January 2013 Forum Focus

FORUM FOCUS For Blandford and surrounding villages Issue No. 10

Meet the Volunteer of the Year: P13

January 2013

Corn Exchange scheme looks set for green light

by Nicci Brown PERMISSION has been granted

by North Dorset District Council for a £4 to £5 million refurbishment and redevelopment project planned by Blandford Town Council for the Corn Exchange, Town Hall and council offices.

But both councils will probably have to wait until later this month before they hear whether objections to the scheme from English Heritage will result in a planning inquiry.

The objections meant that the plans had to be referred to the Secretary of State for final approval, and they were sent on 28th November for the Minister to decide whether to 'call in' the application.

The application to replace the community rooms in Church Lane with a four-storey complex

More impressions of the development: Page 4 and remodel the Corn Exchange and Town Hall in the Market Place to which it is linked, attracted a host of other objections from those consulted.

They included the Georgian Group, Victorian Society, the Council for British Archaeology and the Theatres Trust, as well as Blandford and District Civic Society, all raising issues on grounds of treatment of the exist-

An artist’s impression of how the new council offices building would look from the north-east perspective, looking across the existing car park. ing building and design of the new.

But the scheme, for which the town council has put aside £500,000 but will rely on funding from other sources, was recommended for approval by officers at North Dorset District Council.

They said: "Taken as a pair of proposals to upgrade the existing Corn Exchange and provide more usable spaces, it is considered that they provide sufficient public benefits to outweigh the loss or disturbance of existing features within the older building."

The improvement to civic office * To Page 4

Thanks for your support WELCOME to 2013. It is 10 short months since our launch and here at Forum Focus we are looking forward to continuing to provide the local community with news and information.

We would like to thank all those who have supported this voluntary venture, whether by advertising, by submitting articles and reports, by offering their premises as pick-up points or, of course, by tramping the streets once a month in all weathers to deliver copies to their neighbours.

More than 150 individuals and organisations have helped us in one or more of these ways to get Forum Focus off the ground. We are very grateful to them all, and to all the people who have told us how pleased they are to receive our publication. Hopefully even more will come on board in the coming year to ensure its continuing success.

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January 2013

FORUM FOCUS CONTRIBUTING

CONTACTS Editorial: Nicci Brown T: 01258 459346 E: editor@forumfocus.co.uk Advertising: John Stayt T: 01258 454427 E: advertising@forumfocus.co.uk Distribution: Jackie Stayt T: 01258 456999 E: distribution@forumfocus.co.uk Design: David Eidlestein T: 01258 450989 E: de@deadlines.eclipse.co.uk

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ON THE WEBSITE Diary events are updated regularly on our website so it is always worth logging on to stay up to date with what’s happening in the area.

The website also carries additional pictures of local events and background information to stories.

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TEA with Santa at the Farquharson Arms in Pimperne raised £67.50 for Woofability, a charity which trains dogs as companions to the disabled. It was a lovely afternoon provided by landlady Lesley Green, centre rear, assisted by trustee John Bryant and Alan Hemus, right, who train the dogs.

MP welcomes £1m homes cash bonus AN allocation of over £1 million for North Dorset District Council from the Government's New Homes Bonus has been welcomed by the constituency's MP Bob Walter.

It is part of a total £2.3 million awarded to Dorset County, North Dorset District and East Dorset District councils as part of a key strategy to increase the supply of available housing.

The New Homes Bonus ensures that local authorities who promote and welcome growth can share in its economic benefits.

Through it the Government matches the funding local authorities receive in additional council tax for every new home built and empty properties brought back into use.

There is also an additional amount for affordable homes.

Mr Walter said: "It is great news that local authorities in my constituency will receive over £2.3 mil-

lion of funding through the New Homes Bonus, which can be spent on improving local infrastructure, delivering additional homes or on anything that will benefit the local community.

"Under the previous Government, house-building fell to its lowest peacetime level since the 1920s, with top-down centralised targets building nothing but resentment.

The Coalition Government has taken a very different approach with the New Homes Bonus, by rewarding, rather than penalising, councils and communities for welcoming development."

The provisional allocation of instalments for the second and third year for authorities in the constituency total £880,744 for Dorset County Council, £434,582 for East Dorset District Council, and £1,049,969 for North Dorset District Council.

A COLLECTION was made for the Teenage Cancer Trust when the Spetisbury Yuletide Brass Ensemble made their way around local pubs at lunchtime on Sunday 23rd December. Starting at the Red Lion in Sturminster Marshall, their route took in The Anchor at Shapwick, the Woodpecker in Spetisbury, and ended at the Charlton Inn at Charlton Marshall.

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January 2013

Parcel plan for troops NORTH Dorset District Council is taking part in a parcel appeal, organised by Councillor Jane Somper, for soldiers serving in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Chairman Mike Oliver and Councillor Somper have written to local stores seeking their support and boxes will be filled after the January council meeting.

Volunteers with the New Somerset and Dorset Railway Spetisbury Station project with project manager Dean Cockwell (right) on the platform of the station which they are restoring. See more in next month's Forum Focus.

Full steam ahead for the trailway A YEAR of real progress on the North Dorset Trailway was reported to the annual general meeting of the charity which is pushing forward to create a traffic-free route along the former Somerset & Dorset railway line.

Following the opening of the section from Shillingstone to Stourpaine in 2011, a planning application is now being prepared for the final link through to Blandford which will result in a continuous link between there and Sturminster Newton.

Adult exercise equipment has been installed at Stourpaine and Charlton Marshall with funding from bequests to the charity. The website (northdorsettrailway.org) has been upgraded, and there are hopes that this month will see an announcement from Defra on the project to install fibre-optic cable along the route, bringing superfast broadband to the villages either side.

A survey was carried out last year on the impact of the trailway on businesses in the area to reveal increased income of nearly ÂŁ400,000 to bed-and-breakfast establishments, bicycle shops,

hoteliers and others.

