Welcome to TheYour lo
A spring in your step
I love spotting the first tentative signs of spring on my walks at this time of year. Whether it is the delicate snowdrop flowers peeping through the frost, or the first buds appearing on the trees, it is all part of nature’s message to us that brighter days are coming. In January, I spotted a robin on my dog walk, then came home to a wren hopping about on the lawn and three squirrels chasing each other around the branches of the oak tree in my garden! What a treat to see. I hope you are wrapped up warm and able to enjoy some of this display of nature’s positivity for yourself as the days start to get longer.
As always, we have lots of interesting contributions from local charities and businesses to inspire you as we move into the warmer months. I personally am enjoying being taken on a tour of the UK’s lighthouses and hope to see some of them on my trips away later this year.
WIN TICKETS TO THE REGENT COMEDY CLUB WITH GEOFF NORCOTT
THURSDAY 10 APRIL 7.30PM AT THE
REGENT, CHRISTCHURCH
Hot on the heels of his sold-out national tour and regular appearances on Have I Got News For You, The Last Leg, Mock The Week and many more, Live At The Apollo star Geoff Norcott returns to headline the Regent Comedy Club.
Joining Geoff is a fantastic supporting bill with Mock The Week and As Yet Untitled’s multiple award-winning Jonny Pelham, and the sublime Will Duggan as host.
For your chance to win a pair of tickets to the show, look for Sammy Seagull who is hiding somewhere within this month’s magazine (excluding this page).
REGENT CENTRE BOX OFFICE
01202 499199
TICKETS £19
Email the page number where he appears and your contact details to competition@themudefordmag.co.uk
Closing date is 23 March 2025
PREVIOUS WINNER: Congratulations to Chris Freeman, who won tickets to see Barry Steele’s Roy Orbison Story by correctly answering that Sammy was hidden on page vi.
All aboard! Bus travel improvements begin in Christchurch
Waiting for a bus is to be made more comfortable for Christchurch passengers
Work began on 6 January to replace the existing stops along the High Street. Two larger stainlesssteel shelters on either side of the road will include glass roofs, full-width seating including space for wheelchair users, and raised kerbs to allow easy level access on and off the bus.
The shelters will also be fitted with electronic displays to provide up-to-the-minute information on bus departures, and CCTV with high-definition footage live-streamed directly to the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council’s control room for added passenger security.
In addition to improving accessibility to the bus for wheelchair and pushchair users, existing raised brick planters will be removed
and replaced with smaller pedestal planters, so that the pavement outside Christchurch Library can be widened to provide more space for pedestrians. Additional benches will also be installed.
The improvement works have been funded as part of BCP Council’s successful bid to the government for £8.9m to deliver the conurbation’s Bus Service Improvement Plan.
Andrew Wickham, managing director at Morebus, said: “I’m pleased to see these latest improvements by BCP Council will benefit those travelling on our 1a, 1b, 1c, x1, x2, 24 and 33 buses through Christchurch.”
The works are expected to take 12 weeks to complete.
Coffee Break Time
How to solve codeword
Every letter of the alphabet has been replaced by a number.
All you have to do is decide which letter is represented by which number.
To start you off we reveal the code for 3 letters.
Solutions on page xxii
sponsored by Louis P Creative
Coffee Break Time
Fall in love with your conservatory again
-Advertiser announcement-
In the space of a decade, the conservatory roof replacement market has absolutely rocketed, as homeowners discover there is an alternative to their tired polycarbonate or glass roof. Instead of a conservatory which resembles a greenhouse in summer and an igloo in winter, homeowners have jumped at the opportunity to create a useable, year-round living space with a fully insulated, lightweight tiled roof.
VANTAGE Conservatory Roof Solutions offers the Supalite Tiled Roof System which is easy to install and provides homeowners with a desirable solid roof that fits onto their existing conservatory window frame and eliminates the dramatic changes in temperature seen in traditional conservatories. This will not only make your conservatory warm
in winter and cool in summer but gives the appearance of an extension, with a choice of tile finishes to match your existing property.
The Supalite system is available with Tapco Slate or with ExtraLight shingle tile, which is a metal roof tile finished with a hard-wearing natural stone coating. ExtraLight is fully approved by the LABC and BBA and is the only shingle tile to be tested down to 10-degrees by the Building Research Establishment (BRE), passing EN 15601.
Recent clients Keith and Anne said: “Craig and Scott from VANTAGE were very efficient, tidy and delivered on time. We could feel the difference in temperature while they were working on the project, and we are very happy with the final result.”
Rituals can change your life
By Elizabeth McPherson
A few months ago, I had a reminder that I needed to slow down or, even better still, rest
Life is so hectic these days, don’t you think? We seem to fly through life like a dose of salts, hardly even remembering what we did this morning, never mind about what we did last weekend. We have become a society focused on saving time, instead of taking our time.
Which is why I have started introducing rituals into my life. In other words, I follow a pattern, and that pattern keeps me calm. I like to call them my self-care rituals, but they feel more important somehow. A simpler version of self-care that we can do every day.
My rituals include things like shaking off my coat and bag the minute I get home, putting them away in the same place. Making myself a cup of tea, before I do anything else. No TV or radio, just peace and quiet as I process the day I have just had. You can apply these principles to any aspect of your life.
The idea of rituals was introduced to me in 2019, when I met a herbalist in Greece. He shared how, on going to bed, he set the intention of having a good night’s sleep and, better still, of having amazing dreams. It struck a chord with me.
Recently, I met with a client who told me that she had never slept well since she was a child. I asked her to apply the ritual protocol to approaching her bedtime, suggesting she stop all forms of technology at least an hour before bed, get ready
for bed well before bedtime, take a shower or a bath, make a hot water bottle and set her intention for the night: a restful night’s sleep with awesome dreams to boot.
She told me the next day that it had worked, and that she had had a great night’s sleep.
Maybe by bringing a ritual into your life, it will work wonders for you too.
