THE UPWEY NIGHTINGALE

St Laurence Church, Upwey

A TYPICAL Dorset evening of music, poetry, laughter and memories attracted a capacity audience for this fund-raising event that blended the traditional with the modern, all compiled and performed by Tim Laycock and Phil Humphries together with the Ridgeway Band and Singers.

A feast of stories was unearthed by the whole team which gave us an insight into local events of the past neatly interspersed with old folk tunes and newly composed songs, including written extracts from the works of Thomas Hardy and William Barnes. Tribute was also paid to Marina Russell, the Upwey folk song celebrity of the past century to whom Dorset owes a debt for reviving some of the forgotten melodies of long ago.

Rustic charm was captured as they sang about summers, roses and apples and they also paid homage to the former Dorset County Hospital, founded in 184O and boasting just 20 beds when it first opened.

The band and singers will be performing during the day at the Poundbury Food Fair on Saturday August 5, an event not to be missed.

MARION COX