Chairman Lesley Gasson said it had also indicated what needs to be done in the future in relation to signage, leaflets to publicise walks and improving parking facilities for trailway users.

Ranger Giles Nicholson said the extension into Blandford had needed the permission of seven landowners, the removal of infill to open up a section passing under the A357, the re-routing of a public right of way on Crown Estate land, and the relocation of a barn close to the route.

Final work on the section coming into Blandford, where an embankment is to be constructed to protect the privacy of residents at Nutford, needed a licence for tree felling due to start last month, as well as conservation area consent.

Its opening is scheduled for March this year, and will be followed closely by the opening at the other end of the former railway line of the similar Two Tunnels project between Radstock and Bath.

Work will then be focused on linking the trailway to the north with Stalbridge and to the south with

Sharp drop in crime A SIGNIFICANT decrease in crime for the first six months of 2012 compared with the same period in 2011 has not been reflected in public perception and confidence, says district councillor Audrey Burch, North Dorset's representative on the community safety partnership.

Reporting to the full North Dorset District Council meeting at the end of November, she said there had been a 25 per cent reduction in violent crime, and 31 per cent reduction in acquisitive crime, including a 39 per cent decrease in domestic burglary and 18 per cent drop in vehicle crime.

There had also been a 30 per cent reduction in personal anti-social behaviour, and a two per cent drop in criminal damage.

A survey of perceptions and 'fear of crime' is being carried out in the market towns and further communications work was done during December and will continue early in the New Year.

existing sections at Charlton Marshall and Spetisbury, where a separate group, the New Somerset & Dorset Railway, is currently working to restore the former Spetisbury station.

New waste service MEETINGS took place with community partnerships, town and parish meetings to explain the new waste collection service which is due to be introduced in North Dorset in June, involving a total of 40,000 properties.

There will also be public road shows from the end of January through February, and in March to May visits are planned for individual property assessments.

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January 2013

Green light for Corn Exchange * From Page 1 and meeting spaces, and assurance of a versatile and viable future for "both civic and cultural elements of the whole" were considered to make "a positive contribution to the local character and distinctiveness of the town conservation area, recognised for its strong cohesive and relatively unique Georgian market town character."

There was only one speaker against the proposal at the meeting of the development management committee, Suzanne Keene from the Council for the Protection of Rural England, and only two abstentions to the six votes from members for approval.

Councillor David Milsted, one of those to abstain, said: "I fully support the proposals for the Corn Exchange, old court and Shambles, but the new town hall is disappointing and looks like Barclays Bank in Haywards Heath, with a couple of barns dropped on top.

"I feel a great opportunity has been lost to provide Blandford with a highquality 21st century building to complement those of the 18th and 19th centuries." * For more background information on the project, see the ‘more stories’ section of our website www.forumfocus.co.uk.

Aerial perspective from the south.

Aerial perspective from the north-west.

Aerial perspective from the south-west.

Aerial perspective from the east.

Foyer between the Shambles and the Corn Exchange.

Restored Corn Exchange, showing seating retracted.

Artist’s impressions of how the revamped complex may look. © Blandford Forum Town Council.

Above: Main exhibition/general purposes space with cassette seating installed.

Above right: View from elevated seating towards stage, which will be removed.

Ghostly goings-on are brought to book A BOOKLET detailing ghostly sightings in Blandford and surrounding villages has been published by the Blandford Museum and Blandford and District Civic Society.

It is based on the tales collected from local people by Sue Burleigh, a staff nurse at Blandford Community Hospital, and Catherine Greenway, who previously worked for Safeway in Blandford but now lives in Plymouth.

They were recounted first during ghost walks they conducted at Halloween in association with town guide Peter Warrington, a Freeman of Blandford, former Mayor and businessman who is now chairman of the Civic Society.

They have now been edited by Michael le Bas, deputy curator of the museum, to provide a sometimes tragic, sometimes criminal, but always entertaining collection of folklore, fact and fiction.

With pen and ink illustrations by Sue herself, and with photographs of some of the places featured in the tales, it is available at £2.50 from the museum, when open, and from the Blandford Tourist Information Centre in West Street.

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January 2013

Yuletide festival sets the tone for Christmas THE third annual Blandford Yuletide Festival on the 12th day of the 12th month in the 2012th year brought thousands of people into the town centre to enjoy a truly festive atmosphere in a traffic-free environment.

After the parade of schoolchildren with their glowing lanterns which filled the Market Place for communal carol singing led by the Rector and festival chairman the Rev Tim Storey and Mayor of Blandford Sara Loch, late-night shoppers mingled among the market stalls and visited traders offering seasonal fare.

The firework finale, on which all eyes focused in case of a repeat of last year's failure which saw fireworks fly into the crowds in the Market Place,

was a triumph.

Mr Storey said: "This year, the Italians took over from the French and joined the farmers market and the Anonymous Travelling Market. With the usual lantern procession, carols, shops, hog roasts and fireworks which went in the right direction, it was a great evening."

Contractors for SSEC had the day before worked late into what was the coldest night of the year to free the town of the congestion caused by the trench which had for several weeks run along the south side of East Street and the Market Place for the laying of a new mains electricity cable. * See our website (www.forumfocus.co.uk) for more pictures from Blandford’s Yuletide Festival.

‘Bogus’ survey in homes campaign QUESTIONS in North Dorset District Council's key issues consultation into the district's core development strategy prompted an angry reaction from those who had collected 6,000 names on a petition against development on the Crown Meadows and former Bryanston Deer Park.

The official survey asked whether people preferred a development of 150 to 200 houses, and whether they wanted the remainder of the land to become public open space.

An alternative survey was distributed asking further questions which gave people the option to choose no development, to reject the open space offer as an 'inducement', and to favour development south of the town beyond the bypass near Tesco.

It was produced by the Bryanston Park Preservation Group, which for the last four years has campaigned against the inclusion of the deer park land in the core strategy for housing development.

