ORGANISERS of a literary fundraising event in Dorchester are hoping the occasion is a bestseller.

Trustees and volunteers at the Dorset County Museum are running an event at St Peter’s Church Hall on Saturday, August 30.

The event, which runs from 10am to 3pm, will raise funds for the much needed refurbishment of the William Barnes Gallery – part of the Writers’ Dorset section of the museum.

A proportion of the funds raised on the day will also go towards the purchase of a portrait of author Giles Dugdale, a previous member of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society (DNHAS) which runs the Dorchester museum.

The portrait was painted in 1923 by Wilfred De Glehn, a distinguished British impressionist artist, and is being offered along with a collection of manuscripts, books and cuttings relating to William Barnes to the DNHAS from a private family collection for £3,000.

Director of the Dorset County Museum Dr Jon Murden said: “Giles Dugdale played a key role in bringing the literary genius of William Barnes, Dorset’s greatest dialect poet, to light.

“He was also co-founder of the museum and therefore his portrait is an important part of our Dorset heritage.”

The William Barnes Society has already donated £500 towards the purchase of the portrait and it is hoped that funds raised through the event on August 30 will help secure the portrait for the Dorset County Museum.

At the event there will be stalls offering homemade produce, preserves, books, bric-a-brac and refreshments.

There will also be a number of activities for children to enjoy with families and people of all ages welcome to attend.

For more information about the fundraising for the Giles Dugdale portrait and the event at St Peter’s Church Hall contact Jenny Cripps at the Dorset County Museum at jenny@ dorsetcountymuseum.org Details are also available online at dorsetcountymuseum.org