WE have grown used to changing arrangements at short notice, but Gordon Amery from Gillingham Methodist Church (GMC) thought he was safe in planning a concert on Saturday 6th May 2023. Then along came the Coronation.
So the scheduled performance of Elgar’s sublime choral work The Dream of Gerontius, with a 50-strong choir and international concert organist David Briggs playing the Sweetland organ and taking the place of the orchestra, will now be given on Sunday 7th. There will also be three well-known soloists, including tenor John Graham-Hall singing the role of Gerontius. The concert is particularly poignant as the church, where Gordon has run the very successful Music at GMC programme for many years, will be closing its doors sometime during the next year. This will be the final concert, and the most ambitious event, in its history. The Dream of Gerontius is generally acknowledged as one of the greatest pieces for chorus and orchestra ever written, and it has long been Gordon’s dream to hear it performed in Gillingham. David Briggs last came to GMC in 2019 for a performance of Louis Vierne’s Messe Solennelle, and it was during that visit that he and Gordon agreed that it would be amazing to perform The Dream with the same choir. Plans were drawn up during the latter part of that year and a performance was pencilled in for 2020. But, like so many other events, it was postponed by the pandemic. Since then it has been an uphill struggle to get the organist, the choir and the soloists free at the same time. ‘But I have finally managed to do it! says Gordon, who is keen to fill the church for the celebration of Music at GMC. ‘Sunday 7th May is the big day! I am sure that this will be a very special and spiritual (not to mention emotional) evening,’ he says. For more information, visit Music at GMC , and tickets (£20) are available here.
Plumber Manor, the archetypal Dorset country hotel, is a fine Jacobean country house, still owned, and now run as a luxury hotel, by the same family that built it in the early 1600s, located in the heart of Thomas Hardy’s ‘vale of little dairies’, one of the most beautiful parts of Dorset.
Person wanted for primarily Saturday’s and some Sunday’s as required. Hours to be discussed. Please contact [email protected]
With over 5 generations of farming experience, the Cossins family proudly hand rear Aberdeen Angus, Hereford and Rawstar milking cows on our family farm in Tarrant Rawston, Dorset. Our herds are grass fed all year round on the naturally lush and mineral rich grass of the Tarrant Valley.
A vacancy has now arisen for a full time herd person to tend to our herd of 150 milking cows.
We are looking for someone with at least 5 years of experience and for the right person this position will come with good accomodation. Salary to be discussed but will be dependent on the experience brought to the role.
If you think you have what it takes to be our next herds person, then please apply in the first place with your CV, a covering letter and any references to James Cossins to [email protected] or call 07836 729475 for more details.
Questioning identity does not equate to a crisis, says Dorset Mind – but calling it one can create a drama around a very normal process
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It’s normal to question who you are – your core beliefs, personality, and sexual or gender identity. Questioning one’s identity can occur at any age. Often this reflection can provide an opportunity for growth and positive change. You may have seen the term ‘identity crisis’ in the media, usually alongside a generic headline on ‘how to cope’. Questioning your identity is not a crisis; it shouldn’t be stigmatised, nor is it something to be frightened of.
