is well documented and confirmed in my interview last month with Dr Lisa Naylor, it is in crisis. And the coming months will likely see more turmoil. We will have to get through that but the question that keeps coming up is what is the future of medical care in this country and do we have a strong foundation for training future physicians? According to a recent annual report from the General Medical Council (GMC), the majority of new doctors in the UK have trained overseas.

The report revealed that only 39% were UK graduates, down from 53% in 2017. That may not necessarily be a problem, unless you have an aversion to being treated by someone trained overseas. However, Charlie Massey, chief executive of the GMC suggests that the reliance on International Medical Graduates (IMGs) puts healthcare in a ‘precarious position’.

Mainly because the IMGs leave the UK workforce at a higher rate, either to return home or to practice in other environments.

The likelihood is that a high percentage of homegrown healthcare workers will stay or at least return to the UK. So what is happening to medical training in the UK? Those of us in declining years are more likely to worry about who will look after our children and grandchildren than ourselves, as they are the ones that will need secure medical care long after we are gone. Molly Harriman from near Dorchester is studying medicine in Glasgow. It’s a minimum five-year course with the option to go into General practice or specialise. However specialising requires up to nine years of training. I asked Molly whether the training was worth the effort. ‘I think it would be fair to say medicine is a very challenging degree’ she said.

‘Unlike other students, you are expected to study year-round alongside 9-5 clinical placement days.’ This makes it a very different student experience. When everyone else is unwinding, making new friends, and enjoying the student experience, medical students are more likely to be grabbing much-needed rest. ‘The exams are hard and every year we have students fail who have worked very hard’ said Molly. ‘If you put in the hours

48 The Marshwood Vale Magazine November 2022 Tel. 01308 423031

it is manageable, but there are no shortage of papers discussing how stressful medicine is and how much pressure it puts on students. Fortunately, I have always managed and enjoyed the challenge but I have peers who certainly wouldn’t agree.’

However, it’s not all doom and gloom. Despite the effort, Molly recognises that the long-term goal is being able to make a difference, and most people who go into medical care have a natural instinct to want to help people and learn how to make the world a better place. She also describes the process as ‘super fun’ with opportunities to work abroad as well. Strong bonding within the medical student fraternity also helps.

But does the uncertain future for the NHS make it less attractive? ‘There is no doubt that the NHS is in an incredibly challenging period’ said Molly. ‘Funding is short, waiting lists are the longest they have probably ever been after Covid and then there’s Emergency Department (ED) waiting times.’ She says that morale in hospitals is not as high as it was during Covid when there was a real team spirit and a lot of public support. ‘I think many clinicians are tired and feeling the strain. However, most people still love the NHS and most will continue to work in an NHS system. Some consultants I have spoken to are taking up more private work and moving away from the NHS because they don’t feel very looked after.

Equally, some are canceling private work to try and catch up with NHS lists. So it is very person dependent.’

When I spoke to Dr. Naylor last month she highlighted her concern that General Practise was not attracting enough doctors.

She, like many in the profession, suffers from the backlash from frustrated patients. ‘There is a shift in General Practise (GP) work’ said Molly ‘and certainly during Covid, not being able to have face-to-face appointments has damaged the all-important doctor/patient relationship. I think it depends on where you are.

In Scotland, there are lots of rural GPs and they still have that local family GP charm. In the city, it is harder to maintain that.’

Molly points out that GPs work incredibly hard and that the patient volume is huge. The administration and paperwork have to be done alongside clinical work. However, she thinks that the pressure will eventually resolve. ‘At the moment it can seem a less attractive job to apply for but I think once the Covid backlog settles and everything becomes more face-to-face again, it will improve. The public opinion of GPs is a little harsh.

They are working and struggling and the negative press they get is upsetting for the clinicians who are trying their absolute best.’

