The Dorchester Directory - April 2023

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Welcome...

Dear Residents,

It is Spring! I do so love this time of year. Flowers, the promise of better weather, lambs, new life - it has a huge sense of hope, which quite frankly I think we could all benefit from! Here at Modern Magazines we won an award! We are so proud of this. We won Best Business to Business company for 2023 in the WeyPort Business Awards. Fabulous! Daichi our wonderful Modern Magazines Campervan tells you all about us inside your local magazine this month. We do hope you enjoy reading this as well as our local and celebrity news articles. There is something for everyone here.

Not to mention of course our loyal and trusted trades and services who are here for you! From plumbers to window fitters, roofs experts to beauticians and gardeners to flooring specialists, we have them all. The index at the back gives you a quick guide to find who you are looking for, or if you have time to sit with your feet up and have a well earned cuppa, then the whole magazine should keep you interested for an hour or so. Enjoy.

If there is anything you would like to see in your little community magazine, or you know of a company that wants more business and to get their name out to the local residents, please let me know. We love to help and make your magazine as useful as possible.

Stephen, myself, Julie, Mel, Steph, Tracey, Pippa, Chris, Jaidan our wonderful new graphic designer, Beth and her 4 month baby are all here for you!

Debbie, Stephen & all of us here at Modern Magazines

Advertise with us!

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Call the sales team on: 01305 443266

Copy deadline for May 2023 edition: 10th April 2023

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DISCLAIMER: Whilst every care has been taken to ensure the data in this publication is accurate, the publisher cannot accept any liability to any party to loss or damaged caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or any other cause.

The Dorchester Directory does not officially endorse any advertising material included within the publication. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval systems or transmitted in any form, without prior permission of the publisher.

A thoroughly Modern Monarch

Everything we know about His Majesty’s upcoming coronation.

King Charles III’s coronation will take place on Saturday May 6th 2023, at Westminster Abbey. Eyes around the world will focus their attention once more on this magnificent London institution where the King will be crowned – alongside Camilla, the Queen Consort –in a ceremony overseen by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

This opulent ritual is the last of its kind in Europe and has remained largely unchanged for the past 1,000 years. It is an honour of course, but for a King who wants to be a modern monarch there are a few wrinkles that must be ironed out with Buckingham Palace confirming that although the Coronation will be ‘rooted in long-standing traditions’, it will also reflect the monarch’s role today and look towards the future.

For starters, it will be a relatively modest affair, even compared to Queen Elizabeth’s coronation that came in the recent aftermath of World War II. The ceremony itself is expected to last around two hours – rather than the three for Liz’s ascension to the throne – and guests will be limited to 2,000 due to health and safety restrictions. That’s considerably less than the 8,000 dignitaries from 129 nations who were crammed into Westminster Abbey in 1953.

There will also be less pomp and formality. Prince William is the only Duke expected to carry out the traditional gesture of kneeling and swearing allegiance to the King, and His Majesty has apparently decided to swap the stockings and breeches worn at coronations by his male predecessors for a military uniform, possibly that of Admiral of the Fleet, which he wore for the State Opening of Parliament last May.

As for the crown, Charles will wear the solid gold 17th Century St Edward’s Crown.

It is exceptionally heavy and contains the Cullinan II diamond, sometimes called the Second Star of Africa.

At its heart however, the ceremony must fulfil its key role as being the symbolic religious ceremony during which a sovereign is crowned, as well as fulfilling the physical act of placing a crown on a monarch’s head. And despite cementing His Majesty’s role as Head of the Church of England, it is thought that representatives of different faiths will also be present – to uphold the King’s wish to reflect the ethnic diversity of modern Britain. He will also still pledge to be “Defender of the Faith”, but further words will be added that allow the King to show he serves all religious faiths.

DIVORCE FINANCIAL SETTLEMENTS

Whilst “no fault divorce” simplifies certain elements, don’t ignore the need for financial advice.

Early legal advice and knowledge from a solicitor can make all the difference.

• Review of assets

• Make informed decisions

• Achieve a fair settlement

• Save time & money

Brewery Square To Make Shopping Eggs-Tra

Fun This Easter

Dorchester’s Brewery Square is hopping into the holiday spirit with a free ten-day Easter egg hunt across its different retailers.

Between Thursday 4th and Friday 14th April, visitors are invited to scour the Square to find eggs hidden inside each business, noting down all the secret spots for the chance to win a special prize.

Tara Bailey, Centre Manager at Brewery Square, said: “We love thinking of new and creative ways to make our visitor experiences special.

“Our Easter egg hunt is a great

opportunity for people to explore our diverse range of businesses, and they may even come across a lovely gift idea or two along the way. It’s great that so many of our businesses are getting involved – the community spirit at Brewery Square can’t be beaten!”

Easter egg hunt forms can be collected from the Brewery Square concierge office, with the hunt taking place between 10am and 4pm each day.

For more information about Brewery Square, please visit www.brewerysquare.com, or call the concierge desk on 01305 267777

Puzzle Page Quick Crossword

PIPE

Geography Quiz

1. What is the official currency of India?

2. Where is the world’s largest desert found?

3. What country formally ruled Iceland?

4. How many time zones does Australia have?

5. What is the highest active volcano in Europe?

6. What is the only country that borders the UK?

7. Which country has the most pyramids in the world?

8. What city is known as the Glass Capital of the World?

9. What is the capital city of Argentina?

10. Kathmandu is the capital city of which country?

We recognise that everyone’s financial journey is different, that's why our approach to financial and investment planning is based on your individual goals.

