July 2014 Forum Focus

FORUM FOCUS For Blandford and surrounding villages Issue No. 28

Weekend alcohol plan angers club neighbours A PROPOSAL by Blandford Rugby Club to serve alcohol from the Larksmead Pavilion on Saturdays and Sundays has angered some of their new neighbours in Buttercup Lane.

The club is next season moving back to the recreation ground where it played many years ago after extensive work to level the site and create better pitches.

The pavilion, which has been home for more than 30 years to the Larksmead Pre-School, will revert to its use as changing rooms, although there is no plan for the Rugby Club to relinquish its licensed clubhouse in East Street.

The club's application is for the supply of alcohol and regulated entertainment between mid-day and 6pm on Saturdays and Sundays only. Responsible authorities and interested parties have until 5th July to make representations.

Jean Longley, whose house backs on to the playing field and the pavilion, said: "We moved here from Pentridge because we wanted somewhere quiet to live in our retirement after living in the country. I used to work with children so had no problem with the young children there and using the play area.

"But the pavilion backs immedi-

William’s thank you to hospital - Page 3

July 2014

ately on to our garden. The deliveries will have to be made to the doors at the back because there is nowhere to deliver at the front and there are bound to be bottles around, which is not good in a dog walking area or for the children using the play area."

She added: "I am 70 and my husband is 73. Many of my neighbours are elderly, some in their 80s, and moved here for a quiet retirement.

"I objected when the plans to change the use of the pavilion from a day nursery were put forward and said then that I would object if there was an application for a licence. How long will it be before they want an extension?

"I also objected to the lights on the pitches, which will be on only until 9pm, but by the time they leave the pavilion and car park it could be much later."

Town mourns the loss of two of its finest Page 10

All smiles: John and Veronica Jenkins enter into the spirit of Teddy 20 by getting their faces painted. See Page 8.

Arts extravaganza will close the town A MAJOR outdoor arts spectacular production will fill Blandford Market Place with performers on Thursday 18th September.

Periplum's The Bell is being brought to the town as part of the Inside Out Festival of Activate Performing Arts, and it is the first time Blandford has featured on its itinerary.

The show featuring promenade action, stilts, aerial performance, pyrotechnics and music, creates a story of hope and redemption in a warring land, devastated and razed in flames by invading forces. The sur-

Wall collapse leaves families homeless Page 5

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vivors are faced with the choice of seeking revenge or staying to rebuild. The creation of a gigantic bell re-ignites the people's hope in a celebration of human resilience through shared struggle.

Activate are recruiting up to 20 volunteer performers from the Blandford community to take part and spend a day working with Periplum learning performance skills, before rehearsing and performing in the production. They are also recruiting six volunteer event stewards who will also work directly with the company.

Other opportunities, subject to funding, will include banner making and singing workshops with participants contributing to the performance itself.

Town and district councillor Esme Butler, who has been working with the festival organisers, told a town council planning committee meeting: "It's going to mean traffic management and road closures in To Page 2

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FORUM FOCUS 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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Talent show triumph for Caitlin

Caitlin Churcher with Autism's Got Talent founder Anna Kennedy.

TWELVE-year-old Caitlin Churcher literally defied gravity when she performed a gymnastics routine at the Autism's Got Talent show at the Mermaid Theatre in London.

She was one of a number of talented youngsters suffering from autism chosen after a nationwide search by Anna Kennedy, founder of the charity and mother of two autistic sons.

Caitlin, a year 7 pupil at The Blandford School and member of the Blandford Forum Gymnastics and Kanga Club, was invited to perform again at the National Autism Show at the Excel in London in June.

Her mum Jennifer said: "Although Caitlin was very nervous, she performed to 'Defying Gravity' from the musical Wicked, and was overwhelmed by all the support she was given.

"Defying Gravity was very symbolic to her after

suffering at the hands of bullies because of her disability. The lyrics mean such a lot to her.

"There were singers, dancers, musicians and performers all with various forms of autism, some of the performers had such severe autism they were unable to speak, but their ability to perform, dance and sing was phenomenal!"

She said the other performers and their families from the show have now become firm friends and are already an incredible support network to each other.

"The show has given Caitlin a platform upon which to build and show everyone that she is incredibly talented, regardless of her disability.

Within the gym all the barriers and obstacles she meets in everyday life just aren't there any more. She gets treated just the same as everyone else."

Arts spectacular set for visit From Page 1 the town centre and some of the car parks will be used for equipment, but it is going to be a massive event for the town."

A spokesman for Activate, which has since 2005 been presenting high quality, large-scale outdoor arts events in the Inside Out Dorset festival, said it had been hoped that Blandford might be included two years ago, which would have coincided with the Olympics and Diamond Jubilee year.

The high-profile programme of extraordinary events in extraordinary locations involves an international network of promoters and artists, and this year will also include events at Poole Park and The Quay from 12 to 14th September, Studland on 13th and 14th September, the South Dorset Ridgeway from Friday 19th to Sunday 21st September and Bournemouth from Thursday 25th to Sunday 28th September.

A scene from The Bell, coming to Blandford in September.

Picture Š Johnny Goodwin.

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July 2014

Thanks from William A CHARITY jumble sale and raffle is being held on Saturday 26th July at Blandford Methodist Church to say thank you to the Spires Cleft Centre at Salisbury Hospital.

Five-year-old William Yorukoglu was born with a cleft lip which was not detected at any of his mum Helen's scans, and was repaired at Salisbury Hospital when he was four months old.

Recently it was only after phoning the cleft centre and having him fasttracked that he was diagnosed with a possible abnormality with his soft palate.

"Without their support we would not have got through this. He still needs care from them, and they are fantastic," said Helen, of Liddington Crescent, Blandford.

"As a thank you we want to raise some money for the Stars Appeal for the centre, and also to make people aware of these conditions so that people who have them don't get treated differently from others."

The sale will be held between 10am and noon, and people are welcome to bring jumble along to offer for sale.

St John Ambulance volunteers. Back (from left): Lee Hitchings, Lucy Evans, Abi Smith, Debbie Smith and Emily Oliver. Front: Emma Jones, Courtney Quinlan and Louise Stephens.

First-aiders win praise for prompt actions YOUNG first-aiders who rushed to the aid of two people who collapsed at the Three Okefords Preservation Society steam rally have been praised by local and regional managers for their actions.

St John Ambulance Cadets from Blandford were among the team on duty at the event in Shillingstone in May and assisted the charity's adult volunteers with both patients.

Lucy Evans (14), Emma Jones (17), Louise Stephens (15), Emily Oliver (14) and Courtney Quinlan (16) were congratulated on keeping calm under pressure and delivering outstanding support.

"I'm so proud of them all," said Blandford's Unit Manager, Debbie Smith. "Their casualty care was second to none."

The first-aiders were called to the first collapse on the Saturday afternoon when the casualty fell unconscious and started to fit.

"It was the first time the cadets had ever been involved in an incident like this, but they are trained to deal with all kinds of emergencies. We put the casualty in the recovery position and monitored

while we waited for a paramedic.

"The girls were so calm and gave so much reassurance to the patient, who recovered well and came to thank us the following day."

Towards the end of Sunday a member of the public with diabetes collapsed due to low blood sugar levels. "Our team of cadets was amazing again, delivering outstanding care to the patient," Debbie said.

All five teenagers will receive letters of thanks from St John Ambulance's senior managers and will be presented with a certificate.

The charity's Regional Youth Manager, Dave Christophers, said: "Debbie and her fellow youth leaders should be very proud for teaching these inspiring young people the skills to be the difference between a life lost and life saved, and for instilling the confidence in them to react in the professional and calm way that they did."

For more information on St John Ambulance's work, including the charity's youth programmes, visit sja.org.uk or call 08700 10 49 50.

William Yorukoglu, left with his two-year-old brother Tommy.

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July 2014

Buildings’ decline threatens town’s conservation status THE threat to Blandford's Conservation Area status was revealed to members of Blandford and District Civic Society at their AGM by North Dorset District Council's conservation officer Jen Nixon.

She told how English Heritage had listed the town among those with conservation areas at risk because of the degree of deterioration in not only some of its premier buildings such as the parish church, but also less obvious structures and features in danger of being destroyed or lost.

She also outlined how communities were being urged to draw up a 'Local List' of features which should be protected and preserved and so help to resist inappropriate development in future.

The meeting was told that the society, in addition to progressing a number of projects, was reviewing its aims, objectives and activity with a view to becoming more influential and pro-active in stimulating civic pride and public inter-

Retiring chairman Tony Harrocks (right) and his successor Terence Dear, with North Dorset District Council conservation officer Jen Nixon at the Blandford and District Civic Society AGM. est in the history, architecture and geography of the area.

Retiring chairman Tony Harrocks said: "The society has taken on the role of looking after the town

and its people and must continue to do so."

Mr Harrocks, who became chairman last year with the retirement of Peter Warrington, said he would be focusing on his research for the town council's 14-18 working party on life in Blandford during the First World War. Treasurer Terence Dear was appointed chairman, and Colin Duffield treasurer to take his place, with other officers - secretary Nicci Brown, minutes secretary Sally Woodlock and project officer Alan Dymond - re-elected with other members of the committee.

