want to move to Windows

Fashion

MAKE WAY FOR SPRING!

MELBURY GALLERY SHERBORNE Half Moon Street DORCHESTER 10-11 Tudor Arcade, South Street www.melburygallery.co.uk

By Thelma Drabik, Melbury Gallery The latest spring collections have burst into Melbury Gallery and we could not be more elated by the bold colours and new styles! The shop has never looked more bright, fresh and vibrant! The first drop of MASAI has arrived with a splash! This season’s collections feature zingy greens with floral inspired designs. An ode to the succulent green foliage and blooms to come this spring. These gorgeous prints come in all of the wonderful shapes we come to expect from MASAI . . . tunics, dresses, tops and many more offer elegant silhouettes that flatter any figure. ADINI have made some truly beautiful pieces this spring with fabulous fresh blues and crisp whites. This classic and striking combination of hues feature some batik influenced prints that have us dreaming of the warmer weather ahead and those wellearned holidays! The ever popular One Hundred Stars collaboration with Kew Gardens have added some more stunning prints to their repertoire. The Rosebush design has us feeling all romantic and for good reason! It is absolutely lovely! As you can see there are plenty of new goodies coming into Melbury Gallery! Of course why not offset these spectacular outfits with some jewellery or scarves for an extra touch of glamour! We have an exceptional range of earrings with some wonderful new

additions. Expect lots of azures, turquoises and complimentary corals! We will be having lots more of the new spring collections arriving into both our Sherborne and Dorchester shop over the next few months so watch this space! OSKA, SAHARA,

THOUGHT, ADINI and many more are still to come! And don’t forget to come and see us at our spectacular warehouse sale where you can pick up some wonderful bargains from past spring collections.

EXPERTS ON RIVIERA TRAVEL by Heather Muir, Miles Morgan Travel

At Miles Morgan Travel we are delighted to be a main agent for Riviera Travel which is one of the UK’s leading escorted tour companies with over 35 years of experience. Riviera Travel offers European and worldwide escorted tours, plus luxury five-star river cruises, exciting journeys by rail and once in a lifetime tall ship adventures. Along with Mediterranean Yacht cruises, a dedicated collection for solo travellers and a brand-new Walk and Discover range allowing customers to incorporate a little more activity to their holiday. Riviera Travel’s world-class tours satisfy your desire to explore new places, understand different cultures, and above all, immerse yourself in new experiences. As always, every detail of a Riviera Travel tour has been meticulously crafted – from the itinerary and hotels to transport – by a team of travel specialists as passionate about your holiday as you are. Riviera Travel’s knowledgeable tour guides won’t just show you the destination, they’ll make sure you feel its heartbeat. To ensure that your journey is exceptional and unrivalled, Riviera Travel tour managers are there, every step of the way. So much is included because Riviera Travel believes that every journey you make should be most memorable. To enhance this experience, Riviera Travel offers handpicked highlights which can be added to your holiday. And to make your holiday extra special, they also offer upgrades and extensions as well. Riviera Travel’s commitment to quality, thoughtfulness and value are guaranteed hallmarks. And they are proud to hold two Which? Recommended Provider awards: Package Holiday Provider and River Cruise Provider. This is reflected in the fact that 95% of their customers have said they would book again, as identified by independent reviewer, Reevoo. They are also consistently recognised by our customers for being extremely good value for money and because of that we would like to invite you to join us as our forthcoming event at the Manor Hotel, Yeovil at 7pm on the 21 April. Call us today: 01935 577294 to be added to the guest list.

in Yeovil GARDENINGTRAVEL

LEARN MORE ABOUT RIVIERA TOURS & RIVER CRUISES Event to be held on: Tuesday 21st April at 7pm The Manor Hotel, Yeovil

Contact our Travel Specialists to be added to the guest list

Phone lines open until 10pm 01935 577294 2 Borough Arcade, High Street Yeovil BA20 1RX www.milesmorgantravel.co.uk

A trip to Llandudno

WINDOWS 7: END OF LIFE

By Jimmy Flynn, Milborne Port Computers You may have seen or heard recently that Microsoft has announced that support for Windows 7 ceased in January 2020, so what does this mean for you, and why? Windows 7 is still a wildly popular operating system that, even 10 years after its release, is still relied upon by millions across the globe. And, as hard as Microsoft might try to push you to Windows 10, it won’t be as easy to do so as the company might hope. Since releasing Windows 7 in 2009, it has been superseded by Windows 8, 8.1 and 10, because an operating system needs to be updated to be able to work with newer hardware introduced since it was designed. However, this does not mean that Windows will stop working on your machine as the two have lived happily together since they were made; it just means that Microsoft will stop issuing security and bug fixes for Windows 7 from now on. Since the release of Windows 10 some years ago, many computers have been automatically upgraded free-of-charge, but many were not compatible and could not be upgraded. Having said that, we have managed to manually upgrade nearly every computer we have come across, that was worth upgrading, and that is really the question you should ask yourself: Is it worth it? Your Windows 7 computer is now already at least 6½ years old and if it were upgraded, it would still be 6½ years old but with a newer operating system. If you do nothing, your PC will just keep on going until it dies and then you’ll have to buy a new one, and that’ll have Windows 10. So, what are the risks? Only one really, the security updates. Hackers and virus makers are always looking for flaws in the operating system that they can exploit and any new ones that they find will not be patched up. If you are careful and have a good anti-virus then you’ll probably be OK, but its 22

worthwhile checking to see if you can be upgraded for simple peace of mind. Like it or not, even if you don’t want to move to Windows 10 initially, eventually you’ll have little choice. PC makers will be bundling Windows 10 into their machines, with no option to downgrade to Windows 7. Also, you won’t find a Windows 7 license anywhere for purchase aside from eBay and other places outside of standard retail channels. Upgrading is pretty pain free as all your programs remain unchanged and will continue to work as they always did. Moreover, you can take the opportunity to upgrade your slow old hard disk to a new SSD type that runs about 10x faster. Overall cost … somewhere between £100 – £150 for a new disk and Windows 10 upgrade. As always, if you need help with this or any other related technology, you know where to come!

Coming Up Next Month … Phishing, Spear Phishing and related scams

By Travel Correspondent Tim Saunders

Llandudno is a popular Victorian seaside town in North Wales, known as ‘Flandidno’ to the locals. Road signage is in Welsh as well as English. Motorists are often advised to ‘Araf’ meaning ‘Slow’. The town has wide boulevards, art deco metalwork and ornate roofs similar to France and Romania. In fact Queen Elisabeth of Romania stayed here in 1890. Llandudno seafront is lined with pastel coloured hotels, the choice of palette the requirement of the landlords, the Mostyn estate. We take the Great Orme Tour in a vintage 1958 Leyland Tiger Cub coach with an extremely knowledgeable driver. He explains that in 1848, Owen Williams, an architect and surveyor, presented Lord Mostyn with plans to develop the marshlands behind Llandudno Bay as a holiday resort. Over the next 20 years it was developed. We stay for four nights and five days at the three star Somerset Hotel, which has a five star food hygiene rating and a car park for self-drivers. Owned by Daish’s Holidays the majority of guests arrive by Daish’s coach. A substantial property with 86 ensuite bedrooms, some with sea views, there’s a bar and dance floor and a games room that the children love. Guests stay on a half board basis – a wonderful holiday feel with lots of chatter and new friends being made quickly. After checking into our family room we go to dinner. What a luxury to indulge in a three course meal. We enjoy the vegetable soup of the day and the desserts such as bread and butter pudding and spotted dick are delicious, too. All very filling and satisfying fare. After a brief evening stroll along the seafront we return to the hotel to see the entertainment. What fun; we all take to the dance floor and there are covers of George Ezra’s Shotgun and Pharrell Williams’ Happy. We take the hop on hop off bus tour and as the weather is nice, sit on the top. There’s an audio guide where we learn that there are 160 wind turbines 10 miles off the shore that provide electricity for up to 400,000 homes. The name Llandudno derives from ‘llan’ meaning church or parish and Saint Tudno who brought Christianity to the area. Acquainting ourselves with the walled market town of Conwy, its castle and suspension bridge England’s smallest house is here, too. There’s a vintage toy shop and the Royal Cambrian Academy gallery. Returning to Llandudno we watch Punch & Judy. To think this very act has been entertaining visitors to the happy valley since the town was established. The original puppets are used to this day. That’s the way to do it. Bodnant Garden is 25 minutes away by car. Eighty acres of superb gardens certainly keep us amused and there’s pond dipping where we find Phantom Midge Larvae otherwise known as baby mosquitoes. Breath taking landscapes here include waterfalls, lakes, lily ponds and views of Snowdonia in the background.

For more information visit: www.daishs.com www.nwmes.org.uk/ alpine-travel.co.uk/ CitySightseeing alpine-travel.co.uk/Great-Orme rcaconwy.org/ www.thepottersgallery.co.uk/ www.mostyn.org/ www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ bodnant-garden Watch the videos at www. travelwriter.biz

GIVE YOUR PETS A HEALTHY SMILE! - PART 1

Lower Acreman Street Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3EX www.newtonclarkevet.com

We all learn as children the importance of looking after our teeth, but what about our pets? Our pets’ teeth require as much attention as our own, if we are to ensure they are to remain healthy throughout their lives. Extensive research surveys of the veterinary profession indicate that up to 75% of our cats and dogs have a degree of dental disease by the age of three years, and it remains one of the most common diseases seen in general veterinary practice. Why does dental disease remain such a prevalent condition? Firstly, many cats and dogs can carry on eating and drinking without apparent discomfort and signs may only become obvious when the dental disease becomes advanced. Secondly, many pet owners are reluctant to examine their pet’s mouth and teeth, also their pets may be less than keen to oblige! So early signs are often missed Thirdly, some breeds and individuals have a genetic susceptibility to developing dental disease. Lastly, many pet owners understandably would wish to avoid their pet having a general anaesthetic to examine and clean the teeth, and therefore may be tempted to delay dental treatment, unless it becomes advanced and is causing obvious discomfort. However, the old adage “prevention is better than cure” is particularly relevant to dental health. What are the signs of dental disease? Dogs and cats can exhibit a number of signs associated with dental disease depending on how advanced the disease process has become. They include: 1. Reluctance to eat, especially hard kibble and biscuits, and possibly favouring one side of the mouth. 2. Bad breath. 3. Drooling saliva. 4. Sore and bleeding gums (gingivitis). 5. Accumulation of plaque (brown deposit) on the surface of the teeth. 6. Swelling on the outside of the face. Why does dental disease develop? Food material, bacteria and saliva are deposited naturally and continuously on the surface of the teeth and gums forming plaque, from a very early age. As plaque accumulates, toxins produced by the plaque bacteria cause inflammation of the gum tissue, termed gingivitis. At the same time as this, the plaque may also become mineralised forming calculus (tartar) which is usually very tightly bonded to the tooth surface. This is also frequently accompanied by very bad breath. If gingivitis is allowed to go unchecked the plaque bacteria will start to penetrate below the gum line, leading to destruction of the bone and other tooth supporting structures, a condition termed periodontal disease. This is a far more serious condition and if left untreated, results in tooth loosening and eventual tooth loss. Advanced dental disease can cause serious side effects such as heart disease and kidney disease from circulating bacteria. Can anything be done? There are several actions that can reduce the progression of dental disease, which I will discuss next month. If your pet is showing any of the signs described above, I recommend you seek the advice of your Veterinary Practice and arrange to have your pet’s teeth checked. By Peter Luscombe BVSc GPCert(Derm) MRCVS, Newton Clarke Veterinary Surgeons

THE ROTTEN BOROUGH OF MILBORNE PORT

Milborne Port is a lovely place to live, but in 1831 it was declared a ‘Rotten Borough’! This came about because elected members first attended parliament in 1275 when two elected representatives from each county and two from each town were called to attend. Over time both parliament and towns changed, but the right to send MPs remained static. By 1830, Old Sarum, at Salisbury, had two MPs but only seven voters, while boroughs in the rapidly growing industrial towns like Birmingham and Manchester had no MPs to represent them at all.

Towns like Milborne Port became a way for the wealthy landowners to gain political power. In Milborne Port, the Marquis of Anglesey (a Tory) bought estates here, including Ven, for the political power it offered. In 1802, out of a population of 953 only 99 men could vote. With no secret ballot the voters were easily controlled, even so the election results were frequently contested.

