Margery Hookings Launches Born & Bred, Broadwindsor In October

A new community project aimed at capturing the memories of local people takes place in Broadwindsor from October 2024 to March 2024.

It is being led by Margery Hookings for Windrose Rural Media Trust, a registered charity whose purpose is to use the media to undertake educational, archival and creative work in rural communities. For many years, it has concentrated on Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire.

There are several strands to this latest project, which is called Born & Bred and is a follow up to Windrose’s The Place I Love project (2021-2022), which was funded by Dorset Council, Dorset AONB and Broadwindsor Group Parish Council.

That project compiled the village’s field names and included two events incorporating local folk songs, an art exhibition by local artists inspired by the landscape, poetry workshops at the village primary school and a short film.  (Film by James Harrison can be viewed HERE).

It culminated in the unveiling of an illustrative village map (above) created by a local artist, Megan Edwards.  It is now displayed in Broadwindsor Square. [Prints of this map should be available for sale in October to pre-order, more details to follow.]

Born & Bred, which will take place over six months, comprises:

  • The compilation of oral histories of people aged 55 or over who were born and/or bred in the village
  • The creation of a book about their memories
  • An artwork inspired by the witty sayings of Dr Thomas Fuller, a vicar of Broadwindsor in the 17th century
  • A short film
  • An exhibition and final event

Since the pandemic, new families have moved into Broadwindsor and there is renewed interest in the village’s history. The project aims to give local people a voice by collecting their memories of how the village use to be, and also bring to light the extraordinary sayings of Thomas Fuller, a prolific author and one of the first English writers able to live by his pen. His many sayings are very much relevant today, including ‘we never know the value of water until the well is dry’ and ‘charity begins at home – but it should not end there’.

The material gathered from interviews will be made available on Broadwindsor.Org, the parish council and Windrose websites, with links to local press and social media. The project has received partial funding from Dorset Council’s culture and community fund and is seeking funding from Broadwindsor Group Parish Council at their meeting tomorrow night (Mon. 9th)

If there is anyone who is aged 55 or older and was born and bred in the village or nearby and who would like to be involved, please contact Margery Hookings on 07807 705457 or by email at margery.hookings@gmail.com


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Map On Display In The Square

The illustrated map “The Place We Love” by Broadwindsor’s Megan Edwards is now on display in the village square.

Malcolm Heaver crafted an oak frame for the map and put it up with Andrew Hookings‘ help on Monday.

Led by Margery Hookings on behalf of Windrose Rural Media Trust, the project was funded by Dorset AONB, Dorset Council and Broadwindsor Group Parish Council.

Photographer James Harrison created a 7 minute video about the project –

Broadwindsor primary school also has a copy of the map which they are also planning to put up outside.

Anyone wishing a hard copy of the map or the map with all the field names are asked to please make their request direct to Margery Hookings at margery.hookings@gmail.com.


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The Place I Love – Now On Film

James Harrison has now released his 7 minute video production of The Place I Love project. He still has lots of footage that didn’t make the final film which will be available a bit further down the line.

Led by Margery Hookings on behalf of Windrose Rural Media Trust, the project was funded by Dorset AONB, Dorset Council and Broadwindsor Group Parish Council.

Please enjoy it 🙂

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Broadwindsor’s Map Revealed

A wonderfully successful afternoon was had at Broadwindsor’s Comrades Hall on Saturday, 12th February celebrating the local landscape and rural heritage of our village. The illustrated map “The Place We Love” by Broadwindsor’s Megan Edwards was unveiled by Broadwindsor residents, Barry & Denise Dennett (see below). Malcolm Heaver has been commissioned to make an enclosed frame for it to be displayed in the village square.

Another map had been created of local field names. The present-day field names were gathered by contacting local landowners and working with the online mapping resource, Dorset Explorer, volunteer Kenzie Bicher created a map which shows the field names currently in use.

The field map will be lodged with Dorset History Centre as a local resource for the future.

Village poet, Peter Roe, was “delighted with the work of the children” from Broadwindsor Primary school had their Nonesense Poems on display (Clicking on an image will open it in a separate window)…

The 1st Broadwindsor Girl Guides photographed what they loved about the community as part of a badge they are doing.

Local folk songs were performed with Amanda Boyd, Rev. Jo Neary, Margery Hookings and Donna Heyes singing the final song composed by pianist Andrea Monk, ‘As I Walked Forth One May Morning‘…

 

Village residents, Barry & Denise Dennett unveiled the map with a few words from Barry

 

Afterwards Margery commented: “I was really pleased with how the afternoon went. There was a lot of work that went into the whole project and input from willing volunteers. A real celebration of where we live and the place we love. Broadwindsor is a place where good things happen.”

Well done & Congratulations to all involved!

Stay up to date on all the information at the Windrose Rural Media Trust’s website – HERE.
The Place I Love on Film will be uploaded to their page in March 2022.

The project is funded by Dorset Council’s Community and Culture Project Fund, Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’s (AONB), Sustainable Development Fund, the National Community Lottery through the AONB’S Stepping Into Nature Project and Broadwindsor Group Parish Council.

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The Place I Love – This Saturday, 12th February 2-4pm

Broadwindsor’s The Place I Love project culminates in the unveiling of the village map at an event in Comrades Hall this Saturday from 2-4pm.

Local folk songs and field names have been collected as part of the project, which celebrates the local landscape and rural heritage.