With Love, Beth X
www.thelifestyleconcept.co.uk
Photo by Iulia Topan on Unsplash
Matt Dixon MATT DIXON PHOTOGRAPHY
Please welcome local photographer Matt Dixon, who has kindly offered to provide cover images for The Bulletin for the rest of the year
Hi, my name is Matt. I’m a photographer from Dorset with a keen interest in all aspects of this incredible art form — and it’s a pleasure to be providing the covers for this year’s editions of The Bulletin magazine.
My journey into the world of photography began with the arrival of our springer spaniel, Loki, almost 10 years ago. Taking a few photos of him out on walks in the New Forest and across the Dorset countryside quickly developed into an obsession as well as a business, and since then I’ve branched out into almost all areas of photography — from portraiture, to landscape, macro and astro photography, live events and even
abstract work using techniques like Intentional Camera Movement and image stacking.
I look forward to bringing you some of my work over the next 12 months, and if you would like to see more, please give me a follow on Instagram or alternatively you can check out my pet photography work on my website.
Please note all my images are available as prints — feel free to contact me via email for more information. Thanks for reading and happy 2025!
I: @mattdixonphotography
W: www.mattdixonpetphoto.com
E: mattdixon2405@hotmail.co.uk
Are you a photographer or artist in the Christchurch or Hampshire area? If you would like to showcase your work in this magazine, email editorial@themudefordmag.co.uk.
Three Days in June
by Anne Tyler, hardback
£14.99
A funny, touching, hopeful gem of a novel about love, marriage and second chances. It’s the day before her daughter’s wedding and things are not going well for Gail Baines. First thing, she loses her job – or quits, depending on who you ask. Then her ex-husband Max turns up at her door expecting to stay for the festivities. He doesn’t even have a suit. Instead, he’s brought memories, a shared sense of humour, and a cat looking for a new home. Just as Gail is wondering what’s next, their daughter Debbie discovers her groom has been keeping a secret. As the big day dawns, the exes just can’t agree on what’s best for Debbie.
Book Reviews
The Leopard in My House
by Mark Steel, hardback £22
One morning, while shaving, the comedian Mark Steel noticed that one side of his neck seemed larger than the other. After a whistlestop tour of assorted medical professionals, a consultant delivered the ominous words that would define the next months of his life: “I’m afraid it’s not good news, Mr Steel.” So began a journey into the heart of the NHS, as he embarked on the long and uncertain road to cancer recovery via a range of mildly torturous and entirely miraculous treatments. What, if anything, might he learn about himself and our capacity for coping with life when times get tough? A frank and funny diary of one man’s rather trying year, this is an unforgettable and uplifting story of getting ill, getting on with it, and getting better.
Professor Hoot’s Big Machines
hardback £12.99
Professor Hoot is investigating what big machines are used for and how they can make our lives easier, from powerful bulldozers and towering cranes to the trains and planes that criss-cross the planet. An entertaining comic strip approach to KS1 science topics, Professor Hoot’s Science Comics are accessible and full of fun. Each book is an adventure and a chance for readers to learn something new, before testing their knowledge at the end of each book in Professor Hoot’s quiz. Collect each adventure: Big Machines; Dangerous Animals; Dinosaurs; Robots and AI; Space; and Volcanoes and Earthquakes.
Why not pop into the shop to have a browse and see lots of great new titles for spring, as well as jigsaws, cards, homewares and gifts? You can also place orders for books we don’t have in stock. Contact us on 01202 418403, email sales@bh6booksandhome.co.uk or find us on social media @ bh6booksandhome to place orders and discover all that we have to offer at BH6 Books and Home, 69 Southbourne Grove, BH6 3QU.
Suet Crusted Venison Pie
By Colin Nash | Head Chef | colinnashrestaurant.co.uk
INGREDIENTS: Method:
2½ tbsp vegetable or sunflower oil
1kg venison diced into 3cm cubes
100g smoked bacon (diced)
1 medium onion (diced)
1 stick of celery (diced)
1 medium carrot (diced)
2 bay leaves
200g wild or chestnut mushrooms (quartered)
3 tbsp plain flour
150ml red wine
700ml beef stock
1 egg (beaten)
Suet pastry:
250g self-raising flour
125g beef suet
150ml cold water
½ tsp salt and pepper
Step 1 - Heat the oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Heat half the oil in a large flameproof casserole, brown the venison well in batches for 10 mins over a high heat, then set aside. Scatter the bacon into the pan with another half tbsp of oil and sizzle for 8–10 mins until golden. Stir through the onions, celery, carrot and bay leaves, drizzling with the remaining oil, and cook over a low heat for 5 mins until browned. Lower the heat to medium, then add the mushrooms and cook for a few minutes more until softened.
Step 2 - Scatter over the flour, stirring until the flour turns brown. Tip the meat and any juices back into the pan and give it all a good stir. Pour over the wine and bring to the boil. Bubble for a few minutes, then pour over the stock. Season with salt and black pepper and bring to a simmer. Cover with a lid and put in the oven for about 2 hrs until the meat is tender. Allow to cool. (This can be made two or three days prior to use.)
Step 3 - While this is cooking, you can make your suet pastry by stirring the flour, suet, water and seasoning together with a strong spoon. (Don’t use a machine as this will break up the suet needed to form lovely holes in your pastry.)
To make the pie, heat the oven to 220C/gas 7. Tip the venison filling into a 24–26cm pie dish. Roll out your suet pastry on a floured top with a rolling pin, keeping everything well-floured. You want about 10mm thickness, so quite thick. Cover the pie and tidy up by removing any surplus from the over flap.
Step 4 - Brush the pie with the egg. Make a few little slits in the centre of the pie to allow the steam to escape and bake for 30-35 mins until deep golden brown.
A few tips
In the Colin Nash Restaurant, we make individual pies in pudding moulds and steam. Once cold, we remove from the mould and bake in the oven on an oiled baking tray until golden brown, just like the picture. You can add juniper berries, thyme or other wild game to this recipe. The leftover suet pastry can be rolled into balls and used as suet dumplings for another recipe. Happy cooking!
