Dorset View November 2024

Dear Readers!

What’s the bravest thing you’ve ever done?

I’ve done things that might frighten other people: I’ve performed on stage, spoken on the radio, and write for a living. I’ve quit jobs with no alternative plan, to escape a toxic workplace.

These took courage but I wouldn’t consider them acts of bravery. That’s why I’m very much in awe of my colleague at Dorset View, Louis Pulford, who completed a skydive in September to raise money for our charity of the year, Lewis-Manning Hospice Care. I can’t imagine jumping out of a plane with only a bit of cloth to get you to the ground safely. So hats off to Louis, and thank you to any readers who donated to his fundraising appeal. You can read more about his achievement on page 24.

Speaking of acts of bravery, November is the month of Remembrance, where the country honours those members of the armed forces who died in the line of duty. Remembrance will be celebrated throughout Dorset – we have compiled a list of some of the events you can attend on page 36.

Please enjoy this bumper 56-page issue of Dorset View – my first extra-sized issue since becoming editor in June. Until next month, take care.

Luke Graham

Editor

The Editor reserves the right to amend or shorten contributions in order to fit in with the editorial policy and style of the magazine

DORSET VIEW

Ben Pulford managing director ben@dorsetview.co.uk

Louis Pulford creative director louis@brightboxdesigns.co.uk

Janine Pulford director janine@dorsetview.co.uk

Nick Pulford company secretary accounts@pulfordpublicity.co.uk

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Rebecca Smith proofreader rebecca@dorsetview.co.uk

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Dorset daredevils raise £23k for charity

Over two dozen brave souls took part in a charity skydive on behalf of Lewis-Manning Hospice Care in September, raising over £23,000 for the charity.

Among the daredevils was Dorset Chamber Chief Executive Ian Girling, who faced his fear of heights by tackling the 10,000ft jump and

raised £4,231. Dorset View’s Creative Director Louis Pulford also took on the challenge and raised over £800. Congratulations to everyone who took part.

To read more about the skydive, turn to page 23. To read Louis’s account of his skydive, turn to page 24.

Ferndown Town Council opposes winter fuel cut

Ferndown Town Council voted to send a letter to the government urging it to delay changes to the winter fuel allowance at its council meeting on Wednesday 9 October.

In August, the Labour government announced the universal benefit paid to pensioners each winter would be restricted only to those receiving state benefits.

Cllr Philip Leach proposed the motion, highlighting issues with the policy, such as how the government did not carry out an impact assessment into how cutting the allowance would affect illness and death rates among the elderly. He also pointed out that it would disproportionally affect Ferndown residents.

Cllr Leach of Links South Ward said: “Four in 10 households in our town are occupied exclusively by pensioners, double the national average. Many are only ‘just managing’ but are not eligible for means-tested benefits and will struggle this winter in the face of rising energy costs.

“I worry for the health and wellbeing of those who are going to struggle to keep warm this winter – this is the wrong policy at the wrong time.”

Ferndown Town Council voted unanimously in favour of the motion. The council also voted in favour of creating a ‘warm hub’ in The Barrington Centre this winter to help residents save heating costs at home.

Gardening tips ahead of winter

By Plants Direct

As winter approaches and the autumn colours still blaze gold, yellow, red and orange, now is the time to plan and plant all your deciduous trees, fruit bushes, shrubs and hedges to establish them for spring next year.

Native hedges of hawthorn, beech, hornbeam, hazel, cornus and willow can all be planted from now until March. These provide flowers, foliage and the perfect habitats for birds, bees and insects.

Spring bulbs such as daffodils, tulips, crocus and hyacinths can still be planted, along with winter-flowering hellebores and herbaceous perennials in tubs, planters and borders to offer a mix of winter and spring colours.

Consider pruning your trees, shrubs, roses and fruit bushes now to minimise winter damage from high winds and heavy snowfall. This is also an opportunity to prune out diseased and damaged shoots and branches and improve the shapes of your trees and bushes.

Tender plants and shrubs may need covering to protect against frost damage. Use fleece or straw to insulate them from the cold.

Lawns and grass areas can still be repaired and returfed. Top dress these areas with lawn dressing and seed for a lush, green sward come the spring. Only mow your lawn if required, on a high setting.

In the greenhouse and veg garden, clean and disinfect all areas in preparation for a new season. New seeds and bulbs can be ordered now for the year ahead.

Finally, planting tubs, baskets and containers with spring bulbs, pansies, violas and primrose can all be done now to brighten the dull winter days as we approach Christmas and beyond.

Parents of schoolchildren at Witchampton First School donated food supplies to Wimborne Food Bank to celebrate Harvest Festival, the traditional start of the autumn season. Pictured is a segment of the total donation which was brought to St Mary’s Church in Witchampton for a Harvest Celebration on 11 October © Dorset View.

Fire engines axed across Dorset

The Fire Brigades Union has warned that the removal of fire engines from stations across Dorset is putting lives in danger.

The second engines at Corsham, Marlborough, Sturminster Newton and Wareham fire stations were removed on 19 September. Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS) also confirmed that the second engine will be removed from Poole fire station.

Continued on page 18

Dorset & Wiltshire

Poole’s new murals unveiled

Poole Business Improvement District (BID) unveiled the latest addition to the town’s growing collection of mural artworks in September

Kizzi Bennett, of Kizzibcreative, painted a series of murals onto Towngate Bridge by Poole train station depicting local wildlife including seabirds and red squirrels, which live on nearby Brownsea Island. The art was made using recycled materials.

One of the species depicted are whitefeathered gannets. Often characterised as greedy, gannets play a vital role in the coastal ecosystem. Kizzi said: “By honouring them

through art, I hope to challenge their negative perception and remind us of the importance of celebrating and protecting these incredible seabirds.”

The murals were commissioned by Poole BID, with matched funding from Dolphin Shopping Centre, Legal & General, and BCP Council’s Community Infrastructure Levy. The murals are intended to enhance Poole’s visual appeal through public art.

Water companies to repay millions

Dorset and BCP’s main water providers, Wessex

Water and South West Water, have been ordered to pay

back £5.3m and £17.4m respectively due to poor performance in the past year.

The water regulator Ofwat published its annual performance report in October, showing disappointing results for the nation’s water and sewage providers. Ofwat fined the industry a collective £157.6m, which will be refunded to customers via lower bills in 2025–2026.

Following the latest Ofwat report, the Liberal Democrat MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole, Vikki Slade, called for an immediate ban on executive bonuses at Wessex

Water. The Lib Dems claim that there were 466 sewage spills in Mid Dorset & North Poole last year, based on the most recent data available.

Slade said: “For too long, the Conservatives allowed water companies to ride roughshod over people here in Mid Dorset & North Poole, pumping their filthy sewage into our waterways all the while the bosses took home massive bonuses.

“That must end. No longer should these people be personally rewarded for failing to protect our local environment, all whilst hiking bills on people in our area.”

University Hospitals Dorset has donated abandoned bikes left around the trust to the New Forest Bike Project. Some 19 bikes were collected from the Royal Bournemouth Hospital and will now be repaired, restored, and reallocated by the bike charity to help people build their confidence and skills, while teaching important bike maintenance and educating on sustainability issues.

Dorset’s water history to be conserved

Wessex Water is providing a grant of more than £103,000 to Dorset History Centre to enable work on the archives of Wessex Water and its predecessor organisations.

Until relatively recently, the company held its archive at its Sutton Poyntz facility near Weymouth, but in order to protect and conserve the material, the decision was taken to transfer the records to public archive services across the South West.

The archive, which covers a span of 200 years, includes plans, maps, photographs, and documentation relating mostly to the development of water supply and sewage treatment operations.

A significant quantity of historic video material will be digitised, with the project due to start in early 2025.

Marilyn Smith, group director of Communications and Community at Wessex

Water said: “We are proud of our heritage and having been custodians of this collection for many years, we are delighted the archive will be freely accessible to anyone interested in learning more about the development of the water infrastructure across the Wessex Water region during the last 200 years.”

Material from Wessex Water’s archive

Poole Runners are ‘Club of the Year’

Poole Runners won the ‘Club of the Year Award’ for the South West Region at the England Athletics Regional Volunteer Awards held in Exeter.

The award was presented to Poole Runners Club Chairman Shannon Evans by British longdistance runner and five-time Olympian, Jo Pavey.

Alongside a growth in junior and senior members, the club has a growing team of volunteers, with parents encouraged to assist at training sessions with many going on to gain qualifications.

Shannon said: “We are so thrilled to have won this award, which recognises the huge

amount of time and dedication given by our club’s fantastic volunteers. We are especially proud of the achievements of our junior squad and the massive growth we have seen in the years since Covid.”

Poole Runners Club members Charlotte Phillips together with Andy and Claudia Howse were also recognised for their volunteering achievements and impact they have on the local community.

Former Poole Runners junior athlete and now qualified coach, Charlotte, won the Newcomer to Volunteering Award with Andy and Claudia Howse becoming Inspiring Officials Award winners.

Walking football team welcomes Thai striker

A Poole football club got its own taste of the big time when it was contacted by a visiting player from Thailand.

Dexter Sports Walking Football Club was approached to see if a Thai footballer could join their weekly Friday sessions while he was in the country visiting family in the Poole area.

Anuchit — who plays with the Black Tigers in Thailand — was in the UK to meet his newly born granddaughter.

“We signed Anuchit up to the club to enable him to take part and he quickly demonstrated some of the skills he had as a striker for his team back home, scoring in his first session,”

a club spokesperson said.

The Thai super striker said the players made him feel welcome and he thoroughly enjoyed playing with them.

“We would have liked to have signed him up for the 2024/25 season, but sadly his visit came to an end,” the spokesperson added.

