Roving Press Newsletter (1) - highlighting Dorset people, places, literature, books and authors

View this email in your browser Roving Press - First Newsletter This is the season for making the most of what's on our doorstep now the grockles have gone home. In this our first newsletter we feature our latest 'Lesser Known' guide and others in the series, all designed to get you out exploring Dorset. There's also something for those who enjoy cuddling up with poetry, and some further Literary Snippets.  Facebook Twitter Website Email Pinterest What constitutes a poem? Playright Peter John Cooper reckons: 'A poem is a train of thought using language in such a way to create an emotional response in the reader or listener. You can use various rhythms, word plays or rhyme schemes to help generate that emotion.' Read work by Dorset poets and writers in Dorset Voices: A Collection of New Prose, Poetry and Photographs. And for cutting-edge poetry, see Big Mouth. Rain (YouTube) - something for a rainy day. Great stuff, thanks Peter. (Don't worry, he's not as scary as he looks!) 5 Unconventional Poetry Forms  from the Huffingtonpost.com to help writers. NEW PUBLICATION  Lesser Known Lyme Regis by local author and writing coach Joanna Smith joins our stable of local guides. Rather like having your own personal guide, each book has bespoke walks and maps. They appeal to locals as well as visitors, really getting behind the scenes, with plenty of pictures to entice you out of your armchair. Author Joanna Smith lives in Lyme, where she runs the Black Dog Writing Group. She spent two years researching the book. ‘So much has been written about the town’s history, literary links, walking trails and fossils, but I wanted to write a comprehensive guide that brings all these facets of the town together.  The book includes interviews with dozens of local people such as fishermen, artists, fossil hunters, historians and wreck divers, which give a real insight into contemporary Lyme and explain why it’s such a vibrant place’. Click HERE for a review by Bridport News and read our Roving Press blog. Coram Tower, Lyme Regis Cecil Amor, writing in the Marshwood Vale magazine last month, highlights philanthropist Thomas Coram. Below is a quote from Walk 6 in Lesser Known Lyme Regis. “At the top of the car park, Coram Tower is unmistakable across the main road. It was built in the 1880s as St Michael’s College, a school for the sons of clergy. The school closed in 1899 and the building was renamed to commemorate the life of Thomas Coram.    Thomas was born in Lyme in 1668, the son of a skipper, and was sent away to sea at the age of 11. In about 1720, when he was in London supplying stores to the Navy, he came in contact with destitute children living near the banks of the Thames. He was so shocked by their suffering that he spent 17 years fighting to set up an institution that would care for them.     The Foundling Hospital was opened in London in 1741 for the ‘education and maintenance of exposed and deserted young children’ and was the world’s first incorporated charity and the first children’s charity in Britain; 27,000 children grew up in the Hospital until it closed in 1954. The charity lives on today as Coram, an organisation that works with disadvantaged children in the UK.” The Priest's Way, Swanage The Priest’s Way between Swanage and Worth Matravers has been restored, as featured in our revised edition 2014 of Lesser Known Swanage.  John Newth writes about The Purbeck House Hotel & Louisa Lodge, Swanage in Dorset Life magazine. Take a look at our blog post Walk in Swanage, Exploring ‘Old London by the Sea’. Weymouth's Royal Visitors By George!...George III's holiday snaps Pt 9 Unwelcome visitors in Weymouth Bay George III's holiday snaps pt 7 Royals Take a Dive Our book has the full story, and more: “... in the mid-1700s something happened to take the focus away from the harbourside feuds.  Doctors began advocating saltwater bathing as a cure for all manner of things (gout, rheumatism, skin complaints, gunshot wounds, bruises, strains, eye problems, etc.); it was even recommended as a cure for ‘persons of corpulent habits, who become unwieldly’ (according to local author John Love). ...     