Seeker News - Issue 13

Seeker NEWS issue 13

april

free

2013

www.seekernews.co.uk

A

MOVING STORY

BILLY BRAGG What’s with the beard?

DAVID BOWIE The Bournemouth connection

PIRATES Middlo writes inside hemingway What Wayne did for Boscombe

l B U S IN E S S l S T R A T R N E W S SePmO o u th , Po o le & C h ris tc h u rc h l

in B o u rn

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SeekerNEWS

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our Seeker News is changing shape, doubling its reach and coming out twice as often.

From next month Seeker News will be a fortnightly tabloid newspaper dedicated to bringing you the region’s best coverage of the news that affects your life. We’re looking for the positive stories about real people.

We want to celebrate everything that’s great about every aspect of life in this beautiful part of the country.

We’ll have a smile on our face, but we won’t shy away from the big issues that matter to us all.

Editor Seeker News Seeker News will continue to offer the same great mix of news, sport, arts and lifestyle stories and features you expect from us.

We’ll support local businesses and triumph the area’s many good causes.

If it’s going on it’ll be in Seeker News, so tell us what you’re up to.

1 Personal tribute to Kevin Nash

Every fortnight we’ll be on the streets of Bournemouth, Poole, Christchurch and Wimborne distributing copies of Seeker News.

Steve Cook

2 Tom makes capital move

As well as the major high streets, shopping centres, squares and precincts, Seeker News will also be available from leisure centres, hotels, business parks, entertainment venues and established outlets including shops, restaurants, cafes, hospitals and libraries.

Seeker News – a great read guaranteed!

Ex-soldier walking round Britain reaches Poole

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3 Parents see colours of the rainbow

Cafe Shore in liquidation but is still open

Top 5 stories on SeekerNews.co.uk in March www . seekernews . co . uk top 5 /

Seeker News is published by Seeker Editor: Steve Cook – steve@seeker.uk.com Deputy editor: Nick Churchill – nick@seeker.uk.com Associate editor: Dawn Cook – dawn@seeker.uk.com Contributing editor Neal Butterworth – neal@seeker.uk.com Non-league football: Richard Button – richard@seeker.uk.com

Photography: Siân Court – sian@seeker.uk.com Advertising: Mandy Blades – mandy@seeker.uk.com

Seeker is a Business Solent Champion

Website: www.seekernews.co.uk Facebook: www.facebook.com/seekernews Seeker Keel House, 244 High Street North, Poole, BH15 1EA Tel: 01202 649811 © 2013 Seeker. All rights reserved. seekernews.co.uk 3

SeekerNEWS

W

e’re looking for a house.

Not any house, you’ll appreciate, but the perfect house.

A house that has a south facing garden, the requisite amount of pristine, lovingly-tended living space, ample storage and off-road parking.

It will be airy, light, have an en-suite bath or shower room to the master bedroom, be situated close to all road and public transport networks, but be in a quiet cul-de-sac surrounded by friendly, thoughtful neighbours.

And there will not – I repeat NOT – be any laminate flooring and the price most definitely has to be right.

If my wife had her way, there would also be views of Poole Harbour at the back and the rolling hills of the Purbecks at the front, but even the most polite and amenable estate agents have yet to sort that geographical anomaly out for her.

House fact!

18% more people are expect to rent in the next five years

But we are not alone. As sellers back in the UK, we’ve experienced a Spanish housing market where a pocketful of change could secure a one-bed coastal apartment near Alicante.

So it’s a shock to suddenly see there’s competition out there.

But it’s hardly news this desire to live in Dorset. How often are we told it’s the healthiest/happiest/least stressful/ most beautiful place in the UK to live and sorry folks, but that will be reflected in the cost of your house.

And judging by the proliferation of For Sale, Sale Agreed and Sold boards popping up around the conurbation, there’s a decent chance that the longawaited recovery in the local housing market could just be around the corner.

So are our estate agents starting to peer from the gloom of a housing market that has seen sellers clinging on for dear life?

And for the buyer on the lookout, surely there’s still a decent bargain to be had?

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There’s a place for us...

Neal Butterworth starts the search for a new home... and finds he’s in good company

SeekerNEWS

the experts We turned to some of the experts for their thoughts: Nigel Price, Residential Chairman, Goadsby: “It’s always a little too early to talk about a recovery at this time of year, but we would hope to build on the momentum that at least is starting to show.

“People are encouraged to sell when they see that there are houses appearing on the market and we could always do with a few more for sale, but things are starting to look encouraging.

“Certainly a few more days of sunshine will always make a difference to the way people approach the market.”

First-time renters are now in Keith Fensom, their late 20s or early 30s, Associate Director much older than five years ago Residential, Savills: “We had our busiest February in 2012, but we’re starting to see some movement after a short period of fine weather and there’s a feeling of renewed optimism.

House fact!

Nigel price

“It’s very much a year of two halves for us and the market starts to pick up in spring. Many of our buyers are either cashrich, perhaps looking for second homes or older people looking to downsize.

“But it can be a very seasonal market and by the time autumn comes, our buyers tend not to continue looking, so we would hope the next few months will be busier.”

Keith Fensom

Funding the first-timers Lending to first-time buyers by Teachers Building Society soared by 115 per cent in 2012, the Dorset mutual has revealed.

And now it has unveiled plans to increase its support of the hardpressed sector again this year.

Not only did Teachers ramp-up its lending to firsttime buyers, almost a third (29 per cent) of this lending was to buyers with no deposit who were getting on to the ladder with the FirstBuy scheme.

Teachers Building Society is keen to lend to first-time buyers who are either education professionals or Dorset residents and is scaling up its commitment to the sector still further with plans to increase lending by 20 per cent in 2013.

Last year’s lending surge by the Wimborne-based building society came during challenging conditions for those looking to get on the housing ladder,

with deposits of 20 per cent typically required. In another move to help the embattled sector Teachers launched a range of 90 per cent loan-to-value mortgages to lower the bar to home ownership.

Teachers Building Society chief executive James Bawa said: “We are committed to helping people make that crucial step on to the housing ladder and we’ve really put our money where our mouth is.

“First time buyers are essential for the health of the entire housing market and we are determined to keep on innovating to help realise their home owning dreams.”

House fact!

65% of the population now own their own homes, down from 70% in 2003 seekernews.co.uk 5

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ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

Rise of the rentals

n a tough financial climate, where mortgages are not as easy to get as they once were, renting property is now the norm.

The UK is catching up with countries such as Germany and the USA where renting does not have the same negative stigma it has endured in the past.

Martin & Co, Poole, is consistently number one for new instructions on Rightmove and as lettings specialists, we would be keen to speak to all potential landlords, current landlords and potential tenants.

We are now being regularly approached by professional people who want to rent a better quality of property. It still allows them to save for a deposit, but not at the expense of their quality of life.

Gone are the cold, damp dwellings once passed off as rental properties and in their place are new builds, refurbs and executive apartments all needing occupants that will make each place a home.

More commonly, people are investing in the property they can afford, but not necessarily living in it. They are becoming professional landlords and combining this with renting to achieve the lifestyle they desire. Thus, getting away from the dead money label so often attached to renting.

Reluctant landlords

We are seeing more and more so-called ‘reluctant’ landlords.

These are the landlords that cannot sell their properties in the current climate and are therefore renting them out to generate an income and cover costs.

Having gained a great deal of experience in this field, Martin

& Co will ensure the whole process is dealt with swiftly and efficiently and requires little input from the landlord.

Potential landlords

For anyone thinking of becoming a landlord, we can introduce you to industry professionals that will assist you with purchasing the right Buy to Let property and arranging the right Buy to Let mortgage product to optimise your best rental income and create the right circumstances to grow your capital investment. We will then professionally manage the rental of your property at a competitive rate and offer you a service that’s second to none.

Existing landlords

Whether you own one property or a whole portfolio, we would be keen to discuss with you taking over management of these properties. Of course, we will offer incentive packages to encourage you to transfer agents, but more than that, we guarantee that as a solely residential letting office our team of qualified staff will offer you an unrivalled service that you can trust.

Potential tenants

We now offer an online referencing process that means you can complete all necessary documentation at your convenience and – subject to approval – we only need to see you on the day of move in to collect the keys. We are in the process of increasing our social networking as well, so watch this space for all developments.

For all Residential Lettings enquiries, please contact Jamie Govier, business development manager at Martin & Co, Poole on 01202 710171.

Please call us to discuss our incentives to switch your rental management to Martin & Co, Poole Multiple properties equal multiple discounts Please call

01202 710171 and quote reference “seeker property”

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SeekerNEWS

Demolition of an eyesore As Seeker News went to press, demolition work was nearing completion at the most hated building in Bournemouth, the IMAX. The £20 million seafront building has been at the centre of controversy ever since the IMAX cinema opened in 2002, three years behind schedule.

It closed just three years later.

After attracting complaints that it blocked views of the sea it was voted one of the UK’s most hated buildings in 2005 on the programme Demolition.

Work to dismantle the inside of the building began in October.

The site will become a new outdoor events space which is expected to open in the summer.

picture: SIÂN coURT

A great deal of MP support L ocal MPs have given their backing to the Bournemouth and Poole City Deal to boost business. Members of the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Board met with MPs to discuss the recently submitted City Deal.

Gordon Page, Chair of the Dorset LEP, said; “Whilst doing well, the Bournemouth and Poole City Region is not reaching its full potential.

“We have two key sites that are capable of delivering significant economic growth and jobs, namely Bournemouth Airport and the Port of Poole. However there are a number of issues preventing this and the biggest challenge is improving access and connectivity to make them viable.”

Focused on unlocking investment sites and removing barriers to economic growth, the City Bid also outlines a number of options to improve access to Bournemouth Airport such as transport improvements to the B3073 and the A338, and improving links between Canford Bottom and Blackwater.

Blockbusted Staff at three local branches of troubled DVD and games rental chain Blockbuster face redundancy after the company’s administrators announced their closure.

The latest round of 167 branch closures includes the branches at Holdenhurst Road, Bournemouth; Wimborne Road, Oakdale and Crown Mead, Wimborne.

Blockbuster, which has 528 stores in the UK employing some 4,190 staff, collapsed earlier this year.

Administrators had already announced 160 shops would be closed.

Cobham blow Gordon Page continued; “Our plans for the area are ambitious and we need the Government’s support to inject the pace. We have companies that want to locate to this region and we have companies that want to grow.”

Annette Brooke MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole, commented; “The whole concept of giving more power from Westminster to local people to generate economic growth is right.

I very much hope this excellent bid succeeds and puts local businesses and local authorities in the driving seat to achieve prosperity across Dorset.” u Tobias Ellwood MP, Annette Brooke MP, Robert Walter MP, and Gordon Page, Chair of the Dorset LEP)

Cobham has announced up to 76 staff redundancies at its facilities at Bournemouth Airport and Teesside.

In a statement the company said that it would cease some non-core activities by its Aviation Services business and would focus on key customers and contracts centred around the UK MoD and other Government and military operations.

Printing closure A Poole printing company has closed its doors with the loss of 80 jobs.

Bezier, which had a site in Sterte Road, has also closed its Wakefield headquarters and offices in Leicester blaming the economic downturn and clients moving away from print products and into digital media. seekernews.co.uk 7

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SeekerNEWS

Parents pick their favourites Corfe Castle, Splashdown and Adventure Wonderland have been given the thumbs-up by local parents in a magazine’s annual awards.

Steam players

The local attractions were among the favourite Dorset destinations for parents of children aged four to 11 in the Primary Times Star Awards 2012.

Parents were asked to complete a survey that appeared in the familyfriendly magazine distributed to 87 per cent of primary schools across Dorset.

Farmer Palmer’s Farm Park and Moors Valley Country Park jointly scooped the best Family Attraction category, while the all-important Party Venue and Entertainer was won

by Adventure Wonderland.

Corfe Castle scored most votes in the Stately Home and Historical Attraction group, Splashdown at Tower Park won the Swimming Pool/Leisure Centre category and Haven Holidays was top Holiday Destination.

Splashdown Waterparks won the Star Award for the most votes across all categories.

Transport tips Dorset residents are being asked to help shape the future of public transport across the county.

Dorset County Council is canvassing views as it considers the future of local bus services.

Although the majority of local bus services are operated on a commercial basis, the council subsidises many services through contracts with the bus operators at a cost of nearly £3 million a year. Some 11 million individual journeys a year are made by bus in Dorset with about a quarter of these being made on these subsidised services.

Find the questionnaire at www. dorsetforyou.com/busconsultation.

Youth elections Two students from Ferndown and one from Dorchester have been elected as members of the UK Youth Parliament.

Moya Dunne from Ferndown Upper School received 6,766 votes and will serve for her fourth term. James Jones from Ferndown Middle School gained 4,382 votes and Lloyd Hatton, a pupil at Thomas Hardye School in Dorchester received 7,963 votes.

They will be supported by three deputy MYPs – James Morphakis, St Osmond’s Middle School, Dorchester, Natasha Glendening, The Gryphon School, Sherborne and Eve Laird, Queen Elizabeth’s School, Wimborne.

picture: STEVE HARRIS Bournemouth. Stardate 2013... Captains and crew alike star logged their diaries and synched their cyberspace connections at the 19th annual SF Ball.