In 1818 Lord Darlington (a Whig) tried to gain control of Milborne Port. He bought land on the edge of Milborne Port from Mr Grimes, and built Newtown. Anglesey’s steward was told to remove uncooperative tenants from their properties, pay any necessary bribes, and purchase more land and property in the borough, to ensure the Whigs did not win. East Street and Waterloo Crescent were built to boost Anglesey’s

share of the vote, and at the by-election in July 1819 Anglesey’s candidate won by 54 votes to 36. Some voters had not done as they were told, so twenty tenants were evicted by Anglesey and those who remained became ‘very zealous and firm supporters.’ By 1820, the population of the town was 1,440 and 111 men had the right to vote. The two Lords spent large sums over the next five years fighting for control of the borough, before Darlington conceded defeat.

The building boom was not enough to prevent the town losing its MPs. Agitation for electoral reform had been gaining support since the middle of the eighteenth century, and by the early nineteenth century it was clear that action had to be taken. By the new criteria adopted in the revised Reform Bill of December 1831, Milborne Port, which contained 383 houses and paid £211 in assessed taxes, was placed 48 in the list of the smallest English boroughs. This confirmed its disfranchisement. The Marquis of Anglesey sold Ven back to the Medlycott family, and Philip Crampton and Richard Sheil were the last MPs to represent Milborne Port. They were returned unopposed in March 1831, but lost their seats when the Reform Act of 1832 abolished the constituency. Those in Milborne Port who had the right to vote did not lose it, but they were now a small part of the East Somerset constituency.

HOMING AND CARING FOR ANIMALS FOR 80 YEARS Taking a closer look at Ferne Animal Sanctuary

Nestled in the stunning Blackdown Hills close to Chard, Ferne Animal Sanctuary remains for many an undiscovered gem in the local landscape. The peace and tranquillity of the sanctuary belies the work the dedicated staff undertake on a daily basis, caring for over 300 unwanted and abandoned domestic and farm animals.

Ferne has a fascinating history of which it remains, justifiably, proud. Originally founded by Nina, the Duchess of Hamilton and Brandon at the start of the Second World War, Ferne Animal Sanctuary (then located in Dorset) opened its doors to the pets of soldiers leaving for the battlefields and became a safe refuge for over 6000 pets affected by the war. Many of these animals lost their owners during this time and then the task of re-homing all these pets, so sadly affected by the war, began.

Eighty years on and Ferne continues to care for many animals - finding new loving homes for hundreds of unwanted dogs and cats each year. Many animals arrive needing the expertise of the Animal Care team to help them adjust to a life where they are loved and well cared for. Some scars – be it physical or emotional, will quickly heal; others are more substantial,

and many animals will always need the care provided at Ferne living out their days in the tranquillity of the Sanctuary.

Wander through the Sanctuary and you can discover a menagerie of over 300 animals - from chipmunks, chinchillas, rabbit, guinea pigs through to the larger pigs, goats, sheep, cows and horses. All the animals here have their own characters (sometimes very colourful ones!) and their own story to tell, although often we will never know exactly what an animal has experienced during its life.

Some of our resident animals are very confident and happy to enjoy the attention of visitors, although others remain shy and prefer to tuck themselves away in the warmth and privacy that their home provides. Ferne is also very mindful that the Sanctuary is home to a wonderful array of wildlife – if you are quiet you may observe the diversity of woodland birds and small mammals; including nature’s dazzling display of dragonflies during the warm summer months.

The ethos of the Sanctuary remains largely unchanged over time. Education is one of the Ferne’s key strategies to ultimately reduce the number of animals that will need the refuge of a sanctuary in the future. Visit Ferne during the school holidays and you will find animal trials and other activities all aimed at helping children (and adults!) understand more about the welfare and needs of animals.

The work of the Sanctuary extends into the wider community via our four charity shops, located in Honiton, Chard, Ilminster and Crewkerne. Here visitors can enjoy shopping for high quality pre-loved and new items, including women’s, men’s and kid’s clothing and accessories, an array of homeware, pictures, books and games. Some of our shops also stock electrical goods and furniture.

Also come and find out about some of the animals that are currently available for re-homing. Customers are always made to feel welcome and, although we are well supported, we are always pleased to see new good quality donations, especially clothing and bric-a-brac arriving! Treat yourself to a bargain and help out animals in need by doing so!

Our work never stops so if you have any free time to get involved by volunteering we would be delighted to hear from you. Whatever your skills, you can make friends and become part of something really worthwhile by joining our lovely team in one of the Charity Shops or, if you have transport, you could even volunteer at the Sanctuary. Call Sarah for a chat on 01460 65214 or email volunteering@ ferneanimalsanctuary.org

END OF TAX YEAR PLANNING By Mark Salter, Financial Planner

The end of the 2019/20 tax year is fast approaching and it’s your last chance to take full advantage of your tax free allowances and exemptions. The list below will help you take advantage of some of these and remember they must be used on or before 5 April 2020 which falls on a Sunday this year!

ISA ALLOWANCE The annual ISA allowance is £20,000 per person (£40,000 for a couple!). There is no difference in limits between a stocks and shares ISA and a cash ISA so you can save the entire £20,000 in a cash ISA or invest it in a stocks and shares ISA. Alternatively you can have a mixture of the two providing you don’t exceed the £20,000 limit.

The benefit of ISAs is that you don’t pay income tax on the interest and they are not subject to capital gains tax.

LIFETIME ISA (LISA) These ISAs were introduced in April 2017 to help younger people save to buy their first house or if they don’t use it to buy a house, it can be used for retirement. You have to be between 18 and 40 to open a LISA and you have the option of a cash LISA or a stocks and shares LISA. The maximum you can invest is £4,000 which receives a government bonus of 25% (up to £1,000). Any contribution to a LISA forms part of your £20,000 ISA allowance.

JUNIOR ISAS Just like ordinary ISAs, there are Junior Individual Savings Accounts known as JISAs. They can be opened for children under 18 who don’t have a Child Trust Fund account. The child can take control of the JISAs from the age of 16, but cannot withdraw from them until they are 18. This year’s annual tax free JISA allowance is £4,368.

PENSION ALLOWANCE In the 2019/20 tax year you are able to place up to £40,000 into a pension (subject to UK relevant earnings). Any past years’ pension allowance which had not been used up can be carried forward, but only for the last three tax years. Using your pension allowance can significantly reduce the earnings you get taxed on, possibly bringing your earnings for tax purposes down into another tax bracket.

Please bear in mind that individuals with high earnings (adjusted income above £150,000) need to take care as the annual allowance is reduced by £1 for every £2 above this limit and professional advice is essential. another before realising a gain can be tax efficient. As far as possible it is important to use the annual exemption each tax year because, if unused, it cannot be carried forward.

ANNUAL INHERITANCE TAX EXEMPTION AND SMALL GIFTS The first £3,000 given away each tax year is not subject to inheritance tax (IHT) if you die. Amounts greater than £3,000 can later become subject to IHT, if you die within seven years. If you don’t use the exemption this year, you can carry it forward for one tax year and use it then. As such, if you want to use 2018/19 unused annual IHT exemption, you must do so before 5 April 2020.

INCOME TAX For those individuals whose earnings are in and around the tax band thresholds, some last minute planning may be tax efficient. Up until 5 April you can earn up to £50,000 without going into the 40% tax band (personal tax free allowance of £12,500 + £37,500). If your income exceeds £50,000 then additional pension contributions may be worth considering as higher rate tax relief may be available.

CAPITAL GAINS TAX The annual CGT exemption is £12,500 for 2019/20 tax year. If you have unrealised gains, you may decide to dispose of some before the end of the tax year to use up your annual exemption. Married couples are taxed individually on capital gains, so transferring an asset from one spouse to There is also the small gifts allowance, which means you can give up to £250 to any individual each year without being subject to IHT. For example, you could gift £250 to your grandchildren and great grandchildren and it would be immediately outside your estate for inheritance tax purposes. We would suggest keeping accurate records of any gifts made.

No decision should be taken based on the content of this article. Always take full individual advice first.

At Fort Financial Planning, we have The Tax Reduction StrategyTM which is an important part of our Comprehensive Financial Planning service. A pound of tax saved is, after all, an extra pound in your pocket.

Motoring

“Ahhh, it’s as if the car’s greeting me,” coos my wife Caroline as she walks up to the DS3. Its door handles pop out and the power folding wing mirrors unfold - the automotive equivalent of a dog licking you to death. “I can imagine this appeals to lonely people,” she adds. This characteristic certainly draws admiration from fellow motorists I meet on our travels between Hampshire, Dorset and Wales. By Tim Saunders TEST DRIVING A CHARACTERFUL CAR!

When the car is locked the door handles are flush with the body of the car, unlock it and they rise out. It’s quite spectacular when you haven’t seen this before. However, after a while it becomes annoying. If the key fob is on your person and you walk past the car the door handles automatically rise and the car bleeps. Happen to walk past a number of times as I do and you can imagine how this would wind the neighbours up. The DS3 pays homage to the humble triangle. There are triangles on the bold black grille; there is even a massive indentation of a triangle on top of another triangle on both sides of the car. And there are triangles before your eyes inside, wherever you care to glance. The dash is full of them. Then there’s the variety of trim. There’s some kind of leather on the dashboard mixed with shiny metal and that metal with its various finishes is a joy to touch. So, top marks for this design statement. It really does stand out from the bland crowd.

Then the designers have gone one step further and turned the usual into something more unusual. They’ve turned things upside down, in fact. The grab handles for the doors have been placed at the top while the levers to open them have been put in their usual place. The switches for the electric windows have been placed in the centre of the car, completely unnerving the unsuspecting driver. My wife complains that she doesn’t have her own door mounted button (as she is used to) to operate her window yet the children do in the back. As a touch of design it’s a masterpiece but in terms of practicality it’s frustrating because it takes a great deal of time to remember where everything is. Brewers Garage.qxp_Layout 1 19/06/2018 11:33 Page 1

BREWERS GARAGE LTD Western Ways Yard, Bristol Road, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 4HR

Call us on 01935 812720 • DIAGNOSTICS • MOT • SERVICING • REPAIRS • AIR CON SERVICING • TYRES

Tim Saunders is an advanced motorist and journalist. He has always been passionate about motoring and regularly reviews cars from the leading manufacturers. His first report on a BMW 520i was published in the Dorset Echo when he was 17 (just after passing his driving test) in 1995. He went on to become business and motoring editor at the Bournemouth Echo.

Back inside the DS3, which sounds more like a gaming system, there’s an easy to operate sat nav but disappointingly it’s not that helpful. During the test my wife’s father is admitted to hospital and try as we might to search for Royal Bournemouth Hospital it has no idea whatsoever. However, if you do know the postcode or road name, most of the time it will get you where you want to go. It’s not without its flaws but this is a characterful car that stands out and is enjoyable to drive.

DS3 Crossback Ultra Prestige Pure Tech 155 Auto 8 Speed Imperial Gold metallic Price: £34,155 Top speed: 129mph 0-60mph: 8.2secs Power: 155bhp Engine: 1.2 litre petrol Economy: 35mpg Take a look at Tim’s video where you can see him test driving the DS3 and other vehicles www.testdrives.biz

March Women’s Celebrations

By Lynne Franks, OBE., Women’s Empowerment Guru, Author and Owner of the SEED Café and SEED Wellbeing Hub in Wincanton

March is always a busy month for me and this year is particularly active. Alongside the global celebrations of International Women’s Day on 8 March, started over a century ago in New York by exploited women garment factory workers, this year is the 20th anniversary since I published The SEED Handbook, my best-selling guide to women on how to develop self-confidence, skills and start a sustainable business.