“At his last session, we presented him with a Dexter Sport shirt to take home.”

Walking football is a growing sport for the over 50s, and Dexter Sports WFC are holders of the Over-60s League Cup.

For more information about the club, visit walkingfootball. dextersportsyfc.org.uk

Members of the running club with their awards © Poole Runners

Anuchit was gifted a team football shirt © Dexter Sports WFC

Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire seek devolution

Could Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire councils work together in the future?

The three authorities are submitting expressions of interest in devolution, in response to a request from government, which seeks to unlock greater powers and resources for the area.

In a joint statement, the leaders of Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire Councils, Cllr Nick Ireland, Cllr Bill Revans and Cllr Richard Clewer, said: “We have had constructive discussions and recognise that, while each council has its own unique aspirations, there is a shared belief that working together can provide a strong foundation for devolution. We value our partnership working with neighbouring authorities and there are projects and services we already provide which are more effective when delivered in partnership.

“Discussions to date have also included BCP Council and Swindon Borough Council. Once formal proposals have been agreed with central government these will be communicated with our residents and any options will be consulted on before being taken forward.”

Poole Sea Cadets set sail for the future

Poole Sea Cadets outlined their expansion plans to more than 100 interested parties at a public meeting.

The Cadets are attracting record numbers of potential recruits but are confined by their existing HQ – TS Drax – parts of which date back 85 years. A proposed new building would enable the existing unit to expand from 60 cadets to 90 girls and boys.

Following a display by the unit’s award-winning marching band, the audience were given the opportunity to ask questions and to record their views.

The new building would make use of the existing site in Sterte in Poole.

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Pete Miles, who is an active patron of Poole Sea Cadets, gave a speech of support.

Vikki Slade, MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole, said: “It was

fantastic to visit Poole Sea Cadets and receive an update on plans for a new HQ. The team they have put together

has designed a great space that will enable them to grow and continue their fantastic work with young people.”

L-R: Lee Hardy, Cllr Richard Burton, Cllr Pete Miles, Cllr Paul Slade, and Vikki Slade, MP

Dorset divers celebrate 70th anniversary

Report by Luke Graham

Bournemouth and

Poole

Diving Club has been exploring the South Coast’s waters for seven decades

For the past 70 years, Bournemouth and Poole Diving Club has been available to make scuba diving more accessible and help residents of the county explore the waters of the South Coast.

The governing body of diving in the UK, the British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC), was formed in 1953 and Bournemouth and Poole was the sixth branch to be formed a few months later, so the club has been celebrating its 70th anniversary this year.

This local diving club was originally spun off from a large and very active spear-fishing club, when several members realised that there were underwater alternatives to killing fish in the name of sport: within a few years, diving had almost completely eclipsed spear fishing as an activity.

The volunteer-run club has changed dramatically over the years. According to club member Paul Bluett, there was little-to-no purpose-made equipment available in the early days of the club. Instead, members had to cobble together diving gear at home, often using exmilitary equipment. He said: “Thermal protection – if any – was a set of longjohns worn under a tightly belted raincoat with elastic bands at the wrists, before giving way to wetsuits purchased as kits and hand-stitched and glued at home. Shore-dives and trips in small inflatable boats in need of constant maintenance and repair were the order of the day.

“But from home-made and armysurplus kit used a few yards off the beach to mixed-gas diving from our current boat, several miles offshore, the basic ethos is still the same: to make diving as accessible as possible, to maintain the highest standards of safety and to help our members increase their diving experience and skills.

“The equipment may have changed out of all recognition but at the end of it, we just want to go diving.”

The club helps members pursue several interests, from locating and identifying shipwrecks to undertaking marine life surveys and conservation work. Members have even been involved with underwater camerawork for both film and TV. Perhaps the most audacious project in the club’s history came in 1965, when two members designed and built an underwater habitat

which was installed in Plymouth Sound and where they lived at a depth of 11 metres for a week – on a budget of £1,000.

Paul said: “As a club, we not only encourage those interests as far as we are able, but also encourage our members to broaden their knowledge and experience and to improve their skills and qualifications, not just directly in diving but boat-handling, first aid, use of VHF radios, and more.”

Fast forward to today and the club has held a series of events to celebrate its platinum anniversary, including a picnic in June attended by all the current members, as well as former members who travelled from across the country, a barbecue and diving day at West Bay on the August Bank Holiday, and an underwater litter-pick in September. In November, the club will hold a black-tie Anniversary Dinner.

As well as celebrations, this year the club has focused on fundraising. The club owns and maintains a rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RHIB) which is often used up to four times a week between March and October by members and guests. After many years of service, the RHIB (nicknamed Hummingbird) needs its tubes replaced. Without the RHIB, the club cannot function.

Fortunately, the club has raised £5,000 so far this year, including £2,500 of matched funding from the Sports Council. Fundraising will continue due to the constantly rising cost of materials. Details about donating to the repairs can be found on the club’s website: bournemouthandpoolediving.co.uk.

While the club’s diving season has come to an end until next year, the club

has weekly meetings throughout the year which are used for training and planning, as well as regular non-diving related social events. If you’ve ever considered learning to dive, Bournemouth and Poole Diving Club might be the right place for you.

The club’s RHIB, Hummingbird, in the slipway at Kimmeridge Bay © Charlotte Burwell. Below: Hummingbird departs West Bay for a day of diving

Climate change conference returns to Dorset

Bournemouth University is to host a community-led ‘conference of the parties’ on Saturday 2 November.

Dorset COP is organised by volunteers from Zero Carbon Dorset, Sustainable Dorset, Dorset Climate Action Network, East Dorset Friends of the Earth and This Living Place.

Mark Chivers, co-founder of Zero Carbon Dorset, said: “This full day event follows on from the UK’s first county level community-led COP in 2023 which saw more than 250 people, including representatives from more than 100 Dorset-based organisations, come together to have their say on the climate and ecological crises, raising awareness of a wide range of issues and starting conversations on the actions we need to take locally.”

Last year’s event received attention from the media, politicians, and even celebrities, with Springwatch presenter Chris Packham hailing Dorset COP as a ‘brilliant idea’.

Tickets are available for £10 from the website Eventbrite. Search for Dorset COP 2024.

What’s on your Christmas list?

-Advertisement feature-

By Paul Webb, Dorset Water Softeners

Christmas is coming and the goose is getting fat, or your nut roast is getting nuttier. Let me stop there.

It has fallen upon my shoulders this year to organise the Association of Independent Water Softener Engineers (AIWSE) Christmas event. We set AIWSE up to promote best practice and to help customers get the very best service from local experts. We have managed various events and training days, as well as online learning, but this is our first Christmas celebration.

Organising this coincides with our industry’s busiest time of year. Customers who had planned to have work done through the summer have now realised the year is running out. Also, as the temperature drops, heating systems are being fired up and the dreaded scaled up boilers are now showing themselves. Noisy systems, slow hot water flow, and your plumber suggesting you need a new heat exchange. Marvellous.

Building regulations make it clear that you must protect hot water devices from the effect of scale to make them run efficiently. There is not much point in having solar panels and inches of insulation if your boiler is struggling. The little inline filter that sits on your pipework works on hope, rather than science, it would appear. The answer, you will be glad to know, is a proper ion-exchange water softener. It takes out the hard minerals that cause the damage and helps descale the existing system.

So, when writing your Christmas list, remember to make your No.1 choice a water softener from Dorset Water Softeners and No.2 should be a pair of slippers.

New Milton resident Jenny Moore, 50, and five friends formed the Wessex Wonder Women to take on Wessex Cancer Support’s sponsored Bournemouth PierZip challenge in October, where participants rode a zip line from the pier to the beach. Between them, the Wonder Women raised more than £1,500 for the charity. Jenny, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022, has raised more than £10,000 in total through various fundraising activities to support other people affected by cancer.

The first Dorset COP was held at Dorchester’s Corn Exchange in September 2023

law spot by Harold G Walker Solicitors

DIVORCE

AND MATRIMONIAL FINANCES ‘Setting aside’ court orders

-Advertisement feature-

By Rob Price, Associate, Family Law Solicitor

Courts don’t generally like doing this because they like to assure you of certainty, but if matters have materially changed since a court order was made, concerning the disclosure of income, capital and/or pensions, they may consider this form of remedy.

Generally, an order will stand, unless major events prevent it from working.

Where’s the evidence?

If a substantial financial asset of the marriage has not been disclosed and you can prove it, unless disclosure of this wouldn’t have made any difference to the outcome, you can ask that the order is set aside and cancelled.

Fraud

The deficit in question that arises against you should be such that it would be unfair to disregard it and that a different order should be considered as a result.

Mistake

This is something that may have an impact and if a material mistake is made by your former spouse that leads to an undisclosed asset, then depending on the value you can have this reviewed. The asset has to be substantial enough to make a material difference to the outcome, as with fraud.

Subsequent events

We’ve touched on this above. As with all these examples, an application must be made reasonably promptly, with the event having occurred relatively quickly after the order is made. It is therefore a rare case where this circumstance will apply.

ALWAYS consult us if you are suspicious, or worried, about the effect of your court order if something has happened that might affect its fairness.

Law Spot is for information only and does not constitute legal advice

NEWS IN BRIEF

Care home application

New Forest District Council has received an application for a 70-bedroom care home to be erected on land adjacent to The Wheelwright Post on Salisbury Road in Fordingbridge.

Storytelling Care South has donated £1,170 to storytelling project, Truth Be Told. The cause provides interactive, Christianbased storytelling sessions to residents in care homes based across Dorset.

Wimborne book

Janet KL Seal, who has been interviewed by this magazine and who gave a talk at the 25th anniversary of Wimborne Militia’s celebrations in September, has produced a new book entitled ‘The History of Wimborne Minster Volume One’. It charts the beginnings of the town up until 1649 and represents 30 years of painstaking research. Janet hopes the second volume will be ready before Christmas.

