The Mudeford Mag | May 2023

Local History: King John

Welcome to The Mudefor d Mag

S8

Even though the weather may not always confirm this, but spring has definitely sprung. It’s incredible that plants and flowers are somehow able to know, that May, the most colourful time of the year, is looming.

With the King’s Coronation set for May 6th, plans for celebrating are already being made and preparations for street parties and family get togethers are well under way. What a fantastic start to the year; all that’s needed is a bit of sunshine to make it a perfect day.

If you are a budding ornithologist, your assistance is needed to provide sightings of the swift. The population of these birds has fallen dramatically over recent years and your help would be greatly appreciated by Christchurch Harbour Ornithological Group to reverse this decline. Details on page S18.

Best Wishes, Julie

Disclaimer: Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that data in this publication is accurate, the publisher cannot accept any liability to any party for loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence , accident or any other cause. The Mudeford Mag does not officially endorse any advertising material included within this publication. No part of this publication may be produced, stored in any retrieval systems or transmitted in any form, without prior permission of the publisher.

8. Competition

14. Flamborough Lighthouse

18. Spanish Kitchen Recipe

20. Puzzles

22. Advantages of Being Left handed

24. Garden Design

S2. What’s On at the Regent.

S4. Facts About Gum Disease

S6. Travel: Alaska

S12. Wine of the Month

S18. Bird Watching

S30. Short Story

S32. Recipe: Swiss Roll

66. RNLI Mudeford Fund Raising Crew

68. Church News

70. Book Review

Editor: Julie Smith

Tel: 01425 270100 or 07762 701271

Email: julie@themudefordmag.co.uk

www.themudefordmag.co.uk

Front Cover Photo: John Clarke

Graphic Design: Rivista Design

Printed by Micropress

'John portrayed by Oscar Isaac in the 2010 film 'Robin Hood' which starred Russell Crowe as Robin' (Movie Stills Database).

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Start to feed citrus plants

Gardening Jobs for April & May

Sow garden favourite biennials foxgloves, hollyhocks as well as annuals

Feed spring bulbs to encourage greater blooms next year

Tie in climbing and rambling roses

Sow greenhouse crops such as tomatoes

Earth up potatoes and promptly plant any still remaining

Plant out sweet pea plants

Trim and feed hedges

Regularly hoe off weeds

All equipment and essentials needed for the above jobs can be found in store, ask any member of staff for assistance

www.stewarts.co.uk

/StewartsGardenCentres @StewartsGardenC @StewartsGardenCentres

SPRING AT STUDIO ARKELL

With Easter, two May Bank Holidays to enjoy, and Summertime within touching distance, now is a great time to dust off those plans and aspirations for your home and workplace, creating the flexible space you dream of that works hard for you.

Studio Arkell is a friendly and approachable Chartered Architect’s practice, with a talented and growing team led by Hannah Arkell, in her home town of Christchurch, Dorset.

Hannah has travelled & studied in Manchester, London and Copenhagen, and worked in London, Stuttgart and the South Coast to qualify with First Class Honours and Distinction as an ARB & RIBA accredited architect.

‘Design is individual and unique in its appeal to each person, I aim to bring these elements together to give each client something beautiful and practical that meets their own hopes and imaginings, whatever scale or size the project’ says Hannah

If you are looking for a local Architect for advice, Studio Arkell would be happy to help with the smallest household reconfiguration right up to large & innovative commercial or investment plans. Having successfully designed and gained planning for projects right across the New Forest and South Coast, Studio Arkell has the experience and creativity to help bring your vision of new spaces and schemes to life.

To take advantage of a limited offer of a complimentary 1-hour Design Consultation – please get in touch with Hannah or her Team at Studio Arkell today.

You can find us in our new offices, just off the top of Christchurch High Street – we needed more space too! We’d love to see you so why not pop in and say hello!

A: 5, Castle Street, Christchurch, Dorset, BH23 1DP

T: 01202 232423

Enquire for a free consultation.

E: info@studioarkell.com

W: www.studioarkell.com

5, Castle Street, Christchurch

Authentic Mediterranean Cuisine with Chef José

Traditional Churros

Ingredients

300g water

250g strong or plain flourr

1/2 teaspoon salt

Oil for frying

Sugar for coating

Preparation

In a saucepan, heat water with salt and bring to the boil.

Pour the flour into a large bowl and heat in the oven at 60°C for 5 minutes, stirring several times.

Remove the bowl from the oven and pour the boiling water over the flour.

Stir vigorously until the dough separates from the walls (about 5 or 6 minutes). This can also be done in a dough mixer.

Put the dough in a churro machine with a fluted outlet and form the churros.