Published throughout the English speaking world plus Germany and Japanese in 2000, followed more recently in Russia and Kazakhstan, The SEED Handbook is the first book to appear anywhere in the world which was based on the ‘the feminine way to create business’ and ‘feminine values of intuition, multitasking, collaboration and community.’ SEED has become the basis for a huge amount of on and off-line workshops and training programmes over the years, delivered in such diverse environments as rural African villages, women’s prisons and the corporate board room. It focuses as much on personal development as it does on the details of running a business, and has become a global movement of change for women who want to create a new future for themselves, their communities and the planet. Now with the incredible growth of social media, copious amounts of women’s business networks and far more sympathetic media and banks, there are many more women’s owned businesses and indeed self-employed women who are coaches, therapists and practitioners in the UK. It was always clear to me that as technology evolved, women could choose to stay at home with their families and still continue their careers. Additionally far more women over fifty and older will be starting their own businesses, and young women would have the opportunity to become entrepreneurs earlier, even from school. And as I observe women doing so well in running businesses such as cafés, local stores, manufacturing, healthy eating and beauty products, becoming wellbeing practitioners, not to mention technology, construction, property and finance, it has become very clear that this is indeed the grassroots revolution I announced twenty years ago. I have seen many times at my workshops and retreats that when a woman follows her dream and works according to her values including integrity, connection, freedom and love, with the support of other women in their community or online, she can achieve virtually anything. And as I look at the next twenty years, judging from my own town of Wincanton, Somerset where I have created my SEED Hub, I see that women from the grassroots are, as I predicted, working together to create a new sustainable society where we will plant the seeds and grow our lives and our communities through mutual support and the sharing of our stories and resources.

We will be celebrating International Women’s Day at the SEED Hub in Wincanton on the evening of Friday, 6 March with our annual showing of an inspiring women’s movie, in partnership with Penny Nagle’s Where West Begins. During the day on Saturday 7 March we will be working in partnership with Wincanton Book Day, featuring women authors at our SEED Store and Café. We will also be holding our monthly women’s gatherings and suppers with inspirational guest speakers on the third Friday of every month so do join us. To find out timings and details, please check on our website www.hubatno3.com or check out our announcements on our SEED Café Facebook Page or Instagram.

INSPIRATIONS FOR THE CURIOUS SHOPPER By Dawn Woodward, The Emporium, Yeovil

It’s lovely to be heading towards spring at last and as such, our shop is filled with seasonal offerings! Mother’s Day on 22 March is the focus across our shop this month and there’s so much gift inspiration for this occasion...

For example, check out the lovely spring clothing available from Wild Violet in The Emporium.

Events in March: A couple of events which I’d like to mention are:-

Secret Acoustic/Folk Supper on 12 March from 7pm Another of our ever so popular music evenings, which we host with Bearcat Collective. Come and enjoy some amazing food, drinks from our bar and an amazing selection of live music. Booking is essential as these events sell out.

Mother’s Day weekend Afternoon Tea on Saturday 21 March Treat your Mum with one of our stunning afternoon teas, all carefully prepared with homemade treats. Contact us to book this wonderful treat.

Trading with us: We have a few opportunities for new traders to join us. If you are considering opening a retail outlet to develop your business , our model is the perfect first step, a small shop with us is low cost and low risk, why not give it a go?

One of our traders who has recently moved location within The Emporium is Chalk & Chisel, a Shop filled with beautiful mirrors of distinction.

There have been a few changes in our café - more details on this next time, but I’d like to take the opportunity to welcome our new Head Chef Jussy, we are loving her wonderful food! Along with Maxine, our new Front of House Manager, Amanda and Brad- our cafe team is just fantastic.

Visit us for breakfast, brunch, lunch and afternoon tea. Cafe open 9-5pm, Monday -Saturday. All day breakfast, hot food served up until 3pm.

Find us at The Emporium 39 Princes Street, Yeovil, BA20 1EG www.theemporiumyeovil.co.uk Tel 01935 579482

ARTS

By Rachel Mowbray

VISUAL ART Until Saturday 29 February from 9.30am at Ilminster Arts Centre, it is the popular annual ‘Schools go Visual’ exhibition. Every year visitors are impressed by the sheer creative energy and the colourful, imaginative and ingenious works that the young artists bring to this exhibition. Participating schools are: Chard School, Greenfylde Church of England First School, Neroche Primary School, Swanmead School, Strode College, Stanchester Academy, St Mary & St Peter’s C of E Primary School and Shepton Beauchamp primary school. Open Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 4.30pm and Saturday from 9.30am to 2.30pm. Free entry. www. themeetinghouse.org.uk. From Monday 2 to Saturday 21 March from 9.30am at Ilminster Arts Centre, celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2020 with an exhibition ‘By Invitation - A Silver Celebration’ by some of the artists who have shown here over the years and who have contributed to the success and reputation of the Arts Centre. This invitation exhibition showcases work in a wide range of media and styles, and is a reflection of the high standards of artistic endeavour that Ilminster Arts Centre has encouraged and promoted over the past quarter of a century. Gallery is open from Monday to Friday 9.30am to 4.30pm and Saturday 9.30am to 2.30pm (closes at 12.00 noon on final day). Admission free. For more information, phone 01460 54973 or visit www. themeetinghouse.org.uk. From Monday 23 March to Saturday 11 April from 9.30am at Ilminster Arts Centre, there is an exhibition ‘The Natural World - Man’s Impact’. Textile Set is a relatively new group of eleven multi-talented artists who enthusiastically express themselves through a variety of textile media. Their work features embroidery, needle felting, mixed media, paint and contemporary quilting. Human impact on the natural world is a topical concern; the pieces on display reflect current environmental and extinction issues. Formed in June 2018 and local to Dorset and Somerset, the group incorporates the ‘set’ from the counties into its name. Gallery is open from Monday to Friday 9.30am to 4.30pm and Saturday 9.30am to 2.30pm (closes at 12.00 noon on final day). Admission free. For more information, phone 01460 54973 or visit www. themeetinghouse.org.uk. From Monday 23 March to Saturday 11 April from 9.30am at Ilminster Arts Centre’s Café Gallery, there is a solo exhibition of work by Sharon O’Brien. Sharon is a contemporary self-taught artist and singer/songwriter. Her artwork is inspired by the natural world and the deep emotions of the human soul. She loves to use collage and texture in her paintings, adding things from nature as well as sparkly elements that catch the light and create beautiful shimmers and reflections. Sharon’s work is full of depth and colour in both semi-abstract and impressionistic styles. Gallery is open from Monday to Friday 9.30am to 4.30pm and Saturday 9.30am to 2.30pm (closes at 12.00 noon on final day). Admission free. For more information, phone 01460 54973 or visit www. themeetinghouse.org.uk.

MUSIC On Thursday 20 February from 6.45pm at The Emporium Café, Yeovil, is an evening of Blues, Soul and Rock & Roll featuring Flic Keirle and special guests. Come along for an evening of incredible food, fantastic themed cocktails and music! Tickets £5 in advance and pay on the night for menu/drinks. To book, phone 01935 411378, visit the Facebook page or via The Emporium Cafe. On Friday 21 February at 7.30pm at Ilminster Arts Centre, Concerts in the West welcomes back Nicholas Mulroy and John Reid, accompanied by mixedmedia artist William Lindley. Nicholas (tenor) and John (piano) will perform works from Purcell, WD Browne, Tippett, Britten and Elgar. William’s projected moving images will give a fascinating backdrop to the music. This trio brings together an exciting multisensory fusion of solo piano, vocals and moving images in one recital. Tickets £15, concessions for students and children, unreserved seating. Box Office 01460 54973 or visit www.themeetinghouse. org.uk. On Friday 21 February at 7.30pm at The Exchange, Sturminster Newton, ‘Lipstick On Your Collar’ is back with a brand new show with hits from the 50s and 60s. From the birth of Rock ‘n’ Roll to the Beat Group sounds of the British Invasion and beyond, the show is packed with over forty hits from the likes of Connie Francis, Brenda Lee, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, The Beatles, The Ronettes, Cliff Richard, Cilla Black and many more. Performed by a full live band, featuring some of the country’s top musicians, this incredible show features excellent vocals, tight harmonies and an infectious sense of fun. Tickets £19.50. Box office 01258 475137.

On Saturday 22 February at 7.30pm at The Dance House, Crewkerne, Concerts in the West welcomes back Nicholas Mulroy and John Reid, accompanied by artist William Lindley. Nicholas (tenor) and John (piano) will perform works from Purcell, WD Browne, Tippett, Britten and Elgar. William’s projected moving images will give a fascinating backdrop to the music. This trio brings together an exciting multi-sensory fusion of solo piano, vocals and moving images in one recital. Tickets £15, concessions for students and children, unreserved seating. For advance bookings email concertsinthewest@ gmail.com or book at https:// helmtickets.com/, or buy from Crewkerne Town Hall’s Local Information Office or on the night from 6.45pm. On Saturday 29 February at 7.30pm at Norton-subHamdon Church, there is a concert by The Avon & Somerset Constabulary Male Voice Choir. Tickets £7, available from Norton Community Shop or by post (£8) phone 01935 881330. Further details visit www. nortonfestival.org. On Saturday 29 February at 7.30pm at The Exchange, Sturminster Newton, the UK’s longest running Musical Theatre Concert Tour ‘Beyond the Barricade’ celebrates an incredible 21 Years touring the UK with this brand new show. The concert features David Fawcett (Valjean) Andy Reiss (Enjolras and Resident Director for the National Tour of Les Miserables) Katie Leeming (Eponine) and Poppy Tierney (Cosette), together with a live band who capture the feel of the original orchestrations of the best of Broadway and the West End, ending with a stunning finale from Les Mis. A musical theatre experience not to be missed! Tickets Christian Garrick & The Budapest Café Orchestra

By Invitation Exhibition - Still Life

Twisted Tales 2 - ‘Owdyado Theatre

£23, concessions £22. Box office 01258 475137. On Saturday 29 February at 8.00pm at The David Hall, South Petherton, Christian Garrick & The Budapest Café Orchestra celebrate their 10th Birthday Tour 2009- 2019. The BCO was established by British composer and violinist Christian Garrick in 2009. Led by Christian, they play a blistering barrage of traditional folk and gypsy-flavoured music from across the Balkans and Russia, Klezmer laments, Romanian Doinas, Hungarian Czardas and their own unique arrangements. The BCO evokes vivid images of Tzigane fiddle maestros, Budapest café life and gypsy campfires - plus a few surprises along the way, and are hugely entertaining, demonstrating immense skill and profound musicianship. Tickets £18, concessions £17. To book, phone 01460 240340, email boxoffice@thedavidhall. org.uk or visit www.thedavidhall.org.uk. On Thursday 5 March at 7.30pm at Melbury Osmond Village Hall, come and listen to Kit Hawes and Aaron Catlow, as they weave a musical dialogue between fiddle, guitar and voice. These virtuoso players draw on their many influences to created unique arrangements of traditional music, as well as their own compositions. In demand as musicians, writers and arrangers, Kit and Aaron have worked with many established artists including Grammy Award-nominated Yola, Seth Lakeman, and Afro Celt Sound System. Set off on a musical journey

