February 2015 Forum Focus by Sevensioux

FORUM FOCUS For Blandford and surrounding villages Issue No. 35

February 2015

Dorset loses a favourite son. Roy Adam obituary: Page 23

Now whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in store for supermarket shoppers? SPECULATION is mounting over the future of the two plans to increase the amount of out-oftown supermarket shopping in the Blandford area. Tesco has been making national headlines after its poor trading results, and there is now a question mark over its Stour Park extension and future plans. Asda, meanwhile, are changing their plans, although they say they are still going ahead with their planned new store in Shaftesbury Lane. Land intended for part of the Tesco extension, approved over two years ago, is now being advertised on the market for development. The supermarket chain has announced a number of store closures and redundancies in its bid to overcome financial problems arising last year, and a poor Christmas performance. Asda, whose application for a new supermarket was approved in outline 18 months ago and in detail 12 months later, say they are still intending to build in Blandford. But the company as a whole is reviewing its trading operations. Doug Wilson, head of UK property communications, said: "We have continued to work on the project to reflect changes in the way customers use our stores.

"This ongoing work allows us to adapt to new customer shopping habits and deliver a flexible model that can change to the way customers use our stores and access the Asda brand, which can mean more online and mobile access. "We are currently finalising the detail of this work. As soon as we are in a position to provide a further update, we will be in touch." He said that it meant Asda did still intend coming to Blandford and that it would involve a revised planning application, and he agreed that the need to reflect changing customer habits applied to all their stores. Meanwhile, Morrisons have confirmed that their Blandford town centre outlet was not on the list of store closures announced in January in the wake of gloomy trading figures. And a spokesperson for Iceland said that they currently have no plans to close their Blandford store. An application, submitted in November on behalf of the owners of their premises in Salisbury Street, which duplicated an approval given in 2011 to subdivide the former Woolworths store as two retail units, has now been withdrawn. Argos opened their Click & Collect store at Homebase on 17th January.

And what of the windfall cash? THE applications for development at Stour Park (Tesco) and Shaftesbury Lane (Asda) promised hundreds of thousands of pounds in developer contributions designed to mitigate the impact of the outof-town stores on the town centre. It included money for town centre improvements, bus services and a town centre manager, whose role could be integral to the area's developing neighbourhood plan. To Page 2

FORUM FOCUS: Your FREE monthly community newspaper

Left: Tesco extension land is on the market.

www.forumfocus.co.uk

February 2015

FORUM FOCUS CONTRIBUTING

CONTACTS

Forum Focus welcomes the submission of articles and reports from clubs and societies but asks that they are kept to a maximum of 200 words. If you have pictures you would like to share with us, our readers and our website visitors, please send them, with brief descriptions, by email to editor@forumfocus.co.uk. Low resolution pictures cannot be printed in the paper.

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

THE main drop points are: Blandford and Blandford St Mary: The Post Office, Library and Parish Centre in The Tabernacle, the Corn Exchange, Gorge Cafe and Blandford Museum in the Market Place, the Tourist Information Centre in West Street, James Newsagents in The Plocks, the Co-ops in Salisbury Road and Langton Road, the 3Cs in Damory Street, the Damory Garage and One Stop in Salisbury Road, Cherry's hairdressers in Elizabeth Road, Blandford Leisure Centre in Milldown Road, the Central Shop in Heddington Drive, the Brewery Visitor Centre, and Tesco and Homebase at Stour Park. In the villages: Charlton Marshall Church Rooms and Charlton pub, Woodpecker pub at Spetisbury, True Lovers Knot and St Richard Close bus stop in Tarrant Keyneston, Langton Arms in Tarrant Monkton, Pimperne shop, the White Horse Inn at Stourpaine, Iwerne Minster post office, Shillingstone Garage, Londis Shop & Royal Oak at Milborne St Andrew, The Crown at Winterborne Stickland, Post Office and Surgery, Milton Abbas, and The Cricketers at Shroton. We know that many of you pick up quantities of Forum Focus to take to friends, neighbours or other venues from our drop points and are delighted that that is the case. But to avoid duplication with our volunteer deliverers, please let us know by email to distribution@forumfocus.co.uk or calling 01258 456999. If there is no delivery in your street or venue, please consider helping us by joining the team.

View future deadlines on our website.

OUR ADVERTISERS Please support our advertisers who have given Forum Focus their support.

ON THE WEBSITE www.forumfocus.co.uk

Forum Focus is an independent, not-forprofit, community publication produced entirely by volunteers. We are always pleased to receive offers of help.

Where to find Forum Focus

DEADLINES Adverts: Monday 9th February Editorial: Tuesday 10th February Deliveries from Monday 23rd February

Diary events are updated regularly on our website so it is always worth logging on to stay up to date with what’s happening in the area. The website also carries additional pictures of local events and background information on stories.