Ralph Allen was an influential socialite at the time, and when he fell ill his doctors advised the ‘saltwater cure’. So he took himself off to Weymouth, where his health improved. In 1780, the Duke of Gloucester (King George III’s younger brother) came to Melcombe on Allen’s recommendation to try ‘the cure’, which worked so well he took up summer residence. Then came the King himself. His Family is said to have holidayed almost every summer in Weymouth from 1789–1805, originally staying at his brother’s Gloucester Lodge. Thus gradually Weymouth was transformed from a commercial port into a fashionable resort – ‘England’s Bay of Naples’.” Even today, we're still doing it! Are you brave enough? When was the last time you went sea swimming? I’ve just got into open-water swimming and would love to hear from anyone who swims locally. Please email. Sun, sand and inequality: why the British seaside towns are losing out An interesting read in The Guardian. Having written Lesser Known Weymouth, I can vouch that the town has loads of great features and shouldn't be dismissed as a backwater. Looking beyond/above the 'For Let' signs it's still a great town with a rich history – a brilliant place with the best silky sand, gentle beach, special areas like the Nothe and Jordan Hill, and so much to do. Perhaps you have an excuse now? There are plenty of backstreets to explore in Lesser Known Weymouth. Beating the bounds The July edition of Dorset Life has a feature on boundaries (the borough variety) written by Jo Draper. The following extract from our book explains a little about the old custom of 'Beating the bounds' in Weymouth: “As the path leaves old Radipole, there is a small stone bridge opposite Letterbox Cottage. A stone in the river here has special significance. Over the centuries, a ‘Beating the Bounds’ ceremony was held, traditionally during the fifth week after Easter, when people would walk the 10–12 miles (16–19.3 km) around the borough’s boundaries. On the way they would bless the crops and give thanks to God. These boundaries were marked by stones, gates, walls and trees, and in the old days boys and girls were ‘bumped’ or sometimes beaten with a rod at these boundary posts ‘to determine and preserve recollection of its extent, and to see that no encroachments have been made upon it, and that the landmarks have not been taken away’ (William Barnes, quoted in Udal 1989). Weymouth Museum has the original ebony and silver boundary rods. The long but jolly walk also involved rowing boats and the scaling of walls. Nowadays, the Mayor and Corporation occasionally re-enact the ceremony, with school children carrying small boundary rods.” LITERARY SNIPPETS The latest 'Literature Live Bulletin' is available from Dorset County Council, essential reading for all lovers of literature. Full of lists of events, groups, prizes and competitions, new publications, workshops and classes, and online resources. Sign up to receive by email - send your details to dorsetlibraries.readingandlearning@dorsetcc.gov.uk. The Society of Women Writers and Journalists (SWWJ) is another recommended organisation - see our June blog. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory cover condemned as 'creepy',... from the Daily Telegraph. Please let us know which one of our book covers you particularly like, and why. It's always good to get feedback. Home - Literature Works - see the latest Literature Works newsletter for news, opportunities, jobs and events. EVENTS  4 October  - Charmouth Literary Festival Our author Peter John Cooper was part of the line-up of speakers. 45 years as a playwright – congratulations Peter; see his impressive profile on LinkedIn.  Kingston Maurward College recently hosted a morning of learning about digital technology. Thanks to speaker Kate Doodson at Cosmic Ethical IT and Superfast Business South West. For more free workshops to help small businesses see Superfast Business, WSX Enterprise and David Lakins. Let us know if you are involved in any local events, etc. we might mention in our social media or next newsletter. If you enjoy and find any of this useful please share with friends, and thanks for subscribing. Julie Musk Roving Press Share Tweet Forward +1 © 2014 Roving Press. All rights reserved. 4 Southover Cottages, Frampton, Dorset DT2 9NQ, tel 01300 321531, info@rovingpress.co.uk, www.rovingpress.co.uk   unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences

Thomas Hardy’s Mixen Lane in Fordington, Dorchester, brought to life

A crowd of 70 plus people turned up to view an array of photographs from the Mill Street Housing Society’s Archive in St George’s Hall, Fordington. Included were glass slides, perhaps used in a magic lantern or such like, that had been discovered in a barn by a committee member of the Mill Street project.

As if by a miracle, they proved to be undamaged. Having been enhanced, they were transferred to a memory stick and author David Forrester was able to keep them running as a slide show all afternoon. This proved to be a great success; areas long forgotten by many were there on the screen as large as life. Shouts of ‘That’s my granny’ or ‘There’s my uncle, outside our old house’ were to be heard. What excitement!

Also on display were two bound volumes of Musings by the Mill Stream. These contained all the quarterly News Sheets sold from 1927 at the grand price of 1d first produced by A. Edwards. They contained an incredible amount of information about what was happening in Mill Street, day by day. 

  

At one very moving moment, a gentleman opened the book and there looking at him was a photo of his father (a Mill Street resident) who was killed in the war. At the time he was only three and a half years old and of course does not remember his father. So here, in one incredible moment, was a photo and details of his father’s service record. This was news to him, and also an exciting moment for those of us present at that time. It was so wonderful to share that with him.

Halfway through the afternoon, Rupert Edwards, great grandson of Alfred Edwards, founder of the Mill Street Mission, explained to those present the purpose of the project. This being to record the memories of those who lived in Mill Street or had relatives who lived there. He explained the importance of doing this now, before the memories are lost forever.

It is intended that these memories will be recorded and saved in the History Centre in Dorchester as an important piece of social history. The information will also be transcribed and used as the basis for David Forrester’s next book, Mill Street, Thomas Hardy’s Mixen Lane, which will be published by Roving Press before the end of 2015, as a follow-up to his highly successful book Fordington Remembered: Growing Up in and Around Dorchester.

If you are interested in helping with this project and recording your memories, you can join in a relaxed but recorded chat with others; of course, it is the information we are after, your name will only be used if you give that permission. Please ring 01305 261622.

Fordington Remembered is available from Roving Press, priced £6.99.

The Dorset Countryside in October

Our best-selling book at the Dorset County Show this year was A Dorset Country Calendar  by Andy Case. 

     Andy’s observations of Dorset wildlife, weather, local matters and farming around Milton Abbas are reminiscent of a gentler place and time, and his simple pen-and-ink drawings delightfully illustrate his writing.

Andy stopped by to say hello to us on the Roving Press book stand at the Show, in between winning prizes with his Oxford Sandy and Black pigs, which he does most years. 

In the book Andy writes:

 ‘The Dorset County Show was a good show, with many more stall exhibitors this year. In the 1950s it thrived too, when there were many feed and corn merchants, sadly now all gone – firms like Blandford & Webb, Dorset Farmers, Christopher Hills and the like, whose marquees were a familiar sight. It was the custom to have lunch and tea and a drink with them. The food and drink were copious. Father would meet up with his farming friends and they’d go from tent to tent swilling down free whiskys and become more animated and unsteady throughout the day.

 One year, I remember, Christopher Hills put on badger’s ham sandwiches. Imagine the outcry if it happened today? Everybody had a good day. People dressed up, the men in country tweeds and the women in colourful dresses, some wore hats as well. At the end of the day, the now redder-faced farmers could be seen threading their erratic ways like sheep through the parked cars, followed by their wives, weighed down with children and brown carrier bags.’

A Dorset Country Calendar looks at what's happening in the Dorset countryside throughout the year and is ideal for dipping into month by month. Here’s something for October:

‘Darkness and damp lay heavy in our fog-bound valley at the bottom of Long Ash hill. All was still except for the continual dripping of the trees. Sounds carried clear and far. A mile away, I heard Hilton Church strike three and over the hill the Abbey schoolboys cheering on their first XV team. Two or three days later, the wind backed to the south-west and blew hard to make all the leaves turn up and show their undersides – a sure sign of rain, as the old men always say. Suddenly, it became very mild as the warm front came through. The wind slipped under the cloud and brought the longed-for rain. The next day the grass had grown 2 inches because the soil was still so warm and the weather so mild.

The swallows have gone and so have the last of our runner beans. One tends to get fed up with them when you have been picking them since the middle of June.

     In the woods there are crunchy leaves to scuff, the smell of autumn and a wonderful crop of chestnuts. We must have picked a bucketful and all for free. The prickly outer covering is easily dealt with by stamping on them and the nuts burst out under the pressure. Raw or roasted they’re lovely now the nights are drawing in.

    We had one of those gorgeous golden days recently, when the grass is covered with spiders’ threads. It’s when you see ‘gossamer’, a passing floating thread with a tiny spider suspended like a parachutist. This wondrous spider activity is a sign of rain; we had some later, though only a drop fell.

    We never see glow worms now. By chance, I read an article that described why. It’s because of light pollution; those people who leave their outside lights on in towns and cities, and the illuminated motorways and junctions. The glow worm needs darkness, real darkness, to thrive and to mate   

    Last Tuesday I was stood by the yard gate, facing the road and the farm buildings, unlocking the padlock and chain. As I fiddled with the key a rabbit ran from behind me and almost jumped over my foot. A second later a stoat followed it, just missing me. I watched in amazement as they crossed the road, the stoat chasing the rabbit. They turned and ran towards the farmhouse backdoor and out of sight. Three seconds later they came back one behind the other, re-crossed the road, passed over my boot, through the yard and fence, up the bank, and were gone!