Fry in plenty of oil, at 190°C or 200°C, in batches of 2 or 3. When golden brown, remove and place on absorbent paper.

Toss in sugar and serve hot.

Note - Churros can explode for several reasons:

• Churro dough is too runny

• Making the churro with piping bags or similar that do not compact the dough sufficiently

• Use of pastry flour for the churro dough

Experience the flavour of the Mediterranean, cuisine with soul, made with love, to teach and transmit the Gastronomic Culture of Spain.

With simple, fresh, aromatic, varied ingredients, full of flavour and sunshine. We make 100% Spanish food to enjoy and share. We don’t sell anything, everything on this channel is free and authentic.

Watch me prepare this and other meals on my youtube channel: https://youtube.com/c/TheSpanishKitchen

eMail me: thespanishkitchen@outlook.com

Letting your holiday home has never been easier

To meet the ever-increasing demand from our guests for luxury coastal holiday homes on our beautiful stretch of coastline, we're always looking for new properties to join our curated portfolio. We are small independent letting agency, focused on an area that we know well and truly love.

Our local team, based in Mudeford, is well placed to make the process of sharing your holiday home easy and enjoyable. As a Christchurch Bay Coastal Escape homeowner, you will enjoy: Local team with local knowledge

Proven Benefits of Being Left Handed

Advantages of being left-handed

We often end up complaining about the frustrations of being left-handed, but there are plenty of advantages as well.

With only about 10% of the population being left-handed, lefties are a serious minority. While they’ve endured a serious amount of prejudice (the word for left in almost every language has a less then positive connotation) and even aggression over the years, today, many left-handed people are proud of their unusual handedness. And why not? After all, they have to survive and thrive in a world designed for those who are right handed. The next time someone teases you about your left-handedness, bring up one of these facts that show that being left-handed just might be a genetic blessing after all, offering you bigger and better abilities that can help you do everything from get a degree to kick butt at video games.

Left-handed stroke victims recover faster than right handed stroke victims. While the reasons behind this aren’t entirely clear, some believe it’s due to left-handed people having to strengthen both sides of the brain when navigating a right handed world. Because many lefties are better able to use their non-dominant hand, it is easier for them to recover from a stroke that damages one part of their brain. Of course, recovery for those suffering from stroke is never easy, no matter which is their dominant hand.

Left-handed people adjust more easily to seeing underwater.

Bizarre as it may sound, one of the benefits of being left-handed is being able to adjust to see the world around you when you’re underwater. While you may not need this ability very often, it could come in handy

if you live by the sea or enjoy swimming. While it’s not clear why this is so, scientists think it has something to do with a different part of the brain being dominant in lefthanded individuals.

Lefties are better able to multi-task. One of the advantages of being left-handed is that it forces your brain to think more quickly. What this means for everyday life is that those who are lefties may find it easier to multi-task and deal with a large, sometimes unorganised stream of information. Researchers found that conversations between the left and right sides of the brain happen more quickly in left-handed people. The more dominant the left-handedness is, the better these abilities are.

Some left-handed individuals have better memories.

While it isn’t true for all who are left-handed, data from recent studies suggests that those who come from families of lefties tend to have better memories, though only of the episodic kind. The odd thing about this study, however, was that individuals didn’t necessarily need to be left-handed themselves to have a better memory - just come from a family of lefties.

As well as being the first ever store in the world to focus on left-handed products (back in 1968), we are first and foremost a one stop shop for products, knowledge, help and community.

Whether you were born left-handed or now have to use your left hand through accident or illness, we aim to provide solutions to help with many of the challenges that still face us in a right handed world.

Call 01737 888269

www.anythinglefthanded.co.uk

CREATING A MEDITERRANEAN GARDEN

With the likelihood of having longer drier summers in the future creating a Mediterranean style garden makes a lot of sense. They are often described as ‘gravel’ or ‘ dry gardens’ as they are finished off with a thick gravel or pebble mulch - the advantage of doing this is that it saves a lot of watering and weeding.

Plants need to be drought tolerant, tough and in keeping with the whole ethos of the style. Some suitable plants are:

 Olive Trees

 Trachycarpus Fortunei Palms

 Cupressus Sempervirens (Tuscan Cypress)

 Lavender

 Perovskia

 Agapanthus

 and many more

If you are looking for some design inspiration to create an exciting new garden -Colin Knapman T:01425 655038 M:07925 166767

Check out website: www.ckgardendesign.co.uk

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APRIL

VERMEER – THE BLOCKBUSTER EXHIBITION (RATING TBC)

SUN 23 APRIL: 14:30 (SUBTITLED)

This new Exhibition on Screen film invites audiences toaprivateviewofthelargestVermeerexhibitionin history,accompaniedthecuratoroftheshow.