Blandford’s new Rector appointed AFTER a long interregnum at Blandford Forum Parish Church, the appointment has been announced of a successor to the Rev Tim Storey, who left the town last March to become Team Rector of the Central Telford Parish in the Lichfield Diocese. The Rev Jonathan Triffitt, currently Vicar of Southbroom St James, Devizes, and Rural Dean of Devizes, will take up the role of Rector of Blandford and Langton Long in July. Congregations in both churches have been told that his licensing service will be in the evening of 8th July. Churchwarden Sara Loch said: "Jonathan impressed the selection panel with his energy, enthusiasm and passion for the Gospel of Jesus. The parish representatives were unanimous in recommending his appointment to the Bishop, which has now been confirmed." Mr Triffitt, who is married to Joanne with teenage children William and Molly, has written to the congregation saying: "As a family we are humbled by the invitation from the Bishop as patron and the parish representatives to come and lead the worshipping community of Blandford Forum and Langton Long. "We have already been touched by the warmth of welcome that we've received from those we've already met and very much look forward to meeting you all in the coming months. "The task ahead is a big one for us all and I am hopeful and expectant of seeing God move in a new way as we learn to pray together, worship together, serve together and grow together to the glory of His name."

Forum Focus is an independent, not-for-profit, community newspaper produced entirely by volunteers. We are always pleased to receive offers of help.

What about the supermarket windfall cash? From Page 1 The group preparing the plan for Blandford, Blandford St Mary and Bryanston - collectively Blandford+ - is preparing a questionnaire which will give residents the opportunity to help shape future development and land use in the area. A grant of £5,500 from the Community Development Fund will go towards consultation, promotion, consultancy and administration. A team of consultants has been appointed to support the process. The three parishes are being asked to agree to a 'memorandum of understanding' on how future developer contributions should be shared between them, the bulk of the funding going to Blandford. The £20,000 consultancy costs will be shared between them in the same proportions. Meanwhile a public meeting is to be held in Blandford St Mary on Wednesday 4th February to discuss not only the forthcoming plan, but also how a windfall £300,000 offered to the parish from the recently approved solar farm development should be spent. The Blandford+ questionnaire will either be delivered through the letterbox or available online. In a statement, the neighbourhood plan team asked all those who cared about their environment to help by giving their views. For more information call the chairman, Sara Loch, on 01258 450278.

February 2015

Safety breach care home is back on the right lines BLANDFORD's newest care home, which was fined ÂŁ13,000 last year for breaching fire safety regulations and putting residents at risk shortly after it opened three years ago, has achieved an almost clean bill of health following repeated concerns from the Care Quality Commission. Firefighters carrying out an unannounced visit to Blandford Grange Care Centre in July 2011 reported a number of serious safety breaches, including blocked fire exits, inadequate risk assessments and the presence of straw bales around a generator. Lifestyle Care was ordered to pay ÂŁ9,447 in costs in addition to the fine for breaches of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Lifestyle Care director David Penney said the inspection was not long after the home opened and remedial action had been taken. The company generally had a good fire safety record. A CQC report in March last year continued to raise concerns, but the Commission's inspectors, who visited the home in August, found only minor fault with the home's safety and leadership and have given it a rating of good for being effective, caring and responsive. Their report, published in December said the unannounced inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regula-

tions associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and to pilot a new inspection process looking at the overall quality of the service. They said it was the first inspection of the home since its registration with a new provider organisation, and the previous registered manager had left in April. The interim manager was in the process of becoming the registered manager. The conclusion was that the nursing home, registered for up to 63 people and which at the time of the inspection had 39 residents, some with dementia, was generally good, with need for improvement because of omissions in leadership and safety. An incident of alleged abuse, and one of safeguarding, had not been reported to the Commission or local authority, although it had been recorded and reported to safeguarding, and some decisions on care had been taken by staff alone without consulting those who knew a resident and their preferences well. While the home was mostly clean, there were examples to the contrary in some communal areas. The manager told them there had been staff recruitment difficulties, but levels were maintained to reflect people's needs by using agency and senior staff when necessary.

Agincare relocated A LIVE-IN care service which operated out of Blandford and was given a shocking rating by the Care Quality Commission last July has relocated to Portland where it is now awaiting a new inspection by the health watchdog. Agincare had second-floor offices in Salisbury Street, Blandford, when its service was described as inadequate overall, with similar judgements for safety, effectiveness and management, and in need of improvement to be caring and responsive. The report, published in December, called for a number of actions to ensure that people were protected from inappropriate or unsafe care, the management of medicines, determining mental capacity and that staff were

properly supported and allegations of abuse properly reported. The Commission, which had last inspected the service in October 2013 and found them to be compliant with the regulations inspected, also took enforcement action in relation to recognising and preventing abuse, monitoring service quality and managing risk. The provider was given until the end of September to make necessary changes. The inspection was made and the report written during the testing phase of the CQCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new approach to regulating adult social care service. The Commission stated that the ratings awarded in October 2014 were comparable with other services rated since then.

