KIMBERLY Clarke first moved to Lyme Regis in 1996, after emigrating from Canada to the UK in 1985.
She usually works in international development research communications, meeting people from all over the world. Kimberly moved back to Lyme a year ago after five years in Nicaragua.
A former trustee of the Lyme Regis Development Trust, Kimberly took on organising the Fossil Festival in January and is looking forward to having an entire year to organise the next one.
WHY do you think there is still so much interest in fossils and dinosaurs?
There is something irresistible about holding in your hand a fossil that could be more than 100-million-years-old and have lived and died on the very spot that you picked it up today. If the fossils on our beach are not collected they will simply be washed away and lost forever, so it’s great that so many people enjoy spending hours picking through all the rocks on the beach. The Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre and Jurassic Coast team are at the forefront of smart fossil collecting too, which means that people can find out how to collect safely, and be encouraged to register important finds.
FOLLOWING last year’s success, what can people expect from this year’s festival?
We have some new things in the Marine Theatre, including a gig by Robyn Hitchcock, who in 2008 went on an Arctic voyage with the Cape Farewell art and climate change project. We will also be showing some great films on the big screen in the Marine, including two episodes of David Attenborough’s ‘Blue Planet’ series, ‘End of the Line’, a documentary about how overfishing is devasting the oceans, and ‘Art from a Changing Arctic’. The MEMO project on the beach will be carving a giant seafan on Portland stone. It’s an endangered species, and very relevant as it’s present in Lyme Bay. The marquees will be stuffed with old favourites like the Dinosaur Runway, and new things like the Jurassic Coast team’s giant fossil jigsaw.
HOW involved are local groups and people in the hosting of the festival?
The festival depends very heavily on our volunteers, and we always owe them a great vote of thanks. Traders put up our posters in their windows, Dave Milligan has taken our posters and leaflets all over the countryside. Virgil puts up the banner and flags, and all the Marine Theatre friends and volunteers pitch in to make the events there run smoothly. Previous festival organisers Fred Humphreys and Richard and Val Doney have been very generous with their time and experience, as have local fossil collectors who will put on a fossil fair in the grand marquee. Ellen Wrooke will be face painting in the jurassic garden on Saturday afternoon, and Alan and Lynne Vian will be inviting everyone to help build a giant sand ammonite on the beach Saturday morning.
HOW beneficial do you think events like this are for Lyme’s tourism and economy?
It’s a key mission of the Lyme Regis Development Trust to support and develop our local economy. The Fossil Festival – and the bigger 2012 Earth Festival that’s coming your way soon – are all part of a package that leads to the Jurassic Coast Field Studies Centre. The centre will not only provide decent jobs year round for people in Lyme, it will give opportunities for local people to teach courses on a whole range of subjects – from pure science to arts and crafts – and for all ages.
HOW much does it cost to hold the fossil festival and how is the money raised?
Our budget this year is just under £100,000. This doesn’t include all the volunteer hours and the more than £50,000 that our participants spend to bring their teams and exhibitions to Lyme. The Natural History Museum alone, who are bringing more than 20 scientists of all types this year, spend about £25,000. We have had funding from RELAYS, the Jurassic Coast team, Natural England, Arts Council England, West Dorset District Council, the Fine Family Foundation, Dorset County Council, Creative Dorset, and Jurassic Coast Trust. We have also had two donations from local businesses Lyme Bay Holidays, who are funding the website and programmes, and Newlands Holidays, who are paying for the Lyme-Charmouth free minibus. We will be applying to more and different funders next year, and will really focus on trying to get some more business support on board.
WHAT do you think makes Lyme the perfect host venue for such a big event?
Lyme is such a jewel. All the events are centred around the seafront, which just becomes a gigantic theatre and outdoor classroom. Our traders are all experienced at serving visitors and so are able to ramp up and meet the demand – although they will all need a very long lie in after the weekend.
IF you could invite anyone from throughout time for a dinner party, which three guests would you choose and why?
Mary Anning of course, David Attenborough, and Jon Snow. Jon would make sure the conversation kept flowing whenever I was tongue-tied.
IF you were stuck on a desert island, which three things would you want to take with you?
A year’s supply of chocolate, a complete set of Agatha Christie, and a very comfy hammock.
IF Mary Anning was alive today, what question would you ask her and why?
Why didn’t you keep a diary?
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