MILTON MUSICAL SOCIETY PRESENTS KIPPS: THE NEW HALF A SIXPENCE MUSICAL (LIVE)

WED 26 – SAT 29 APRIL

Kippsfeatureswellknownmusicalnumberssuchas PickoutaSimpleTune,Flash,Bang,Wallopandof courseHalfaSixpence.Thisisthefeel-good showfortheentirefamily.

MET OPERA: CHAMPION (RATING TBC)

SUN 30 APRIL: 19:00

MAY

ROYAL OPERA HOUSE: THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO (12A)

TUE 2 MAY: 19:00

BANFF MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL (12A)

THU 4 MAY: 19:30 (RED FILM PROGRAMME)

FRI 20 OCT: 10:30 (BLUE FILM PROGRAMME)

Embarkonathrillingnightofadventurewithabrandnew collection of short films from the world’s most prestigiousmountainfilmfestival!

THE MANFREDS: 60 YEARS OF HITS, JAZZ AND BLUES TOUR (LIVE)

FRI 5 MAY: 19:30

TheManfredsreturntoChristchurchaspartoftheir 60thAnniversarycelebrations.

THE BOHEMIANS: QUEEN’S GREATEST HITS (LIVE)

SAT 6 MAY: 19:30

AComprehensivere-enactmentof Queens Greatest Hits

THE D-DAY DARLINGS: KING’S CORONATION TOUR (LIVE)

WED 10 MAY: 19:30

TheBritCertified&Best-SellingFemalegrouptocome from Britain’s Got Talent.

IN THE COURT OF THE CRIMSON KING (15)

THU 11 MAY: 20:30

IntheCourtoftheCrimsonKingisadark,comicfilm foranyonewhowonderswhetheritisworthsacrificing everythingforjustasinglemomentoftranscendence.

We

MAY

SPACEBALLS (PG)

FRI 12 MAY: 20:00 [35MM]

Classic1987sci-ficomedy.PresentedbyDirtinthe GateMovies,screeningfromanoriginal theatrical35mmprint

ROY G HEMMING’S HITS OF MOTOWN (LIVE)

SAT 13 MAY: 19:30

OriginalDriftersmemberRoyGHemming’sbrings togetherthesoundofthreeofAmerica’siconicLabels Motown,theSoundofPhiladelphiaandStaxAtlantic, inoneaction-packedshow.

REGENT COMEDY CLUB WITH ANDY PARSONS (LIVE)

WED 17 MAY: 19:30

JoiningAndyisasensationalbillwithfellowMockThe WeekstarTomWard,aspecialguesttobe announcedandhyperactivemasterstand-up Jarred Christmas as host.

NT LIVE: BEST OF ENEMIES (RATING TBC)

THU 18 MAY: 19:00 | SUN 21 MAY: 13:00

DavidHarewood(Homeland)andZacharyQuinto(Star Trek)playfeudingpoliticalrivalsinJamesGraham’s (Sherwood)multipleaward-winningnewdrama.

THE OPERA BOYS: A NIGHT AT THE MUSICALS (LIVE)

FRI 19 MAY: 19:30

FrommoderndayhitmusicalslikeMammaMiaand Hairspray,toclassicsfromthelikesofGershwinand Rodgers&Hammerstein,thisshowhasitall!

MET OEPRA: DON GIOVANNI (RATING TBC)

SUN 21 MAY: 19:00

EXHIBITION ON SCREEN: TOKYO STORIES (RATING TBC)

TUE 23 MAY: 20:00 (SUBTITLED)

ThisnewExhibitiononScreenfilmisathrillingencounterwithoneoftheworld’sgreatartcapitals.

ROYAL BALLET: THE SLEEPING BEAUTY (12A)

WED 24 MAY: 19:15 (LIVE)

SUN 28 MAY: 14:00 (ENCORE)

BMT PRESENTS: SHREK THE MUSICAL (LIVE)

WED 31 MAY – SAT 3 JUNE

Featuringallthecharactersthatyouknowandlove withsomefantastic,upliftingsongsthatwillkeepyour hoofstappingallthewayoutofthetheatre.

are constantly adding new films. To see our upcoming titles, please visit our website www.theregent.co.uk or pick up a film list in-person. All information is correct at the time of publication.

Mud Huts of Mudeford Ltd –

Holiday Lettings Company

SHOWCASE YOUR HOLIDAY PROPERTY AND MAXIMISE YOUR BOOKINGS BY ADVERTISING ON ALL THE ‘GO TO’ HOLIDAY SITES FOR JUST 12%

Let us manage your enquiries and bookings giving you peace of mind that your response rates will remain high and that your property will get the bookings it deserves.