Blandford Grange.

Lifestyle Care regional operations director Wendy Walsh said the earlier critical CQC inspection had been superseded by the full inspection under the Commission's new regime. "It is worth noting that the home has a new manager who supports a strong team of professional carers, nurses and support staff who care passionately about the residents at Blandford Grange Care Centre. "It is also worth noting that sometimes when the Commission say

'needs improvement' it can relate to paperwork which does not directly correlate to the care and attention that someone is receiving. "The fine related to issues which have only recently come to fruition. The home is now fully compliant with all regulations. Lifestyle Care takes the safety of its staff and residents very seriously and we complete our own safety checks on a monthly basis and pay for an annual independent fire inspection of the premises."

February 2015

Local women honoured in New Year list TWO local women have been made Members of the Order of the British Empire for their work on behalf of children and families. The appointments, announced in the New Year Honours List, were for Jennifer Anne Kretz of Blandford and Margaret Hannibal of Milborne St Andrew. Mrs Kretz earns the distinction for services to Home-Start, which she was instrumental in setting up first in Lancashire where she worked as a

health visitor and then in Dorset when she retired from 12 years' service on the Independent Monitoring Board at HMP Guys Marsh. The service provides one-to-one support to families facing difficult times. Voluntary work with the local Women's Refuge made her aware that there is as much deprivation, hardship and need within rural communities as there is within city and urban environments.

Mrs Hannibal founded Mosaic, the charity for bereaved children in Dorset, seven years ago after identifying the need when she worked in a hospice in Poole. She recognised the help needed by those affected not only by terminal illness but also by accidents, crime and other causes of death. The charity provides individual support for toddlers to teenagers, together with residential weekends and parents' groups.

Rugby club camera threat to antisocial dog owners BLANDFORD Rugby Club are warning that they may have to increase patrols and fixed penalties and install CCTV at their Larksmead ground to deal with dog fouling within the playing area of their pitches. It is an issue which has long been a problem on the recreation ground, a popular dog walking spot which also includes a children's play area and adult exer-

cise equipment provided by Blandford Town Council. Kerrie Kempster said: "We are having some problems at Larksmead with dog mess inside the fenced area. Obviously, this causes all sorts of problems. It can be very dangerous and can cause blindness in humans. "It is the nature of the game of rugby that children and adults alike are bound to spend time on

the grass as they go to ground or fall over. "Our coaches are having to check and remove dog mess from pitches before any play can commence. "I'm sure everyone will agree this is very unfair, dangerous and disgusting. It is also a great danger, and not very nice for those using the community football pitch." She said there was plenty of space for dogs and their owners to walk all the way around Larksmead outside the area fenced off for the pitches. "There is a clear sign that dogs are not allowed inside the green fences, yet some folk are obviously ignoring this. "We are asking people not to let their dogs go inside the fences and to keep an eye out for others who may be doing so and please report any sightings to the rugby club or the local council. "If the problem persists we shall have to look at increasing patrols, putting fixed penalty notices in place and installing CCTV to identify the culprits."

Man held after drugs warrant A MISUSE of Drugs Act warrant was executed on 18th December at an address in Blandford St. Mary which resulted in a man being dealt with for possession of a controlled substance. Police said it was a positive outcome, fed directly from information provided by the public and the flow of community intelligence. Residents were urged to continue reporting any such drug-related activity to Dorset Police on 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

NEWS in brief Radio cash appeal boost A £300 donation to the Blandford Parish Church Cupola Project from the BBC Radio Solent Community Chest followed an interview given on the programme by churchwarden and project leader Sara Loch. The funds will go towards the next target in the project, repairs to the church clock. £5,000 was raised within weeks to repair, restore and regild the weathervane, and the Faculty application for the Phase 2 works has been approved by the diocesan advisory committee and gone to the diocese. A planning application for improvements to the West entrance has been approved by North Dorset District Council.

MP welcomes £1.7m help NORTH Dorset MP Bob Walter has welcomed the announcement of over £1.7 million funding to North Dorset District Council as a result of new homes built and made available in the district. The New Homes Bonus rewards local authorities that promote and welcome growth, and councils can spend it as they choose on front-line services and keeping council tax down.