Colin Nash Restaurant
Lyndhurst Road, Hinton, Christchurch, BH23 7EF
T: 01425 200050
W: www.colinnashrestaurant.co.uk
When does anxiety become a phobia?
As I have discussed before, the feeling of anxiety is equivalent to a feeling of fear, and appropriate fear is designed to protect us. Fear stimulates the production of stress hormones that circulate the body and trigger stress responses in the organs to prepare the body for ‘flight and flight’.
If there is imminent danger, then this response is appropriate, but with excessive anxiety it is our imaginations that are our downfall. We imagine the worst, and as thoughts trigger feelings, this worst-case scenario triggers anxiety and stress symptoms such as racing heart, wobbly tummy, muscle tension, and so on.
We have all heard the expression that if you fall off a horse, then you should get straight back on again because if you do not, then next time it will be twice as hard. Anxiety is like this if we pander to it and avoid the situation that makes us anxious.
Our brains learn that in the short term, avoidance makes us feel better. The problem is we never teach our brain that non-avoidance is not so bad either and that anxiety levels will always eventually fall with prolonged exposure (around 30 to 60 minutes) to the feared object or situation. The result of short-term avoidance is that the threshold of initiating the avoidance tactic lowers and thus our tolerance to the feared situation lowers. Our safe world becomes in danger of getting smaller and smaller. With our anxieties growing, they permeate our lives causing distress and limiting our choices.
Can we do anything about phobias?
Phobias are when a person has an exaggerated or unrealistic sense of anxiety about a situation, object, place or animal. The good news is that if the phobia is causing you distress and stopping you from living a fulfilling life, then psychological behavioural treatment is available to you.
The logic behind this is to challenge those beliefs and thoughts that create the anxious feelings. For example, why does seeing a spider make you anxious? Is this logical? Can a spider hurt you if you do not touch it? If you can replace your illogical, unhelpful thoughts with more logical, helpful ones and at the same time learn techniques such as controlled breathing to reduce your exaggerated anxiety symptoms, then you can begin graded exposure experiments to gradually expose yourself to the feared spider without feelings of uncontrollable anxiety.
This may sound simple but requires work with frequent repeated and prolonged exposures and takes time to achieve. Trained counsellors can assist you to overcome phobias using these techniques or others such as hypnotherapy.
Dr Armorel Wood MBACP, accred MNCS Professional Counsellor 077665915211 |woodarmorel@gmail.com www.mapletreetherapy.org.uk
Christchurch’s last Prior and a tale of hidden treasure
By Julie Ratcliffe, Christchurch History Society
When Henry VIII fell out with Rome, he ordered the dissolution of the catholic monasteries.
On 28 November 1539, the Priory of the Holy Trinity, Twynham was surrendered to Henry’s commissioners. Unlike many such buildings, and thanks to the efforts of the last Prior, John Draper II, the church was given to the parish. There’s a legend that not only the church was saved, but also that some of the Priory’s treasures were secreted away from Henry’s commissioners. The monasteries were very wealthy, and the commissioners’ job was to make inventories. This included details of any revenue, pensions and valuables held by the church. These valuables were confiscated for the Crown. It is recorded that goods and ornaments belonging to the Priory were sold to the value of £177-0s-10d (worth around £74,500 today) and a large amount of gold plate, silver gilt and silver plate went to the king.
The buildings adjacent to the church were demolished and John Draper was given a sizable pension and a substantial home at Somerford Grange. Would he have risked losing these, and incurring the wrath of King Henry VIII, by hiding treasure?
Talks:
Held at Clarendon Road Junior School, BH23 2AA, 7pm–10pm
4 March 2025: The English Civil War – Local People and Places by Neil McLocklin
1 April 2025: When Dorset Made History by Steve Roberts
Before the Dissolution, the church would have been adorned with gold and silver ornaments. That some of these valuables were held back and hidden within the church is a story that has been passed down through the generations. The Priory’s incumbents were interrogated by the commissioners. It is likely that if anyone had any suspicions of the deceit, they would have stayed silent as it was an offence for anyone to be found with such items.
Prior Draper died in 1552 and was buried in the Priory. Would a clue to the whereabouts of the treasure have been buried with him? An intriguing epitaph on the grave of Christchurch benefactor, Robert White, said: “In names a hidden treasure oft doth lye, Presaging to the owner appinesse.”
In February 1811, during alteration work, John Draper’s tombstone was discovered. Witnessed by the church wardens, the slab was lifted and the grave opened. Alas, there was neither treasure, nor a clue to its whereabouts; just the Prior, a chalice and a crozier.
Since then, Prior Draper has been left to rest in peace. You can see his tombstone outside the chantry that is named after him at the east end of the South Quire Aisle. But the possibility and whereabouts of any treasure remains an intrigue.
Given the Priory’s cathedral stature and the huge cost of its operation and maintenance, finding any treasure would come in very handy indeed! However, maybe the true treasure left behind in 1539 was the beautiful church itself.
Love history? Why not join us? Visit www.historychristchurch.org.uk
Christchurch Priory’s South Quire Aisle and Draper chantry.
Photo by Julie Ratcliffe
Thailand:
the land of smiles
Thailand is a land of contrasts. Glittering temples stand beside vibrant markets and white sand beaches meet lush green jungles. Its reputation as ‘The Land of Smiles’ is well-earned with warm, welcoming locals. From the bustling streets of Bangkok to serene moments in villages untouched by time, Thailand’s charm has captivated travellers for decades.
Thailand’s capital city, Bangkok, has a vibrant nightlife and bustling street markets. There is a unique blend of modernity and tradition. I would recommend exploring ancient temples such as Wat Phra Kaew and Wat Arun and visiting the famous floating market where vendors sell goods from their boats. I can arrange private tours or shared tours with an English-speaking guide. If you are only spending a few nights in Bangkok, it’s best to have a mixture of pre-booked tours and free time.
