royal hospital chelsea

How a group of senior ex-servicemen and women experience the calming and therapeutic facets of pottery, and through that explore human connection, creativity, and the sheer joy of crafting.
I was invited by Emily Chilvers to Royal Hospital Chelsea to find out more about the pottery sessions she runs there, to meet and chat with some of the pensioners that enjoy spending time in the pottery studio and, of course, to see what they’ve been making.
The benefits of pottery extend far beyond the act of moulding clay. For many of the residents partaking in the sessions, pottery is a form of self-expression and a source of joy, a weekly process that helps them to navigate personal challenges and discover new aspects of themselves. This episode delves into the therapeutic benefits of pottery, and how the tactile nature of working with clay provides a tangible connection, a sense of identity, and an avenue for creativity. For those who may lack physical touch, moulding clay becomes a comforting and sensory experience.
Moreover, the pottery sessions offer an opportunity for social interaction. The pensioners involved in the classes at Royal Hospital Chelsea have formed a supportive community. They share experiences, learn from each other, and celebrate each other's creations.
In this episode with Emily and some of the potting pensioners, I learn that pottery can be a medium of therapy, self-expression, and connection. 
You can also see the potters' work featured on our YouTube channel, Creativity Found Podcast.

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Researched, edited and produced by Claire Waite Brown
Music: Day Trips by Ketsa Undercover / Ketsa Creative Commons License Free Music Archive - Ketsa - Day Trips
Artworks: Emily Portnoi

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Twenty-one years ago Sherborne resident John Baker went to hear his cathedral chorister son sing at a festival of liturgical music. He returned inspired to replicate the experience in the splendid setting of Sherborne Abbey.

The festival has been held every year since 2000 and has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds which is spent supporting the choir and music at the abbey, and providing grants to musicians connected to Sherborne. The major refurbishment of the organ currently being undertaken at Sherborne Abbey is funded by the festival.

Tickets for this year's festival will go on general sale on February 11th.

A packed programme runs across eight days. Among the highlights will be performances by the Choir of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, acclaimed soprano Kate Royal, and a unique exploration of choral music from saxophonist Mark Lockheart and organist Roger Sayer. 

The Sherborne Festival Chorus will perform Elgar's 'The Kingdom'.

Orchestras, ensembles, singers, and bands from Sherborne School, Sherborne Girls, Leweston School and The Gryphon will be performing at various venues around the town.

The Sherborne Town Band will give a free concert in the abbey.

Celebrating the music of the 'Jazz Sirens' - the 20th century greats like Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Peggy Lee - will be Jacqui Dankworth, whose mother Dame Cleo Laine is a former performer at the festival.

The full programme is available on the festival website at www.sherborneabbeyfestival.org where you can also buy tickets.

Central to the festival will be services at Sherborne Abbey where Festival Eucharist will be celebrated at 9.30am with Festival Evensong sung at 5.00pm on Sunday May 3rd. Festival Mattins will be at Castleton Church at 11am.

The festival will be bookended by two special events: you can enjoy an Italian dinner with opera at The Plume of Feathers on the two nights before the festival proper begins, and close out the festival with a French-themed soiree at The Cross Keys with jazz singer Gabrielle Ducomble providing the entertainment.

The Sherborne Abbey Festival has won several awards over the years. Most recently it won silver at the Dorset Tourism Awards 2019 for the Tourism Event/Festival of the Year, while artistic director John Baker was presented with the gold for his Outstanding Contribution to Tourism.

The Sherborne Abbey Festival runs from May 1st to May 6th. Full information is available in the festival booklet available in the abbey or many other locations around town, or from the Tourist Information Centre, or click on www.sherborneabbeyfestival.org where you can also order tickets when they go on general sale from February 11th.