Night-time economy

Bournemouth Town Centre BID and Bournemouth Town Watch are funding the role of nighttime economy co-ordinator. Victoria Sheppard has stepped into a part-time position.

Bournemouth lecturer celebrates sporting success

A lecturer at Bournemouth University has had a lot of national and international sporting success over the last few months.

Dr Becky Neal, principal lecturer in Exercise Physiology, is an elite level obstacle course racer and recently returned from the UK championships with a gold medal in the 3km race.

She captained Great Britain at the European Championships in Italy in June and at the World Championships in Costa Rica in August.

In Costa Rica, she was part of the bronze medal winning British team, the first British women to win a medal in this elite international competition.

Dr Neal has been taking part in competitive races since

2016 when she was introduced to it during her PhD. With a background in running and gymnastics, obstacle course racing (OCR) seemed like the perfect combination. Since then, she has competed in over 150 races across 10 countries and is now the captain of the British National Team.

She said: “The variety in obstacle sports means it’s always exciting. It continues to grow with thousands of kids taking part in ninja sport and I love to see people giving OCR a go for the first time with their friends.”

OCR is set to feature at the next Olympic Games in Los Angeles, as a new event in the modern pentathlon. Dr Neal will work with Pentathlon GB to help athletes prepare for the sport.

An ideal gift for all Dorset lovers

-Advertisement feature-

‘Downstream Dorset, River Tales and Local History’ is a colourful journey of exploration and discovery along the many rivers and streams flowing through the beautiful county of Dorset.

Mary van Coller, together with her husband Ryan, have followed the towns and villages along each river. They have searched for springs and confluences, verified facts, listened to stories and taken many colour photographs.

Discover the derivation of

place names and read fascinating snippets about people and events both past and present.

‘Downstream Dorset’ will inspire readers to explore Dorset, chat with local people and enjoy the beauty of nature. Blank pages at the back of the book give space to write your own discoveries.

Plus, 20 per cent of royalties will be donated to the vital work of the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance. A description of their service is included in the book.

Mayor’s Musings

Readers might wonder how we as councillors plan improvements for the town. In Wimborne Minster, we recently agreed a Strategic Plan for 2024 to 2029.

What is this plan?

The plan lays out the actions we will take over the next five years to meet our objective of fulfilling the town council’s vision: to work to support a connected, diverse and inclusive community through collaboration and a transparent decisionmaking process that respects the natural environment and the heritage of our town, improves the quality of life for the residents and the resilience of our community.

What are the priorities?

Seven priorities are fleshed out, including: support the thriving and independent town; address climate change and the needs of the environment; deliver inclusive access to services; support events that promote the town, and promote local democracy.

Who monitors the plan?

Councillors and staff have been briefed on the plan and an action plan was devised to check progress of the various sections.

What risks are identified for Wimborne?

The town is growing faster than any time in the last 50 years; property prices are higher than the national average, and access to the town is challenging. There is also the risk of climate change and extreme weather events.

What does the town council manage?

Allotments; Redcotts recreation ground; Leigh Park open spaces; the Town Hall; Wimborne cemetery; support for local services; street furniture, as well as CCTV at various locations.

Why do all this?

We all take responsibility to improve our lives and the lives of others. Councillors generally want to ‘give something back’ to the community and make a difference. The Strategic Plan helps us specify why, how and when we do this.

Jeff Hart

Mayor of Wimborne Minster

PULFORD PUBLICITY sponsors WIMBORNE COMMUNITY GARDEN

Outstanding success for WCG

By Jane Benson

A minibus full of Wimborne Community Garden volunteers set off for RHS Wisley on 20 September, filled with trepidation as we were going to find out how we had got on in the South & South East in Bloom competition 2024.

Having achieved a Level 5 Outstanding certificate (the highest you can get) last year, plus a gold medal for the garden as well as the trophy for the winning Community Garden, we knew the only way was down this year. Unless of course, we managed to do it again… which we did!

We came away absolutely thrilled, especially as we were also awarded the Judges’ Trophy which is given in acknowledgement of a garden led by a positive team and looking forwards.

Over the past two years, the garden has developed into a flourishing space, filled with

vegetables, fruit and flowers; it’s also become a space filled with a great deal of friendship and joy. In the report, the Awards judge said: “The work that has been done over the last two years at Wimborne Community Garden is amazing. Keep up with this brilliant project – it certainly shows what can be achieved by a dedicated community group.”

The exciting news continues – in December, we are to be visited by none other than Father Christmas! For the price of £10, children will be able to come into a Christmas-lit garden to visit Santa, listen to a little magical story and receive a gift from the man himself. He will be ‘in residence’ on 6, 13, 18 and 20 December and can be visited at 3.45pm, 4.30pm or 5.15pm. Please phone 07851 402207 in the evening to book your tickets.

No wonder we, the growing band of volunteers, enjoy being part of this garden.

New town signs unveiled

Getting lost in Wimborne should become a thing of the past thanks to new signs developed by Wimborne BID. The Wayfinding Project consists of 12 distinctive fingerpost and freestanding signs, which were officially unveiled on 2 October by the Mayor of Wimborne Cllr Jeff Hart.

The signs include a business list for West Borough

and West Street, another for Mill Lane, Church Street and the Corn Market, a tourist information board in Wimborne Square, information and a map in Cook Row outside the Minster church and a large welcome sign and directional business listing for Riverside Business Park.

Fiona Harwood, Wimborne BID chairperson said: “It’s taken almost seven years

to get here, with an initial consultation in 2017 with community groups, local authorities and businesses to ensure we deliver what is right for the town.”

The Wayfinding Project was solely funded by Wimborne BID, which is financed by local businesses. All the maps and listings will be reviewed every six months and changed if necessary.

Sally Young, left, and David Benson, right, receive the Level 5 Outstanding Certificate from Ruth Growney, centre, a South & South East in Bloom trustee and judge © Ciaran McCrickard

Mayor of Wimborne Jeff Hart unveils the new sign

Get ready for the Christmas lights switch on

-Advertiser's announcement-

As the nights draw in, here’s something bright and cheerful to look forward to. Save the date of Saturday 30 November for Wimborne’s magical Christmas Lights Switch-On Day.

This popular event starts at 1pm with a Christmas Market, this year taking place in the High Street car park. It’s the perfect opportunity to start, or for those more organised, even finish the Christmas shopping. Many of the town’s businesses will be staying open until 7pm so you can shop until you drop and enjoy a complimentary mince pie to refuel you during your retail visits.

The grand lights switch on will be at 4.30pm followed by the chance to sing some carols. Wimborne’s famous militia will officially welcome the festive season in with a spectacular gunfire salute on the Minster Green at approximately 5pm. There will also be a host of

entertainment with live music and performances in Wimborne Square throughout the day.

Wimborne BID Chair Fiona Harwood said: “Behind the scenes, there’s a lot of planning going on for these special events. This year Wimborne will sparkle, with hundreds of metres of twinkling lights to adorn Wimborne.

“This beautiful town really lends itself to Christmas and the BID is thrilled to support the Lights Switch-On event alongside Wimborne Minster Town Council.”

This annual event signals the start of Christmas festivities in the town, with Save the Children Christmas Parade on Saturday 14 December and Carols in the Cornmarket on Friday 20 December.

To find out more about the Christmas events in and around the town visit www.wimborne.info.

Wimborne turns green for festival

Report by Marilyn Barber | newseditor@dorsetview.co.uk

Community groups, businesses, churches, schools and local organisations got together to put on the weeklong Planet Wimborne Green Festival in October, with an opening ceremony performed by MP Vikki Slade and Wimborne Mayor Cllr Jeff Hart.

The fair on the Minster Green included apple pressing and several colourful stalls promoting green issues.

Wimborne Community Theatre put on a moving presentation highlighting rivers, and there was a green

transport hub in the Square.

Events during the week included bulb planting, craft sessions, hazel fencing, bunting making, a litter pick, a poetry evening, walks and inspiring talks.

Wimborne punches above its weight in being green and environmentally friendly. It is plastic-free, bee-friendly and has Fairtrade status.

Wimborne's annual Save the Children Parade gets everyone involved © Wimborne BID

L-R: Womble Orinoco aka Cllr Yvonne Mieville, deputy Mayor of Blandford, Linda Bunting, a director of Planet Wimborne, Wimborne Mayor, Cllr Jeff Hart, Vikki Slade MP and Wimborne town crier Chris Brown at the official opening © Dorset View

Amphitheatre built to benefit pupils

Thanks to funding from The John Thornton Young Achievers Foundation (JTYAF), West Moors Middle School has been able to provide a multipurpose amphitheatre in the school’s grounds.

The Ferndown-based charity contributed £6,000 towards the project, which was match funded by the PTFA (Parent, Teacher and Friends Association).

Research shows that time spent in an outdoor space has a positive impact on children’s mental health and wellbeing. The new amphitheatre will provide the children with a place within nature to learn, perform and relax. It will also offer parents and carers the opportunity to see their children perform in plays, music and singing events, sports activities and award ceremonies.

Pete Thornton, chairman of the JTYAF, said: “We were delighted to be invited to the official opening of this stunning new amphitheatre which will make a real difference to the whole school community.

“Seeing the amphitheatre in action with an outstanding performance by the children was a real treat. We are really pleased to have been able to help make this possible.”

Pamphill pupils invited to pick apples

Pamphill First School pupils had a great time picking apples at Kingston Lacy recently.

Children from Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 learnt all about the different varieties of apples that are grown at the estate and how the National Trust uses the fruit.