BPPG chairman John Cook said: "Questions in the official consultation were worded quite inappropriately, inviting consultees to endorse either 150 or 200 homes on the Crown Meadows, with or without dedicated open space, without establishing whether they want to see any development

there at all, and whether they would prefer development to be between the A350 and A354 opposite Tesco. Our added questions were to find that out."

The district council issued a statement saying the alternative questionnaire was 'bogus' and responses to it might not be taken into account by the council.

The unofficial survey was variously described at Blandford Town Council's meeting in December as 'counterfeit' and 'fraud', but Councillor Steve Hitchings said: "It may be fraud but it's good. We should be supporting it."

Councillor Tony Harrocks said: "It purports to be from North Dorset District Council, but it asks the questions everyone wants to answer."

The council had itself just endorsed a joint response declaring against the Crown Meadows proposal from the local Neighbourhood Plan group for Blandford and neighbouring villages to the official consultation, which closed on 21st December.

The joint response also asks for housing densities to be dictated locally and for infrastructure development to include a new surgery to the north of the town, rather than extension of one of the existing surgeries in the town centre.

ABOVE: The Shottsford Peelers, led by Jennie Rake (centre). LEFT: Pupils from Milldown Primary School with their parade lanterns. BELOW: Fireworks make a spectacular finale high above the church.

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January 2013

Beastly fun and some corny jokes at the panto THIS year's Sturminster Newton Amateur Dramatic Society (SNADS) panto is 'Beauty and the Beast', the classic tale, adapted by Stuart Ardern, of girl meets beast, doesn't immediately fall in love, some slapstick and corny jokes, a talking clock, some more corny jokes, fabulous costumes, some dancing, a comedy duo, a Dame and even more corny jokes.

See them nightly from 13th to 16th February at

The Exchange at 7.30pm or at the Saturday matinee at 2.30pm. Family tickets for two adults and two children are ÂŁ25 on Thursday to Saturday only, and all tickets are available from the box office at The Exchange on 01258 475137 (www.stur-exchange.co.uk). For more information visit www.snads.biz * In October some brave ladies from SNADS took to the stage and performed in the highly

successful play 'Calendar Girls' by Tim Firth about the Knapeley WI who posed nude for a calendar to sell and raise money for charity.

To raise funds for Leukaemia Research and Weldmar Hospice, SNADS have produced a calendar which is currently for sale at The Exchange, Harts and Olives et al in Sturminster Newton. At ÂŁ6 it's a fun way of raising money for good causes - and all in the best possible taste.

Danger warning over steam fair date clash THE foul weather for the 2012 Great Dorset Steam Fair highlighted the danger in having four major events - two of them within a few hundred yards of each other - over the same weekend.

Steam fair boss Martin Oliver told a meeting hosted

by North Dorset District Council that last year had been the most difficult in his memory in terms of weather, and attendance had fallen as a result.

But he said that over the past few months he had lobbied in various quarters against the clash of dates between the number of events all taking place over the same weekend, including the steam fair, the End of the Road festival at the Larmer Tree Gardens, the Bournemouth International Air Show and the Dorset County Show in Dorchester.

"How would the services have coped if there had been a major incident at each of them all at the same time?" he asked.

The End of the Road Festival particularly, which takes place at Tollard Royal and is accessed off

the same stretch of the A354 between Blandford and Salisbury, resulted in major congestion on the Thursday, when around 1,500 vehicles were added to those attending the steam fair. "We had fair-goers who were stuck on the A354 for two hours," said Mr Oliver.

Representatives of villages north of Blandford backed his request to see any joint risk assessment carried out in relation to several events taking place at the same time.

It came as a surprise to many of those present to hear from general manager Joyce Guest of North Dorset District Council, which licenses both the steam fair and the music festival, that they had no power to refuse events because of a clash of dates.

Site: long-term deal should be sought ISSUES were also raised at the annual steam fair wash-up meeting over the enforcement of the temporary speed limit on the A354 and provision and enforcement of no parking cones in Tarrant Hinton, neither of which were possible because a temporary traffic regulation order had not been finalised.

But there was general agreement that the temporary traveller site, which operated for the second time from a field north of the steam fair site off the A354 rather than from a field accessed from Valley Road, had worked well.

North Dorset's Michael Roake said: "I would like to see a longer term commitment to the site, rather than the ad hoc short-term arrangement we have got now."

Dorset County Council's head of business and countryside development, Dave Ayre, said they would start thinking this year about applying for a longer-term planning permission.

Mr Oliver gave an assurance that the steam fair organisers were happy for it to be used this year, and he understood the landowner was also agreeable, but they were both reluctant to commit to a permanent agreement in case of problems arising in the future.

It was agreed that traffic management issues would be taken up with the Safety Advisory Group, and that representations would be made to Vodafone over the poor coverage available at the height of the event.

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January 2013

Santa Claus leads Blandford’s Christmas celebrations

Three-year-old Eleana and seven-year-old Lewis with their mum Suzanne Holloway visiting Father Christmas in Blandford's Corn Exchange.

LANDFORD'S Christmas lights were officially turned on by the Mayor Sara Loch and Father Christmas on the first Friday of December outside the Corn Exchange.

The ceremony followed a gathering inside the building where Santa welcomed children of all ages in the grotto prepared by the Blandford Lions. Parents, town councillors and invited guests listened to carols from the Stour Valley Band and enjoyed festive

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mulled wine and refreshments.

Donations were made to the Mayor's charities, the Dorset Rural Music School and the parish church Cupola Project.

The civic carol service which followed in Blandford Parish Church was conducted by the Rector, the Rev Tim Storey, and those taking part included the DRMS Community Choir, representatives of the town's two primary schools, Archbishop Wake and Milldown, and The Blandford School.

Fly threat swatted by cash injection A THREAT of a resurgence of the Blandford Fly has been averted, for one year at least, thanks to North Dorset District Council's cabinet agreeing to find extra funding for the treatment programme which has kept the insect at bay since the early 1990s.

