Florence Desmond and Dunsborough Park at Ripley Museum’s New Exhibition

Published on: 12 Jan, 2026
Updated on: 13 Jan, 2026

Ripley Museum has a new exhibition – Dessie and Dunsborough.

It highlights the career of Florence Desmond, the actress and cabaret star, who lived with her husband Charles Hughesdon at Dunsborough Park.

And looks at the history of the house, which is over 400 years old and its various owners.

The gardens too have been of significance, particularly during the tenure of the current owners, Baron Dolf and Baroness Caroline Sweerts de Landas Wyborgh, who instituted its tulip festival.

The museum in the High Street, adjacent to the village hall, and is run by Send & Ripley History Society, and is open on Saturdays from 10am to noon, or by appointment, phoning Clare McCann on 01483 728546.

The exhibition runs until the end of April.

Clare from the society says: “Please come along – if only to hear ‘Dessie’ singing the odd risqué song!”

Responses to Florence Desmond and Dunsborough Park at Ripley Museum’s New Exhibition

Paul Robinson Reply

January 13, 2026 at 3:52 pm

In the late 60s and early 70s, every summer the Royal Aeronautical Society held its Helicopter Garden Party at Dunsborough Park. At the time I was a cadet with Send Flight, 11F Brooklands Squadron, Air Training Corps

As cadets we were asked to patrol the grounds to stop uninvited guests getting in, taking invitations cards from guests who turned up by road and telling pilots where to report to after landing. In return, at the end of the day, we got a flight over the local area in an RAF Wessex helicopter and another flight in Charles Hughson’s Bell Jet-ranger helicopter.

Looking back it seems ridiculous that some teenagers were asked to police the grounds. Different times I suppose.