Before the trip, pupils were taught about the difference between deciduous and evergreen trees and were challenged to look for clues as to whether the apple trees were deciduous or not.

Staff at Kingston Lacy invited the Pamphill pupils to pick an apple off a tree and take a bite.

The children were taught the right technique for picking the apples and how to look for mini beasts that might be on the fruit. They then filled wheelbarrows and crates with apples to help stock up the store at the orchard garden.

Sharon Staddon, executive headteacher of Pamphill First School, which is part of Initio Learning Trust, said: “It was wonderful to see the children working together as a group to gather the fruit.

“Seeing how the orchards play a role in the local biodiversity ties in with our curriculum topics and helps the children to see how they can care for the world around them.”

Rich pickings © Initio Learning Trust

L–R: Pete Thornton, Dr Deborah Craddock, headteacher of West Moors Middle School, and Linda Thornton in front of the new amphitheatre

Fire engines axed across Dorset

Wimborne, Sherborne, and Portland stations may also lose their second engines in January, depending on the DWFRS’s financial settlement for 2025/26.

The decision to axe fire engines and downgrade fire cover across the region was made in August, as part of a cost-cutting programme.

The Fire Brigades Union has condemned the move as putting firefighters and communities at risk. At a meeting of the Fire Authority on 1 October, Union representatives raised concerns that these cuts were made without consulting or communicating with fully or listening to the concerns of firefighters or the public.

Matt Wrack, Fire Brigades Union general secretary, said: “Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service is clearly trying to get away with cuts by stealth. Axing fire engines and downgrading firefighter cover will hollow out any last resilience. The public, and the workforce, deserve a say in their service.”

DWFRS said staff were advised that changes would take effect by October 2024 and were informed immediately following the removal of each vehicle.

A spokesperson for DWFRS said: “As with many public sector organisations, Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service are facing significant financial challenges, and we have a programme of work in place to make sure we are sustainable for the future.

“Whilst the data suggested that the removal of some fire engines is the right thing to do, and this presents essential savings to help our financial challenges, this is also a programme of work that includes some reinvestment and will enable us to improve fire cover by increasing the number of wholetime firefighter posts at Westlea fire station and upgrading Amesbury and Dorchester fire stations from on-call only to on-call and wholetime.”

New showroom now open

-Advertisement feature-

Based in Bournemouth and Poole since 2006, Bournemouth Garage Doors is a friendly, family-run business.

The firm specialises in supplying and installing garage doors and automatic operators from leading manufacturers, for a fair price.

They want to help you find the right door for your specific requirements and offer you the advice and price you need to find the right garage door for your home. All their high-quality doors and parts are supplied by top firms and come with full manufacturers’ warranties.

Their showroom in Poole has lots of samples and handy information to help you make

the right choice for your garage door and system. Come and visit them for a warm welcome and expert advice.

The team at Bournemouth Garage Doors pride themselves on being professional, reliable and competitive. They said: “We are the team of door experts you know you can trust.”

The Dorset Business Festival conference in October was hailed a ‘fantastic success’ by organisers from Dorset Chamber. L-R: keynote speakers Matthew Elliott and Benita Matofska, Lisa WatsonCook from festival partner Lester Aldridge Solicitors, festival host Declan Curry and Dorset Chamber chief executive Ian Girling.

© Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

Performing arts charity raises £1,400

A new charity supporting care experienced children raised £1,400 at a charity quiz in Verwood on 28 September.

Believe Performing Arts provides fully funded performing arts tuition to children from the Dorset, BCP areas and Hampshire who have lived or are living in the care system. Classes are held every Thursday at the Allendale Centre in Wimborne.

The quiz night held at

Verwood Guide Hut was well attended and the funds raised will go towards running the Thursday classes.

Believe aims to support the mental health of care experienced children by providing an environment that is positive, safe, nurturing, understanding and fun. Performing arts help to build life skills including teamwork, social skills, confidence and

independence. One child attending the classes said: “Believe has made me feel more confident, I now feel like I can sing in front of people.”

Classes are led by trained performing arts instructors Emily Edwards and Lydia Graham who have undertaken developmental trauma and safeguarding training to best support the students.

Edwards, who also runs Stagecoach performing arts schools in Ringwood, Wimborne and Bournemouth, launched Believe earlier this year. She said: “I wanted to start a charity that would give back to the community, helping those children who have been affected by early trauma, providing a consistent place for care experienced children to attend where cost would never be a barrier.”

To find out more about the charity, visit www. believe-performing-arts. org or email hello@believeperforming-arts.org.

Rehab equipment installed at Royal Bournemouth Hospital

University Hospitals Dorset NHS

Charity has funded two new pieces of innovative equipment at Royal Bournemouth Hospital to enhance the early rehabilitation for patients who are critically unwell.

At the start of the year, the Stroke team received their new robotic tilt table costing £80,500 that was funded with the help of supporters across Dorset.

The robotic tilt table helps patients who are bedbound and very weak that may have suffered severe neurological damage from a stroke or a spinal injury.

By enabling robotic leg movements for patients who do not have the ability to move them, patients can start to re-learn to use their own limb movements to try to walk again.

Funding for this piece of equipment came from the donations of people who have seen first-hand the support needed by the therapy teams for their loved ones and Talbot Village Trust who provided a grant of £15,000 last year.

The Trust also donated £11,501 towards a BEMO 636 Theratrainer. This is an overbed or bedside bike to provide physiotherapists with a safe solution for early rehabilitation from a patient’s bedside while they are in critical care.

Highlights from Believe’s quiz night

Skydivers raise over £23k for hospice care

On Saturday 21 September, 28 brave souls gathered at Old Sarum Airfield in Salisbury to take to the skies and leap from 10,000 feet to support LewisManning Hospice Care nurses.

The charity skydive raised over £23,000.

Bad weather caused delays which meant that 22 completed their skydive on the day, while six others had to jump on a rescheduled date. The event paired each skydiver with one of the hospice’s dedicated nurses, ensuring that everyone involved had a personal connection to the cause they were supporting. By the afternoon, the sun broke through, and the skydivers took to the air. Cheered on by an enthusiastic crowd of family, friends, hospice staff, and patients, the atmosphere at the airfield was electric

with excitement and pride.

Spirits were high as each participant learned the story of the nurse they were raising money for, forging a personal connection and a deeper appreciation for the vital work these nurses do. Their care and support for patients with lifelimiting illnesses, as well as their families, extend across Poole, East Purbeck, Bournemouth, and West Hampshire.

One of the participants was Dorset Chamber of Commerce CEO Ian Girling. He said: “It is fantastic to be here and be part of this incredible day. I felt so nervous, but the skydive was fantastic.

“I can definitely say I have faced my fear of heights. Leaping out of the plane was the most terrifying thing I have ever done but the free fall was

incredible! I am so proud to support the charity and am very grateful to all our supporters.”

For hospice nurse Hannah Quick, the jump held extra significance as she leaped to celebrate both her upcoming 30th birthday and the cause she works for every day. She said: “It was surreal — an experience like no other. I was nervous, excited, and queasy all at once, but looking out at the clouds and knowing I was doing it for our patients made it unforgettable. I’m so proud to be part of this

and incredibly thankful for everyone who donated.”

Head of Fundraising Vicki Gray said: “We are thrilled with the support and energy that this event has created, reflecting the strength and generosity of the community in which we serve, we are extremely grateful to everyone involved.”

Among the participants was Dorset View’s Louis Pulford, who raised over £800 including gift aid to support the hospice. Turn to page 24 to read his account of the day.

L–R: Paula Woods, a health care assistant at Lewis-Manning Hospice Care, Dorset Chamber’s Ian Girling, Nurse Hannah Quick, and Vicki Gray, Lewis-Manning Hospice Care’s head of fundraising.

What have I got myself into?

Dorset View’s Louis Pulford recounts his experience of jumping 10,000ft

On Saturday 21 September, I arrived at Old Sarum Airfield in Salisbury at 7am to skydive on behalf of Lewis-Manning Hospice Care, Pulford Publicity’s charity of the year.

After signing in, watching a safety video and grabbing a coffee, I chatted with my fellow skydivers, asking each other if we felt nervous or anxious. It all seemed rather chilled out to start with, until the organisers asked us to go inside a big tent and do some training.

They talked us through the safety information for the dive, the ‘to dos and not to dos’, keeping it light-hearted, funny and welcoming, but also very serious when important information was being given. The Go Skydive team were excellent at keeping morale high and being entertaining. We then went into a small tent, suited up, grabbed a pair of goggles and did a final bit of training in the harness. We were then left to our own devices. We had to wait until the clouds cleared (which took a few hours), so we all had plenty of time to mull over our decisions. What had we got ourselves into?

Pacing was very much a part of the mid-morning routine after suiting up, as well as chatting with divers and the staff, asking questions about the weather and the experiences of the professionals.

Once the clouds cleared, the engine was fired up on the aeroplane and names started to be called over the loudspeaker. As the first flight took off, we watched the sky until we could see the divers floating towards earth. It was magnificent to watch.

When my name was called out, I walked towards the waiting area for the aeroplane and met my tandem diver, who had raced across the field after just landing from his last jump. He said a quick hello and we loaded into the plane.

This is when it all became very real.

My instructor was asking me various questions about why I was doing the jump, while I stared at the plane’s roller door thinking “Oh no, I’m about to be thrown out of that!”

But morale was high, we were all getting hyped

and fist bumping each other before the door was rolled up. The cameraman for someone else’s jump climbed out and held onto the wing like a madman as the first jump exited the plane.

It was then my turn, and as we sat on the edge of the plane, I just refused to think about what was happening and closed my eyes.

Then we left the plane and started our free fall. I opened my eyes and looked directly down at the ground which was 10,000ft away from me. I started screaming at the top of my voice.