Thumbs up for council changes PUBLIC satisfaction with the quality of service received from North Dorset District Council has risen by nearly 50 per cent, according to a survey carried out by the council with customers over the last six months.

It showed 63 per cent of those dealing with the council were either satisfied or very satisfied, compared with only 41 per cent in 2008.

The number of respondents feeling they were treated fairly and with respect has also risen from 50 per cent to 65 per cent.

The results are seen as an indication that the improvements put in place by the council over recent years are working well.

Cllr Deborah Croney, leader of NDDC, said: "We need to know that we are providing the services that people need in the way they want them, and I'm very encouraged by feedback we have received so far."

Nearly 60 per cent of respondents reported that they had need to contact the council no more than once because the service or information required was provided at the first point of contact.

Not all comments were favourable and additional feedback is being used to identify ways of improving services further.

THE long forecast widening of the pavement outside the Kings Arms in Whitecliff Mill Street, Blandford, and reconstruction of the dropped kerb has finally been carried out, and is a welcome improvement for pushchair, wheelchair and mobility scooter users who can now safely negotiate the corner.

Town councillors were told on 9th June that the improvement works and creation of a cycleway in Wimborne Road which began in March was due to be completed by the end of the week.

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July 2014

Wall collapse leaves families homeless TWO families were left homeless on the evening of 9th June when the cob wall of a house in Blandford collapsed into the yard next door.

Orchard Street was closed north of the link through to Dorset Street and remained closed for the rest of the week.

Anita Roberts was in the shower when her son George, 17, shouted that the wall had fallen, taking a bedroom cupboard on the first floor with it.

"I didn't believe him at first," said Mrs Roberts, who went outside in her dressing gown and slippers to find the ground floor and first floor open to the elements and giant cracks in the wall above.

Soon after, the second floor crashed to the ground, leaving only the chimney standing and exposing the internal gas fire flue up the side of the building and the rooms inside.

George, who serves with the Royal Navy and was at home because he had broken his wrist a few weeks earlier, said: "I heard the crash and went downstairs to find people knocking on the door telling me the wall had collapsed. I had been sitting only a few feet away."

The Roberts and their neighbours in an adjoining property were evacuated and are now seeking alternative accommodation.

Anita's husband Simon Roberts, who was at work at BOCM when he learnt of the collapse, said it was unlikely the family would move back to the house after it was repaired.

A Fire and Rescue retained crew from Blandford isolated the gas and electricity supply and cordoned off the street where neighbours, who only a few days earlier had gathered for their 'Big Lunch' gathered again to offer support as

other pieces of wall fell down.

A spokesman said: "The occupier had already contacted building control. A Red Cross Fire Support Vehicle attended for residents who were unable to stay in their homes."

Mrs Roberts said the house, built in the late 19th century and one of a number of grade II listed buildings in the street, had been rented by her for 17 years, and that her landlord Paul Cracknell was devastated by what had happened.

Mr Cracknell, who inherited the building through his wife's family, was back at the scene next day, where contractor Mark Farwell had been brought in to clear the site, but the road past the house remained closed after scaffolding had been erected to shore up the building.

A number of the houses in Orchard Street have cob walls, and it is understood that one which stood next door to Mrs Roberts' home collapsed some 40 years ago. The natural building material made from sand, clay, water and straw is used in thousands of houses and buildings in the south-west, but is susceptible to extreme wet weather.

THE 'Big Lunch' in Orchard Street had been one of the best gatherings yet as part of the nationally organised campaign, inspired by the Eden Project, to bring neighbours together in an alfresco party.

It had been organised for residents in Orchard Street and Dorset Street annually since 2009.

Spokesperson Annabelle Valentine said: "It was a huge success and quite a few people met for the first time too, which was so great to see. Many commented on the wonderful sense of community in these streets and how events like this bring people together."

AFTER 18 years' voluntary service as manageress of the tearoom and shop at the Blandford Fashion Museum, June Boutelle (left) is stepping down from the role. The other museum volunteers presented June with a bouquet and some gardening vouchers as a token of appreciation for her work. June, who likes to bake cakes to sell in the tearoom and decorate the tables with vases of seasonal flowers, said: "When people come into the tearoom we talk to them. We enjoy it - and that's what I'm going to miss."

The fallen wall is cleared from the yard next to the house in Orchard Street.

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July 2014

Friends’ auction success MORE than 200 lots of antiques, jewellery, pictures and collectables went under the hammer in Child Okeford village hall on 21st June for the Friends of Blandford Community Hospital.

The annual auction of goods donated to their shops in Blandford and Sturminster Newton attracted buyers from far and wide, and will help support the Friends' activities which include a recent £750,000 investment in major redevelopment work at Blandford Hospital.

They have also continued to support smaller projects such as the purchase of a Bariatric wheelchair costing £550 and a Falls Electronic Alarm System costing £1,800 for Tarrant Ward at the hospital. A grant of £1,000 has also been given to the Elderly Mental Health Services team.

Anyone with a few hours to spare on a regular basis is invited to call 01258 450095 to offer time or donation of unwanted items.

A fitting party for a remarkable woman

RVS looking for members THE Royal Voluntary Service held a fundraising stall at Blandford Corn Exchange on 5th June when donations of homemade produce, craft items and cakes were welcomed for sale.

The service, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary, offers befriending and other services in the community, including helping at Blandford Community Hospital, and is keen to recruit new members and dispel its image of involving only women, having formerly been the Women's Royal Voluntary Service.

Pictured are Friends co-ordinator, Geraldine Hooton, volunteer Delyse Hawkins and service manager for befriending in Dorset Tina Damon, who can be contacted for further information on 01305 236666.

Quiz nights at Dolphin A SERIES of charity bingo and quiz nights has been launched at the Dolphin Real Ale House in East Street by new licensee Dave Tancock (pictured), who has taken on the management of the pub after several years as head of entertainment on cruise ships.

He said: "I got chatting to the manageress of the Sue Ryder charity shop across the road, who was looking for a venue, and since we were already running Sunday quiz nights I suggested we joined forces. Monday evening is always quiet, so I said we could run bingo sessions for them as well."

Mr Tancock, 41, started at the Dolphin at the end of April, and was impressed by the friendliness and hospitality of the people in the town, as well as the scenery and countryside surrounding it.

LONG-term Stourpaine resident Jocelyn Russell hosted a buffet lunch at her home in Manor Road on 14th June to celebrate her 100th birthday the previous day.

All but one of her 24 grandchildren and great grandchildren were there, together with many friends and neighbours, a total of around 100 guests, and a neighbour provided a cake with 100 candles.

Family and friends, rather than buying birthday presents, contributed to a fund to provide trees for the Stourpaine playing fields - entirely fitting for a lady who had a very active life in the village and received her MBE in 2001 for services to the community.

Over 30 years, she organised Blandford WRVS, chaired Stourpaine Parish Council, was treasurer and church warden at Stourpaine church, ran lunch clubs for the elderly in both Blandford and Stourpaine, and was central to the campaign to acquire and establish the playing fields as a community asset in 1988 and develop the tennis courts and children's playground ten years later.

Born a month before the outbreak of World War One, she lost two uncles and two cousins in that conflict, and her father was a prisoner-ofwar. Leaving school in the early 1930s, she worked as a business manager in the glamorous world of theatre before taking off on a solo trip round the world.

In World War Two, she drove ambulances in South Africa and Egypt and took on administrative work in Cairo and later Singapore. In London in the 1950s, Jocelyn supported her husband Charles, a MajorGeneral in the Royal Engineers, in his work as executive chairman of the nationalised road haulage industry, British Road Services.

She and her husband moved to Stourpaine in 1971, but her husband died three months later, and she has lived in the same house ever since where she remains independent, supported by daily visits from helpers and regular visits from family and friends.

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July 2014

Group stung by ‘savage’ criticism CABINET members at North Dorset District Council were meeting in confidential session on 16th June to consider the report which criticised the relationship between Blandford Town Council and the area's community partnership, the DT11 Forum.

DT11 chairman Scott Norman, who has chaired the partnership for four years, stood down, saying that a response had been submitted to the report by the chairs of all the community partnerships in the district.

He added: "There were bits of the scrutiny report that were good and to the point, but the savage way they treated us overrode them all."

The report made a number of recommendations, including the reconfiguration of the partnership with the full engagement of the town council, and for the community development worker to work with the town council to strengthen links between the two.

At the AGM Mr Norman was warmly thanked for his leadership over the past four years by for-

mer chairman Steve Adamson, who said his commitment had been "pretty much on a full-time basis".

Tribute was also paid to his effective chairmanship of CPEND, the umbrella organisation for the North Dorset community partnerships, in what were described as "sometimes very trying circumstances", by Graham Rains for his work on the North Dorset Trailway, and by Stourpaine village hall committee for the partnership's help in making a stage one lottery application for their new building.

North Dorset Cabinet member Val Pothecary gave her own personal thanks, saying she had a lot of regrets about what had happened and the way it had happened.

Nic Nicol, of Blandford, who currently chairs the DT11 Transport Action Group, was elected chairman of the partnership, and Bobbie Church, from Bryanston, vice-chairman, Peter Slocombe, of Pimperne, having accepted reappointment as treasurer.

Left to right: volunteer Chris Durham, deputy co-ordinator Sidney Falla and volunteer John Tanner on the community Speed Watch in Salisbury Road.

