CHARLES DICKENS’ BIRTHDAY CELEBRATED BY ENTHUSIASTS AT DIMBOLA

Dimbola Museum and Gallery hosted a number of Dickens enthusiasts on 7th February to celebrate the birthday of Charles Dickens in 1812. They were there to witness a unique exhibition entitled ‘Technicolour Dickens: The Living Image of Charles Dickens’. Originally, this exhibition was curated by the Charles Dickens Museum in London and first exhibited there in 2020 but attendance was hit by COVID. This exhibition’s arrival at Dimbola marks the 175th anniversary of Dickens’s visit to the Island. Original black and white photographs of Dickens have been reworked by photographer/artist Oliver Clyde. Dickens was first photographed in 1841 when the new art form was in its infancy. Ian Dickens, great-great-grandson of Charles, lives in Gurnard and was instrumental in helping set up the Dimbola galleries during his time at Olympus Cameras, and when events were planned to celebrate Charles on the Island, Ian worked with the team at Dimbola to bring this exhibition to the Island. Dimbola was able to mount the exhibition largely thanks to funding from the Daisie Rich Trust and sponsorship from Wightlink Ferries. Brian Hinton MBE Chair of Trustees at Dimbola introduced Ian to those attending and Ian explained how the original photos had been enhanced and how the exhibition had come about. Ian is a member of the Dickens Fellowship – founded in 1902 – an international association of people from all walks of life, who have an interest in the life and works of Charles Dickens. In October 2020, he became the 60th President of the Fellowship and was the thirteenth member of the family to hold this post. Members of the Fellowship wear a bright red geranium flower pin badge, as it was reported to be the author’s favourite flower. Earlier in the day on the 7th, Ian had joined the members of the Portsmouth branch of the Fellowship in their celebrations. Each year, a garland is placed on the door of Dickens’ House, Portsmouth and the Lord Mayor places a garland on the statue of Dickens in Guildhall Square. This statue was unveiled 10 years ago and is the work of sculptor Martin Jenkins, who recently fashioned the King’s image for the UK coinage. Living in Gurnard, it is not surprising that Ian has a love of sailing. including giving tuition to youngsters sailing with the Ellen MacArthur Trust. In 2001, he circumnavigated the World in The Clipper Race and has competed in Cowes Week and the Round the Island Race. In the Charles Hay Cameron Gallery at Dimbola, there is a refreshed collection of Julia Margaret Cameron’s photographs entitled “Dickens and His Friends”, including Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Charles Darwin, and Alfred Lord Tennyson. Both exhibitions continue until May.