February 2014 Forum Focus

FORUM FOCUS For Blandford and surrounding villages Issue No. 23

February 2014

The badgers are back - Page 2

War hero honoured

A PAVING stone commemorating local World War One hero Jack Counter, who received the Victoria Cross for valour in the face of the enemy, is to be installed as part of Blandford's commemoration of the war's centenary.

Dorset County Council has agreed to install the stone, one of 400 to be installed nationwide, free of charge in the area of the Town Pump in Blandford Market Place.

The design will incorporate an electronic reader so that people can discover more about Mr Counter, who was born in Dorset House, Dorset Street.

Floods bring bleak start to the year

FLOODING returned to Blandford with a vengeance just before Christmas and again in the New Year when the River Stour and many of its tributaries broke their banks and heavy rain overpowered already water-laden drains.

Dorset Fire and Rescue received hundreds of emergency calls after the Stour burst its banks, and crews rescued a number of people who became stranded in their cars, resulting in a warning to drivers not to venture into floodwater which might carry their vehicles away.

Many described the water lapping against the flood gates at the Marsh and Ham car park as the highest they had ever seen.

Campaigners against development on the Crown Meadows monitored the height of the flood closely and on their website at www.saveourcrownmeadows.btck.co.uk recorded the fact that the waters of the Stour reached close to the boundary of the Crown Estate's proposed housing.

Damage was caused to the recently laid Stour Meadows riverside path. An entire tree trunk had been brought down by the river and left across the route, and strong currents had

by Nicci Brown

ripped up some of the stone surface.

A number of properties in the town centre were flooded, including premises in East Street, whose cellars filled with water, and at the Damory Street junction, where sandbags had to be piled up against the doors to stop water entering from the road.

The Dolphin pub in East Street was forced to close because of flooded cellars, as was the Stour Inn in Blandford St Mary where water gushed up from underground and kept the pub closed for several days. Disc-o-Box in East Street was also flooded and closed.

East Street was closed to traffic on Sunday 5th January due to flooding between Bakers Corner and Pines Court. The Environment Agency brought in emergency pumps to deal with the mass of water coming down Pimperne Brook, which also flooded and closed Wimborne Road between the Langton Road junction and Fishers Close.

Villagers in Tarrant Gunville rallied to help those whose homes were flooded and parts of the village became impassable, and it was reported that the River Tarrant was unable to follow its usual course.

More flood pictures: Pages 6-7

MP visits flood victims: Page 9

INSIDE YOUR FORUM FOCUS

Green light for Corn Exchange plans - Page 3

FORUM FOCUS: Your FREE monthly community newspaper

Free parking to return to Stour Meadows?

- Page 8 www.forumfocus.co.uk

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February 2014

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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DROP POINTS

Main drop points for Forum Focus in Blandford and Blandford St Mary are at Blandford Post Office, Blandford Library, and Corn Exchange in the Market Place, James Newsagents in The Plocks, Homebase, the Co-ops in Salisbury Road and Langton Road, Tesco at Stour Park, One Stop in Salisbury Road, Blandford Leisure Centre, the Central shop and Blandford Tourist Information Centre, West Street.

In the villages they are at the Charlton Marshall Church Rooms and Charlton pub, Woodpecker pub at Spetisbury, True Lovers Knot and Langton Arms in the Tarrant Valley, Pimperne shop, White Horse Inn at Stourpaine, Iwerne Minster post office, Shillingstone garage and church centre, Royal Oak at Milborne St Andrew, Sticky Stores at Winterborne Stickland and the Cricketers at Shroton.

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Help us to help your community FORUM FOCUS

WE know our readers love Forum Focus because of the numbers that are picked up from our drop points in various parts of Blandford and in the villages.

But not everyone finds a copy there and we are very grateful to all those who have volunteered to serve their immediate friends and neighbours by, between them, delivering a total of nearly 4,000 copies house-to-house.

It is an excellent opportunity to give a little of your time to help your community.

It would help us enormously if more would come forward, particularly in those areas which have not so far had house-to-house delivery, and those where some of our volunteers have had to give up due to other commitments or ill health.

Bulk supplies can be delivered to your door or collected from our main drop point at Colin's Community Club in Damory Street a few days before the end of the month. Trolleys and delivery bags can be supplied. We ask only that they are put through individual letterboxes by the start of the following month.

We would also welcome enquiries from anyone with transport who can join our small team making deliveries to over 60 drop points in the town and DT11 villages and to volunteers. Fuel expenses are payable.

If you would like to help in any of the areas listed below, please call 01258 456999 or 459346 or email distribution@forumfocus.co.uk Volunteers are welcome in the following areas: Market Place and West Street Salisbury Street (lower end) Badbury Heights Black Lane and roads off Langton Road and Crescent and Windmill Road Milldown and Park Road Damory Street, Damory Court Street, Nursery Road and Oakfield Street Damory Court and Albert Powys Blandford St Mary.

THE Hall & Woodhouse Badgers have made a welcome return to their roundabout on the Blandford bypass after their enforced absence and repair necessitated by vandals attacking them within days of their arrival during the summer.

It is to be hoped that the foliage which now surrounds the trio will afford them some protection so that they can continue to delight residents and visitors to the town for many years to come.

Picture: Richard James.

Spotlight on town’s future

February 2014

A three-dimensional view of the new proposal.

Fundraising drive launched for Corn Exchange project

OFFICIAL go-ahead has been received for the restoration of Blandford's Grade I listed Corn Exchange and extension of the town council offices.

Now, following the grant of planning permission and listed building consent for the project, which could cost up to £5 million, the council has launched a fundraising campaign.

Objections from English Heritage to the council's original proposal resulted in a 'call in' by the Secretary of State for a public inquiry, which had been due to be held in December.

However, the council submitted a revised planning and listed building application in August, altering the design of the office building to meet with English Heritage's approval. This resulted in the withdrawal of the objection to the scheme, which had been approved in principle by North Dorset District Council.

The changes related primarily to the proposals for the council offices, which were reduced from a fourstorey to three-storey rebuild, with no changes to the proposals to the Town Hall and Corn Exchange buildings.

Last month the council agreed to commission a survey, costing more than £3,000, into the condition of the facade of the Corn Exchange building, on which thousands of pounds have been spent in the past year on repairs, including the refitting of the toilets.

Significant funding for the refurbishment and extension project, a long-held ambition for the Town Council, is already in place, but much more is needed.

The council has appealed for anyone interested in helping with the fundraising drive to contact Councillor Sylvia Hixson-Andrews via email at s.hixsonandrews@uwclub.net.

Police warning after break-ins POLICE are warning people to review their garage security after a number of burlaries and break-ins at homes near Blandford.

A garage burglary at May Grove, Charlton Marshall, between 4pm on 5th January and noon on the 11th resulted in the theft of a GT cycle.

Between 9.45pm on Wednesday 8th January and 9.30am on Thursday 9th, two break-ins at garages in Spetisbury resulted in door damage and stolen property, including golf clubs and fishing tackle.

Police carried out house-tohouse enquiries and advised

that inexpensive stand-alone alarms were available through the local Neighbourhood Watch or through the Safer Neighbourhood Team. Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police on 101 quoting crime number C:14:D:01454 for Charlton Marshall and C:14:D:1113/1114 for Spetisbury.

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A BLANDFORD Town Team, established following a series of public meetings last autumn, is planning a community survey next month to formulate a detailed list of ideas to improve the town centre.

The Town Team's aim is to support the development and enhancement of a vibrant town centre with its unique Georgian heritage, its community spirit, profitable and attractive businesses and tourist attractions, including the River Stour and the wonderful countryside.

The team's chairman is Traci Handford and its members are representatives of a number of subgroups covering the market, marketing, facilities, traffic management, signage, movement and tourism.

Ideas are invited from anyone so that projects can be implemented either by the team or by working with partner organisations, and others held to account when delivery is their responsibility.

A business case is already being developed for a semi-permanent covered walkway in the Market Place, and an exhibition is to be staged in the Corn Exchange.

Discussions are taking place with Dorset County Council about traffic flow in the town, and on 'Small Business Saturday' in December, shopkeepers were issued with 'Bought in Blandford' labels to attach to items purchased, an initiative supported by the Town Team in conjunction with the Chamber of Trade.

The community survey in March will give everyone an opportunity to put forward ideas to generate dynamism into the town's development.

"Blandford has much to offer and we should exploit its unique Georgian heritage to the full to keep the market area as vibrant as possible," said Mrs Handford.

"We want people to volunteer to join one of the groups and complete the survey, so together we can improve the town for everyone's benefit."

Anyone wanting to help should email blandfordtownteam@outlook.com.

Town challenge to Local Plan 4

NORTH Dorset's new local plan is being challenged by Blandford Town Council and the Blandford + grouping of Blandford, Blandford St Mary and Bryanston, who say it is unsound and ineffective.