Twitter @forumfocus

February 2015

Healthwatch audit help needed HEALTHWATCH Dorset is seeking volunteers to take part in the annual PLACE audit of hospital settings. Last year a team of 11, during February to May, undertook audits in 15 NHS settings in Poole, Bournemouth, Alderney, Christchurch, Wimborne, St Leonard's, Weymouth, Sherborne, Dorchester and Portland. The hospital undertakes all the training and covers reasonable travelling expenses and Healthwatch team members can access additional support before, during and after the assessment has been undertaken. For more information on this year's audits or to take part, contact Healthwatch volunteer officer Chris Wakefield on 0300 111 0102 or visit healthwatchdorset.co.uk and england.nhs.uk/ourwork/qual -clin-lead/place/

The Blandford Grow It Yourself group. Picture: Mary Armitage

Grow your own group booming EVERYONE interested in growing their own food, on any scale, is welcome at the Grow It Yourself Blandford group which meets at the Woodhouse Gardens Pavilion in The

Tabernacle on the first Wednesday of the month from 7.30 to 9pm Sometimes there is a specialist guest speaker, and often a member of the group leads a talk on a seasonal aspect of growing. Although the focus is on fruit and veg, as the most accessible form of growing your own, any aspect of growing or making your own food can be covered, from rearing livestock to keeping bees to brewing beer. At each meeting, members bring along home-made snacks, often using the produce from their plots, to share over tea and chat after the talk in a friendly, sup-

portive and non-competitive environment with the aim of improving skills at producing food in a light-hearted and fun way. The Grow It Yourself organisation started in Ireland and has spread internationally with groups as far away as Perth, Australia. It is now growing in the UK as well and has started in Dorset, the home of good food. Anyone interested in joining in can just come along to a meeting, whether they have never grown so much as a salad leaf before or they are a fully fledged farmer. Find more information at giyinternational.org/giy_groups/gr oup/9701/

Pub plan welcomed PLANS for improvements to the Kings Arms pub in Whitecliff Mill Street have been welcomed by town councillors. At their planning committee meeting in January, they considered the Star Pubs scheme to provide improved kitchen and disabled facilities as part of the project. There was some concern that any upgrade of the rear yard, and development of kitchen facilities in the part of the building nearest to Ryan Court, might lead to further complaints from residents about noise and smell. Star Pubs are also the owners of Nelsons in Salisbury Street, which closed last August after the departure of the latest in a succession of managers over previous months. The company then said that they had leased it to an independent business which had taken the decision to close the pub and they were working with them to try and get it reopened as quickly as possible. Councillor Mike Owen said: "None of us think that Nelsons is going to be restocked, and a lot of the work at the Kings Arms is to improve the kitchens." It was agreed to raise no objection and members noted that improved catering facilities, improved en suite guest rooms, and the general upgrade planned for the listed building would be a benefit to the town.

February 2015

School bus cut angers mother as ‘safe route’ is prone to floods A STOURPAINE mother-of-two is campaigning against the decision of Dorset County Council to withdraw a school bus service to Durweston Primary School and tell parents they can walk or drive them there instead. Julie Wigg's sons Max, aged seven, and Rudy, aged five, are pupils at the school where traffic congestion has been a major source of conflict in recent months. Parents bringing their children by car are advised on a weekly basis when they can and cannot park in the neighbouring village hall car park because of hall bookings, and the narrow roads are otherwise filled with vehicles during the school run. More importantly, says Mrs Wigg, the supposedly "safe route to school" identified for use by the children from Stourpaine includes crossing the busy A350 and walking a track to Durweston which is regularly flooded. Once there they need to cross the busy A357 and then use village roads where there is no pavement until a few yards from the school. "Both main roads will need to be assessed for a school crossing patrol," she said, "and the footpath floods on average two or three times a year. The photo was taken in February 2013 when the river had been flooded since before Christmas so the area was inaccessible for around two months.” It flooded again in mid-January this year. "When the children first started school and before I was working full-time, I used to walk into school with them but found there were times I couldn't get through - the problem is you don't know it's flooded until you get there. "Now I will have no choice but to drive as it is the only way I can get to work on time." She said the school bus was full, with an average of 16 children using it. "Those who can drive probably will, which means an increase of about eight to ten cars making the congestion in Durweston even worse. "Surely one bus is better than eight to ten cars? And some parents cannot drive. If the area is flooded how do they get their children to school?" Mrs Wigg is particularly annoyed that the County Council only let parents know just before Christmas that the bus was being withdrawn, and gave them only until

The ‘safe route’ to school in Durweston which is regularly under water.

the middle of February to appeal. "We lost two weeks and I have been advised that the January appeals are full so it won't be heard until February. I have asked if they will continue the bus until the appeals have been heard but they haven't responded." She appreciated that since Stourpaine children lived within the catchment area for the school, they had been very fortunate to have a school bus. "The council say that since the path has been upgraded, a walked route assessment has been carried out and it is now deemed to be safe. I can only assume the assessors walked this route in the summer." Matthew Piles, head of economy at the County Council, said: "We have invested in a shorter, safe walking route which has resulted in a reassessment of school transport entitlement. This means students on this route are no longer eligible for free school transport. "The change was appealed by one of the parents and the appeals committee considered the potential flooding issue, but deemed the route to be available and so the distance criteria for school transport still applied. "The bus will be withdrawn in February. However, if flooding is an issue we will look into resolving this as part of our continuing highway maintenance."