For just 12% plus vat – bookings are centrally managed and made via Airbnb, Holiday Lettings/Trip Advisor, VRBO and our own website www.mudhuts.life

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REMOVE THE HASSLE AND LEAVE YOUR HOLIDAY LETTINGS IN OUR CAPABLE HANDS

For more information, please call jane on 0780 1679985 or email jane@mudhuts.life

Mud Huts is a locally based holiday lettings company that has been operating since 2006. The business is owned by husband and wife team Ian and Jane and supported by a team of experienced customer service professionals.

We provide a service that is designed for owners, who manage their own properties in terms of cleaning and maintenance needs and wish to gain maximum exposure by advertising with all the major ‘go to’ holiday agencies without the personal overhead.

“Everyone has their favourite go to,” says Jane, “and what we offer is a back-office system that links to our own website www.mudhuts.life along with the likes of Airbnb, Holiday Lettings/Trip Advisor and Vrbo. We have a dedicated team who are constantly answering enquiries from potential guests. It is often the first people to respond who get the booking and as we already have ‘Superhost’ status, we have a great reputation giving new guests the confidence that their booking will be handled in a professional, friendly and efficient manner.”

Keeping up with constant enquiries can be time consuming for owners and linking calendars together to ensure no double bookings are made is very onerous without the systems to support it.

Owners/operators may be using a similar model with one agency, but this model gives maximum exposure on all the main sites at a highly reduced rate.

Gum Disease: A myth or a major health risk

By Dr Ella Aslani DDS Stockholm at Copper Beech Clinic, Christchurch

I chose this subject because I know it is an underdiagnosed and over-represented health risk in the UK population.

What is gum disease, why is it a major health risk?

Gum disease (Periodontitis) is a bacterial infection and inflammation of gums and supporting tissues around the teeth. The main cause of gum disease is Poor oral hygiene, poor diet, stress, and neglect. Genetic susceptibility and smoking are also important risk factors.

Our mouths are full of bacteria. These bacteria, along with mucus and other particles, constantly form a sticky, colourless “plaque” on teeth. If plaque is not removed regularly, this will cause the first stage of gums disease, Gingivitis.

Gingivitis is inflammation in the gums. Symptoms are typically red, swollen, and sore gum which may bleed.

Studies in the USA and the UK suggest that some degree of gingivitis affects 50–90% of the adult population.

Untreated gingivitis will progress to Periodontitis. Plaque that is not removed can harden and form “tartar” that brushing cannot remove. Tartar with bacteria will creep under the gums and causes

inflammation to deeper tissues and underlying bone structure that hold teeth in place. Left untreated - this would cause bone loss and loosening of the tooth, ultimately resulting in loss of tooth.

Almost 50% of adults in the UK have a degree of gum disease that is not reversible.

The main symptoms of Chronic gum disease are bad breath, receding gums, sensitivity, dark-hard deposits along the gum lines, abscess, loose tooth and teeth loss.

There are a few risk factors for gum disease, but smoking is the most significant. Smoking also can make treatment for gum disease less successful. Other risk factors include diabetes; hormonal changes in girls and women; diabetes; medications that lessen the flow of saliva; certain illnesses, such as AIDS, and their medications.

According to UKHSA, 2021Office for National Statistics, 2000

•Plaque was visible in 72% of people.

•Tartar was visible in 73% of people.

•Periodontal pocketing was present in 54% of people — indicative of periodontitis.

Diabetes is known to increase the risk of gum disease, but despite this 50% of sufferers have never been given any

information on the risks of gum disease by their dentist or doctors. Periodontitis has similar links with other systemic conditions, including Alzheimer’s and heart disease. Other studies show association of gum disease and different type of cancers. researchers are convinced the chronic inflammation caused by gum disease is weaking the immune response and body fails to fight other diseases like cancer. It just goes to show how serious gum disease is, and how frequently it’s underestimated by the public and healthcare professionals alike. (It also underlines why it’s so important to properly look after your gums).

information on the risks of gum disease by their dentist or doctors. Periodontitis has similar links with other systemic conditions, including Alzheimer’s and heart disease. Other studies show association of gum disease and different type of cancers. researchers are convinced the chronic inflammation caused by gum disease is weaking the immune response and body fails to fight other diseases like cancer. It just goes to show how serious gum disease is, and how frequently it’s underestimated by the public and healthcare professionals alike. (It also underlines why it’s so important to properly look after your gums).

Gum disease is irreversible but can be treated easily by a dental professional during early stages. Only a professional cleaning by a dentist or dental hygienist can remove tartar and restore healthy gums. This together with good home care routine will reverse the progression of gum disease and stabilises the gums so people who are affected can keep their natural teeth longer. Gum disease – in its later stages – has the capacity to seriously damage our confidence.