LIVE PERFORMANCES JAZZ *CLASSICAL* FOLK ART EXHIBITIONS * ART & CRAFT WORKSHOPS LICENSED CAFÉ * CRAFTS SHOP VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES

www.themeetinghouse.org.uk Box Office 01460 54973 East Street, llminster TA19 0AN Registered Charity 1117698 through Europe, America and beyond, as together Kit and Aaron combine dazzling playing with a fine sense of musicality and showmanship. Tickets £9, under 18s £6, family £25. To book, phone 01935 83453. www.artsreach.co.uk. On Friday 6 March at 7.30pm at Ilminster Arts Centre, Concerts in the West presents Nicholas McCarthy who will perform works by Scriabin, Julie Cooper, Alice Charbonnet, Reinecke, Bach, R Strauss, Bellini and Bartók. Nicholas, born without his right hand, only began to play the piano at the age of 14 after being inspired by hearing a friend play Beethoven’s Waldstein Sonata. He is a champion of the ‘left hand alone’ repertoire, which first came to prominence in the early 19th century and developed rapidly following the First World War as a result of the injuries suffered by musicians on the battlefield. He has performed extensively at UK and international major venues, including performing at the Closing Ceremony of the 2012 Paralympic games alongside Coldplay. Tickets £15, concessions for students and children, unreserved seating. Box Office 01460 54973 or visit www.themeetinghouse.org.uk. On Friday 6 March at 7.30pm at The Warehouse Theatre, Ilminster, The Ilminster Belles present their Spring Concert of ‘Songs from The Shows’; pop and old favourites with guest choirs Serenade and Mosaica. Tickets £10, child/ student £5, available online at www. thewarehousetheatre.org.uk or in person from Harrimans Menswear, Silver Street, Ilminster. On Saturday 7 March at 7.30pm at The Dance House, Crewkerne, Concerts in the West presents Nicholas McCarthy who will perform works by Scriabin, Julie Cooper, Alice Charbonnet, Reinecke, Bach, R Strauss, Bellini and Bartók. Nicholas, born without his right hand, only began to play the piano at the age of 14 after being inspired by hearing a friend play Beethoven’s Waldstein Sonata. He is a champion of the ‘left hand alone’ repertoire, which first came to prominence in the early 19th century and developed rapidly following the First World War as a result of the injuries suffered by musicians on the battlefield. He has performed extensively at UK and international major venues, including performing at the Closing Ceremony of the 2012 Paralympic games alongside Coldplay. Tickets £15, concessions for students and children, unreserved seating. For advance bookings email concertsinthewest@gmail.com or book at https://helmtickets.com/, or buy from Crewkerne Town Hall’s Local Information Office or on the night from 6.45pm. On Saturday 7 March at 8.00pm at The Davis Hall, Cool Country Club is holding its monthly live country music night with live entertainment by Barefoot & Crazy. Doors open 7pm. Light refreshments available including rolls and snacks, or bring your own refreshments and alcohol. £6.00 on the door. For further information, phone John on 01458 223828 or Jan on 01460 78895 or visit www.cool-countrycwdc.com. On Saturday 7 March at 8.00pm at The David Hall, South Petherton, Luke Daniels and Nancy Kerr team up to perform their own and each other’s music. Since Daniels’ landmark solo statement ‘What’s Here What’s Gone’ in 2014, he’s put down several more markers on the musical map. ‘Revolve and Rotate’ had him transporting the 19th century’s closest thing to hi-fi, the giant steel discs of the polyphon, to modern transcription. Nancy Kerr, one of the most celebrated folk musicians of her generation, has to-date won six Folk Awards from BBC Radio 2. This new show promises to be a stunning mix of contemporary folk music and inspired instrumental virtuosity. Tickets £15, concessions £14. To book, phone 01460 240340, email boxoffice@thedavidhall. org.uk or visit www.thedavidhall.org.uk. On Thursday 12 March at 7.30pm at Sandford Orcas Village Hall, The Cajun Roosters Trio takes the music of the Louisiana swamplands into fresh territories with original arrangements and selfpenned songs. With accordions, fiddle, guitar and vocals, they create authentic joyous music with their unique sound that has led to headline appearances all over Europe. Band leader Chris Hall has recorded and played with the likes of Sir Paul McCartney, Dave Gilmour, Kate Bush, Bill Wyman and Seth Lakeman. Expect Cajun music served with a side order of southern swamp blues and deep-fried Louisiana country! Tickets £9, under 18s £6, family (max two adults) £25. Tickets available from Dan Davies (01963

220749), Rowlie McBeath (01963 220208), The Mitre Inn (01963 220271), and Sherborne Tourist Information Centre (01935 815341). www. artsreach.co.uk. On Friday 13 March at 8.00pm at Ilminster Arts Centre, Enrico Tomasso and ‘Magic’ Mike Henry recreate a momentous event is jazz history ‘When Louis met Bix’, with full traditional band including Trevor Whiting, Ian Bateman, Andrew Oliver, ‘Spats’ Langham, Malcolm Sked and Nick Ball. Legends of vintage jazz, Louis Armstrong and Bix Beiderbecke never recorded together and rarely met. The story goes that in 1928, Louis and Bix met and jammed together behind locked doors at Chicago’s Sunset Café, after Louis had gone there to listen to his arch rival play. This concert is a memorial to that event. Enrico is indubitably an amazing jazz trumpeter, having won the UK jazz award seven years running, and will play the part of Louis. ‘Magic’ Mike Henry, from the Chris Barber big band, will play the part of Bix. Tickets: Concert £22; Pre-show supper £15 (supper is at 7.00pm and must be prebooked at least 2 days before the concert). Box Office 01460 54973. www.themeetinghouse. org.uk. On Saturday 14 March at 8.00pm at The David Hall, South Petherton, international blues/rock/soul guitarist, singer and songwriter, Ben Poole, performs with his Band. Nominated by the USA’s Guitar World Magazine as one of the best blues guitarists on the planet, alongside names such as Eric Clapton, John Mayer, Buddy Guy, Robert Cray, Joe Bonamassa and many more, Ben Poole is very much at the forefront of the talent-rich blues/rock scene. Since beginning his career playing on the local UK Blues circuit at age 16, Ben is now an internationally-recognised touring and recording artist who has also received critical acclaim from some of the most renowned Blues and Rock musicians in the world. Tickets £19, concessions £18. To book, phone 01460

240340, email boxoffice@ thedavidhall.org.uk or visit www.thedavidhall.org.uk. On Sunday 15 March at 3.00pm in Cheap Street Church, Sherborne, there is a concert by Wessex Strings. The programme includes Mozart (Adagio and Fugue in C minor K546), Biber (Battalia), Mendelssohn (String Symphony No 13) and Beethoven (Cavatina Op 130). Tickets (include tea) £10 from Sherborne TIC or £12 on the door. In aid of Sherborne Douzelage Young Musicians. On Friday 20 March at 7.30pm at The Exchange, Sturminster Newton, relive The Ultimate Dire Straits Experience with ‘dS:uK… in tribute to Dire Straits’. The band began touring in 2016 and is regarded as the quintessential tribute band among Dire Straits fans with their incredible attention to musical and sonic detail. To say that ‘dS:uK’ sound like Dire Straits is an understatement. Their 2020 ‘Brothers in 85’ tour pays tribute to the worldwide Brothers in Arms tour, bringing fans the ultimate 1985 Dire Straits experience and all of those classic songs the audience want to hear. Don’t miss it! Tickets £18.00. Box office 01258 475137. On Friday 20 March at 8.00pm at Ilminster Arts Centre, there is a unique opportunity to hear solo guitar maestro, Branco Stoysin. Branco is a widely-acclaimed composer and solo performer in the fields of Classical, jazz, and traditional European folk music. Originally from Serbia, he came to England at a young age with little more than his guitar and has since become a fixture on the UK music scene. He has appeared at top London venues including the Albert Hall, at major festivals, and has performed several times locally at the annual Dillington classical guitar festival, so may be familiar to some. As a truly accomplished photographer and film-maker, some of his superb guitar playing is accompanied by film and soundtrack of birdsong plus other natural sounds of the countryside. A new and totally different musical experience! Tickets: Concert £14; Preshow supper £15 (supper is at 7.00pm and must be prebooked at least 2 days before the concert). Box Office 01460 54973. www.themeetinghouse. org.uk. On Saturday 21 March at 7.30pm at the Church of St Luke and St Teresa, Wincanton, join Spectra Musica for a performance of beautiful music from the 18th to the 21st centuries. ‘Colours of Spring’ promises to be an enjoyable evening led by talented Musical Director, Peter Leech. Concert pianist, Anita D’Attellis, will feature throughout. Tickets £12, available from 01963 31607, tickets@ spectramusica.co.uk or on the door.

presents Colours ofSpring

Music from the

18 th

to the 21 st

centuries

MusicalDirector: Peter Leech Anita D’Attellis (Piano) Saturday 21 st

March 2020

7.30 pm at the church ofSt Luke & St Teresa Wincanton BA9 9DH Tickets, £12 (to include refreshments) available via the website: www.spectramusica.co.uk or call01963 31607

registeredcharity no.1114436

On Saturday 21 March at 7.30pm at The Exchange, Sturminster Newton, London Military Band will perform a stunning new show as a tribute to the UK’s armed forces and veterans. Music will include traditional marches, film themes, songs and classical favourites. The band will be joined by guest singer Emily Dankworth who will bring a touch of Jazz to the evening with classic standards including ‘Fly Me To The Moon’ and ‘Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man’. A wonderful evening of music is guaranteed. Tickets £21.00, concessions £20. Box office 01258 475137. On Saturday 21 March at 7.30pm at Sherborne Abbey, Sherborne Chamber Choir celebrates its 40th anniversary with a musical masterpiece, J S Bach’s Mass in B Minor. The choir, led by Musical Director, Paul Ellis, will be accompanied by soloists including soprano Rachel Elliott, mezzo-soprano Helen Charlston, tenor Nick Hawker and baritone Morgan Pearse. The period orchestra includes some of the finest players in the country and will be led by Alison Bury, a founder member and leader of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. A vast and exciting piece, requiring a huge amount of stamina from choir, orchestra and soloists; a monumental work rivalled by no other. Tickets from £5 to £20, students under 18 free, available from Sherborne Tourist Information Centre 01935 815341 or online at www.sherbornechamberchoir. org.uk. On Saturday 21 March at 8.00pm at The David Hall, South Petherton, Cara Dillon will be performing a selection of favourites from her previous releases, as well as material from her new album ‘Wanderer’, a collection of beautiful and moving songs recorded in an intimate setting with her husband and musical partner, Sam Lakeman. Every note and word is sung with a passion and confidence earned through a life of experience singing traditional songs. This extraordinary Irish singer has been captivating audiences and achieving exceptional acclaim for over 20 years. According to Mojo magazine, she has “quite possibly the world’s most beautiful female voice”. Tickets £22. To book, phone 01460 240340, email boxoffice@thedavidhall.org. uk or visit www.thedavidhall. org.uk. On Wednesday 25 March at 8.00pm at The Trooper, Stourton Caundle, there is an Irish night featuring Daoíri Farrell. High-quality folk music has been a feature at The Trooper for years, but will reach a new level when the guest is none other than young Irish singing sensation Daoíri Farrell. Probably the most important new voice to emerge from that land of

Creative Art Wire Sculpture 14 March Linocut printing 28 March plus films and courses Free wellbeing groups: Parkinson’s Dance, Art for Memory, Art for Parents www.sherborneartslink.org.uk

01935 815899 Charity no.1007680 Company no.24714382 Funded by Dorset Council and National Lottery Community Fund

song in several decades, this former electrician’s career has been truly meteoric and has taken him to most of the big stages across the world in the last couple of years. He will perform a rare acoustic set in an intimate venue. Pre-booking is essential due to limited seating. To book, phone 01963 362890. On Friday 27 March at 8.00pm at Ilminster Arts Centre, Dave Newton is back with his trio and special guests, Andy Panayi and Sue Richardson. Dave, an absolute master of the piano, performs across the UK, accompanying leading jazz vocalists and top jazz performers. Sax player Andy has performed here before, and each time he has massively impressed the audience with his powerful playing and great technique, on both Baritone and flute. Trumpet player Sue, who

Come & Sing Purcell in Tisbury with Cherubim Chamber Choir under I Fagiolini’s Greg Skidmore Bank Holiday 23/24 May 4 rehearsals & concert with orchestra Sunday 24 May, 16:00, Tisbury Parish Church Anthems, Dido, Fairy Queen £63(till 31 March) cherubimtrust.org/tkts

played a wonderful Chet Baker tribute at the Centre four years ago, is a wellestablished name and is now ranked amongst the top echelon of UK brass players. Together they will play gentle modern jazz, original songs, and imaginatively reworked standards, with great sensitivity and feeling, revealing their love of mainstream 1950s jazz. Tickets: Concert £18; Pre-show supper £15 (supper is at 7.00pm and must be prebooked at least 2 days before the concert). Box Office 01460 54973. www.themeetinghouse. org.uk. On Saturday 28 March at 7.30pm at The Exchange, Sturminster Newton, the fabulous Soul Kinda Wonderful celebrates the music and songs of soul and Motown including the songs of Ben E. King, The Drifters and many more. The group, formed over a decade ago, relights the magic of that splendid era, breathing new life into songs such as ‘My Girl’, ‘Stand By Me’ and many more, as well as original songs written by Richie Sampson. Book now and make this a night to remember! Tickets £17.00. Box office 01258 475137. On Saturday 28 March at 7.30pm at Yetminster Jubilee Hall, guitarist John Etheridge and violinist Chris Garrick are back with a new show. This world class duo provides a feast of interplay, improvisation and eclectic repertoire, with music ranging from Peter Gabriel to Richard Rogers via Dollar Brand and Alison Goldfrapp. Using looping and other effects, they create exotic tapestries of sound, switching seamlessly to a pure acoustic, with rollicking renditions of Hot Club swing, evoking the spirit of Reinhardt and Grappelli. Atmospheric, hypnotic, humorous and entertaining. Tickets £10, under 18s £6. To book, phone 01935 873719. www.artsreach. co.uk. On Saturday 28 March at 7.30pm at the Henhayes Centre, Crewkerne, join the Avon & Somerset Constabulary Male Voice Choir for a musical extravaganza spanning everything from classical choral to popular song. This fantastic choir is guaranteed to entertain. Bar from 6.30pm. Tickets £12. Booking required. To book, drop in the Centre or phone 01460 74340. On Saturday 28 March at 8.00pm at The David Hall, South Petherton, Rachael McShane and The Cartographers make their first appearance on this stage. Rachael McShane is a singer, cellist, fiddle and viola player, based in the North East of England. An original member of folk big band Bellowhead, Rachael toured internationally with them as well as making several TV appearances. Rachael is now working on a new solo project (a reworking of traditional songs) and is playing with a brand-new band, featuring guitarist Matthew Ord (Assembly Lane) and melodeon player, Julian Sutton (Kathryn Tickell, Sting). This performance will feature three musicians at the very top of their game. Tickets £16, concessions £15. To book,