This year, alongside auspicious sci-fi celebs such as author Robert Rankin and Deep Space 9 actors Armin Shimerman and Max Grodenchik, the Carrington Hotel introduced revellers to the delights of Steampunk, where steam-driven machinery meets the fantasy world.

Fwah Storm, above, illustrator and writer for Bournemouth-based Reload Comics, said: “We’ve released the first issues of My Beautiful Secret and A Murder Of Flies, as well as the pilot issue of a new anthology series called The Asylum of Fables.

“This is our love letter to such shows as The Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits and will allow new writers and artists a place to showcase their talent.”

Towns team up for tourism T hree local councils have joined forces to reshape the future of travel for commuters and tourists.

More than 120 representatives from the business community and interest groups attended the launch of Three Towns Travel, a major programme being implemented across Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch.

Born from the government’s recentlyawarded local sustainable transport fund, Three Towns Travel is based on a variety of schemes, from on the ground enhancements and bus, cycle and walking facilities on key commuter routes, to infrastructure developments at travel interchanges.

Councillor Michael Filer, Bournemouth’s Cabinet Member for Transportation, said: “As the population grows, there will be more

people, more jobs and more commuters on the road network. Three Towns Travel is about preparing for the future by providing people with easier, safer and more attractive travel options whilst reducing congestion on our road network.

“The partnership working between the three authorities has been instrumental in making Three Towns Travel happen.”

Councillor Xena Dion, Borough of Poole’s Cabinet Member for Transportation, said: “If we are serious about keeping our area an attractive place to live, work and play, then getting from A to B with minimal delay is imperative.”

Three Towns Travel will pick up pace throughout 2013. Make sure you keep up to date by visitingwww. threetownstravel.co.uk seekernews.co.uk 9

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SeekerNEWS

School’s not out...

Centre has friends indeed Bournemouth Council is facing legal action brought by campaigners fighting to save a community centre from partial demolition.

The Friends of the Bournemouth Centre for Community Arts (BCCA) are to challenge the council’s decision to refuse the building community asset status under the Localism Act, as well as the demolition itself, which was approved last year.

picture: DoRSET FIRE & REScUE Despite the fire that destroyed the roof and ripped through the top two floors, Buckholme Towers School resumed lessons just two days later.

In the early hours of March 11, the picturesque 72-year-old nursery and prep school at Ashley Cross was ravaged by a fire in the early hours of March 11 that destroyed more than half the building.

The last of them left at 4.45 that afternoon. But the school was back in session for a small number of pupils the very next day in Parkstone United

Reformed Church next door, with the rest returning to their classes the day after.

Headmaster and proprietor Iain Robertson immediately looked to the future: “I can guarantee there will be a grand reopening and the community will be heavily involved,” he told reporters.

“Having a school in what is basically a house gives it a warm, homely, nurturing feel, but it’s not straightforward to work in.

“Potentially we could end up with something more school-friendly.”

Back on track

S

Swanage Railway Company chairman Peter Sills, who rode on the last British Rail train from Swanage to Wareham in January 1972 as a teenager, said: “We are elated at this tremendous and very historic news because the Swanage Railway has been campaigning to bring back regular

“There is a great need for a space like the BCCA in Boscombe, there are lots of people looking to come here and set up creative and digital businesses,” she said.

Future state of Christchurch Plans for the future of Christchurch are to be submitted to the Secretary of State.

Councillors will be asked to approve the submission of Christchurch Borough Council’s core strategy to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government following two major consultation events last year.

The document has resulted in several campaigns from residents, many unhappy with some of the proposals on new housing developments, the location of allotments and community facilities.

wanage and Corfe Castle will again be joined to the main line railway network. A £1.47 million grant awarded to the Swanage Railway Company will see a regular train service restored for the first time since 1972, boosting transport, tourism and employment on the Isle of Purbeck.

The first regular trains running between Wareham, Corfe Castle and Swanage are expected by the spring of 2015 when a trial rail service between Swanage, Corfe Castle and Wareham is planned for 50 days. Another 90 days of service are scheduled for 2016 with a year-round amenity train service after that.

Linda Ni’Man, of the Friends, said the group’s solicitor has sent the council’s legal department a pre-action letter detailing the grounds for their challenge.

The core strategy lays out the council’s planning strategy and policies until 2028.

Road scams trains from Swanage and Corfe Castle to Wareham since 1972.”

As well as improving rail links into and out of Purbeck to Poole and Bournemouth for residents and tourists, it is thought the restored train service will also create 40 new jobs indirectly and 10 new jobs directly.

“Rail travel in this country has grown by a third during the past decade and train journeys are currently at their highest level since the 1920s. With petrol prices so high – and still rising – we are confident that a regular train service between Swanage and Wareham will be viable,” added Mr Sills.

Drivers are being targeted by roadside scammers and conned out of money, according to Hampshire police.

More than 65 separate incidents on highways and motorways have been reported in just a couple of months.

In most cases motorists are flagged down by someone at the side of a road claiming they have ran out of fuel.

They tell the driver they have no cash or have lost or left their wallet – and offer jewellery or a watch in exchange for money. Drivers have been conned out of cash with amounts varying from £10 to up to £200 on one occasion.

Conmen have targeted motorists on the M3, M27 and A303. seekernews.co.uk 11

SeekerNEWS

Dorset badger cull reserve

Coasting to a nice long walk

Land in Dorset has been earmarked as a reserve site for controversial badger culls being planned later this year.

Former soldier Christian Nock, 38, set off for a walk from Blackpool last August and is hoping to get back there by the time he’s 40.

Environment Secretary Owen Paterson told MPs the culls will go ahead in West Gloucestershire and West Somerset after final licence conditions were met. He said a further area in Dorset has been earmarked as a reserve area in case one of the pilots cannot proceed.

His aim is to walk the whole coastline of Britain, some 6,500 miles, sleeping rough.

“I keep telling myself that I’m a quarter of the way around Britain, that’s much better than realising that I’ve still got 5,000 miles left to push,” says Christian.

The pilot culls were postponed last autumn amid fears they could not be carried out effectively, but Mr Paterson said Natural England had written to the two companies set to carry out the pilots confirming that final conditions in their licences had been met ‘’meaning that culling can go ahead there later this year’’.

This epic trek is all in aid of Help for Heroes. Find out more at www.bmycharity. com/ChristianNock.

Make a deal for the future I mprove the energy efficiency of your home – and use the money you save to help pay for the improvements.

That’s the offer from the Government’s new Green Deal to help property owners save money and help the UK meet its 2050 environmental targets.

“In short, the Green Deal is about improving heating and hot water efficiency, making sure homes aren’t losing energy by being properly insulated and also generating their own energy,” says David Mitchell, of Green Deal Advisor Wessex.

There are currently 45 different energy improvement measures that can be funded by the Green Deal, from solar PV to simple loft insulation.

Several major companies including B&Q, Travis Perkins and the Wolseley Group have joined the scheme as Green Deal providers.

A Green Deal Advice report consists of an Energy Performance Certificate and an Occupancy Assessment which focuses on how much energy the property uses and how the occupiers use the energy.

Having completed a preliminary assessment online, homeowners can

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then make an appointment to have a full report carried out by a Green Deal Advisor. This will highlight the areas where energy efficiencies can be achieved and calculate what funding might be available.

“The cost of the assessment can be incorporated into the loans, which are for fixed terms at fixed rates of interest. The terms are calculated in line with the life expectancy of the improvement. For example, a Green Deal loan for a boiler would be for 12 years because a boiler is attributed a life expectancy of 12 years even though it will most likely last much longer.

“Sample figures suggest a household that currently spends £1,000 a year on energy will be spending £3,025 in 20 years’ time based on energy inflation only at six per cent. If that household invested now on measures that would reduce their energy bill by £400 in 20 years its annual bill would be £1,200 – a real saving of 40 per cent.

“It makes perfect sense to invest in reducing energy costs by cutting usage and wastage as energy prices are only going one way – and they don’t go down,” adds David.

The culls are aimed at tackling TB in cattle, which can be spread by badgers it is claimed.

Spur road waits on £22m okay Motorists are hoping £22 million plans to repair the Bournemouth Spur Road will be approved.

Dorset County Council has applied for government funding to mend the dual carriageway, one of Dorset’s busiest roads, which carries up to 60,000 vehicles a day.

The council hopes it will qualify for a portion of the government’s £170 million Local Pinch Point Fund to tackle bottlenecks in areas where traffic build ups is restricting growth.

To qualify, Dorset must pay at least 30 per cent – £6.6 million – of the cost. If funding is approved, the work must be completed within two years.

Town’s mobile recycling axed Poole council has pulled the plug on its mobile recycling service.

The fortnightly service, which cost more than £15,000 a year in staff operating costs and took household batteries, small electrical items, textiles and cardboard as well as garden rubbish, is to end on April 1.

For the last seven years, locals have been able to take recyclable waste to one of five mobile sites at Rossmore, Baiter, Canford Cliffs, Hamworthy and Branksome.

Now they will have to go to the main tip in Nuffield Road.

CHARITY

SeekerNEWS

Let slip the dogs of work I t’s a dog’s life for Iris – but all the fuss is distracting the friendly pooch from her work.

For Iris (pictured) is a guide dog and goes to work every day with her owner Tiffany Deacon, who runs the Dorset Blind Association help and support desk service at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital Eye Unit.

But dog lovers like nothing more than to stop and make a fuss of Iris.

“It’s lovely, but the etiquette is that you shouldn’t pet a guide dog when the dog is working, without asking the guide dog owner’s permission first,” says Tiffany, who was only paired with Iris – her first guide dog – a few months ago.

“What people don’t realise is they are stopping the guide dog from working and that isn’t good for the guide dog owner or the dog itself.”

Dorset Blind Association’s help and support desk service was set up in 2009 to meet the additional needs of patients attending at the Eye Unit that are not always possible for frontline medical staff to address.

The service is provided each weekday morning from 9am to 1pm and also on a Wednesday afternoons from 2pm to 5pm, mirroring the busiest clinics at the Eye Unit. It complements the medical care provided at the Eye Unit and acts as a bridge between medical and social care services.

Plummetting over Poole

Riding high A fully supported event suitable for individuals, teams and families, the Dorset Bike Ride is a great opportunity to get on the open road and raise money for British Heart Foundation.

With 25, 50, 66 and 100 mile circular routes, registraton is open for adult riders until April 23 and the ride sets off between 8am and 10am on April 28. All routes start and finish at Queen Elizabeth School, Wimborne.

Adults can register on the day, children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. For children’s or postal registrations call 0845 130 8663.

Butterfly grant Domestic violence support charity the Butterfly Foundation has received a £60,000 grant from the Tudor Trust.

The foundation, based at the Bourne Spring Centre in Springbourne, offers support to men, women and children who have lived with domestic violence through creative workshops and live drama and dance performances.

Julie Johns, the charity’s creative director, said the funds, awarded over a two-year period, would go towards meeting ongoing costs.

A local charity will receive a musical boost at an acoustic show at Christchurch’s Regent Centre.

Acclaimed singer/songwriter Mike Silver and award-winning Bournemouth-based duo Tinderbox will appear at the concert for the AmeliaGrace Rainbow Fund, on April 26.

The evening is presented by Christchurch Community Partnership and Coda Music Trust, Highcliffe for Amelia’s Rainbow which provides funds to enable children in Dorset with terminal, or life-limiting conditions to enjoy life-enriching activities.

Diverse Abilities Plus is offering a chance to take part in a unique 110ft abseil challenge with stunning views of Poole Quay.

Following the success of last year’s event, on May 12 a team of highly skilled professional instructors will ensure the abseilers have all the knowledge and training needed to be safe and have fun.

No experience is necessary, just lots of enthusiasm and a sense of adventure.

All the family can participate as the minimum age is eight years (all under 18s must be accompanied by a parent or guardian). Sign up now for only £10 per person or £30 for a team of four.

All participants are asked to raise £100 in sponsorship and all raised will help Diverse Abilities Plus’ vital work supporting children and adults in Dorset living with physical and learning disabilities.

For further information or bookings contact Sharon Wells on 01202 718266 or email sharon.wells@ diverseabilitiesplus.org.uk. seekernews.co.uk 13

SeekerNEWS

A very local tragedy words: rebecca crossley

B

oy meets girl. Girl buys a lot of shoes. Girl dies of an undiagnosed epileptic fit. Boy tries to move on with life. It may not be the most traditional of romantic plotlines, but for Darren Wells this is the true story of finding his girlfriend Sharon dead in her flat one Monday morning back in 2007.

She was just 25 years old.

It is now the plot of forthcoming film, As Blue As the Sky, currently in production in the Dorset area. Adapted from Darren’s novel based around their lives together, the film explores the relationship between characters Ethan and Victoria, and how he reacts when the unthinkable happens.

“Sharon was five foot tall, with a 12 foot personality,” says Darren. “When she died I was a mess, but I wanted to do the right thing by her.”