The recommendations of a working party tasked with responding to the public consultation into the draft plan were approved by councillors on 13th January and included concerns that it was based on out-of-date information and showed inconsistencies.

Councillor Sylvia Hixson Andrews described their response as "harsh but necessary", and Councillor Sara Loch, chairman of the Blandford + group, said: "We are saying there are things in which they are disagreeing with themselves."

Councillors Hugo Mieville and Steve Hitching asked why, after the worst flooding in years, the response made no reference to the Crown Meadows being in a flood plain.

Miss Loch agreed that development there would almost certainly make flooding worse, but said: "The Environment Agency say it's going to be fine and we don't want to weaken our argument.

February 2014

We have used things we can back up with evidence."

The town council response challenges the use of outdated information, saying: "There is no evidence to demonstrate that the highway infrastructure could cope with the one-way system which will be serving the development west of Blandford (Crown Meadows)."

They say a recent application that would have needed to use the same road, the B3082, was refused because it would be likely to cause additional danger to road users.

"The application was only for one dwelling. No evidence has been provided that would mitigate the impact of the proposed development on the highway network."

They also highlight that the council's preferred approach to develop west of Blandford and west of Blandford St Mary is not the community's preferred approach, as made clear by the submission of around 5,000 signatures suggesting instead development northeast of the town and adjacent to the A350 and A354 junction.

They question a statement that new sports pitches and facilities

are being provided, saying the only provision is refurbishment of existing pitches; and they say it is not clear how the high number of the ageing population is being cared for or how applications for care facilities will be dealt with as they come forward.

They challenge the statement that there will be provision and enhancement of public transport when Dorset County Council have confirmed that services face cuts, not improvement, and the claim that there are enough nurseries and pre-school groups in the district when the county is planning to close them.

To make the Local Plan legally compliant, they say, a highway study should be carried out to measure the impact of increased traffic on the one-way system, the

plan should be amended to reflect community wishes by removal of the Crown Meadows site allocation, and further amended to accurately reflect facts.

The consultation into the draft Local Plan, which will guide the development of 4,200 new homes and associated employment and community facilities and infrastructure district-wide between now and 2026, closed on Friday 24th January.

A series of presentations attended by a large number of people and an online questionnaire invited comments from the public.

The final revised version of the plan is expected to be submitted to the Secretary of State later in the spring and then go to independent inspection at a public inquiry in the summer.

A LAST ditch attempt to block development proposals for the Crown Meadows and Bryanston Deer Park in the North Dorset Local Plan was made in January by the Bryanston Park Preservation Group.

Campaigners heartened by repeated flooding of the River Stour, close to the site earmarked by the Crown Estates for up to 200 houses, leafleted residents with a questionnaire which urged them to support an alternative proposal for land beyond the Blandford bypass opposite Tesco.

The campaign group hoped to present further ammunition in addition to the petition against the development, already signed by over 6,000 people.

The proposal for St Mary's Hill in Blandford St Mary has been put forward by Blandford St Mary Homes Ltd, builders of the award-winning development of nearby Bryanston Hills.

Initial plans prepared by Morgan Carey Architects, who have won design awards for successful sympathetic developments throughout the region, went on display at a public consultation in the Crown Hotel in November.

The would-be developers stressed that the site had previously been identified as suit-

able for housing in the Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment which North Dorset District Council carried out to identify land for a significant increase in housing supply.

They said they wanted to incorporate the views of local residents in their eventual planning application and were keen to ensure that people had the opportunity to comment, offering more information at www.morgancarey.co.uk.

The reception was mixed, with some concerned that access to and from the development might be from the Bournemouth Road. Others welcomed the opportunity for quality development with affordable homes and a link by footbridge or underpass between the two sides of Blandford St Mary, and of the North Dorset Trailway, currently separated by the bypass.

Campaign backs homes alternative

WORK started on 6th January to strengthen the bridge over the former Somerset & Dorset railway line on the Milldown in anticipation of the redevelopment of the former Milldown Primary School site with housing.

Planning permission was granted last April for 43 homes on the site and that of a neighbouring property.

A healthy lifestyle is like having a dog . . . it's not just for Christmas!

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February 2014

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In 2010, nearly 43 million children under the age of five were overweight.

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February 2014

CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR DELIVER A FLOODING NIGHTMARE

Car park chaos: half the Marsh and Ham car park vanished under the floodwater on Christmas Eve when the adjacent River Stour burst its banks, sweeping the bottle bank yards away from its usual location and turning the ticket machine into an island.

The road junction of East Street, Damory Street and Wimborne Road, with barriers closing the town centre to traffic due to the floods. Picture: Richard James Photography.

By next day the floodwater had subsided sufficiently for the streets to be reopened.

The River Stour in flood. Picture: David Lloyd.

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February 2014

SHOPS AND HOMES INUNDATED AFTER CONSTANT HEAVY RAIN Pictured (clockwise from left): a view from Bryanston Woods of the flooded fields; Ali Ferguson and customer Steve Raison in the flooded doorway of the Stour Inn at Blandford St Mary; East Street closed (picture by Richard James Photography); a tree trunk carried down from upstream by the flood waters and left on the Stour Meadows; Environment Agency staff at Pimperne Brook (picture by Richard James Photography).

Car park charges backlash may free up Stour 8

THE possibility of restoring free parking on Stour Meadows in Blandford is being considered by North Dorset District Council leaders following a review of responses to a parking consultation.

Town and parish councils, community partnerships and chambers of trade in the area were asked for their views, and members of the district's overview and scrutiny committee considered their replies, together with statistics on income and costs for individual car parks.

Although the committee meeting

had too few members present to make recommendations, portfolio holder Councillor Val Pothecary said a further report would be prepared after looking at the impact of a number of changes.

She said that in Blandford it might mean that the Stour Meadows car park, originally free of charge and little used since the introduction of charges which were only just covering its costs, might revert to free parking.

Changes being considered include increasing the charges in car parks close to a town centre to 40p and reducing those at

Playing field transferred

OWNERSHIP of the Larksmead Playing Field, including the play area and football pitch, has been transferred to Blandford Town Council from North Dorset District Council.

Councillors were told at their planning committee meeting in January that developer contribution funding would be used to level the pitch for Blandford Rugby Club.

Town councillors have agreed not to accept the transfer of the Langton Road play area site until such time as outstanding issues including works to the hedge, fencing and tree works have been resolved.

some distance to 30p, so eliminating the need for a fivepence coin, as well as reducing the total of more than 80 free permits issued to charities and organisations.

Members were surprised to learn that some organisations had up to six permits each. It was suggested that the number per organisation be reduced to one, and that charity shops competing with other commercial operators should no longer receive any.

Further approaches are being made to chambers of trade to see whether their members could subsidise parking for their customers, and consideration is also being given to reduced cost permits for residents in postcodes where on-street parking is limited.

"There needs to be a balance drawn between encouraging the local economy and income to the council," she said.

Parking officer Berenice Deakin said there was also to be a complete audit of signage, and that a risk assessment was being carried out on the accessibility of meters for disabled users.

February 2014

DOM Cornfield, of Durweston, a 15-year-old volunteer broadcaster at the Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester, is among the top 10 selected for the National Hospital Broadcasting Awards 2014 in the category of Best Newcomer.

Dom, pictured on air at Ridgeway Radio, presents two live shows each week. One offers a varied selection of music, interspersed with unusual facts, news and quizzes, while the other offers current music and lively conversation to appeal to younger patients.

Taking into account some live outside broadcasts, a varied selection of his work was used to compile a five-minute audio, supported by a 250-word submission.

The 10 members of Ridgeway Radio's Kingfisher Club team have also been shortlisted in the category of Best Programme with Multiple Presenters.

Winners for 11 categories will be announced at a gala dinner and awards ceremony in Bristol as part of the HBA annual conference in March.

Cameo performances February 2014

DURWESTON'S Cameo Club was formed in 2007 when the ladies of the village decided to break away from the Women's Institute.

Its name was created from the initials of its invitation to people to 'Come and Meet Every One', and over the years numbers have grown from 22 to nearly 50.

Women of all ages - mainly from Durweston but also from Blandford and surrounding villages - meet on the second Tuesday of each month at 7.30pm in Durweston village hall. There are speakers on a

variety of topics, regular lunches out, outings and theatre trips.

One of the main aims of the club is to raise money for charity through a monthly sales table and special coffee mornings, resulting in around £1,000 a year being donated to charities including the Air Ambulance and Julia's House.

New members are welcome for an annual membership fee of £13, and visitors can attend at a cost of £2 per meeting. At the next meeting on 11th February, Terry Payne will be speaking on the subject of bees.

FLOOD-hit communities at Milborne St Andrew and Stourpaine were visited on 10th January by North Dorset MP Bob Walter who learnt the impact of the recent extreme weather and heard local views on possible solutions.

In Milborne flood warden Steve Lord described prolonged flooding on an almost annual basis and raised concerns about drivers ignoring road closure signs on Milton Road.