The northern region of Chiang Mai and the ‘Golden Triangle’ offer lush mountains and rich cultural heritage where you can trek through the jungle, visit hill tribe villages and learn about traditional crafts such as silk weaving.
For those looking to relax and rejuvenate, Thailand is home to some of the most worldrenowned spas and wellness retreats offering
Sally Pullen
Enjoy the laid-back vibe of Koh Lipe
Traditional longboats
traditional massages and treatments. After a day of exploring, there’s nothing better than indulging in a traditional Thai massage. Combining acupressure, yoga stretches, and deep tissue massage, it is a rejuvenating experience that leaves you feeling refreshed. I would suggest spending three to four nights in Chiang Mai.
Thailand’s beaches and islands offer tranquil paradise. Beyond the most popular and wellknown island destinations like Phuket and Koh Samui, you’ll find Krabi’s dramatic limestone cliffs and crystal-clear waters — perfect for snorkelling or diving.
For those seeking a quieter escape surrounded by nature, consider Koh Lanta or Koh Lipe, which have a more laid-back vibe and are perfect for beach lovers with white sand beaches and calm turquoise waters. Koh Tao has some of the best diving in Thailand.
Thailand is also renowned for its hospitality and vibrant cuisine. From Michelin-starred fine dining and rooftop sky bars to spicy curries and fresh seafood dishes, the food in Thailand is full of flavour and variety. With street food at bustling night markets, there is no shortage of unforgettable culinary experiences.
Suggested itinerary:
• Stay at Capella Bangkok, an urban oasis that puts Thailand’s majestic Chao Phraya River centre stage and is just a 10-minute walk from the city’s Old Town. All rooms come with a balcony, and riverfront rooms have a private plunge pool.
• In Chiang Mai, live in balance with nature at Raya Heritage, a boutique and contemporary retreat on the Ping River.
• Round off your trip at Rayavadee in Krabi. Villas set amongst tropical gardens offer total privacy, and you can dine at the atmospheric Grotto, one of Thailand’s most famed restaurants, hidden underneath an ancient limestone cliff by the sea. Best yet are the beaches, including Railay, which is regarded as one of Thailand’s finest, with limestone karsts and calm, clear waters.
Contact me to plan your Thailand holiday or for help with any travel plans.
SALLY PULLEN TRAVEL COUNSELLOR
T 01202 375150
M 07929626156
E sally.pullen@travelcounsellors.com
W www.travelcounsellors.com/sally.pullen
Thailand features many stunning temples
A giant ‘yaksha’ statue stands on guard outside a temple
Evergreen plants forever
By Colin Knapman
Evergreen shrubs may initially appear to be just mundane background plants with mostly insignificant flowers and used to fill large spaces in your garden, but they can be quite spectacular as they add shape, texture and structure all year round.
Their interest lies in the variety of leaf shapes which can be as large as your hand or small like your fingernail, as well as every shade of green and variegation imaginable.
Evergreens for year-round interest
Evergreen plants normally require very little maintenance apart from an annual pruning to keep them the size and shape you wish to achieve. They can be supplemented with colour throughout the seasons with everything from spring bulbs, summer flowering perennials through to autumn grasses.
A few of the favourites are Fatsia japonica, Mahonia Soft Caress, Skimmia, Pittosporum Golf Ball and variegated hollies.
For further advice on your garden space just give me a call.
Contact Colin Knapman by phone or text: 07925 166767
Evergreen plants add shape, texture and structure, with little maintenance
South Foreland Lighthouse
By Keith Morton | Association of Lighthouse Keepers | alkhurst@gmail.com
Continuing just 15 miles further south on our tour of lighthouses in England and Wales, we soon arrive at South Foreland Lighthouse which is, in fact, a pair of lighthouses. If a mariner positioned his vessel so that he saw the two lights one above the other, then he was on a projected line direct to the notorious Goodwin Sands. A light had been displayed at this location since the 1630s, but it was not until 1635 that the first significant light was built by Sir John Meldrum. In 1730, William Knott began a period of service as a lighthouse keeper at the lower lighthouse. Over the next 175 years, five generations of the Knott family served as lighthouse keepers at South Foreland, making them probably the longest dynasty of keepers anywhere in the world. In 1793, the braziers on both lights were replaced with an oil lamp and parabolic reflectors; to achieve this the lower light was converted into a two-story building and the upper light into a three-story building. 1832 saw Trinity House purchase the lease for both lights from the Greenwich Hospital.
Argand lamps and associated reflectors. At the same time, new accommodation alongside each lighthouse for the keepers was also provided.
The 1850s saw Michael Faraday, who was the scientific advisor to Trinity House, exploring the feasibility of using electricity in lighthouses and he proposed several different solutions. 1857 saw Frederick Hale Holmes demonstrating his magneto-electric apparatus and suggesting that it could be used with carbon arc lamps. A trial was conducted at South Foreland Lighthouse in 1858, making it the first lighthouse to be lit with electricity. On completion of the trial, Holmes’s equipment was moved to Dungeness Lighthouse on a more permanent basis.
Souter Lighthouse on the north-east coast, which was built in 1871, was the first lighthouse to be designed specifically for electric operation. The following year, South Foreland received its own permanent electric installation. As power was required by both lights, a power station was built mid-way between the two.
In 1865, John Tyndall succeeded Michael Faraday and was then engaged to conduct experiments with different types of fog signals at South Foreland. Sirens were then installed at some 22 shore stations and on around 16 lightships. Over the subsequent years, many more experiments were conducted at South Foreland Lighthouse but with automation, and now GPS for mariners to use for navigation, the lighthouse was decommissioned in September 1988. It was then taken over by the National Trust and can be visited but there is no vehicle access, so visitors need to park in Dover and walk two miles over the cliffs overlooking the Channel and Dover port.
