The endlessly-fascinating Wars of the Roses are the subject of the first Mackrell Lecture of 2022.

The lectures have become a local institution since 1999-2000 when the Mackrell Charity launched a series of talks to mark arrival of the new century.

The charity was founded in 1799 by William Mackrell of Spetisbury to fund a school house and two teachers for 50 impoverished children in Sturminster Marshall and beyond.

These proved so successful that they continued and are now known as Mackrell Lectures.

Mackrell’s generosity was a godsend at a time when education was far from being an entitlement and even children fortunate enough to be given rudimentary schooling were regularly removed from lessons to help with what were considered (and often were) more pressing tasks such as ploughing, bird-scaring or the annual harvesting.

As the state education system evolved, a new school was built in Church Street in the village, and the old one fell into disrepair. In 1993, though, the charity was resurrected with the aim of providing engaging and educational activities for the whole community.

Thanks to Dee Butterfield – a dynamic force within the newly-re-forged organisation and whose legacy is now a valuable scholarship – and a band of tireless volunteers, the sense of community spirit was reignited and the first activity, an art class, is still going strong.

The Mackrell Charity is now firmly entrenched in 21^st century education, with a wide programme of lifelong learning opportunities and cultural activities which, they say, ‘we hope contributes to the cultural richness of our small corner of Dorset.’