In May 2007, the couple returned from a holiday together and were both due back in work on Monday morning; only Sharon didn’t turn up. Darren received a call and explained that Sharon had been having some trouble sleeping, that she’d probably taken a sleeping tablet and overslept.

“I told them that I’d go over and wake her up and that she’d be so embarrassed,” says Darren. “It was one of those moments in life that you look back on as surreal. Before I found her I was walking around thinking of all the things I was going to say to tease her for oversleeping.

“It was terrible; you fall apart when something like that happens. People started avoiding me and I was no longer myself. I was known as the guy whose girlfriend had died. After so long you just wake up one morning and think: ‘Enough is enough.’

“I wrote the book so my family and friends would know how I was feeling, and to celebrate Sharon’s life. When they told me I could get it published, I thought that the idea was crazy, but obviously something about the story stuck with people.”

Since then the project has snowballed. There is now a £500,000 budget for the film with actors such

natureDIARY

as Bill Nighy, Martin Kemp and Lois Winstone interested in the project.

“It’s amazing,” says Darren, “but it’s also scary because this is my baby.”

The film will be set in the Swanage and Purbeck area and is hoping to gain local support from the business community.

“It was important to me that it be filmed where it happened, in Dorset,” says Darren. “We were approached by a Bulgarian film company who asked if we would film it over there. They would have provided funding but it was important to me to keep it local.”

Darren was also offered a deal with the BBC, but turned it down. “I could have just handed the story to them and walked away with the money, but it’s too important to me,” he says. “We’re looking for the involvement of local people as it’s a local project – but with an international appeal.”

by Paul Morton The Sound Approach www.soundapproach.co.uk Birds of Poole Harbour www.birdsofpooleharbour.co.uk

To live in Dorset is a privilege. To live in Dorset and have an interest in natural history is truly the jackpot!

Dorset is among the most bio-diverse counties in the country, meaning you can find more species of flora and fauna here than almost anywhere in the land.

One of these species is the spoonbill, a comical yet mysterious bird that spends the winter in Poole Harbour before leaving at the end of April for their Dutch summer homes to raise their young. Spoonbills were once a very scarce bird in Dorset with only a handful of sightings over the last 50 years.

Now though, every autumn up to 30 spoonbills arrive from Holland, with some into Devon and Cornwall, but most staying put in Poole Harbour for the colder winter months.

During their stay the spoonbill have favourite haunts they like to use such as the lagoon on Brownsea Island, Shipstal Point at Arne RSPB reserve and at the top of the Middlebere Channel.

14 seekernews.co.uk

However, in cold and severe weather they will move to the warmer waters of Holes Bay. This is truly a remarkable occurrence as you are able to watch what was once an incredibly rare bird just metres from a busy dual carriageway and cycle path!

Sometimes in nature you get lucky and I certainly count myself fortunate that while taking an early morning stroll at Swineham, near Wareham recently I could have thought I was in a warm Mediterranean country as I watched 11 spoonbills lazily fly into Poole Harbour over a warm rising sun that hung in the east like a glowing beacon. Just stunning.

SeekerNEWS

The world according to

butterworth

Former Bournemouth Daily Echo editor-in-chief Neal Butterworth’s columns in the Echo and Advertiser Series ran for more than 25 years and helped earn him three prestigious industry awards. Now that he’s back from his adventures in Spain, he’s joined the Seeker News team to take a sideways glance at life.

Storms we cannot weather

Much has been written about the emotional turmoil of watching the film version of Les Miserables.

Yet little has been written about the emotional turmoil of being a middle-aged man watching the film alone in a very large cinema surrounded by an audience of predominantly sobbing women and middle-aged couples.

The words “One adult for Les Mis” have rarely rang so poignantly until uttered by the lips of a 55-year-old grandad wearing a man bag.

Astonishingly, a procession of male friends has since come forward to say that they would have been happy to accompany me (in place of my wife who was still wrecked from seeing it with her pals).

Now that really would have helped...

Driving Missus crazy I

PASSED my driving test in 1977 and feel I am therefore justified in calling myself an experienced driver with a solid knowledge of the road and the niceties of motoring.

I am sure men of my age who also possess a driving licence in a similarly tatty and careworn state would nod their heads in agreement.

Why, therefore, do women feel it necessary to treat us like myopic buffoons in our cars and try to impose their domestic authority in the only place we can find dignity, solace and inner peace?

I have nothing but praise for the efforts of my wife to help return our car to the UK via Spain and France last month. But perhaps a few minor pointers about motoring etiquette.

Radio volume. Our ears are not finely tuned, like yours, to hear things like midnight burglars that don’t exist and flies having intimate conversations three rooms away. We actually like music that loud.

1

I want to say ‘thank you’ to When you drive my car, remember 2of Ifsomeone who has kindly let me out 6 that my legs are longer than yours. a side road or into a converging line If you adjust the seating position, of traffic, I will do so as I have arms with hands attached to the bottom of them. These you may have noticed are attached to the steering wheel to facilitate the driving experience. I have been capable of waving since I was a very small boy and am still capable of this simple motor function. I do not need you to wave on my behalf.

My indicator can stay on as long as it wants. It will not drain the battery.

The money in my little cubby hole between our seats is my money. It is change for parking. When you take it, I have no change for parking. That is annoying.

The brake you keep slamming your foot on does not exist. Only driving school cars have dual control. We do not have a driving school car. That space in front of you is to allow you to stretch out and relax.

3 4 5

readjust it on departure. The bruises on my legs you keep asking me about are actually directly related to this oversight.

My CD autochanger has my CDs in it. It is my car, therefore it is my music. “You do listen to some rubbish” is not a good way to persuade me to include your Dean Martin or Olly Murs. While we’re at it, return to point 1.

I too can see cyclists, pedestrians and speed cameras. You really don’t need to tell me when I’m approaching or passing every single one of them.

The mess in my boot? That’s my mess. It’s my mess because you will not allow me to have my mess in the house.

I am fully aware of the speed limit. I can see the signs, just as well as I can see the cyclists, pedestrians and speed cameras...

7

8 9

10

Over the course of the year, Neal will be supporting local cancer charities through his website Neal Butterworth Media at www.nealbutterworth.co.uk, including a seminar on the future of the local press with all proceeds going to charity. If you would like your cancer charity included for promotion on the website, drop an email to neal.butterworth@gmail.com. See you next issue. seekernews.co.uk 15

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Seeker ARTS

ay Quinn can’t get enough of Poole – and it’ll be a while before the town has had enough of him as well.

Barely three months after the curtain came down on his panto run as Aladdin, the former Dancing On Ice winner and X Factor finalist is back at Lighthouse, his adopted home town theatre, in The Rise and Fall of Little Voice.

“I started out as a kid in Brookside, so it’s really good to do some straight acting again,” he says. “I love musicals and that, you can get away with a few things, but with a cast of five and a story like this there’s no hiding place.”

Ray toured in Little Voice before Christmas and was on the road with his actress wife Emma Stephens and their young son Harry. This time though he’s away on his own – and he’s missing them.

“Harry’s really into it now, he knows he’s at home and loves all his things, so to have them on tour wouldn’t really be fair. Emma’s just done Blithe Spirit at Lighthouse, which was a real change of pace for her, more of a comedy role and she’s dead excited by that.”

Of course, a week in Poole means a week at home for Ray and he can’t wait.

“I miss them both, but being on the road is the nature of the beast and there are worse ways to earn a living.

I hope the plan comes off and we take Little Voice to the West End because then you’ve got more of a schedule, you know where you’re going to be and I can put Harry to bed then get off to work. I’d love that to happen but Little Voice has played the West End before so we’ll have to wait and see.”

THE RISE OF RAY QUINN As the audience arrive for the show they are shown to their seats by bewigged ushers in 1970s costumes who dish out raffle tickets and bingo cards. It’s like being transported back to a 1970s working men’s club.

“It’s great because it involves the audience in the show from the start, they can win prizes and all sorts.

Sometimes audiences can forget they’re at the theatre and think they’re watching the show on telly – they forget to clap – so this brings the audience in and then it bleeds back into the play again.”

Ray plays Billy, whose unwavering support for Little Voice, the lonely girl who connects with her dead father by impersonating the singers in his record collection, gives her the strength to assert her own wishes. In a bittersweet play with some dark undertones, Billy

in association with

words: NICK CHURCHILL picture: paul colias

provides moments of heartwarming sweetness and light.

“The play was written by Jim Cartright who’s directing it for the first time and there are some really emotional moments. I like Billy.

No matter how many times he gets knocked down he keeps coming back to support Little Voice.

“Jess Robinson is brilliant as Little Voice and her impressions of the singers are spot on. We’ve got Duggie Brown the old school comedy legend as Mr Boo and Beverley Callard who’s amazing as Mari. She’s definitely the mum off stage as well, the one who keeps us all together!”

The Rise and Fall of Little Voice Lighthouse, Poole April 15-20 0844 406 8666 www.lighthousepoole.co.uk

seekernews.co.uk 17

SeekerARTS NEWS

THE BIG IDEA

modern

LOVE

Ending a decade of silence in January with the release of Where Are We Now?, his first new song since 2003, David Bowie has again confounded the world and reasserted his place as one of pop’s most fascinating creatures

E

words: NICK CHURCHILL

ver the chameleon, the 66-year-old David Bowie has broken a decade of musical silence to release a new album, The Next Day, and has helped curate David Bowie Is, a major exhibition of clothing, memorabilia and artefacts showing at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.

While he remains resolutely focused on the future, there’s obviously a part of him that remains in touch with his glittering past – he may even recall his connection with Bournemouth that dates back to the very genesis of David Bowie.

The announcement, on September 16, 1965, that a teenage club singer called Davie Jones would henceforth be known as David Bowie, went largely unnoticed.

Jones had been fronting his R&B outfit, The Lower Third, for a couple of years, building a reputation as a solid club act that played well to a mod crowd and that summer had been playing Fridays and Saturdays at the Pavilion Ballroom in Bournemouth from the end of May until the first week of July.

Early in the season the ambitious Jones spoke to the Bournemouth Times newspaper about his plans to change his name to improve his chances of making it. His favoured option? Bowie, of course.

A contemporary of the Lower Third, session musician and later an in-house writer/ producer for Polydor, Graham Dee now lives in Bere Regis, but remembers the band fondly from those days.

“I used to go to work each day in Denmark Street, what they called Tin Pan Alley, and on the way I used bang on the door of this

seekernews.co.uk 18 seekernews.co.uk

david bowie is

The curators of David Bowie Is have been granted unprecedented access to the David Bowie Archive and collated more than 300 objects including handwritten lyrics, original costumes, fashion, photography, film, music videos, set designs, Bowie’s own instruments and album artwork.

The exhibition explores the broad range of Bowie’s collaborations with artists and designers in the fields of fashion, sound, graphics, theatre, art and film. On display will be more than 60 stage costumes. Also on show will be photography by Brian Duffy, Terry O’Neill and Masayoshi Sukita; album sleeve artwork; visual excerpts from films and live performances.

David Bowie Is runs until July 28. Details at www.vam.ac.uk

SeekerARTS old field ambulance that David Bowie and his band used to live in,” he says.

“He was called Davie Jones in those days and they relied on me to wake them up so they could move the ambulance before they got a parking ticket!

“I would sit and talk for hours with Davie over cups of tea. He was always talking about how far his music could take him. I told him he’d do well, but I never thought much of those space songs – shows how much I know!”

A well-known face on London’s mod club scene, Jones had been singing and playing sax in various R&B bands such as the Konrads, the King Bees and the Manish Boys – he even backed legendary US bluesman Sonny Boy Williamson and, according to legend, an early incarnation of The High Numbers, who became The Who. After joining the Lower Third in April 1965 he toyed with various names to avoid confusion with Davy Jones of The Monkees and for three weeks that spring had even called himself Tom Jones!

Committing to the Lower Third he played the Pavilion Ballroom on May 28 and 30, June 4, 6, 25 and 27 and again on July 2 and 4, being billed locally at least as David Bowie and the Lower Third – a couple of months before the official name change.

He didn’t last much longer with the band though, and by February 1966 was auditioning musicians for his new band, David Bowie and the Buzz, which played the basement club Le Disque a Go Go at the Lansdowne in March.

But Bournemouth hadn’t quite finished with the Starman. He came back to the town several times – most

ALADDIN AT 40

Following last year’s 40th anniversary remastered release of The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars, EMI are to reissue Bowie’s classic follow-up album, Aladdin Sane this month.

Originally released through RCA Victor on April 13, 1973, Aladdin Sane was Bowie’s sixth album, but his first since Ziggy had made him a massive star.

Described by Bowie as “Ziggy goes to America, it was his first UK number one album, but the last to feature the classic Spiders line-up of Mick Ronson (guitar, piano, backing vocals), Trevor Bolder (bass) and Mick ‘Woody’ Woodmansey (drums).