Gum disease is irreversible but can be treated easily by a dental professional during early stages. Only a professional cleaning by a dentist or dental hygienist can remove tartar and restore healthy gums. This together with good home care routine will reverse the progression of gum disease and stabilises the gums so people who are affected can keep their natural teeth longer. Gum disease – in its later stages – has the capacity to seriously damage our confidence.

We are such complex beings that it’s easy to forget all systems are linked. For example, we visit an optician for our eyes, a dentist for our teeth, and a GP for general health issues. It can be easy to think of these as very separate things but in fact, conditions like gum disease could affect the rest of your body in ways one might not expect.

We are such complex beings that it’s easy to forget all systems are linked. For example, we visit an optician for our eyes, a dentist for our teeth, and a GP for general health issues. It can be easy to think of these as very separate things but in fact, conditions like gum disease could affect the rest of your body in ways one might not expect.

When I started at dental school in Sweden 30 years ago, I was trained to treat a dental patient as whole. This meant as a dental student I had to take the full medical history and find out everything about them before examining their mouth. Once I figured out

When I started at dental school in Sweden 30 years ago, I was trained to treat a dental patient as whole. This meant as a dental student I had to take the full medical history and find out everything about them before examining their mouth. Once I figured out

what was wrong, I developed a short and long-term plan to make their mouth healthy again.

what was wrong, I developed a short and long-term plan to make their mouth healthy again.

I still continue with the same, holistic approach in providing dental care to all my patients.

I still continue with the same, holistic approach in providing dental care to all my patients.

I see a number of new patients on emergency appointments. By far 99% of these patients who came through my door for toothache/abscess etc, have had severe undiagnosed and untreated gum disease that very few of them were aware of. It transpired that the majority of these patients did not visit dentist regularly!

I see a number of new patients on emergency appointments. By far 99% of these patients who came through my door for toothache/abscess etc, have had severe undiagnosed and untreated gum disease that very few of them were aware of. It transpired that the majority of these patients did not visit dentist regularly!

Gum disease in its most common form is a chronic disease that do not cause major discomfort but is a serious health risk. The widespread misconception is that the gum disease affects only one’s mouth is a fundamental misunderstanding. If we could tackle the issue by education and awareness, we are already one big step towards prevention.

Gum disease in its most common form is a chronic disease that do not cause major discomfort but is a serious health risk. The widespread misconception is that the gum disease affects only one’s mouth is a fundamental misunderstanding. If we could tackle the issue by education and awareness, we are already one big step towards prevention.

copperbeechclinc.co.uk Reception@copperbeechclinic.co.uk

New Cunard 2024 Alaska voyages now available to book

Cunard’s new voyages to Alaska for 2024 and 2025 are now available to book. A Cunard voyage in Alaska is a journey to a place like no other on Earth, on a ship like no other – the Queen Elizabeth with her vast decks perfect for contemplating the glacial landscape around you and for spotting humpback whales, dolphins, sea otters and other thrilling wildlife. Alaskan rangers are on-hand with local knowledge and tips for sighting basking sea lions, orca pods and majestic bald eagles, and there are also almost famous explorers and cultural heritage guides sharing captivating tales with guests.

Your Alaska voyage always includes at least two sea days. You can try your hand at ice carving, or perfect your mixology skills with a cocktail masterclass, but there’s equally plenty of scope to simply curl up with a blanket and a hot toddy to stargaze from the deck. There’s also lots of opportunities to indulge your taste buds in regional inspirations, whether that be an Alaska Bloody Mary breakfast in bed, the Champagne Afternoon Tea

in the elegant Queen’s Room or a meal in Frontier, Cunard’s Alaska dining experience.

No Cunard voyage is complete without a gala evening – the elegant and even iconic Ice White Ball with its Alaskathemed menu.

Cunard’s Alaska 2024 voyages –sailing from May to September

Departing from Vancouver on a series of 9- to 11-night round-trip voyages to Alaska, the Queen Elizabeth invites you to immerse yourself in a dazzling landscape and to enjoy fascinating stop-offs that may include Ketchikan with its colourful native totem poles, Sitka with its 22 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, and the mighty Hubbard Glacier.

On shore, you’ve no shortage of space to explore, independently or in the company of expert guides. In Icy Strait Point you can opt to join a whale-watching expedition on a catamaran, ride the

world’s largest zip-wire or go on a bear hunt along the Spasski River Valley, while Glacier Bay National Park will enchant you with its ice-capped mountains and towering glaciers. Haines with its quirky hammer museum is a brilliant spot for kayaking, or stay on dry land with a mountain hike. You’ll also find a hub of outdoor activities to enjoy in the state’s capital, Juneau, including an excursion to the Mendenhall Glacier.

