Margery Hookings finds herself in the Caribbean where one of the Monmouth Rebels was transported after the Battle of Sedgemoor in 1685. Azariah Pinney, who was meant to have been hanged for his part in the West Country rebellion, was Read more »
Excitement is mounting in Bridport as the public prepares for its first view of the restored Literary and Scientific Institute in East Street. It’s been empty for nearly twenty years. Remembered by many locals simply as the old library, the Read more »
A starstruck Margery Hookings enjoys a surprise visit to the Norman Lockyer Observatory near Sidmouth. The evening was not quite as she expected but a return visit is on the cards. It’s my birthday and my husband has organised Read more »
Folk sensations Show of Hands will be returning to their roots this month when they play in Bridport as part of the town’s second Winter Solstice Festival. Margery Hookings catches up with one half of the duo, Steve Knightley, who Read more »
As small charities go, the South Somerset-based Prodigal Bikes is pretty special. It works on several different levels. Its goal is to take in unwanted mountain bikes, do them up and send them, along with spares and tools, to rural Read more »
Chard Carnival celebrates its 50th birthday on Saturday 14 October with a cavalcade of colour, lights and action. If you’ve never been to any of the carnivals on the Somerset carnival circuit, make a date now. You’ll not be disappointed, Read more »
Margery Hookings calls in on Beaminster Museum and is fascinated by what she finds. The museum is wholly volunteer-based and has been going for 25 years. It’s a Friday morning and Beaminster Museum is absolutely buzzing with volunteers. I Read more »
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 »