At Stourpaine he met flood officer Lyle Adlem, councillors and residents who had been forced to leave their properties on Christmas Eve when 10 houses were flooded to a depth of two feet and a resident was rescued by Dorset Fire & Rescue in a boat.

Stourpaine Parish Council chairman Scott Norman said: "The flooding was tragic, even more so on Christmas Eve. We have been trying to resolve the issue of flood relief for over 18 months but appear to be a low priority for the Environment Agency.

“The cost this time will run into hundreds of thousands of pounds and it could have been a lot worse if local people had not

reacted so quickly.

"There are several factors: run-off from Hod Hill and the surrounding fields, the River Iwerne backing up and the River Stour pushing water back along the Iwerne."

The A354 Blandford to Salisbury road was also badly affected and groundwater flooding remained a risk in Sixpenny Handley and the Cranborne Chase area.

Mr Walter said: "My heart goes out to those faced with cleaning up after a Christmas ruined by flood waters."

A multi-agency taskforce has been put together to work with affected communities. Mr Walter said: "Government is to tackle the risk of flooding and has committed to providing the EA with an above-inflation increase on next year's flood maintenance work.

"However, what I'm hearing from residents and local farmers is that some of these problems could be resolved locally, with support from the Environment Agency. I'll be taking these views back to Environment Secretary, Owen Paterson, and pressing for further action."

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MP: my heart goes out to victims of Christmas floods

Chance to show your talent

AUDITIONS will be held in Blandford Corn Exchange on Saturday 22nd February for the Weldmar HospiceCare Trust 'Dorset's Got Talent' competition.

People of all ages are invited to register and showcase their talent, with a chance of winning one of two top prizes, £500 cash or a family holiday, at the final on Saturday 15th March.

For details see www.weld-hospice.org.uk/talent or call 01305 261800.

A CHRISTMAS draw at Blandford clothing, homeware and gift shop Papyrus raised £283 for Children in Need. Proprietor Heather Harman (right) invited town clerk Linda Scott-Giles to pull out the winning ticket for a first prize of £100, which had been bought by Blandford customer, Mrs Holland.

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February 2014

Above left: Police Community Support Officer Mike Sinnick with students from Archbishop Wake School. Above right: students with (from left) a member of the public, PC Rob Hammond, Deputy Community Speed Watch Co-ordinator Chris Durham and Archbishop Wake head teacher Jo Hicks. Pictures courtesy of Dorset Police.

Pupils join police in speed crackdown

THE Blandford Safer Neighbourhood Team and newly formed Community Speed Watch team were joined by pupils in tackling bad and careless driving outside their school.

Operation Black Lane also involved Dorset Police, Blandford Town Council and students and staff from Archbishop Wake School.

It focused on Dorset Police's 'fatal four', the main types of driving behaviour known to result in fatal

and serious injury collisions.

Motorists were targeted if they were suspected of speeding, drink or drug driving, using a hand-held mobile phone while driving or failing to wear a seatbelt.

Random checks were also carried out on the road, which was identified as a speeding hotspot in October when more than 100 cars were recorded travelling over the 30mph limit in just one day where the 50mph road enters the

30mph limit in the residential area and passes the school.

Fifteen vehicles were stopped for minor traffic offences and issued with advice. Nine of the drivers were asked to give breath tests, which proved negative.

PC Rob Hammond, of the SNT said: "The joint operation was put together to highlight the problem and change drivers' attitudes through education as well as enforcement."

Police Community Support Officer Mike Sinnick said: "I think the event was a great success. The views of the students given to drivers were well received and greatly appreciated."

Jo Hicks, headteacher at Archbishop Wake School, said: "It was a really worthwhile experience for the children who could tell drivers how worried they felt about speeding in Black Lane.

Hearing this from children had a real impact.

"Drivers were asked to tell their

families, friends and colleagues about their experience and the children will have told their parents too. It is only working together as a community that will make a real difference."

Pupils said it was interesting watching the police stopping the cars and they hoped it made people slow down outside the school.

CSW co-ordinator and town councillor Tony Harrocks said: "The children learnt a lot about road safety and the importance of speed limits."

Chris Durham, Blandford Homewatch co-ordinator and deputy CSS co-ordinator, added: "Community Speed Watch is all about education and making people aware of their speed. It is an excellent idea for children to reinforce the risk."

For more information on Community Speed Watch and to volunteer as a member of the team, contact the town council on 01258 454500.

A shelter at last

THE bus shelter demolished by a bus in West Street at the beginning of last year was finally being replaced last month, the anniversary of its demolition.

Town councillors were told in September that it could take another three months because, after lengthy negotiations to secure its replacement at a slightly different location to avoid it being damaged again, there was a 13-week lead time from order to delivery.

When the workmen finally arrived in the first week of January, there were complaints that groundworks had meant closing off the majority of the footpath with no provision for wheelchairs, buggies and mobility scooters to pass by.

Councillor Sylvia Hixson Andrews told the town council planning meeting that she had reported the lack of an alternative pedestrian footway which meant that path users were forced out on to the road at a particularly dangerous point.

Members said the possibility that it could take three weeks to complete the work should have made it a requirement that there would be some form of traffic control in what was often a congested area, particularly when buses arrived to pick up passengers.

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February 2014

Happy returns: George Wild celebrates his 100th birthday at Colten Care's Whitecliffe House with members of his family including daughters Mary (right) and Elizabeth (left).

Angler George lands a whopper at 100

THE oldest member of one of the world's oldest angling societies has celebrated his 100th birthday with family and friends at a care home in Blandford.

George Wild remained an active fisherman until five years ago and is a member of the Piscatorial Society, founded in 1836, which leases fly fishing water on chalk streams in Hampshire and Wiltshire.

Now a resident at Colten Care's Whitecliffe House in Blandford, he came to Dorset after his wife's death in 2002, and originally lived with his daughter Mary Anderson and then with a friend Gillian Hopkinson, moving to Whitecliffe House in 2012.

Mrs Anderson said her father believed in moderation in everything and enjoyed an excellent sense of humour. "When he was asked to what he attributed his longevity my father immediately retorted 'not dying', which is typical of his dry humour," she said.

A Derbyshire-born civil engineer, he worked for most of his life for John Mowlem, the construction

and civil engineering group with roots in Dorset, working first on the construction of East London underground tunnels, later on major civil engineering projects abroad and later at head office in London as civil engineering director.

As a member of the 85th Field Regiment (Royal Artillery) of the Territorial Army, he enlisted at the Army's Staff College in Camberley in 1939 and was posted as an artillery staff officer to Corsham where he met his future wife, Nancy Tilley.

They married in 1942, but for the remainder of the Second World War he joined Lord Mountbatten's staff in the Far East.

In retirement, he and Nancy lived at Inkpen, near Hungerford, in Berkshire, where they shared a love of fishing, country life and ponies.

They had two daughters, Elizabeth and Mary, who gave them four grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren and one great, great grandchild.

Charity cash aid avalable

PARENTS of children who were under 12 on 1st January 2014 have until 14th February to apply for an award from the TED George Fund (The Blandford Children's Fund) which is administered by the trustees of the Blandford Forum Almshouses General Charities.

Grants are awarded for the cost of books, clothes and educational trips, thanks to the ÂŁ5,000 left by grocer Tom Edward Dray George, who lived at the Laurels and then the Cedars in Park Road, to establish the fund.

Applications should be made to the Clerk to the Trustees, Barnes Homes, Salisbury Road, Blandford, or by calling 01258 451810.

Panto power proves a crowd-puller

Dorset’s butterflies

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THE panto season kicked off in Blandford on 3rd January with a free full-house performance of Aladdin in the Corn Exchange.

The Town Council hosted the show which, from the audience reaction and comments received, proved a great start to the weekend before the children returned to school after the Christmas break.

Anyone with a ticket who found themselves unable to attend could pass it back so that it could be offered to those on a waiting list.

Although no charge was made for entry, a request for donations raised £145 to go back into the budget for future events, and £56 was raised for the Mayor's charities through the sale of refreshments.

Assistant town clerk Leani Haim said: "It was great to hear the children and adults laughing, singing, booing and joining in with the dancing. Feedback received on Facebook was very positive.”

The season continued with Cinderella and the Seven Dwarfs at Shroton (Iwerne Courtney) on 10th and 11th January, while the tale was told in the more usual format with Snow White by the

February 2014

Full house in the Corn Exchange at Blandford for the pantomime Aladdin.

Durweston Players at Durweston village hall on 24th and 25th January.

At Tarrant Keyneston on the 23rd, 24th and 25th January, the Tarrant Valley Players' Three Musketeers, who had been performing regularly on YouTube, were back in dramatic action in a production, written by Alexis Austin, produced by Denise Pearson and directed by Adrian Tuite and Amanda Sheppard.