With the shift to financial selfreliance, making the right decisions means you need advice that’s personal to you

If you’re looking for security alongside your bucket list, let’s talk about how we can make it happen.

The value of an investment with St James's Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds you select, and the value can therefore go down as well as up You may get back less than you invested

The Full Monty

Even after four decades, green-fingered expert Monty Don’s passion for the outdoors shows little sign of waning, as he explains why gaining new inspiration is so important.

A lifetime of getting green fingers might be taking its toll physically on the 67-year-old broadcaster and writer Monty Don: aside from his bout of peritonitis in 2007, a stroke that could have killed him a year later, and battles with depression – for which he says gardening has been a better antidote than any prescription drug – the everyday rigours of flowering and weeding, pruning and digging have left his body as weathered as one would expect… not that he cares.

“It’s a strange day when you put the visual appearance of your garden over yourself,” he laughs. “For me, that was quite some time ago, but it all relates back to how passionate you are about a subject or a project.

“It’s a big job to keep my garden how I want it, and to keep going – you do that because it’s important not only for the future, but in respecting the effort you have put in previously.”

A renowned writer on all things horticultural since the early 1990s, Don has had over 20 books published and still pens a number of popular newspaper columns.

He became the welcoming, enthusiastic, all-knowing expert on the BBC’s Gardeners’ World

programme between 2003 and 2008, before taking on lead presenting duties for its flagship Chelsea Flower Show in 2014.

Well dressed in his ‘painterly’ style and with a sparkling demeanour, Monty’s garden at Longmeadow in Herefordshire has become something of a national horticultural staple, with fans sharing in the ups and downs of tending to an expansive plot that continues to throw up new challenges. “We’ve had all manner of issues over the past few years, especially some drainage issues.

“Where nature is concerned, you’ve got to expect the unexpected – it’s a fun part of the process… at least, fixing it is!”

When asked about his own inspirations, he admits to having been influenced by

aesthetics

the style and aesthetics of French gardener Nicole de Vesian, who passed away in 1996.

“Nicole had a great feeling for both colour and form, and then for space,” he says. “Her use of colours could look muted and faded at first, but when her gardens were in bloom they looked fantastic when the sun is shining. And she used the space in between plants and sculptures better than anyone. That’s been a blueprint I’ve used for Longmeadow for quite some time.

and

“I think it’s important to have heroes and inspiration, no matter who you are or for how long you’ve been in the game.”

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A Design for Life… e Kevin McCloud Column

Designer, writer and television presenter, Kevin McCloud leapt into our consciousness with his vastly successful Grand Designs show on Channel 4. This month, the affable architectural business owner talks about his love of modernism in interior design.

I often get people asking me why so many of the build projects on Grand Designs end up being decorated in a modernism style, with sharp lines, slick surfaces, uncomplicated decorative features and a view to celebrate space and light.

The answer to this comes not in the contents of a house, but its exterior. Simply, it follows that the architectural design of a building will often be mirrored by the interior design within it; and while developers may regularly seek to replicate Georgian or Victorian designs styles, most newbuilds still celebrate straight lines, clean shapes and hard edges. Aside from anything else, the build requirements are much easier!

Certainly, with people whose journeys we have followed on Grand Designs, this is very much the trend, although the advent of modernism in home furnishings was something that really took off towards the end of the 19th century. In essence, it was a rebellious response to the years of floral, ornate,

elaborate, elegant and largely curved, flowery styles that had patterned so much of people’s lives.

In modernism the modus operandum became creating something that much more straightforward. Within this, overuse of colour was discouraged, while the invitation was laid out to embrace textures and textiles not previously considered homely – consider steel, concrete, large expanses of glass and other materials once thought of as cold and unwelcoming.

Where colour did prevail, this was to be bold and statementgiving, so perhaps blocks and slabs of shades adjacent to blacks, greys and whites.

Where did this all come from? Well, the Industrial Revolution had a lot to do with a more measured and practical approach to living, and these

modernist statements extended to literature, art, music and more – countless areas where people were expressing a desire to rebel.

Although no end date for modernism has ever been noted, it’s perceived that postmodernism came into being in the late 1970s, and from there society has largely embraced a mass of contrasting and conflicting styles in elegant harmony. Yet modernist architecture has never gone away, and speaking personally, I love the perfection of modernism in interior design –its flow, simplicity, practicality and function.

CONCEPT TO COMPLETION

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What is a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA)?

It’s an important legal document that lets you appoint one or more people to help you make decisions, or make decisions on your behalf if you are unable to.

Think of an LPA like an insurance policy, putting it in place while you’re fit and healthy gives you peace of mind knowing that, no matter how life plays out, your health and financial matters will be managed as per your wishes

Here’s how it works:

Margaret suffers an unexpected illness or accident, resulting in a loss of mental capacity.