Aladdin Sane 40th anniversary edition is out on April 15.

famously his four visits in 1972-73 as Ziggy Stardust to play the Chelsea Village on March 14 and May 25, 1972; Starkers (now the O2 Academy) in Boscombe on August 31 and two shows at the Winter Gardens on May 25, 1973.

“I wasn’t a huge fan of him, but I did see him at the Winter Gardens,” says Terry Harwood, from Bournemouth.

“I went with a few friends at the time and we all had our hair feather cut with colours on the top. The show was very frantic and lots of people were getting pushed at the front, but I did absorb his music in detail and even though it wasn’t really me, I respect him as a good artist and a huge part of the 1970s fashion and music. It wasn’t until the November of that year that we went to the Mott The Hoople gig that Queen supported and it all started to make sense to me.”

Also in town that night in May was a film crew from BBC Nationwide shooting a 12-minute report on Bowie as Ziggy that included backstage interviews, footage of him at the Carlton Hotel and interviews with fans outside, not to mention a very clipped, noticeably irritated voiceover by reporter Bernard Falk.

“It is a sign of our times that a man with a painted face and carefully adjusted lipstick should inspire admiration from an audience of girls aged between 14 and 20,” comments Falk at one point.

seekernews.co.uk 19

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SeekerARTS

Theoldgrey test

bristle words: NIcK cHURcHIll

H

e’s been the Milkman of Human Kindness and a Victim of Geography, now Burton Bradstock’s best-known international agitpopper, Billy Bragg is back with a new album, a new beard and a new role – the Sherpa of Heartbreak.

“Yes, the Sherpa of Heartbreak, that was something on my Twitter feed,” explains the ever-cordial Bragg between sips of tea and the occasional splutter of a chesty cough brought back home to Dorset from recent travels.

“It was around the time of the Fight Songs compilation – I was compiling all the political songs I’d put out as free downloads, Occupy was happening and we were on tour, it was quite a political time. In the middle of all that I got this tweet circulating from a woman who said something like: ‘Getting over break up listening to Billy Bragg, he’s the Sherpa of Heartbreak’ and I thought it was about time I reminded people that I am about that as well as all the political stuff.”

But it’s not as if affairs of the heart aren’t discussed every bit as freely as affairs of state in the Bragg songbook.

“Yes, and often they’re the songs that people want to talk to me most about, but I’m very proud of this record because this is the record that I feel could reach out and get to people that don’t listen to me because they think it’s all politics, or maybe people who used to listen to Billy Bragg that I’ve lost touch with a bit.”

Recorded in just five days in the basement of Joe Henry’s home in Pasadena, California with the producer’s regular band, the new album Tooth & Nail, Bragg’s first in five years, crackles with an immediacy that may surprise some. Its fertile Americana draws on Bragg staples like southern soul, bluegrass, country and folk-rock to soundtrack everyman tales.

“I never set out to make an

album, I’d almost given up hope on recording. I had to consider whether making records was a valid way of earning a living any more – and I have to consider earning a living these days.

“I’m very fortunate in that I can make a good living playing gigs, but is anyone interested in buying a Billy Bragg record any more? Maybe I should record songs and put them out for free to draw attention to the gigs I’m playing. Is that the business model now? Is that the smart move now?”

Bragg watchers will also notice Billy is sporting a fine and fulsome set of folk-rock whiskers these days – the Beard Liberation Front’s Beard of the Winter in fact.

“I wondered if my beard would come through grey so I gave it a roll of the dice and it was red with bits of grey coming through. Crucially it got the Juliet seal of approval, so I thought I’d keep it. The award is a great honour, but it ruled me out of winning the BLF’s My Hairy Valentine as well.

“It fits with the record – it’s a transitional moment and it’s good to have a bit of reinvention – I don’t mean a Bowie-style reinvention, more a reappraisal. Some of those old Billy Bragg tunes when you’ve been playing them as long as I have, they can stand a fresh look and so it is with the beard.”

Billy was also honoured with a lifetime achievement award at this year’s Radio 2 Folk Awards.

“Yes, the Roots Award for still having me own quiff! It’s all about hair now – the beard and the Roots Award. So, there’s me with the beard and the Gibson ES125 on the album cover, it all fits.

“Don’t worry, the old Billy Bragg chop and clang is still there though, I can still do that – I’ll go and get me Fred Perry on!”

Billy Bragg tours later this year, playing Camp Bestival at Lulworth Castle on August 2 and Southampton Guildhall on December 2.

picture: ANDY WHAlE

seekernews.co.uk 21

SeekerARTS

the seeker news guide to

theatre

rock/pop

classical/jazz

April 15-20, Lighthouse, Poole

April 7, Mr Kyps, Poole

April 10, Lighthouse, Poole

The Rise & Fall of Little Voice Ray Quinn is back in his adopted home town for a run in Jim Cartright’s much-loved musical play about a shy young woman who spends her time imitating the female singers in her father’s record collection.

Ragtime The Musical

April 17-20, Regent Centre, Christchurch

Based on EL Doctorow’s novel, this musical odyssey is set against the background of mass immigration to the United States at the turn of the 20th century.

Cosi Fan Tutte/Simon Boccanegra April 5-6, Lighthouse, Poole

English Touring Opera present the classic comedy with Mozart’s masterful score and the company’s first new Verdi production for several years.

Lisbee Stainton

The first unsigned singer songwriter to play the O2 Arena, Basingstoke’s Lisbee Stainton has worked hard at her sound and is now widely touted as the darling of Radio 2.

James + Echo & the Bunnymen April 22, O2 Academy Bournemouth

It’s 20-odd years since James last seriously troubled the charts, but their popularity as a live act saw them reform in 2007 with singer Tim Booth back at the helm. The Bunnymen line up with original singer Ian McCulloch and guitarist Will Sergeant.

Nine Below Zero

April 12, Tivoli Theatre, Wimborne

Dorset’s own boogie woogie piano groover Ben Waters joins the veteran British R&B lot led by Denis Greaves.

BSO: Lewis Plays Brahms

Principal conductor Kirill Karabits conducts Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra with guest pianist Paul Lewis. The featured programme includes Brahms’ First Piano Concerto, written after the composer heard Beethoven’s revolutionary Ninth.

Mantovani: Golden Hits of the Sixties

April 14, Pavilion Theatre, Bournemouth

Using the great bandleader and conductor’s handwritten scores, the Magic of Mantovani Orchestra revisit some of pop music’s best known tunes.

Alfie Boe

April 3, Windsor Hall, BIC

Everyone’s favourite car mechanic turned crossover opera star is on his biggest UK tour to date.

The Boy at the Edge of the Room

UK Pink Floyd Experience

April 17-18, Lighthouse, Poole

April 27, Pier Theatre, Bournemouth

Il Divo & Katherine Jenkins

A fairy tale for adults about a boy whose behaviour displays some of the classic traits of those on the autism spectrum.

The Pulse Show pays tribute to the Dave Gilmour-led Pink Floyd touring band of the 1980s and 90s.

April 7, Windsor Hall, BIC

The nation’s biggest classical-crossover acts join forces.

Soul Sister

Johanna Juhola

April 13, Lighthouse, Poole

Mike Garrick’s MJQ Revisited

The Finnish accordionista blends traditional Argentinian tango with creative use of electronica.

In tribute to the late, great British jazz pianist Garrick, his band continue their Modern Jazz Quartet project.

April 8-13, Pavilion Theatre, Bournemouth

Hit-packed tribute show to the force of soul music nature that is Tina Turner.

April 19, Lighthouse, Poole

Seeker NEWS

www.seekernews.co.uk 22 seekernews.co.uk

SeekerARTS

the hottest tickets in town

dance

comedy

April 8, Pavilion Dance, Bournemouth

April 12, Centre Stage, Westbourne

MOKO Mix

A national dance partnership presents an exciting double bill of dance for the over-sevens and their families.

The Suitcase Story is a poignant and uplifting show about friendship and love, while The Rock follows a group of friends who meet up in a sleepy town and embark on a magical adventure.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

25-27 April, Pavilion Dance, Bournemouth

Leave all reason behind and enter a world of wonder and confusion, as the Bard’s famous characters lose and regain their identities during a magical night of comedy and romance.

Funnybone

best of the rest

Bournemouth’s brightest weekly comedy club goes for gags with American stand up Lewis Ramey, comedy club regular John Gordillo and the man Frank Skinner described as a “material machine”, Maff Brown.

Jo Caulfield: Better the Devil You Know April 25, Lighthouse, Poole

A new show from one of Britain’s bestloved comedians.

Jaggers

April 13, Lava Ignite, Bournemouth

Dance Workshops

Matt Price closes the weekly comedy club, with compere David Whitney and fellow comics Hannah Warman and Kevin Shepherd.

Dance For All host a day of street dance workshops aimed at dancers of all ages and abilities.

Niki McCretton: Tin Rocket

April 18, Lighthouse, Poole

The Dreamboys

April 26, Pavilion Theatre, Bournemouth

Muscley blokes get oiled up and dance around in the name of entertainment – or something like that.

Shaolin Warriors

April 19, Lighthouse, Poole

Choreographed kung fu displays from the best in the business.

April 6, Lighthouse, Poole

Niki tries to make sense of the world by relating her adventures with a host of characters including a man who ate spaghetti on the moon.

Marcus Brigstocke

April 8, Tivoli Theatre, Wimborne

Bright spark comedian tours his latest show, The Brig Society, in which he restructures every aspect of British life using the medium of jokes.

One Night with Joan

April 24, Pavilion Theatre, Bournemouth

British acting legend Joan Collins shares stories and secrets from her glamorous past.

She talks about her marriage to Anthony Newley, her first on-set encounter with Bette Davis and how she auditioned for the role of Cleopatra before losing out to Elizabeth Taylor.

Honor Blackman

April 28, Tivoli Theatre, Wimborne

The star of the original Avengers TV series in conversation with director Richard Digby Day.

Guinness World Records April 12, Lighthouse, Poole

From the producers of Brainiac Live comes this new show exploring the biggest, smallest, longest and shortest... of everything!

Psychic Sally: On the Road

April 18, Pavilion Theatre, Bournemouth

The star of Sky LIVING hits the road in the hope of reconnecting people and making them feel better.

In Search of Jack the Ripper April 16, Tivoli Theatre, Wimborne

Retired police detective Trevor Marriott presents his compelling investigation into the Ripper murders.

Here comes the good news... the paper for you Coming soon... seekernews.co.uk 23

picture: JON RANKIN

SeekerARTS

review

Plan B + Labrinth + Rudimental Windsor Hall, BIC

T

o employ the vernacular – I think he’d appreciate it – Ben Drew, aka Plan B, Planners, totally smashed it at the BIC. Smashed it to smithereens.

But first, a word about the defiant, House-proud flow of opening act Rudimental and the more discoorientated delights of main support Labrinth. Had they been the extent of the bill few at the BIC would have felt short-changed – and both will surely headline arenas themselves in the near future.

Instead though, they were merely appetisers for the main attraction.

And he more than lived up to the heightened expectations of cult crossover into the arena-filling mainstream, no doubt drawn by the career redefining concept album, The Defamation of Strickland Banks. And highly effective it is too, the cinematic backdrop adding a new dimension not only to hits like the sublime Love Goes Down and

She Said, but also album tracks like Welcome To Hell.

After a short interlude hosted by beatboxer extraordinaire Faith SFX, Drew was back as Plan B to deliver the dark and disturbing rhetoric of Ill Manors. Impassioned, articulate, his furious delivery of the album/film’s title track loses none of its power in a second performance during the encore, but as in the film the relentless march of misery – Drug Dealer, Play With Fire, Falling Down, Pity the Plight (complete with the mighty John Cooper Clark on film) – tends to drag the second half of the set down.

It makes the show’s third act, the encore, all the more telling. End Credits, the Chase and Status cut, gets a tender reading, along with a rockin’ Stay Too Long and that incendiary revisit of Ill Manors.

Nick Churchill

review

Tim Burgess

Cafe Boscanova, Boscombe Back when he was a drug addled rock god, Charlatans’ singer Tim Burgess probably had other things on his mind before, during and after gigs. These days though he much prefers the convivial company of sociable fans and likes to precede evening solo shows with late afternoon Twitter-initiated shindigs in local coffee shops under the aegis of his Tim Peaks coffee brand sold in aid of the David Lynch Foundation.

Hence, last month’s set at the Old Fire Station in support of recent album Oh No I Love You followed a cuppa, a cake and a couple of songs with a few score fans at the Cafe Boscanova.

Arriving en masse, the musical cast also numbered Charlatans’ guitarist Mark Collins, who backed Tim with help from guitarist David and exseekernews.co.uk 24 seekernews.co.uk

picture: siÂn court Klaxons drummer Finn from tour support act Hatcham Social, the rest of whom watched from the back with Duffy from Primal Scream.

Unperturbed by a crackly mic lead, Tim found the hand hold in which it would work and hunkered down in a corner to regale the politely gathered fans with a short, sweet set that combined the manifest charms of album highlights like The Graduate and the lovelorn White, with a revisit

of Years Ago from his first solo album and a telling cover of Arthur Russell’s lament I Couldn’t Say It To Your Face.