The threat came from the withdrawal by NHS Dorset of their share of the £11,500 cost of the programme, to which North Dorset is the major contributor, together with a number of other authorities downstream on the River Stour.

Authorities in Christchurch, Poole and East Dorset have indicated they may not be able to help make up the shortfall caused by the NHS withdrawal, leaving North Dorset potentially to find an extra £1,800.

The fly, whose bite is particularly harmful to humans, has been responsible in the past for considerable nuisance in North Dorset and downstream along the Stour.

The effective control treatment to reduce the number of flies emerging in the spring has since 1993 reduced reported bites, which do not include self-managed bites,

from around 1,400 in 1988 to 17 in 2012.

Ceasing the treatment could mean the fly population jumping back to previous rates at considerable cost to the local population, economy and NHS services.

A report from NDDC's environmental health officer Roger Frost indicated that the estimated cost to the NHS of treating fly bites through primary care in the Blandford area alone exceeds the cost of current treatment, and serious concern was expressed by Blandford Town Council at the prospect of the treatment being scrapped.

Councillor Esme Butler said: "We need to think of the health of our residents. We are being told it will be difficult to start up the treatment again if it is stopped. I feel very strongly that they are putting health at risk to save money."

North Dorset's policy review committee made a strong recommendation to cabinet to increase its support to the programme, and the recommendation was endorsed in December.

North Dorset District Council civic carol service (from left): Rev Stephen Coulter, High Sheriff Jeremy Pope, Vice Lord Lieutenant of Dorset James Gibson Fleming, Mrs Jackie Pope, Mrs Fiona Gibson Fleming, Mrs Jill Oliver, and Lt Col Mike Oliver, council chairman.

ORTH Dorset District Council's civic carol service was held at St Peter in Pimperne, the local parish church of its chairman Mike Oliver, where guests included the High Sheriff of Dorset Jeremy Pope and the Vice Lord Lieutenant James Gibson Fleming.

The traditional service of six carols and six readings was conducted by the Rector of Pimperne, Durweston,

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Stourpaine and Bryanston. the Rev Stephen Coulter, and organist was Alison Davies.

A welcoming Christmas Voluntary was played by the Stour Valley Band, which was joined by the choir of the Durweston Village Singers for the carols and anthems.

A collection was taken for St Peter's Church and the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, the chairman's charity.

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January 2013

Tree planted to honour local hero

Above: Villagers and local children who planted the Winterborne Stickland Jubilee Orchard at the sports ground. Below: Caroline Smith plants a mulberry tree in memory of her late father Ted Richardson, assisted by tree officer Phil Poulton.

A LOCAL village hero was recognised when a mulberry tree was planted in his memory in a new community orchard at Winterborne Stickland.

Ted Richardson moved with his wife Melissa in 1958 into one of the few houses in Clenston Road, and lived in the village until his death in March 2010 A farmer who reared beef calves at Sycamore Down, he also had some land overlooking the village school where he planted a number of trees.

But he was well-known in the village for clearing the stream, mowing the churchyard grass, shopping for the elderly and taking patients to hospital.

"Even in his 80s, he used to come down to visit Stickland school to listen to the six- and seven-year-olds reading," said his daughter Caroline Smith, who lives in Blandford and who joined villagers on the field next to the rugby pitch at Winterborne Sports

Club to plant the tree in his memory.

"He loved trees, and it is a fitting tribute to him," she said.

It is the only mulberry among the apple, pear and plum trees planted by villagers, under the guidance of Phil Poulton, a tree officer with South Somerset District Council.

They were bought by Winterborne Stickland Parish Council from North Dorset District Council as part of their tree planting scheme to create the village's Jubilee Orchard, recognising the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Year.

A digger was brought in to help take the turf off the field, which belongs to the parish council but has lain unused for many years, before the hand-digging could begin.

Parish clerk Chris Holbrook said: "We invited some of the village children along to help with the planting and to encourage them to take care of the trees."

Local support boosts football club

BLANDFORD United FC has received sponsorship from Nisa Local for a new kit for its men's reserve team.

Club chairman John Wakefield (pictured on the left), who was presented with a cheque by Charlie Sahota of Nisa Local, said: "Nisa Local now sponsor both men's first and reserve team kits, and their continued support is much valued and needed."

The club is in urgent need of a number of volunteers, two or ideally four people on a weekly rota basis on a Saturday afternoon at the Park Road ground to run the refreshment tea room for an hour between 2.30 and 3.30pm, and a person to organise and produce a match-day programme.

Anyone who can help is asked to contact John Wakefield 07860 533510 or email johnwakefield1960@gmail.com

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January 2013

Roundabout adverts get the thumbs down

Prize winners in the 'Hilton Parish - Through Your Eyes' competition with, left, Dorset Wildlife Trust president Tony Bates, and Dee Stephens and Anna Davies, author and editor of 'The Natural World of Hilton Parish'.

Intriguing story of Bulbarrow hamlets VILLAGERS gathered in the Old Brewery Hall at Ansty for the launch of a delightful publication telling the story of how a special part of Dorset's Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty has been shaped and developed over the millennia.

'The Natural World of Hilton Parish' records, in words and pictures, the life, work and often rare wildlife of the small group of hamlets on Bulbarrow overlooking the Blackmore Vale.

The beautifully illustrated limited edition book contains photographs by professional wildlife photographers and local residents who entered a competition run by the Heart of Dorset Environment Group.

The competition, 'Hilton Parish Through Your Eyes', attracted wildlife and landscape entries from local adults and teenagers, and was judged by the president of the Dorset Wildlife Trust, Tony

Bates, who attended the launch to present awards.

The overall winner, Penny Mears, admitted that her winning shot of a deer looking directly at the camera lens was taken from her own bedroom window. Runner-up was Catherine Langham, with a view over Ansty on an early September morning which takes pride of place on the front cover of the book.

