A stray cat called Bentley and the ladies who saved Shakespeare

From restoring Shakespeare’s reputation to composing an anthem for a church tower, June’s podcast is all about hidden stories, unexpected legacies and quiet revolutions. It’s a thoughtful listen – and very Dorset.

Editor’s Letter: A Cat Called Bentley

Laura shares the story of Bentley, the anxious, dribbly, slightly battered cat who has joined the household – and the slow work of rebuilding trust.

“Somebody somewhere has hurt him. So we wait. We let him come to us. And that’s absolutely okay, however long it takes.”

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The Shakespeare Ladies Club: Rescuing the Bard

Jenny speaks to Christine and Jonathan Haynesworth, authors of The Shakespeare Ladies Club, about the remarkable group of 18th-century aristocratic women - led by the Countess of Shaftesbury –  who saved Shakespeare from obscurity: and why it mattered.

“His plays were being turned into pantomimes. They knew that without intervention, the originals would simply vanish.”

“These women sat on the stage itself, forcing the audience to behave – and bringing Shakespeare back.”

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The Dorset Insider

Our anonymous parish councillor is back – this time questioning why Visit Dorset’s marketing seems to end at Dorchester, and why the north of the county is constantly overlooked.

“If people think there’s something worth stopping for, maybe they’ll actually … stop?”

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Windelstán: Music for a Tower

Composer Richard Nye talks to Laura about Windelstán, the anthem he created for the newly restored tower in Mere – and why he included the sounds of old weather vanes, spiral staircases and bells.

“I wanted the tower to have an identity. A personality. It’s watched the town change for centuries.”

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This episode is based on stories from June’s BV, available to read online now here https://bvmag.co.uk/June25 . News, people, places – and beautiful Dorset photography, every single month.

The BV – named Best Regional Publication in the UK (ACE Awards) and Regional News Site of the Year (Press Gazette). Always worth your ears.