With the publication of his autobiography Telling Stories, Burgess has drawn a line (ho ho!) under his dizzy rise and giddy embrace of fame.

Today, on this evidence at least, he seems to be growing old gratefully, in tune with the times and still capable of a pulling off a winning smile.

Nick Churchill

SeekerARTS

Cinema

H

ave you ever thought about how important secrets are in the movies?

How the truths that characters work so hard to hide would make for much shorter films if they were to come out: it’s a sledge, ‘she’ is a bloke, you never left the Earth, Chuck – you get the idea.

But this is also part of the fun films offer.

Think of superheroes, characters like Robert Downey Jr’s larger-than-life crimefighting billionaire Tony Stark, who returns in Iron Man 3. His last screen outing saw him reveal his armour suited alter ego, but now he faces his deadliest foe (ironically played

by Ben Kingsley, who made his name as the peace loving Gandhi) which is the cue for much action and the odd snappy one liner as Stark steps up to save the world once again.

The gung-ho style of these noisy blockbusters ensures it won’t be come as too much of a surprise.

Which is not the case with the actionpacked Chinese martial arts flick Dragon, a film reminiscent of David Cronenberg’s A History of Violence, which features a gentle family man who inadvertently reveals his own deadly past when he turns have-ago hero. Top quality action puts so many Hollywood counterparts to shame.

Real life secrets are often even more explosive than fictional ones, as the French-Israeli documentary The Gatekeepers reveals in eye-opening interviews with the men who have variously headed the Israel security agency Shin Bet, revealing the views of figures on the frontline of a deadly and ongoing conflict.

with Anwar Brett www.anwarbrett.com

Talking of security, Gerard Butler plays a disgraced former Presidential bodyguard who finds himself in the wrong place at the Wednesday 3 April Dark Skies (15) right time in Olympus Has Fallen. Having once inadvertently drowned the First Lady Friday 5 April (long story, don’t ask) he seeks redemptions All Things To All Men (tbc) A Late Quartet (15) when he finds himself inside the White The Odd Life of Timothy Green (U) House when it comes under attack from Snitch (12A) dastardly North Korean terrorists.

Spring Breakers (18) Secrecy is the essence of drama though, Friday 12 April Oblivion (tbc) the hidden motivation for characters to The Place Beyond The Pines (15) behave the way they do in intense films Scary Movie 5 (tbc) like The Place Beyond The Pines which Wednesday 17 April stars Ryan Gosling as a career criminal and Olympus Has Fallen (tbc) Bradley Cooper as a dogged cop caught in Friday 19 April an eternal game of cat-and-mouse.

Evil Dead (18) It also underpins the more broadly Love Is All You Need (15) Promised Land (tbc) comedic story of Bernie, a remarkable story based on real events starring Jack Friday 26 April Black as a small town undertaker who Bernie (tbc) Iron Man 3 (tbc) befriends a waspish widow (Shirley The Look Of Love (18) MacLaine) and then kills her for her fortune.

Passion turns to paranoia for a lovestruck aerospace engineer (Helen McCrory) after she embarks on a passionate affair with a mysterious Arab student – a liaison that soon attracts the interests of government security services in the tense drama r The Look fo t ou k oo L ion of 24 un re Flying Blind. e th , or of Love eople direct P ty ar P r d And if none of that is to your taste Hou terbottom an Michael Win oogan, in the there’s the scattergun humour of Scary C star Steve Movie 5 to look forward to, as it takes aim story of outrageous n ro at a new selection of good, fair and awful ba rn po Soho d. horror movies. Charlie Sheen even has a Paul Raymon cameo – but let’s keep that as our secret.

RELEASE DATES

If you onlyvie see one mnoth this mo

Release dates are correct at time of publication, but may still be subject to film distributors’ jiggery-pokery. Some films are available in 3D, which is usually one D too many. Check online listings for times, certificates and all that other stuff. seekernews.co.uk 25

SeekerlifESTylE

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

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The question is: Who is able to deal with my financial, property and other affairs if I am unable to deal with them myself through ill health?

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26 seekernews.co.uk

Bournemouth

...Looking after you Canford Cliffs

ringwood

swanage

Seeker LIFESTYLE pictures: siÂn court

Denise’s digital delight S trictly Come Dancing star Denise Van Outen has opened a new digital mammography suite at Nuffield Health Bournemouth Hospital.

The Nuffield is the first private hospital in Dorset to have the Hologic Dimensions digital mammography system that offers: z Enhanced detection of early breast pathology/tissue changes z Increased capability to pick up micro-calcifications

{

z Faster examination time

z Better ergonomics to make the examination more comfortable z Lower Radiation dose than the standard procedure “As an ambassador for Breast Cancer Care, Denise was our first choice to officially open the new suite and we are delighted that she has accepted our invitation to raise awareness of the detection and treatment of this disease,” said David McNair, director of Nuffield Health Bournemouth Hospital.

The introduction of the system is the first phase in proposed plans to update

the hospital with state-of-the-art technology.

“Nuffield Health’s investment into this new equipment will cement Nuffield Health Bournemouth Hospital as the leading hospital in the area with modern facilities and high quality governance along with clinical excellence.”

Patients are able to self-refer for a mammogram with the new system from the age of 40. All other referrals must be through either a GP or consultant. Self-referrals must be nonsymptomatic.

Knoll’s know-it-all Neil Neil Lucas, a leading authority on ornamental grasses and the owner of Knoll Gardens near Wimborne, will lead a walk and talk on April 25.

It’s the first in a series of monthly sessions offering a chance to follow the changing seasons of the garden, from planting to cutting down.

}

“Our events are aimed at both plant enthusiasts and those looking for an enjoyable and relaxing afternoon out in our secluded garden in east Dorset,” says Neil.

Places can be booked online at www.knollgardens.co.uk or by calling the nursery on 01202 873931.

seekernews.co.uk 27

SeekerlifESTylE

V V

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

&

heathy happy

V

illage Bournemouth opened its doors in 2005 and has become a popular destination for family holidays or weekends away, for the business traveller visiting for a couple of nights or maybe relocating to one of Bournemouth’s many head offices.

The hotel has regular visitors to its Starbucks with its great coffee and free wi-fi. There is a local pub, the Victory, which was refurbished last April and great food served in Verve bar and grill, which offers the Live Local Love Local evening menu and Sunday carvery.

Now you can work out or chill out at De Vere Village Urban Resort Bournemouth.

Times are changing and the revolution of Me is here and here to stay. Take back what is rightfully yours – Me-time for you and you alone.

Viva Urban Spa offers spa days and overnight accommodation packages from £69 per person.

But why not try a luxurious Espa facial, massage and body treatments or even a mums-to-be treatment? Sit

28 seekernews.co.uk

back and relax with a Dermalogica facial targeting a variety of skin needs from age smart to medicated; or why not try a personalised facial for your own skin’s needs that day?

Other treatments include Jessica manicures and pedicures and Geleration – a long lasting nail colour.

Also available are St Tropez tanning, waxing and reflexology.

And it’s not just for ladies – Viva Urban Spa also offers a variety of treatments for men. So now is the time to find your viva happiness!

Velocity health and fitness will not only give you great results to be proud of, but it’s a lifestyle as well. It’s not your typical Hotel Fitness Club – there are no kidney-shaped pools or rusting pieces of equipment in sight.

But there is a 25-metre pool to swim in, as well as a sauna, steam room and whirlpool plus a 4,300 sq

ft fully air-conditioned fitness studio with the latest cardio and resistance equipment.

The wellness and aerobic studios are where group fitness gets fun with more than 90 classes each week for all fitness levels and abilities so you really can be v happy and v healthy.

Velocity’s fully qualified personal trainers are there to help you with your fitness goals and exercise programmes.

But that’s not all, there are also great benefits for members including 10 per cent off accommodation throughout the De Vere brand and 20 per cent off your bill in the Victory pub, Verve grill and Starbucks café.

For more information on Viva Urban Spa and Velocity health and fitness please call 0871 222 4574 or visit www.VillageUrbanResorts.com/ Bournemouth

SeekerlifESTylE

RECIPE 3 hand dived Lyme Bay Scallops (preferably in their shell) 2 cod cheeks 250g peas (fresh if available if not you can substitute for frozen) 1 clove garlic finely chopped 75g shallot finely diced 50g softened butter ½ head Baby Gem lettuce 250ml fresh chicken stock Handful of pea shoots 2 rashers smoked streaky bacon Bamboo skewers

Hand Dived Lyme Bay Scallops, Cod Cheeks, Pea Puree, Braised Baby gem and Smoked Bacon

By Highcliff Marriott executive head chef Matt Budden

Most of the work can be done in advance so you just need to finish at the last minute to make a great dinner party dish.

Remove the scallops from their shells – you can always ask your fishmonger to do this, but keep the orange coral. Remove the orange coral and dry out in a low oven until they are completely crisp. When they are crisp cool and grind to a powder.

Trim the cod cheeks of any sinew and pat dry, reserve until needed.

To make the pea puree, sweat down the shallot, garlic and butter until translucent then add the peas and cook out for 30 seconds. When the peas are cooked through remove from heat and blend in a food processor until smooth. Taste and season as necessary.

Bring the chicken stock up to a rolling boil and place the baby gem lettuce in the stock and cook until wilted. Do not over cook it should retain a little bite. Cool the baby gem and reserve until needed.

Cook the bacon in a medium oven until very crispy – it should almost fall apart when you remove. While it is still hot break up into small pieces resembling breadcrumbs.

To serve: Dip one side of the scallops into the roe powder and season. Pan fry on one side for 45 seconds and then turn when a golden colour. When you have turned the scallop, place the cod cheeks in the same pan and cook for one minute each side. When the cod cheeks and scallops are almost finished, add a knob of butter to finish.

Warm through the baby gem, place the pea puree onto a plate and top with the scallops and then skewer with the bamboo skewers. Place the wilted baby gem in between the scallops and top with the cod cheeks and then the smoked bacon. Finish the dish with a few of the pea shoots. Eat and enjoy!

About Matt Matt Budden has more than ten years’ experience as an executive chef and trained in several Michelinstarred country house hotels, heading up many prestigious kitchen brigades and being Michelin recommended for the last 10 years.

Under Matt’s guidance the Highcliff Grill won the Bournemouth Tourism Award last year for Taste of Bournemouth Best Restaurant/Bistro.

FRESH SPRING EVENTS ‘HIGHCLIFF’ STYLE. Murder Mystery Dinner—Friday 19th April 2013 Put your detective skills to the test and use your intuition to discover whodunit! Enjoy a drink on arrival and an intriguing three course dinner for only £36.00 per person!

Cookery Master Class—Saturday 20th April 2013 Watch and learn as our Executive Chef, Matt Budden shows off his culinary skills. With live interactive cooking and a three course lunch, for only £25.00 per person including a glass of wine; it is the perfect gift!

Spring Soirée Dinner Dance—Friday 3rd May 2013 Dance the night away to the sounds of our fantastic live house band, 5th Avenue. Combined with award winning dining, this is an occasion not to be missed! Enjoy a glass of fizz on arrival, a delicious three course choice menu and live music for only £42.00 per person.

To book or for more details, please contact us on 01202 200816 or visit BournemouthHighcliffMarriott.co.uk

BOURNEMOUTH HIGHCLIFF MARRIOTT HOTEL St. Michael’s Road, Bournemouth BH2 5DU T. 01202 557 702 | F. 01202 293 155 BournemouthHighcliffMarriott.co.uk

Live the ‘Highcliff’ Style

AA Rosette 2009—2013

© Marriott International 2013. Terms & Conditions apply. Subject to availability.

seekernews.co.uk 29

Seekerlifestyle

30 seekernews.co.uk Seeker_Events_Advert_April'13.indd 1

08/03/2013 13:31

Seeker SPORT Kevin Nash 1955-2013

S

eeker News joined voices from the world of sport as well as journalism to pay tribute to our colleague Kevin Nash who passed away on February 20 aged 57.

He leaves a wife Michele and three children – Amy, 22, Harry, 19 and Phoebe, 12.

A dedicated golfer, he was well known in local sporting circles and since leaving the Daily Echo in 2010 had been editing a golf magazine and writing about football for various publications.

Most recently he had been writing about golf and covering AFC Bournemouth for Seeker News.

Cherries manager Eddie Howe led the tributes, describing him as “a really good guy who cared passionately about this football club.”

He said: “It was great dealing with him – he was just a gentleman. He will be greatly missed by everyone here.”

Stoke City boss Tony Pulis, who managed Cherries from 1992-94, added: “My thoughts are with his family. They are the ones who will be suffering.”

And Poole Town’s Tom Killick said: “He was just a really nice guy.

He had a really wide knowledge in

all levels of sport and football locally.”

In a career spanning more than 30 years Kevin worked for the Eastern Daily Press in Norwich, the China Daily in Beijing and the Daily Echo in Bournemouth as sports editor and finally as Head of Features.

Paul Durrant, his news editor at the EDP said: “He was smashing lad, a real gentle giant with a wicked sense of humour, and he knew a story when he saw one too. He wasn’t a bad cricketer either and we played for the same club for a number of years.”