PERFORMANCE From Monday 24 February to Saturday 29 February at 7.30pm at the Sherborne Studio Theatre, there is a performance of Alan Ayckbourn’s ‘Table Manners’ given by the Amateur Players of Sherborne, directed by John Crabtree. Tickets £10, students £8, available from www.aps-sherborne.co.uk, the Tourist Information Office or phone 07585 278722. On Thursday 27 February at 7.30pm at Gillingham School Theatre, Scratchworks Theatre presents ‘WOMANS (like Romans, but with a W)’. A raucous and hilarious tale of the first female resistance. It’s 44BC, Ancient Rome. The Roman Senate has declared Leta a traitor. She is to be erased from history, her name will be scratched out and forgotten forever - a punishment worse than death! However, with the help from some unexpected muses, she decides to rebel against the Republic... A feast of physical comedy, clowning and original music. Suitable 7+. Tickets £10, under 18s £6, family ticket £28 (fam of four, max two adults). To book, phone School Library on 01747 833844 or email capub@ gillingham-dorset.co.uk. On Friday 28 February at 7.30pm at Chetnole Village Hall, there is an evening with poet and humorist, Matt Harvey. Writer, poet, enemy of all that’s difficult and upsetting, Matt’s way with words has taken him from Totnes to the Wimbledon Tennis Championships via Saturday Live, the Edinburgh Festival and the Work section of the Guardian. He is host of Radio 4’s Wondermentalist Cabaret, creator of Empath Man, and author of The Hole in the Sum of my Parts, Where Earwigs Dare and Mindless Body Spineless Mind. He now turns his gaze on to all kinds of dogs and dog owners. Bar and raffle. Tickets £10, from Jackie

Jones 01935 873742 (In aid of St Peter’s Church, Chetnole). On Friday 28 February at 8.00pm at Ilminster Arts Centre, The GreenMatthews Players present Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. Written in the late 14th century, the tale is based on a disparate group of pilgrims travelling to the shrine of Thomas à Becket at Canterbury Cathedral. They tell each other stories to while away the journey. These stories paint a rich and vibrant portrait of life in medieval England, from the dark and brooding Pardoner’s Tale to the bawdy Miller’s Tale, via the proto-feminism of the Wife of Bath’s Tale and the simple whimsy of the Nun’s Priest’s Tale. Although Chaucer wrote his masterwork over 600 years ago, it still feels contemporary, fresh, easy to understand and extremely amusing and rather rude in places! Tickets: Concert £15; Pre-show supper £15 (supper is at 7.00pm and must be pre-booked at least 2 days before the concert). Box Office 01460 54973. www. themeetinghouse.org.uk. On Saturday 29 February at 7.30pm at Martock Parish Hall, there will be a ‘Leap Frog’ evening. The Langport Mummers and Sharon Lazibyrds will perform, and perhaps even Leap Frog! Light eats included with the £5 ticket, and pay bar. Tickets available from the Martock Gallery, limited to 60. For more information, phone 01935 822202. On Friday 6 March at 7.30pm at The Exchange, Sturminster Newton, the African-Caribbean theatre company Tangle brings to life ‘Volpone’, Ben Jonson’s classic satire of cunning and greed. Volpone (Italian for ‘sly fox’) is filthy rich. For him, the glory of accumulating wealth is more thrilling than its simple possession. In lust for more, he and his assistant swindle three of the wealthiest men in the city. Daring trickery and avarice ensue in this bitingly fresh version of Ben Jonson’s comedy. Inspired by Southern African Township Theatre, a multi-skilled ensemble of three actors performs to an enticing backdrop of jazz-fusion, delivered with Tangle’s trademark dynamism. Suitable 13+. Tickets £10, under 18s £7, family £30. Box office 01258 475137. For more information, visit www. artsreach.co.uk. On Friday 6 March at 8.00pm at The David Hall, South Petherton, John Osborne presents ‘John Peel’s Shed’. Writer and theatre-maker John returns to the stage with his Edinburgh sell-out production ‘John Peel’s Shed’ - a storytelling show about radio, music and a whole heap of records. In 2002, John won a competition on John Peel’s BBC radio show. His prize was a box of records that took eight years to listen to. This is an ode to radio, featuring a selection of the records previously owned by the late and infamous John Peel, many of which are very rare recordings by obscure and now defunct bands. Tickets £10, concessions £9. To book, phone 01460 240340, email

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Monday – Thursday 5.00 pm – 10.00 pm Tuesday CLOSED Friday – Saturday 5.00 pm – 10.30 pm Sunday 5.30 pm – 10.00 pm 61 Princes Street, Yeovil, BA20 1EE • Tel. 01935 476184 www.therisingsunyeovil.co.uk

boxoffice@thedavidhall.org. uk or visit www.thedavidhall. org.uk. On Saturday 7 March at 7.30pm at Charlton Horethorne Village Hall, Pip Utton will be ‘At Home with Will Shakespeare’. Pip is internationally respected as one of the world’s finest solo performers and this will be a fun evening as he takes on the persona of the great man; a man who loves, laughs, drinks, sings, dances and cries, and in between is forced to write some plays and poetry to make a living. A favourite at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival! Tickets £10. To book, contact Jenny Biggs on 01935 814199 or at jb@classicmedia.co.uk. On Saturday 14 March at 7.30pm at Halstock Village Hall, ‘Owdyado Theatre presents ‘Twisted Tales 2’. Following on from the huge success of Twisted Tales, this is a new trilogy of darkly comic and surprising stories of the macabre and mysterious from three distinct voices: get ready for an anarchic night of hilariously dark theatre! Inspired by cult series ‘The Twilight Zone’ and ‘Inside Number Nine’, this series of dark comedies is co-written by Daniel Richards and Charlotte Bister (‘Owdyado Theatre) as well as distinguished Cornish writers Brett Harvey (o region) and Jon Welch (Pipeline Theatre). Suitable 14+. Tickets £9, under 18s £6, family £25. To book, phone 01935 891782. www.artsreach.co.uk. On Friday 20 March at 7.30pm at The Warehouse Theatre, Ilminster, Somerset Opera presents the Gilbert and Sullivan comic opera ‘Iolanthe’. Tickets £12, child/ student £6, available online at www.thewarehousetheatre.org. uk or in person from Harrimans Menswear, Silver Street, Ilminster. On Saturday 21 March at 7.00pm and Sunday 22 March at 2.00pm and 7.00pm at The Warehouse Theatre, Ilminster, nine drama groups from across Somerset will compete at the County Drama Festival. Each group will perform a one-act plays. Tickets online at www. thewarehousetheatre.org.uk or in person from Harrimans Menswear, Silver Street, Ilminster. On Saturday 21 March at 7.00pm at St Martin’s Church, North Perrott, there is a talk on ‘The Life of William Barnes, Dorset’s Famous Poet’ presented by The William Barnes Society. A selection of his poems, and several by his friend Thomas Hardy, will be read by members of the Society who will be joined by John Blackmore a folk singer who has set some of the poems to music. Tickets £8 over 18s £4 under 18s, to include a glass of wine or juice and sandwiches during the interval. Buy tickets in advance if possible from G Hoskyns (01460 72883), J Falkiner (01460 76457), georgina222@uwclub. net or The North Perrott Farm Shop. Proceeds to St Martin’s Church funds. On Saturday 21 March at 7.30pm at Gillingham School Theatre, Sadhana Dance presents ‘Under My Skin’, a neatly stitched together performance of highly physical dance, medicine and science. Drawing on Bharata Natyam technique, Sadhana Dance invites the audience to witness an operating theatre in motion where dexterity, intricate movement and precisely controlled exchanges are vital in the preservation of life. Doors open 7.00pm. Suitable 8+. Tickets £10, student £6, family of 4 (max. 2 adults) £28. Tickets available from 01747 833844, capub@gillinghamdorset.co.uk or www.artsreach. co.uk. On Saturday 21 March at 7.30pm at Norton-subHamdon Village Hall, John Osborne presents ‘John Peel’s Shed’. Writer and theatremaker John returns to the stage with his Edinburgh sell-out production ‘John Peel’s Shed’ - a storytelling show about radio, music and a whole heap of records. In 2002, John won a competition on John Peel’s BBC radio show. His prize was a box of records that took eight years to listen to. This is an ode to radio, featuring a selection of

the records previously owned by the late and infamous John Peel, many of which are very rare recordings by obscure and now defunct bands. Tickets £10, child £5, available from 24 February, from the Village Shop, www.takeart.org, or John Bailey (01935 881227). On Friday 27 March at 7.00pm and Saturday 28 March at 2.30pm at Ilminster’s Warehouse Theatre, Ilminster Youth Theatre presents ‘Under the Spotlight’; poetry, prose, drama and music, including ‘Fantastic Mr Fox’ by Roald Dahl. Tickets £6, child £3, available online at www. thewarehousetheatre.org.uk or in person from Harrimans Menswear, Silver Street, Ilminster.

CHILDREN On Thursday 20 February from 10.30am to 11.30am at Sherborne Library, have fun with ‘Tree-mendous Woodland Stories and Crafts’. Come and listen to in-tree-guing stories and join in unbe-leaf-able crafts based on tree-mendous woodlands! And find out about the woodland-themed writing competition. For more information, phone 01935 812683. Free entry. On Thursday 20 February at 4.00pm at St Andrew’s Primary School, Yetminster, Angel Heart Theatre presents ‘Mazymeg and the Honeybees’. Albert lives alone with his beloved honeybees on Dartmoor. One day a stranger steals his bees and the light goes out from Albert’s world. Mazymeg, a little Pisky, then appears and promises to find his bees. Follow Mazymeg and a host of strange and funny characters, as she tries to bring home Albert’s bees. Weaving threads of Devon folklore, an original soundtrack by Dartmoor musicians and shape-shifting puppetry makes this a most enchanting show. Suitable 3+. Tickets £6, under 18s £5, family £20. To book, phone 01935 872430. For more information, visit www. artsreach.co.uk. On Saturday 22 February at 3.00pm at Sandford Orcas Village Hall, awardwinning storyteller Michele O’Brien weaves her magic in a captivating new show featuring puppetry and dance ‘The Ark and Dove’. Mary is in the charity shop pricing up donations when she finds a box of treasures telling a gripping story from the year 1633 of The Ark and Dove, and discovers another Mary - Mary Jennings! This Mary was a servant woman who travelled across the ocean from the Isle of Wight to America, risking everything to make a better life for herself. Fantastic storytelling. A must for children. Suitable 7+. BSL interpretation available. Tickets £7, under 18s £5, family £20. To book, phone 01963 220171. For more information, visit www.artsreach.co.uk. On Saturday 21 March from 10.30am to 11.30am at Sherborne Library, come along and enjoy ‘Wonderful Woodland Creatures: Story and Craft’. What weird, wild, wonderful things are found in our woodlands? And find out about the woodland-themed writing competition. For more information, phone 01935 812683. Free entry. Simply lie down to allow the etheric sounds to wash over and through the body. Bring comfy bedding and a blanket. Tickets £15, concessions £13. Payment required on the day. To book, email Dean Carter on ahiahel@live.com, phone 01935 389655 or visit www. centreforpuresound.org. On Sunday 29 March from 7.30pm to 10.30pm at The David Hall, South Petherton, it is the monthly Acoustic Night. The David Hall hands over its professional stage and outstanding acoustics to budding artists of all genres. To secure a performance slot, email folk@chriswatts.org. Just £1 for performers and £2 for audience. Please pay on the door.