Sheer Luck Holmes the Pantomime comes to Spetisbury Village Hall with performances over two weekends on January 31st/February 1st and February 7th and 8th, and all proceeds will go to Julia's House. Curtain up is 7.45pm, with tickets at £6 now

available by calling 01258 450422 or 01258 857260, emailing anna.spencer@virgin.net or sarahhoughton@yahoo.co.uk or direct from the Woodpecker pub in Spetisbury.

The Milborne Players will be crying 'Open Sesame' in Milborne St Andrew Village Hall on 6th, 7th and 8th February when they present their annual pantomime Ali Baba & the Forty Thieves.

Written by Norman Robbins and directed by Caroline Nobbs, performances are at 7.30pm Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with a 2.30pm Saturday matinee.

Tickets are available from the Royal Oak, Londis Shop and box office on 01258 837030.

AN illustrated talk on butterflies will be given to the North Dorset Group of the Dorset Wildlife Trust on Wednesday 19th February by Nigel Spring.

Closely involved with the butterfly management of Butterfly Conservation's Dorset reserves, Mr Spring regularly runs volunteer working groups on habitat management. He will be leading DWT members on a butterfly walk at Alners Gorse reserve near Hazelbury Bryan later this year.

His background is in environmental education and he set up the Kingcombe Centre in 1987 and continued to run it until 2004.

To learn about the many varieties of butterflies that make Dorset their home, how changing climate is affecting their numbers or how to encourage more butterflies into your garden, join him at 7.30pm at Fontmell Magna Village Hall for the event. It is open to everyone and costs £2 (under-16s free), including tea or coffee and biscuits.

The end of an era for RNA branch February 2014

DWINDLING numbers and an ageing membership have led to the closure of the Blandford branch of the Royal Naval Association, whose standard was laid up at Blandford Parish Church at a special service on 11th January.

Association members from across the county joined the remaining Blandford members for the ceremony and service led by the Rector and chaplain, the Rev Tim Storey. The lesson was read by long-serving president Patricia B N Walker, and address given by vice-president Vice Admiral Sir Barry Wilson KCB. Sir Barry welcomed Roy Adam, who chaired the association for more than 50 years and established the Collingwood Memorial to the Royal Naval Division at Tarrant Hinton, where a parade in June each year commemorates the loss of lives at Gallipoli.

He also paid tribute to successive chairmen, the late Terry

Greenslade, Brian Callus, and retiring chairman Patrick Sullivan, and welcomed Mayor of Blandford Bob Brannigan, who had also been a guest at their final Trafalgar Day dinner last October.

"The Royal Naval Division was established in Blandford in 1914 and there is a long connection here with the Navy, the Senior Service, so it is sad that we have decided to haul down our flag.

"But looking ahead there are some exciting new ships and carriers coming along, and RNAs will continue in the background supporting the RAF flying from the carriers."

Mr Storey urged members of the association to continue meeting and sharing their stories with others, reminding the congregation that the ensign of the Hood, one of the battalions serving with the RND at Gallipoli, already hung in the parish church. He said the RNA standard would in due course be hung alongside that and other standards laid up in the church.

POLICE patrols were increased in Blandford following an outbreak of vandalism on Boxing Day which resulted in a total of nine incidents being reported to have taken place some time after 11.30pm.

Officers appealed for witnesses to what were described as "mindless" acts by three teenagers, one of whom was said to be wearing a red hat.

Windows were smashed at properties in Bryanston Street, Windmill Road, The Close and Charles Street, wing mirrors on a car in Parklands were damaged and a garden gate was knocked off at an address in Dorset Street.

PC Rob Hammond, of Blandford Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: "These mindless acts of criminal damage have caused the owners great inconvenience and expense.

"We believe this crime spree was

committed by three teenagers, aged between 15 and 19. One of the offenders was wearing a red hat.

"I am appealing to anyone who may have information about any of these incidents, or may have seen someone acting suspiciously in these areas to call police in confidence."

Witnesses and anyone with information should call Dorset Police in confidence on 101, quoting crime number C:13:D:54025.

Damage caused to the Langton Road phone box some days later was a separate incident in which the offender was apprehended and is currently on police bail.

Nine incidents in vandalism outbreak

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13

Reverend Tim Storey (front left) and Vice Admiral Sir Barry Wilson KCB (right) with the standard bearers for RNA Portland, Blandford Royal British Legion, RNA Weymouth, RNA Area, RNA Chard and RNA Dorchester.

Picture: Edwin Williams.

Churches get together

CHURCHES in Blandford met together on Sunday 19th January for their annual celebration service for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

Members of the congregations of the town's seven churches gathered in the Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul for the service led by church leaders. The speaker was Rev Tim Storey, Rector of Blandford and Langton Long, who will be leaving the area next month to become Team Rector of the Central Parish of Telford.

The churches work together whenever possible, including in schools, for the organisation of events, Civic Services and an annual Walk of Witness each Good Friday. The collection from the service will go towards the relief effort in the Philippines.

Mr Storey said: "It is a great thing to be able to come together each year and worship and pray together as the united church of the town.�

MEP seeks views on effects of immigration

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February 2014

From left: Dave Mason, Gill Slade, Colin Young, Sue Sullivan and Mac McLaughlin at the charity presentation night at Colin's Community Club.

Community Club gives out £3,700

A TOTAL of more than £3,700 raised by the members and supporters of Colin's Community Club in Damory Street, Blandford, has been presented to four local charities.

Proprietor Colin Young thanked all who had contributed to charity fundraising at the club. He explained that the amount being distributed was high because a charity had not drawn on the cheque it had received earlier, as a result of which the sum involved was redistributed following a vote by club members.

The recipients were Julia's House children's hospice, represented

by Gill Slade, Youth Aid Blandford represented by Sue Sullivan, the Disability Action Group represented by Dave Mason, and the Friends of Blandford Hospital, represented by deputy chairman Mac McLaughlin.

Each charity received in excess of £800, bringing the total raised for charity since Colin's Club opened in 2010 to more than £13,000.

Letters to the Editor

I HAVE been contacted by constituents with concerns over Romanian and Bulgarian migrants coming to the UK this year.

One point that comes up time and again is that of access to benefits. I am reassured that the Government is taking firm action to protect public services and limit EU immigrants' access to benefits. A three-month delay will be introduced before a European jobseeker can claim benefits, and a new minimum earnings threshold will ensure that EU nationals are genuinely working in the UK before they can also access benefits.

In my travels around the South West constituency, the region I represent in Brussels, I have been struck by the different atti-

What a great Yuletide Festival!

JUST a quick message to thank everyone who made the Blandford Yuletide Festival such a magical event.

As a newcomer to Blandford I was expecting something small and sedate but heavens, caution was thrown to the wind with open arms and proper mulled wine, too!

I especially liked the Morris Dancers. It might be a great way to keep fit in the new year!

Looking forward to the next Yuletide celebration.

S Vine Blandford Forum

Club 'bowled over' by response

PLEASE can we say a big thank you to all the staff at Tesco Blandford.

On Friday 13th December we held a charity collection and we were made to feel very welcome.

We really were bowled over by the hospitality shown to us by the staff and the generosity of their customers.

The collection raised a super amount of £275, and all the proceeds will go towards outings and entertainment for the Blandford Blind Club.

Margaret Hemus, Club Leader (Part of the Dorset Blind Association)

tudes of each community to EU migration, particularly attitudes towards Eastern European migrants.

I would be most interested to hear of readers' experiences and personal views as to where our region, the South West, has benefited from migrants and where people may feel disadvantaged.

I can be contacted via my website www.juliegirling.com or via email julie.girling@europarl.europa.eu.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Julie Girling Member of the European Parliament South West England and Gibraltar www.juliegirling.com

DO write to Forum Focus . . . . . . if there is something

you'd like to comment on or share with other readers.

Email your letter, which should be as brief as possible, to: editor@forumfocus.co.uk.

Alternatively, you can call 01258 459346 or deliver your letter by post or by hand to: Forum Focus, c/o Colin's Community Club, 49 Damory Street, Blandford DT11 7HD. Please mark your letter 'for publication' and remember to include your address, which will not be used in full.

Forum Focus reserves the right to shorten or edit letters in the interests of clarity, brevity and style.

New Year honour for former teacher

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February 2014

A FORMER head of PE at The Blandford School has been made an MBE for services to women's and disability football.

Susan Hough is now chief executive of Dorset County Football Association and has for more than 20 years helped support and develop women's football.

She said: "When I was growing up I played hockey, as that was the sport that girls participated in at that point. Through my son, I became more and more involved in football, and I started off as the secretary for our local club in Blandford."

When the FA introduced paid development officers into county football associations, Mrs Hough decided to apply and worked her way up to the head of the association, a role she took on in 2005.

She is also the voluntary chairman of the Women's Football Committee - the first female to be elected as chairman of any committee of the FA. She said: "It's absolutely won-

derful news and I feel very overwhelmed."