Without an LPA

Next of kin doesn’t have the legal right to make decisions for Margaret

Sole bank accounts are frozen

Joint bank accounts are frozen in some circumstances

Bills can’t be paid from Margaret’s money

Investment decisions can’t be made (any previous authority given to make investment decisions is cancelled)

Property can’t be sold, meaning a co-habiting partner can’t move house if they wanted to

Next of kin don’t have the legal right to make decisions about medical treatment

Next of kin don’t have the legal rights to make personal choices, for example where Margaret should live

If you don’t plan ahead and you suffer an accident or illness which causes you to lose mental capacity, your next of kin can only get the legal authority to act on your behalf through a Court Order. This is a long, costly and intrusive process.

With an LPA

Margaret puts LPAs in place for both Financials & Health and Care Decisions appointing a representative

Margarethas legallyappointeda representativetomake decisionsabouther finances

Thebankrecognisesthe chosenrepresentative’s legalauthorityandNO accountsarefrozen

Investmentdecisions canbemadeby Margaret’s representatives

Bills can be paid as normal

Property can be sold if needed

The representative has the legal right to make decisions about Margaret’s medical treatment

The representative can make personal choices for Margaret, such as where to live.

By planning ahead, you can choose who should have legal authority to make decisions on your behalf if you’re unable to make decisions for yourself. A Lasting Power of Attorney costs far less than a Court Order and the people you choose can step in as soon as needed

Why do you need to have a Lasting Power of Attorney?

Did you know that your next of kin will not automatically be able to take on your legal rights if you need help because of illness, or mental incapacity?

Your nearest and dearest will only have legal rights if you have given them by making a Lasting Power of Attorney. The people you name to help you must be people you trust to look after you and your money, and you can decide exactly how much authority you give to them.

If you leave it too late, your family won’t be able to access your bank accounts, even to pay for your care, without formal Court authority. We can help you make a Lasting Power of Attorney to protect your interests and give your family any extra authority you think they may need.

Let our care be your legacy

With more children being born and living longer with increasingly complex conditions, respite care couldn’t be more vital in the years to come. Julia’s House has been there for local families providing this vital care for the last 20 years and will only be able to continue to be by their side for the next 20 years with the support of the local community.

When parents receive the devastating news their child has a life-limiting or life-threatening illness, their world falls apart. It is an anxious and lonely existence. Julia’s House is their lifeline.

“The demand for our services has never been greater,”

comments Beth Whitworth, Family Support Services Lead Nurse.

“The families have come out of the pandemic and straight into a cost of living crisis. It’s an incredibly difficult time for them.”

Julia’s House relies almost entirely on generous donations from local

supporters and businesses to fund this vital care for families across Dorset and Wiltshire, receiving just eight per cent Government funding.

You have the power to change lives – and it won’t cost you a penny right now.

Pledging to leave a Gift in your Will is a wonderful way of showing local families you care and will give the charity the confidence to continue developing its life-changing care service for the most vulnerable children and families, long into the future.

A gift of just 1% from your Will can make 100% difference to overwhelmed parents going through dark times. Be remembered for bringing light back into the lives of local families. Find out more at juliashouse.org/legacy

Wafflicious is One Year Old!

One year ago, we opened our brand new and exciting family dining experience on the seafront in Weymouth! Yes a full year ago... Offering the most delightful range of tempting treats such as waffles, sundaes and luxury hot chocolate, you really are guaranteed delicious when you come to Wafflicious!

On Saturday 25th February, we celebrated our first birthday. We commemorated the day by offering 50% off everything which of course drew many of our wonderful regular visitors, as well as some brand-new faces.

Situated in the most perfect location on the Esplanade, overlooking Weymouth’s stunning beach and landscape, our guests can devour their treats while taking in the stunning view. Ideal for families and couples alike, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Larger parties can book our “Flamingo Suite” for groups of up to 20 people, perfect for children’s birthday treats and for those who are young at heart!

The menu at Wafflicious includes all your favourite toppings, including

the very popular ‘Smoreo’. You can also choose ‘Chocolate Fudge’, ‘StrawNana’, ‘Apple Pie’ which comes with a full slice of apple pie, and ‘Canadian’ which is a delicious mix of maple syrup and cinnamon. All the Waffles and Sundaes are served with Marshfield Farm Ice cream.

We even have treats for your fourlegged friends as we stock Marshfield Farm Doggy Ice Cream ‘Scoops’. What a treat after a run on the beach!

Taking care of all tastes, Wafflicious also offers savoury waffles for guests who don’t have such a sweet tooth, with tantalising toppings such as ham, cheese and onion with chicken and pepperoni for a ‘pizza waffle’ experience, or smoked salmon, avocado or roasted peppers for a more sophisticated palate.

Whether you’re a Weymouth local or visiting our beautiful town while you’re on holiday, no trip to the beach is complete without a trip to Wafflicious!

Manager, Hayden Corney said, “We have loved our first year and appreciate all the support our

customers have given. We look forward to serving everyone in the many years to come. And remember its delicious here at Wafflicious!”

Call Wafflicious to book your table on 07886 641600. We are on “Just Eat” if you want to try a tantilising treat at home or better still come in, listen to our music on the juke box and let us make you smile!

To book your party at Wafflicious email eat@wafflicious.co.uk

Follow Wafflicious on socials for special offers and events:

www.facebook.com/ WaffliciousWeymouth

www.instagram.com/ wafflicious_weymouth

To see the Wafflicious menu, visit: www.wafflicious.co.uk

Electric dreams, or nightmares?

While the government rallies drivers to pursue environmentally friendly car options, on the ground a lack of electric charging points is holding back the green revolution.