Speed team’s early start THE Blandford Speed Watch volunteers turned out for the first time to urge local drivers by their obvious presence to observe the speed limits in the town.

Co-ordinator Tony Harrocks said: "We hope to go out to various locations about once a fortnight and monitor the speed of passing traffic with our radar gun supplied by the police.

"This first morning we recorded four vehicles being driven at speeds of 36mph and above in a 30mph limit.

"We can only monitor the speeds, no prosecutions can result and we do not stop any vehicles, but the police will write warning letters to any driver who is persistently recorded as exceeding the speed limits.

"We have a total of six volunteers, which is the minimum that the police require for a group to be formed so we are looking for at least one more volunteer. The principal requirement is an ability to get up at 6am or earlier!"

Pimperne school pupils cut the turf of their new school with (left to right) David Rowe, regional manager of main contractors ISG, head teacher Jerome de Silva, architect Ian Cardy, and old boy Len Vincent.

Better late than never for Pimperne school A CEREMONY on the site of the new Pimperne Primary School celebrated not the cutting of the first sod but the cutting of almost the last.

The field next to the village hall in Newfield Road is now almost totally bare, and the whole school gathered to watch from the safety of the village hall grounds as former pupil Len Vincent was joined by four current pupils to do the honours for the milestone in the development of the long-awaited new school.

Mr Vincent, who attended the existing school in the centre of the village in 1935, was accompanied by head teacher Jerome de Silva, architect Ian Cardy and Dave Rowe, regional director of builders ISG. After protracted negotiation over the siting of the new school, work finally started in the autumn, but was delayed again by the December floods.

Pimperne is the last primary school in the Blandford area to be extended or replaced following the reorganisation from three-tier to two-tier education in 2005.

County Council Cabinet members were told in March that the building was between five and six months behind schedule, due initially to protracted land transactions and then by the inclement weather which held up enabling works including highway alterations and mains services to the site.

The estimated cost has risen from under £4m to more than £6.3m and work is due to be completed in the spring of 2015.

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July 2014

The Teddy team keep up the fight

Kim Newton and firefighter son Tom at the Teddy 20 fundraiser.

Tories scrape in A RELATIVELY high turnout of 40.06 per cent in the North Dorset area of the South West constituency helped the Conservatives to a narrow top-of-poll position in the district with 7,398 votes.

UKIP came a close second with 7,362, and the Green Party beat the Liberal Democrats into third place, with Labour fifth. The Independents from Europe, English Democrats and BNP parties came a poor sixth, seventh and eighth, with between them less than half the Labour vote.

The result for the South West constituency as a whole, where the overall turnout was 37.03 per cent compared to 38.87 per cent in 2009, saw victory for UKIP with 484,184 votes and William Dartmouth and Julia Reid elected.

The Conservatives were second with 433,151 to elect Ashley Fox and Julie Girling, and Labour polled 206,124 to elect Claire Moody. The Green Party with 166,447 votes elected Molly Scott Cato, leaving the Liberal Democrats with no South West representation at all and only 160,376 votes.

BLANDFORD's Teddy 20 fundraisers are relentless in their work for childhood cancer victims.

On the late May Bank Holiday they gathered at the Park Road recreation ground for the fifth annual Teddy 20 in memory of Ted Newton, a keen young cricket club member who died in 2010, aged ten.

They had raised thousands of pounds at the early May bank holiday Teddy Rocks music festival at the Greyhound Inn, and on 21st June, the longest day, there was a Fright Night walk from Sturminster Newton to Blandford on the North Dorset Trailway.

On Saturday 26th July, Ted's dad Owen Newton and Dave Trotter will take part in the Moonriders Cycle Race around the streets of London.

On 16th August there is another Teddy 20 team sky-dive, and in September, Owen and son Tom will be cycling the Rockies in America over five days.

Teddy20 (website teddy20.co.uk) supporting Bone Cancer Research, CLIC Sargent, Piam

Brown Ward at Southampton hospital and Kingfisher Ward at Dorchester County Hospital, is now a registered charity.

The challenge cricket match and fun day included morning and afternoon games between Blandford Rugby Club and Shillingstone Cricket Club, the Teddy 20 Legends and the Dorset Under-17s.

In attendance was a DFRS fire engine accompanied by Tom Newton, Ted's brother, who is now a volunteer firefighter, and their mum and dad, Owen and Kim, sister Phoebe and Ted's dog Molly all helped with the fundraising.

Also off the pitch, there were stalls and games, many with a teddy bear theme, together with a limbo challenge, hook-a-duck, cake raffle, and inflatables, a barbecue and bar.

Emma Hill underwent a head shave carried out by Sarah Churchill, and Genevieve Corben and friends set out to paint teddy bear faces on a total of 101 children and adults.

Carnival royalty sought THE search is on to find the 'royalty' for Blandford Carnival, which will take place on Saturday 6th September. A selection evening will be held at the Royal British Legion starting 7.30pm on Friday 4th July.

Entry forms will be available on the night for the Carnival Princess and Miss Blandford Carnival contests in the age groups of 7-11 and 12-16 years respectively.

Those chosen will be successors to Carnival Princess Jenny Lockyer and Miss Teenager Alex Oldfield who were also invited to take part in the Georgian Fayre parade and activities. For details, call 01258 454696.

Little Caleb gets his bike A MAGNIFICENT response to the story of five-year-old Caleb, who needs a special bike costing thousands of pounds to join his cycling friends, has resulted in his mum Sarah Turner receiving enough pledges and donations to buy the equipment.

"Although our application for grant funding was turned down, we have been able to raise the full amount needed, thanks to some truly amazing donations from people responding to the article, and through our fundraising on Georgian Fayre day."

Mrs Turner ran a cake stall and tombola outside the Disability Action Group premises in Nightingale Court, Blandford.

More success for Spectrum SPECTRUM Property Care, the repairs and maintenance subsidiary of Dorset-based Spectrum Housing Group, has won two more Considerate Constructors Scheme national site awards for 2013, bringing the total for Spectrum and the Poole House Partnership since 2008 to eight.

Both are for the high-performing Electrical Department's works programmes covering works on Spectrum Housing Group and Poole Housing Partnership properties in the south of England.

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July 2014

Tea party marks care home day AN afternoon tea party at Castleman House in Fairfield Bungalows celebrated national care home open day and was organised by Tamaly Andrews to bring the care home together with the community.

Homemade cakes made by local Rotarians and others were served, and the Stour Valley Band played on the front terrace, and there was a grand raffle. See pictures on our website at forumfocus.co.uk.

‘Give us your view’ plea from council DORSET County Council is asking the public to help in making the difficult decisions it faces as it prepares for a further reduction in its budget over the next three years.

Two in a series of Ask Dorset Roadshows across the county were held in Blandford Market Place on 7th June and in Morrisons on 13th June. Council leaders invited people to say which five of 20 key services they need and value most to bring home sharply the challenge facing the local authority.

Leader, Councillor Spencer Flower, said that by 2017, as part of national austerity measures, their budget will have been reduced by a third.

"The council has to change the way it does things, become more customer-focused, and make sure that what money we do have is used effectively to provide services people need the most. It is more important than ever that we listen to people and make sure these views inform the way we work."

Chief executive Debbie Ward said: "This is a time to be clear about the constraints on public services. We are trying to get public engagement and dialogue with communities to deliver a stronger and more successful Dorset in the future.

"It's not a vote on what should stay and what should go, but to draw out people's views on a list of priorities so that we can shape our new corporate plan with a significant reduction in budget."

The consultation is the most extensive the council has ever conducted, and includes parishes and town council, focus teams and its citizen's panel as well as going into market places and supermarkets to take it to the people, rather than asking them to visit village hall exhibitions.

There is also a digital campaign so that people can give their views online, which can be found at dorsetforyou.com/have-yoursay, and a survey will be sent to every household in the council's newsletter 'Your Dorset' this month.

Dorset County Councillor member for Winterborne, Hilary Cox, and deputy leader Robert Gould at the Ask Dorset Roadshow in Blandford Market Place.

A GALA concert by the North Dorset Mill Singers in Blandford Corn Exchange in May raised over £800 for choir funds, and judging by audience feedback was very well received. The choir, which will be back in Blandford on 29th November with a different programme in support of Blandford Parish Church Cupola Project, has thanked businesses and residents who supported the event, held in support of the ten concerts staged each year raising funds for local charities. Potential new members may attend their rehearsals in Child Okeford to find out more and can find information on the website themillsingers.co.uk.

Miles girls’ charity slim STAFF at Miles of Value in Barnack Walk, Blandford, are doing a sponsored slim to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support and to give themselves a bit of motivation.

Clare Pearce, centre in the picture with Becky Coakes (left) and Zoe Lock (right), said: "We have so many people who come into the shop who have been affected by cancer that we felt we wanted to do something.

"Zoe and Becky are attending Slimming World every week for support and weigh-ins and so far so good."

Sponsor forms are at the shop, and they will also be doing small fundraisers along the way so that all the children who come to the shop can join in. For information call 01258 454824.

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OBITUARIES

July 2014

Town mourns two of its stalwarts THE Blandford community is mourning the loss of two community stalwarts who died within two weeks of each other, town councillor Andrew Pemberton and Freeman of the town Daphne Alner.