February 2015

Three-car crash

Lions help for Christina

BLANDFORD bypass was closed for over three hours on Thursday 8th January between the Sunrise roundabout and the junction with Durweston Bridge after a head-on crash at the Milldown Road junction just before 10am. Three people were taken to hospital, and a fourth casualty was treated at the scene. The driver of a Vauxhall Astra had to be cut free by firefighters who removed the roof of her vehicle to release her before she could be taken to Poole General Hospital by ambulance. The other two vehicles involved were a Volkswagen Golf and Toyota Auris. Two other casualties were taken to Dorset County Hospital. All three were believed to have serious injuries. The road was re-opened around 1pm.

Nigel Hodder with Christina following purchase of the scooter.

BLANDFORD & District Lions donated ÂŁ250 on a matched funding basis to Milton Abbas Health & Disability Fund for the purchase of a mobility scooter for Christina Whale, a resident of Milton Abbas. The fund normally gives cash grants at Christmas to those in most need but Christina agreed that if the money could be used to buy a scooter then it would generate far greater long-term benefit. She had an operation to remove a troublesome back disc in 1999 but the operation caused more problems than it managed to repair with the discs above and below slowly deteriorating. Since then, visits to hospital for surgery have culminated in a successful operation that has fixed the spine and provides a bit more mobility. The scooter enhances that mobility by giving her more independence around the village and beyond. Anyone interested in supporting Blandford & District Lions should contact Nigel Hodder on 01258 881709 or email nigel2749@tiscali.co.uk.

Call for county wards split FOLLOWING on the Boundary Commission for England's insistence that two of Blandford's district council wards should be merged into one, the commission has now suggested that the Blandford county council division should be split.

County Councillor Barrie Cooper told town councillors he had objected to the proposal that part of the town be included in the same ward as Winterborne Stickland. Town councillors agreed last year not to respond to a consultation on the subject since their earlier responses in relation to the district ward boundaries had been ignored. The town council had opposed the merging of the two wards, and also argued that Blandford St Mary should become part of a town ward, a suggestion rejected by the commission. The district ward changes will come into effect at the May elections when the Damory Down and Station wards will become Blandford Central represented by two councillors instead of one councillor each. The Boundary Commission said they wanted to better reflect community identity and result in more effective, convenient local government, in addition to equalising the number of electors served by each councillor.

February 2015

Housing group come under fire at council SPECTRUM Housing say that, following a legal challenge to their service charges and criticism of the way they were imposed at Churchill Court, Winterborne Stickland, a schemeby-scheme review of charges revealed a number of cases where they were incorrect. They have now been rectified. But their chief executive Richard Hill and director of operations Rob Webber faced strong criticism at a meeting of North Dorset District Council's scrutiny committee at the way the complaints of residents had been handled. They also faced criticism of advice given to a tenant in Blandford that guttering could not be cleaned and another occasion when work had been left incomplete. Councillor Jane Somper described as "contentious" a meeting about service charges between tenants and association representatives at Chescombe Court in Winterborne Whitechurch. She said a complex situation had not been handled well. Mr Hill said they were getting the message across to teams that they needed to deal with residents sensitively on an issue which was highly localised and related to some of the older schemes in North Dorset. He admitted it was an area where they could do better and said Spectrum were introducing further customer care training for staff. Mr Webber said they were working on improving energy efficiency to minimise energy costs. He also said the advice given to a tenant that their gutter could not be cleaned because it required

permission from a neighbouring owner-occupier was "plainly nonsense". In answer to a query as to who was responsible for making good plastering and decoration following internal work such as boiler replacement, they said that under the normal terms of their tenancy agreements, internal decoration was the tenant's responsibility. If major internal works such as kitchen and bathroom refurbishment was undertaken, the tenant would be offered decoration vouchers after they had completed the work. In the event of major plastering or making good works, redecoration was undertaken by their contractors. Councillors were given an explanation of how service charges were calculated and apportioned in sometimes difficult circumstances which could include domestic as well as communal charges, explaining that heating costs were estimated and then adjusted according to actual figures. In the last two years the cost of utilities had risen significantly, and they acknowledged that for some residents this had meant a large increase to charges which did not attract benefit payments. Meetings were held at all schemes to explain the changes and the rationale they had to apply, and in recognition of the hardships residents faced, the increases were reduced by not carrying forward deficits from previous years at a cost of £100,000 to the housing association. They said the average annual increase in the past five years had been stable at £8.54 in 2010