South Foreland Lighthouse in Kent was the first lighthouse ever to be lit with electricity
Health benefits of getting out in nature
By Tom (CHOG)
The health benefits of getting outside and enjoying your local area and wildlife are well known, and LiveWell Dorset’s ‘Healthy by Nature’ online article acknowledges that studies have shown exercising outdoors is more beneficial than the gym. Engaging yourself in the natural environment can help you be physically active, reduce your blood pressure, boost your mood and increase your vitamin D levels.
So make sure you get outside, as and when you can, to enjoy the Christchurch Harbour area. While you are out, you may even spot some of the local wildlife, such as the Common Seal pictured below that has been seen around the Mudeford Quay area.
Further afield, there are currently some large-scale nature recovery projects in progress across Dorset and the nearby area.
In November 2024, members of Christchurch Harbour Ornithological Group, known as CHOG, attended the Dorset Bird Club and BTO (British Trust for Ornithology) Conference to hear more about them. Speakers gave insights into the progress so far with biodiversity increases at Wild Woodbury, landscape recovery along the River Allen and the successes in restoring species to our skies, including Ospreys and White-tailed Eagles in Poole Harbour and on the Isle of Wight. During the presentations, the benefits to our health and wellbeing from the projects were highlighted, as well as the gains for nature.
For more information about nature-based events that you can join, such as health walks or volunteering opportunities, please visit www.livewelldorset.co.uk/articles/healthy -by-nature.
As we approach spring, the sound of birdsong fills the air and migrant birds start to land on our shores. The first birds to arrive from the continent are usually Sand Martins, which can arrive towards the end of February, with Wheatears following on shortly after in early March. From mid-March onwards, warblers start to arrive and the numbers and variety of birds build to the peak of migration in April and May. For a wellbeing boost and the experience of migration in action, an early morning walk around Hengistbury Head and Wick Fields is definitely recommended at this time of year.
CHOG is an independent organisation and registered charity, which is dedicated to recording, promoting and conserving the wildlife of the Christchurch Harbour area. To find out more about CHOG, please scan the QR Code or visit www.chog.org.uk for the latest daily sightings, photographic archive (including photos of the species mentioned above) and details of spring migrants as they arrive.
Common Seal photograph by Scott Usher
Puzzle solutions
We are more than just food
Introducing our new regular contributor: Christchurch Food Bank+
By Tracy Blick, CFB+ projects manager
Christchurch Food Bank+ (CFB+) is an independent foodbank that relies fully on donations of both stock and financial support from the community, local businesses, trusts and donors. We are partners with Faithworks Wessex under their charity umbrella, and we have 2.5 staff members and 61 amazing volunteers.
At CFB+, we want to walk with our visitors on their journey out of crisis. Whatever brings them to the food bank, we want to help them feel equipped and empowered to ‘do life’ when they no longer need us. Everyone who comes to us has been referred through social services, housing, schools, doctors, adult services, children and family centres, and more – we work with 82 referrers across our community serving local individuals and families.
How do we help? As well as being a food bank, the + in our name refers to our other projects. For instance, we have in-house CMA debt advisors and budget coaches to help clients with money issues. We also have a home equip/furniture bank project which provides cookers, fridge freezers, beds, sofas, all furniture, bedding, bathroom and kitchen packs, even towels, cups and kettles – basically, everything you need to make a home!
This project is invaluable to those fleeing domestic abuse, leaving temporary accommodation, being housed after homelessness or just needing a replacement cooker or bed because theirs has broken and their funds are limited.
We have a community supper each week, where 60–80 people sit together and enjoy a hot meal and pudding with the company of others. After lockdown, this was a lifeline to so many, combatting isolation and helping to feel part of a community with others.
We also have cookery workshops, teaching people to cook, shop and eat healthy food on a budget. In the school holidays, we run parent and child cookery classes.
There is a hardship fund available, which enables us to provide an ‘extra’ help, such as putting electricity or gas onto a family’s meter, paying for petrol to get to work, bus fees for school or hospital, or clothes for someone coming out of hospital.
And we have a homeless assist project, working with our rough sleepers and sofa surfers and helping them with housing applications, job interviews, clothes, sleeping bags, meals and support.
If you are still reading, thank you. That’s a lot about us as an introduction, and we look forward to sharing good news, stories, testimonies and updates with you in future editions. Come and visit us to see what we do, visit our Facebook page or have a look at our website: faith-works.org/christchurch.
To learn more about how you can help us help those in our community, email: tracy. blick@christchurchfb.faith-works.org.uk.
Combatting isolation through community suppers
CFB+ Projects Manager Tracy Blick, left and CFB Deputy Manager Sarah Lyon
Charity of the Year
Dorset Cancer Care Foundation: helping families facing hardship
By Jannine Loveys, fundraising manager at DCCF
Huge thanks go to Pulford Publicity for taking the Dorset Cancer Care Foundation (DCCF) as its partner charity of the year for 2025 and enabling us to highlight our work on behalf of many local families living with a cancer diagnosis.
We are a local charity which steps in to help financially when families are facing extreme hardship because of cancer. To date, we have given over £750,000 in non-repayable grants to local families to meet costs such as accommodation, replacement household appliances, transport to and from hospital, and childcare.
We can only do what we do with support, and our fantastic volunteers, donors, and fundraisers have amazed us in 2024 with their commitment, originality, stamina and even bravery. All of these people have given up their time to help raise money for other local families who are struggling.
People such as 80-year-old Gordon Lewis who, along with Denise Rogerson, Fiona Wager, Gemma and Craig Hamblin and Paul Du Lieu, launched themselves out of a plane for the DCCF in October, raising £6,000 in the process.
Mayor of Bournemouth
Cllr George Farquhar also fundraised for us in 2024, completing his first ever Run Bournemouth half marathon in October. The mayor completed the course, his longest run ever, in well under two hours and has signed up to do it all again in 2025. The DCCF pays the registration fees of all its Run Bournemouth competitors. So please get in touch if you or your children would like to run on our behalf this year.