Charles Andrew Pemberton died in his sleep on 2nd June after a short illness. He was 79.

Born at Secunderabad in India in 1935, where his father was in the Army, he moved with his family to Axminster after the war. He joined the Army after leaving Sherborne School and served with distinction in the 14th/20th King's Hussars.

Andrew Pemberton.

OBITUARIES Much of his service was in Germany during the Cold War, but he also served in Zambia and Hong Kong.

He and his wife Anne, who had two children, moved to the Old Rectory, Blandford, in 1994.

He became a Blandford town councillor and tirelessly represented the Old Town ward for many years. He also served as a North Dorset district councillor for four years, and was an active member of the local Conservative Association, a member of the Civic Society, a deliverer for Forum Focus since its launch in 2012 until illness prevented his continuing, and a founder member of The Clean Up Blandford Campaign.

It was his idea to run a Hidden Gardens event, and fitting that his final trip into the town he adopted was to go and sit by the river, surrounded by friends, to support the Big Blandford Clean Up on Saturday 17th May. Mr Pemberton is survived by his wife, Anne, and his children Charlie and Sophie.

Daphne Alner died suddenly at her home on 21st May at the age

of 85. A funeral service was held at Poole Crematorium on 13th June. She was the driving force behind Blandford Swimming Club for more than 50 years, teaching hundreds of children to swim, and was still running four sessions a week when she was made a Freeman of the town in 2005.

Originally from London, she settled in Blandford with her husband Ken when he left the Army, and during the summer of 1952 volunteered to look after the outdoor swimming pool on the Marsh & Ham. At the end of the season it was suggested that she start a swimming club. Daphne and Ken, an accomplished diver, became founder members and ran the club until Ken's death 15 years ago.

She continued her involvement and, as a very active member of the Amateur Swimming Association, officiated at competitions at all levels, representing the club at county and district level, and was a past president of the Dorset and Western County Amateur Swimming Associations.

She was responsible for many of her protĂŠgĂŠs swimming at county,

district and national events, including their three daughters, Jackie, Mandy and the late Christine, who were county champions. She also ran modern triathlon and life-saver training at Blandford Leisure Centre and was a trained Citizens' Advice Bureau adviser.

She was made honorary president of Blandford Swimming Club for her lifelong dedication to teaching swimming to generations of children in Blandford, and in 2011 she received the longest serving volunteer award given by Dorset County ASA to mark its 75th anniversary.

She is survived by two daughters and four grandchildren.

Daphne Alner.

July 2014

New Bishop pays a visit THE new Bishop of Plymouth visited Our Lady of Lourdes and St Cecilia Catholic Church, Blandford, to perform a service of confirmation for children of the parish from Bryanston and other local schools.

Bishop Mark O'Toole, together with Fr Chacko Panathara, conducted the service. It was his first visit to the church since his appointment in January. After the service the children and congregation held a party in the garden to welcome the Bishop and for him to meet parishioners.

He is pictured with church members Marie Fisher, left, and Margaret Holt, and seated Richard Hoghton, Marie's mother Joan Butterworth and Lisa Hoghton.

Building an Insect Hotel with Museum curator Peter Andrews and Amy from the Dorset Countryside Rangers.

A hotel in the woods A COMMUNITY fun day at Angus Wood in St Leonard's Avenue, Blandford, suffered a lull in activity when it clashed with the annual fete at nearby Archbishop Wake Primary School in Black Lane.

But there was still plenty of activity, including mosaic making, woodland crafts and archaeology, for visitors to explore.

An Insect Hotel, creating the right habitat for creepy crawlies to thrive, was built and artefacts were brought along for the Blandford Archaeology Garden Study, in which people are invited to bring items found in their gardens for identification.

The project, launched at a Woodland Fun Day two years ago, is ongoing at the Blandford Museum, where an expanding map of finds is being developed. Items can be accepted at any time.

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12

July 2014

Wartime heroes remembered THE casualties and heroes of both World Wars were remembered in June with the 70th anniversary of the role of Tarrant Rushton airfield on D-Day and the 99th of the role of Blandford Camp in the Third Battle of Krithia in Gallipoli.

On Friday 6th June at the Collingwood Memorial on the A354 at Tarrant Hinton, tribute was paid to the men who trained with the Royal Naval Division at the camp and lost their lives in Gallipoli.

And on Sunday 8th June, a remembrance service at the former RAF airfield celebrated the pilots of the planes which towed gliders full of troops to Normandy with the aim of capturing Pegasus Bridge.

The Collingwood service, organised by the Friends of the Memorial, was led by the Rev Roland Wort, chaplain to HMS Collingwood, with an address by Lt Col (Rtd) Bob Brannigan, and wreaths were laid by the Lord Lieutenant of Dorset Angus Campbell, representatives of the four nations taking part in the campaign, and representatives of military and service organisations and descendants.

Those attending were told by

Left:The Collingwood Memorial Parade remembering Gallipoli and the Royal Naval Division. Above: The service of remembrance at Tarrant Rushton airfield led by the Rev David Dennis with Wing Cdr S Powley RAF of Blandford Camp.

Friends of Collingwood chairman Stuart Adam that it could be the last time the service was held beside the busy main road, since plans were being considered to relocate the memorial to a safer location inside the camp for what will be a major commemoration next year, the 100th anniversary.

The Tarrant Rushton parade and service was led by the Rev David Dennis of Alderholt, and the parade of standards directed

by Parade Marshall Spencer Hare was reviewed by Wing Cdr S. Powley RAF of Blandford Camp.

Flt Lt Dennis Hart, involved with the parades held annually between 1982 and 2006, gave the address, hymns were accompanied by players from the Verwood Concert Band, and the Last Post and Reveille was sounded by Mark Adams at the start and end of a two-minute silence.

Next month, Forum Focus will be starting a monthly series of articles commemorating World War One and its impact on the lives of people in the Blandford area.

There will also be coverage of a programme of events being

organised by the town's 14-18 group, which will start this month with 'Poppy Painting Days' in the Corn Exchange.

Children and adults are invited between 10am and 3pm on Fridays 4th and 11th and Saturdays 5th and 12th to create and paint a field of red poppies which will be displayed as a backdrop to the town's civic memorial service in the parish church on Sunday 3rd August, remembering the start of the First World War. See more pictures on our website at www.forumfocus.co.uk.

If you would like to offer sponsorship for our forthcoming series of articles commemorating World War One and its impact on the area, please call 01258 459346 or email editor@forumfocus.co.uk

Welcome to French ‘twins’ A CIVIC reception was held in the Woodhouse Gardens Pavilion for the party of visitors from Blandford's twin town Mortain on 7th June.

The party included the joint chairman of the French twinning organisation, Yannick Guillo, who is pictured with Mayor of Blandford Steve Hitchings, his wife Lynn, and Councillor Hugo Mieville, right, who acted as interpreter to the group.

Councillor Hitchings and the Stour Valley Band, who played in the gardens during the reception, had recently returned from Mortain where they had taken part in the 70th anniversary celebrations of the liberation of Mortain in 1944.

July 2014

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

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14

July 2014

Troops feature in art display AN exhibition of work by the Durweston Art for Everyone class meeting in the village hall included a summer drawing project which sought to capture images of soldiers in the trenches.

It also featured work from the spring term which focused on experimentation with unusual markers such as twig, card, sponge and straws producing some very individual results.

For details of courses starting in September call 01258 820349 or email deb_chisman@hotmail.com.

Award winners at the Blandford Forum Camera Club exhibition with club chairman Marilyn Peddle, Lynn Hitchings, Mayor of Blandford Steve Hitchings and club president Norman Carey.

Photographers put their work on show BLANDFORD Forum Camera Club staged its annual exhibition in the Corn Exchange when 230 prints and 90 digital images created by members and photographers from across the county went on display.

Awards were presented by the Mayor of Blandford, Councillor Steve Hitchings, who said: "Every picture tells a story in the eye of the person who took it, and the results are fantastic."

President Norman Carey thanked the judge Tony Rackham, from Romsey, and chairman Marilyn Peddle announced the award winners. They included club members Colin Cross (president's trophy), Brian Winkle (monochrome), Brian Watson (colour), Malcolm Bowditch (president's trophy and digital images), Mr Carey (Dr Davies Cup for series of three in colour) and Marilyn herself (top-voted club print and Founder's Cup for series of three monochrome).

The open challenge shield for monochrome went to Alan Bevis

of Swanage, and the open challenge trophy for colour to Roger Holman of Wimborne. The PDI Cup for digital images was won

by Stan Maddams of Bournemouth.

The award for most popular print on display among visitors to the exhibition went to Malcolm Bowditch for his monochrome print 'No Longer Palatial' of a rundown back street in Lyon, France.

The year ended after the final Points Cup competition judged by John Tilsley with joint winners in the colour print section, John Ellis and Peter Gafney, and third Ian Ferris. Peter was also top scorer in monochrome prints, with Marilyn Peddle one point behind, and Brian Watson won in digital projected images, half a point ahead of Jean Barlett and Pat Catley in joint second.

A 'battle of the sexes' for the Wessex Cup between the men and the women in the club was won by the men with a total of 208 to the women's score of 197.5.

Cleanup volunteers rescue bottle bank A BOTTLE bank, swept away by the December floods from the Marsh & Ham car park, was rescued from the River Stour by Cleanup Blandford volunteers, helped by members of the Stour Valley Canoe Club and Dorset Countryside Rangers.