The Queen Elizabeth combines Art Deco elegance and refinement with contemporary styling in a design that pays homage to Cunard’s illustrious maritime past but celebrates the future too. The Cunard experience is supremely civilised, with fine food, dressing up for dinner, rounds of croquet on the Games Deck, relaxing over perfectly blended G&Ts at Gin & Fizz, and taking a dip in the Pavilion Pool under the open sky.

Cunard has been setting the bar, and then raising it, for 180 years – refining the experience of ocean travel and enabling its guests to travel the world in the ultimate comfort and style, while doing as much or as little as they like, with no everyday responsibilities to think about and the knowledge that all the finer details have been taken care of.

To book Cunard’s cruise to Alaska for 2024 or 2025 contact me today.

SALLY PULLEN

TRAVEL

COUNSELLOR

T: 01202 375150

M: 07929 626156

E: sally.pullen@travelcounsellors.com

W: www.travelcounsellors.com/sally.pullen

zdenek-machacekUnSplash

LOCAL HISTORY King John (1166-1216)

Before I have another dip into my rogues’ gallery of historical figures with some tenuous link to Christchurch, I must thank those who got in touch after my previous column on Lord Bute. I’m so pleased my witticisms afforded you some guffaws. As my delightful editor, Julie, said to me: ‘Sometimes toilet humour works best’ (or words to that effect).

So, King John (1166-1216), the panto villain of all those Robin Hood movies, a baddie par excellence who got nobbled by his barons, lost his jewels in the Wash (that’s ‘the Wash’ as in the sea not the Hotpoint) and died after gorging on a surfeit of peaches. If you plan on opening a tin anytime soon please do share them around.

I include John in my round-up of Christchurch bods because he visited our place more times than any other monarch, ten times to be precise. There’s a stone next to the Constable’s House telling us as much. He liked hunting in the New Forest, established of course by his Norman ancestors as a royal hunting ground, so was up the road. He also visited Corfe quite a bit as he

had the builders in at the castle. There, his visits have been explained, Christchurch betwixt the stag and the site foreman.

John was dubbed ‘Lackland’ as he was Henry II’s youngest son and therefore had minimal prospects. He was appointed Governor in Ireland in 1185 but an early example of his misconduct saw him brought home. His elder Bruv and King, Richard I (the Lionheart) was forever away on Crusade and it was on one of these expeditions he managed to get himself incarcerated in Austria. John did what any disloyal younger sibling would do and tried to seize the throne for himself. Boo, hiss. Richard did actually forgive John and nominated him his successor on his deathbed.

John wangled a divorce in 1200 so he could marry the rather attractive Isabella of Angoulême and by Easter 1203 he’d disposed of a rival to the throne, his nephew Arthur. John’s quarrels with the French King, Philip, saw most of England’s continental possessions lost, whilst his disagreement with the Pope saw him excommunicated in 1209. John’s next struggle was with his barons leading ultimately to his sealing of Magna Carta in June 1215 at Runnymede, the original basis of our constitution. John tried to wriggle out of the provisions, however, resulting in the First Barons’ War with the French Dauphin, Louis, putting himself up as an alternative English king.

John’s situation was already desperate when he died at Newark on 19th October 1216 aged 49. His reign was not all bad. He had some victories such as obtaining the homage of the Scots’ king and putting down rebellions in Ireland and Wales, plus there were administrative improvements, however, he will always be remembered as one of our monarchical rotters.

By Stephen Roberts www.steveroberts.org.uk Twitter: @SRChristchurch eMail: littleval@talktalk.net

John portrayed by Oscar Isaac in the 2010 film ‘Robin Hood’ which starred Russell Crowe as Robin. (Movie Stills Database)

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13.5% £11.79

Spain - Ucles Castilla Mancha (east of Madrid) Organic since 2017

Voted as outstanding at my last wine tasting, this super interesting white exhibits a lovely grassy/gooseberry flavour from the sauvignon coupled with fuller/rounder mineral and fennel notes from the 30% Verdejo.