Obesity roadshow THE National Obesity Awareness Week Cambridge Consultant of the Year Roadshow visited Tesco in Blandford on 12th January on the southern leg of a tour which finished in Cardiff six days later. Money was raised at each stop for local hospitals and at Blandford was collected for the Dorset County Hospital. Ro Hughes, who has opened a Cambridge weight loss centre in Tabernacle Walk, Blandford, said: "Everyone was incredibly generous on a soggy, windswept afternoon. Money was donated, tickets were bought for a draw which took place at the end of the roadshow, and several people donated to use the medical grade body composition analyser." The scanner model is used by the Cambridge South West team to monitor healthy weight loss and muscle toning.

and £7.89 in 2014, and the biggest increase and decrease between 2013 and 2014 had been from £1.43 to £7.14 per week in East Street, and from £1.77 to 79p per week in Castleman Smith Close. He added the charges this year covered a period when a large number of sewage plants in the rural areas had needed replacement due to the volume of water last winter, but the cost of that had been taken in-house. "We have struggled to explain a complicated process in clear enough language, and dealing with costs which other people impose on us." Councillor Victor Fox said: "The main grumble was the size of the change in charges and the lack of information about it." Councillor Milsted said: "A lot of angst and confusion is down to the unfortunate manner of some of your representatives in their dealings with tenants."

Red faces after error A MISPRINT in a neighbourhood alert from Dorset Police caused some amusement when people were warned to watch out for 'rouge' traders. But the fact remains that it is a time of year when callers knock on residents doors looking for work. The advice is to be on the alert for yourself and neighbours, and always ask to see an ID badge for the company the caller works for. If they cannot provide it, refuse access to the property. Anyone in any doubt about whether the caller is genuine or a rogue trader should call the police on 101 or contact Trading Standards.

Tools stolen POWER tools were stolen during a theft from a motor vehicle in the Blandford Langton area between Monday 12th January and Tuesday 13th January.

Letters to the Editor

LETTERS 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

February 2015 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.

Can you identify this man? CAN anyone help in identifying the figure in this photograph (right) of a farmer or gamekeeper taken on the 10th February 1917 in the Tarrant river valley (the river is visible in the background) either in Tarrant Monkton or Tarrant Launceston. The man is dressed in the manner of a wealthy farmer or a gamekeeper of that period. He is so well dressed, down to the starched white collar, that I first thought he had to be a well-off farmer, but his shotgun is a hammer 12-bore, which is why, on a balance of probabilities, he is more likely to be a gamekeeper. Hammer shotguns, although rather dated by 1917, were still very common and a lot cheaper than hammerless shotguns, so probably most gamekeepers would have been armed with

such a weapon - whereas the wealthy farmer would have been armed with a hammerless sidelock made by Holland and Holland, Boss, Purdey or Wesley Richards. My brother is a gamekeeper, so I am fairly familiar with country ways. I sent a copy of this photograph to the parish clerk in the hopes that someone in the villages would be able to identify this man. If they could, I could add one more photograph to the stillsmall list of local characters of whom we have photographs and names to use with my articles on Blandford during WWI taken from the columns of the Dorset County Chronicle. Tony Harrocks 1 Mortain Close, Blandford (01258 480062)

Do you know this man? He was probably a gamekeeper a century ago.

Criticism of tree was most unfair I MOVED to Blandford in November last year and I must say I have found the people to be friendly, helpful and polite, but I am appalled at the rude comments that some gave the Christmas tree people. I praised Blandford because I thought what they did for Christmas was fantastic and a credit to the town. I am disgusted that local people can be so ungrateful and cruel to people who are trying to do good, just because it caused a little bit of a disruption to them. Have they never caused that in their lives? Just think on it. These same people would be up in arms if next year you decided not to put a tree up. They would call you then uncaring - so just think on, all you moaners. I watched the tree going up and commended them for efficiency. Sorry if I upset people but I think they are showing a bad example to newcomers. Fionna Henderson

Burglary victimâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lament I WOULD like to thank the police for the help and support they gave me when I was burgled by Samuel Cooper in September. He was also a help as he left a high-vis jacket and an empty Coke tin he had pinched and left on the hall table covered in his fingerprints. I am glad he is in prison but it doesn't bring back my two very valuable family rings. Only two little upper windows were open - one in the garage (for my bulbs) and one in the bedroom, but he managed to get a ladder out and up. Ugh! Flic Clayton

Was there a bypass pledge? I VAGUELY remember that when planning permission was agreed to build the new houses and school at Blandford St.Mary, part of the agreement was that no houses would ever be built to the south of the bypass. Does anyone else recall this? I now read that this is a possible site for development since the Crown Meadow site has been ditched. I'm sure I cannot be the only person who remembers these empty promises. H. Rawles, Blandford St. Mary