It was towed from where it had become lodged at the far end of the leet by the canoeists then hauled up the bank and across Langton Meadows by Rangers Matt and Amy with the assistance of Cleanup members.

Although the canoeists were able to fill bags with bottles and other debris from the river, the meadows themselves were relatively litter-free, but plenty was found to fill more bags in the streets.

Operation organiser David Rose said: "Over 30 people from a variety of groups and individuals, including the Blandford Town

Team and the Stour Valley Canoe Club, were joined at the start by the Mayor Steve Hitchings in his first official engagement.

"In the recent Town Team survey 27 per cent of the respondents complained about littering from dog fouling to cigarette butts outside shops. Litter on the streets was the highest placed single issue mentioned by 16 per cent of all respondents.

"We ask anyone who sees someone throwing away their cigarette butt outside a pub, leaving their takeaway in the street, throwing a bag of dog faeces on the trailway, leaving a can of drink on the way home or dropping a sweet wrapper on the way home from school to tell them to take it home.

"And write to NDDC to get the Dorset Waste Partnership to get them to clean our streets to the level they are paid to do."

The bottle bank is hoisted out with assistance from the Stour Valley Canoe Club.

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July 2014

Free health checks put minds at rest A TOTAL of 157 Blandford residents learned whether they were in danger of having a stroke at the annual 'Know Your Blood Pressure' morning at the Corn Exchange, staged by Blandford Rotary, working with the Stroke Association and local GPs. Of them, 28 were recommended to see their GP within a month for further investigation because their blood pressure was abnormally high. A further three were told to see their GP without delay because it was dangerously high.

"Every year we identify a significant number of people who had no idea they had raised blood pressure," said Rotary President John Bentley. "We think this is a valuable service that helps to reduce the incidence of strokes, and we thank the Stroke HANOVER Housing Association, a national housing provider for the over-55s with estates at Hanover Court and Wilverley Gardens, Blandford, has been shortlisted for the 50+Awards. The winners will be announced on 10th July.

Association and the local GPs who give up their spare time to support us in this work."

High blood pressure is a major risk factor in causing strokes and figures from the Stroke Association show that 40 per cent of them could be prevented if blood pressure was controlled.

Visitors to the Rotary Club’s ‘Know your blood pressure’ event are monitored by GPs

Exhibitions at the Abbey MILTON Abbey lies in a valley in an idyllic part of the country, among rolling hills in the middle of Dorset, where it has stood for over 1,000 years, undiscovered by many.

Milton Abbey is steeped in history reaching back to the very beginnings of the English Kingdom. Founded by King Athelstan, the first King of All England, in 933, it was initially a Benedictine monastery, until after the Reformation it passed into private hands for 400 years.

In the 18th century it became part of a grand scheme of Lord Milton, including a lavish Gothic mansion and the landscape park designed by Capability Brown, considered to be one of his best schemes in the whole country.

From 1852 to 1932, it was owned by the Hambro family, who were responsible for restoration work by Sir

George Gilbert Scott. Since 1932 it has been owned by the Diocese of Salisbury.

This summer there will be exhibitions in the Abbey from 8th July to 31st August. The 1,000-year-history will be traced from King Athelstan to Lord Milton's great scheme to today, with a focus on the landscape designed by Capability Brown.

The great window designed by Augustus Pugin, the famous architect responsible for design work at the Houses of Parliament, will form the backdrop to 'Pugin in Wessex', an exhibition celebrating his great works.

The International Music Festival and Summer School will run from 28th July to 3rd August. This will involve a series of concerts, run alongside residential music courses organised by Milton Abbey School. www.miltonabbey.org.

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LETTERS

Letters to the Editor

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

July 2014 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.

What price conservation?

(An open letter to the Chief Executive, Spectrum Housing) I REFER you to Harewood Place, which was built in 1866, as I understand it by Lord Portman for his retiring workers - a delightful little courtyard of houses, displaying splendid Victorian architecture in our mainly Georgian town. I believe this development falls within the conservation area of Blandford, or is at least a sub-area.

A little while ago local residents were disappointed to note that the lesser windows at the rear (on the road side) of Harewood Place had been replaced by uPVC windows.

I note today, (6th June) that a contractor arrived and had been given instructions to replace the existing main entrance doors to three of these properties with new uPVC (plastic) doors and frames, and it appears that the rest will follow.

Can I ask, please: How on earth is this allowed to happen? Who on earth authorised it? Is there no building control now?

The contractors have removed three quite serviceable hardwood timber doors (I admit they may not be original) but complete with frames and also some lovely brass furniture, which no doubt were destined for the skip.

Where do we go from here? Will we in time find that Spectrum is expecting to pull down these delightful buildings and replace them with a large block of flats?

Surely this goes against the spirit of conservation, even not entirely within the letter of the law.

I would like to think that we, as Blandford residents, can be assured that no further such horrors will occur.

Martin Brickell Shorts Lane, Blandford

Help us make town better I AM a huge fan of Forum Focus which, I believe, helps promote a sense of community in the Blandford area, and I am very appreciative of the hard work done in assembling this excellent magazine.

With a certain amount of sorrow, I would like to comment on two articles in the June issue.

The title of the article on the Town Team's questionnaire results was surprisingly negative: 'The worst aspects of life in Blandford'. As someone who loves living in Blandford I would have been happier if it said '70% of respondents rate Blandford a great place to live, but . . ' followed by the fact that most dislike the parking situation, the real

and urgent need to reclaim the market, improve retail, clean up the town, get a cinema going and hold more events and specialty markets. There are at least four or five groups currently working on the latter problems, parking out of our control.

The second article was on the relationship, apparently negative, between DT11 Forum and Blandford Forum Town Council which implied that BFTC were unsupportive of the proposed Fording Point in favour of the Corn Exchange.

On this issue I would like to go on record to remind residents, and DT11 Forum, that the Town Council has an obligation to maintain and make as sustain-

able as possible all property owned by the town, including the Corn Exchange, which is maintained at taxpayers' expense. We have no such obligation to the Fording Point, essentially a private enterprise. The Corn Exchange project is proceeding with applications for external grant funding to pay for the bulk of the work. No-one is stopping the Fording Point from doing the same.

I am a town councillor but am writing this letter as a private citizen and my comments do not represent the Town Council's position on any issue.

Those of us who are working our socks off to make our town an even better place to live could use more help, so I hope the articles helped raise enthusiasm among local residents and will encourage them to participate in one of the groups. If anyone would like to become involved with any of the exciting developments now taking place, please call me at 01258 458911.

Sylvia Hixson Andrews Blandford

Cycleways need a rethink I WELCOME Simon Ible's letter about the bridge over the bypass, it being such a waste of a perfectly good bridge, but would also welcome a thorough examination of all footpaths and cycleways around Blandford and how they serve the pedestrian and cyclist.

As a young, active family, we often like to be out and about on our bikes and the children love to scoot from place to place but it is far from easy.

We recently made the journey from Milldown Primary School up to Crazy Monsters by bike but, as well as having to cross a rather intimidatingly busy bypass, we also struggled to even cross Shaftesbury Road at the top of Tinpot Lane due to the lack of a pedestrian crossing at this particular point.

In various parts of Blandford there are good cycle and footpaths (eg: the Trailway, the Milldown, Stour Meadows) which, as sections, are superb but don't always link conveniently to the various housing estates around them.

How does one safely walk or cycle to Blandford St Mary?

How does one safely navigate by bike the top half of Salisbury Road when the amount of cars parked on this road mean that even cars find it difficult to get by? I use these as just a couple of examples of how difficult it is to travel from A to B, particularly with young, inexperienced children.

I believe that the Town Council are currently reviewing how the Trailway might be extended further south. Fantastic! Please can we also look at other parts of the town?

Anna Hayball, Blandford

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July 2014

LETTERS

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Readers’ Red kites have come to town letters extra How low can a thief go?

THANK you to the person in the Ham car park who, on Saturday 7th June at approximately 2pm, stole my car parking ticket valued at 70p, from the windscreen of my 1933 Austin 10 convertible, I parked it to go shopping, on a very nice day without the hood up, paid my fee and put the ticket on the windscreen. On returning to the car I found only the adhesive part of the ticket left.

I was wondering what sort of support I would have received from North Dorset District council if a warden had put a ticket on the windscreen as there was no way I could have proved that I had paid. Would the CCTV have seen the culprit?

So would the thief next time please consider the consequences before repeating the action. I know we live in a changing world, but really has society stooped this low?

Name & address supplied

WHILST the ongoing resurgence of the red kite has been evident and seen over the downland of Blandford Camp, the sight of one over the town on Monday 19th May was probably a first.

The last 30 or so years has seen that other large bird of prey, the buzzard, become ever more visible and apparently more numerous than the once-common kestrel.

Now it has been joined on its aerial patrols of Blandford by the red kite, another large raptor evidently enjoying a similar growth in population and expanding territory.

From the ground the two species look different enough for the random observer to distinguish the two slowly soaring species, and the kite is easily distinguishable by its forked tail and bigger, flattened W-shaped, almost six-feet wingspan. If you are lucky enough to be nearer, the chestnut colour of the kite's plumage is very striking and immediately a clue to the 'red' in its name.