About a year before the Covid pandemic I spoke to a doctor friend who told me he would never recommend his children go into healthcare. He has since retired and I don’t know whether any of them have. But Molly is more sanguine. ‘I have spoken to some consultants who wouldn’t want their children to do medicine’ she said. ‘I have also noticed a lot more doctors seeming fed up and unhappy with work at the moment. I think despite this they are probably all glad they are doctors.

To do medicine you give a huge amount up—timewise, during training, etc. But the job satisfaction is huge and “helping people” makes it feel worth it.’

Tel. 01308 423031 The Marshwood Vale Magazine November 2022 49

Services&Classified FOR SALE Food Processor Sainsbury Home Range unused boxed. £15. Baby swing, free standing, indoor or outdoor solid. £20. Light weight baby buggy collapsible £15.

01308 538542.

Sleeping bag, single, maroon, as new, £5. Lilo (not plastic) with foot pump £7. Circuit breaker, new £9. 01935 475640.

Xmas Decorations ex shop display 2 x ‘large’ bags baubles for trees £15 each. Ribbons £10.

Christmas paper £5.

Lights £10. Christmas paper and decorations £10. Christmas bags all sizes £15. 01297 678692.

Vintage Ercol Easychair, low armchair Yorkshire design circa 1960’s, new webbing, chintaz

recovered. As new £500.

Matching footstool £250.

01297 443930.

Cycling, Ribble 57cm road/winter bike, 11 speed, Shimano 105 Equipped, health reason for sale. £325. Dorchester.

07719 535094.

Cycling, pair Mavic wheels with 10 Speed cassette sprocket. £25 or free to novice teenage rider. Dorchester. 07719 535094.

Cycling Library. Fifty books primarily racing. £25. Or free to novice teenage rider. Dorchester.

07719 535094.

Old Slatted Garden bench cast iron, scrolled legs, willow green, very heavy. 183cm long, 80cm high, 70cm deep. £195.

01308 482451. 07939

50 The Marshwood Vale Magazine November 2022 Tel. 01308 423031

161098.

3 Beech Frame Kitchen chairs with tan seats, 1960s. £15. 01297 522683.

Wheelchair lightweight foldable with canvas holdall, excellent condition. £75. 01308 422400.

Second hand Trike bought on Ebay for £600 + £90 delivery. If battery no longer works can buy it on Ebay for £50. £250 or nearest offer. 01308 421773.

Car jack Maplin one ton 12V. £25ono. 01297 20151 (Seaton).

Quality (Moonraker) single divan and mattress in excellent condition £90.

Buyer collects. 01460 76545 (Merriott).

Mobility Scooter £995 Kymco Midi XLS, 15

months old, 25 miles range, good condition.

Chard Area 07767 471519.

Quad electrostatic speakers 1960s, as original and in use. Reluctant sale. £300ono. 01823 481479.

Quality power chair, virtually maintenance free, sealed batteries bearings etc, splits in two to go in back of car, in excellent condition. £650ono. 01308 863738.

Corby 770 Trouser press £15ono. Canon electronic type writer ES3 + booklet £15ono. 01308 45830.

2 G Plan Electric recliner chairs GWO, VCG, £200 ono. Ladies long sheepskin coat size m £50. Gents sheepskin coat size 40 chest £30. 01308 868379.

Two farmhouse style highbacked kitchen chairs in

TUITION

SHEDS

Piano, Violin, Theory tuition at your homw.

Highly qualified teacher.

Adults and children welcome from beginners to advanced. Dr Thomas Gold 07917 835781 oct 22

Ex-display sheds, Stables/field shelters, summerhouses, offices, workshops, agricultural 01935 891195

Nov 22

natural wood. Little used. £120 the pair. Sherborne.

01935 812731 or 07764 692966.

Citroen Berlingo or Peugeot Partner 20022008 set of new rear brake shoes. £20. Sherborne.

01935 812731 or 07764 692966.

Peugeot Partner ‘Escapade’ 2002-2008.

New front suspension coil spring. £20. Sherborne.

01935 812731 or 07764 692966.

