Local books

Inspiration is drying up! This is a quickie, a few of my collection of local history. I bought several of them in one lot from a picture-framing gallery in Dorchester in the late 70's. They belonged to the same person and I never found out who she was. I enjoy discovering the odd gem of history or legend about a place, there is so much to uncover about the past.

The upside down pink one is "Portrait of Dorset" by Ralph Wightman. He was probably the first Dorset countryman broadcaster, always on the topic of country matters and agriculture. Born in 1901, son of a farmer in Piddletrentide, he eventually studied agricultural chemistry at Newcastle before becoming a lecturer on various courses in Devon and Wiltshire returning to Dorset in 1930 where he became the county's senior farming lecturer and advisor . During this time he had met Arthur G Street, another broadcaster and writer and they became lifelong friends. Ralph then became more involved in writing books and broadcasting and in the 1940's as well as broadcasting to the nation during the war, he gave many regular talks to the USA over the air about English country matters! Tragically a fall at his home in Puddletown resulted in a fractured skull and he died soon after at Dorset County Hospital in 1970 aged 69. Ralph will be remembered by his voice.