It would have been a familiar sight to the town's

residents some 500 years ago, but persecution meant the bird was exterminated in England, Scotland and most of Wales by the end of the last century.

The 16th century saw a series of Vermin Acts, requiring 'vermin' including the red kite, perceived as a threat to expanding agriculture, to be killed throughout the parishes of Wales and England, and by the end of the 18th century an increasing number of gamekeepers were employed and responsible for killing many more.

Only in rural mid-Wales did red kites hang on, their numbers down to just a few pairs, and it has been established that today's growing UK population has come from just one female bird.

Colonies are now thriving outside their former Welsh sanctuaries, with the Chilterns becoming a favourite new home, and now they are being drawn south and east. So welcome back to North Dorset, Milvus milvus.

Stuart Booth, Blandford

Fun festival proved a winner THANK you for the excellent article and photos in the June issue reporting on Blandford Rotary's 'Festival of Fun', at which so many families and children had a great day out.

We also raised a significant amount for local charities and we are now in the process of distributing cheques to a number of organisations, including Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance, the two local Scout groups and Julia's House.

One of the fund raisers was our grand raffle and your readers may like to know that the top prize of ÂŁ250 was won by Solomon Gulliver, a 10-year-old Scout with the 1st Woodcutts Scout Group, who had a ticket bought for him and who decided to split the prize with his brother.

As you reported, the children's painting competition was a great success with nearly 300 entries.

Each of the eight prizewinners

received an art-related prize to encourage them in their painting work.

Blandford Rotary are grateful to all those who helped to make it a successful day and to all the Blandford families who supported the event.

John Bentley President, Blandford Rotary

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July 2014

Gareth set for a high old adventure A SOUTH West Trains guard, who last year raised £1,415 for Greyhound Rescue West of England by climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, is on the march again, this time by trekking the daunting Inca Trail.

Gareth Bishop of Blandford is hoping to surpass his 2013 total when he climbs to the worldfamous ruins of Machu Pichu and to a height of 14,583 feet above sea level in support of the charity's New Life Appeal.

The appeal aims to find permanent homes for dogs who arrive in the charity's care in their twilight years, and funds are desperately needed to help support them.

Gareth Bishop on top of Scafell Pike while training in May.

Gareth has already embarked upon his training regime with regular walks, runs and gym sessions. Last month he was climbing Mount Snowdon and on 26th July he will undertake the Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge.

He said: "I thoroughly enjoyed the challenge of raising money for Greyhound Rescue West of England last year and this latest adventure to Peru looks to be just as exciting.

"Our family adopted a greyhound, Kelly, from the charity last year and she has brought so much joy to us all that this has inspired me to don my walking boots yet again to help support these often over-looked older hounds. I was delighted with all of the support I received last year and I aim to raise even more money this year with my Machu Pichu trek."

Rachel Grocott, CEO of Greyhound Rescue West of England, said: "Every dog deserves the chance of a new life and our New Life Appeal aims to help re-home and care for as many of these dogs in need as possible. We are so grateful to Gareth for his dedication to the charity."

To support him visit justgiving.com/Gareth-Bishop2.

Information on the Life Appeal can be found at grwe.com.

STUDENTS from the Blandford School have become the first to take part in a new project initiated by the Blandford Chamber of Commerce to brighten up the town's streets.

The 'Art in Windows' project aims to fill the windows of empty shops with artwork from school pupils, and the first premises to mount a display were the former curtain shop Mostyns in Salisbury Street.

Chamber president Traci Handford said she hoped it would encourage other local schools to come forward with examples of the work of their pupils.

Anya Hindmarch leads a business surgery session with Entrepreneur in Residence candidate Ollie Forsyth.

Anya inspires with business know-how ICONIC British fashion designer Anya Hindmarch paid a visit to Milton Abbey School to deliver a fascinating and inspirational lecture to pupils on her experiences of starting her own business.

As part of the school's Entrepreneur in Residence project officially launched last term, Anya's lecture was titled 'Skip university and start a business', and guided the audience through her journey in business from the beginning.

She talked about the inspiration behind her desire to start a handbag brand, how she travelled to Florence aged 18 to explore the world of fashion and leather, and how the brand has grown to become known throughout the world, a regular feature at London Fashion Week and favoured by fashion icons and celebrities.

She shared highlights in her business career so far, and gave tips on how hard work, determination and plenty of enthusiasm can lead to the most rewarding and fulfilling of careers.

The following day, Anya gave business surgeries to each of the Entrepreneur in Residence candidates, talking through their business plans and offering guidance on ways to further grow and promote their enterprises.

The five shortlisted groups have each been given a £100 start-up investment with which to launch and grow their businesses, and the ventures currently include an online sales platform aimed at clothing brands, an aerial photography business, Milton Abbey branded merchandise, a business importing belts from South America and a designer clothing brand.

RDA auction boost LOTS including a carriage drive, riding lesson and a day's sailing in Poole Harbour went under the hammer in an auction of promises for Milton Abbas Riding for the Disabled.

The auction at the visitor centre of the Hall and Woodhouse brewery in Blandford was one of a series of fundraising events for the group, which needs £4,000 a year to provide Friday morning riding sessions for disabled youngsters attending Beaucroft Foundation School in Wimborne.

Volunteers groom and tack up five ponies at the Pound Cottage Riding Stables in Milton Abbas for the young riders who arrive by minibus. Over the 23 years the group has existed, hundreds of parents of children with communication and mobility difficulties have described how it improves their confidence and co-ordination.

For more details call Sue Hodder on 01258 880229 or Barbara Rawlings on 01258 837280 or email suehodder@tiscali.co.uk or cliveandbarbara@hotmail.co.uk.

SCHOOLS

July 2014

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Wartime journey for Clayesmore pupils A GROUP of Clayesmore Prep pupils spent the day before the 70th anniversary of D-Day, having their own wartime experience at Nothe Fort in Weymouth.

The historic fort is well versed in providing realistic role play, hands-on evacuee activities and a healthy dose of discipline, and dressed in 1940s garb and holding their favourite teddies, the children made very convincing evacuees.

Despite being day-trippers, they could not avoid time in the classroom where a rather terrifying teacher taught them about shillings and pence and made them write a postcard to their parents.

After schoolwork they checked out the shops, but purchases were strictly rationed. Some pupils stood on the other side of

the counter and became shopkeepers using weighing scales and old-fashioned tills. They also faced some demanding domestic duties including the exhausting task of washing clothes with a dolly and finishing off with a mangle.

More wartime tasks were mastered when they learnt how to use a stirrup pump to put out a 'fire'. The flames were not real but the water was. They also took cover in an Anderson shelter, huddling together, singing wartime songs and listening to the unsettling sound effects of bombs and shells.

To round off a day of living history, the wartime explorers were given a tour of the fort's labyrinth of underground chambers, where they discovered more about Dorset at war and the landing on the Normandy beaches.

Clayesmore Prep pupils learn about World War Two at the Nothe Fort in Weymouth.

School takes initiative on energy-saving plans MILTON Abbey, the co-educational school in the grounds of Milton Abbey, has announced details of a series of energy-saving initiatives to be carried out in partnership with leading energy solutions provider EIC. The project, entitled 'Milton Abbey Mission for Energy Efficiency', was officially launched at the Friends of Milton Abbey School summer fete, which took place on 7th June as part of

the school's 60th anniversary celebrations.

EIC were present to talk to visitors about the upcoming projects which could together achieve a saving of in excess of 750 tonnes of carbon dioxide. They include the installation of dynamic lighting, the introduction of a cover for the school swimming pool, and a new energy consumption monitoring system which pupils, staff and visitors will be able to view.

A biomass feasibility exercise will be carried out to assess the site's suitability for an alternative power source.

The project will significantly reduce the school's energy consumption and provide numerous opportunities for pupil involvement in classroom-based and practical activities, and to learn more about careers options in the energy sector.

Sporting contests are set to reach their climax THE culmination of this year's Dorset School games takes place at Bryanston School on 2nd July, where over 1,000 children will be competing in 10 sporting categories.

Active Dorset runs the level 3

games which are a county level competition, and also hold a multi-sport School Games festival as a culmination of yearround school sport competition.

A spokesman said: "It is always a tremendous event and great to

Durweston help appeal DURWESTON Primary School has appealed on behalf of a member of staff whose family member has recently been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia.

The school is urging people to register with the Anthony Nolan Trust (15-30 years) or the British Bone Marrow Registry (18-49 years) when they give blood. For more information, see nhs.uk/Conditions/Bone-marrowdonation/Pages/Introduction.aspx The school was also represented in the Durweston Darts team which took part in the Race for Life at Kingston Maurward, and has thanked everyone who supported them on the day and sponsored them to the tune of ÂŁ255 through their Just Giving page at justgiving.com/durweston-darts.

www.forumfocus.co.uk

see young people so enthusiastic about their sport. Schools now have tremendous pressure to deliver academic results and it can be that sport is sometimes getting squeezed out as a priority.

"It is interesting that we see so often that where schools are committed to delivering high quality and regular sport, they also excel in the academic achievement of their students."

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July 2014

Bronze Age relic found

A civic welcome for Prama arrival CLIENT Charles Drummond, 83, of Downside Close in Blandford, was invited to cut the ribbon of the new Prama offices in Salisbury Street.

