Hankies and sticks welcome the summer…with bells on

As we steam towards the first day of summer, the Wessex Morris Men will be celebrating the first sight of the sun in the wee small hours on May Day at Cerne Abbas in a ritual dating back centuries. With the new Dorset Ooser in tow, and playing quite a part in the party, the […]

Culture

Violin restorer takes a bow with the fascinating tale of Thomas Hardy’s old cello

by Karen Bate
March 25, 2022
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A violin restorer from Cattistock is bringing a cello which belonged to Thomas Hardy’s grandfather back to life. Hardy’s grandfather, also called Thomas, played in the Stinsford Quire between 1800 and 1840. Over the last six decades, John Dike has been bringing back alto, soprano and tenor radiance into the violin-family instruments he is asked […]