Cara Dillon

OTHER On Saturday 22 February from 7.30pm to 11.00pm at The David Hall, South Petherton, it is the monthly Acoustic Night. The David Hall hands over its professional stage and outstanding acoustics to budding artists of all genres. To secure a performance slot, email folk@chriswatts.org. Just £1 for performers and £2 for audience. Please pay on the door. On Sunday 8 March from 2.00pm to 3.30pm at The David Hall, South Petherton, experience a ‘Crystal & Tibetan Singing Bowl Sound Bath’ with musician and sound-healing facilitator, Dean Carter (MA Oxon), using singing bowls with vocal overtoning applied using the yin/ yang principles of harmony. This promotes a deeply relaxing and healing state to rebalance and re-energise the body, mind and spirit. Nicholas McCarthy

Canterbury Tales

Tutankamun - The Boy King

DOWNTON ABBEY (PG) Set at the turn of the 20th century in an Edwardian English country house, the Crawley family and their intrepid staff prepare for the most important moment of their lives. A royal visit from the King and Queen of England soon unleashes scandal, romance and intrigue, leaving the future of Downton hanging in the balance. Featuring Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville and Jim Carter. SHOWING AT Ditcheat on Thursday 20 February, Jubilee Hall, 7.30pm. Tickets £5. For information: Geoff Webber 01749 860184. Martock on Saturday 22 February, Parish Hall, 7.30pm. Tickets £5.50 in advance from Martock News, Moorlands Precinct or £6 on the door. Somerton on Saturday 29 February, Parish Rooms, 7.30pm. Tickets £6 in advance from Cobbs, Brunel Precinct.

JOKER (15) In Gotham City, mentally-troubled comedian Arthur Fleck is disregarded and mistreated by society. He then embarks on a downward spiral of revolution and bloody crime. This path brings him face-to-face with his alterego: the Joker. A gritty character study, and a broader cautionary tale… SHOWING AT Corton Denham on Wednesday 19 February, The Queens Arms, 7.15pm. Tickets £15 (includes a main meal) in advance from 01963 220317 or www.thequeensarms. com.

JUDY (12A) Thirty years after starring in ‘The Wizard of Oz’, actress and singer Judy Garland (Renée Zellweger) arrives in London to perform soldout shows at the ‘Talk of the Town’ nightclub. Whilst there, she reminisces with friends and fans, and begins a whirlwind romance with musician Mickey Deans, her soon-to-be fifth husband. SHOWING AT Hardington Mandeville on Friday 6 March, Village Hall, 7.30pm. Tickets £5 in advance from Springfield Stores 01935 862363 or £6 on the door. Kingsbury Episcopi on Thursday 5 March, Community Centre, 7.30pm. Tickets £5, under 16s £2. For information: 01935 823298. Milborne Port on Friday 20 March, Village Hall, 7.30pm. Tickets £5 in advance from Wayne the Butcher or £5.50 on the door. Sturminster Newton on Thursday 20 February, The Exchange, 7.00pm. Tickets £5. West Camel on Friday 27 March, The Davis Hall, 7.30pm. Admission £5 on the door.

KNIVES OUT (12A) When renowned crime novelist Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer) is found dead at his estate just after his 85th birthday, the inquisitive and debonair Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is mysteriously enlisted to investigate. From Harlan’s dysfunctional family to his devoted staff, Blanc sifts through a web of red herrings and self-serving lies to uncover the truth behind Harlan’s untimely death. A great whodunit that’s unpredictable and extremely funny. SHOWING AT Halstock on Saturday 7 March, Village Hall, 7.30pm. Tickets £6.50 from Halstock Shop or on the door. For information: 01935 892485. Hinton St George on Saturday 14 March, Village Hall, 7.30pm. Tickets £5 in advance from Personal Services Store and Dorothy’s Tearoom or £5.50 on the door. Milborne Port on Friday 21 February, Village Hall, 7.30pm. Tickets £5 in advance from Wayne the Butcher or £5.50 on the door. Odcombe on Monday 2 March, Village Hall, 8.00pm. Tickets £5 in advance from 07934 737104 or £6 on the door.

LE MANS ‘66 (12A) Based on the true story of visionary American car designer Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon) and fearless British-born driver Ken Miles (Christian Bale), who together build a revolutionary race car for Ford Motor Company and take on the dominating race cars of Enzo Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France in 1966. SHOWING AT Corton Denham on Wednesday 25 March, The Queens Arms, 7.15pm. Tickets £15 (includes a main meal) in advance from 01963 220317 or www.thequeensarms.com.

Joker

MRS LOWRY AND SON (PG) LS Lowry (Timothy Spall) earned his living as a rent-collector and spent his free time producing paintings which are both instantly recognisable and greatly loved. He was also a devoted carer to his bed-bound mother Elizabeth (Vanessa Redgrave), a woman embittered by the reduced circumstances in which they were living, and who never lost an opportunity to belittle his art. Mrs Lowry and Son is the story of their relationship. SHOWING AT Corton Denham on Thursday 5 March, The Queens Arms, 7.15pm. Tickets £15 (includes a main meal) in advance from 01963 220317 or www.thequeensarms. com. Halstock on Saturday 21 March, Village Hall, 7.30pm. Tickets £6.50 from Halstock Shop or on the door. For information: 01935 892485. South Petherton on Friday 27 March, The David Hall, 8.00pm. Tickets £5.

OFFICIAL SECRETS (15) A morality tale for the 21st century, Official Secrets tells the true story of British Intelligence whistle-blower Katharine Gun (Keira Knightley). Concerned about the accuracy of the intelligence and its implications, Katharine takes the agonizing decision, during the immediate run-up to the 2003 Iraq invasion, to leak a top-secret NSA memo exposing a joint US-UK illegal spying operation against members of the UN Security Council. So begins an explosive chain of events! SHOWING AT Castle Cary on Tuesday 31 March, Caryford Hall, 7.30pm. Tickets £5 in advance from The Market House and from Tessa Gayford on 01963 350132 or £6 on the door. Ditcheat on Thursday 19 March, Jubilee Hall, 7.30pm. Tickets £5. For information: Geoff Webber 01749 860184. Norton-sub-Hamdon on Tuesday 10 March, The Lord Nelson, 7.30pm. Tickets from 01935 881227. Sherborne on Wednesday 11 March, Digby Hall, 7.30pm. Tickets £6 in advance from TIC 01935 815341 or on the door if available. South Petherton on Friday 13 March, The David Hall, 8.00pm. Tickets £5.

SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS (U) The eldest of seven brothers living on the frontier in the Oregon Territory returns with a bride. When she arrives, she is shocked to learn that her new home includes six untamed, unkempt and uncouth brothers-in-law. Her efforts to turn the six brothers into gentlemen inspire them to find wives of their own, throwing into motion an epic battle of the sexes. A classic MGM musical, with great dancing and great tunes. (1954) SHOWING AT Sandford Orcas on Friday 28 February, Village Hall, 7.30pm.

STYX (12A) Rike (Susanne Wolff) is a successful emergency doctor in Cologne but has a long-held dream to sail her yacht solo from Gibraltar to Ascension Island in the Atlantic. After a storm and an encounter with a stricken boat loaded with refugees, her trip takes a very different course. She tries her best to help but as time goes by the situation worsens and Rike has to face impossible moral decisions. Very tense, convincing and thought-provoking, with little dialogue - all the action is on the screen. (English and German with subtitles). SHOWING AT Batcombe on Friday 21 February, Jubilee Hall, 7.45pm. For information or guest tickets phone 01749 850307. Joker

SWIMMING WITH MEN (12A) A man who is suffering a mid-life crisis finds new meaning in his life as part of an all-male, middle-aged, amateur synchronised swimming team. Eric (Rob Brydon), who’s monotonous life is falling apart, accidentally stumbles upon a way to feel good about himself again and to escape from reality. Funny and uplifting, this is a delightful feel-good movie. SHOWING AT Henstridge on Sunday 10 March, Village Hall, 7.30pm. Tickets £6 from Malcolm 01963 363380 or Ros 01963 363016.

THE CURRENT WAR (12A) The dramatic story of the cutthroat race between electricity titans Thomas Edison (Benedict Cumberbatch) and George Westinghouse (Michael Shannon) to determine whose electrical system would power the modern world. Edison, on the verge of bringing electricity to Manhattan with his radical new DC technology, has his plans upended by Westinghouse and his partner Tesla, who believe they have a superior idea for how to rapidly electrify America - with AC current. As they grapple for who will power the nation, they spark one of the first and greatest corporate feuds in American history. SHOWING AT Somerton on Saturday 21 March, Parish Rooms, 7.30pm. Tickets £6 in advance from Cobbs, Brunel Precinct. South Petherton on Friday 28 February, The David Hall, 8.00pm. Tickets £5.

THE DIVINE ORDER (12A) It is 1971 in deeply conservative Switzerland, where women are denied the right to vote. Young housewife Nora is bored and wants to get a part-time job but her husband forbids it - and it’s against the law for her to go against his wishes. Nora, a quiet retiring person, is well-liked by everyone, until she decides to organize the women of her town to petition for the right to vote. A serious message presented in a jolly, feel-good comedy. Swiss German with subtitles. SHOWING AT Batcombe on Saturday 21 March, Jubilee Hall, 6.00pm. Food and film! Tickets, £5 members, £10 nonmembers, from Ann Biddle 01749 850307. Doors open 6.00pm, meal served at 6.30pm.

THE GOOD LIAR (15) Career con-artist Roy Courtnay (Ian McKellen) has set his sights on his latest mark: the recently widowed Betty McLeish (Helen Mirren), worth millions. And Roy means to take it all. As Betty opens her home and life to him, Roy is surprised to find himself caring about her. What should be a cut-anddry swindle turns into the most treacherous tightrope walk of his life - revealing more insidious deceptions that will take them both through a minefield of danger, intrigue and betrayal. SHOWING AT Castle Cary on Tuesday 25 February, Caryford Hall, 7.30pm. Tickets £5 in advance from The Market House and from Tessa Gayford on 01963 350132 or £6 on the door. Martock on Saturday 28 March, Parish Hall, 7.30pm. Tickets £5.50 in advance from Martock News, Moorlands Precinct or £6 on the door. Sturminster Newton on Thursday 19 March, The Exchange, 7.00pm. Tickets £5. West Camel on Friday 28 February, The Davis Hall, 7.30pm. Admission £5 on the door. Yetminster on Tuesday 3 March, Jubilee Hall, 7.30pm. Tickets £6 from the Spar Shop.

THE GUILTY (15) A totally compelling and gripping thriller set in Copenhagen. Deskbound police officer, Asger Holm, responds to an emergency call from a kidnapped woman but the call is abruptly disconnected and so begins the search. Confined to the station, Holm has to use his skill and intuition in the race against time to try to locate the woman and her assailant. As the investigation progresses, the audience slowly learns about the incident that confined him to desk duties… (Danish with subtitles). SHOWING AT Crewkerne on Friday 13 March, Wadham School, 7.30pm. Full annual membership £25. Visitors £6 per film. Contact 01935 822656.

