Why this chair?

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10 October 2024

The art of making patterns of chairs helps Shaftesbury artist Zara McQueen to tell her own story and those of other families

Skyline, a recent painting which shows how landscape forms are creeping back into Zara’s geometric genogram paintings. All Images: Fanny Charles

As a social worker and therapeutic family practitioner, Zara McQueen was used to making “genograms” with clients and patients, using personal papers and objects to help them explore their family backgrounds – but when it came to creating her own, she found she did not want to lay out her life like that.
Instead, the Shaftesbury artist hit on the idea of telling her story through patterns of chairs. The inspiration came from looking around her at the studio at Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) where she was studying for an MA in Fine Art.
‘I noticed the chairs pushed up against the walls – brightly coloured plastic university chairs, marked with paint and studio life,’ she writes in the book of photographs which she produced after this unusual project. ‘I began to move them, transforming functional, splattered pieces of furniture into me and my family.’
As she explored relationships – two chairs was ‘a love story’ – and recreated the convoluted patterns of her extended families, with its journeys and multiple divorces, she decided to find out what chairs meant to other people. She invited a wide range of people to send an image and answer the question, Why this chair? The result is an extraordinary diversity not only of pieces of everyday furniture but of memories, ideas and individual stories.

Zara showing one of her mobiles to an exhibition visitor

Coloured plastic chairs were an immediately eye-catching feature of Zara’s latest exhibition at Shaftesbury Arts Centre, where visitors could both engage with the three-dimensional aspect – by sitting on or moving a chair – and explore other forms of genogram, in subtly-coloured geometric paintings and delightful mobiles. She says: ‘I have no idea where the current body of work will take me, but I am enjoying the exploration. Using chairs as stand-ins for people, making mobiles as well as drawings and paintings, is liberating.’

Landscapes of the mind
Zara is best-known as a painter of atmospheric and engaging landscapes and you could call her recent paintings ‘landscapes of the mind’ – but it is also clear that landscape is her natural artistic form, and it is evident from the recent exhibition that it is creeping back into her work.
She was born in London, into a Jewish family with a complicated background that included numerous divorces and remarriages, and with a great-grandmother who came to England from Eastern Europe at the end of the 19th century. Zara was ‘totally dyslexic’ and painting and drawing were her favourite subjects. She wanted to go to art school but only finally achieved her ambition when she was 60, studying for an MA in Fine Art at Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) where she graduated in 2023 with a distinction.
‘This course was my first formal art training. I always wanted to go to art school, and I got there, eventually! It was an amazing experience and a real privilege to study with some exceptional tutors and peers,’ she says.
She went to AUB with a primary focus on making paintings and collages inspired by the landscape around Shaftesbury. But gradually, with the chair project developing, she began to produce paintings and mobiles which were inspired by and re-created the squares and circles of family groups. Now, a year on, her work is once again changing as the geometric shapes are increasingly influenced by landscape forms.
Zara has lived in Shaftesbury for 30 years and cites the encouragement of the local community as an important factor in her success as an artist. She says: ‘I have had so much support from local people – they have been to my exhibitions and bought my art.’
The university course and the recent developments in her art follow a diagnosis of breast cancer and the inevitable emotional response. ‘I did a lot of deep diving and my work got very autobiographical,’ she says. ‘My art comes from me – it has always kept me sane.’
Zara has exhibited widely in Dorset and Wiltshire. Two recent works have been selected for the Royal West of England Academy’s 171st Annual Open Exhibition.

* A genogram is a graphic representation of a family tree that displays detailed data on relationships among individuals. It goes beyond a traditional family tree by allowing the user to analyse hereditary patterns and psychological factors that punctuate relationships. Genograms allow therapist and patient to identify and understand various patterns in the patient’s family history which may have had an influence on the patient’s current state of mind – Genopro.com

Could you share the magic of history?

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9 October 2024

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Rachel Simpson-Fernandes in the Victorian Kitchen

Wimborne’s Museum of East Dorset has welcomed a familiar face as its new Learning and Family Assistant. Rachel Simpson-Fernandes, with over a decade of teaching experience in primary and special education needs (SEN), has joined the community-focused museum to inspire local schoolchildren through hands-on history.
Rachel, who is passionate about both teaching and history, says, ‘I couldn’t believe my luck – teaching and museums! Two of my favourite things – the perfect role for me that combines creativity and practical skills.’
Her role will involve co-ordinating school visits from across the county, offering themed workshops that cover 2,000 years of British history. The sessions give children the chance to find out about life as a Roman, for example … or as a scullery maid in the Victorian washroom.
“I remember coming to the museum when I was at school,’ says rachael. ‘It’s changed so much since then: no boring questionnaires here! It’s wonderful to play a part in moving the museum forward, offering even more activities for schoolchildren.’