A former golfing colleague Alan Geere added: “I hit a golf ball around Northern France with Kevin – and not always in the right direction! He was a lovely lad, instantly likeable and a one-man party waiting to happen. Difficult to take in this news, condolences all round.”

A spokesman for County Golfer magazines said: “Kevin was our SW editions editor and I enjoyed his enthusiasm and care he gave. He will be missed here and by our readership I have no doubt.”

Kevin was admitted to Bournemouth Hospital with pancreatitis 11 days before he died. His funeral was held at All Saints Church, Southbourne on March 7.

On a personal note…

Working closely with someone, you get to know something about what makes a man tick.

I had the absolute privilege of occupying the features desk next to Kev for more than ten years at the Echo. He was my friend.

He was also a great writer. His eloquence and economy with the written word were a daily lesson to anyone who cared to notice.

He believed in journalism, in telling the truth. He cared about the profession in an age when more people should.

And I couldn’t have been happier to find myself working with Kev again at Seeker – I’m pleased I told him so.

Not that it’s my sport, but he was a pretty good golfer as well – although I always got the impression it was at least as much about the act of playing as it was the art.

He was passionate about sports. He loved music, films, books and travel, or any combination of them.

But most of all, above everything else, Kev was a family man. He was never boastful, but was rightly proud of their every achievement, from baby drawings to major exam successes. To him a family afternoon on the beach was more precious than any journalism award, of which he had his share.

Kevin Nash was a gentleman, a thoroughly decent human being and those of us who knew him should consider ourselves extremely fortunate.

Nick Churchill seekernews.co.uk 31

SeekerSPORT

pictures: STEVE COOK

Matt Tubbs celebrates Shaun his late equaliser MacDonald

CHERRIES 1 doncaster 2 March 9, Dean Court

Steve Cook leads the team out to a packed Dean Court

seekernews.co.uk 32 seekernews.co.uk

Josh McQuoid

Fans celebrate Matt Tubbs’ goal

Matt Ritchie

SeekerSPORT

COURT REPORT

News from Dean Court

Family friendly Shortlisted for two Football League Awards, including Family Club of the Year, Cherries have again been recognised for excellence in family engagement, most notably matchday family pricing, Junior Fanzone and the Junior Cherries membership scheme.

Bournemouth stalwart John Harriss has also been shortlisted for the Tokio Marine Unsung Hero Award, a category consisting of the top three club servants in the Football League.

John has given 43 years uninterrupted service to AFC Bournemouth, first as groundsman and then referee liaison officer.

During his time at the club, he has seen 16 managers, five promotions, five relegations and the Cherries twice placed into administration.

James not for keeps Former England goalkeeper David James has been released

by AFC Bournemouth.

In a statement the club said James’ contract had been ended by mutual consent.

The 42-year-old made 19 appearances for the Cherries in nearly six months at the Goldsands Stadium. He was an

integral part of the team that went 18 games unbeaten in all competitions, but lost his place in the squad following the 3-1 defeat at Walsall.

James was signed by former manager Paul Groves in September 2012, and recorded four consecutive clean sheets over the Christmas period.

Rather juicy Cherries Record appearance holder Steve Fletcher believes Cherries are on the brink of something special, claiming the club is the best he has known it.

probably the best team and talent I have played with.

Speaking after Cherries suffered their third consecutive league defeat at the hands of Coventry City and fell from to seventh in the league after being top just a fortnight before, Fletch rallied the troops.

Fans’ favourite Fletch, 40, says it’s not just those in the changing room, but the staff and supporters as well, who will play a part in helping the club realise the dream.

“We have a chance of achieving something this season in League One to get into what will be our dream land – the Championship,” he told the club’s website, afcb.co.uk.

“I have been here for 20 years and this is probably the best I have seen the club – and

“We are on the verge of potentially creating history.”

“I’ve never played in the Championship, so for me personally I can’t pray to the gods enough and I will do all I can to help. The fans play a huge part too, they are unbelievable.

“It will take everybody. Players, supporters and staff now – everybody has to be part of the push. “

Captain Cook’s ship-shape With Miles Addison and Tommy Elphick sidelined with long-term injuries, defender Steve Cook says he is ready to lead Cherries’ promotion push.

Handed the captain’s armband by manager Eddie Howe following Elphick’s injury against MK Dons at the start of February, the former Brighton man is keen to repay the faith shown in him.

“As a player, being handed the captaincy is the best thing that can happen,” he told club website afcb.co.uk. “It’s a chance for me to step up and show that I can be a leader and get the team going, and it is a challenge I am looking forward to.

“We have to rally around and focus on us winning games, and getting a winner’s medal at the end of the season.” seekernews.co.uk 33

pictures: STEVE COOK

SeekerSPORT

Brett Pitman celebrates his penalty strike

Simon Francis

stevenage 0 cherries 1 March 12, Lamex Stadium

Ryan Fraser

Eunan O’Kane is brought down in the area for the penalty

Eddie Howe

Charlie Daniels

Ryan Allsop saves Baxter’s penalty

oldham 0 cherries 1

Players and fans celebrate

March 16, Boundary Park

Wes Fogden seekernews.co.uk 34 seekernews.co.uk

CHERRIES

SeekerSPORT

Fletch

with Steve Fletcher The Cherries legend writes every month in Seeker News

W

hen am I going to stop playing? It’s something I get asked more and more often these days and to be honest I’d rather not think about it, but I’ve got to be realistic. The truth is I can’t say when the end will come, but I’ll be 41 in July and after 24 years as a professional footballer I know it’s in the post.

The gaffer would never tell me to retire. He’s a great friend of mine and he trusts me to know what’s best for me. I’ve had 16 operations in my career, 11 on my left knee and I’ve had to adapt my game to my injuries, but I get aches and pains all the time, that’s part and parcel of playing at my age. I’m not on the treatment table all the time though. I get a bit of lower back trouble so I go in and get clunked and clicked for five or ten minutes at a time and that’s me done. If I wasn’t happy with how I am physically I wouldn’t be out on the training pitch two or three times a week doing an extra 20 or 30 minutes with the younger lads, like the gaffer has asked me to.

So, I’d love to carry on and me and the gaffer and the chairman have had a few chats, but there’s not much more to say at the moment. When I look at players like Ryan Giggs who’s just passed 1,000 games for Manchester

United and someone like Jamie Carragher at Liverpool who’s retiring at the end of the season, I find it heart warming and inspirational that they have the drive, the passion and the commitment to play on.

I still feel that same passion for the game and I’ve been playing longer than both of them, but after all they’ve achieved in the game and the financial security they have off the field they could have packed it in years ago. The difference for me is that I’ve still got bills to pay!

Obviously someone like Giggsy has all the benefits of being at a top

“I can’t say when the end will come, but I’ll be 41 in July and after 24 years as a professional footballer I know it’s in the post”

club. He looks after himself, he lives the right way and still plays like a lad in his mid-20s. It’s unbelievable really. I had the pleasure of playing alongside him and Nicky Butt in Russell Beardsmore’s testimonial in 2000 – I made his goal in fact – and took them out on the town to show them round afterwards. He was great company, but what really impressed me was he came back a couple of years later for Mel Machin’s testimonial and remembered me. He must meet hundreds of people and I only spent a few hours with him that evening, but he remembered it. That’s the mark of the man.

The other thing that’s often overlooked is you have to play for a manager you love playing for and I’m sure Ryan Giggs has a good relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson as I have with Eddie.

Then there are the fans and the faithful at Dean Court have been amazing. All anyone ever wants to know is when I’m playing next. If they said: ‘Come on Fletch, don’t you think you’ve had enough?’ I might think about packing it in, but nobody ever does – even if they’re thinking it!

So as long as I stay in love with game and the Bournemouth fans I’ll do my best to carry on. seekernews.co.uk 35

36 seekernews.co.uk

SeekerSPORT

Middlo

with Neil Middleditch Poole Pirates manager writes in Seeker News

B

y the time you read this we’ll have had a couple of fixtures to get the boys race fit, Chris Holder and Darcy Ward will have had the New Zealand Grand Prix and we’ll have a better idea of how we stand going into the new season.

Winning the League last term was a season’s highlight – the only shame was we were then thrown into the Play Offs where it’s back to square one and we were undone by a few injuries. It’s a sickener because you do all that hard work all season long and then it all comes down to one fixture.

It’s a peculiar system that a lot of professional sports people struggle to understand – not everyone in speedway is a fan either – but we’ve come to see it as a necessary evil.

It’s good for the sponsors and good for television as it extends the season and builds tension, so anything that’s good for speedway has to be good for the riders and the teams as well. This year we’ve retained the services of Chris and Darcy, which was a priority, and we’ve brought in the three Polish lads – Robert Miskowiak, Dawid Stachyra and ‘Magic’ Maciej Janowski – and the young Aussie rider Rohan Tungate, so we’re in good shape.

The Polish boys I’ve seen in action and Rohan’s results from last season suggest he knows his business as well.

He’ll be in good Aussie company here with Chris and Darcy as well and that’s

important to help keep his focus as I think he got a bit homesick towards the end of last season.

Having won the World Championship last season there’s tremendous pressure on Chris this year, but he’s mature beyond his years and a true professional so I know he’ll cope. As with any sport, being recognised as the best in the business, is the pinnacle of achievement and Chris is rightly proud of his title and is desperate to retain it, but this year’s field of 16 riders is the strongest I’ve seen for years – any one of them could win it and that includes Darcy who has been included for the first time.

Obviously we’re expecting a lot from Darcy this year as well. He’s had a few problems off the track but if he applies himself away from the sport as well as he does on the track he’ll soon put the lurid headlines behind him and be making the news for all the right reasons.

But the one thing we can always rely on at Poole is the fantastic support of the fans. Poole is a speedway town and we can never lose sight of that. Fathers bring their sons and just as my father rode for Poole, I also rode for Poole and now I’m privileged to manage Poole.

I love this time of the year as there’s a real buzz in the air. Expectations are building and excitement is in the air.

Bring it on!

“Chris is rightly proud of his title and is desperate to retain it, but this year’s field of 16 riders is the strongest I’ve seen for years”

The arrival of a champion Former World Under-21 Champion Maciej Janowski could be the transfer coup of the winter.

That’s the verdict of Poole Pirates’ promotor Matt Ford as his side prepares for the new Elite League campaign.

Janowski arrives at Wimborne Road from Swindon Robins, following a swap deal that saw Jason Doyle go the other way.

Ford, who sees the young Pole as a long-term replacement for Coventrybound Krzysztof Kasprzak, said: “It will take Maciej time, but every time he has visited to Wimborne Road in the U21s or for Swindon or King’s Lynn in the past he has been an absolute revelation.

“The fact I have also been able to capture him as a full asset to the club this winter is a double bonus. I am as excited about bringing him to Poole as I have been with Hans Andersen, Krzysztof Cegielski, Chris (Holder) and Darcy (Ward) in the past.”

Paul Baker

BAILIE HOUSE WAREHOUSE MASSIVE WEEKEND SALE NEW STOCK JUST IN! Equestrian Stock inc hats, boots, tack and Musto & Toggie clothing l Massive selection dress suit making upholstery fabrics l Just in for spring growbags, composts and chipped bark l Huge stock of household goodies at low, low prices l Large stock of motorcycle equipment inc boots, helmets, gloves oils and accessories l Great selection of stationary and office supplies l Further 20% off all sofas and chairs (immediate delivery) l Another 10% off all oak dining bedroom and occasional furniture l Even bigger savings on ladies, men’s and children’s shoes and boots

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nmiddlo seekernews.co.uk 37

SeekerSPORT

NON-LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Orient express Wimborne Town striker Tom Jeffes is set to make a move to the orient – namely Leyton Orient! The 26-year-old frontman has been named as the new commercial manager at League One Leyton Orient.

While Jeffes, who worked as a commercial executive at AFC Bournemouth, admits the move to London will progress his career, it will mean the end of his time as a player at Wimborne. His final game in the black and white stripes is expected to be against Winchester City in the Easter Bank Holiday Monday fixture at Cuthbury.

New Bashley Bashley officials insist the club will retain its identity following a proposed move to New Milton’s Fawcett Fields, which will see the club renamed Bashley New Milton.

In a statement the club said: “With regard to the name change, we know that identity is very important to any football club and its supporters.

Bashley is a part of New Milton and the club will, despite moving from the Bashley area itself, still be representing the wider community in both the Bashley and New Milton areas.”

New backing The Southern League, home of local sides Bashley, Poole Town and Wimborne Town looks set to have a new sponsor next season.

The League, known formally as the EVO-STIK League Southern League, is currently sponsored by Bostik, but the deal will run out at the end of the 2012-13 campaign.

Matt signs Wessex Premier Division side Verwood Town have swooped to sign former AFC Bournemouth defender Matt Oldring.

The 21-year-old had a spell playing in Australia with Whitsunday Miners following his departure from the Cherries. He returned to England and joined AFC Totton in January this year and made four appearances for the Testwood Stadium outfit.