Gender Identity ‘Gender identity’ is a person’s sense of their own gender. UK Census Data showed that 262,000 people aged 16 years and over in England and Wales identified as a different gender than the one they were assigned at birth. (Census, 2021). It’s important to acknowledge these statistics, especially considering mental health challenges within the transgender community. During the 2020/21 period, 2,630 hate crimes against transgender people were recorded by the Police (Home Office, 2021). One of my personal key takeaways from completing Unconscious Bias training at Dorset Mind was that we all form judgements, often without realising, due to the many factors affecting who we are, such as our own gender identity. People may react confron-tationally towards others, simply due to differences, and the uncomfortable feelings created by the ‘otherness’. Additionally, the ‘hate’ may stem from an individual’s lack of education or understanding. Dorset Mind’s messaging Within Dorset Mind, we continue to amplify the voices and experiences of people in our communities, often through online blogs or vlogs. We want to encourage all ages to contribute, so we can better support each other. In Dorset Mind wellbeing groups, we’re delighted to provide participants safe and confidential spaces to talk about who they are. Within our LGBTQIA+ group, ‘MindOut,’ participants share their own experiences, help each other to embrace their own personal sense of identity and take part in mindful activities which help develop self-compassion. Dorset Mind work placement organiser and volunteer Billie Frater helps to co-facilitate the ‘MindOut LGBTQIA+’ group. She says: ‘The beauty of life is that it gives us the opportunity to explore who we are. It’s OK to feel confused and question our sexual and/or gender identity. ‘However you feel or identify, you are valid and loved. Additionally, there are people and resources that can help you better understand and learn about yourself. Don’t feel pressured to figure out who you are. It’s a journey, not a race!’
Need support? Samaritans provide a phone listening service which operates 24hrs a day, 365 days a year. Contact them FREE on 116 123. If you’re a part of the LGBTQIA+ community or questioning your gender identity, find signposting and support groups for young people and adults on the rainbowdorset.co.uk website. Additionally, contact MindLine Trans+, a free, confidential listening service for people identifying as trans or non-binary, and their friends and families, on 0300 330 5468. Other support links can be found on Dorset Mind: dorsetmind.uk
Roger Guttridge shares some remarkable Edwardian pictures of Marnhull’s biggest store, which rose from the ashes of a fire 114 years ago
Crowds gather to assess the damage at Hayter’s. Archive photos from Blackmore Vale Camera, by Roger Guttridge
In 1991, David Wilkins kindly lent me a remarkable set of early 20th century photographs of Hayter’s Stores and Bakery in Marnhull. The pictures are particularly unusual in that they include a couple of internal shots, taken before a fire that reduced Hayter’s to a smouldering ruin.
Inside the drapery section before the fire.
External pictures show the Burton Street premises in the immediate aftermath of the fire and after the rebuild. The blaze broke out in the early hours of 2nd March 1909. Few people had telephones then and messenger George Turner cycled all the way to Gillingham to alert the fire brigade.
The morning after’ – a fuzzy view of Hayter’s from The Marn’ll Book
There was little they could do for Hayter’s, but they arrived in time to save the adjoining Queen’s Head Inn. Fortunately, there was no loss of human life, but five horses were killed. The premises were rebuilt by W Wilkins, who I believe was a relative of David. The sign above the two-storey Queen’s Head porch in the rebuild picture tells us that Henry Haskett was the licensee. That building is now a private residence called Moonfleet, but more than a century later it looks almost identical – right down to the porch roof, the bay window and the chimneys.
Hayter’s after the rebuild
The three-storey former Hayter’s building remains a mini commercial centre today, with a farm shop and a hair and beauty salon occupying the visible shops, and a curtain and carpet shop, general stores and post office around the corner. In the pre-fire internal shots, some of the product names displayed in the general store will still be familiar to many readers today – such as Hovis and Nestlé’s and perhaps even Wills’ Gold Flake tobacco.
Inside the grocery store before the fire
The drapery section appears to be selling rolled up carpets as well as ladies’ clothing. It’s remarkable that carpet sales have survived to the present day! An additional picture of the fire damage appears on page 140 of The Marn’ll Book (1952)
The former Hayter’s and Queen’s Head today.