Children enjoying one of the volunteer-led sessions

The museum, which has earned the Sandford Award for heritage learning seven times, also offers a Hands-On History loan programme, making its resources accessible to schools nationwide. Now, Rachel is calling on locals to get involved as learning volunteers: ‘You don’t need experience,’ she says. ‘Training and mentoring is provided, and every session has a detailed delivery plan that is easy to follow. All we need is people with a passion for history, who love the magic of museums and how they enrich children’s lives. And if you fancy dressing up as a Victorian housekeeper or Roman soldier – even better!’

If you’d like to learn more, contact Rachel on [email protected].

The teen who went from ‘almost’ to gold

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9 October 2024

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When William Saunders joined the Fun Box club at Sturminster Newton Boxing Gym five years ago, coach Shaun Weeks knew he was a future bright star for the club. Last year William made it to the National Schools Championship Final, narrowly losing out on a very tight points decision to an unbeaten boxer from Washington Tyne & Wear. The following season June 2023-May 2024 William continued to improve, with a few narrow defeats that were on occasions hard to take, says Shaun: ‘Pushing European Champion Billy Long to the wire in the Barum Box Cup and then losing again in the King of the Ring (Sweden) final on a split decision was hard.
Again we thought William had done enough to win. So we sat down and had a chat to see what was needed to change those ‘nearly wins’ into actual wins.
‘The coaching team felt William just needed a bit more aggression and – more importantly – some self belief. He deserves to be on the top table.
‘William took it in, worked hard over the summer: and now he’s reaping the rewards. At the start of June he travelled to the Bristol Box Cup Championship and came home with a gold medal.
‘The following weekend we were in Manchester for their Box Cup Championship, and William beat the favourite to win a second gold in two weeks!
‘Then a few weeks ago we were in Ilfracombe to compete in the Barum Box Cup, where William won both the semi final and the final with stoppages. Three gold medals in a row: that’s some achievement for the 14 year old!’

Moving forward
William will be travelling to Sweden at the end of October with nine of his teammates, looking to continue his gold rush at The King of the Ring Championships. Next March he will be looking to step up again in the National Championships, moving from the Schools age group to Junior as he looks for his first national title.

Going, going, gone!

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8 October 2024

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It’s the unsung hero of autumn: as other blooms fade, ivy flowers offer insects a final feast before winter, says wildlife writer Jane Adams

Honeybee busy collecting the pollen on an ivy flower

As we quietly slip into autumn, with fewer hours of daylight and cooler temperatures, many of our flying insects are making their last farewells. Of course, not all are nearing the end of their lives: some, like bumblebee queens, will tuck themselves away until warmer weather returns. But before they go, there’s time for one last hurrah.
With the vibrancy of spring and summer faded, it can sometimes feel like winter is approaching fast. Happily, October still has a few surprises tucked up her sleeve – and one of those is the humble ivy, or, more specifically, its flowers. I know what some of you are thinking.
Ivy? Has she lost her mind?
Bear with me.
Ivy is easy to dismiss as an invasive weed which rampages through gardens and smothers everything. However … sometimes that smothering is exactly what’s needed.
We have a dead apple tree in our garden. Many years ago, it became the scaffolding for an ivy with high-rise aspirations. Gradually, the ivy crept up the trunk of the old tree, until one autumn it reached a height of about six feet … and flowered. It can take ivy up to ten years to reach maturity and bloom, and even then, it will only do so when it gets enough sunlight … but wow, when it does, you’ll know about it.