A map showing field names around the village will be on display, along with photographs taken by Broadwindsor Girl Guides and a stand run by the village’s eco group, which has recently planted trees as part of the ‘Gurt Darzet Hedge’ project.

The programme for the afternoon will include a short introduction by villager Margery Hookings, who is leading the project on behalf of Windrose Rural Media Trust,  poetry by Broadwindsor resident Peter Roe and folk songs sung by Amanda Boyd, a member of the Windrose team.

The highlight will be the unveiling of the interpretative map of the village designed by artist Megan Edwards, whose family home looks out to Lewesdon Hill. The large, detailed map is a work of art in itself and will be installed in a central location in the village at a later date.

Tea, coffee and cakes are being supplied by and in aid of Broadwindsor WI. There will also be a raffle to help pay for the hall hire.

The afternoon’s events will be filmed by Windrose cameraman James Harrison and included in a short video about the project, the community and the local area.

The Place I Love project was launched on 16 October 2021 with an art exhibition and display of the 1840 parish tithe map. It is funded by Dorset AONB, Dorset Council and Broadwindsor Group Parish Council.

Megan’s lovely map will continue to be a lynch pin of The Place I Love, with a version made available online and planned seasonal updates.

Margery Hookings

Feature photo: James Harrison
Photo below: Margery Hookings

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Broadwindsor Art Friends – Exhibition In Beaminster

A new exhibition has opened at the Yarn Barton Centre in Fleet Street, Beaminster, featuring the work of Broadwindsor Art Friends – Donna Heys, John Iveson, Liz Ridley, Norma Roberts, Dorothy Rowe and Dave Shaw.

They are a small group of friends who are also amateur artists. They meet in a studio on a very informal basis twice weekly, to paint, draw or work on any individual project they choose.

There is no fee involved, nor tuition – just a group of friends drinking copious amounts of coffee and having a chat.

The friends all recognise that without a set session time, creativity would take a back seat to other parts of their lives in general.

 

Having these meeting times ensures they set aside time to enjoy their art. And of course they share ideas and ask advice of each other.

Please call in and take a look at what they do 🙂

The exhibition runs until the end of April.

Contact Yarn Barton Centre: yarnbartoncentre@yahoo.com or
Telephone: 01308 862715

Donna Heys. Photo credit: Margery Hookings

Donna Heys was one of the artists who took part in the ‘Place I Love‘ launch in October ’21.

The Place I Love and the unveiling of our village map is on Saturday, 12th February at the Comrades Hall, 2-4pm. More info HERE.

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The Place I Love Project – Saturday, 12th February

It’s here already! Our village map which you have helped create 🙂

It was mid-October ’21 when villager, Margery Hookings launched The Place I Love project with a successful exhibition involving local artists (more HERE).  From 2pm – 4pm on Saturday, 12th February you are invited to come and view the map and spend a little time there as there is much to browse as well as a hot cuppa and cake being available. Admissions is free.

There will also be:

  • an exhibition of poems and photographs by local children.
  • the results of our field name research.
  • locally collected folk songs.
  • a raffle.

Refreshments will be provided by and are in aid of the W.I.

A digital map will be available on Broadwindsor.org after the unveiling 🙂

The project is being funded by Dorset Council’s Community and Culture Project Fund, Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’s (AONB)Sustainable Development Fund, the National Community Lottery through the AONB’S Stepping Into Nature Project and Broadwindsor Group Parish Council.

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Village Launches The Place I Love project

The Place I Love project successfully launched in Broadwindsor on Saturday with an exhibition by local artists at Comrades Hall.

Many paintings sold and a great deal of interest and enthusiasm for the community project, which is being led by village resident Margery Hookings on behalf of Windrose Rural Media Trust.

Libby Jukes

Rural media charity Windrose is a creative organisation bringing together communities in Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire, through film, audio and heritage.

The Place I Love project includes researching village field names and folk songs. It will culminate in an interpretive map by artist Megan Edwards to be unveiled in Broadwindsor in February.

Margery said: ‘The project is all about respecting and caring for the place in which we live and those who work within it. At the launch we had some great feedback from people of all ages about what they loved about the village, from its many facilities and landmarks, including the community shop, church and primary school, but the key thing that came through was Broadwindsor’s community spirit and glorious landscape.

Margery will be handing over the information gathered on post-it notes to Megan to help her shape the map, which will be installed in a central location in the village for all to see.

I would like to say a massive thank you to all the very talented artists who took part, to those who helped set up and take down and to the WI ladies in the kitchen dishing up delicious cakes and teas.

My friend Donna Heys (main picture)  put in a massive amount of work, exhibiting, co-ordinating her art group and running the refreshments side. It wouldn’t have happened without her drive and imagination


Artwork by children from Broadwindsor Primary School
was also on display.

Margery said: ‘The school has been very enthusiastic in getting on board with this project, which is lovely to see.

It turned out to be much more than an art exhibition, with new contacts made and new ideas that look set to add additional strands to The Place I Love project.

The project is being funded by Dorset Council’s Community and Culture Project Fund, Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’s (AONB)Sustainable Development Fund, the National Community Lottery through the AONB’S Stepping Into Nature Project and Broadwindsor Group Parish Council.

Photo credits: Margery Hookings.

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Today – Free Admission

Read more HERE.

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The Place I Love Art Exhibition – 16th October

From 10am – 4pm on Saturday, 16th October at the Comrades Hall you have the opportunity to both view and buy art by local artists. The WI will be providing refreshments throughout the day.

Read more HERE.

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