67 Bargates, Christchurch

BH23 1QE

We are delivering locally 6 days a week (Deliveries of 6 bottles or more)

01202 485965

graham.bonafide@gmail.com

Open 6 days a week

Tuesday to Sunday 12pm to 8pm

Monday CLOSED

‘good luscious lovely blend’ Graham

Established in 1940s in Christchurch (formerly known as the Stephen House Dental Practice), we have built a strong local reputation for delivering high quality dental care, cosmetic treatments and wellbeing services for the whole family. We deliver the very best in dental care, non -surgical facial aesthetic procedures and general well-being services using state of the art equipment. Our brand-new site offers a warm, relaxed and caring environment. We are fully committed to delivering excellence - tailored to your needs to achieve natural and beautiful results. We provide:

 Same day EMERGENCY appointments

 Dental Implants including “teeth in one-day”

 Invisalign® invisible braces

 Teeth whitening

 Crowns and bridges

 Hygienist services

 Nervous patients

 Non-surgical facial aesthetic and cosmetic procedures

 Affordable Pay -monthly membership plans available

 Children seen under NHS when family member is registered

 We speak your language (English, Portuguese, Swedish, German, Persian)

 Disabled access

 Online appointment booking

https://copperbeechclinic.co.uk

reception@copperbeechclinic.co.uk

Mrs. Ella Aslani | Mr. Eduardo Boni-Colle | Miss. Juliana Schveitzer da Silva

CHOGGERS

CHRISTCHURCH AND BOURNEMOUTH SWIFTS NEED OUR HELP!

By Gregg Lambe

We will be releasing an article to the Bournemouth and Dorset Echo in the coming months with a request to the general public to assist us with a project we will be undertaking. We want to inform you of this project first and ask for your help.

Nesting in the eaves of our buildings and other small gaps in our homes, Swifts make the return journey from sub-Saharan Africa each year to breed in Dorset and the wider UK. These enigmatic birds which are the fastest bird in level flight, who eat, sleep and mate on the wing, not touching the ground for years at a time, need our help.

The UK population of Swifts has fallen alarmingly. In just 20 years more than half of these birds have disappeared. This is mirrored in the BCP area!

An important contributing factor to this decline is the loss of nest sites on our buildings. This is due to changes in the way we build and maintain our houses and other suitable nest site structures. Whereas Swifts were previously able to find a crack or a hole to get into and build a nest, many of these access points have disappeared. Because of this, and as they return from Africa to the same spot each year, many discover that their nest site is no longer there, and being loyal to their traditional nest sites, they are not able to breed and our Swift population declines further.

We want to reverse this trend and will be working with Birds of Poole Harbour (BoPH) and Dorset Birds to achieve it. We at CHOG want our members to report Swift sightings. In particular we are interested to know:

• Where groups of Swifts are flying at speed around roof height, often calling out loudly, as this means they’re likely to be breeding nearby.

• Swifts entering holes and gaps in buildings as this is evidence of a nest or nesting attempt.

We prefer not to have reports of Swifts flying high in the sky, feeding over water or fields, or away from settlements as these birds could have travelled long distances and may not be local breeding birds.

The best time to look for nesting swifts will be from late May to late July, around dusk on warm still evenings or early in the morning. All you need to do is to look out of your window, go into your garden, or take a walk and look for Swifts displaying the above behaviour.

By reporting these sightings, you will help to build a picture of where current swift nest sites need to be protected and where it would be best to provide new nest sites in the future.

If you would like to play an active role in helping to reverse the decline of these birds in our area you will be able to report your sightings, when the Swifts return at the end of April / beginning of May, to sightings@chog.org.uk. Please include your name, the name of the road where you saw the Swifts, and what they were doing.

We look forward to working with you to increase our Swift population and will give you more details as we get closer to the return of these delightful birds. To join CHOG please visit the website CHOG.org.uk

Recording, Promoting and Conserving the Wildlife of the Christchurch Harbour Area

SwiftbyJeanSouthworth

Photo: Matheus Ferrero-UnSplash

Is yo ur co nser va to ry to oc old inth ew in te r and

Whateverthedesignofyourconservatorytheguaranteeisthatitwillbe usableeverydayandnightoftheyearwhatevertheweather.

A Fishy Tale

By Colin Seager

It was early January. I’d just returned home from one of my favourite walks off the main paths in the local Nature Reserve. There I could always find a spot to be on my own, away from the distracting tinnitus of modern life. That day I’d stopped for ten minutes at the place where, about four months earlier, I’d been fascinated by the antics of a queen bumblebee as she searched meticulously for a suitable site for winter hibernation.

Close by was one of the areas that would soon become carpeted by the buttercup-yellow of the lesser celandine as it justified its ancient name of spring’s messenger. Despite being a quiet time, it was worth being in the exhilarating company of the natural world. Even if then it was confined to watching a blackbird foraging for titbits. There tranquillity reigned, a place to absorb the sound of silence. When I opened the door to Graham Balding, I felt good.

I’d been home no more than ten minutes or so and there he was, inviting me to look at his magnificent offering from Love Fish Direct, all at market-beating prices. A service fit for the pickiest pescatarian. He could also supply to order mouth-watering fish pies. Everything looked good and professional; him, his van, and the presentation of the products. Perhaps If I hadn’t liked fish none of it would have happened. Maybe, I wouldn’t have been tempted, but when he showed me those delectable cuts of hake and turbot, I was sold. And, indeed, I felt good.