Red admiral butterflies enjoying some sunny autumnal ivy nectar

If I step into the garden on a sunny day in October, I can smell the honeyed fragrance of the ivy flowers before I even see them. As I get closer, the ivy’s firework-like blooms explode with a myriad of colours, shapes and species of insects: black, yellow and orange marmalade and hornet hoverflies, comma and tortoiseshell butterflies with their hankie wings, as well as wasps, hornets, ivy bees and fluffy yellow and black virgin queen bumblebees.
It’s approaching sensory overload, I admit, but there’s a wonderfully rowdy and friendly festival vibe.
So, when the sun shines this month – as we all hope it will – I encourage you to go in search of a flowering ivy and immerse yourself in this autumn phenomenon. But be quick. This performance is over in the flap of a wing and the stare of a compound eye.

Sam Mendes at opening of Purbeck Film Festival

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Editorial team

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8 October 2024

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For nearly 30 years, Purbeck Film Festival has been bringing the pick of new and classic films from around the world to venues and village halls across Purbeck – and sometimes further into Dorset. This year is the 29th festival and the programme is one of the most varied and exciting yet.
There are special guests from across the industry, including Oscar-winning director Sam Mendes, who will be at the Mowlem Theatre, Swanage, on the opening night, 18th October, when the film is the First World War drama 1917, which he directed.
There are films for all tastes, from Hallowe’en horror (Late Night with the Devil and The Shining, at the Mowlem on 31st October) to Fantastic Machine, a 2023 Scandinavian documentary that traces the invention of the camera from the first mechanical models to the latest technology (Poole Lighthouse on 23rd October).
And talking of taste, there is a lot of food – the theme for this 2024 festival is Food on Film. There will be suppers at village pubs and canapés at Creech Grange and Swanage Waterworks, alongside a feast of some of the greatest food films of all time, including Big Night, Babette’s Feast, Chef, The Taste of Things … and more.

Food and fungi
One of the most interesting new films this year has been selected for the gala evening at the Mowlem on Saturday 19th October – My Favourite Cake (Keyk-e mahboob-e man in Farsi) is a delicate and touching Iranian film abut the joy of sharing cake and conversation with a friend. It is impossible to comprehend why the Iranian authorities tried to ban this funny and moving film.
The Waterworks, a one-time derelict Victorian water-tower, has been imaginatively restored and is now an elegant and unusual venue. Festival films there include, on Sunday 20th October, an Ingmar Bergman double bill of The Virgin Spring and The Seventh Seal, both preceded by wine and canapés supplied by Wareham’s The Salt Pig.
Another theme is the environment, with outstanding documentaries including Wilding, Six Inches of Soil and Fungi: The Web Of Life, presented by Merlin Sheldrake and narrated by Bjork, and a weekend dedicated to the unsung heroes and heroines of adventure and war films particularly, the stuntmen and women, with films featuring exciting stunts and a chance to hear from four experienced stunt people.
Films come from all corners of the globe, this year including foreign-language films from Mongolia, Lithuania, Korea, Bhutan, Turkey and Georgia. Among the special double bills and weekend events, there is a sport double bill at the Mowlem, and a celebrations of two great directors, Ingmar Bergman and Francois Truffaut.
The oldest film being screened is 1944’s Gaslight, adapted from the Patrick Hamilton novel that gave its name to a particularly egregious form of coercive control – it stars Charles Boyer and Ingrid Bergman. The newest is Sean Baker’s Anora, which is being screened at the Mowlem on its release date, 1st November. It’s an exhilarating comedy drama about a New York sex worker who is given a way out of her life on the streets: on a whim, she marries the son of an oligarch. It is also a searing portrait of class inequality in the USA today.
For the Purbeck audience there will be a special interest in Nuts In May, a famous 1976 film by Mike Leigh, which was filmed around some of Purbeck’s most famous and beautiful locations including Corfe Castle and Kimmeridge. It’s at Corfe Castle village hall on Friday 1st November.
The festival ends with the annual Purbeck Shorts film competition, with screenings and announcements of the winners, at the Mowlem on Sunday 3rd November.
As well as the principal venues – the Mowlem, Wareham’s historic Rex Cinema and Poole Lighthouse – films are also being shown at Carey’s Secret Garden, the Isle of Purbeck Golf Club, village halls, Dorchester Corn Exchange and Bridport’s Electric Palace.

Wimborne Community Garden does it again!