He was joined by the Lord Lieutenant of Dorset, Angus Campbell, at what was described as a significant move further north for the company, which for more than 30 years has been based in the south of the county.

Also present were guests, patrons and trustees of the charity.

Mr Campbell said of the organisation, which has a strong Christian foundation: "It is no mean feat to fill a gap that is necessary and be able to be a viable organisation.

"The care of the elderly is a huge issue right across the country when funding is stretched. But people live much longer in

Charles Drummond cuts the ribbon of the new Prama offices in Blandford watched by Lord Lieutenant of Dorset Angus Campbell.

Dorset than anywhere else in the country and have to find care.

Those who provide it, support carers, and particularly the carers, fill a huge hole."

The Blandford office, which was blessed with prayers led by Evangelical church pastor Brook Maccallum, has two staff and a team of 26 carers supporting 62

clients locally who are referred to them by social services and medical professionals.

John Simmons, Chairman of Prama, said the charity was working on its relationship with local churches, and a social development worker joining the team in September would be working with them to help.

ANOTHER metal detectorist has unearthed a valuable find, this time in a field in the Tarrant Valley. David Spohr discovered what he thought at first was an old sardine tin.

Mr Spohr, a member of the Stour Valley Search and Recovery Club from Creekmoor in Poole, dug deeper to reveal a shiny yellow and engraved object buried under 10 inches of soil. It was identified as a Bronze Age gold lunula or bracelet in the shape of a crescent moon, one of only a handful found in mainland Britain, and particularly unusual so far inland.

It is believed to have been used by a tribal leader, high priest or healer as a symbol of authority, and to be between 2,500 and 4,500 years old.

The British Museum are currently examining the find which could be valued at many thousands of pounds. A treasure trove inquest will be held and the value will be split between the finder and the landowner.

THEATRE

July 2014

21

Curtain up as Shakespeare tops the bill THE Lord Chamberlain's Men came to Bryanston School with their 10th anniversary production of Romeo and Juliet in June, and there is an opportunity to see another version of the tale of feuding families and star-crossed lovers at the White Horse in Stourpaine from 25th to 27th July.

The traditional production at Bryanston, with Elizabethan costume, music and dance in an award-winning all-male cast production, celebrated the 10th anniversary of the company, a modern incarnation of Shakespeare's own troupe of the same name founded by Mark Puddle, its creative producer.

He said: "Over the last 10 years we have travelled over 100,000 miles, touring to over 250 venues in seven different countries performing over 1,150 shows to over 300,000 audience members, so to celebrate our 10th anniversary we are enormously proud to present our most ambitious and spectacular production yet."

By contrast, the version by the Shooting Stars Theatre Company, now regular visitors to the pub in Stourpaine, whose landlord is Chris Sargent, father of one of the company Joe Sargent, will be a contemporary affair.

As usual they will be putting it in a modern setting, which they believe will be to great effect for the timeless story, in which Joe will be playing the role of Romeo.

The production follows a performance at the White Horse by Living Spit of 'One Man and his Cow', an Artsreach promotion featuring Howard and Stu in acting, singing and music a show written in rhyme and song with a multitude of agricultural clichés which went down a storm with their Stourpaine audience.

The annual visit of the Rude

Same tale, different methods: Above (left), A scene from the Lord Chamberlain's Men’s all-male production of Romeo and Juliet. Above (right): A modern-day setting for the Shooting Stars' Romeo and Juliet in rehearsal.

Above left: Hilarious comedy in The Rude Mechanicals' 'The Wife' coming to Child Okeford this month. Above right: Howard and Stu of Living Spit in two of a multitude of roles in 'One Man and his Cow' at the White Horse, Stourpaine.

Mechanicals to Child Okeford Recreation Ground is on Saturday 12th July, when they will be presenting a hilarious rendition of their take on Chaucer's 'Wife of Bath'.

'The Wife' features Alison on the pilgrimage to Canterbury and the five men who have shared her bed and the quest to find what women most desire.

First performed by The Rudes in

2003, it was included by The Times as one of their top three outdoor plays of that year. Tickets are available by calling 01323 501260 or from the Cross Stores, Child Okeford.

A Dorset Theatre Goers Club is inviting lovers of theatre to join for a series of visits to shows across the region and in London.

There is currently a waiting list for a trip to 'The Pyjama Game' in London on 16th July, but forthcoming events are visits to Bath to see 'One Man Two Guvnors’ on 20th September, and Chichester to see 'Gypsy' on 25th October.

For more information, membership and booking forms, see the website at dorsettheatregoersclub.co.uk.

Addiction charity marks 30-year milestone LOCAL charity EDP Drug & Alcohol Services, which supports people in the Blandford area with drug and alcohol addiction, this year celebrates an important milestone after 30 years of helping those with associated problems.

Previously known as the Exeter Drugs Project, EDP has helped many thousands of people, working in prisons and the community, since it was formed in 1984 by a group of drug users and their families in Exeter.

Its mission is 'to open doors for people affect-

ed by substance misuse so they can improve their lives and those of their families and communities'.

Its patron in its birthday year is actress Caroline Quentin, who said: "I like the fact that people living in Dorset know that they can go somewhere to get help specifically for them where they live. The help varies enormously, but supports them whatever problems they are having."

EDP has also launched a 'Raise £30 for our

30th' campaign, asking people to raise money for the charity through sponsorship challenges or fundraising events, and is setting up a 'Friends of EDP' group to help fundraise and raise awareness about the work that they do.

For more information see their website at edp.org.uk and to talk to someone about your drug and/or alcohol use, contact the Blandford Forum EDP service on 01258 450862.

22

SPORT

July 2014

Colin’s final honour BLANDFORD referee Colin Morris (pictured) has officiated at a national final in his last season in the role, having completed more than 600 games in the Dorset Premier League.

The game was between Thomas Telford School (Telford) and Thomas Estley Community College (Leicestershire) and was played at the Madejski Stadium, home of Reading FC. Morris was awarded the fixture for his long-standing support and commitment to the English

Schools' FA (ESFA), and the final was a fitting way to retire at a national event and at such a prestigious stadium.

His most recent highprofile event locally was the Dorset Premier League Cup final held at the Bob Lucas Stadium between Portland United and Hamworthy Recreation where he was officiating for the third time.

He will continue to be involved in football as a mentor to younger referees and assessor of assistant referees.

Former England rugby star Jason Leonard (centre), pictured with Blandford club chairman Jay Frampton (left) and treasurer Doug Thring at the Presidents' Award presentation that took place at Twickenham. Story: Page 23.

Ladies’ night at Crown

The Teddy 20 Legends and Dorset Under-17s who played a challenge match at Blandford's Park Road Recreation Ground. Story: Page 8.

AS pubs and clubs put up flags and bunting to promote showing the World Cup on their big screens, the Crown Hotel in Blandford is planning an alternative entertainment.

Their 'football widows' ladies' night is scheduled for Saturday 28th June when group winners and runners-up are due to play for a place in the quarter finals.

Topless waiters have been booked to serve the drinks, with free make-up and nail finishing sessions, cocktails and disco. More than 80 people had bought tickets by the beginning of June.

The team at the Crown have thanked all those who supported their Music for MacMillan night in April to raise £382.84 for their adopted charity, and a silent auction for circus tickets in May. In June a week of fundraising events for Macmillan Cancer Support included a car wash, a book sale, a pyjama day and coffee morning, an abseil down the Spinnaker tower by duty managers Robert Gamble and Gemma Brannigan, a quiz night, another Music for Macmillan and a cake sale.

July 2014

23

SPORT

Rugby club in the national spotlight BLANDFORD Rugby Club sent two representatives to Twickenham on 1st June for a presentation as one of the final six in the Presidents Awards category for club management.

The award recognises the effectiveness and efficiency of the club committee to manage and develop as a successful modern rugby club.

Club chairman Jay Frampton and treasurer Doug Thring received the award on behalf of the club from the RFU president Bob Reeves and ex-England star Jason Leonard.

Mr Frampton said: "It is fantastic for a relatively small club like Blandford to get nationally recognised in this way to come in the top six in the country. It proves the hard work and commitment of the committee and the club is recognised and we are moving Blandford RFC in the right direction."

The club has turned down the chance of playing in Southern Counties South in the coming season after finishing tied at the top of their league.

But they are looking forward to an exciting season in Dorset and

Wilts One South where they will face Ivel Barbarians, Bournemouth 2nds and Dorset Dockers and competitive second teams from Sherborne and Wimborne.

Mr Frampton said: "The last time we got promoted, we won the league by about 20 points, so we didn't feel this time it was the obvious choice to go up.

"We're losing a lot of players next season and it's not fair to rely on some of our older guys and those who haven't played at a higher level to step up.

"We need to close the gap between our first and second teams. Last season was rubbish for the seconds with five teams dropping out of their league, so next year is really promising for them too."

The club is also busy preparing for its return to its former Larksmead recreation ground home, and will be hosting a family rugby fun day on Blandford Recreation Ground on Sunday 6th July.

The senior side starts training the first week of July with a new coach, Jon Fatiaki, to assist Chris Curtis.

Footballers’ fun day BLANDFORD Youth Football Club is running a fun day on Saturday 5th July on the Blandford School pitches next to the leisure centre.