However, as the conflict between supply and demand reaches crisis point, perhaps all is not lost.

There is trouble afoot in the world of green motoring, with a lack of charging points and expensive plug-in costs severely hampering the electric car revolution. Perhaps this was visible in its starkest sense when, just before Christmas, queues of Teslas were seen at motoring service stations looking to charge their vehicles as families went off on their festive breaks.

Charging capability is at the forefront of the problem, in much the same way as when electric vehicles were first popularised over a decade ago. Back then, the question was how many miles a full battery would propel a vehicle, and while the range of these green machines has shot up, the supply of charging points has failed to follow suit in quite the same magnitude.

Recent figures show that almost a third of the charging points in the whole of the UK are situated in London – in quantity, that’s more than Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield, Newcastle, Leeds and Birmingham combined.

What’s more, the drive to add more charging points across

the UK has slowed to an alarming rate – just 509 installations were made in December, versus a target of 100 per day.

Yet it is the practical realities of charging that is ultimately

seems fraught with roadblocks at present, there is hope for motorists.

frustrating electric car owners. Most charging points are slow, and many are built into street lampposts, meaning access is blocked by non-electric vehicles.

In addition, the catastrophic increase in energy prices has seen the cost of electricity rocket. In some cases, charging an electric car can cost more per mile than its diesel counterpart.

While the journey towards a fully electric travel landscapes

pledging

The Department of Transport is currently pledging £1.6billion to support the continued rollout of charge points, with a further £450million dedicated to local authorities.

In addition, the cost of home charging conversion kits continues to fall, with supply lines improving from China all the time.

It’s hoped that the recent slowdown in charging point installation can be put down to the political commotion that swamped much of 2022.

Either way, the fact is, with so many road users now signed up to a motoring revolution, there has never been so much pressure on those in power to put their foot down and make good the promises made.

The Adventures of Daichi The Modern Magazines Camper Van

We won an award! Daichi was delighted. Having never entered any business competition before we did not know what to expect. Customer service and looking after all our valuable advertisers has been at the core of everything we do here at Modern Magazines. I have always had the viewpoint that we get what we give out in life. If we are helpful, want people to succeed and are willing to go that extra mile to make it all happen, the client is delighted. In return we get great local trades and businesses who also want to help their clients. Everyone wins. You the resident can rely on the people inside the magazine, which is after all what you need. Of course, we are not perfect. Daichi will vouch for that! Mistakes happen and sometimes a client gets cross. This happens in life doesn’t it! Well, how do we react to that? What do we say back? Shouting back creates more shouting and everyone gets upset. Listening, understanding and correcting a mistake, or quietly giving a suggestion back usually handles the situation and we all have a better day for it.

So, that was what this award was all about – our business to business ethos and attitude. How do we treat our advertisers? Well, it seems like we won with flying colours. How amazing is that! One area we work really hard is the creation of the adverts themselves. We have a new graphic designer, Jaidan and he is fantastic. He works quickly and professionally which at a young age of just 23 is brilliant. He is also a videographer and we have some exciting news about a new E-Magazine, which will be online and found through Google, Facebook, TikTok, Instagram and even emailed out, where all the adverts will link to business websites, there will be interactive puzzles that can be done within the magazine online, competitions and there will even be talking pages where you will be able to listen to business owners talk about their business and how they can help you. Soon to be released! Keeping up with modern

technology is a must of course, however paper is still in fashion! Yes, print advertising is still seen as the most trusted source of finding a local trades person and business. Combining the two mediums will help all round and create a real hub of the place to go to find all that is local. I am very excited about that… as you can see!

Beth will also be back soon, having had her wonderful baby boy a few months ago. We will then have two graphic designers. Beth has a woman’s touch to her designs (am I allowed to say that?) and I think we will have the perfect balance to get those all-important adverts right, depending on what the customer wants.

Our team of salesgirls… yes we are all girls there I am afraid… are incredible. We really don’t see ourselves in sales. Our purpose is genuinely to get more work for local businesses and to give you, the valuable resident, good trades and services to

Debbie with Cllr Ann Weaving, Mayor of Weymouth at WeyPort Business Awards

help you. Mel has worked with us for over fifteen years! Today this is what she told me,

“I love working at Modern Magazines. I am one of those rare people who looks forward to going to work. Great team. Great customers!”

Julie has been with us for over nine years. This is what she says,

“I just love working with Debbie and Stephen and the whole team. It really feels like we are a family, looking out for each other and looking after our clients. There is nothing better than knowing you helped a client get more business. Most of all the work is fun, getting to talk to lots of interesting people. I look forward to every day!”

Then we have Steph who is a delight to hear talking to customers on the phone and then our newest member is Pippa who runs our office in Weymouth and set up the new “Wonderful Weymouth Magazine”. She has been amazing. Her knowledge of the area and the people has enormously helped and without her that magazine would not be what it is. Pippa says,

“Having worked on the Wonderful Weymouth magazine the past 16 months, winning the WeyPort B2B category and supporting both local businesses and the local community of Weymouth and Portland, in which I’ve always lived, is an honour.

I would like to thank Debbie, Stephen and the rest of the Modern Magazines team for giving me the opportunity to be part of such a fantastic team with a passion to help others succeed.”

Amazing.