Section winners were, in adult landscape Martin Warren's 'Snow on Bulbarrow', in adult wildlife Lavinia Lindley's shot of a spider's web, in under-15s landscape Oliver Savill's 'Sheep at sunset' and in under-16s wildlife Alex Tibbey's grass snake.

The event was attended by representatives from Dorset AONB, North Dorset District Council and Hilton Parish Council, who all contributed to the publication cost of the book, which has been written and edited by two members of the Heart of Dorset Environment Group, Dee Stephens and Anna Davies.

Dorset AONB's Katharine Wright said: "It's great to see a local group celebrating and understanding their special environment in this book, income from which will help conserve and enhance this outstanding landscape."

'The Natural World of Hilton Parish' costs ÂŁ4.95 and is available from The Fox pub at Ansty, from TICs in Blandford and Dorchester and other local outlets.

PLANNING permission for advertising signs erected on four roundabouts on Blandford bypass has been refused under delegated powers by planning officers at North Dorset District Council.

Those on the fifth roundabout at the entrance to Stour Park will be decided by the development management committee.

Application was submitted retrospectively by marketing company Market Force Ltd on behalf of Dorset County Council, which has introduced a sponsorship scheme through which businesses pay for advertising to finance the roundabouts' maintenance.

But planning officers say that in many cases, the roundabouts on which the adverts have been erected are too small to accommodate signage.

"As a result the adverts visually compete with the highway safety signage, giving a cluttered appearance which has a negative visual impact on the immediate area. They are poorly placed and have an appreciable negative

effect on the appearance of the built environment."

At a recent East Dorset District Council planning committee meeting at which signs in that district were refused, Dorset County Council highways officer Steve Howard gave notice that the county council would almost certainly appeal against the refusals.

PLANNING permission has been granted by North Dorset District Council for new changing and viewing facilities on Shillingstone recreation ground in Hine Town Lane.

The ground includes pitches for football and cricket, tennis courts and a play area.

The Parish Council want to introduce changing facilities and a viewing area for the clubs' growing needs.

The cedar-clad modular building will also allow the cricket club to attract a larger audience and provide changing and showering facilities.

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January 2013

Friends give a financial helping hand

Receiving cheques from Colin Young and Carole Sharp (pictured centre) at Colin's Community Club are Sue Diffey and a young member of Youth Aid, Mac McLaughlin of the Friends of Blandford Hospital, Jane Evans of Julia's House, Anna Maria Littlewood of Help For Heroes and Dave Siwek of the Disability Action Group (North Dorset).

Full house at club as charities cash in A TOTAL of more than £2,700 raised for charity at Colin's Community Club in Damory Street, Blandford, was handed over to representatives of five groups at a presentation evening in November.

The cheques included the proceeds of raffles at the weekly bingo sessions held at the club, amounting to £161, to the Friends of Blandford Hospital, received

by Mac McLaughlin; £226 to Youth Aid, Blandford, received by project leader Sue Diffey; and £310 to the Disability Action Group (North Dorset), received by trustee Dave Siwek.

They also included £618 for Julia's House, presented to Jane Evans, raised both in raffles at bingo sessions and by a sponsored haircut by Sleek & Chic of Blandford.

The final cheque for more than £1,300 was to Help For Heroes from two prize bingos, presented to Anna Maria Littlewood.

The presentations were made by Carole Sharp, vicechairman of the William Williams Trust and a Freeman of Blandford, who congratulated the club and its members on its fundraising activity.

Study of an island AN OPEN meeting of the Blandford & District U3A on Friday 25th January will feature a Powerpoint presentation by Richard Grundy on 'The splendid isolation of Tristan da Cunha'.

Mr Grundy is involved with the Education Trust Fund which helps support Tristan young people in overseas education or training, and his presentation gives an insight into the history of the island, the way of life of its people, and its wildlife.

The meeting starts at 2pm in Durweston village hall.

THE Friends of Blandford Hospital have approved funding for three very different requests.

A multi-purpose refreshment trolley for use on Tarrant ward will cost more than £3,000 and will be used by ward staff and by the Friends volunteers who help twice a day, seven days per week.

The hospital-based Community Mental Health Team applied for funding of their Wellbeing group and has been awarded £1,500 towards its running costs for 12 months. The group meets regularly in Blandford and is attended by patients with a wide range of mental health issues to offer social activities, chair-based exercise and Tai Chi. The Friends' management committee has also approved funding of £7,560 for the gym at Sturminster Newton leisure centre to buy a new Precor treadmill and maintenance contract. The gym supports patients referred by GPs for exercise programmes and the treadmill will prove valuable in supporting local people. The leisure centre is volunteer-run by a local community group.

Funding requests are made possible by the generous support of the Friends' fundraising events and through the income provided by the charity's two shops in Blandford and Sturminster Newton.

For further information about the charity, its activities or joining the team of volunteers, call 01258 450095 or visit their website www.friendsblandford.org.

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January 2013

Happiness comes in little shoeboxes IN many parts of the world milof E Primary School in lions of children woke up on Winterborne Whitechurch, Christmas morning with no presMortgagetrace in Blandford, New ents at all.

Earth Solutions of Verwood and Dorset Auto Spares in Wimborne.

While most children in the UK excitedly unwrapped their stockSam Finlay, who organised and ing, elsecontributed where it was to the collecjust another tion, said: day.

"It's difficult to think durBut the ing all the shoebox fun of scheme run Christmas through that there Rotary are lots of International children helped to throughout provide at the world least some of these chil- Some of the students from Pimperne Primary who have School with their contributions to the Rotary absolutely dren with nothing. I something to Christmas Shoebox appeal. hope we enjoy over have made a small difference to Christmas by shipping thousands at least some of those. I'm startof shoeboxes full of gifts to variing early for next year now to ous countries in eastern Europe reach greater targets.” and Africa.