Also announced in the Queen's New Year Honours list was the appointment of Dorset's Lord Lieutenant Valerie Pitt-Rivers of Hinton St Mary as a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO).

Mrs Pitt-Rivers, who has served as Lord Lieutenant for seven years and was the first woman in Dorset to occupy the role, was succeeded on 22nd January by former Dorset County Council leader Angus Campbell of Iwerne Minster, who stood down from the council at the last elections.

Following service for a number of years in the Army Air Corps, he focused on his farming interests and local politics, serving as leader of North Dorset District Council before becoming county council leader and chairing the Dorset Olympic Board and Strategic Leaders Board for the South West. He and his wife Carola have two daughters and he has been a governor of several schools in the county.

Busy schedule for twinners

THE Blandford Preetz Friendship Society held an evening supper in the Brewery Visitor Centre. Many members attended and enjoyed a tasty three-course meal, plenty of laughter and a very good raffle.

The Society is looking forward to a vibrant and busy 2014 when they have a number of activities lined up: a quiz night, cream tea outing, a visit to Preetz, their twinned town in Germany, a bowling evening, a 'night at the dogs' and their AGM evening.

If you would like more information or would like to join the Society, please contact Carole on 01258 459452 or Jenny on 01258 452202.

Carole Brannigan

Blood donors plea

THE public are being asked by the NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) to make one of their New Year resolutions the decision to give blood in 2014.

Amanda Whatley, donor relations co-ordinator at NHSBT, said: "This year we want people to make it their resolution to save a life. We can guarantee donors a warm welcome, a hot cup of tea and a biscuit to help boost their sense of achievement, not to mention the satisfaction of knowing that they are helping sick and injured people in local hospitals with every donation they make."

Anyone aged between 17 and 65, weighing more than 50kg (7 stone 12lbs) and in general good health

could potentially start saving lives by becoming a blood donor.

There is no upper age limit for donors who have donated in the last two years.

People only need to spare an hour of their time to donate blood, and with sessions available to book appointments, it is particularly important to maintain stocks as hospital demand remains high at the start of the year.

For more information or to book an appointment for sessions at the Crown Hotel in West Street on Thursday 30th January or on Thursday 27th February from 1 to 3.25pm and from 4.30 to 7pm, call 0300 123 23 23 or visit www.blood.co.uk.

Brooke Howells, aged four, and her mum Jacqui Howells from Tarrant Hinton at the pottery painting party in the village hall.

Party time at village hall

A POTTERY painting party was one of the many events staged at Tarrant Hinton village hall following its rebuild and refurbishment, which was completed last year.

The party was run by Carol Neilson and was enjoyed by young and old who had an opportunity to create their own Christmas decorations and gifts.

It was held a week before the village Christmas fair, and after they had spent the afternoon fashioning their designs, the painted pottery was fired in time for collection at the fair.

Carol, of Cedar Pottery, runs regular pottery painting sessions for adults and children giving two hours of studio time with supplied paints, glazing and firing, and can be contacted on 01258 830876.

Rotary and friends make Christmas Day lunch special 16

February 2014

THE annual 'Alone on Christmas Day' lunch held by Blandford Rotarians for Blandford residents who would otherwise have been on their own on that special day was supported by a local company.

Staff of Sandisons Ltd had held a fundraising day just before Christmas and donated the whole amount raised to support the event.

Above left: Sandisons director Roger Morgan presents a cheque for the funds raised by staff to John Bentley, president of Blandford Rotary. Above right: Mr Bentley serves guests with their lunch, watched by Mayor and Mayoress, Bob and Carole Brannigan.

More than 50 people attended a splendid Christmas lunch with all the trimmings, plus wine. The Sealy Suite facilities were again provided at no charge by the Crown Hotel.

Blandford Rotary president John Bentley said: "We were overwhelmed by the generosity of the Sandisons staff who worked so hard to raise the money. It enabled us to put on an even better event for people who were able to

share a full Christmas lunch with many others who would otherwise have spent Christmas Day on their own."

He also thanked Tesco, Morrisons and Waitrose for their generous contributions, and all the Rotarian and non-Rotarian helpers who prepared the room, served the food and drink and cleared up afterwards.

Dismay as Trailway Broadband bid is abandoned

THE team behind the DT11 Trailway Broadband project which could have brought high-speed broadband to some of the more remote villages in North Dorset has expressed its dismay at having to abandon the scheme.

After working for more than three years on the plan to run fibreoptic cable along the North Dorset Trailway between Blandford and Sturminster Newton and into villages, homes and businesses, they say they have had to admit defeat.

"The Trailway project was viewed with such enthusiasm and was shortlisted for approval as part of the Rural Community Broadband Fund funding from Europe," said project leader Steve Adamson, a former chairman of the DT11 Forum Community Partnership

which drew up the scheme.

"The money was there to do it, but impossible to spend because the officials running RCBF got so tied up in their own process, it was impossible to deliver."

Scott Norman, partnership chairman, said: "We feel hugely let down by both central government and the county. Part of the scheme would have generated an income stream for the partnership which is now in jeopardy at a very difficult time, when the district council is having to consider reducing its funding."

The Trailway project, which would have served 4,500 properties and businesses, was one of dozens of

innovative local broadband initiatives to bid for a share of ÂŁ20m from the European-funded RCBF. But Dorset County Council announced last month that their Superfast Dorset programme would bring better broadband to rural North Dorset and that the community project had failed.

DCC Superfast Broadband project leader Dugald Lockhart said: "Dorset County Council and the other partners of the Superfast Dorset project were also disappointed that Trailway's hard work did not pay off. It would have required changing the countywide ÂŁ31.75m contract, causing delays for the bigger scheme."

Garage firm to sponsor council vans

17

February 2014

BLANDFORD Town Council has secured a sponsorship deal with local garage MVS Blandford Ltd which is responsible for the servicing and maintenance of its grounds and property vehicles.

A two-year sponsorship agreement is now in place, and signs attached to the vehicles acknowledge the company's contribution totalling over £600 a year.

Town clerk Linda Scott Giles said: "The Town Council has been looking for ways to increase revenue and the Grounds and Property Manager, Jon Goodenough, suggested that the council could consider having the two grounds and maintenance vehicles sponsored

by MVS Blandford Ltd, who service and maintain them."

The council and MVS now have a sponsorship agreement in place and signs have been attached to the vehicles in return for annual servicing worth £200 per vehicle; an MOT at £35 per vehicle; all bulbs and levels replaced or topped up which would normally cost £30 per vehicle; a free vehicle health check every three months;

engine management light checks required, worth £30; and credit of £300 parts/labour.

Town Mayor Councillor Bob Brannigan said: "We want people to see how they are supporting us in keeping our precept down."

A SERIES of public consultation events were staged late last year to present plans for a solar park at North Farm, Spetisbury, by British Solar Renewables.

An application will be submitted shortly by the company, one of the UK's largest integrated solar power companies, which is based in Somerset.

The North Farm site is expected to provide enough green energy to power 2,480 households. The company say they believe it to be an excellent site on a southfacing slope, with nearby grid connection, and limited visual impact due to its location and topography.

The chief concern raised at the consultations has been the impact during the development phase, when vehicles will need to access the site from the lane on which Spetisbury School is located, but the company was happy with the otherwise positive

response and support received for the proposed development.

Spokesman Angus Macdonald said: "It is the intention of British Solar Renewables to be in the vanguard of renewable energy production. We envisage a time when a mix of solutions will mean much less reliance on fossil fuels. We owe it to the next generation to make the effort now."

The same company has submitted an application to North Dorset District Council for a solar park of 34,600 panels at Canada Farm, Winterborne Stickland, which could produce 97 megawatts, enough electricity to power half the homes in Blandford.

The district council has also called for an environmental impact assessment in relation to a proposal for a solar array at Abbots Field in Bushes Road, Pimperne.

Solar energy plans put to the public

Town Council Grounds and Property Manager Jon Goodenough, Mayor of Blandford Councillor Bob Brannigan, and Tony Vincent and Dan Hurst of MVS Blandford Ltd, with one of the council vehicles at the garage on Sunrise Business Park.

School celebrates another year of achievement

18

February 2014

FOCUS on schools

THE Blandford School held their annual Key stage 4 and 5 presentation evening on 18th December.

Guests attending included Mayor of Blandford Bob Brannigan, and Anthony Woodhouse, managing director of Hall and Woodhouse brewery, who was the guest speaker and gave a wonderfully inspiring speech.

Headteacher Sally Wilson spoke of some of the year's success stories, including the blossoming of A-level science students with two notable achievements being

Knighton House pupils are programmed for success Hosts for the evening were sixth-formers Robert McLachlan and Sophie Cox.

THE ever-changing demands of new technology are a challenge for many and one which needs to be addressed in schools across the country, says Melissa Whittaker, head of IT at Knighton House in Durweston.

"Our children face a world that the Victorians never even dreamed of," she said.