The afternoon will include displays from local clubs, stalls, tombola and lucky dip, football challenges, hook a duck, pick a bottle and more.

Inflatables are being supplied by Spacey Tracy entertainments and there are tables to hire for the sale of goods.

A summer football fun week will operate in the first week of the school holidays on the leisure centre fields from 21st to 25th July, with coaching from Monday to Friday 10am to 3pm, for boys and girls aged 5 to 12 years of all abilities.

www.forumfocus.co.uk

Brian White and Phil Jones from the winning team (Barry Pritchard had to leave early), with Gordon Ramsey, seniors' captain, Joe Robbins, club president, and Joe McMahon, seniors' open secretary.

Good turn-out for seniors’ tournament A TOTAL of 37 teams from Dorset and neighbouring counties took part in the Senior Open Bowmaker at Ashley Wood Golf Club.

Scoring was good and eight twos were recorded, together with a bizarre hole-in-one on the par 3 seventh hole. The problem was that the ball was struck from the sixth tee - the player has not been identified.

Prizes were presented by president Joe Robbins and seniors' captain Gordon Ramsey to firstplaced Barry Pritchard, Phil Jones and Brian White of the Salisbury & South Wilts club, to runners-up

Stuart Sibley, Dave Mancey and John McQuillan of Came Down, and to third-placed T. Hawkins, B. Turner and S. Gibson of Parkstone, who beat Bill Kent, Lionel Pryor and Charles Thornton of Broadstone on count back. Only five points separated the top eight teams.

The raffle was for Mr Ramsey's chosen charity, the Blandford Youth Trust, and raised just under £300.

Seniors' open secretary Joe McMahon thanked everyone for their generosity in supporting the competition and the charity.

24

July 2014

Fair trade shop couple opt for retirement BLANDFORD's Set Fair 4 Trade shop in Salisbury Street closed on 21st June with the retirement of its proprietors David and Jennie Rake.

Jennie said: "In 2005, when we moved to Dorset, we were already involved with selling fairly traded goods on an ad hoc basis - fairly traded is the correct term for non-food items and two months after moving here, we opened our own business and signed a nineyear lease. The name is uniquely ours and we are not part of a chain, nor is it a franchise.

"The lease was due to terminate on 30th September, but the new tenant is keen to be in the premises before the autumn. So with our landlord's agreement, we agreed to finish trading three months early."

The new tenant will take over the premises on 1st July, selling electronic cigarettes.

Jennie added: "We look forward to our retirement, although David is still busy as caretaker for the Parish Centre and I look forward to devoting more time to my hobbies and inter-

ests. My second novel, 'Forgetting Mr NiceGuy', is being published in the autumn, and I am working on a third. I will still continue to give talks about fair trade and issues surrounding world poverty to groups, schools and churches, as a supporter of Tearfund, a role I have had for many years."

With their retirement comes the end of what has been one of Blandford most individual gift and charity shops - but it is understood that there is a possibility of another charity launching a similar venture.

Forum Focus - forthcoming meetings & events JULY Wednesdays 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th July: Swann Recruitment 'Job Hunters' drop-in sessions at Sunrise Business Park 3pm to 6pm Wednesday 2nd July: Dorset School Games, Bryanston School Blandford St Mary Parish Council meeting to discuss village fun day, Bryanston Court, 7pm Thursday 3rd July: Blandford Museum talk, Heather Hinsley on the Museum Victorian Garden, 7.30pm Friday and Saturdays 4th, 5th, 11th and 12th July: Poppy Painting Days, Corn Exchange Friday 4th July: Blandford Carnival Princess (7-11 years) and Miss Blandford Carnival (1216 years) selection night at the Royal British Legion at 7.30pm (Doors open 7pm). Entry forms available on the night (£2 to enter), further details 01258 454696 Friday 4th and Saturday 5th July: World Cup quarter finals Saturday 5th July: Blandford Youth Football Fun Day, Blandford School, 12 noon to 4pm, parking at Milldown School entrance Holistic Harmony yoga workshop and lunch, Spetisbury School Hall, 10am to 4 pm £45. Limited places, book early to avoid disappointment.

Sunday 6th July: Blandford RFC Family Rugby Day, The Recreation Ground, Blandford, 12 to 3pm, Mini Taster Training Sessions, Bar & BBQ. Players and coaches of all ages and abilities welcome. 01258 451779 Open Gardens and Crafts, Okeford Fitzpaine 11am to 5pm Music and Voice from The Gravellers and Dulcima, Springhead Trust, Fontmell Magna, 7.30pm, limited seating, tickets 01747 811201 Monday 7th July:

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, and forthcoming events for the year, are available and regularly updated on our website at www.forumfocus.co.uk Charity golf day for Sepsis, Ashley Wood Golf Club, 8am to 8pm Wessex Water open evening, behind the scenes at Tarrant Crawford sewage treatment works, DT11 9HU, 4 to 7pm Tuesday 8th July: Age Concern Blandford AGM, Woodhouse Gardens Pavilion, The Close, Blandford, 2pm, followed by refreshments, all welcome Tuesday 8th and Wednesday 9th July: World Cup semi-finals Wednesday 9th July: Blandford Schools Network concert, 'A night in the West End' at The Blandford School, 6pm to-8.45pm Thursday 10th July: Stour Valley Mixed Probus Club meet 10.15 at the Crown Hotel for coffee followed by a talk by June Davey on 'Naomi House and Jack's Place', New members welcome, contact Joyce Lee on 450857 or Eric Rainbow, 454049 Friday 11th July: Friday Night is Minstrel Night, Okeford Fitzpaine Church, 7.30pm Friday 11th and Saturday 12th July: Spetisbury Occasional Dramatic Society presents 'Are You Sure There's No Body There', a comedy by Ian Hornby, Spetisbury village hall, 7.30pm, tickets 01258 857541 Saturday 12th July: Garden Party for the Cupola Project, The Old House, The Close, Blandford WWI Commemoration Vintage Tea, Anne Biddlecombe Hall, Tarrant Keyneston, 2pm Rude Mechanical Theatre Company present 'The Wife' (of Bath), Child Okeford Recreation Ground, 7.30pm, site opens for picnics 6.30pm A night of Mediumship with Shama in Pimperne Village Hall,7

to 9.30pm.

Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th July: Craft and Garden Fair, Chettle House, Chettle, 10am to 6pm Sunday 13th July: World Cup Final Tuesday 15th to Thursday 17th July: The Blandford School presents 'Les Miserables', Tivoli Theatre, Wimborne Wednesday 16th July: Dorset Theatregoers Club trip to ‘The Pyjama Game’ in London. See website www.dorsettheatregoersclub.co.uk for full information of future events, membership and booking forms Wednesday 16th to Sunday 20th July: Larmer Tree Festival, Tollard Royal Thursday 17th July: Blandford Heart Forum, Williams Opportunity Hall, Whitecliff Gardens, 7 to 9pm, speaker Penrose Halson, "Marriage Bureau Experiences". All welcome Saturday 19th July: Blandford & Sturminster Newton Cats Protection coffee morning and stalls, Woodhouse Gardens Pavilion, Blandford, 10am to 12.30pm Talk by Michael Le Bas on Blandford's role in World War II, The Grange, Milldown Road, Blandford, 2.45pm. Suitable for all ages Tarrant Hinton village fete Shroton Fair, 12 noon to 5pm Milton Abbas Art Group exhibition opens, the Reading Room, Milton Abbas Sunday 20th July: Tarrant Valley 10k run from the Langton Arms, Tarrant Monkton, 10.30am The Holistic Experience Fayre, 10am-4pm, Pimperne Village

Hall, raffle with proceeds to Teddy 20 Monday 21st July: Blandford Club for Visually Impaired meets Williams Opportunity Hall, Whitecliff Gardens, Blandford, 2 to 4pm, Allens Folk and Fun, contact Margaret Hemus on 07786 413616 Monday 21st to Friday 25th July: Blandford Football Club Summer Football Fun, 10am until 3pm. £2 per day or £8 for the week, all day coaching for 5-12 year-olds of all abilities. To book call 07877 145177 or 01258 480342 Tuesday 22nd to Sunday 26th July: Dorset Opera, Bryanston School (22, 23, 25 & 26 (mat) Aida, 24 and 26 (eve) Fidelio Wednesday 23rd July: Blandford Forum Townswomen's Guild meets Williams Opportunity Hall, Whitecliff Gardens, Blandford, 2.15pm, My Life in Insurance with Sharon John Friday to Sunday 25th, 26th and 27th July: Shooting Stars present Shakespeare's 'Romeo & Juliet', White Horse, Stourpaine, 7pm, tickets from the village shop or by phone to 01258 453535 Saturday 26th July: Cream Teas and Plant Stall, Shroton, 2 to 5pm Sunday 27th July: Blandford Opportunity Group annual sponsored Walk/Run/Jog/ Cycle Event starting at 10am in the Station Court Car Park, forms from 01258 456187 or 01258 453955 or Off Camber, Salisbury Street, Blandford.

Try Golf at The Ashley Wood Golf Club Open Day (open evening also Mondays from 6pm). All welcome Thursday 31st July: Miracle Theatre Company present Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' in conjunction with Artsreach, Springhead Trust, Fontmell Magna, 7.30pm, tickets 01747 811201