If you would like to know more or Blandford Stour Rotary conhow you can help, email her on tributed a record number of 200 rotaryshoeboxes@hotmail.co.uk boxes in 2012, thanks to the generosity and hard work of their As part of this international effort, members and a great deal of Rotary clubs in Dorset, help from some local schools and Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and other organisations. the Channel Islands collected more than 23,000 shoeboxes to They included a huge contribubring a smile to at least some tion from Pimperne C of E children in the world at Christmas.

Primary School, the Dunbury C

Changes in Inheritance Tax A legal view from Blanchards Bailey GIFTS to charities have long been exempt from Inheritance Tax (IHT).

Recently an incentive has been introduced so that if you leave 10% or more of your taxable estate to charity, IHT on the rest of your taxable estate is charged at 36% rather than 40%.

This is particularly useful for people who have a taxable estate and wish to benefit family members and charities. For example: Mrs Smith is divorced and has a total estate worth £525,000. She wishes to leave 10% of her estate above the tax-free allowance of £325,000 (£20,000) to charity Under the old law, the IHT bill would have been £72,000 with Mrs Smith's family inheriting £433,000 (and the charities £20,000) Under the new law, the IHT payable is £64,800 with Mrs Smith's family inheriting £440,200 (and the charities £20,000).

There is also a strange anomaly in the legislation meaning that if you intend to give 4% of your taxable estate to charity, the gift can be increased to 10% without your family suffering any reduction in the value they receive - ie: the whole of the increase is paid for by HMRC! IHT Reminder: The Inheritance Tax allowance for an individual is £325,000. For a married couple and civil partners, there is a transferable allowance between husband and wife, potentially giving a combined allowance of £650,000.

Where one or both of a couple have been widowed before or own business assets, with appropriate planning within wills, allowances can be increased above and beyond the sum of £650,000. If you haven't reviewed your will since the introduction of transferable allowances in 2007, we would recommend that you do so.

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January 2013

FOCUS on clubs

Men of the soil

A digital focus

A NEW project for men who want to remain active and involved in the countryside and share their knowledge of farming and rural skills with others has been launched by Future Roots, a community organisation based at Rylands Farm in Holnest, near Sherborne.

The Countrymen's Club is designed to tackle the challenges faced by older men from rural communities. It meets every afternoon and is of particular help to those who have been experiencing health problems and find it more difficult to get out.

Julie Plumley, director of Future Roots, said: "Farmers live and breathe farming while they are working - the health of their animals, the cost of feed, prices at market - and when they have to give that up due to age or ill health they sometimes find it difficult to find a new purpose in life.

"Over the last year of working with older men on a small scale I have met men who have been diagnosed with dementia, Parkinson's disease and other conditions but I have seen them find joy and satisfaction in coming to familiar surroundings.

ANOTHER digital camera course for beginners, run by Blandford Camera Club, will be starting on Wednesday 16th January at the club premises in Station Court, Blandford.

Norman Carey, who organises the sessions starting at 7.30pm, said: "We really do mean beginners but they can learn quite a lot in six lessons with a modicum of homework, so we do get more experienced photographers occasionally who are usually more interested in the later work."

Full details are on the website www.bfcclub.co.uk or applicants can ring Mr Carey on 01258 480824.

The club's last meeting featured their third points cups competitions with judge John Tilsley from Dorchester, who offered helpful

"Through the Countrymen's Club we will always be there for them to talk over the farm gate if they need it. My hope is that this approach will help them feel happier and more fulfilled as they cope with the challenges of ageing."

"At our farm older men can use and pass on their skills and knowledge to a younger generation of farmers as well as reminisce about days gone by."

The club is funded for the first 18 months by the Big Lottery Silver Dreams Fund, so sessions are provided at no cost until March 2014.

To find out more and to help keep traditional farming practices alive, contact Brian or Dominic on 01963 210703 or email countrymen@futureroots.net.

More free advice on wills AGE Concern Blandford are holding another wills and power of attorney surgery at the office on 14th February, when Jerome Dodge from Blanchards Bailey will give advice free of charge.

Please contact the office of Age Concern Blandford at 4 Nightingale Court, DT117ED or phone 01258 458250 for an appointment.

advice and constructive criticism.

Jean Bartlett had a great evening receiving the only 10 and a 9½ among the DPIs exhibited. Pat Catley and Howard Westlake, also received 9½, and Colin Cross and Graham Hutton 9.

The print competition, with 34 entries, resulted in a 10 for Colin Cross and two for Malcolm Bowditch, 9½ for Marilyn Peddle and Norman Carey, and 9 for Marilyn and Jean Bartlett.

A fortnight earlier, Penny and Spike Piddick showed projected images captured during their most recent visit to Indonesia. In 'Eastern Bali, above and below the waterline', Penny gave the commentary to her slideshow revealing the life and culture of the Indonesian people.

Spike's contribution consisted of underwater photographs obtained by him during several dives a day over ten days.

The evening ended with an AV presentation compiled by Penny of images obtained over several visits to various exotic parts of the world.

For more information on the club, contact Alf Tompkins on 01258 454450 or visit the website.

13

January 2013

FOCUS on clubs

Museum’s railway club honoured at awards ceremony BLANDFORD Museum's Railway Club was among the award winners at a presentation evening hosted by the Volunteer Centre Dorset to celebrate volunteers across the county.

The event at the Dorford Centre

Dave Cash with his award as Volunteer of the Year.

in Dorchester coincided with the Community Service Volunteers' national 'Make a Difference Day', which aimed to spotlight volunteers for their efforts during 2012.

Nearly 200 volunteers from all walks of life turned out to celebrate the 25 nominations for each of the team and individual categories.

The group of railway enthusiasts, led by David Cash, were hailed as Volunteer Group of the Year after building a scale replica of Blandford railway station and goods yard as it had existed last century.

Every feature of the model is based on ground plans and photos and is correct to the nearest millimetre. They have also organised exhibitions and their model has been accepted for the 2014 Warley National Railway Exhibition at the NEC in Birmingham.