Mobility Walker Topro Classic excellent condition £75ono. Wheelchair ZT-TEC- folding transit wheelchair like new £150ono. Vintage cast iron kitchen scales +7-2 brass imperial weights BR British Scale Co £150ono.

01308 459940.

5ft folding portable Wheelchair Ramp, Flat Hinge, including Black carry bag. Only used once, excellent condition £50.00. Sold pine 2 dresser shelves, painted cream Length 89cm, height 54cm and depth 20cm. £15.00. Good condition. 01308-867050 Broadwindsor.

Woodburner. Large Villager. Excellent condition. £400. Tel: 01404 871 358.

FREE. 21 New white tiles 6” sq. (slight colour variation on few). Two white foldaway Table Valets adjustable height and level. Hardly used £14.00 pair ovno (cost £20.00 each new) 7968053268/0146063866 (Chard).

Telescopic tree pruner extends to 14ft. cw saw attachment . String pulley ex cond. as new £12.00 ovno Tel: 7968053268/0146063866 (Chard).

ELECTRICAL

WANTED

CHIMNEY SWEEP

Wanted - Old slot machines, shop signs, fairground & military items, Old Interesting items & collections, oct 22 07875 677897

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

Oct 22

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

DISTRIBUTION

Aug 22

Dave buys all types of tools 01935 428975

Oct 22

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

Coins wanted. Part or full collections purchased for cash.

Please phone John on 01460 62109

Jan 23

WANTED Cooking & light care for one in Chideock call: 07879 332736 Help with skinning & butchering venison for home consumption - text or WhatsApp: 07917597075

To advertise here email: info@marshwoodvale.com

RESTORATION FURNITURE. Antique Restoration and Bespoke Furniture.

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

Experienced local family firm. Phil Meadley 01297 560335 Dec 22

FOR SALE Meeting room chair, wooden frame. Colour blue, no arm rests. £25.

Tel 07780 023319.

Meeting room chair.

Metal frame with arms.

Seat and back in red. £25.

Tel 07780 023319.

Tel. 01308 423031 The Marshwood Vale Magazine November 2022 51

FOR SALE Singer Steam Ironing Press. Reduce your ironing time.Copes with anything from bed linen to delicates with ease. Excellent condition. £50.00. Tel: 01297 443602.

New Truma high pressure propane pigtail for motorhome or caravan.

POL connector one end, M20 x 1.5 nut other end.

L 450mm, 21.5mm left hand thread other end. £10. New Sherborne, model Hampton 3 foot adjustable electric bed, including new Silentnight luxury Miracoil mattress.

Chrome plated legs which give a 9.5cm clearance from floor to allow use of various mobility aids. Dual motor control for head and foot. Weight limit 28 stone. Bed length is 6 feet 6 inches. £850. New white fermentation bin, complete with bubbler grommet lid for air-lock, plus carry handle. Capacity 32 Litres. £16. 25 Litre Pressure barrel with on/ off dispensing lever tap.

Barrel comes fitted with Co2 pressure control cap and carry handle. £25.

Telephone 01935 824029.

Microwave. Panasonic Stainless Steel. Very good condition. No longer required. FREE for collection. Tel: 01460 242644.

Panasonic TV, small screen ideal kitchen/ bedroom. Very good condition. No longer required.FREE for collection. Tel: 01460 242644.

Home grown dried flower bouquets in decorative vases from £10.

Photos 07519130010.

Dehumidifier approx.

29cmW x 27H x 25 D have moved/downsized and no longer required. £35. Stainless steel fitted oven, new/unused £100.

01395 348024 (Sidmouth) Can deliver locally up to

20 miles.

Morphy Richards Screen. 6 new tapes. trimmer. Adjustable swivel Roman blinds with Fastbake Breadmaker.