Attending our fun events is also a great way to support the DCCF. We hold coffee mornings, curry evenings, bingo nights, a kart racing event, quizzes and even an annual glitzy gala – which will take place at the Hilton Bournemouth on Saturday 13 September 2025. Any effort, big or small, as an individual or as a group of friends, will help the DCCF make a difference to Dorset families living with the added pressure of financial stress on top of a cancer diagnosis.
We look forward to bringing you news of our work and events throughout 2025 and hopefully welcoming you to our wonderful local charity.
Visit our website at www.dccf.co.uk to find out about our local events, or how to apply for a grant.
Mayor of Bournemouth Cllr George Farquhar ran a half marathon to raise funds for the charity
80-year-old Gordon Lewis skydived in aid of DCCF in October 2024
RNLI Mudeford Fundraising Crew Newsletter
New lifeboat for Mudeford RNLI
On 4 December, the Mudeford RNLI volunteer crew marked the end of an era and the beginning of a new one as they said goodbye to their much-loved lifeboat, ‘Mudeford Servant’, and welcomed their brand new Atlantic 85, ‘Henrietta H’, into service.
Mudeford RNLI volunteer helm, Ian Parker, said: “Our Atlantic 85 lifeboat Mudeford Servant has helped us to save many lives over the past 18 years while keeping our crew safe in some severe conditions.
“It was sad to see her go, but we have received a fantastic new boat to carry on saving lives at sea.”
The new lifeboat, Henrietta H, was funded by the generosity of Dorothy Ann Hunter of Portsmouth, who passed away in April 2016 and bequeathed her entire residuary estate to the RNLI. An official naming ceremony for the new lifeboat will be held at Mudeford Lifeboat Station later in 2025.
Kevin Dingley 50 years’ Volunteer Service to the RNLI
Mudeford RNLI’s longest serving volunteer, Kevin Dingley, joined the Mudeford Lifeboat Station in 1974 at the age of 16, helping out around the lifeboat station. Kevin said that in those days the crew was mostly made up of local fishermen who worked in the area, the lifeboat was kept in a hexagonal wooden hut, and the gear was a few oilskins hanging up in the hut and some wellington boots. The boat had only one engine, a spare prop, a radio, a first aid kit and a compass, and you knelt in the boat!
In 2002, Kevin stepped down from the crew but stayed closely involved with the station and with the RNLI. In 2004, he became treasurer for the station and the Fundraising Crew who raise donations for the station. More recently, Kevin took on a new role in the RNLI, giving tours of the Poole RNLI College and factory.
Join us
For more information on our events or monthly meetings, or to get involved with our Fundraising Crew, please contact Adele at: adele.orr.63@gmail.com. We are always pleased to welcome new volunteers for our fundraising team.
Henrietta H comes home to RNLI Mudeford © Des Stevens
RNLI Mudeford Fundraising Crew Vice-Chair Robin Pellatt, centre, and Chair Adele Orr recognised and thanked Kevin Dingley for his 50 years of service © Hazel Stubbs
Short Story
My first home
by Marilyn Evangelou
I’ve spent 215 days in foster care and today is the day I get to meet my new family, I cannot wait. I don’t remember my real mum; I heard that she abandoned me, and these guys took me in. They’ve taken really good care of me, but I don’t want to be here forever; I want a real family.
My new mummy had long brown hair, she was tall and had a beautiful smile. She gave me the biggest hug when she met me for the first time. I like her. Dad had glasses and a beard; it tickled my cheeks when he hugged me. I like him.
It was time to go to my new home.
Mummy sat with me in the backseat and rolled the window down to let the cool air in. She told me about my new sisters waiting for me and how excited they were to meet me. Neither of them looked like mummy; they had light blonde hair like daddy, they were tall. They’re six and eight years old.
Mummy and daddy worked on lunch and my new siblings showed me around the house. It’s a big house, fancy too. The stairs were huge, but they helped me. They showed me our rooms and the many toys to play with. They were talking and walking fast, I couldn’t keep up, but they always waited for me. I have little legs.
The garden was beautiful and green; the swimming pool was gigantic. My sisters ran around the garden, calling me to follow, their smiley faces and open arms made my heart want to leap with joy. We ran around on the soft grass and smelt the sunflowers mummy had planted.
I wanted to ask so many questions, but my new siblings were talking so much about
all the wonderful things we’d do together, I couldn’t get a word in. It doesn’t matter, because I have a family now, people that love me, I can get used to this.
We were called inside for lunch and the girls ran ahead. I reached the backdoor and saw them all sitting at the table. My new mummy was dishing food out for us, it smelt heavenly. I walked in and watched them eat, I got to the empty chair that waited for me and sat down. I didn’t have a plate. My new family chatted together and ate. Should I ask for food? Must I wait to be served? Or do I help myself?
I felt awkward. I didn’t know what to do. It’s like they didn’t know I was there. I politely asked for food, and they all looked at me at the same time. The look on their faces were different because the smiles were gone. Did I do something wrong? Mummy grabbed some food and chucked it on the floor in the corner, lifted me up from my chair to the floor. “You can eat off the floor,” she told me and went back to her seat.
Is this supposed to happen? I ate quietly and tried sitting with them again, but they were finished. Something strange is happening and I don’t like it. Maybe tomorrow will be better.
Tomorrow wasn’t better. I got shouted at a few times and I don’t know why. They didn’t include me in any meals, I didn’t sleep in the same room as my sisters, my bed was downstairs, and I didn’t have any toys of my own. The worst was being left at home alone all day and I was scared.
I heard the agency say that if there were any problems to call them, so I decided to
call. I remember seeing mummy use a phone once. I’ve never used one before. I can’t do it, how do you use this silly thing? I spent all afternoon trying to work it out, nothing. My world fell apart. I was all alone. I cried. I hated watching mum throw food on the floor while everyone else ate together. So, I stopped eating. She gave me something different to eat, I refused. She sat down next to me and encouraged me to eat and I walked away.