Chris, our distribution manager gets the magazines to the distribution company that delivers several of our magazines each month, drops off magazines to local shops, cafes and businesses in their respective areas, delivers magazines to our own distributors in a few areas and when he has some downtime, he posts photos on each of our Facebook pages. He is busy!

I started our first magazine in 2005. At that time Hayden was very young and I needed something to do. I walked around the streets with him in the pram and “touted for business” as Pat at Kingfisher Cleaning Services laughs. She was my first client ever. I will never forget that phone call. It gave me hope and a reason to continue… here we are today. Thank you Pat. Stephen, my husband, gave up his career in computer engineering to work alongside me in 2008 and we have not looked back.

The WeyPort Business Awards were such fun and we thank all our nominations for acknowledging us as “The Business to Business” business of the year! We love what we do and are here for any business wanting to expand. Most of all we are here to link you the homeowner, resident and VIP of your area, to these very important trades and services. We thank all of you for your support and loyalty. Let’s continue to work together.

www.modernmagazines.co.uk

By Debbie Corney

Pippa with the WeyPort B2B Business of the Year 2023 award

Debbie and Stephen with Daichi

The King’s New Groove

He was raised to one day be king, but can Charles III fully realise his vision for Great Britain? Only time will tell.

They say the best things come to those who wait, and King Charles III’s 70 years spent as heir apparent suggest he is well deserving of the throne. For His Majesty, ascension is bittersweet with the loss of his mother still laying heavy on the royal heart, but he is equally keen to finally execute his master plan to bring the Windsors into the 21st century.

But what does this actually mean? And what are the implications for the country as a whole?

One of the main tenets is to slim down the royal family. Over recent years this has happened somewhat organically anyway with the voluntary stepping back of Prince Harry and the less voluntary removal of Prince Andrew from official duty. However, King Charles III is expected to go one step further as he is reportedly seeking to change legislation that allows

non-working royals to be counsellors of state.

Her Majesty’s passing means that Queen Consort Camilla, as the King’s spouse, and Princess Beatrice, as the next adult in line to the throne, are eligible to fill these roles. But aside from Prince William, three of the five counsellors – Prince Andrew, Prince Harry and Princess Beatrice – are non-working royals. This is thought not to sit well with the King who may change the law to allow his siblings, the Earl of Wessex and the Princess Royal, to take on the duty alongside their current roles as working royals.

Having lived through several tumultuous periods in the monarchy’s history, King Charles III is acutely aware of the Republican sentiment among certain Britons. Queen Elizabeth II was hugely popular, but there are some who are convinced that now is the right time to disband the monarchy and move forward into a fully modern, democratic Britain. Yet when you consider how much the monarchy generates for our economy, not to mention how valuable our traditions and illustrious

history are to us culturally, we would likely lose more than we would gain.

According to Forbes, the House of Windsor is estimated to be worth £19bn. And while the average annual cost for UK taxpayers in royal upkeep comes to around £500m a year, it’s estimated that the monarchy’s brand contributes £2.5bn to the British economy over the same period.

In short, His Majesty knows his worth, but he also respects the need to assimilate more with the everyday people in his kingdom - the recent cost of living crisis, environmental awareness and societal change being issues he must help solve if he is to have a peaceful reign.

Spot the Difference!

There are 10 differences between the two images below. How many can you spot?

In the blood

A new blood test developed by a tech firm in India can spot ‘nearly every kind of cancer’ long before it spreads, and is making waves in the medical world.

Right now, there are over three million people living with cancer in the UK. In addition, one in two of us will develop some form of cancer over our lifetimes, and almost all of us know someone who either died or survived from this brutal disease.

However, good news could be just around the corner.

It is well known that the key to successful cancer treatment is catching it early. The problem though is that cancer is insidious, meaning cells hide deep inside the body, away from detection. They can show no symptoms until the cancer has spread to other organs.

How convenient and practical then, would a simple blood test be that could detect cancer anywhere in your body and at the earliest stages? Well this new technology, a type of liquid biopsy, can do just that.

Several companies are exploring the potential of these tests, but the Trucheck test, developed by the Indian firm Datar Cancer Genetics, is proving to be one of the most effective and affordable. Research on 30,000 people found the checks could identify 91.8 per cent of cases which were non-metastatic (meaning it has not spread beyond the

primary growth site) and covered 70 types of cancer. And this diagnosis can be gleaned from just two 10ml vials of blood.

The system of liquid biopsies works by detecting circulating tumour cells which are released by malignant growths but not from non-cancerous tissue. Over a five-day process in the lab, healthy cells are stimulated to die. Cancer cells are resistant, meaning those that remain will grow, and form clusters.

If these are identified, patients undergo an in-depth consultation, after which they can be booked in for further checks and possible treatment.

The Trucheck test is currently being offered to private customers by British not-forprofit organisation The Cancer Screening Trust, at a cost of £1,250, including consultation, though the company are in talks with the NHS about future trials.

Independent experts have said the findings were “promising”, and are calling for additional research, including trials on a real-world population.

New programme of events announced as award-winning sculpture show returns

Multi-award-winning exhibition FORM: The Sculpture Show returns to the sculpture park at Pallington near Dorchester from April 1 to June 4, when over two hundred works by more than 35 leading contemporary sculptors will be shown its 26-acres of lakes, rivers, gardens, and woodlands as well as in the expansive gallery spaces.