Language translator. head. Model HT20. Good valance. New. Sandstone, Used once. Excellent Operation Manual. £20. condition. Incl unused 6ft x 6ft. Light filtering. condition, but time 01308 455627. brush cutter attachment. £35. Tel 07780 023319. consuming! Recipe Large Wooden Dolls Price £55. Tel 07831 Black (office) swivel instruction book. Price House. As new. Top storey 316536 (Sidford). chair. Adjust seat height £30 or vno. Tel 07831 lifts off. Lots of rooms, Electric Lift and Rise and back recline. £30 Tel 316536 (Sidford). figures and room fittings.

Recliner Chair. Sherborne 07780 023319.

Carboy/terrarium £95 or very near offer.

Upholstery. Excellent I have removed shelving planter. Green tinted glass, Various single chairs, pine condition £300 from my work shop. I have no cracks or chips. Approx and cane. Pine coffee 07812 937662. Lyme Regis. a range of slatwall brackets 21” high, 18”dia. £60 ono. tables. Reasonable Offers Wheelchair ‘Days’ and panels. Also, the pine Please phone 01404 42081. accepted. Eternal Bow Lightweight. Excellent shelves in various lengths Keithley 177 Microvolt boxed tea set and some condition £50. Lyme Regis from 2.85 mtrs to 1.15 bench digital multimeter. dinner plates, jugs = £20.

07812 937662. mts. Details and prices, tel. £60 ono. Please phone 8 piece tea/dinner set in Volleyball net. Cost £250 07780 023319.

01404 42081. plain dark peach colour = new. Used once. £150.

Antique Wingback Chair. Westwood Groundhog £12. Assorted cut glasses 01308 341185.

Excellent condition and cultivator/rotovator. Old sherry, whiskey, tumblers, Black ceramic hob, extremely comfortable, but good working order. tot, all matching = offers.

NordMende HTC30. recovered in a cream £150 ono. Please phone Many pictures for sale.

Brand new, still in box. damask fabric. Bun feet 01404 42081.

Prints and original local 2 zone, touch control with castors, to the front, Circular, toughened artists = offers. Can email inset hob, size 290 x 520. straight legs with castors safety glass table top/ pictures if required. 01460 Complete with fittings and to the back. Pictures can protector. 36” in diameter 78074 (Crewkerne). instruction booklet. be emailed. £675. Tel £10. Word Processor.

Gtech heavy duty £60 Tel: 01297443602.

01404 41245 or email Sharp Font Writer. Large long arm battery hedge eupchurcb22@yahoo. co.uk.

Rectangular Pine kitchen table and 3 chairs - painted cream - £50. 1 x Double This FREE ADS FORM is for articles for sale, where the sale price is under £1000 Pine bed and mattress (Private advertisers only — no trade, motor, animals, firearms etc). Just fill in the painted cream - £40. 2 x form and send it to the Marshwood Vale Magazine, Lower Atrim, Bridport, Dorset Hamlet cream painted pine DT6 5PX or email the text to info@marshwoodvale.com. Unfortunately due to base units and display tops space constraints there is no guarantee of inclusion of free ads. We reserve the right to - £30 each. Pine TV base withhold advertisements.

For guaranteed classified advertising please use ‘Classified Ads’ form table/cupboard - £20. 1 x silver Fridge Freezer VGC - £40. 3 x cream painted cane conservatory armchairs - £45. 1 x hedge trimmer - £20. 1 x garden shredder - £20. 2 x Carver chairs - not matching £15 each. Assorted China inc. 2 x sets of 4 place matching dinner/tea sets - peach £10 each. 2 x 40” + TV sets - good working order - £25. Various as new dust sheets £5. All open to reasonable, very near offers. 01460 78074.

Equaline horse clippers,15 ft cable £60.

Pelham bit with rounds and chin strap £10.

Name .............................................. Tel. ............................................

Belgium gag snaffle £8.

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

Heavy duty stable rug £10. Ladies black hunting Town ................................................ County...................................... boots size 5 £15. Ring 07816018817 Seaton Postcode ..................................

52 The Marshwood Vale Magazine November 2022 Tel. 01308 423031

FREE ADS for items under £1,000

Tel. 01308 423031 The Marshwood Vale Magazine November 2022 53