Stoats will throw themselves about by contorting their bodies to mesmerise their prey, aided it is said by a parasitic worm that enters the stoat’s brain by its nose and eventually kills it. As stoats appear not to have any predators, except man, I can believe it. Sheep have a condition called ‘Gid’ which is caused by a worm that goes up one of their nostrils and into one side of the brain. The poor sheep runs around in unsteady circles and often falls over. In times past it was said the old shepherds would punch the affected sheep in the head – they must have had fists of iron, a sheep’s head is very hard – to crack the scull, to loosen the worm and cure the sheep.’

We hope you have enjoyed these extracts from Andy's book and they have put you in the mood for autumn. The book is available from Roving Press, priced £6.99, an ideal personal present for anyone who loves the Dorset countryside. 

Copyright Julie Musk 2014

New guide to Lyme Regis: Exploring with 'Lesser Known Lyme Regis'

This is the perfect time of year for enjoying Dorset’s seaside. A new book just published,  Lesser Known Lyme Regis, delves into a side of Lyme Regis you might not know, with commentary from local people and six easy-to-follow guided walks with maps.

It’s rather like having your own personal guide. Author Joanna Smith lives in Lyme Regis, where she runs the Black Dog Writing Group. She spent two years researching the book.

‘So much has been written about the town’s history, literary links, walking trails and fossils, but I wanted to write a comprehensive guide that brings all these facets of the town together.’

The bizarre 'moonscape' known as the Ammonite Graveyard, Monmouth Beach 

‘The book includes interviews with dozens of local people such as fishermen, artists, fossil hunters, historians and wreck divers, which give a real insight into contemporary Lyme and explain why it’s such a vibrant place’.

Liz Martin, a volunteer miller at the Town Mill, weighing out freshly milled flour.

Like Lesser Known Weymouth and Lesser Known Swanage, two other titles in the series published by Roving Press, the book will appeal to locals as well as visitors. It takes you on a personal tour to reveal the quirkier side of Lyme Regis.

Vantage point on Bell Cliff. The Georgian cannon was retrieved from the Cobb in 1974 where it had spent many inglorious years as a mooring post, stuck in the harbour floor near the Gin Shop.

Lesser Known Lyme Regis is available in local outlets and direct from Roving Press (www.rovingpress.co.uk, tel 01300 321531), priced £11.99.

Copyright Julie Musk 2014

Explore Swanage with new 'Lesser Known Swanage' guide for 2014

Lesser Known Swanage was first published in 2009. Revised and updated for 2014, along with other books in the Lesser Known series – Weymouth and Lyme Regis – it takes a contemporary look at the town.

Learn about:

·         the history of the stone trade. Purbeck stone is the cause of much local pride and quarrying goes back to Roman times;

·         Durlston Country Park, with the Lighthouse, newly renovated Durlston Castle, dolphin spotting, flora and fauna;

·         Swanage Railway – past and present;

The busy engine working area and turntable. A special viewing area over the bridge allows you to see the action (walk up Gilbert Road, parallel with the track, cross the bridge, then through the gate on the right)

·         behind-the-scenes interviews with local people (from sailors to Lifeboat crew, fishermen to Purbeck Producers);

Local fishermen work out of huts along Peveril Point Road, next to the council Boat Park. Most of the red buoys in Swanage Bay are either moorings or lobster/crab pots

·         practical information, including chapters on regular events, local fare, exploring, family fun and other activities;

 ·         six self-guided walks and maps exploring the Square, High Street, Peveril Point, Mill Pond and hills around Swanage;

Designed to take out and explore the backstreets with, hopefully families will enjoy the quiz questions in the walks and day-trippers will find plenty to inspire them to come back and enjoy this friendly seaside town, with its wealth of hidden gems. Even locals will discover new things.

  

Lesser Known Swanage has 144 pages, fully illustrated in colour, priced £9.99. It and other Lesser Known guides to Weymouth and Lyme Regis are available from Roving Press (www.rovingpress.co.uk). If you like exploring Dorset, you'll love our books.

Copyright Julie Musk 2014