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Editorial team

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8 October 2024

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Jane Benson (left) collecting the Judges Award from a trustee of South & South East in Bloom

On September 20th, Wimborne Community Garden was crowned Winning Community Garden at the South & South East In Bloom Awards at RHS Wisley – for the second consecutive year. Adding to their success, the garden also received the Judges Award, acknowledging the dedicated direction in which the core team has led this flourishing community project.
The garden, which is part of the charity Faithworks, focuses on growing produce to share with Wimborne Food Bank, the Community Kitchen and of course Beaucroft College’s café, as the garden is part of their site. Over the past two years the garden has developed into a flourishing space, filled with vegetables, fruit and flowers; it’s also become a space filled with a great deal of friendship and joy.
Like all gardens, it continues to grow – plans for a small kitchen area are in progress, enabling cooking skill-sharing, recipe swapping and the chance for communal feasts.
The awards judge praised the project: ‘The work that has been done over the last two years at Wimborne Community Garden is amazing. Keep up with this brilliant project—it certainly shows what can be achieved by a dedicated community group.’

Dorset’s links to London’s Science Secrets

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Editorial team

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8 October 2024

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Discover London’s hidden science gems with Rachael Rowe’s new guidebook to offbeat sites perfect for curious minds and history lovers

If you’re looking for something new to see on your next trip to London, perhaps take a look at The Science Lover’s Guide to London, a new book by The BV journalist Rachael Rowe.
‘As a former nurse, science fascinates me, and I realised that there isn’t a science-focused guidebook to London – this is the first full colour book on London’s science links.’
Don’t let the science on the cover put you off, however. This is a book filled with fascinating facts and suggestions on where to go and what to do beyond the obvious tourist trail.
‘There’s lots that non-scientists enjoy just as much! For example, looking at some of the abandoned underground stations – they’re really interesting, and full of urban social history. Or you can take a tour to see the cavernous Bascule Chambers underneath Tower Bridge.
‘It’s not about having a passion for science, it’s about realising there are so many different things to see once you get off the main tourist track. Obviously I’ve covered the bigger attractions like the Science Museum and the Natural History Museum, but I also looked at some of the more unusual sites. For example, Kirkaldy’s Testing Works – within walking distance of Waterloo. To engineers it’s as important as Greenwich is to sailors. It’s a Victorian workshop, and when you go in, you can still smell the oil and grease. They’ve restored a lot of the engines and the testing apparatus to full working order – it’s a fascinating place, but so many people don’t even know it’s there.
‘I’ve tried to cover as broad a history as London itself has. Barts Hospital is in because it’s the oldest hospital in the country – it’s been on the same site since it was founded in the 12th century – and its museum shows how medical care has developed over the past 900 years. At the Hunterian Museum at the Royal College of Surgeons, there are exhibits from the ancient Egyptians right up to modern robotic surgery. And then there’s the Crick Institute, which offers free lectures to kids.

Rachael’s favourite – the small museum at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, where you can see Alexander Fleming’s laboratory, restored to its 1928 condition

‘Probably my favourite place was the Fleming Museum at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, where Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin. It’s really small, and it’s in the hospital where he actually worked. You walk up these stairs, and it’s like walking back in time – you end up in his dusty old office, and you can see petri dishes left just as he left that food lying around and came back to find the mould. It’s so unchanged, so simple … I loved it.

‘Another favourite was Big Ben – going up the tower to see it strike, and see all the engineering of the clock mechanism. Top insider tip – go on the 10 o’clock tour, because then you get 11 bongs. If you go on the 12 o’clock, you only get one bong! It’s really quite an experience to actually be in such an iconic spot, right when it was striking, and to be able to walk behind the clock face.

The entrance to the Kirkaldy Testing Museum is in Southwark, open on the first Sunday of each month

‘There are also quite a few Dorset connections in the book. We’ve got Robert Boyle, who came from Stalbridge – there are exhibits of his in the Science Museum, and he’s also linked to St Mary-le-Bow church: under the terms of his Will, he endowed a series of annual lectures which continue to this day.
‘Frederick Treves, the Dorset surgeon from Dorchester who rescued the Elephant Man and saved Edward VII, appears, as does John Freke, born in Okeford Fitzpaine, who was a pioneering 18th century surgeon at St Bart’s.

Rachael’s top tip for the Big Ben tour – book the 10 o’clock tour, because then you get 11 bongs

Artist William Hogarth married a Dorset girl, the daughter of Sir James Thornhill of Stalbridge, famous for the murals in Sherborne House and the Painted Hall at Greenwich – often called Britain’s Sistine Chapel. His epic ceiling includes around 200 figures depicting the 18th century story of political change, scientific and cultural achievements and naval endeavours.’

