Speaker: Mary van Coller

Join Mary van Coller, the author of Downstream Dorset: River Tales and Local History for a journey of discovery for all those who love Dorset. Each chapter in her book is devoted to one of Dorset’s rivers or streams, starting at the source and following its course to the mouth or confluence. Mary has explored Dorset, chatting with local residents to discover more about Dorset life past and present, taking hundreds of photographs! The talk will describe tales of historical events and of folk who have lived alongside the flowing rivers, and the meanings of place names and how they have developed over many years.

Mary worked as a Diagnostic Radiographer at Poole General Hospital. Seven years ago Mary began the research for her book to help to raise money for the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance charity.