Alongside new exhibiting artists and new works, FORM 2023 will, for the first time, offer a series of talks and events, including ‘Meet the Artist’ Q&A sessions with exhibiting sculptors, and workshops and demonstrations from the foundry Sculpture Castings.

Kicking it all off is a talk on March 30 with Andrew Graham-Dixon, the acclaimed art critic and award-winning arts journalist and broadcaster, best known as the presenter of numerous landmark series on art for the BBC and other networks.

Andrew GrahamDixon returns to the sculpture park to present his talk Sculpture to See Before You Die, drawing on his career-long expertise to discuss some of the world’s most celebrated, influential, and iconic artworks, and sharing his definitive guide to the must-see pieces to seek out in your lifetime.

Simon Gudgeon, internationally renowned sculptor, and founder of Sculpture by the Lakes, said:

“FORM is always a special event, and we are really excited to see it continue to evolve through the relationships we’ve developed with some of the finest contemporary artists in the UK and beyond.

“This year, not only have we curated a collection of sculptures of exceptional quality, but, for the first time, we are also offering an accompanying programme of events to further enrich the experience for visitors and buyers.

“It’s a particular pleasure to welcome Andrew Graham-Dixon back to Sculpture by the Lakes to share his unique insights – we expect the event to be very popular.”

The Meet the Artists series will include a talk by exhibiting sculptor

Lucianne Lassalle on April 2. Lucianne has exhibited globally at art fairs, galleries and privately over her 30year career, and is known for creating ‘The Angel’, a sculpture given to bereaved families whose loved-one lost their life to Covid whilst working on the NHS frontline during the pandemic.

Carol Peace, whose work is shown and collected all over the UK, Europe, the Far East and United States, and is on permanent show at Glyndebourne and at the Dorchester’s country house hotel in Ascot, will host a talk on Easter Saturday April 8. Carol will have a solo show ‘Peace at the Retreat’ at Sculpture by the Lakes from April 7th - 30th 2023 where you can view her drawings and poems, integral to her practice, alongside her figurative sculptures.

The series of talks continues on May 28 with sculptor Ted Edley, a Dorsetbased artist who creates detailed sculpture using steel, copper, brass, aluminium and unusual found objects. Edley is also a regular on Quest TVs ‘Salvage Hunters, the Restorers’ team.

In addition, there will be a number of talks about casting bronze sculpture from the team at foundry Sculpture Castings, including demonstrations of applying patina to a sculpture.

Adds Simon:

“With the addition of talks and workshops, FORM 2023 will be even more of an experiential event, providing a welcome opportunity for us to celebrate the creators as well as their creations.

“Expect to be inspired and uplifted, have your curiosity piqued, your emotions stirred, and your minds awoken, with a new surprise and a work of beauty around every turn.

“Our vision is for an experience which is inspiring, energising and enriching – as all great art should be. We look forward to sharing all of this with visitors and buyers in the coming months.”

Entry to The Sculpture Park is ticketed and the price remains £14.50 per person through the duration of the FORM exhibition. Entry to The Makers Yard at Sculpture by the Lakes, which includes The Gallery, The Kitchen café, and artisan shops The Pantry and The Store remains free of charge.

Artists’ talks will be free with entry to The Sculpture Park. Andrew GrahamDixon’s talk will be a ticketed event – with tickets purchasable in advance when available at gallerybythelakes. co.uk.

To book tickets visit www.sculpturebythelakes.co.uk/

Photos by: Finnbarr Webster

Greenfingers… The Alan Titchmarsh Column

He’s a brilliant presenter, accomplished gardener, talented novelist, and all-round horticultural inspiration. is month, Alan Titchmarsh discusses the uniqueness and the survival of our gardens.

ere is an argument to say the more complicated you make something, the more di cult it is to keep things constant. I am certainly guilty of pushing and pushing and adding so much more to an idea when I could have kept things safe and sane.

I think it’s important though to remind people, that whether your garden is some elaborate flourish of colour and texture and shape, or just a bit of grass and some simple shrubbery, absolutely everything about it is unique.

A er all, that space has its own unique history - for some, the flowers in it are a present; they may even come from another country; they might remind us of a special occasion or an event or story. We may just have spo ed them in the garden centre and gone from there.

e point is everything we have is full of memories and stories. e things we put in our gardens remind us of times in our lives, and when that garden is in full colour and full blossom in May, or in its full richness in autumn, or at some other point in the year, it creates and stimulates memories.

I have done so much in my gardens, but I don’t think I could pick one specific thing – everything has been my favourite part at some stage. And I believe the whole beauty of gardening is that it’s personal, and the freedom of choice really is with the person ge ing their hands dirty.

Ultimately, if you want to follow my advice and slavishly do as I say in my books, then that is perfectly fine. However, if you read something and think, ‘I don’t agree with that, I’m doing it my way,’ then that is good too, because it has at least made you think.

Gardening is private – it’s intimate. We all have di erent ideas in terms of what we think of as full or minimalist, and I am passionate about people exploring their own narrative, because anybody can do this. Simply decide what you’d like to grow – perhaps something

you want to eat, or smell, or just look at. Buy the seeds and do it. Don’t even worry about the process, just try it out.

When it succeeds, do it again; and most importantly, when it fails, do it again too!

Fundraising with Friends

Want to make friends and get that ‘feel good’ factor at the same time?