After 30 seconds, my instructor – whose name I still don’t know – pulled the chute and suddenly I was dangling in mid-air, still thousands of feet above ground and my stomach churned in a way which made me feel very sick, not out of nerves or excitement, just from the shock of dangling in a harness and having no control or ability to stop the ride.

I explained this to my instructor, and he started chatting to me and even let me fly the parachute. I guess he knew all the tricks

to calm people down.

I did a few turns, we checked out the landscapes and he then said, “Do you want to surf a cloud?”

Of course, I said yes. He pulled the left string, we turned and surfed along a cloud. We went straight through it and came out underneath, which meant I could see the distance to the ground again and I felt sick once more.

As we pulled around and came into land, I wasn’t shaking or feeling nervous – in fact, I felt very safe with my instructor – but I did have this weird feeling in my belly.

The skydive was incredible and I would do it again. I would recommend it for anyone. It was a mind-blowing, stomachchurning and death-defying experience. Strap in, hop out, free fall then hang like a baby in mid-air and take in the sights of the surrounding area.

In total, I raised over £800 including gift aid for LewisManning and would like to say a massive thank you to everyone who supported me. See page 23 for the overall total raised on the day.

Louis descends for a safe landing

Louis on the day of the jump

Skydivers including Dorset Chamber CEO Ian Girling, left, after their jump

Photos © CatchBox 2024

Take an icy dip for cancer

Tom Baker and John White staged their first Christmas Day sea plunge in 2008, along with six friends. Now, 16 years on, their annual event attracts around 1,200 dippers of all ages, many in fancy dress, who brave the icy sea close to Boscombe Pier to raise money for the Macmillan Unit in Christchurch.

The event also attracts thousands of spectators cheering the dippers on.

Both keen swimmers, the pair wanted to raise money for the Macmillan Unit where John’s dad, also called John, had been

supported after a cancer diagnosis.

John said: “This is for life for us now – we couldn’t ever see us not running this event.”

To date, the event has raised over an incredible £300,000.

Registration for this year’s White Christmas Dip opens on 8 November. Go to whitechristmasdip.co.uk to purchase a ticket.

Whether you take the plunge yourself or simply come along to cheer the dippers on, please join in this year for the best start to Christmas Day.

Dorset charity to host creative workshops

Diverse Abilities, Dorset’s disability charity, is hosting a number of creative Christmas events in the coming weeks. There is a wreath making workshop on Wednesday 27 November at The Beehive with step-by-step guidance from Academy of Floristry. This will be followed by a second wreath making workshop on Saturday 30 November at Langside School. The charity is also hosting a garland workshop on Wednesday 4 December.

There’s also something for the kids with Christmas biscuit workshops hosted by Maggie ‘The Seaside Baker’, a popular contestant from the Great British Bake Off. The workshops will take place on Sunday 1 December at Gather in the Dolphin Shopping Centre in Poole, with three sessions to choose from.

Maggie will be baking the biscuits ahead of time, and the charity will provide everything needed to uniquely decorate the biscuits on the day. Visit diverseabilities.org.uk/events for more information and to book your tickets.

Hundreds take part in the White Christmas Dip each year on the morning of Christmas Day

Poole woman leaves £100,000 to the RNLI

Doreen Hogg, who donated £1.5m to the RNLI for a lifeboat in honour of her husband, has left the charity a further £100,000 in her will.

Mrs Hogg lived in Poole with her late husband Archie.

A spokesperson for the RNLI said: “Without the generosity of people like Doreen, we simply couldn’t keep our lifesaving service running.

“Anyone can leave a gift to the RNLI in their will, and we are thrilled that Doreen chose to support us with donations in her lifetime, through her trust and in her legacy.

“The £100,000 donation has come from the will trust that Doreen set up after her legacy to give a regular income to the RNLI and we are very grateful to her.”

Doreen was the guest of honour when the vessel was named ‘RNLB Ettrick Shepherd Hogg Hardie’ at a ceremony at the RNLI headquarters in 2021.

Doreen, who lived in a flat overlooking Poole Harbour, died aged 91 earlier this year. Her funeral was held at Poole Crematorium.

Charity highlights poverty in East Dorset

People in East Dorset are being encouraged to join the fight against poverty.

According to the latest report by free debt advice and money coaching charity, Christians Against Poverty (CAP), chronically low incomes are devastating people’s lives.

CAP’s latest polling shows a million adults who live in the South West say they currently have a deficit budget, which means their income doesn’t cover their basic essentials. Clients on average are £273 a month short of what they need to be able to cover their basics such as food, energy bills and rent.

CAP’s East Dorset Debt Centre manager Pam Ansell said: “Whether it’s caring for a loved one, ill-health or a lack of suitable work opportunities, many people’s circumstances mean they have no or limited options to increase their income.

“At the East Dorset Church Partnership, we are working in partnership with the charity Christians Against Poverty to offer East Dorset CAP Debt Centre’s free debt advice. Alongside other local churches, we also offer a range of practical and holistic support.

“If, like us, you’re passionate about seeing people helped out of poverty you can join CAP’s campaign group for free at capuk.org/campaign.”

To support the East Dorset CAP Debt Centre’s work to help local people, email Pam Ansell at pamansell@capuk.org to make a donation.

Doreen Hogg standing in front of the RNLB Ettrick Shepherd Hogg Hardie. Photo courtesy of the Bournemouth Caledonian Society

Poole care home resident hits the mark

A Poole care home resident who has had a life-long passion for clay pigeon shooting has been able to revisit his hobby.

Tom, who lives at Care South’s Dorset House in Hamworthy, visited Purbeck Shooting School with support from Sam Baker, activities lead at the care home, and his granddaughter, Tilly. Tom used to visit Purbeck Shooting School on a weekly basis before needing to give up his gun licence when he was diagnosed with dementia.

Alongside instructor, Trevor, from Purbeck Shooting School, Tom was able to safely use a shotgun to shoot some clays. Afterwards, he enjoyed chatting to members of the shooting school about how he aimed and the techniques he used to follow the clays and be on target.

Tom said: “It was absolutely brilliant. One of the best days I have ever had. I hope that I can go back there again.”

Trevor Lake, who has worked as an instructor at Purbeck Shooting School for 12 years, said: “I think Tom loved it. He only needed a little bit of guidance, but otherwise he got on very well. He managed to hit a few clays and he was very good.”

Support for mental health at work

The county’s NHS Foundation Trust, Dorset HealthCare, is urging local people struggling with their mental health at work to seek help instead of soldiering on in silence.

Morad Margoum, the Trust’s interim service director for mental health and learning disabilities, said: “I encourage employers, managers, and colleagues to have regular check-ins and wellbeing conversations at work.

“Sometimes the challenges and stresses we face in our working lives can impact our mental health and affect our ability to cope without the right support.”

There are a few ways for Dorset residents to access support. First, there is Steps2Wellbeing, a free, NHS mental wellbeing service that offers counselling, guided self-help and talking therapies for anyone feeling low, stressed or anxious. If you are registered with a GP in Dorset you can refer yourself directly via steps2wellbeing.co.uk.

Alternatively, Access Wellbeing is a drop-in service with offices in Boscombe and Poole where staff can offer mental health support and advice on a range of issues which can affect people’s wellbeing, from bereavement to education, employment and financial matters. Find more information at dorsetaccesswellbeing.co.uk.

Finally, Access Mental Health is a specialist support for anyone struggling to cope or nearing a breakdown. Help is available via Connection, a 24/7 helpline (0800 652 0190), or in person at The Retreats in Bournemouth.

Quiz night raises funds for cancer patients

Patients across Dorset with cancer will benefit from a quiz organised by University Hospitals Dorset’s main construction contractor, Integrated Health Projects (IHP).

IHP and NHS staff came together for the evening at The Village Hotel in Bournemouth to raise funds to support oncology teams in the Jigsaw Unit at Royal Bournemouth Hospital.

More than 90 quiz lovers raised a total of £2,075 between donations on the night and IHP’s online fundraiser.

Bruce Preston, IHP’s project director, said: “This evening was a significant celebration of the progress IHP have made with the transformation team on the BEACH Building over the last four years, with this being the third quiz night.”

In recent years, the trust’s main contractors have raised a total of more than £4,828 for University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity.

Tom with instructor Trevor

Tivoli volunteers enjoy a special ‘thank you’

Report by Marilyn Barber | newseditor@dorsetview.co.uk

The volunteers at the Tivoli were shown how much they are appreciated in October, when a special event was held to thank them for all their hard work and dedication to the Art Deco theatre in Wimborne.

The foyer was packed with around 100 volunteers who all received a welcoming drink and a raffle ticket, before they were ushered into the auditorium.

Charlie North Lewis, who has been general manager for 22 years, said: “Thank you to all you volunteers for all your help, and thank you also to Sue Potts for organising this event.”

The audience were then treated to a showing of the 2022 film ‘Save the Cinema’ which is based on the true story of Liz Evans, a hairdresser and leader

of a youth theatre in Carmarthen who began a campaign in 1993 to save the Lyric Theatre from closure. (She was the mother of Wynne Evans, who is appearing in ‘Strictly’ this year).

The story certainly drew parallels with the Tivoli, which survived the threat of demolition in 1979 and celebrated 30 successful years in 2023.

A book, ‘The Tivoli Theatre, From Darkness to Light,’ written and published last year by Malcolm Angel who was the theatre’s first manager, detailed the story behind the rebirth of the Tivoli.

After the film, volunteers enjoyed a tea with sandwiches and cakes.

Two women who have been volunteers for more

Christmas wishes at Kingston Lacy

-Advertiser’s announcement-

What will you wish for this Christmas? If it’s a memorymaking, festive family day out, Kingston Lacy’s magical Christmas wishes trail, vintage carousel and fabulously decorated mansion will make your wish come true.