Spare change There has been a rallying call at Hurn Bridge as Christchurch FC seeks to improve its changing facilities.

Following the new changing room roof being put in place as well as the windows the appeal went out for help with insulation and floor laying as well as donations to help cover costs.

38 seekernews.co.uk

Rivals face off P

oole and Wimborne Town contest what is arguably the fiercest rivalry in Dorset football, but there is also a close bond between the two clubs.

More than a dozen players from the clubs’ current squads have played for both teams and even the managers both have links with the other’s side.

Poole boss Tommy Killick, who played in Wimborne’s FA Vase winning side in 1992, still finds

Despite the long histories of both clubs, Poole and Wimborne have only been playing each other on a regular basis over the last decade. Here are their league, league cups and Dorset Senior Cup results since 2005.

2005/2006 Wimborne Town 0 Poole Town 1 League Wimborne Town 1 Poole Town 2 DSC Poole Town 1 Wimborne Town 0 League 2006/2007 Wimborne Town 0 Poole Town 0 League Poole Town 1 Wimborne Town 0 League 2007/2008 Poole Town 2 Wimborne Town 0 League Poole Town 4 Wimborne Town 3 DSC Wimborne Town 0 Poole Town 1 League 2008/2009 Wimborne Town 2 Poole Town 2 League Wimborne Town 0 Poole Town 4 WLCq-f Poole Town 3 Wimborne Town 2 DSCs-f aet Poole Town 1 Wimborne Town 5 League 2009/2010 Poole Town 0 Wimborne Town 3 League Wimborne Town 2 Poole Town 3 League 2010/2011 Clubs in different divisions 2011/2012 Poole Town 3 Wimborne Town 1 League Wimborne Town 0 Poole Town 1 League 2012/2013 Poole Town 1 Wimborne Town 0 League Wimborne Town 3 Poole Town 0 Red Insure Cup Wimborne Town 0 Poole Town 2 League (Many thanks to Ken Fergus for composing these stats)

games against the Magpies a thrilling experience.

“The profile of the matches is so much higher, the crowds are much bigger and there is always a great atmosphere. And we usually win!”

Demonstrating the link between the two local rivals, Killick’s former assistant Steve Cuss is now in his second season in charge at Cuthbury.

“Local derbies are all about local bragging rights,” insists Cuss. “That is why there are as important to the supporters as to the players.”

That view is shared by Tatnam veteran Taffy Richardson, who skippered Wimborne in their Vase victory at Wembley.

“Derby games always put more pressure on players. They also give fans of the winning side bragging rights, not just the next day, but right up until the two sides meet again.”

Former Poole frontman Tom Jeffes, who now stars with Wimborne, admits: “These games are always the first ones we look for when the fixtures are published.”

Dolphins-Magpies derbies always attract big attendances. When Wimborne visited Tatnam in August the game attracted 629, the highest Southern League gate of the campaign at the time. That figure was eclipsed at the New Year’s Day meeting between the two sides at Cuthbury when 726 poured through the gates.

In the face of such large attendances the 332 who watched the Red Insure Cup tie between the two at Cuthbury in November seems a disappointment.

But this is a competition with many clubs struggling to reach gates of three figures. u Pictured: Taffy Richardson embodying the rivalry for Poole v Wimborne in 2007

SeekerSPORT picture: Siân Court

Darts Dorset darts ace Scott Mitchell has been

named in the England squad for the home internationals in Scotland from April 5-7.

It’s the fifth time BDO hotshot Mitchell, known as Scotty Dog, who still works on the family farm near Bransgore, has been selected for the national team, a reward for his consistent form at county level and breaking his Lakeside duck in January with a win at the world championships.

WATER POLO Christchurch Seagulls teenagers Spencer

Wilks and James Stephenson landed silver after competing in the south west regional water polo team.

The pair – both members of the GB talent squad – were in the South West side that was expected to compete in Division Two of the ASA Inter-Regional Championships in February, but was promoted to Division One after Ireland pulled out.

TENNIS

Butler born to serve

E

very promising young tennis player in this country is beaten with the same statistical stick – we haven’t produced a Wimbledon men’s singles champion since Fred Perry in 1936 – and 13-year-old Bournemouth boy Harry Butler is no different.

The achievements of Virginia Wade in the 1970s notwithstanding, until Andy Murray took Olympic gold at Wimbledon last summer, British tennis hadn’t had a lot to shout about.

At least as far as casual observers were concerned.

“That statistic is there, but it’s only a pressure if you allow it to be,” says Nigel Butler, Harry’s dad.

“Things are changing though – Murray’s there already and we’ve seen with the girls like Heather Watson and Laura Robson that giant steps are being taken. We will see it with the boys within the next five to 10 years.

“The way tennis is set up changed in 2007 and the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) now has a much better organised structure so that talent is spotted early.”

Harry, the British U13s number two, is among of the first to benefit.

A student at Bournemouth Collegiate School, he spends up to 60 per cent of his school time on tennis, trains most days, is affiliated to the West Hants Club and regularly plays in international tennis tournaments at home and abroad. He represented Great Britain seven times already.

“The commitment required from Harry is enormous, but in his own words, these are his choices, not his sacrifices. He doesn’t see it that he’s had to give anything up for his tennis, he sees it as a positive choice.

He is concerned with good nutrition, protein drinks, plenty of hydration and the right vitamins, but he also has burgers and fizzy drinks with his friends. Just not very often!”

Nigel has worked with the LTA on ways to engage parents to create the support necessary to grow young talent.

“It’s all about getting the mix right between parents, coaches and clubs. You have to remember these are young people first and foremost – Harry is a good athlete and a promising tennis player, but he’s also a 13-year-old boy and he needs to have fun.

And the South West upset the form book by beating three of their four opponents at Walsall Gala Baths to claim the runnersup spot, only losing to North West Tigers who went on to win the round robin tournament.

POINT TO POINT Trainer Tom Lacey and jockey Sam

Drinkwater scored a double with debutants Billy Biscuit (2m 4f maiden) and Full Shift (3m maiden) at Milborne St Andrew in February.

Billy Biscuit made the most of a mangle on the penultimate fence where favourite Scotch Dry And Ice fell, hampering Buster, while Grey Dream and Rock Of Fife fell and refused independently.

Full Shift, Charlie Brooks’ four-year-old, did well to out-run his 16 rivals, while Crank Hill held on to the Hunt race trophy under Tim Hampton and is now unbeaten in his five completed points.

JITSU National Junior Jitsu champion, Joe

Trussell, from West Moors has been chosen by his local parish council to receive its Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and Olympic Games Legacy Award.

Joe, who trains at the Ferndown Jitsu Club, in Heatherlands Community Centre, is due to take part in the Jitsu International Championships in Edinburgh this year.

Last year West Moors Parish Council decided to make an award of up to £1,000 to an aspiring local athlete aged 11-17.

BADMINTON Pat Adair, the young badminton star

sponsored by Seeker, continues to progress. In his first senior international, he reached the last 16 of the Notts Under 19, beating an England player on the way.

He has since competed in the Spanish Under 19 Open. seekernews.co.uk 39

SeekerSPORT

RUGBY pictures: Alex Williamson Photography

Jaryd Robinson

bournemouth lions 35 clifton 26 March 9, Chapel Gate

Scott Chislett

Will Brooks

Ben Stevenson

Sam Hardcastle

Andy Curtis (Physio) Helping Gavin Hart

Dan Pollard

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celia Sawyer adds colour to the pilatus pc-12 interior

T

Flying colours The UK Pilatus Centre, which acts as sales distributor for the award-winning PC-12 aircraft in the UK, Spain, Channel Islands and the Isle Of Man, has to date sold 40 new $4.6 million PC-12s.

V star and top designer Celia Sawyer is flying high in her new role... creating exclusive interior designs for private planes.

The Bournemouth International Airport-based distributor for the Swiss manufactured Pilatus PC-12 executive aircraft has hired Celia, star of Channel 4’s Four Rooms, to provide the service for would-be owners of new or pre-owned aircraft.

Matt Mackenzie, Group Sales Director, says that Celia’s services through her influential Knightsbridge interior design company cool10 will offer a personalised service for customers in the UK, Channel Islands

and Spain as an additional option to that of the factory near Lucerne.

Celia says there is no reason why, with the very basic but clever use of specially created fabrics for headrests and seat cushions, the interior could be transformed fast by the crew for either corporate travel or family flights.

“Some people may like just a plain plane but I believe that we can create very personalised and stylish designs to take the wow factor even higher!”

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SeekerBUSINESS

Design Better by

words & pictures: STEVE COOK

F

or those of you born after 1980 there was a time before vintage, a time when recycling meant retracing your route on your pushbike to find your lunchbox that had come adrift.

It’s not that we didn’t have all of the cool things that are now described as vintage. It’s just that they were, well... new. Or if they were pre-owned, then they were just old with no additional glamour attached due to the patina of time.8

seekernews.co.uk 42 42 seekernews.co.uk

SeekerBUSINESS u Pictured: Jill Adams (Jilly Bird and Loft&Print), Wayne Hemingway, Neil Leonard (Craft Coffee Cupcakes and Loft&Print) & Suzy Wheeler (Strawberry Fields RePresents) 7So when a teenager from Morecambe decided to start selling his old clothes on Camden Market, it was purely as a means to an end.

Fast forward 30 years and Wayne Hemingway MBE is now at the forefront of the upcycling movement, the process of taking old, unwanted items and converting them into something new and exciting.

When I meet him at Pavilion Dance as part of the Design Your Career event, he admits that everything he’s wearing has been pre-owned, apart from the underpants, which seems prudent.

Together with his girlfriend (now wife) Gerardine, they quickly sold all their clothes, making enough from Camden Market to pay their £18 a week rent for five weeks.

“We asked ourselves where was the ultimate source for second hand clothes?

“My nan pointed us to the rag ‘n’ bone man who took all of the clothes he received to the shoddy yard.

“It was like something out of a Dickens novel, all these old ladies sorting the clothes into piles. We left them samples of what we were looking for and they’d put items aside for us.

“Dr Marten’s boots would cost us 20p and we’d sell them for £30, we were soon taking £1,800 each in a day.”

It was this entrepreneurial spirit that allowed the couple to buy their first home in London for cash whilst still in their teens.

They were modifying the clothing and designing their own items and soon built up a range of eight styles.

“One day Gerry rang me up and said we’d just received our first wholesale order. A buyer from Macy’s in New York liked the designs so much she ordered 200 of each style, 1,600 pieces in total. On a good day Gerry could make four!”

Soon the whole family became involved, setting up a factory near Blackburn for the fledgling Red Or Dead label.

The fashion house went on to win numerous awards before being sold in 1999, at which point they set up HemingwayDesign with a mission to provide affordable and social design.

“Everywhere we went there was crap housing and crap play areas, places

Boscombe is changing. The Overstrand was occupied by pigeons for 18 years before we did the Beach Pods that were worse than where we’d grown up. The new housing estates looked like prisons. No-one ever buys a house they like in an area they dislike, so we designed the area first and designed the houses to suit the area.”

As well as high profile projects like Staiths South Bank, an 800-property mass market housing project on Tyneside and Boscombe’s Surf Pods, they also have ranges of “affordable and real” products in B&Q, Homebase and Topps Tiles.

Being from Morecambe, Wayne’s design work has often been influenced by the combined aesthetics of the seaside and his love of all things vintage and these themes reach their zenith with HemingwayDesign’s latest project to revive the UK’s oldest amusement park – Margate’s Dreamland.

Open since the 1860s, the park was closed in 2003 with the intention to redevelop the site into housing. For the past decade, Dreamland has been fenced off, a sad and decaying relic which mirrored the decline in the fortunes of the town itself.

“Thank God the site was listed, so it couldn’t just be demolished and a

Morrisons built there. We’re bringing in historic theme park rides from Coney Island and Blackpool. It will be the world’s first 100 per cent upcycled tourist attraction.”

So could an idea like this work in Bournemouth? Would it bring a much-needed attraction to what could become Boscombe’s vintage quarter?

“Boscombe is changing. The Overstrand was occupied by pigeons for 18 years before we did the Beach Pods. It’s a pity about the reef, but maybe one day it will get sorted.

“We’ve been quietly working on plans for Churchill Gardens in Boscombe, but the problem is with the landowners. Until land can be compulsorily purchased to enable redevelopment, nothing’s going to happen.”

So the time is right for a new golden age of design, egalitarian and open.

The IMAX is going and new projects need to add to the character of their environment instead of imposing themselves upon it.

“Design should be for everyone, not just those that can afford it,” he added. seekernews.co.uk 43

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SeekerBUSiNESS

Bumper year for employment

F

ollowing growth of more than 20 per cent in turnover over the last 12 months, independent recruitment specialists, Jobshop UK, are getting ready for what they predict will be their busiest year yet.

With growing confidence in the UK job market as a whole, figures released by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, predict the number of employed will grow throughout 2013, reaching 30 million in 2015.

“The belief that there are not enough jobs is a common misconception,” says Tracey Wood of Jobshop.