"Countries like India and China are already supplying great numbers of programmers.

England is currently world leader in animation and visual effects, but those companies are crying out for British talent.

"It is with this in mind that there has been a renewed focus on bringing programming into all UK school curriculums - and not a moment too soon!"

She said: "It's easy to forget that the moving, interactive images which are so captivating in the latest blockbuster animations and games, the satellites circling the globe, the car key fob, smartphones and contactless payment all boil down to endless rows of 0s and 1s - the foundations of our binary world.

"The programmers who control our insatiable appetite for apps,

games and animations are just people. Where did these people learn the brave new skills that command our technological world?

"We're making sure that girls at Knighton are equipped with the knowledge that will give them the option of being the next generation of programmers."

Pupils from Year 1 to Year 8 have for the last 10 years received an hour and 10 minutes of teaching from a qualified specialist every week, learning to hone their programming and coding skills in IT lessons.

They understand from an early age the building blocks of how to create and animate a figure, or program their own computer game using source code. Pupils as young as six can get behind the machines and take control to develop their digital creativity.

From their first programs for robots to industry standard, black and white, line-by-line programming, pupils learn and develop the fundamentals of planning, sequencing, logic, implementation and testing.

Their understanding and ability to command their world is backed up with sound principles of computer science, such as maths for computing, logic and the digitisation of images and sound.

Knighton House's open day is on Saturday 15th March.

Pippa Stringer now studying physiotherapy at Brunel and Emily Sym studying oceanography at Southampton.

A-Level design student Scott Armstrong has gone on to study jewellery design at Central St Martin's, and their outstanding dance talent placed A-level students at The Blandford School in the top 10% of schools nationally.

The successes continued into sport with the Year 11 rugby squad being the top placed state secondary school in the county cup, only narrowly losing in the semi-finals, and the Year 10 netball team was also the top placed state school at the county finals.

As well as watching the awards being presented the audience was treated to performances by some of the school's homegrown talent, including the bands Last Resort and Anatemy, singers Amy Lillywhite and Gavin Marsh, and the TBS Dancers.

Subject awards that were presented to students who have excelled in specific subject areas, and various Community Awards were handed out, including: Elliot Edwards Award for Contribution to School Life James Willis-Fisher; The Danny Croker Economics Award for Outstanding Contributions in Class - Ben Gritton; The Blandfordians Award for Service to the School Community - Elias Mead; Sally Wilson Award for Outstanding Representation of the Student Voice - Robert McLachlan; The Friends of Blandford Community Hospital Award for the student who has done the most to promote healthy living at The Blandford School - Emily Sym. Everyone involved agreed that it was an amazing evening, which showcased some of the many achievements by students over the past year. Special mentions should go to Robert McLachlan and Sophie Cox, two sixth-form students who were the hosts for the evening.

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Clayesmore pupils brought to books February 2014

THE New Year brought not only resolutions to read more books but also a chance for the enthusiastic Prep book group, the Reading Crew, to attend the launch of the New Horizons book award and writing competition at Dorchester Library and Learning Centre.

Run by the Dorset Public and School Library Services, the biennial New Horizons award aims to encourage youngsters, aged 9-13, to explore fresh fiction by debut authors. It hopes to inspire young readers to dip into new books rather than falling back on old favourites and aims to spark discussions about genres, styles and the creative process of writing.

An associated creative writing competition also allows the children to experience some of what is involved in becoming a pub-

lished author.

The Reading Crew members were busy last term mulling over the long-listed books for the award and choosing their top three. More than 500 children took part in this process nationwide, which led to the following short list of intriguingly titled books: 'I'm Dougal Trump' and 'It's not my Fault' (D Trump), 'Wild Boy' (Rob Lloyd Jones), 'Soldier Dog' (Sam Angus), 'A Dog Called Homeless' (Sarah Lean), 'Wonder' (R.J Palacio), and 'Itch' (Simon Mayo).

The list was announced by author, Gill Lewis of 'Sky Hawk', 'White Dolphin' and 'Moon Bear' fame, who presented a fascinating talk about how her experience as a vet and her knowledge of animals has informed her writing.

The Reading Crew from Clayesmore School with author Gill Lewis at the New Horizons presentation at Dorchester Library and Learning Centre.

Liberty on the move

LIBERTY Books, which offers an extensive range of Christian books and Bibles, has relocated from its original home on Clump Farm Industrial Estate to the Friendship Centre at the United Reformed Church, Salisbury Street, Blandford.

The shop is open Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays between 10am and 1pm, and at other times by prior arrangement and visitors are welcome to browse amongst around 10,000 titles and enjoy a free cup of coffee.

Books new and used are priced from as little as 50p and include Biblical commentaries, books on prayer, Christian living, devotional and gift books, children's books, Christian fiction, and more.

For more information call 07530 809916, email sales@libertybooks.co.uk or visit the web site at www.libertybooks.co.uk.

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FOCUS on schools

Pimperne hush money

SIX chatterbox pupils at Pimperne Primary School have raised £175 for children’s charities by keeping their mouths shut for a day.

The sponsored silence by the five girls in Year Six and one in Year Five were supported by staff, relatives and fellow pupils, although they confided that it had not quite been for the full day. They were allowed to take a break when they realised that their sponsor sheet had got lost and had to go searching for it.

Pictured (left to right) with their cheque for Children in Need are year six pupils Molly, Lily, Keeley, Jessica, and Poppy. Year five pupil Niyah raised a magnificent £75 on her own for a children's charity supporting the work of overseas projects in conjunction with Save the Children.

Driving rain doesn’t deter rally entrants

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February 2014

Clayesmore boys with their hosts in India.

Hockey group enjoy their Indian adventure

AN adventurous group of Clayesmore Senior hockey players recently returned from an action-packed tour of India where they brushed up on their playing skills and absorbed the country's cultural delights.

Boys' hockey is a major sport at Clayesmore and Richard Miller, head of boys' games, believes that the visit, to a country with a long history of success in the sport, will inspire the boys.

The long-haul trip was not entirely sporty - the Clayesmore team also received a warm welcome at the Laksh Foundation, a sustainable farm and school set in hills near Delhi, which has been the focus of fundraising events at Clayesmore. It enables children to access education in rural locations, and uses traditional techniques such as hand-picking crops and churning milk. The tour members presented the

school with a motorbike purchased with money raised by the Clayesmore charity committee.

Cultural highlights of the trip included tours of New Delhi, Agra Fort, the Taj Mahal, the deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri, the Maharaja's City Palace, and a chance to reflect at the site of Mahatma Gandhi's assassination. The boys also tried out snake charming and witnessed mass fish feeding at the picturesque Water Palace.

On the hockey front, the team experienced some pre-match nerves when they discovered that the first of five games would be scrutinised by over 700 pupils from the opposing school. Despite losing the match, they fought back next day to win 5-3. Other highlights were an impressive 6-1 victory at the Shivaji Stadium and a visit to the National Hockey Stadium for the semifinal of the Junior World Cup.

Valentine’s bake-off

A GREAT Valentine's Bake-off is being staged by the Blandford Lions on Sunday 16th February. Entries are invited of cakes, scones, pies and tarts, savouries and buns, with a special class for gluten-free recipes.

The six classes are open to adults and children, with book token prizes for the winner and runner-up in each category, and a trophy for the overall winner.

Entry fees are £4 per adult and £2 per child for the first plate (£2 and £1 respectively for further entries). Applications with a cheque payable to Blandford & District Lions should be sent to Lions President Tony Ives at Rose Cottage, Winterborne Kingston DT11 9BJ who can give further details by email to tonyandrosieives@yahoo.co.uk Applicants should give name, address and contact telephone number and enclose a stamped addressed envelope for acknowledgement with an entry number or numbers to attach to each plate entered. All proceeds will go to Lions charities.

MORE than 100 drivers braved atrocious New Year's Day weather to book in at the start of the annual vintage car rally in support of the Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance from Sturminster Newton via Blandford to Kings Stag.

Not all completed the full route in their precious vehicles and some went back home to switch over to more modern transport to join the party for lunch and a raffle at the Green Man. The event has been organised since 2008 by Len Melling and Marie Wyatt of the Weymouth Vehicle Preservation Society and Ray and Caroline Long of the Dorset group of the Austin Ten Drivers Club.

Marie Wyatt said: "Our main sponsor, Philip Hart of Harts of Stur, was extremely gratified that so many people came to register. We think we have raised nearly £1,500 for the air ambulance, and haven't heard of anyone getting stranded in the floods, so many thanks to those who came out to support us."

The drivers were advised to

choose their own routes, and at their first stop in Blandford were greeted by the Mayor Bob Brannigan and his wife Carole, who guided them to the refreshments awaiting in the Scruples coffee bar and the Crown Hotel.

All reported difficult road conditions. Peter Griffin of WVPS said: "The weather could not have been worse. There was torrential rain, accompanied by gale-force winds, all day. Driving conditions were marginal to say the least.