You’ll find Kingston Lacy’s Wish Makers’ hard work has transformed the house with sparkling decorations to fulfil every Christmas wish. The whole mansion is twinkling brightly, and each room shimmering with everything your heart could desire at this time of year.

But with so many wishes in the air, the Wish Makers’ wishconverter-5000 (which makes hopes and dreams come true) has backfired and sent wishes flying out into the garden. Each wish is wrapped and ready for Christmas but can’t be sent without its label – gather friends and family for the day to help the

than 30 years are Maureen Franklin and Joan Thorne, who became involved with the campaign to save the Tivoli from the very start.

“Now we just do one job, but at the start we would do box office and ice cream selling and anything else needed,” said Joan.

They are both so enthusiastic about the rewards of volunteering.

“Not only have we been able to see so many productions and films we would never have had the chance to see otherwise, but we have made so many friends,” said Joan.

“As we work on different shifts, we have met so many interesting people,” said Maureen, who added that she

had been surprised to find that people come from far and wide, not just to volunteer but to enjoy theatre productions.

“Being a volunteer has changed my life,” said Joan. “And it’s so lovely to see people coming out of the theatre smiling.”

“It has just been fun,” concluded Maureen.

Wish Makers match up labels and wishes in time to send them out for Christmas and see if you can make the wishconverter-5000 crank into life.

Book little ones in for a storytelling session with Santa (tickets £15 per child, see website for details), or head for a ride on the vintage carousel near Laundry Courtyard, festooned in foliage and fairy lights to awaken everyone’s festive spirit. And if, after all that, you have a secret wish for warming mulled wine, delicious feasts and a cheeky hot chocolate, the Stables cafe will be able to make your wish come true.

Join together at Kingston Lacy to discover the magic of wishes this Christmas.

Christmas wishes at Kingston Lacy runs from 30 November to 5 January. Visit the website nationaltrust.org. uk/visit/dorset/kingston-lacy.

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity is inviting people across Dorset to come together to Light Up the Prom on Friday 8 November, to honour and celebrate the lives of loved ones who are no longer with us. There will be a candlelight service with beautiful music performed by a local choir and a fireworks display that will illuminate the night sky over Bournemouth Pier Approach and the bay. Everybody who signs up to attend the event will receive a complimentary LED candle to light at the ceremony. To join, visit uhdcharity.org/lightuptheprom. © University Hospitals Dorset HNS Charity

L-R: Maureen Franklin, Sue Potts, front of house manager, and Joan Thorne, with Charlie North Lewis © Dorset View

Sue Potts with all the raffle prizes © Dorset View

Dog owners warned to leave conkers alone Nature to be restored in Dorset

During the autumn months, dog owners may be tempted to throw conkers for their pooch to retrieve, but this could unwittingly put your pet in danger.

A Poole vet has warned that dogs may choke on fallen conkers and acorns, or they could get stuck in a dog’s digestive system if swallowed. Dan Makin, owner of Poole Vets for Pets Practice, said: “The size, shape and hard exterior of conkers makes them a serious choking hazard for dogs.

“They also contain a toxin called aesculin – if conkers are chewed, this can enter your dog’s system and cause serious problems. Acorns contain tannins, and if enough

are eaten, the effects can be serious and in rare cases lethal.

The autumn months are also when most wild mushrooms grow – many varieties pose risks of poisoning.”

If you think your dog has swallowed something they should not have, watch out for symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, increased thirst, refusing food and restlessness. Symptoms usually appear within one to six hours after ingestion.

Makin added: “If you think your dog may have eaten conkers, acorns or mushrooms, you should contact your vet for advice. If possible, note the time and how many you think your dog may have eaten.”

Meet Amber, Ivy, Dough and Patch. These Border Collie cross puppies are now around three months old but did not get the best start in life and are now looking for their forever homes where they can continue their training and bring lots of love to a new family. The Wimbornebased pet sanctuary Waggy Tails Rescue says the pups are energetic, mischievous and full of fun. If you think you might be the home one of these puppies is looking for, contact the charity on 01202 875000 or e-mail admin@waggytails.org.uk.

Mindful that the UK is now classed as one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, a new initiative has been launched in Dorset.

Led by Dorset Council, Nature Recovery Dorset has been created to drive forward local action for nature – and local people can become involved.

Cllr Nick Ireland, leader of Dorset Council and cabinet member for Climate Change, said: “Earlier in the summer, we declared a nature emergency to highlight the need for urgent action to halt the decline of nature in Dorset.

“As a council, we are

already taking significant steps to put the natural environment at the heart of our plans and decision-making processes.

“Nature Recovery Dorset is something everyone can get involved in. Whether you’re a school or a farmer, a landowner or a business, your efforts count. And I urge everyone who is either already actively involved in nature recovery or interested in contributing to join the Nature Recovery Dorset network today.”

To learn more about Nature Recovery Dorset and how to get involved, visit dorsetcouncil.gov. uk/nature-recovery.

Dorset Council staff were on hand to talk about the new initiative at the recent Dorset County Show

Ferndown man tackles chicken nugget challenge

Report and photos by Ben Pulford

How many chicken nuggets could you eat in 10 minutes?

Stuart Fleetham from Ferndown headed off to Cattlemans Steakhouse in Paignton, Devon, to watch pro eaters in the British Eating League over the weekend of 27–29 September.

Stuart had stumbled across the world of competitive eating on YouTube during lockdown and wanted to meet the eaters he has been watching online. Among them were Canada’s number one competitive eater, Joel Hansen, Max vs Food, Lifting Weights Cleaning Plates, Franco’s Feasts and Food and the Beast.

After watching the pros eat a giant fish and chip supper (five whole battered fish, chunky chips and bowl of mushy peas), two large trays of lasagne, and a pro chicken nugget challenge on the Friday night, Stuart decided to enter the amateur nugget challenge on Saturday. The task: eat 30 nuggets in 10 minutes with a £350 combined prize pot… easy right?

Apparently not. With the clock ticking, the sweat dripping and the

crowd cheering him on, one nugget at a time, he managed to finish with mere seconds left on the clock.

After all competitors had taken part, Stuart finished in a respectable joint fifth place. It wasn’t quite enough for him to take home a cash prize, but he didn’t need to eat again that day and came away with even more respect for the feats of feasting from the pros.

Stuart, right, prepares for his attempt

Pro eater Joel Hansen ate two trays of lasagne

Lifting Weights Cleaning Plates tackled a giant fish and chip supper

Events

Details were correct at the time of going to print. Send information about your events to newseditor@ dorsetview.co.uk.

2 November 2pm–4pm Ferndown Arthritis and Friendship Club at Ferndown Plus Day Centre. Call for more info: 03303 112793.

3 November 11am–3pm

Samantha Prewett Photography free baby event in Gather at Poole’s Dolphin Centre to raise funds for SPRING charity.

4 November 10.30am–11.30am Reading Friends meets at Wimborne Library.

4 November 7.30pm

Wimborne Gardening Club meets at St Catherine’s Church Hall, Lewens Lane.

5 November 10am–3pm Poole Leisure Painters meet at Lighthouse Poole. Contact secretary 01202 693526.

5 November 2.30pm–4pm Bits & Bytes Computer Club in Ferndown library.

6 November 7.30pm

Wimborne Community Theatre skittles evening at Colehill Sports and Social Club, BH21 2QR. £5 a person, pay on the door. To book, contact: 01202 8884201 or barbarahart414@gmail.com.

6 November 2pm–4.30pm

Lytchett and Upton Floral Club at CJs, Lytchett Minster Parish Church BH16 6JE.

7 November 7.30pm Verwood and District Horticultural Society meets at Verwood Memorial Hall. Details on www. verwoodhorticulturalsociety.co.uk or call Ollie on 07508 577114.

9 November 10am–3pm Wimborne in Bloom Charities Fair in the Allendale Centre, Wimborne. Any charity which would like a table should email info@ wimborneinbloom.org.uk.

9 November 10am–4pm

The Broadstone Choir Come & Sing Choral Workshop at St. Dunstan’s Church, Upton. 10am until 4pm. All singers welcome, refreshments provided. Further info: broadstonechoir@gmail.com.

11 November 7.30pm

Ferndown & West Moors Philatelic and Postcard Club meets at the new venue of The Hamworthy Club, Magna Road, BH21 3AP. Call Paul Barry 07932 581791 or email paulrichardbarry@hotmail.co.uk for details.

13 November 6.30pm–9pm

Bournemouth Big Band, Swing and Jazz Club meet downstairs in Kinson Community Centre. Details on www.bournemouthjazzclub.org.

13 November 7.30pm

East Dorset Antiquarian Society meets at St Catherine’s Church Hall, Wimborne.

14 November 7.30pm

Ringwood Natural History Society meets at Greyfriars Community Centre, BH24 1DW. Call John Gurney on 01425 471362 or 07395 855 404.

16 and 17 November 10am–4.30pm

Wimborne Art Club Christmas Exhibition at Pamphill Village Hall. 16 November 1pm

West Moors Horticultural Society lunch followed by presentation of cups and trophies at the Memorial Hall. Contact Sue Hamlett on 01202 871536.

16 November 7.30pm

Bournemouth Bach Choir perform Fauré & Duruflé Requiems at Christchurch Priory. Tickets: www. christchurchpriory.org.uk/events, call 01202 143870 or at the door.

18 November 10.30am–11.30am

Reading Friends group meets at Ferndown Library.

19 November 8pm

Wimborne Civic Society meets at the Allendale Centre, Wimborne for a talk on Dating the Cerne Giant. 22 November 8pm

Celticfolk host Irish musicians Dervish at Corfe Mullen Village Hall. Tickets £24. To book, call Adrian and Juli on 01202 083740 or Les and Linda on 01202 623740. For details, visit www.celticfolk.net.