February 2015

Corn Exchange restoration to start soon WORK is planned to start soon on the facade of Blandford Corn Exchange to restore and protect its historic features. Architects' fees of up to ÂŁ1,100 were approved by town councillors in December for drawing up the plans for the refurbishment, which will need English Heritage approval and listed building consent. The Corn Exchange Challenge Group is hoping to raise funds and use it as an opportunity to raise the profile of the project. It is hoped that scaffolding will go up in the spring, and plans are also being prepared for some smaller repairs, including cleaning the clock face, repairing the lanterns, and repairing

and re-hanging the gates. The council has also approved the ÂŁ1,067 cost of remaking of plaques which used to be in place on The Old Bath House in nearby Church Walk. A few years ago the town council paid for electronic scanning of the stonework, which failed to identify the wording after researchers discovered a picture which showed the original wording. The work will also incur further cost for installation and amendment to the information boards displayed inside the building.

Home refusal upheld A DECISION by North Dorset District Council to reject plans for a single-storey dwelling at the end of Red Lion Yard off Blandford Market Place has been upheld on appeal by a planning inspector. The application by Mr D. Green was refused by the local authority in March 2013, and his appeal inspector concluded that it should be refused on grounds of flood risk and impact on the character of the conservation area which rendered it unsustainable. While he accepted it would have little impact on the listed buildings around it, he had no doubt that the distinctive long-established linear pattern of buildings and open spaces makes a very positive contribution to the area. Erecting a new dwelling in this location would cause significant damage to both the historic character and the appearance of a part of the town where long, narrow burgage plots on gently sloping land down towards the River Stour, retained a distinct, very charming and delightful character.

February 2015

Local Plan has been sent to Minister NORTH Dorset District Council's new Local Plan, including proposals for development in the Blandford area in the next decade and beyond, has now been submitted to the Secretary of State. David Hogger has been appointed as inspector to conduct the examination, and is likely to hold a formal hearing, details of which will be made available on the council's website at dorsetforyou.com/northdorsetsubmittedlocalplan.

The council has appointed a programme officer, Elizabeth Andrews, who can be contacted to provide details of the timing and programme for the examination, including any hearing. She can be contacted by email to EAndrews@north-dorset.gov.uk, by post at North Dorset District Council, Nordon, Salisbury Road, Blandford Forum DT11 7LL or by phone on 01258 484051.

Artsreach still on the up after its silver milestone JACKIE Winter, from Winterborne Zelston, has written a book about the 40 years she has been riding a tandem with her husband. Jackie, who has pedalled more than 100,000 miles on the back of the tandem, recounts many favourite cycle rides around the Dorset countryside and imparts intriguing snippets of local history. For example, do you know which village was once described as the ugliest in Dorset? She also shares traveller's tales gleaned from a lifetime of cycle touring holidays in the UK, including the Yorkshire Dales, Scottish borders and the Lake District. 'Life In Tandem: tales of cycling travels' is available from Amazon in Kindle and paperback, as well as directly from Jackie on 01929 459207 or by email to thorntandem@btinternet.com.

ARTSREACH, the company bringing live, professional entertainment to rural venues across Dorset, this year celebrates its 25th anniversary. The first Artsreach programme was launched in March 1990 with just nine venues, mostly based in West Dorset. Since then three other districts of Dorset (North, East and Purbeck) have joined the scheme. Artsreach now counts some 60 rural venues - mainly village halls, but some school halls, churches and community venues - on its circuit, each run by a network of voluntary promoters. Venues host a variety of professional arts events, both as a social event and to provide an opportunity for communities to see high-quality arts on their doorstep, rather than having to travel to distant urban venues. Ticket prices are kept affordable, with concessionary rates focused

on family groups, and the community venues also raise valuable funds for local causes. The Artsreach spring programme features a host of exciting events, including flute and harp duo Amalthea presenting compositions from different continents and cultures at Milborne St Andrew. There's plenty for families to see too, with three performances over the February half-term break of Angel Heart Theatre's zany and hilarious, yet tender and touching show Cirkus Spectakular at Hazelbury Bryan, Sturminster Marshall and Durweston. Serious Kitchen's 'The Whispering Road' leaps between song, music and the spoken word, brought to life with the accompaniment of traditional Scandinavian music at Winterborne Stickland in February and Child Okeford in March. Kate Lissauer, John Whelan, and Jason Titley provide live musical

accompaniment to three of the earliest short films to have emerged from the infancy of Hollywood by the pioneering director Frank Borzage in 'Sonic Silents' at Ibberton. For details of performances in the Blandford area, see the Forum Focus back page. Full details including individual box office numbers are on artsreach.co.uk and copies of the programme can be picked up at libraries, arts centres and tourist information centres across Dorset, with news updates on Facebook and Twitter.