I liked him. We got on well and little by little I learned more about him, and on about his fifth visit when he’d finished the delivery he asked if he could use the loo. Of course, I said, help yourself. A few minutes earlier I’d made a pot of coffee and invited him to join me. He said he could take five. That’s how it started.

Turned out that he’d had an excessively bad run. His wife and their five-year-old daughter had been killed by a hit and run car that the police were never able to trace. He showed me the photograph of them that he always kept with him. The girl was a smiling little beauty with a mop of red hair, just like her father. That had happened nearly six years ago, and slowly he had slithered to the bottom. He couldn’t work, had his home repossessed and eventually finished up living rough.

Until early one morning Lady Luck had appeared in the form of a Dickie Horrobin, who was staggering home from a boozy night out when he tripped over feet that protruded from a doorway and discovered that they belonged to an old mucker, Graham (Ginger) Balding. It wasn’t long after that chance encounter that Ginger was helped back onto his feet. Horrobin, a successful entrepreneur, found him a flat, and financed the start up of Love Fish Direct. By the deal they made, after a year’s trading Ginger had to start repaying those initial costs.

There we were in my living room: coffee finished, the five minutes became thirty, by which time I knew the details of Ginger’s plans to create a national franchise. It seemed like a viable proposition. I liked the fish and the idea, and the chance to help someone worth supporting. All that was needed was for me to match his enthusiasm and my love of the products with hard cash.

The trouble is, at least from Ginger’s point of view, I may have looked like a soft touch who’s away with the birds and the bees, and sometimes the fairies, but there are no flies on me. Turned out, that there never was a wife and beautiful titian-haired daughter, or a Dickie Horrobin for that matter. I’m not fussed, there’s another place I can get fresh fish. His case comes up in May.

JeremyStewartonUnsplash

CREATIVE PAVING

SPECIALISTS IN DRIVEWAYS AND PATIOS

Tel: 01425 278408

Mob: 07785 798760

Email: scott@creativepaving.co.uk

Web: creativepaving.co.uk

Book Review

Darling by India Knight, paperback £9.99 (published 4th May)

In a sprawling farmhouse in Norfolk, teenage Linda Radlett feels herself destined for greater things. She longs for love, but how will she ever find it? She can’t even get a signal on her mobile phone. Linda’s strict, former rock star father terrifies any potential suitors away, while her bohemian mother, wafting around in silver jewellery, answers Linda’s urgent questions about love with upsettingly vivid allusions to animal husbandry. Eventually Linda does find her way out from the bosom of her deeply eccentric extended family, and she escapes to London. She knows she doesn’t want to marry ‘a man who looks like a pudding’, as her good and dull sister Louisa has done, and marries the flashy, handsome son of a UKIP peer instead. But this is only the beginning of Linda’s pursuit of love, a journey that will be wilder, more surprising and more complicated than she could ever have imagined. A razor-sharp, laugh-outloud novel that re-imagines the cast of Nancy Mitford’s The Pursuit of Love for a modern age.

The Premonitions Bureau by Sam Knight, paperback £9.99

What if you had a vision that something terrible was going to happen? A train crash, a department store fire, an assassination. What if you could share your vision, and prevent a disaster? In 1966, John Barker, a British psychiatrist working in an outdated British mental hospital, established the Premonitions Bureau to investigate this very idea. He would find a network of curious correspondents, and among them two highly gifted ‘percipients’. Together, they predicted calamities and international incidents with uncanny accuracy. And then, they gave Barker their most disturbing warning: that he was about to die…

Bear and Bird: The Picnic and Other Stories by Jarvis, hardback £9.99.

For Pre-School and Reception age children.

Bear didn’t really like the painting. I mean, look at it. But he liked Bird a lot, and it would remind him of her...

Bear and Bird are best friends. And while they don’t always understand each other, they both agree that all they want is to make the other happy. So, when Bear forgets to pack for a picnic (but pretends that he didn’t), Bird doesn’t let on that she knew all along. And when Bird discovers that Bear has more of a certain talent than she does, Bear finds a touching way to make her feel better. Full of funny mix-ups and comic misunderstandings, as well as genuine warmth and affection, these four stories will gently teach younger children the power of tact, kindness and friendship.

Why not pop into the shop to have a browse and see lots of lovely new publications for Spring?

Or you can contact us on 01202 418403, email sales@bh6booksandhome.co.uk or find us on social media @bh6booksandhome to place orders and discover all that we have to offer at BH6 Books and Home, 69 Southbourne Grove, BH6 3QU.