23 November 10am–3pm

Artisan Makers Market at Wimborne Community Centre, King Street Car Park, BH21 1EA.

23 November 7.30pm

Quayside Choir and Christchurch

Singers present Vivaldi’s Gloria at St. Francis of Assisi Church, Charminster Road, Bournemouth BH8 9SH. Tickets from trybooking. com/uk/DXSK or on the door.

23 November 11am–2pm

MS Care Dorset Christmas Fayre, Church Lane, West Parley, BH22 8TS.

24 November 11am

Guided walk about Wimborne Minster. Starting in Square and lasting approximately one hour, just turn up. Free, but donations to mayor’s charities welcomed.

24 November 3pm

Piatti String Quartet at Kimmeridge House, Bournemouth University. Tickets bournemouthchambermusic. co.uk or on the door.

28 November 7.30pm

West Parley Gardening Club meets at the MS Centre, Dorset, Church Lane, West Parley, BH22 8TS. Stephen Oliver presents: The Introduction of Beavers to Dorset. For details, call Rod Darch on 01202 896711.

30 November 7pm

Fordingbridge Choral Society presents Messiah at St Mary’s Church. Tickets from ticketsource. co.uk/fordingbridgechoral or Fordingbridge Bookshop.

30 November 2.30pm

Old Tyme Music Music Hall Variety Show at the War Memorial Hall, Broadstone, Tudor Road. Book tickets via 0333 666 3366 or bluemoonentertainers.co.uk.

Remembrance 2024

Communities across the region will be marking Remembrance with services and parades. Here are the details for some of those events:

26 October 10am

Launch of Wimborne and District Poppy Appeal in Wimborne Square.

26 October 10.30am

Ferndown’s Poppy Launch at Ferndown Clock Tower.

2 November 10.45am

Service at the Commonwealth War Graves in Ringwood cemetery. Poppy crosses will be laid on the graves of service personnel whose last resting place is Ringwood.

10 November 9.45am

Service at St Michael and All Angels Church in Verwood followed by a parade to the War Memorial on Ferrett Green with a short service and wreath laying at 10.55am.

10 November 10.45am

West Moors Remembrance parade starts at 10.30am culminating at the Petwyn by the War Memorial for a service and wreath laying.

10 November 10.50am

Remembrance service in Poole Park.

10 November 10.55am

Remembrance service in the Middle Gardens, Bournemouth

10 November 11am

Parade from St Michael and All Angels’ Church in Colehill

10 November 11.30am

Remembrance Sunday services will take place around Ringwood after which a parade will gather in the Market Place. The procession will walk to the War Memorial Garden where a short service will take place, followed by the formal Act of Remembrance at 12noon. There will then be a formal wreath-laying ceremony and a procession back to Market Place.

10 November 2pm–4.30pm Service at St Mary’s Church and parade in Ferndown

10 November 3pm

Remembrance Sunday parade starts at the Royal British Legion in Wimborne at 2.40pm marching to a service in Wimborne Minster Church. Please be seated by 2.45pm. Wreath laying on the Minster Green after the service.

11 November 10.45am

Remembrance service in the Royal British Legion Remembrance Garden in Ferndown.

11 November 10.45am

A service will take place at the War Memorial Garden in Ringwood when a national two-minute silence will be observed at 11am.

11 November 10.50am

A service at the War Memorial on Ferrett Green in Verwood, followed by the mayor laying a wreath at the War Graves in St Michael & All Angels’ Cemetery.

Santa to swing to Monkey World

-Advertisement feature-

Between 18 and 21 December, Santa’s sleigh will touch down at Monkey World.

As well as meeting Santa and receiving a special present from him, your little monkeys can enjoy festive fare, a Christmas trail around the park, and even make a present for the primates with Santa’s elves. Primate adoptions also make a great Christmas gift and mean you can visit your adopted primate for free for a year.

Visiting Santa at Monkey World will help support the rescue and rehabilitation of primates, so help spread Christmas cheer by seeing Santa here. £10 plus entrance fee per child.

To register interest in seeing Santa, please email communications@monkeyworld.org. Spaces are limited, so early booking is advised.

PREVIEW Charley’s Aunt, Bournemouth Little Theatre

Bournemouth Little Theatre Club will perform ‘Charley’s Aunt’ in December at their venue in Winton.

This 1892 farce is the most celebrated of playwright Brandon Thomas’s career. It is about Oxford University students Jack and Charley who convince their friend, Lord Fancourt Babberley, to

pose as the latter’s aunt.

Described as an ageless classic comedy, the original London run of 1,466 performances broke historic records.

While some adaptations update the setting or the text, director Tim Fearon has decided to present the original in all its glory. Tim trained at RADA and

spent nine years working in theatre. He returned to acting in 2019 and has directed and appeared in several productions at Bournemouth Little Theatre.

Performances are at 7.45pm every evening from Tuesday 10 December to Saturday 14 December, plus a Saturday matinee at 2.30pm. Full price tickets

cost £14 plus booking fee. Concessions available. Book via bournemouthlittletheatre.co.uk.

PREVIEW This Secret Isle, Double Act, Corfe Castle Village Hall

Double Act drama group presents a new thriller, ‘This Secret Isle’, in late November.

Set in a pub in May 1942,

the play is about how the people of Purbeck stoically endured wartime restrictions and deprivations with typical British

humour and resolve.

The Isle of Purbeck contained well-guarded secrets that were vital to the war effort, such as the Telecommunication Research Establishment that developed radar at Worth Matravers and the giant Naval cordite factory at Holton Heath.

Following the arrest of spies on the island, the matriarch of a Wareham inn does all she can to keep her family safe but even she has no real idea who is sheltering under her own roof.

Based on recently released official secrets and published

memoirs, the play features and refers to incidents that did actually occur in the area during the time in which it is set.

Double Act has written and performed locally based factual productions over the past 30 years. ‘This Secret Isle’ will be performed on 21, 22 and 23 November at 7.30pm, plus a 2.30pm matinee on 23 November. Tickets cost £10 per adult, £5 for children, and underfives are free. Purchase tickets from Corfe Castle Village Stores or ticketsource.co.uk/doubleact-drama-group

The cast of ‘This Secret Isle’ © Double Act

REVIEW Discovery Village, Merritown Lane, Christchurch

By Luke Graham

There’s perhaps no better endorsement I can give for Discovery Village, Dorset’s new immersive role play centre, than telling you that at the end of our two-hour play session, my daughter burst into tears saying that she didn’t want to leave.

Located in Christchurch near to Bournemouth Airport, Discovery Village offers a theatrical and imaginative experience for children aged eight and under. Children can explore and play in eight different shops which include a hair salon, shop, vets, post office and more. Each shop contains appropriately themed toys, costumes and props, so that children can pretend to work in that shop, be a customer, or simply play!

My daughter loved pretending to be a hairdresser in the salon, while my son spent most of the play session making pizzas and ice creams in the Italian restaurant. My wife and I were impressed by the high quality of the toys available and the level of design. I especially appreciated the little jokes for adults added to the

Competition winner

In our August issue, we ran a competition in conjunction with Discovery Village offering readers a chance to win a family ticket for the play centre for two adults and two children. We received a total of 418 entries to the competition. The winner of the ticket was reader Carol Finning, who correctly answered that Discovery Village is located at the site of Adventure Wonderland in Christchurch. Congratulations, Carol!

posters and artwork around the Village.

Sessions are capped at 30 children, which ensures that the play space does not become too busy. Our session was at capacity, but there was still plenty of space to move around and lots of toys available for children.

Best of all, the play sessions are performer-led. Two actors came out to play, perform songs and read stories

to the children, giving adults a chance to sit and have a coffee and cake in the adjoining cafe. The actors are not only there to keep children occupied but encourage their imaginative play. My daughter loved interacting with them.

Discovery Village is an impressive piece of work that young children will love. We had so much fun that we booked to go again for Halloween!

christmas events

Your 2024 Xmas diary

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas

The nights are drawing in and the temperature is turning colder. Thankfully, there are plenty of festive events across the region to look forward to in the run-up to Christmas Day. Here are some highlights to look forward to in your local area.

Bournemouth

The Christmas Market will return to The Square in Bournemouth from 14 November until 1 January, with stallholders selling a range of food, drink and festive gifts. The Alpine Lodge will also be set up, offering mulled wine and cider, steins of beer and hot chocolate – a great destination for a Christmas party.

In the Lower Gardens, a Christmas Tree Wonderland will be set up from 15 November to 31 December. This free festive trail will feature replica Christmas trees from around the world plus several impressive illuminations and installations. Best enjoyed in the dark.

Broadstone

The 53rd Broadstone Christmas Parade will be held on Saturday 7 December. There will be market stalls open from 10am to 3pm along Lower Blandford Road, and the parade will begin at approximately 1.30pm from Story Lane.

Christchurch

There’s lots happening in Christchurch in the buildup to Christmas. Festivities begin with the return of the Christmas Lights Switch On, which takes place on Saturday 23 November. This event sees the town centre transform into a festive wonderland from 11am to 7pm, with market stalls along the High Street and in Saxon Square, as well as live music, Hush Club Disco, funfair rides and the chance to meet Father Christmas. The lights will be switched on at 5pm by the mayor of Christchurch and a special guest.

Soon after, there’s the highly anticipated Christchurch Living Advent Calendar (CLAC), which features free-to-attend events every day from 1 to 24 December. Each evening from 6pm to 7pm, a ‘door’ will be opened – just like a regular advent calendar – to reveal a surprise performance showcasing different local talents at various locations around the town. Expect to see singers, dancers, musicians, bands, theatre troupes and choirs.