Used copies of Roger’s Blackmore Vale Camera (which contains these archive images) can be obtained via Abebooks
In her studio in Weymouth, abstract landscape artist Teresa Lawton talked about her work to Edwina Baines
All images: Courtenay Hitchcock
In the peace and solitude of her Weymouth studio, alongside her beautiful Weimaraner dog Logan and with Radio 6 for company, Teresa Lawton is in her happy place. Here she paints the coast and the surrounding landscape. ‘It is a meditative process which absorbs me entirely,’ she says. Born in Dorset, Teresa spent most of the 1970s in London before travelling in Greece and Argentina. She also spent a great deal of time in Cornwall through her developing years as a painter. The mid-20th century St Ives artists have always been a great inspiration in her work and, as an Associate Member of the St Ives-based Penwith Gallery, she has remained true to that influence. Painting from the age of five, she always wanted to go to art school but was prevented by both an unsettled early life and the fact that ‘it was not considered a career at the time’. She was, she says ‘a bit of a rolling stone’ and it was not until her son started school that she completed a BA (Hons) Fine Arts degree at Winchester School of Art. However, as a mature student she was able to gain a different perspective on her art, and had the time to develop more of a practical, business-minded approach.
image Courtenay Hitchcock BV Magazine April 2023
After graduating, Teresa moved to a remote studio near Corfe Castle, right at the edge of Poole Harbour looking out onto Round Island. This idyllic cottage was her home for ten years before she relocated to Weymouth. ‘I loved living in Corfe, really out in the wilds, but I ended up doing more gardening than painting!’
‘I need absolute peace in order to do this job. I walk the dog and I paint and that’s a peaceful life for me. Total commitment to my work.’
The Dorset coast and surrounding countryside remain an important influence on her work but a slightly different style is emerging since the move. The farmed hilly landscape around Weymouth, with its patchwork of fields, is a change from the Corfe heathland. There are fewer distractions. Teresa says: ‘I like solitude. I don’t have a problem with it. I’m a bit obsessive about my work. I like to walk on my own in the woods and on the hills, getting “far from the madding crowds”. I don’t tend to sketch or photograph. I’m always just soaking up the landscape around me. I need absolute peace in order to do this job. I walk the dog and I paint and that’s a peaceful life for me. Total commitment to my work.
Teresa in her home studio, where she works in the company of her dog Logan
I view the coast from up on the hills. Every day is different here – the skyline falls into the sea, forming a space between heaven and earth. The Dorset coastline fills my work.’ Teresa does not give the impression of being a quiet and reclusive person – but she is, without doubt, dedicated, single-minded and disciplined with regard to her painting. Teresa successfully exhibits in London and Cornwall as well as Dorset. The ordered studio stacked with paintings ready for a solo exhibition at The Gallery on the Square in Poundbury reflects her discipline: ‘I don’t like working in chaos. To make a living as a painter is no easy thing but I’ve managed to do it. I’m always busy. I paint every day if I can.’
Quarryland – Teresa’s version of the Isle of Portland
An emotional landscape ’I need to take the viewer on a journey with my paintings. I want to convey the bliss of being out in the middle of nowhere.’ Colour is no doubt important to Teresa and the influence of the Cornish artists of St Ives is evident. ‘It’s about the landscape. Describing it in a more emotional way. It resonates with me. When I started visiting Cornwall it opened a door for me.
On The Rocks, showing fish escaping from storm-damaged nets in Weymouth harbour
‘I draw straight onto the canvas. I like the immediacy of painting – too much sketching is restricting for me.’ Her muted palette of greys and ochres has changed somewhat with the season and some hints of green have entered on occasion, as evident in The Ridgeway (image next page, bottom). Teresa found that she walked further into the hills during the lockdown and her style began to subtly change. Abstract shapes and forms are still there but now little buildings might appear in the landscape: ‘A tree or a shadow might inspire me … I like to play with the shapes. It becomes instinctive,’ she says.
Teresa’s Weimaraner Logan is a happy artist’s assistant
Freedom in the abstract Quarryland (previous page) is Teresa’s version of the Isle of Portland: ‘I embellish with my own ideas. The paintings are not an exact replication of the view, otherwise it might become clichéd. I am trying to record an immediate, personal moment – to convey what is fresh in my mind. I focus on constructing areas of space and clean lines interrupted by colour.’
image: Courtenay Hitchcock BV magazine April 2023
On The Rocks (above) is a wonderfully strong, harmonious image showing fish escaping from storm-damaged nets in Weymouth harbour. Teresa’s application of the oil paint is carefully considered. ‘The abstraction gives me a certain freedom, as the layers may show through. I don’t always know where the painting will go, to begin with. The layering can make the painting more interesting, creating a balance with shapes in tones and colours. I scrape back with a palette knife, scratching into the paint. I’m drawing as I go along – in essence, it is simplification through abstraction.’