The next day, the family came home early, I was happy to see them. Mum was cooking while dad watched some TV and the girls came to tell me about their day. They have interesting days. It was time for lunch, they all sat down to eat. I left; I decided I wasn’t going to watch.
Mum called me. I walked slowly back, and my eyes lit up when I saw my name on a bowl, placed on a little pink carpet, right next to mummy’s chair with a cushion beside it.
She called me to come and eat, I ran towards her and licked her face to show my gratitude. she told me she loved me and placed me down on my little chair to eat. The food was so good; I was starving. Mummy had bought me a bigger bed too, and another bed that went next to the couch so I can watch TV with them.
I even had new toys! The best was a stuffed animal that I sleep with every night; it was a Pomeranian dog, it looked like me.
I guess they love me after all.
LIVE ON STAGE
P*SSED UP PANTO: SLEEPING BEAUTY | Fri 7 & Sat 8 Mar: 19:30
After multiple sell-out shows, the hit adult-only panto is back in Christchurch for two days only!
HARI BUDHA MAGAR: NO LEGS, NO LIMITS | Thu 13 Mar: 19:30
From injured veteran to the world’s first double above-knee amputee to summit Mount Everest, Hari shares his inspiring journey live on stage.
BIG GIRLS DON’T CRY | Fri 14 Mar: 19:30
The internationally acclaimed tribute to Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons.
NORTHERN LIVE | Sat 15 Mar: 19:30
Keeping the Faith to the original sounds of the underground movement that started on the dance floors in the North and eventually swept the nation.
DEFYING GRAVITY: WEST END WOMEN | Fri 21 Mar: 19:30
A jaw-dropping celebration of women who have made their mark on the West End Stage.
BUDDY HOLLY AND THE CRICKETERS | Sat 22 Mar: 19:30
All Holly’s hits and other rock ’n’ roll classics are played live on stage by these five amazing actormusicians.
A TRIBUTE TO THE CARPENTERS | Fri 28 Mar: 19:30
Join us for one very special night, on top of the world, to create a dream come true, celebrating the legendary music of the Carpenters.
EVENT CINEMA
(Standard cinema showings published weekly)
A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN THE MUSICAL | Sun 16 Mar: 19:30
This multi-award-winning show captured recently at the Sadler’s Wells Peacock Theatre is an extraordinary musical journey paying homage to Janis Joplin and her biggest musical influences.
NT LIVE: DR. STRANGELOVE (15) | Thu 27 Mar: 19:00
Seven-time BAFTA Award-winner Steve Coogan (Alan Partridge, The Trip) plays four roles in the world premiere stage adaptation of Stanley Kubrick’s comedy masterpiece Dr. Strangelove.
BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL LIVE (15) | Sun 30 Mar: 14:00 | Wed 2 Apr: 19:30
Having won the hearts of millions since it opened in London’s West End in 2005, this funny, uplifting and spectacular theatrical experience returns to cinemas.
To see our upcoming film titles, please visit our website www.theregent.co.uk or pick up a film list in-person on your next visit.
All information is correct at the time of publication. Please see our website for the latest information www.theregent.co.uk
Christchurch Chamber gives Christmas gift to local food bank
Christchurch Food Bank+ received a big donation from the region’s Chamber of Trade & Commerce in December.
Members of Christchurch & District Chamber of Trade & Commerce showed their generosity by creating dozens of reverse advent calendars – boxes containing 24 gifts of food and other items for families in need. The Chamber provided more than 33 reverse advent calendars.
As well as the boxes, the Chamber donated £525 to the food bank, which was raised from the Chamber’s Christmas party. Chamber Vice President Richard Oswald and Chamber Secretary Sue Harmon-Smith delivered the first batch of calendars and the cheque to Tracy Blick and Sarah Lyon, the manager and deputy manager of the food bank.
Blick said: “Christmas is just another day for families in crisis, but we are delighted to be able to provide so many reverse advent calendar boxes in these tough times.
“Many of those finding life so hard at the moment are in employment, with the cost of living rising too fast for them to keep up. We so appreciate the extra help from organisations like the Chamber, who have kindly been very generous.”
For more information about the food bank, visit faith-works.org.uk/christchurch.
L-R: Sarah Lyon, Tracy Blick, Sue Harmon-Smith and Richard Oswald
Discover Homefield Grange Care Home
-Advertisement feature-
At Homefield Grange, we make sure every day brings something special. Whether you enjoy afternoon tea with family, getting creative with arts and crafts or relaxing with a book, there’s something for everyone.
Homefield Grange is a purpose-built
luxury care home in the desirable location of Christchurch offering residential, nursing and dementia care. Designed with residents’ happiness as the guiding principle, we pride ourselves on a home filled with comfort and a touch of luxury, with care that comes from a genuine interest in people.
With 64 bedrooms over two floors, all with beautifully appointed en suite wet rooms, and facilities including stunning gardens, a cinema, and bistro, there is always space to relax.
There is always lots happening at Homefield Grange Care Home, such as our weekly Knit and Natter event – everyone’s welcome, just bring your own wool and we’ll provide you with complimentary refreshments and great company!
For further information about life at Homefield Grange, please call Becci Woolard on rwoolard@caringhomes.org, or visit www.caringhomes.org/homefield-grange.
New bin service coming to the New Forest
Readers from areas within New Forest District Council (NFDC), such as Bransgore and Burley, should keep an eye on their mail to see when they will be getting new wheelie bins from the council.
In January, NFDC announced plans to roll out a new household waste collection service starting this summer.
Households within the district will receive a black-lidded 180-litre wheelie bin for rubbish, a green-lidded 240-litre recycling bin, and an outdoor and indoor caddy for the new food waste collection service.
When the new service begins, general waste will be collected one week, and recycling collected the next.
Food waste will be collected every week. To get people started, the council is providing one roll of caddy liners.
Glass collections will continue to be made every four weeks using the black glass collection box.