Each event is in aid of a different local charity and sponsored by one of Christchurch’s generous businesses.

CLAC is organised by Christchurch Rotary Club with other local volunteers and is fully supported by Christchurch Town and BCP Councils. For details, visit christchurchlivingadventcalendar.org, pick up a leaflet around the town, or follow CLAC on Facebook and Instagram.

Ferndown

Christmas in Ferndown takes place on Saturday 30 November from 11am to 5pm on Pennys Walk outside The Barrington Centre. Organised by Ferndown & Parley Rotary Club, this is a free public event with entertainment for all the family, including market and food stalls, Santa’s grotto, music and entertainment. Ferndown’s Christmas tree lights will be switched on at 5pm.

Poole

From 23 November to 1 January, Poole will host a Christmas Maritime Light Trail leading from Falkland Square, along the High Street and onto Poole Quay. Installations along the route include a lit-up galleon, anchor, and 13m-tall blue sealife tree. A perfect spot for a Christmas selfie.

Wimborne

As well as its Christmas Lights Switch-On Day on Saturday 30 November (see page 15 for details), Wimborne will hold its annual Save the Children Parade from 2pm. The parade will feature dozens of floats as well as music and entertainment through the day. This yearly event was started by Margery Ryan when she was town mayor in 1989.

And don’t miss the Allendale Centre’s Christmas Craft Fair on Saturday 23 November from 10am to 4pm. It’s a great chance to purchase a unique, handcrafted Christmas gift for a loved one.

Verwood

Verwood Town Council and local groups have organised a Christmas Extravaganza on Saturday 30 November. Starting at 3pm on Ferrett Green, there will be food and drink stalls, Santa in his grotto, face painting and carol singing around the Christmas tree. There will be indoor activities at the nearby United Reformed Church.

Save the Children Parade in 2021 Hush Club Disco

Ferndown’s Christmas event is on 30 November

Wimborne’s lights in 2022

Last year’s Christmas Lights Switch On event in Christchurch © Oak Photography

The mayor and town crier of Christchurch in 2023 © Oak Photography

Cut your motoring costs

We’re all looking for ways of economising. Tweaking your driving habits could save you money.

Road works across the region require your car to be stationary for an irritating period of time. If you are at a standstill in traffic, consider switching off the engine until you start moving again. It is a common misconception that turning your engine on and off burns more fuel than leaving it idling. Modern cars now feature ‘stop start’ technology to automatically switch the engine off when at a standstill to reduce fuel consumption.

Try to combine multiple trips into one journey, rather than doing several smaller ones. This will save you time and conserve fuel. Use Google Maps to find the greenest route for your journey, with fewer hills, less traffic and more constant speeds.

Every time you brake and accelerate again, the engine uses more fuel. If you see traffic ahead, slow down early

by coming off the accelerator while keeping the car in gear. The traffic may be moving again by the time you approach it.

Driving at a constant speed helps to preserve fuel, rather than frequently speeding up and slowing down. Cutting your speed can also cut fuel consumption. According to the AA, dropping from 70mph to 60mph on major roads can cut fuel usage by around nine per cent.

Keep your tyres in good condition; they are the only part of your vehicle in constant contact with the road. Check them at least once a week for any damage and ensure they are at the correct pressure. Underinflated tyres can increase fuel consumption by creating more resistance when the car is moving. If your car is manual, make full use of the gears by changing them when it is most

effective. The Energy Saving Trust recommends shifting to a high gear early when accelerating, usually at around 2,000 to 2,500 revs per minute. They also suggest skipping gears when appropriate, like from third to fifth.

Making your vehicle lighter will reduce fuel usage, so try to remove any unnecessary items from the boot, footwell and seats.

Finally, consider removing

anything that creates unnecessary air resistance and drag. Cars are designed to be aerodynamic, but unused roof boxes or bike racks can have a negative impact, particularly at high speeds. According to the Vehicle Certification Agency, a roof box typically adds around 22 per cent to fuel consumption at 62mph and 39 per cent at 75mph.

Advice from www.zego. com/business-van-insurance.

Winter car checks

With winter around the corner, it’s important to check your vehicle is safe and ready for potentially treacherous weather conditions.

Breakdown provider the RAC recommends vehicle owners check their ‘FORCES’, which stands for fuel, oil, rubber, coolant, electrics and screen wash.

First, check your car has enough fuel for your journey. That may sound obvious, but cars use more fuel in heavy traffic and in start-stop conditions, which can happen regularly in winter. If the weather turns severe, it can take longer than expected to complete a trip.

Second, check your oil level using the dip stick and top up if necessary. A lack of

oil can cause problems to your engine.

Third, check the rubber of your tyres and wiper blades. If the wiper blades are split or dirty, they may fail to clean your windscreen. For your tyres, check the tread is deep enough to help you maintain contact with the road during wet conditions. The RAC recommends a minimum tread of 3mm. Try inserting a 20p coin into the main grooves of your tyre. If you can’t see the coin’s outer band, then your tread is above the limit. If not, your tyres may need replacing. Fourth, top up your coolant so

the liquid rests between the min and max marks on the side of the tank.

Fifth, check your lights and indicators are working properly and replace bulbs or fuses if required. Batteries often fail during the winter, so check if yours needs replacing.

Finally, top up your screenwash with a product that works down to at least -15 degrees Celsius. This will help to keep the windscreen free of ice and dirt caused by road salting and gritting which can lead to visibility issues. Drive safe!

BUYER BEWARE

Christmas is around the corner, and it may be tempting to get gifts or revamp your home with second-hand furniture from online sites like Facebook Marketplace or Gumtree.

You may find a bargain but be careful. Here are five things to consider when buying second-hand furniture online.

Check for shoddy DIY

When buying second-hand flatpack furniture, check how well it has been assembled. Look for signs of glue; if you need to disassemble furniture parts containing glue, they may get destroyed, ruining your purchase.

Inspect the woodwork

Try to inspect the item before you buy. Look for cracks, loose joints, woodworm or wobbly legs, which affect the item’s structural integrity.

Spot fake sellers

Sometimes a bargain is too good to be true. Examine the seller’s profile for signs of fraud. Do they have no profile picture? Are they a new account with no ratings? Does their profile have little information? Have they listed the same item more than once? If the answer is yes to any of these, find a more trustworthy seller.

Stay on the platform

Scammers will suggest exchanging emails or phone

numbers to discuss a sale, but it is safer to stick to communicating via the platform where the item is listed.

Be careful how you pay

If purchasing locally, do not pay in advance and meet the seller in a public location where you can safely assess the item. If an item must be shipped, insist on tracking so you can monitor when it is posted. And if paying via PayPal, choose the ‘goods and services’ method, which gives you Buyer Protection and allows you to request a refund.

Advice from www. roselandfurniture.com.

Don’t let your duvet get you down

By Sarah Graham

If you’ve ever tried to recycle your old duvet or pillows, like me, you have probably struggled and resorted to taking it to the local tip.

However, there are solutions. Retailer Dunelm operates a ‘textiles takeback’ recycling scheme in many of its stores, including the one in Turbary retail park on Ringwood Road. It accepts all clean home textiles including duvets, pillows, bedding, towels and curtains.

If you’re not able to get to the store, that’s okay. Dunelm has partnered with The Salvation Army so you can schedule a collection from your home for free.

Once received, Dunelm will aim to rehome any usable

textiles. Those that are at the end of their life will be recycled into yarn to create new fabric.

Dunelm uses these fabrics within their Conscious Choice Remade collection of products made from at least 40% pre-

loved materials. For more information, visit dunelm.com/ info/about/take-back-scheme.

Alternatively, contact your local animal shelter. Your old bedding could keep a dog or cat warm at night.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Home recycling

Dorset Council now accept cartons and foil in kerbside recycling bin collections instead of car park recycling banks. Food and drink cartons for products such as soup and juice can now be recycled alongside your usual recycling collection. This brings areas covered by Dorset Council in line with BCP, which already accepts cartons and foil.

Cartons have been difficult for the council to recycle in the past as they are similar to cardboard when being sorted mechanically but may contain foil and plastic. The council’s sorting partners are now able to separate these cartons for recycling.

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Dorset funeral director climbs mountain for charity

The head of a Dorset funeral business set out in October to climb England’s highest peak to raise money for charities his late father supported.

Nick Douch also took wife Donna and daughters Lakeisha and Tamika to the summit of Scafell Pike in the Lake District on 19 October.

The family are raising money for the Rotary clubs of Wimborne, and St Lucia in the Caribbean – both of which were supported by Nick’s father Peter who died last year.

Peter, who met his wife in St Lucia

and was chairman of the family business until shortly before he died, was active in both Rotary clubs and they are the business’s charity for the year.

Scafell Pike is 3,209ft high (978m) and takes three-to-four hours to climb – and on average two people die each year attempting it.

Nick said: “Colleagues have done some wonderful fundraising to support the two Rotary clubs, and I was keen to do something with my family. We have climbed several peaks before, but we’ve never attempted the highest in the country,

which will be quite a task. However, we’ll be motivated by the thought that we’ll be raising money for two good causes.”

Douch Family Funeral Directors has seven branches across Dorset. To make a donation, visit funeraldirector.co.uk/ fundraiser/charity-of-the-year-2024.

Dorset-based Spetisbury Construction celebrated its 40th anniversary in September with a family day at the Captain’s Club in Christchurch. Over 80 people attended, including staff, partners and children. The centrepiece was a cake modelled on the company’s head office in Wimborne. The contractor has occupied Leigh House for 18 years but decided to buy the landmark Georgian property this year and bring it within the company. Established in 1984, Spetisbury employs around 44 staff.

Nick Douch, right, with his father Peter