Unusually for Teresa Lawton’s preferred palette, hints of green are evident in The Ridgeway
Teresa may work on a number of canvases at any one time which may change and alter over the days: ‘Beyond all the technical skills of constructing a painting which is about knowing your craft, there lies a magic which is inexplicable. Those are the things that can’t be taught; they are about immersing yourself in your own world and imagination, which is instinctive.’
Teresa’s solo exhibition runs at the Gallery on the Square, Poundbury from 2fifth March to 29th April 2023. teresalawtonart.weebly.com
Residents of North Dorset are set to benefit from a range of new mental health services, as local charity Dorset Mind expands its popular Eco in Mind ecotherapy group support initiative to three new sites across the region from April 17th.
The new groups will be specifically targeted at carers, families, and friends of people living with dementia, as well as NHS and Blue Light workers, and patients at a GP surgery. In partnership with other trusted organisations, the new locations will be situated at Ferndown’s Growing Compassionate Communities initiative, Shillingstone’s Big Yellow Bus Project, and Shaftesbury’s Abbey View GP Surgery, in connection with Shaftesbury in Bloom and the Blackmore Vale surgeries.
The charity is passionate about community efforts and will be donating all produce grown at the new allotments to local food banks or communities. In addition, residents at Moretons Abbeyfield Wessex Care Home will assist the project by planting seeds and nurturing seedlings, ready for growing at the Ferndown Dementia Friendly allotments.
Ecotherapy is known to support better mental wellbeing, with gardening just twice a week improving wellbeing and relieving stress according to BBC’s Science Focus. National Mind describes ecotherapy as a “formal type of therapeutic treatment which involves doing outdoor activities in nature,” something that Dorset Mind is already delivering on their established allotments in Dorchester and Weymouth.
Dorset Mind has seen positive outcomes from its previous work on the established allotments in Dorchester and Weymouth, supporting local adults and young people. In the past year, 81 sessions were delivered, with 100% of participants maintaining or improving their mood, and 100% recommending the Eco in Mind support. Activities are based on the evidence-based Five Ways to Wellbeing, which includes getting active, connecting, taking notice, learning, and giving back.
Recent feedback from one of the charity’s regular adult participants who lives with OCD shows the positive impact that ecotherapy can have. The participant was able to sow seeds with the facilitator, which was a significant step for someone who struggles with the thought of germs. The participant’s mother commented, “It was a big step for him today. I know it’s given him a boost. He said he felt really anxious before he started, but it went away, and he’s really proud of himself. Small steps.”
Sharon Best, Eco in Mind Development Coordinator, said: “I am so pleased that Eco in Mind will reach even more people across Dorset. We’re aiming to support different people such as carers, paramedics and Blue Light workers, alongside opening adult sessions in community growing spaces and a medical centre. This expansion will demonstrate how following the Five Ways to Wellbeing outside in nature supports mental wellbeing in the community.”
Dorset Mind CEO Linda O’Sullivan echoed this sentiment, saying: “Connection and being outside in nature are proven to fundamentally improve people’s wellbeing. By collaborating with chosen partners in different locations, we can develop what we’ve learnt from several years serving Dorchester and Weymouth – and roll this impactful service out across the county, helping normalise the conversation about mental health in our communities.”
Dr Andy Mayers, Dorset Mind Patron and Principal Academic at Bournemouth University, added: “I am delighted to see the expansion of Eco in Mind. The benefits of using nature to boost mental wellbeing are clear, but this is also an opportunity to teach environmentally friendly methods to grow produce. Everyone’s a winner!”