Mr Cash was astonished to be named as Volunteer of the Year

Potato Day role for Rudolph and friends DID you know that Harlequin, Mr Little's Yetholme Gypsy and Rudolph are all varieties of potato which are available to grow in your own plot?

Blandford Museum Victorian Garden Club is hosting a Potato Day in association with Pennard Plants at Pimperne Village Hall on Sunday 27th January, 10am2pm.

It follows the success of their first Potato Day last March, when more than 200 people attended.

It is an opportunity to buy seed potatoes early, with dozens of varieties for sale by the single tuber, as well as onion sets, shal-

lots, garlic, fruit trees, rhubarb crowns and more. There will also be experts on hand to offer advice.

Pennard Plants have been running these events throughout the West Country for several years.

There will be craft, produce and book stalls, a plant identification competition and potato printing for children and grown-ups.

Refreshments will be served. The entrance charge is 50p, with children free, and there will be ample free parking at the village hall.

For further details please phone Heather 01258 458678 or see www.potato-days.net

Blandford Museum Railway Club members receive the award as Volunteer Group of the Year from the Lord Lieutenant of Dorset, Mrs Valerie Pitt-Rivers. for his work, which began in 2004 with a major exhibition of railwayana in Blandford as part of the town celebrations to mark the 400th anniversary of its royal charter.

He then approached Blandford Museum with a proposal to build a model railway and brought together a group of enthusiasts, who have met weekly since 2007

to work on the model. He and the group have since organised a second exhibition and a third is planned for later this year.

Guests at the awards night, including the Lord Lieutenant of Dorset, Valerie Pitt Rivers, and Dorchester Mayor Andy Canning, were entertained with music from guitarist Nicky Hart and Viva!, the Dorchester Community Choir.

Cameo appearances DURWESTON Cameo Club has thanked all who have supported its fundraising events during 2012, including Pink Day on 16th November which raised £345 for the Breast Cancer Campaign.

The ladies’ club meets on the second Tuesday of each month in the village hall and hosts interesting speakers at the meetings, which are open to visitors, including a few men who find the topic of interest.

They also lunch out most months at local pubs and restaurants, and enjoy outings and theatre trips, as well as raising money for the charities. In just three events last year they raised £865 for cancer-related organisations.

The subject of their January meeting is 'Willow Creations' by Kim Cresswell.

14

New leader for society BLANDFORD Art Society has secured the services of the professional artist Sue Fawthrop to lead its practical workshop on Saturday 19th January at the United Reformed Church Hall in White Cliff Mill Street, Blandford.

The class has been running each month under the tutelage of retiring chair, Colette Fowler Marson, and it is hoped it will continue on the same basis if sufficient interest is shown.

Members and non-members are welcome at the class which is designed to help everyone develop their own style through working on projects of their choosing.

The classes, costing ÂŁ8.50 a time, are open to everyone, aged from 18 upwards, and every skill level from beginners to those producing masterpieces but wanting another artist's overview.

For further information on the class or on the society, contact Liz Tredrea, 01258 861754 or email liztred@waitrose.com.

January 2013

FOCUS on schools

Olympian hits the target OLYMPIC Gold Medal winner Peter Wilson (right) returned to Dorset to give a talk at Knighton House School.

Peter, who hails from Sherborne and is the son of a farmer, was only 25 when he won gold at the Olympics in the men's double trap shooting event.

During his talk he gave the 100-strong audience a unique insight into his London 2012 experience and how it feels to be an Olympic champion.

The 6' 6" Olympian's enthusiasm was infectious and his Olympic journey was fascinating to hear.

Taking time out afterwards to sign autographs and pose for photos, he left with a whole army of new fans who will be following him when he goes to Rio in 2016.

Entrepreneurs from The Blandford School at the Castlepoint Christmas market in Bournemouth. Story - facing page.

A winter feast of art SENIOR girls from Knighton House School bore seasonal gifts when they exhibited their winter art project at Dorset County Museum in Dorchester.

The 17 pieces of art depicting an interpretation of 'Winter Feast' were hung alongside a popular mosaic exhibition in the groundfloor gallery and coincided with a promotion for free museum entry.

The school, located in Durweston, was thrilled that the museum agreed to display the girls' work, and art teacher, Anna Bogue, was delighted with the result: "The girls were really inspired by the countryside and winter foliage around us,� she said.

Guest judge was David Herring, from Frank Herring and Sons in Dorchester, a family business that specialises in art, craft and creative materials, who awarded the prizes during the private view.

He said: "The paintings were all done to a very high standard. I fully support schools which encourage an appreciation of art and you can see that art at Knighton is a valued subject."

15

January 2013

FOCUS on schools

We wish you a merry smelly Christmas!

GIRLS at Knighton House School came up with a perfect Christmas gift for local gardeners at Durweston allotments this year - horse muck!

The unusually whiffy gift was delivered in time for Christmas to be available for all 25 allotment holders to use on their site just outside Blandford.

Catherine Goddard, head of riding at Knighton House, was delighted they had been able to donate it to local growers.

She said: "Many of the girls stable their ponies at the school as riding is a big part of our extra activities but this does mean our muck heap is always growing. “This way, we are helping our neighbours down at Durweston allotments and managing to find a home for our well-rotted manure."

Wendy Taylor, secretary of Durweston allotments, with girls from Knighton House Year 7 students Hannah, Louisa, Amparo and Alice with their Christmas gift delivery.

The health team

Wendy Taylor, who is secretary of Durweston allotments, was delighted to take delivery. She said: "It isn't everyone's idea of the perfect gift, but Knighton couldn't have given us anything better. We'll certainly be putting it to good use - just wait till you see our produce next year!"

Any other allotment associations who would like a similar donation should get in touch with Kate Cox at Knighton House School on 01258 452065.

MILLDOWN Primary School in Blandford has once again been awarded Healthy School Plus for their continuing work to promote health and wellbeing.