The Science Lover’s Guide to London is available now, published by Pen & Sword.

Is your business ready for the demands of Gen Z? What do young jobseekers really want?

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7 October 2024

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Dorset Chamber’s chief executive, Ian Girling, has observed a clear shift in the job market, with many jobseekers—particularly younger generations—prioritising conscientious employers over higher salaries. His comments come ahead of the Dorset Business Festival Conference on October 9, which will include a panel discussion: ‘Gen Z – Alpha and Beyond: Their Future in our Hands,’ will be focusing on how businesses can adapt to the expectations of tomorrow’s workforce.

Political strategist and policy maker Lord Matthew Elliott will be a keynote speaker

Ian’s insights are in line with recent data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which shows that the employment rate for those aged 16 and over fell to 4.1% between May and July. As the recruitment landscape changes, employers are increasingly finding that factors like wellbeing, environmental practices, and social responsibility are becoming more important to potential employees than pay alone.
‘Employers continue to face challenges in recruitment and retention,’ Ian said. ‘It is clear that many now choose their workplace based on whether it is a conscientious company that does the right thing. Expectations are changing, and businesses need to keep pace to meet the needs of tomorrow’s workforce.’
To find out more about these emerging trends and discussions on adapting business practices, join the Dorset Business Festival on 9th October. The day-long conference will feature inspirational panels, spotlight speakers, and opportunities for Q&As and networking. Hosted by broadcaster Declan Curry, the event includes keynote addresses from changemaker and climate change consultant Benita Matofska as well as political strategist Lord Matthew Elliott.
Consumers, investors and talent are increasingly drawn to businesses that make a positive impact alongside profit. The conference explores why being a force for good is not just beneficial for society but a smart strategic business move, from attracting top talent to boosting brand loyalty and fostering innovation.
For more details and tickets, see dorsetchamber.co.uk

Time to get busy …

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Editorial team

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7 October 2024

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Autumn at Thorngrove: from hanging basket workshops to Halloween crafts, it’s a season full of events, creativity and community fun

Autumn is here, and we are fully embracing all that comes with the new season. A diverse range of plants to keep things vibrant in your garden, and we’re hosting a wide range of events in the coming weeks and months – there is so much happening!
Kicking off in October, our Hanging Basket Workshops are returning, and we’d love you to join us. Using a selection of plants here at Thorngrove, we will show you how to plant and arrange a beautiful Autumn basket to take home with you. No experience needed, and all materials are provided (we have a ticket option for those who wish to bring their own basket too!). Oh, and we offer discounts for large group bookings! Full details and dates on our website here.

October Half-Term and Halloween season means our Crafts for Children will be on, and the theme will be suitably seasonal. Hosted by Tracey in our glasshouse crafts room, we will have six sessions across three days at half term. Bring the children along to create mini gardens with a choice of decorations, plant some seeds and decorate Halloween jam jar lanterns. These are the perfect way for the little ones to get creative, take an interest in seed planting … and keep them occupied during the school holiday! £7.50 per child, includes soft drink and biscuits. All materials provided, and adults go free.
You can also now book for our FESTIVE MENU in The Secret Garden Café! It will be available from Monday 18th November, and is perfect for group gatherings, family get togethers, or work lunches. Stop by our beautiful hidden gem of a café in Gillingham and enjoy the special menu, including roast turkey, roasted gammon or nut roast – all served, of course, with roast potatoes, pigs in blankets, a medley of vegetables and a homemade Yorkshire Pudding.
Wreath Making Workshops kick off on November 26th: they’re a brilliant way to make your own wreath, or create one as gift – no experience needed, we will be your guide. Complimentary hot drink and mince pie included.

The Thorngrove Christmas Market is back for another year on Sunday 24th November. Held in our glasshouse, the market is a gather of local craftspeople and small businesses, offering seasonal gifts and treats, so stop by for a mulled wine and find something special to take home. (Christmas Trees should be ready to pick up by then too!). At the time of writing we are finalising details for Brunch With Santa, which will take place on Saturday 14th December.
Tickets going live VERY SOON!
That just about covers it … we hope to find ourselves in your diary this autumn and festive season. See you all soon!

ThorngroveGardenCentre.co.uk