Tim Laycock is another name to watch out for in local Dorset music. He started the Melstock band, and is bloody good.

Roger, I can't remember the last time I was in Bere Regis church, although if it had box pews it was probably Puddletown, a few miles up the road. There was a BBC production last year or year before which was filmed quite a lot in Dorset, although not at Hardy's intended locatons. There is a film, 'Tess', by Roman Polanski which caused many a hoot in the cinema. I was sitting behind these two old dears who swore black and blue that one particular shot was outside their farm. I asked them if they lived in Brittany, because that is where it was filmed, and they got quite upset. I then had to explain just WHY Mr Polanski can no longer work in Britain and they got up and moved.... I had a good giggle about that!

The BBC are pretty good at trying to keep locations honest, although obviously it is difficult when doing period drama. When they did the Mayor of Casterbridge some 20 years ago, they used Dorchester (the original setting) for one or two bits, but mostly they used Corfe village, 20 miles East.

Thanks for giving me another blast of nostalgia.

LTS