Official Secrets 15 Wednesday 11 March 7.30pm Digby Hall, Hound Street, Sherborne DT9 3AA Tickets £6 in advance from Sherborne Tourist Information Centre 01935 815341 or on the door if available www.sherborneartslink.org.uk Charity no 1007680 Company no 2471382

The Divine Order

All Music Gigs are FREE entry unless mentioned. FEBRUARY 21 La Bella Vista, Rock/Funk/Soul, White Lion, Bourton, 8.30pm Rexes Hollow, Rock/Pop Covers, The Westminster, Yeovil, 9.00pm 22 Area 51, Rock Covers, The Westminster, Yeovil, 9.30pm Caught On The Back Foot, Classic Rock, Half Moon Inn, Stoke-sub-Hamdon, 9.30pm Darren H Presley, The Preston, Yeovil, 8.30pm John de Barra, Covers 60s to present, The King William Inn, Crewkerne, 9.00pm Powercut, Acoustic/Electric Rock/Pop, The Old Barn Club, Yeovil, 9.30pm 28 Cover All Bases, Covers, The Preston, Yeovil, 8.30pm Grouvecat, Acoustic Rock, The Old Pound Inn, Langport, 8.30pm James Hollingsworth, Acoustic Blues/Folk/Rock, Dolphin Hotel, Wincanton, 9.00pm Roadstars, Rock/Pop Covers, The Westminster, Yeovil, 9.00pm 29 Blackout City, Rock/Pop, The Westminster, Yeovil, 9.00pm Killer T Cells, Covers 70s to 90s, The Thatched Cottage, Shepton Mallet, 8.30pm

MARCH 1 Karina & the Slaves, Pop/Rock, The Old Stage Coach Inn, Crewkerne, 4.00pm 6 Mr D’arcy, Quicksilver Mail, Yeovil, 9.00pm 7 Lil Devils, Blues, The Thatched Cottage, Shepton Mallet, 8.30pm ReD, Rock/Pop, The Arrow, Yeovil, 9.15pm Simon Gee, Solo Artist, The King William Inn, Crewkerne, 9.00pm 14 Kingfisher, Acoustic Covers, The Stonemasons, Ilminster, 9.00pm Nevertheless, Rock Covers, The Preston, Yeovil, 9.00pm Roadstars, Rock/Pop Covers, Stoke-sub-Hamdon Working Mens Club, 9.00pm The Relics, Rock/Blues, The Westminster, Yeovil, 9.00pm 20 James Hollingsworth, Acoustic Blues/Folk/Rock, White Lion, Bourton, 8.30pm The Relics, Rock/Blues, The Railway Hotel, Yeovil, 9.00pm 21 Bad Edukation, Classic Rock, The Westminster, Yeovil, 9.00pm Chris Banderas, Classic Rock, White Hart, Sherborne, 9.30pm James Hollingsworth, Acoustic Blues/Folk/Rock, The Thatched Cottage, Shepton Mallet, 8.30pm Karma Alarm, Covers, Coronation Club, Gillingham, 9.00pm Paul Tino, Rock/Pop Covers, White Hart Inn, Crewkerne, 9.00pm The Furious Pussies, Classic Gold 50s to 70s, The Bell Inn, Yeovil, 9.00pm 22 Ian Valentine, Covers 60s to present, The Lord Nelson, Norton-sub-Hamdon, 3.30pm 27 Ollie Back & Sam On The Fiddle, Pop-Folk Duo, The Old Pound Inn, Langport, 8.30pm 28 Bad Edukation, Classic Rock, Crewkerne Conservative Club, 9.00pm Nasty Habits, Blues Rock, The Westminster, Yeovil, 9.00pm Silkstone, Rock Covers, The Railway Hotel, Yeovil, 9.00pm The Furious Pussies, Classic Gold 50s to 70s, The Cross Keys Inn, Lydford-on-Fosse, 9.00pm Unknown Identity, Covers & Originals, White Hart, Sherborne, 9.30pm 29 Chill, Covers 60s to 90s, The White Hart, Yetminster, 4.00pm 38

A MUSICAL NOTE! By Ryan Leese, Manager of Waterloo Music

We’re very lucky to have some gorgeous instruments in store and to be suppliers of some of the biggest brands in the industry.

So choosing a model to feature this month has been tricky, however we decided to go with this beautiful example of a Gretsch guitar to inspire you this month! Product Spotlight:

Gretsch G 5420 TG Limited.

A beautiful 50s style guitar is this lovely orange colour.

Gretsch is a fabulous, heritage brand, and over the span of four generations, the Gretsch company has developed what came to be known as ‘THAT GREAT GRETSCH SOUND.”

Playing is believing! Complete with Bigsby hardware, it’s bold, dynamic and articulate, Electromatic hollow-body guitars are pure and powerful Gretsch instruments. Reminiscent of the Rock n Roll days, they are timeless and so playable.

Take your playing to the next level, this model, along with many, many more, is waiting for you to try out at Waterloo Music. Come on in for a chat and a demo.

Tel: 01935 507330 shop@waterloomusic.co.uk 16 Hendford, Yeovil, Somerset www.waterloomusic.co.uk FB/waterloomusic

By Ross Owen Williams, Presenter on Radio Ninesprings, 104.5fm

2020 has begun with great news for us and our listeners, as Ofcom have approved our application to both extend our broadcasting area and increase the power of our main transmitter, allowing us to reach more people with a stronger FM signal.

Two new transmitters, to be based in Chard and Wincanton, will allow us to better serve all parts of the South Somerset District Council area and reinforce our FM signal where it is currently weak. From personal experience, I know how frustrating it can be to find 104.5 FM on my car radio on the road between Crewkerne and Chard. The two new frequencies will be 107.6 FM in Chard and 103.3 FM in Wincanton, and our goal is to have these operational by Summer 2020. The combination of more power and more transmitters will give us a significant improvement in signal strength and reach, which will be most noticeable in areas to the East and West of Yeovil. A further benefit of these new frequencies is the ability to create small contribution studios in both Chard and Wincanton, enabling us to involve local people from these towns in our programming, so if you’re interested in helping out as a volunteer at Radio Ninesprings, please do get in touch with our station manager Steve Haigh.

Speaking of new contributors to the station, we’re delighted to announce that Slimming World consultant Vicky Welton will be joining Radio Ninesprings to present a weekly show ‘Fit For All’. It will be a two-hour mixture of great music and helpful tips and advice about general health and wellness, from great recipes to exercise ideas to information about diet, there’s guaranteed to be something of interest in there each week for every listener.

Radio Ninesprings DJ’s have met with radio legend Tony Blackburn at his Sounds of the 60’s show in Yeovil. The veteran broadcaster, who famously launched Radio One in 1967, was at Westlands with his ‘Sounds of the 60’s’ live show. Pippa Hamilton of ‘Community News’ fame on Radio Ninesprings, was thrilled to meet the star.

Pippa said: “He’s such a lovely man and every bit as charming as he is on the radio. I used to listen to him on Radio Caroline when I was at school and his voice sounds much the same today as it did then. He gave me a couple of tips for when I’m broadcasting on Radio Ninesprings that I should be myself and imagine I’m talking to one person - good advice, which I shall follow and maybe then my radio career will last for as long as Tony’s has done!”.

BOOK REVIEW By Wayne, Winstones

8, Cheap Street, Sherborne, Dorset. DTP 3PX 01935 816 128 winstonebooks1@gmail.com www.winstonebooks.co.uk

Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano £12.99 hbck

A luminous, life-affirming novel about a 12-year-old boy who is the sole survivor of a deadly plane crash One summer morning, a flight takes off from New York to Los Angeles. There are 216 passengers aboard: among them a young woman taking a pregnancy test in the airplane toilet; a Wall Street millionaire flirting with the air hostess; an injured soldier returning from Afghanistan; and two beleaguered parents moving across the country with their adolescent sons, bickering over who gets the window seat. When the plane suddenly crashes in a field in Colorado, the younger of these boys, 12-year-old Edward Adler, is the sole survivor. This is an exquisitely written, beautifully emotional novel that will remain in your heart and thoughts. Edward survives a plane crash in which every other person, including his parents and brother, die. As the only survivor he becomes the lodestone for the relatives of the other passengers. Ann Napolitano writes with huge compassion as she explores overwhelming grief, and the tragedy is sensitively and skilfully handled. Knowing what is coming, in no way prepares you for the journey. Two time frames travel together: the first immediately leading up to the crash, the second as Edward learns how to survive the aftermath. Scattered within are the smaller, intense, short stories that add to, and become part of the overall tale. The reader is allowed to find their own way, to consider and contemplate as you walk alongside Edward. You feel the most profound heartache and joy as you sink into the lives of the passengers. A thoughtful and thoughtprovoking read. ‘Dear Edward is that rare book that breaks your heart and stitches it back together... Don’t miss this one’ Jodi Picoult’

THE CONDUIT INTERVIEWS.... SARAH ALI CHOUDHURY

We find out a little more about Conduit columnist Sarah Ali Choudhury’s love of cooking and what she does to make a “spag bol” her own!

We know you as the Curry Queen, but tell us a bit more about where you grew up? I grew up in Bournemouth, but we later moved to Poole and then Bridport. After marriage, I moved to Whitechapel in London but didn’t like it and came back to Bournemouth, a stone’s throw from where I was born and grew up. This is where I still live now. I love Bournemouth.

How did your love of cooking come about – did you learn from your mother? Yes, I learnt mostly from my mum. My grandmother was a fabulous cook too but I love my mum’s cooking. Ironically, cooking was something that I never wanted to get involved in, especially on a commercial side. However, after being a stay at home, mum of four, I found myself wanting to do something I could take to the next level. By chance I was asked to show a friend who is a vlogger how to make an easy chicken curry. The next thing I knew, I was invited to be on a Channel 4 reality TV series cooking for the likes of Prue Leith, Raymond Blanc and Michael Caines. It was after that TV show that I found my passion for what I could create for myself through food.

What are your favourite dishes? I love my crab claw curry. I crack the shell of the crab claws to allow the sauce and flavours to encase the crab meat. The sauce is cooked with lots of garlic, chillies, onions, turmeric, coriander and cumin and a touch of coconut milk is added towards the end of the cooking process. I absolutely love it! It’s eaten with steamed basmati rice.

What about other cuisines – Italian, Chinese, Mexican – do you find yourself adding spices to particular dishes from other cuisines? I love Thai and Chinese food. I was recently in Mumbai and visited a restaurant called By The Mekong. We ordered a selection of indo Chinese cuisine food, a fusion twist between Indian and Chinese and it was so spicy but oh my goodness, it was out of this world! I couldn’t stop eating it.

How would you put your own slant on to Spaghetti Bolognese? I regularly do. My kids love my Spagbog! I use minced lamb and lightly fry it with olive oil and butter until brown. Then I transfer it into a bowl.

I then add some sunflower oil to the pan and fry an onion with 3 cloves of fresh crushed garlic. I add a touch of salt, black pepper and since seasoning. A small cube of knorr works well. Then I add a touch of coriander powder, turmeric and garam masala( less than a teaspoon of each).

Then I add the juices from the minced lamb in the bowl ( not adding it all, just the juices). I allow that to cook for 5 mins then add the minced lamb and cook for a further 10 mins. Then I add some Dolmio sauce (The one with extra garlic.) Then leave to cook slowly until ready. It’s lovely! But my Italian friends wouldn’t be impressed! You have run an Indian restaurant for several years – what were some of the challenges? Less than one in five chefs are women and even less than are Asian women. Indian restaurants are so male dominated. I am working on various projects to introduce more women into the Indian restaurant industry. On my recent trip to India it was so interesting to see that India are so far ahead of England when it comes to women in the food industry. In fact, while there I won an award for The Perfect Global Chef of the Year by Perfect Woman Magazine Awards.

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DO DODGE IT JOIN US FOR A SPOT OF SPORTS RELIEF! By Gary Shackle, Sherborne Sports Centre

Sports Relief is once again upon us and what better way to get involved and give to a good cause, than by signing up for our Sports Relief Team Dodgeball Tournament. This fun event will take place on Sunday 15 March 3:00 – 6:00pm, and all you need to do is get a team of six people to sign up with us in advance and pay the £15 entry fee. Teams can be mixed, with the minimum age for children being 13 years old.

DODGEBALL INSUPPORTOFSPORTS RELIEF DODGE, DUCK, DIP, DIVEAND DODGE

15th March - 3pm - £15 6 people per team!

Every penny raised on the day will of course be donated to Sports Relief. In 2018 Sports Relief raised a staggering £38 million, with all the proceeds going to those that are vulnerable in the UK and to the world’s poorest countries. For over fifteen years Sherborne Sports Centre has been organising charity events and has raised thousands of pounds along the way, for both national and community charities. In 2020 we are supporting Sports Relief and hope to get many people involved including family, friends and work colleagues.

If you have never played Dodgeball, fear not as I will list a few rules to help you understand this very fun but simple game:

• There is no fixed dimension and area for a dodgeball game or any particular ball that has to be used.

• The minimum amount of equipment required is 5 balls.

• The game commences with the opening rush. All the dodgeballs are lined up in the centre of the court, with both teams rushing from their base line to the balls.

• The aim of the game is to eliminate players of the opposing team by hitting an op-ponent with a ball (if the ball is caught before becoming dead, that player is elimi-nated)

• A player will eliminate themselves if they run out of the court of play.

• The game is over when all of the players on one team are eliminated. If both teams still have members at the end of an allotted amount of time, the winning team will be the one with most players.