To find out more about Eco in Mind and the support, education, and training offered by Dorset Mind, visit their website or email them directly at [email protected].
The charity’s vital mental health support cannot operate without the generosity of businesses and the local community. If you’d like to make a donation, please follow this link
Pat Barnes, a retired police officer and current minibus driver at Bryanston School in Blandford, met with the team at Mosaic in January 2023 to share his plans of undertaking a remarkable challenge for the charity. Pat aims to walk all the way from his front door in Wool, Dorset to Santiago de Campostela in Spain. He learned about Mosaic, a Dorset-based charity that provides bereavement support to children and young people, through his work at Bryanston School where Mosaic provide a bereavement service. Pat set himself a fundraising target of £1,000. At time of writing, just a few days into his journey, he’s already broken through that target!
Calais to Camino Pat set off from his own front door in Wool on Monday 3rd April, heading first to Salisbury, then on to Winchester where he will join the Pilgrim’s Trail to Canterbury before crossing from Dover to Calais on foot. He’ll walk through France, over the Pyrenees and across the North of Spain to the famous Santiago de Compostela on the Camino trail. The walk will be unsupported, meaning he has to carry everything he needs with him; Pat estimates that it will take him around four months to complete the journey. He says, ‘I have previously walked the Camino Frances, around 940km, and Camino del Norte, around 1,150km. I enjoy the adventure of a long-distance walk, seeing the changes in the countryside, the culture … but most of all it’s the people you meet along the way.’
Sarah Hannibal-White, Mosaic’s Fundraising and Events assistant says, ‘We are delighted that Pat has chosen to support Mosaic whilst undertaking this amazing challenge. We look forward to hearing all about his adventures and the people he meets and sharing his stories with the community. We wish Pat every success!’ If you would like to find out more about Pat’s adventure or make a donation, you can visit his JustGiving page here
After a last-minute change of plans, eventer Toots Bartlett swapped boots this month – and found herself watching helplessly from the sidelines
March turned out to be the almost month! After a madly busy few weeks trying to get the horses out training, competing at British Dressage and British Showjumping all while preparing them for the upcoming season, the whole team was ready (and determined) to take on the first event of the season at Cirencester Park. The horses were washed and glowing. The lorry had received its full pre-season clean and was fully packed. Excitement was through the roof. But then we received a last minute text from British Eventing to say the event was cancelled due to the rain. So very disappointing – albeit expected with the weather we had been working through! Anyway, we are keeping everything crossed that we will finally be out Eventing in the early weeks of April. Although we’re currently in the last week of March and might soon need to start begging the skies to stop raining! The Cirencester cancellation did mean that we got to take four horses to a British Showjumping event at Dorset Showground however, which resulted in great results and many clear rounds.
Toots and Freestyle R
Toots the groom Although I didn’t make it out Eventing in March, I was lucky to get the opportunity to try my hand at competition grooming at Moreton BE. I worked two days, helping and supporting three different riders from William Fox-Pitt’s yard – including two jockeys who were competing in their first British event after moving from their home countries. I thoroughly enjoyed it and was amazed at just how different the roles of rider and groom are. A groom has a completely different focus, and in some cases has to multi-task at a far quicker pace! I personally found it incredibly interesting to watch how each individual rider dealt with their nerves and how that affected their horses. I could pick up on small details which might indicate some anxiety or pressure that they were feeling and hopefully was able to help channel their emotions to allow for optimal performance. I felt much more nervous watching them in the cross country then I would as a jockey myself. As a groom I was completely useless and had no control over the outcome once they left the start box. The biggest joy of all was seeing the rider’s faces as they crossed the line – they all did amazingly well. I felt a real sense of achievement and pride in being able to help such talented and grateful riders. I totally recommend it to all my fellow eventers – swap your competition boots for wellies for the day and try grooming instead of riding. I have huge respect for all grooms; without them we really wouldn’t have a sport!