Pictured (from left) are Josh (Year 5), Josh (Year 6) holding the award, Laura King (Year 5 teacher and Healthy School co-ordinator), Ethan (Year 4) holding certificate, Lucy (Year 5 ) and Paige (Year 4) holding second certificate.

Market pays a dividend A TEAM of intrepid Year 12 entrepreneurs from The Blandford School braved the cold for two evenings at a Christmas Market at Castlepoint in Bournemouth, launching their special Christmas hampers.

Despite the cold, sales were brisk and the team made a profit on their seasonal products of highquality coffee, sourced from Colombia, for the true coffee connoisseur, scented bath bombs and a delicious coconut body cream.

The Dorset Coffee Company supported the students by providing their coffee at a very favourable rate.

16

January 2013

Wonderful windows

Panto proves a real crowd-puller THERE was standing room only for the single performance of Iwerne Minster's pantomime 'Dick Whittington' which was staged in the Village Club.

In the title role was Helen Peat, with her faithful cat Tom Kitten, played by Dorothy Hinchliffe, and the villainous Rat was played by Chris Nadin.

Dick's lady friend Alice was played by Trish Neale, and her father the Alderman by Mervyn Marsh, whose wife Penny played Idle Jack to Shelagh Duly's Sarah the Cook.

Deborah Croney, who last year starred as Jack but

this year has taken on new commitments as leader of North Dorset District Council, played only a cameo role as Lola, joining director Jebba Whittaker as Hiawatha, Rod Major as Lowawatha and Caroline O'Brien as Minihaha as a quartet of Red Indians.

Terry Payne played Captain Starboard, and Rod Major Mr Port. Louise Leary as lead fairy was assisted by young helpers Lily and Poppy Marshall, and the chorus included Jenny Nadin, Chris Neale, Jill Major and Jacob Rosoman.

THE winner in Blandford Town Council's Christmas shop window competition was Deck the Halls in East Street, where proprietor Evelyn Garment was quite taken aback to receive her prize and certificate.

Runner-up was Synergy hairdressing salon at Badger Cross, and third were Mostyns in Salisbury Street, with commendations for Essence, the Linen Cupboard and Florabunda, all in East Street.

Nicci Brown, editor of Forum Focus and one of the judges, said: "We couldn't help but be impressed by the amount of effort put in by so many shopkeepers and businesses to decorate the windows of their premises and make the town look festive. Choosing between them was a very difficult task."

Winner of the charity shop section was Naomi House Children's Hospice in Salisbury Street, and runnerup was the Blandford Information Centre in West Street.

Forum Focus - forthcoming meetings & events REGULAR EVENTS (for more regular events see our website www.forumfocus.co.uk) BLANDFORD ROYAL BRITISH LEGION CLUB, Church Lane, Blandford: Bingo every Thursday and Sunday, starts 7.30pm. All welcome GET INTO READING SOUTHWEST: Every Wednesday at Positive Approach, Tabernacle Walk, Blandford. Listen to or read aloud classic stories and poems, 2 to 3.30pm, more details at www.thereader.org.uk NORTH DORSET MP Bob Walter holds regular surgeries throughout his constituency. To find out more or to make an appointment call 01258 452585 or email

Follow us on Twitter @forumfocus

Entries in this diary are free of charge. If you have an event you would like included, please send details to Nicci Brown, 01258 459346 or email s.n.b@btinternet.com. This page is available and regularly updated on our website at www.forumfocus.co.uk moggd@parliament.uk JANUARY Wednesday 9th January: Blandford Forum Film Society presents 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy', Blandford School, 7.30pm Friday and Saturday 11th and 12th January: Durweston Players present The Panto Mother Goose, Durweston village hall, 7.30pm (Sat matinee 2.30pm) bookings 01258 453170 Monday 14th January: Blandford Forum Ladies Probus luncheon meeting, Crown Hotel 12 for 12.30pm. Speaker Paul Sturgess ‘A Year Through the Lens’.

Details Greta Chippendale, 01258 453238. Email: gretachippendale@talktalk.net Wednesday 16th January: Dorset Wildlife Trust (North Dorset branch), Fontmell Magna village hall, 7.30pm, talk by Andrew Philpott of the Bees, Wasps & Ants Recording Society.

£2 entrance donation includes tea/coffee and biscuits.

Friday 18th January: Artsreach present Time Traveller Magicians, Durweston village hall, 7.30pm Saturday 19th January: Blandford Art Society Practical art workshop, United Reformed Church from 9.30am Monday 21st January: Child Okeford Centre for Care and Learning, speaker Michael Johnston on ‘Kind Hearts and Coroners’, tickets and details 01258 860767 Thursday 24th January: Free live folk, country and bluegrass music in the Corn Exchange, Blandford, 11am to 1pm. Tickets from the Town Clerk's office, voluntary collection for Mayor's charities Friday 25th January: Rotary Charity Dinner, Crown Hotel, Blandford, 7.00 for 7.30pm.

Guest speaker: Martin Brown (‘Horrible Histories’ illustrator),

Live entertainment: ‘One Night Stand’ band for dancing, tickets £30 from Tourist Information Office, 01258 452834 or 01258 830291 Friday 25th January: Blandford & District U3A Open Meeting, at 2pm, Durweston Village Hall. Talk and power point presentation ‘The splendid isolation of Tristan da Cunha’ by Richard Grundy.

Entry free: Refreshments 50p.

Friday 25th January: RNLI Blandford branch SOS Day buffet and white elephant auction, Durweston village hall, 7.30pm, tickets £2.50 from 01258 857449 Saturday 26th January: Meatloaf Night/Blues Brothers charity night at the Crown Hotel, details 07887 728318 Sunday 27th January: Potato Day hosted by Blandford Museum Victorian Garden in association with Pennard Plants and Growing Old, Pimperne Village Hall, 10am to 2pm FEBRUARY Sunday 3rd February: South Dorset Point-to-Point, Milborne St Andrew, first race 12 noon