MEMORIES and stories of quarrying on Portland can be enjoyed at a special 'speakeasy' night at Portland Museum on Thursday, December 12.

Friends of Portland Museum in partnership with the museum's writer in residence, Sarah Acton, present this special Heart of Stone fundraiser in the stone room of the museum.

As part of the Heart of Stone residency project Sarah will host a speakeasy night 'in conversation' with island men who work and have worked Portland stone. The live conversation is a celebration of the 'men of stone' and life on Portland past, present and future, and takes the form of an intimate chat...in public with an audience who can also participate!

This is a one-off opportunity not to be missed, and if previous discussion cafes are anything to go by, it should be a genuinely fascinating, informal and entertaining insight into pre-mechanisation quarrying, and a way of life that has changed significantly in living memory.

It's a rare opportunity to hear and participate in exclusive memories and share stories of quarrying on the island pre-mechanisation. Anyone working with Portland stone or connected to it in any way is invited to join on the night.

This fundraiser is part of the Heart of Stone project inspired by Portland poet Skylark Durston's appearance in the Look Stranger! Heart of Stone TV programme (1971). Skylark was a poet and stone mason, one of the much loved local Portland poets along with Bob Woollage and George Davey.

Mulled wine and mince pies are included in the ticket price and there will be a raffle. All proceeds from the evening will go towards Portland Museum.

*Heart of Stone Speakeasy Night, Portland Museum, Thursday, December 12, 6.30pm to 8pm. Tickets cost £5/ £4 from the Friends of Portland Museum and include mince pies and mulled wine/juice. Buy tickets by emailing portlandmuseum@gmail.com or call 01305 860262.