However, figures provided by Reed’s latest market survey show that across all levels, 74 per cent of workers feel more secure in their jobs, with this renewed confidence leading to a third of those setting their sights on new jobs for 2013. Demand for temporary and permanent staff also continues to thrive in both the private and public sector.

Tracey Wood believes her company’s innovative sourcing methods and meticulous interview procedures are the reason behind Jobshop’s exemplary results when it comes to matching candidates to clients.

“Jobshop consistently supplies high calibre candidates to our clients – be it for it temporary or permanent positions, our approach to acquiring the best possible people for the job, is always consistent.”

Having targeted the permanent and temporary jobs market in Dorset, Jobshop UK expanded with the launch of Engage Executive Jobs in September 2012 to fulfil a growing need for an executive recruitment partner in the area.

“The belief that there are not enough jobs is a common misconception”

“It’s brought about by a lack of movement within the jobs market during the recession years when employees chose to stay in their job, rather than risk moving to another company and confront all the risks and uncertainty associated with being the last man in, first man out.”

Stagnation within the job market over the last couple of years has also been responsible for a lack of high calibre candidates actively looking for new challenges, she adds.

lucy filer As we approach the end of the current tax year, I have picked five of areas of tax planning measures you might want to be thinking about.

Top up your ISA

The maximum you can put aside is £11,280, with no more than £5,640 in cash. Don’t overlook the Junior ISA with its maximum allowance of £3,600 for under 18s.

Look forward to retirement

Qualifying pension contributions still attract income tax relief at your marginal rate and can therefore be used effectively to mitigate tax.

However, the rules are complicated

STEM sells

Cobham’s Chief of Staff, Julian Hellebrand (pictured) stressed the importance of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) skills to engineering and manufacturing companies at the first Business Solent Directors’ Forum in Dorset held at Escoffier restaurant at Bournemouth and Poole College.

The event, which was sponsored by Hays Specialist Recruitment, saw 40 directors and business leaders gather for a five-course gourmet meal prepared and served by students.

The dinner provided the opportunity for Business Solent’s chairman Philip Warr to present Champion plaques to Diane Grannell of The College, Lesley Fox of Mazars Accountants, Andy House of Adido and Grant Esterhuizen of Lester Aldridge Solicitors.

of Filer Knapper LLP and there are maximum limits so do seek professional advice.

Maximise tax allowances

Every individual is entitled to a minimum of £8,105 tax free for 2012/13, rising to £9,440 from April subject to an income cap.

Bed & breakfast, a thing of the past?

Not necessarily. For tax purposes, bed and breakfast refers to a deal in which shares are sold and immediately bought back – a tool used to take a gain or loss, but still retain the holding or to uplift the cost of the shares.

Measures were put in place to prevent

any tax advantage by using this practice, but Bed and ISA and Bed and Spouse can still be transacted to obtain the same tax benefit.

Pass it on!

Each individual can gift capital of up to £3,000 per year with no inheritance tax liability and if you missed the year before, you can make it £6,000. Don’t overlook gifts out of excess income, also free of IHT subject to qualifying conditions.

This is just a snap-shot of planning points for consideration before the tax year ends, but please do seek specific advice as mistakes can be costly. seekernews.co.uk 45

46 seekernews.co.uk

SeekerBUSINESS

Inspiring difference

Gnome comforts Once the bete noire of garden design, the humble garden gnome is poised for a comeback after the Royal Horticultural Society decided to admit them to the Chelsea Flower Show for the first time in 100 years.

Haskins Garden Centre at Ferndown expects to see a boost in the gnome’s popularity but says it faces stiff competition from a growing range of realistic animal ornaments and characters including meerkats.

“Nowadays the humble garden gnome is not just a happy looking chap with a fishing rod,” says Dean Ridley, retail operations manager for Haskins.

“They come in all shapes and sizes performing a wide range of activities from wheelbarrow pushing, using watering cans to bucket carrying. We know of many customers who collect them and have vast populations in their garden.”

u Pictured: Dean Ridley and friends

H

ighly experienced development trainer Russell Thompson will run a session with a difference when Inspire hosts its latest Business Forum on April 30.

Cumulus Outdoors MR Russell, who specialises in both activity-based learning and performance coaching for individuals, their teams and their leaders, will use all his wide experience and unique style in an effort to make the audience consider how they can think and work differently.

Russell has led 13 developmental expeditions to remote locations around the world; from the Himalayas to the jungles of Borneo and the steppes of Mongolia. He recently worked alongside

Social media and video is the future for growing your business

Sir Ranulph Fiennes to select the team members for his latest expedition, The Coldest Journey on Earth.

Inspire’s Business Forum takes place at the Hallmark Hotel, Bournemouth from 5pm. It is free to attend, but to register for more information, contact Joanna Brown at joanna@inspire.uk.net. u Pictured: Sir Ranulph Fiennes with Russell Thompson

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SeekerBUSINESS

Ex-Wales football star John Hartson will be guest speaker at this year’s AFC Bournemouth End of Season Player Awards Dinner.

Hartson, who earned 51 caps for Wales, will guest at the annual dinner held at the Goldsands Stadium on April 28, the day after the Cherries’ final League One fixture – away at Tranmere Rovers.

In July 2009, former Celtic and Wales star Hartson was diagnosed with testicular cancer, which had also spread to his lungs and brain. Against all the odds, he pulled through, and went on to battle and beat the life-threatening disease.

Tickets for the event are £55 (+VAT), or £45 (+VAT) for player sponsors. A table of ten is £500 (+VAT).

To book, contact Emma Wall on 01202 726306 or email emma. wall@afcb.co.uk.

In fine health

Poole-based chartered builders, Greendale Construction, have orders for refurbishments and works in a number of surgeries and health centres across the region.

In Bournemouth, Greendale will be fitting out a new church community project at the Citygate Centre in Holdenhurst Road as the first phase in a £900,000 scheme.

The company has also been awarded the £242,000 refurbishment and internal alterations project at Carter Community School, Poole, creating a new ITC suite and music suite with new classrooms.

Director Chris Kane has also been selected as one of an 18-strong team of top industry figures, who will form the Government’s Advisory Council for the Construction Industrial Strategy.

u Greendale director, Chris Kane, who now sits on the CISAC board

Small firms, big activity words: NICK CHURCHILL

B

ig corporations make much of their good works and charitable activities, but a Bournemouth business woman says even the smallest companies have much to offer the local community.

Samantha Acton, who owns local home help service Domestic Angels, is the first corporate supporter of community arts venue, the Southbourne Creative Hub. The Hub was set up by Cathy Jones to provide creative and social opportunities for those in need of support to participate.

“Samantha’s expertise in social policy and adult social care, together with her sharp business skills, were a perfect match for my experience in the

fields of community participation in the arts and the role played by the arts in our health and well-being,” says Cathy.

Her involvement also allows Samantha to engage her business in activities that relate to its corporate social responsibility.

“Samantha’s contribution in this instance is not money, but her vision, knowledge and clarity of purpose to help shape The Hub’s development plans.

“We are now confident of providing meaningful and effective opportunities for particular groups at The Hub, including those recovering from mental ill health, facing isolation or adults with learning disabilities,” adds Cathy.

“I’m incredibly proud that Domestic Angels is now associated with The Hub,” says Samantha.

“It is a privilege to work on a project that has seen several people who originally came to The Hub for supported activities now attending some of the other classes and workshops, marking a real landmark in their journey to integrate with the wider community.” z Dorset Women in Business holds its networking breakfast at Urban Reef on Bournemouth Seafront on April 17 from 9am. The cost is £15.

Guest speaker is Julie-Anne Houldey from Lime Tree Communications.

Reserve places by emailing rsvp@ dwib.co.uk. seekernews.co.uk 49

50 seekernews.co.uk

APPoINTMENTS

SeekerBUSiNESS Alan & Thomas Insurance Josh Rose

Account executive Josh Rose has joined the motor trade team at Alan & Thomas Insurance.

Josh joins the team with more than five years’ insurance industry experience and as well as advising clients on their insurance programmes, he will be responsible for new business development for the fivestrong team.

Poole Harbour Commissioners Phil Armstrong

Phil Armstrong, a civil engineer, joins Poole Harbour Commissioners (PHC) as engineering project manager.

Phil is well placed to help deliver the various plans designed to ensure the Trust Port is sustainable for the next 25 years.

Wessex Fire and Security: Tim Mitchell & Philip Yeates

W

essex Fire and Security has welcomed two highly experienced staff to the company who together bring 71 years’ experience in the industry.

The Dorset-based firm that works in both domestic and commercial markets plans to expand this year and has welcomed Tim Mitchell, who will focus on the maintenance side of the business, and Philip Yeates, a fire surveyor.

Tim previously worked for Poolebased Secure Alarms and brings 42 years’ experience with him; while Philip joins Wessex from Southern

Fire Alarms based in Bognor Regis and has been in the industry for almost 30 years.

Wessex Fire and Security now employs nearly 80 staff and works across the south with a turnover of £7 million.

The company is part of the Wessex Group, based in Shaftesbury, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

“We are delighted to have brought on board two highly experienced staff,” says Wessex MD Chris Stott. u pictured: MD chris Stott (centre) with philip Yeates (left) and Tim Mitchell.

Sembcorp Bournemouth Water: Bob Taylor & Sharnine Coleman Two senior appointments have been announced at Sembcorp Bournemouth Water (SBW).

Bob Taylor has joined the water supply company as Director of Operations while Sharnine Coleman is appointed to the new post of Head of Communications.

We are Engage Executive Jobs, a new division from the dynamic and professional team at Jobshop UK. With years of experience Engage Executive Jobs are offering a personal, ethical and honest service, making them a perfect recruitment partner for you.

Status Flooring Martin grace-May

Status Flooring is delighted to announce the appointment of Martin Grace-May as contracts manager.

Martin joined the successful south coast firm after spending more than 30 years with a number of firms in London and Essex.

Haskins garden Centre Kevin Ramsell

The 500-cover restaurant at Haskins Garden Centre, Longham has a new manager.

Kevin Ramsell from Ringwood, joined the group as a head chef in 2008 following 17 years’ experience in the hotel industry.

He has since assisted the catering director as the company expanded its restaurant at the West End centre in Southampton

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Poole Hospital Charity fundraise for all the wards and departments at Poole Hospital ranging from A&E to the Children’s Ward and the Dorset Cancer Centre, funding equipment and care above and beyond that provided by the NHS. The generosity and support of the local community can help make a huge difference to the experience of hundreds of patients.

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SeekerBUSINESS

Rolling out a new look A company which specialises in taking the pain out of payroll is sporting a brand new look.

PW Payroll Solutions, the outsourcing arm of chartered accountants and business advisers Princecroft Willis (PcW), has been given a makeover with a new name, logo and website.

Formerly known as PW Business Solutions, the seven-strong team operates from offices in New Milton.

Services offered to 250 clients with nearly 5,000 pay slips a month include all aspects of payroll as well as pensions and auto-enrolment.

PW Payroll Solutions is a registered BACS bureau.

Mandy Gardiner, payroll manager, said the company had been working flat out on preparing clients for the introduction of Real Time Information (RTI) which takes effect from this month (April).

Described as the biggest shake-up in Pay As You Earn (PAYE) reporting for 60 years, RTI means employers will have to submit an electronic real time information file to HM Revenue & Customs each time they process the payroll and make payments.

PW Business Solutions has been running clients on the RTI pilot scheme since last November.

Mandy added: “This is a major change in the way employers report to HMRC covering all employees, casual and temporary workers, pensioners, directors and sub – contractors who have earnings calculated under a PAYE scheme, even if they earn below the threshold. We’re

“We’re still finding many firms are unaware of the full implications of RTI even though it’s now upon us”

still finding many firms are unaware of the full implications of RTI even though it’s now upon us.

They really do need to take professional advice as soon as possible.”

Find out more at www.pwpayrollsolutions.co.uk u Pictured: Mandy Gardiner, payroll manager, and Jane Haines, office manager, show off the new look for PW Payroll Solutions

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SeekerBUSINESS

SOCIAL DIARY

Dickinson Manser Solicitors Lunch RNLI, Poole , 21st February

Andrew Carswell, Sue Hands, Steve Hands

Caroline Edgington, Heather Lapthorne, David Edgington, Susie Sanusi

Justin Thomas, Tracey Parsons, Richard Wilson

Katie Dudley, Geoff Maxted, Lesley Fox

Marjorie Houghton, Gary Pick, Adrian Wilkes, Sarah Richards, Mark Daniels

Nigel Harrison, Melanie Cummings, Allan Petrie

Lyn James, Ian Sparks

Phillip Rymer, Nick Ogle

Sir Michael Salt, Becky Nixon

Richard Osborne, Verne Lake, Neil Davey, Andrew Hill

Sarah Richards, Jon Baker, Jane Freeman, Dave Morrish

Steve Cummings, Grahame Gibson, Dave Morrish

seekernews.co.uk 54 seekernews.co.uk 54

seekernews.co.uk seekernews.co.uk 55

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Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

We are a member of the Building Societies Association. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Registration number 156580.

Rates correct at time of publication.

56 seekernews.co.uk