The new service will be introduced in three phases across three different areas. Phase one of the rollout will begin from June 2025, phase two will start in October 2025, and phase three in March 2026.
Residents will receive a letter and leaflet in the post to confirm when their new service will begin, or they can check online using a postcode checker on the council’s website.
Cllr Geoffrey Blunden, portfolio holder for environment and sustainability, said: “Our new waste collection service will mean that we can recycle even more, separate food waste, and reduce what’s thrown away.
“It’s an exciting step towards a more sustainable future for our district.”
To find out more, visit newforest.gov.uk/ WasteChanges.
The New Forest Airfields Heritage Centre
Sitting on the outskirts of Bransgore is a Heritage Centre that remarkably few residents actually know exists. The New Forest Airfields Heritage Centre, which is run by volunteers from the Friends of the New Forest Airfields (FONFA) charity, moved to the building in Mosquito Way and opened to the public on 29 May 2016. It contains aircraft artefacts, models, dioramas, individual pilots’ stories, interactive displays of each airfield, the aircraft and the units that operated from them, and CGI material. In the upstairs gallery there are many limited-edition prints depicting the aircraft that flew here. There is also Mee Mee’s Kitchen serving teas, coffee and refreshments. The building was originally the generator house for RAF Sopley camp. After the Battle of Britain, a new radar system, called Ground Controlled Interception (GCI) was developed. The first operational unit was built in Christchurch and delivered to a field in Sopley on Christmas Day 1940. It quickly became operational using the callsign ‘Starlight’. During the war, it was constantly upgraded until it finally became a permanent station with a concrete and brick operations block. Much of the ground-breaking work done at Purbeck Radar in Swanage and at Christchurch was
put into operation at Sopley. This evolved into what we now know as air traffic control.
RAF Sopley was visited by many VIPs during the war, including King George VI who, having visited night fighter squadrons at RAF Middle Wallop, then travelled to Starlight to see the night fighter/GCI operation that night. RAF Sopley continued in use post-war as a GCI, fighter interception and air traffic control radar unit until 1974. In the late 1970s, the camp was used to house many of the ‘Vietnamese boat people’ who came to England.
FONFA has a mission to inform and educate the residents and visitors to the New Forest about the local aviation heritage and the 12 airfields. It offers outreach visits to schools and groups, and is responsible for the memorial in Black Lane which remembers both civilians and military, who participated in their activities.
More information, including opening times for the Heritage Centre, can be found on the FONFA web site at fonfa.co.uk.
NEW FOR 2025
The Centre will be opening EVERY SUNDAY between April and October, so please do visit (especially if you are also interested in volunteering).
Highcliffe festival organiser steps down after 10 years
The founder of the popular Highcliffe Food and Arts Festival, Mary Reader, has officially stepped down from her role as director.
The annual festival, which features street food, cookery demonstrations, arts and crafts and market stalls, will celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2025.
Reader has organised the festival, which takes over Highcliffe’s high street and recreation ground, for the past 10 years. Prior to this, she organised the Christchurch Food and Wine Festival from 2006.
Reader’s decision to step down as the festival’s director was announced on Monday 9 December. The message from the festival team highlighted how Reader’s “vision and dedication have shaped the festival into the vibrant event we all love, encouraging community spirit and supporting local businesses every step of the way.”
The festival’s chair, Tina Jaffray, said: “Mary is passionate about the village and supporting the local businesses in it. She is a trailblazer, an example of what can be achieved by volunteering. I am constantly amazed by her stamina and her ability to juggle her many commitments.
“I am so very grateful to Mary for her guidance and support when I became chair of the festival in 2024. The committee and I are delighted that Mary will continue to source all the talented chefs for the festival’s cookery theatre.”
A social media post led to an outpour of comments from residents sharing their appreciation for Reader’s years of hard work. Sally Winter Etchings said: “Not only an inspirational local champion but
a wonderfully supportive friend. Deserves every tribute going, well done dear Mary.”
The next Highcliffe Food and Arts Festival will be held on 14 and 15 June, 2025.
Mary Reader at the Highcliffe Food and Arts Festival in 2024, with a STARS trauma teddy
Princess Anne welcomed as chancellor of new university
Health Sciences University, formerly AECC University College, in Bournemouth celebrated its official launch on Thursday 31 October. The momentous occasion was marked by the installation of Her Royal Highness (HRH) The Princess Royal as the university’s inaugural chancellor.
Following the installation ceremony at Corpus Christi Church in Boscombe, Princess Anne visited the Health Sciences University’s Bournemouth campus and spent time meeting students, staff, patients and healthcare professionals.
To commemorate the occasion, The Princess Royal unveiled a specially commissioned plaque.
The vice-chancellor of Health Sciences University, Professor Lesley Haig, said: “It is a tremendous honour to celebrate the official launch of Health Sciences University with the installation of HRH The Princess Royal as chancellor. Today marks the beginning of a new chapter in our rich history of training and inspiring healthcare professionals.
“Our ambition is clear: to meet the evolving needs of the healthcare sector, equipping the next
generation of health professionals with cuttingedge knowledge, practical skills and compassionate care. Our vision is to establish Health Sciences University as a highly valued institution within the health and care sector, a trusted partner, and a cornerstone in the communities we serve, both locally and beyond.”
Monika Barnes, the university’s chair of the Board of Governors, said: “Today is a landmark in our university’s journey as we proudly embrace our new identity as Health Sciences University. This title is more than just a name; it represents our steadfast dedication to advancing healthcare, education and research. We have the distinction of being the only named health sciences university in the UK and with this comes a renewed sense of purpose and possibility.
“We are truly delighted and honoured that HRH The Princess Royal has chosen to join us in this role, and we look forward to the future with optimism and confidence in what we can achieve together.”
For information on Health Science University, visit www.hsu.ac.uk.
Professor Lesley Haig, HRH The Princess Royal, and Independent Governor Monika Barnes
