Dorset UKA Weekend

A second weekend at our popular new venue for us arranged by our Secretary Neil Gillard

UK Autoharps – Dorset Autoharp Weekend (DOR AWE) 14^th– 16^th June 2024 

Tutors: Mike Fenton, Lyn Jones

Host: Neil Gillard

Location: The whole event will take place in the village of Stourton Caundle, either in the Trooper Inn (DT10 2JW – www.thetrooperinn.co.uk ) – where you can be assured of a warm welcome – or the Village Hall (DT10 2JN)

 The Area: Stourton Caundle is a village of about 400 inhabitants set in the beautiful Blackmore Vale (Thomas Hardy’s ‘Vale of Small Dairies’, which is also known as the Vale of the White Hart) in the North of Dorset, about 20 miles from the fabulous Dorset coast. As well as being very scenic, the area is also home to many historically significant places – abbey churches, castles, the Tolpuddle martyrs and so on. The Dorset dialect poet William Barnes also lived in this area at one time, as well as Sir Walter Raleigh and many other notables! And the village has a link to Dick Whittington’s family.

Programme:

Friday 14^th June 

1. 5pm onwards – gather at the rear of the Trooper (marquee) for social meet up/talk/play, etc.
2. 5.30pm onwards fish and chips, etc, available at the Trooper (menus on website – see above), followed by social time and sing/play around (in the marquee at the Trooper). Local musicians invited to join us.

Saturday 15^th June 

Autoharp Day – Hall open from 10am on – (tea, coffee available), social time, tune and prepare for the Day.

11am – Welcome, introductions, playing demonstration.

11.15 – Morning classes – 1. Intermediate – Mike (How to slow fiddle tunes right down when learning them) 2. intermediate and more advanced – Lyn  (Intermediate melody Your version – easy choices to make).

12.30 – Own lunch   – nearest shops – Bishops Caundle (small village shop, 2 miles), Stalbridge (medium independent supermarket, 3 miles)

1pm – Slow jam – if required (Neil)

1.30pm – Afternoon Classes – Mike (then how to speed them up again), Lyn (Chromatic song and melody – using scales and arpeggios).

2.45pm – Break.

3pm – Whole Group Class with Mike – (this class will work for those of every ability from basic strumming through to advanced melody picking)

4.15pm – Break, tea and cakes. Please bring something to share (but not too much!

4.30pm Open stage for those not taking part in concert.

5.15pm  Clearing up/ preparing hall for concert – many hands make light work!

6pm on – Trooper open for meals, etc.  – menus on website (see above), pre-orders would help to ensure you are served promptly. (continued over)

7.30pm – Informal Concert – tutors, local musicians. Open to attendance by those interested from the village – entry by donation to Village Hall ‘Raise the Roof.’

9pm – Jam, share songs & tunes at the Trooper for those who still want more!

Sunday 16^th June

10am – 12noon – Hall open, final clearing-up, assistance available with autoharp maintenance tasks, opportunity to discuss songs, tunes, song writing, or whatever, and to share.

12 noon – Trooper open for lunches, etc

Accommodation:

1. There is a Camping and Caravan Club certificated site behind the Trooper Inn which is open all year (subject to weather conditions). www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk – listed under certificated sites as Sturminster Newton (our postal town), The Trooper Inn. If you book this, please let Neil know so he can join the dots with the Trooper!
2. Starlight Glamping – luxury tents and access to facilities – may be prepared to open for the weekend (bookings@starlightglamping.co.uk). If you book this, please let Neil know so he can join the dots with the Trooper.
3. AirB&B – at least 20 places within a few miles of the village in North Dorset or South Somerset – the Caundles, Marnhull, Sturminster Newton, Milborne Port –  including cabins, shepherds huts, cottages, rooms, etc (www.airbnb.co.uk >dorset):

a.This one – https://www.airbnb.com/h/bedatbyways  – run by Julie, the daughter of a    music friend of mine (who is also a musician and teacher), is between Wincanton and               Stourton Caundle – about 15-20 minutes by car.

1. This one – http://www.thesnugatcaphays.co.uk/ – which took the trouble to contact me            when I                 appealed for local accommodation is about 4 miles away – 14 minutes.
2. Hotels and B&Bs in, or near, Sherborne (7 miles) – Claire House, Munden House, The Plume of Feathers, The Half Moon, The Newell, Rose Cottage, Hound House, The Eastbury, The Grange (all these are on Trip Advisor). Others listed under Shaftesbury (12 miles), Yeovil (12              miles), Blandford (12 miles) and various villages listed under these towns.
3.   Travel Lodges – Wincanton (12 miles), Yeovil (actually on A303 at Podimore (12 miles)).
4. Premier Inn – Yeovil centre, and also near Westlands airfield, (both approx. 12 miles).
5. There be a possibility of that I might be able to find 1 or 2 informal B&Bs in Pulham (c.4 miles south), and  maybe something in the village by asking on the village FaceBook Group (these,         if any, would not be professional, but friends or other villagers who might be prepared to               put people up for a modest charge, if so this might mean going to the Trooper for breakfast).          I have put out a request on the village FaceBook page to see if this might happen, so if        interested in either of these, please contact Neil – see below.

Please note that I have little personal knowledge of much of the above, and these are not recommendations!

Cost:      Standard UKA Day charge – £25, Concert – £5 donation, or what you will!

Further Information: Contact Neil: neilgillard@hotmail.com or 07814 585514