Three hundred years ago in 1685, the Duke of Monmouth landed on the beach at Lyme Regis to raise a rebel uprising against King James II. It was a bold, Protestant rebellion fuelled by the discontent amongst all classes of Read more »
Margery Hookings catches up with an old friend to find out more about his ‘Dorset’s Legacy’ book series and the successful business he started from scratch, which is now a niche firm supplying branded items to top football clubs Read more »
Margery Hookings visits Chard Museum to find out more about James Gillingham, surgical mechanist and manufacturer of artificial limbs. He was a contemporary and fellow townsman of aviation pioneer John Stringfellow in Chard during the 19th century. Both were ahead Read more »
Margery Hookings has had a look at the Ukulele Opera that nearly wasn’t You can always rely on Bridport to come up with something completely different. And this year is no exception. More than 120 ukulele players, dancers, singers, Read more »
Margery Hookings looks forward to the new—and final—series of Broadchurch, coming to a television screen near you this month. When the first series of Broadchurch was broadcast on ITV in early 2013, I was away in Greece, having exchanged Read more »
A Ghostly Walk around Bridport Dipping her toes into the underworld for the Bridport Ghost Walk, Margery Hookings meets Adrian Clements, the man behind it. He reveals a life-long passion for old horror films and British history, which turns Read more »
It has to be one of the loveliest spots in the world for a small farm. I’m gazing down at the view from Jo and Dan Stover’s top field, and it’s absolutely breath-taking. There’s the flat-topped Pilsdon Pen to my Read more »
Chard has more than its association with the first powered flight as a claim to fame. Margery Hookings has been learning about Margaret Bondfield a native of the town who became Britain’s first female cabinet minister. Chard Museum is a Read more »
If you’re ever on the beach at West Bay and cast your eyes out to sea, the chances are you’ll spot Sally Newman, standing up on a paddle board and skimming along the water. Her silhouette is distinctive because, invariably, Read more »
Waddon Hill, in the very west of west Dorset, is a long ridge, joined at the hip with its parent peak, Lewesdon Hill, which at 279m, is the highest point in Dorset. From the top, the view is rather wonderful, Read more »