Oddfellows friendship groups are a great way to make new friends, enjoy social events with like-minded people and give back to your local community at the same time. Our branches host regular activities and social events across the local area to help our members get the most out of life. Forming strong friendships can help us feel more fulfilled and support our mental health and wellbeing. There are so many benefits to spending time with good friends.

As well as supporting each other when times get tough, a very important aspect of what we do is fundraising for local charities and supporting our communities. The Oddfellows is a national non-profit organisation and each local branch is involved in supporting both local and national charities. We are proud to have donated thousands of pounds in recent years. Local charities that have benefitted from our efforts include Macmillan Caring Locally, Marie Curie, Dorset and Somerset Air

Ambulance, Forest Holme Hospice, Yeovil Freewheelers (Bloodbikes), Alzheimer’s Society, Dementia Care UK, Wessex Cancer Trust and Youth Cancer Trust. Our accompanying picture shows member Edna Daniels presenting a cheque to Julia’s House, a children’s hospice organisation operating in Dorset and Wiltshire, who were supported by Edna’s branch.

We realise that times are hard at the moment, but socialising doesn’t need to be expensive - we organise many affordable, fun events. So if you’d like to make new friends and be part of a supportive friendship group, why not give us a try.

Contact our District Secretary, Andrew Hampton, for a copy of our latest events diary and newsletter, and information about your nearest branch.

Contact Andrew on 01202 743910 or email Andrew.hampton@oddfellows.co.uk

Baloo is looking for a forever home!

Hello, I am Baloo

I am a 3 year old neutered Border Collie. I am a big gentle dog, friendly to strangers of all ages, affectionate and playful and love having my tummy tickled. I have lived with a cat, ignore horses, cattle, bikes, even sheep, but I am anxious of some cars. Unfortunately, I have been diagnosed with Epilepsy and require daily medication to stop the distressing fits. We have got the right medication and regular checks need doing. I am covered by the Petplan lifetime policy which will be transferred to the new owner. I need about 2 hours exercise a day – walks and free running in the garden. I very much like to potter around the house and garden, or the local woods. I do need human company as I get separation anxiety. Help with veterinary fees maybe available when using our vets.

If you are able to offer me or one of my lovely friends a forever home or a foster home

Please contact our office on:

Tel: 01202 875000

Email: admin@waggytails.org.uk

or visit our website :

www.waggytails.org.uk

We also have lots of other dogs looking for their forever homes.

Waggy Tails Rescue are in need of more foster homes. If you are at home most of the time, have a secure garden an experienced with dogs then please give us a ring and discuss fostering for us. It is a very rewarding experience and enables us to continue helping these dogs.

(No children under 10 in the house please.)

Waggy Tails Rescue is a registered charity based in Dorset, we rescue and rehome dogs that have been abandoned, neglected or otherwise in need of a new home. We also find homes for other small furries that may be in our care, so to find out more you can contact us on the number above or send donations or letters to:

Waggy Tails Rescue

Helen’s House

143 Magna Road

Wimborne BH21 3AW

Thank you for supporting us!

- Anne Brown, Cornwall

STAR GAZING

WRITTEN BY KATE EARL kateearlastro@gmail.com

Welcome to the April Stargazing Page. Highlights this month include a chance to spot elusive Mercury, and the Lyrid meteor shower.

International Space Station

The ISS can be spotted around 8.45pm on April Fool’s Day. Viewing then switches to our morning skies from the 23rd. To establish exact timings please refer to www.heavens-above. com or a similar webpage for up-to-date information, remembering to set the location to your observing area.

Events

The annual Lyrid meteor shower peaks on the night of April 22nd. The dust that causes these meteors comes from Comet Thatcher. The meteors, or ‘shooting stars’, originate from a point in the sky close to the bright star Vega, which lies northeast around 9.30pm, but meteors can be visible in any direction.

Mercury

The innermost planet can be spotted low in our evening skies during the first couple of weeks of April. Look to the lower right of dazzling Venus, between about 8.45 - 9pm (see figure).

Venus

Venus is nearly at its brightest this month and stays long into the night, setting around

midnight. On the 11th it passes close to the Pleiades star cluster (see figure), and lies near the Moon on the 22nd and 23rd (see figure).

Mars

The red planet tracks from Taurus to Gemini over the course of the month, and appears close to the Moon on the 25th. It is setting around 2.30am.

Jupiter & Saturn

Saturn becomes visible in our morning skies midmonth. It is visible just before sunrise, low in the ESE. Jupiter is too close to the Sun to be visible this month.

Moon

April’s full moon occurs on the 6th.

Star of the month

Visible in April an hour after sunset, Sirius is the brightest star in the sky. This is not because it is particularly large (it is only twice the size and mass of our Sun), but because it is relatively close to us. It never reaches very high in the sky from our viewpoint in the UK, but can be easily found by tracing a line towards the east through the three stars in Orion’s Belt. Sirius was an important marker star for ancient peoples. The Egyptians knew the flooding of the Nile was imminent when they noticed Sirius rise above the horizon before dawn. Some Australian Indigenous peoples can predict the onset of seasonal change by noticing how much Sirius twinkles, which is due to changing winds and approaching weather systems.

Fours for thought

For April, an eclectic combination of fiction, non-fiction and poetry to stimulate the mind and appease the soul.