BUMP2BABY AT OXLEY SPORTS CENTRE

by Ellie Barter, Personal Trainer

It is very common for Mums to find out they’re pregnant at 5/6 weeks and stop everything be-cause they’re worried or feel they should! They stop carrying things, stop exercise, and basically put their life on hold. Unless you have any health concerns in which case you should contact a health professional, carrying on with physical activity will help in so many ways!

It’s safe to say your core gets put under a lot of pressure during pregnancy from your abdominals down to your pelvic floor muscles. Doing safe exercises to keep your core strong will benefit your balance and strength will help those contractions during labour and will then help recovery post baby.

Improving and maintaining your fitness level will prepare you for the physical challenge of labour as well as the mental health side. Pregnancy hormones can be delightful, you don’t know if you want to scream, cry or laugh, so staying active will not only make you feel better aesthetically but it releases endorphins - your happy hormones - and your mental health improves dramatically with physical activity.

Once you’ve had your little one, you’ll be enjoying all of those newborn cuddles and relaxing as much as possible. It is extremely important to let your body recover. We advise waiting until you have had the all clear from your GP at your six week check before starting physical activity. If you want to do something before six weeks I recommend starting with gentle breathing exercises. Your diaphragm has been squashed for a while so taking deep breaths in, expanding your dia-phragm and gently contracting your core by drawing in your belly button is plenty of movement to begin with.

When you’re ready to introduce exercise from six weeks I would advise having your tummy checked by a professional fitness specialist, GP or Physio, for Diastasis Recti. This is where your abdominals separate during pregnancy making room for baby. How much the abdominals sepa-rate will depend on a number of things and everyone will be very different but it is important to follow the correct exercises to help improve the gap and avoid injury. You need to take your time; recovery will be

BUMP 2 BABY Squats and Tots Core and Restore Prenatal Fit

www.oxleysc.com

different for everyone depending on your pregnancy, labour and any other health concerns that may have accrued.

You can start to rebuild muscle strength and improve the overall body by focusing on body weight resistance training. Use low impact exercises to increase the heart rate. Core exercises should be gradual and gentle. Start with little movements, inhaling and then exhaling on the effort.

Oxley Sports Centre runs a Bump2Baby programme including Squats&Tots every Monday 9.30-10.30 which is a fitness class designed for new and advanced women where little ones can come too. Core&Restore every Wednesday from 09:30- 10:30 is for newly postnatal women who would like to start introducing safe exercise concentrating on form, breathing and core strength; and Prenatal Fit every Wednesday 19:00- 20:00 is designed for all stages of pregnancy. So why not come along and try it? You can even bring your little ones too.

Mother’s Day – enter this reader competition from Bee-Yond Lavender!

Bee-Yond Lavender was started in August 2019 and is owned by Sue Adams, a fully qualified and insured practitioner who has amazing treatment rooms in rural Poyntington, creating a sense of peace and relaxation as soon as you enter.

A mature lady, who is wonderfully friendly, bubbly and knowledgeable Sue offers a complete treasure chest of treatments including restorative Indian Face and/or Indian Head massage, as well as soothing Hand & Foot massage plus a luxury facial and Reiki. Massage and Reiki are fantastic ways of ridding the body & mind of both tension and stress enabling both the mind and body to be uplifted and healed. Stress relief is so important in our fastpaced lives today.

Free mini facials and general consultations are also on offer and Sue uses both Neal’s Yard and Bskincare products. Both are natural with no chemical additives or parabens are locally made in Gillingham and Bodmin and smell & feel utterly divine.

Sue is a long-term M.E. sufferer and uses holistic treatments to help manage her energy levels and health with considerable success. Sue will be giving at talk entitled: Bee-Yond Lavender: natural selfcare followed by taster sessions at Castle Gardens Butterfly House on 7 March at 11.00 - 2.00.

Sue works on an appointment only basis and offers a loyalty scheme too. To find out more or to book an appointment, please give Sue a call on 07712 590897 or visit her website at www. beelovely.co.uk. Gift vouchers are also available. WIN ONE OF TWO PRIZES: Hand & Foot massage and Free product (approximate value £40). Indian Face massage and Free product (approximate value £40).

To enter the Bee Lovely competition, just answer the following question: In which month did Sue Adams start Bee-Yond Lavender? Please state which prize you would prefer and send answers by Monday 16 March with your name and contact details and the subject heading “Bee-Yond Lavender” competition to info@theconduitmagazine.co.uk or post it to the NEW address on p3. Good luck!

TRY US WITH A FREE 7 DAY PASS! * ANYTIME FITNESS YEOVIL

VISIT ANYTIMEFITNESS.CO.UK/YEOVIL OR CALL 01935 350247

Quedam Shopping Centre, 4-6 Frederick Place, BA20 1LD

*Ts&Cs Apply. HEALTH & WELLBEING

Bargain Hunters Corner

If an item/items are valued at more than £200 there will be a £6 charge. Wanted adverts are also charged at £6.

Oak storage coffee table, 54”long x 30”wide x 16” high (bought when new for £500) £150.00 Vintage floor standing uplighter £15.00 ono Tel: 01935 420312

“Alicia” midi 2-3 seater sofa upholstered Jacobean Flower Champagne (pale yellow). Loose covers, arm caps, extra matching cushions. Width 217cm x depth 103cm x height 82cm. Very good condition. £199.00 ono. Tel: 01935 872287. Yetminster

8 Wedgewood coffee mugs with saucers. Hathaway rose design £35.00 Tel: 01935 851211

House clearance, various items including some collectors’ items, signed pictures etc. Nothing over £10.00 per item Tel: 01935 429641

Rare coloured engraving; views of Keinton Mandeville, circa 1850 mounted and framed 18”x13” £60.00 Tel: 01963 350840

4 piece cast aluminium bistro set. A really chic white set in aluminium which is less heavy to move around than cast iron and will last for years. The table is 27” across. Could be painted if required.Photos £150.00. Vintage tin bath. A large tin bath/ planter/dog bath/ drinks cooler. 53” long 20 across 14 high. Enquire about local delivery. Photo £90.00 Tel: 01460 55105

CAN HYPNOTHERAPY HELP ME? By Niki Cassar

This is the most common question from potential clients, many of whom have tried numerous different routes to resolve their issue, with either limited or no success. In the past, Hypnotherapy has been ignored or misrepresented by the media. Add to that the false ideas created by stage and TV hypnotists, and it’s easy to see why, even now, hypnosis and hypnotherapy are grossly misunderstood. Let me see if I can enlighten some of you, and answer some frequently-asked questions. What exactly is hypnosis? Put simply, hypnosis is a deep state of focused concentration – a state of heightened suggestibility where we can bypass the small conscious mind and safely access the infinite subconscious mind, where all of our beliefs, both positive and negative, are stored. What does hypnosis feel like? Hypnosis does not feel like anything. You are just more focused and able to concentrate. Whilst in hypnosis, you remain awake and alert, and you can listen and talk just as you can in the waking state. Is hypnosis safe? Much safer than crossing the road! All hypnosis is self-hypnosis. When you work with a qualified hypnotherapist, you will never reveal any information involuntarily, as you are in control at all times. How can hypnotherapy help my issue? Imagine sorting through a very full and cluttered cupboard. You take everything out and decide what you want to throw away, before neatly putting only the things you really want to keep back into the cupboard. Now apply that to your subconscious mind that is the storage facility for everything that happened to you from the moment of conception. It contains a lot of positive experience but has also stored some negative information. With the help of an expert Hypnotherapist, you can remove all the unwanted clutter in a matter of a few weeks. The therapy requires your 100% commitment and the dedication of both you and your Hypnotherapist. By the time you complete your sessions of hypnotherapy, you will have removed all the negative thoughts, feelings and beliefs associated with your issue. Once free of the negative patterns, the energy that you’ve used to keep a lid on your uncomfortable emotions returns, and you’ll feel lighter and more confident, with increased vitality and enthusiasm, allowing you to think about your future in a much more positive way. What issues can hypnotherapy help with? Almost anything, especially if it makes you feel bad! Think of your issue as being a symptom rather than the root cause. Hypnotherapy helps you find and remove the roots of your problem so the symptom disappears. More questions or need more convincing? Why not call me on 01963 371695/07973 346747 for a free confidential chat about your personal issue. Or email me: mail@nikicassar.com Quote the Conduit for a £15 discount on your first session.

RACHEL’S RAMBLES By Rachel Mead

Windows Conservatories Doors Thermal Roofs

We’re hot on the heels of two very excited and speedy children. Today’s ramble may be on reasonably familiar turf but this afternoon we are following a GPS tracker, going off our usual path and potentially hunting down some buried pirate treasure. Aye-Aye Captain! OK so perhaps finding a buccaneer’s loot is an infantile long shot but the kids are running down the woodland track as if they are qualifying for a Commonwealth steeplechase record and their enthusiasm is infectious!

We have downloaded the Geocache App on my smartphone and I have never known these kids be quite so motivated for what is essentially a (disguised) dog walk. Potentially needing all hands on deck, we’ve also enrolled Detective Granny to assist us on our technology-led treasure trail. Oakley is loving the extra excitement, running rings around these rovers whilst happily sniffing each and every badger set as if she too knows that we are very much on the hunt for some riches.

The app is guiding us in with a metre by metre countdown and then once we are within 5 metres or so, the real fun begins. The stash could potentially be anywhere in these woods. Up a tree? Under-foot? Or perhaps hidden in the undergrowth? We have no clue! What we do know however is that this particular geocache is classified with a difficulty rating of 2/5 and is specified as ‘child friendly’. Similarly the app also identifies the type of terrain and the size of the stash, both of which suggest that the hunt should have a relatively quick-to-find reward and that my spade can thankfully be left redundant at home.

The children clamber over tree stumps, tussle with overgrown ivy and ‘walk the plank’ as they balance on fallen trees and trample back and forth along the trail. “Where is it?!“ they joyfully question. Oakley, spinning in skittish circles is buoyed up by the chase of the unknown and the unusual sight of her mistress rummaging in a rotten tree trunk. Geocaches can vary in size but are typically the size of a camera film case up to the size of an ammunition tin and can contain a notebook, pencil and sometimes a trinket for the children as a memento.

A triumphant and squealing shout of “Shiver me timbers! We’ve got it!” brings our treasure hunt to a successful close.

To find some more inspiring walks in the countryside: www. visitsouthsomerset.com / menu/inspire-me/brochures. aspx?parentNodeName=Brochures#

If you would like to recommend a ramble for Rachel then please email rachel@zestbureau.co.uk You can also see more photos from each walk on instagram: rachelsrambles

The trove was buried deeply inside a moss covered oak tree stump and is delightfully filled with small token gifts. We register our date of geocache completion and the children proudly add their names to the log book with other successful super sleuths.

Remembering to tuck the cache back into its camouflaged position, we turn tail and loop back along our track. The children are buzzing after successfully completing their challenge and are already asking to search again. The combination of using technology with a love for the outdoors provides the perfect solution to bring all generations together. Yo Ho Ho! - It’s a pirate’s life for me!

Write Your Life Story Memories and Photos preserved for Friends and Family to treasure Full memoir writing service available (01458) 223251 07969 333940 Please visit: www.mandybloom.co.uk

WANTED

Dry Stone Walling and Paving

GUNS WANTED FOR CASH SOS to all air rifles and pistols any maker or model. We collect in any area. Top prices paid in cash 07970 742471

www.westcountrywindows.com T: 0800 378 371 Visit our Show site at Stars Lane Yeovil D E S I G N E D A N D M A N U F A C T U R E D I N O U R F A C T O R Y • YEARS Huge savings to be made across all our range, low deposits and our 15 year guarantee. We are manufacturers of windows, doors, thermal roofs, conservatories, sealed units and can also supply and fi t facsias, soffi ts, guttering and garage doors. Please call West Country Windows for a free no obligation quotation. Glass and Glazing Federation

it’s nuts!

Established in 1826, Pittards is world-famous for its high quality leather and still makes it locally in Yeovil today. Visit the factory store to buy direct from a huge range that includes gloves, bags, accessories and leather for crafts.

Pittards, Sherborne Road, Yeovil, BA21 5BA Coffee shop, free car park. Mon-Fri 9.00am-5.00pm, Sat 10.00am-4.00pm Also at Clarks Village, Street