"The run could not have happened at all without the amazing support of all the participants, volunteer marshals and donation collectors. Conditions were so bad that all the donations made on the day had to be dried out before being deposited in the bank!"

Driving a 1942 Willys Jeep, Reuben Symonds of Buckhorn Weston was joined by Simon Curtis of Gillingham and Derek Rayment of Henstridge on a journey which Mr Symonds described as: "Good fun. We were determined not to let the rain put us off.

Rain or shine, we would be here!"

ALTERNATIVE travel is becoming more widely available through shared car schemes now being offered to local drivers.

For details of the Blandford Flexicar, offering 'pay-as-you-go' motoring on an hourly basis, see their advert on page 15.

Dorset County Council is urging drivers to consider joining the 3,300 registered on the car share database enabling motorists to share their empty seats and motoring costs with others. The free service, offered in partnership with Poole and Bournemouth councils, is celebrating its tenth anniversary of allowing people to take turns with the driving or give someone a lift in exchange for a contribution to fuel costs.

The three councils have now teamed up with Liftshare, the largest implementer of car-sharing systems in the UK, to set up www.carsharedorset.com which is free to use and an alternative form of transport for drivers and passengers.

Hilary Cox, Dorset County Council Cabinet member for environment, said: "Filling up with fuel

is eye-wateringly expensive nowadays, so why not share with someone? Car sharing could save you hundreds of pounds every year. I would encourage everyone to go online and join for free now."

Car Share Dorset manager Chris Hook said: "If everyone who drives on their own to work had a lift with someone just once a week, commuter car journeys would reduce by 20 per cent."

Car sharer Sue Sadler said: "The best thing about car sharing is having company on the journey home. We share our worries and laughter and by the time we get home, we're ready to start again!"

Car share shemes can slash travelling costs

THOSE interested in taking part in North Dorset's first free Ecohomes event in May to showcase energy-efficient homes and offices are asked to submit their details online by the end of February. Entries will then close so that a booklet can be produced to showcase the event.

To express interest, they should go to www.surveymonkey. com/s/NorthDorsetEcoHomes.

February 2014

21

FOCUS on arts

Fingers back on tour

Dorset’s fossil hunter

Alison Neil as Mary Anning in the show coming to Shillingstone on 7th February.

MARY Anning was born just 200 years ago into a world only 6,000 years old in which everything had been created in six days.

The pioneering work of geologists, studying rocks and fossils, blew apart the accepted truths and within a generation, it was proved that there had been a vast prehistoric age when unimaginable monsters roamed the earth and swam in the seas.

Mary Anning played a key part in this extraordinary time when, at the age of 12, she discovered the first complete fossil of a pre-

historic reptile in Britain at Lyme Regis, and throughout her life continued to make groundbreaking and spectacular discoveries.

In Alison Neil's new one-woman play, Mary Anning tells her fascinating story, her life, her friendships, her struggle to make her mark alongside "the fine clever men of science" who took most of the credit for her work.

See it at The Portman Hall in Shillingstone on Friday 7th February at 7.30pm. For tickets call 07870 972089. For other shows and more information, visit www.artsreach.co.uk.

EIGHTEEN months' work and research has been put into a new and original musical performance to commemorate the centenary of the First World War, produced by John Anderson from Charlton-onthe-Hill and his popular band Poacher's Moon.

'Poppies Red and Cornflowers Blue' is told with original music and song, poems and narrative, and projected images as a backdrop, and follows the lives of British soldiers from rural England, including Jack Counter of Blandford, who was

awarded the Victoria Cross.

A huge amount of research by John Anderson and Peter Gritton, together with contributions from families in the community, has resulted in 18 songs about recruits. The show charts their thirst for adventure, willingness and patriotism for their beloved homeland, and follows them from enlistment, through training, to the killing fields of France and Belgium, with true stories of local families told with elements of humour and respectful sensitivity.

ARTSREACH favourites Tom 'Spats' Langham and his band Hot Fingers are back touring with the counties rural arts scheme for the first time since 2010 and are bringing their vintage jazz and swing sound to five village halls this spring, including Durweston on Saturday 1st February at 7.30pm.

Hot Fingers present their entertaining and Hot Fingers will be at Durweston village hall on 1st February. eclectic mix of vintage acoustic band members are sousaphonist string music, visiting the hot jazz Malcolm Sked from Bob Kerr's of 1920s New York and sophistiWhoopee Band and guitarist cated 1930s swing with a reperDanny Blyth. Although just a trio, toire from wide-ranging sources their instruments include three mixed with vocals from the songguitars, a double bass, a sousawriting greats. phone, a banjo, a mandolin, two Tom Langham has crooned his ukuleles, a clarinet, a tuba, and a way around the world with highpair of castanets. profile bands such as the For tickets at Durweston, call Pasadena Roof Orchestra and 01258 453170 and for more inforthe Big Chris Barber Band. Fellow mation, visit www.artsreach.co.uk.

Musical tribute to Great War centenary

Preview for music festival

A CHARITY music festival which has raised thousands of pounds for the Weldmar Hospicecare Trust will be back at Spetisbury Rings from Friday 15th to Saturday 16th August, and for a chance to hear some of the acts, a preview night is being staged at Spetisbury Village Hall this month.

A selection of performers, including Selective Hearing, will be on stage on Saturday 22nd February from 7pm to give a taste of the event, with tickets for the main festival available for purchase at a discounted price.

The band of six musicians, whose last show 'The Land Remains' toured for three years around three counties, play guitars, bouzouki, flute, keyboard, percussion and cello.

They are launching a tour of the south of England over the next two years with two local performances, at Durweston

Village Hall on Saturday 22nd February and Charlton Marshall Village Hall on Saturday 29th March, both starting 7.30pm.

Tickets are £8 (£7 concessions).

For further details see the website www.poachersmoon.com and to reserve tickets email castintime11@googlemail.com or call 01258 488640.

22

FOCUS on sport

Ashley Wood golfers greet the New Year

February 2014

A LONG-standing tradition at the Ashley Wood Golf Club was continued on New Year's Eve when, just after midnight, both the men's and ladies' incoming captains drove a golf ball off the first tee to herald their new responsibilities and the start of another golfing year.

The tee-off, under floodlights, followed a hugely enjoyable social evening, which this year had a 'black and white' theme.

New Club Captain Dave Keig believes such traditions are a sign of the enduring success of the club, which is now 107 years old.

"It is an honour to have been chosen to take on this role, and I'm really looking forward to a

great golfing year," he said.

Improvements year by year are making Ashley Wood an even better course. Despite the appalling weather recently, it has been closed for only a very few sessions as it is probably one of the best drained courses in the county.

The club is currently making a promotional offer of 15 months' golf for the price of 12, with the option to play a further 13 courses in the area under reciprocal arrangements - a perfect way for people to improve their fitness and at the same time meet new friendly people.

Further details can be found at www.ashleywoodgolfclub.com or by phoning 01258 452253.

Outgoing Ashley Wood captain Mike Lane presents the captain’s blazer to his successor Dave Keig.

Blandford's water polo players (from left) Hattie Burnell, Will Cleal, Dominic Flavell and Max Denton-Smith at the GB talent trials in Cardiff.

Quartet making a splash

A GROUP of water polo players from Blandford attended the Cardiff GB talent trials this month.

Hattie Burnell, Dominic Flavell, Will Cleal and Max Denton-Smith were put through their paces by GB coaches and were rubbing shoulders with Olympic water polo players.

They all said it was an amazing experience and have learned a great deal from it.

THE Farquharson Arms at Pimperne is holding a quiz night on 2nd February in aid of the Blandford Amateur Boxing Club, starting at 7.45pm.

It is organised by Jackie Vacher, who raised ÂŁ103 for the club at their Christmas quiz event, and prizes will be awarded. There will also be a raffle.

23

February 2014

FOCUS on sport

Darts ace up for the challenge

Brothers tee up for golfing success Golfing brothers Jake and Dominic Dunstan.

A BLANDFORD family are determined to make their mark in golf - and so far all seems to be going well.

Jake Dunstan, 19, started learning the game at the age of 11, and has reduced his handicap to 5. He is now in his second year studying for a degree in applied golf management studies at the University of Birmingham.

This academic course covers a wide variety of golfing topics, including coaching and golf club management, and will be an ideal preparation for Jake to achieve PGA membership.

As part of his course Jake has already undertaken a placement in the professional shop at the Ashley Wood Golf Club and his ultimate aim is to work abroad, coaching and managing a golf club.

Younger brother Dominic, at 15, is already proving to be a highly gifted golfer. He started at the age of nine and has a handicap of 4. In the past year he has won the Dorset Under15 Championship and the Dorset Handicap Mixed

Foursomes and has played for the Dorset Under-16 county team, as well as winning two club trophies and representing Ashley Wood in adult competitions. Dominic's long-term aim is to turn professional and play on the circuit.