The God Desire

by David Baddiel

David Baddiel has spent a lot of time fantasising about how much better life would be if there actually was a God. Unfortunately for him, there isn’t. Or at least, that is Baddiel’s view in this book, which argues that it is indeed the very intensity of his, and everyone else’s, desire for God to exist that proves His nonexistence. Anything so deeply wished-for we will, considers Baddiel, make real.

The God Desire emerges as a philosophical essay that utilises Baddiel’s trademarks of comedy, storytelling and personal asides, offering a highly readable new perspective on the most ancient of debates. Published by William Collins on April 13th

Homecoming by Kate Morton

Many years ago, a police investigation is called and the small town of Tumbilla becomes embroiled in one of the most shocking and perplexing murder cases in the history of South Australia.

Six decades on, Jess, a journalist in London, who

finds herself laid off from her full-time job and struggling to make ends meet. A phone call out of nowhere summons her back to Sydney, which leads her to begin digging into her past, and that long-forgotten tragedy. Published by Mantle on April 13th

A House for Alice by Diana Evans

Alice wants to go home to her native Nigeria to die, though three daughters are divided on whether she stays or goes, and tasked with realising her dream of a house in Africa, conflict stirs and old wounds rise to the surface. Meanwhile their father wanders the flames of purgatory, unable to pass into the light. Will Alice get back home and complete the circle of her life, or will London be her final refuge?

Set against the shadows of Grenfell and a country in crisis, these ordinary people are faced with fundamental

questions about who they are, what they want and where, and with whom, they want to be. Published by Chatto on April 6th

Divisible by Itself and One by Kae Tempest

A new poetry collection from Britain’s foremost truth-teller, Kae Tempest masterfully steers a path between publicfacing performance, dramatic work and the contemplative voice that came to the fore in Running Upon the Wires.

Questions of integrity are addressed in direct, affecting terms: how can we be true to ourselves while under constant pressure to conform?

Throughout the poems, ideas of form – of the body, gender, and in nature – resurface and resolve, as the poet considers the changes that are sometimes required to be oneself. Published by Picador on April 27th

Home Support and Handy Person Service

Our home support and handyperson service is here to help older people to remain independent in their own home and can provide a range of services, along with social interaction and companionship.

Our clients are in control, and choose the frequency of visits and the tasks performed. We also match our clients to team members for continuity!

We do not offer personal care, but we can help with a range of tasks including shopping (with or on behalf of the client), domestic cleaning, laundry, running errands, moderate gardening and so much more.

We also offer a professional and reliable handy person service and can see to those jobs most trades would deem too small such as fitting key safes, draft excluders, grab rails, or even decorating and building furniture.

All of our team have undergone full reference and enhanced CRB checks, and are fully trained and insured.

We have been part of the local community for 65 years, and in addition to home support and handy person, we have a range of services including dementia therapy, social groups, welfare benefits advice and so much more!

For more information call our team on 01305 269 444 Visit www.ageuk.org.uk/northsouthwestdorset or email homesupport@ageuknswd.org.uk

Royal Pastry Chef’s Spiced Easter Biscuits

Back in 2020, Queen Elizabeth’s royal pastry chefs released the family’s sacred ‘Spiced Easter Biscuits’ recipe.

What better way to honour her late Majesty, than by baking these delightful and delicious Easter treats?

Ingredients

Biscuit base:

• 350g plain flour

• 5g bicarbonate of soda

• 10g ground ginger

• 5g cinnamon

• 125g unsalted butter

• 175g light soft brown sugar

• 1 egg

• 60g golden syrup

Icing:

• 2 egg whites

• 600g icing sugar

• Food colouring of your choice

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 170°C/340°F/gas mark 3 then mix together the flour, bicarbonate of soda and spices in a bowl. Add the diced butter and mix until it reaches a crumb-like texture.

2. Add the sugar, then once combined add the egg and golden syrup. Mix until a dough is formed.

3. Roll the dough to a thickness of 5mm then use biscuit cutters to cut into desired shape such as Easter eggs, chicks or bunnies. Place the biscuits on a non-stick mat or baking paper and bake on the middle shelf for 12-15 minutes until they are golden in colour. Leave biscuits to cool completely before decorating.

4. Add 1 egg white to 600g of icing sugar and beat until smooth. Spoon mixture into a piping bag - the icing should pipe smoothly and be able to

Top Tip

If you don’t have biscuit cutters in the shapers you require, simply draw or print the ones you need and cut out the dough around them.

hold when piped as a line – and pipe around the edge of the biscuits. To cover all the biscuits with icing add extra egg white to thin the mixture. Decorate and enjoy!

Puzzle Page Answers

Quick Crossword Solution #026

Answers:

Across: 2. Sew, 5. Bleach, 7. Earbud, 9. Weave, 10. Carom, 11. Append, 12. Marina, 14. Target, 18. Attire, 21. Leapt, 22. Cubit, 23. Agenda, 24. Noodle, 25. Nod.

Down: 1. Blowup, 2. Shield, 3. Webcam, 4. Summon, 6. Aware, 8. Rarer, 11. Act, 13. Age, 15. Allege, 16. Grain, 17. Titian, 18. Ascend, 19. Taboo, 20. Rattle

Geography Quiz Answers

1.

6. Ireland

7. Sudan

8. Toledo

9. Buenos Aires

Spot the difference solutions

5.

10. Nepal

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Indian rupee

2. Antarctica

3. Denmark

4. 3

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