As a result of his sons' obsession with the game, father Steven found himself spending much of his time ferrying the boys to coaching and matches and eventually decided it might be sensible to join them.

So three years ago he took up the game and, although he has reduced his handicap to 19, he has yet to emulate the success of his offspring. Asked about the golfing relationship between father and sons, Jake said: "He sometimes listens to us!"

All of them are full of praise for the tuition and support of the Ashley Wood professional, Jon Shimmons. Their time in his Academy has set them on the path to success.

"Jon is a great teacher, and we are really grateful for the efforts he has made on our behalf," said Dominic.

A DARTS exhibition evening with Scotty 'Dog' Mitchell at the Crown & Anchor in Blandford on 30th December gave local players a chance to test their skills against a Dorset competitor just a week before he was due to play in the World Championships.

It was staged in support of the Disability Action Group and raised around ÂŁ100 for the Blandford-based charity.

Scott is pictured (centre) at the darts board surrounded by some of the players who took up the challenge.

Gardens date set

A DATE has been set for this year's Blandford Hidden Gardens event which will be taking place on Sunday 22nd June.

Organisers are inviting garden owners to become part of the event which last year, despite inclement weather, raised ÂŁ1,354 for local charities.

David Rose, spokesman for Blandford Stour Rotary, which will be providing public liability cover for the event, said: "The intention is to run the event on similar lines from 11am to 6pm, and if the timings are not convenient, we can put in separate timings for each house.

"There is absolutely no pressure on those who have kindly opened their gardens before to open their garden again, and for those enquiring about opening for the first time, there is no standard, inspection or style. All

we ask is that you open your garden to the public and enjoy the day."

There will be an owner's voluntary preview day on Sunday 8th June, so that those opening their gardens can visit each other's.

To take part, contact Mr Rose by emailing endellion@hotmail.co.uk or calling 01258 451557 Blandford Stour Rotary is also joining with the Clean Up Blandford Campaign to organise two clean-ups, the first on Saturday 8th March as part of Climate Week on the North Dorset Trailway, and the second on Saturday 17th May when the Big Blandford Clean Up will be part of 'The Big Tidy Up' nationwide.

For details see cleanupblandford.org.uk/Future-Events.php.

Flood lake adds to Trailway scenery

24

February 2014

CYCLISTS arriving for a ride along the North Dorset Trailway from Shillingstone Station on 2nd January found an unusually scenic background, consisting of an extensive lake between the station and Hambledon Hill.

But organiser Dilys Gartside was confident they would not encounter floods en route, having checked it the previous day.

It was the first in a series of rides which cycling instructor Dilys, who has become a trustee of the North Dorset Trailway Network, is organising making use of the route. For details contact her by emailing cyclewise@aol.com She was one of three new

trustees elected at the Network AGM, where other new appointments were of treasurer and membership secretary Helen Bolton (h.j.bolton@btinternet.com) and Trailway website web master Dave Rivett.

Head Ranger Giles Nicholson gave a Powerpoint presentation of work on the Trailway to date, and an exhibition of 45 photographs of areas round the Trailway taken by Graham Rains was on display, with copies available for £3 each.

Work on the next section of the Trailway is still in its very early stages but the next objective is the link between Sturminster

Regular events Weightwatchers meeting Fridays, 10am, United Reformed Church, Blandford Bingo, Blandford Royal British Legion, Monday lunchtimes Saturday 1st February: Artsreach Tom Langham's Hot Fingers (Artsreach promotion), Durweston village hall, 7.30pm Sunday 2nd February: Quiz night, Farquharson Arms, Pimperne, 7.45pm in aid of Blandford Amateur Boxing Club Monday 3rd February: Blandford Floral Group meet, United Reformed Church Hall, 2.15pm, demonstration by Carol Norman ‘Got the Tee-shirt’. Raffle of floral arrangements. New members (£18 annual membership) and visitors (£5) welcome. Enquiries 01258 452889 Tuesday 4th February: Knighton House Scholarship Day, contact Melanie Burton on 01258 452065 for application pack.

Wednesday 5th February: Blandford St Mary Parish Council meeting Child Okeford Gardeners' Club in the Village Hall, 2.30pm, speaker Chris Smith, ‘Potatoes - A Guide to Varieties and their Uses’ Blandford Forum Film Society, Blandford School, 7.30pm, The Hunt, guest tickets from 01258 453851 Thursday 6th February: Wedding Open Evening at the Crown Hotel Sealy Suite. 6-8pm, free entry, showcasing wedding services offered by the hotel Blandford Town Home Watch Meeting, Blandford Police Station 7pm

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

Newton and Stalbridge. An application has gone to the planning department for a link between Rolls Mills industrial estate and Bath Road at Snooks Builders' Yard. This will give access from the town to Rolls Mills as well as to the Trailway.

Dilys Gartside (second from right) and cyclists at the start of their Trailway ride on 2nd January.

Forum Focus - forthcoming meetings & events Blandford Museum talk, 7.30pm at the Museum, Bere's Yard: Geoff Barnett, Museum Chairman. 'English Canals, past and present' Thursday 6th to Saturday 8th February: Milborne Players present Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, 7.30pm (Sat mat 2.30pm), tickets £6 01258 837030 Friday 7th February: Graham Watson Lib Dem MEP 'meet and greet', Woodhouse Gardens Pavilion, Blandford, noon to 1.30pm Open Meeting ‘Britain's Role in Europe’ with Julie Girling MEP, chaired by Bob Walter MP, The Hall & Woodhouse Conference Room (Visitors Centre), Blandford St Mary, 6.30 for 7.00pm admission free Alison Neil as Mary Anning, (Artsreach promotion), Portman Hall, Shillingstone, 7.30pm Friday 7th and 21st February: Bridge and Scrabble in the Parish Centre, Blandford, 2pm, details Jean Palmer 01258 450544 Saturday 8th February: Mackrell Lecture, The Old School, Sturminster Marshall, 2pm: Blandford Through the Ages with historian Dr Michael Le Bas, bookings 01258 857200 Dorset Opera, At Home with the Gibsons, High Hall near Wimborne, tickets £40 including £10 voluntary donation Monday 10th February: Blandford Ladies' Probus Club

meet 12 noon for 12.30pm lunch at the Crown Hotel, Blandford, speaker Paul Sturgess - slides of Dorset. New members and visitors welcome, details Greta Chippendale, 01258 453238 or e:gretachippendale@talktalk.net Tuesday 11th February: Durweston Cameo Club meets Durweston village hall 7.30pm, speaker Terry Payne on 'Bees' Wednesday 12th February: Blandford Forum Film Society, Blandford School, 7.30pm, ‘Where do we go now’, guest tickets from 01258 453851 Thursday 13th February: Stour Valley Probus Club, for Ladies and Men, AGM at 10.00 followed at 11.00 by a Rob Curtis talk on 'Inn signs & Dorset pub stories'.

Prospective members welcome, contact Membership Secretary, Joyce Lee on 450857 Friday 14th February: Elvis Tribute Artist Garry Foley at the Crown Hotel Sealy Suite. Tickets £5. Contact the Crown on 01258 456626 to book Sunday 16th February: Blandford Lions' Great Valentine Bake-Off, Crown Hotel, 2 to 4.30pm Monday 17th February: Child Okeford Centre for Care and Learning, Child Okeford, 7.30pm.

Antarctica, illustrated talk by much travelled village resident Roger Hull Wednesday 19th February: Blandford Carers Group meet

Durweston village hall, 2 to 4pm, speaker Sue Ingram of Age UK The Girl and The Shoes, Artsreach promotion, Durweston village hall, 7.30pm Dorset Wildlife Trust North Dorset Group meets, Fontmell Magna village hall, 7.30pm, talk on Butterflies by Nigel Spring Thursday 20th February: Blandford Heart Forum meets Blandford Hospital Restaurant at 2.30 to 4.30 pm. Speaker; Diana Goetz - ‘The Life and Times of Thomas Hardy’. All Welcome Friday 21st February: Film Night, Captain Phillips, Durweston village hall, 7.30pm Saturday 22nd February: Preview night for Spetisbury Music & Merriment Festival, Spetisbury village hall, 7pm Poachers Moon and Cast in Time in Poppies Red and Cornflowers Blue, Durweston village hall, 7.30pm Weldmar HospiceCareTrust's 'Dorset's Got Talent' auditions, Corn Exchange, Blandford, to register go to www.weldhospice.org.uk/talent or call 01305 261800 Wednesday 26th February: Blandford Forum Film Society, Blandford School, 7.30pm, The Sessions, guest tickets from 01258 453851 Thursday 27th February: Blood donor sessions, Crown Hotel, Blandford, 1 to 3.25 and 4.30 to 7pm, details 0300 123 23 23 Friday 28th February: Royal Signals Corps Band concert, Blandford Corn Exchange