WELCOME back to the porthole window peepshow in the alleyway between Orchard Street and Dorset Street which has for so many years delighted school children and adults with its ever-changing scenes reflecting the passing seasons and other events. The window was smashed by a thoughtless individual who vented his anger on the innocent display, but it has now been restored. The teddy bears are glad to be back - and we at Forum Focus are very glad to see them.

February 2015

Spectrum handout funds mobility scooter upgrade A DONATION of £2,000 from Spectrum Housing Group has enabled the purchase of new scooters for Disability Action Group, which will help disabled people in North Dorset stay mobile. The donation was made by Spectrum's South Wessex Community Forum after Disability Action Group, a registered charity that loans mobility scooters and other equipment to disabled people, applied for a grant to upgrade their fleet. Nicci Brown, treasurer of the charity, said: "The grant has enabled us to replace some of the very old scooters that, over the years, had become unserviceable. Many of our members and hirers are Spectrum residents so the support of the housing group is much appreciated. "We received a donation from Spectrum more than five years ago and this new funding has given us yet another lease of life." Bev Tarrant, chair of Spectrum Housing's South Wessex Forum, said: "Spectrum's Community Forum grant is all about making a positive difference in the neighbourhoods in which we operate. Sometimes a grant will allow an organisation to let people know what they do and in other cases it

pays for essential equipment. For Disability Action Group, it will help keep the people they support active and improve their quality of life." In addition to helping Disability Action Group, Spectrum's South Wessex Community Forum has also approved grants for Age Concern Blandford, Sturminster Newton Orchestra and Cruse Bereavement. Bev added: "We've awarded over £10,000 to various charities and community groups in Dorset in the last 12 months, and there's still over £12,000 available to help other good causes that need financial support. If you belong to a charity or local group, please contact Spectrum for more information on how we can help." Not-for-profit organisations, charities, schools, social enterprises and community projects can apply for a grant from Spectrum Housing Group but must be located, or operate, in the areas where Spectrum has homes and residents. Any grants must benefit those communities, at least in part, and the maximum donation is £3,000 per project. Organisations should call 0800 783 7837 or email contact@spectrumhousing.co.uk for full details on how to apply.

Academy up and running AFTER a month of lessons, The Performing Arts Theatre Academy is now officially up and running. Children are learning songs and performing extracts from top West End shows, as well as playing games, learning important skills and building confidence through fun. After the success of the first theatre workshop, there will be another half-term theatre workshop from 16th to 18th February at the Blandford School. This time it will be a medley of musicals based around the theme of believing in yourselves and reaching for your dreams. The team are so impressed with the children so far and couldn't be happier at the start of this amazing journey with the children of Blandford and surround-

ing area. Each class can hold 15 students and there are still places available.

Charity banks on John AMBULANCE transport workers from Blandford were among those involved in a 'Smiles and Stripes' fundraiser in memory of John Hayes, a former colleague of medical transport staff, who died following an accident. Mr Hayes was a keen supporter of the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, which took him to hospital at the time of his accident, and the fundraiser held at Wimborne FC in November was organised to support it. Ambulance crews and staff of E Zec medical transport Dorset, with the support of South Western Ambulance Service Trust, enjoyed music, a raffle and auction which raised £1,624. They thanked all those who donated prizes and supported the evening. Pictured (from left) with the presentation cheque and colleagues are Leanne Colverson and Sue Scott.

A brilliant year for adult literacy group READ Easy awards certificates were presented to high achievers at a meeting of the Blandford-based adult literacy group, held in the showroom of Milton Antiques in Bere's Yard. Chair Ann Fookes reviewed the year's progress and presented the certificates for achievement to Kellie, David and John. She highlighted the group's highly successful launch, the recruitment and training of 14 reading coaches, the sourcing of five safe, quiet venues for coaching sessions, and working with six people who had all made great progress. The group has also built links in the Blandford Read Easy achievers John and David at the business and public awards presentation. sector communities. Mrs Fookes said: "We have achieved all we had hoped for this year. I am delighted to have the support of an excellent committee, dedicated, talented coaches and new readers committed to literacy. This meeting is a great opportunity to celebrate a highly successful launch year." Read Easy has plenty of capacity to help others struggling with their reading. If you would like a confidential chat about how they do it or if you know someone who needs a helping hand, call acting co-ordinator John Paterson on 01300 341964. Read Easy people are all volunteers and their service is entirely free of charge.

February 2015

Films on social calendar FILM nights in the Corn Exchange continue this year, starting with a screening on 23rd January of The Hundred-Foot Journey. It will be followed on Friday 13th February by David Tennant and Billy Connolly in What We Did on Our Holiday and on Friday 13th March by Benedict Cumberbatch in The Imitation Game. The Town Council has been working with Moviola since September 2014 to provide the shows, which last autumn were sponsored by Chaffers, Horrocks & Webb, Conyers and MVS Blandford. Sponsorship is again being sought for the current series to help cover the costs and support the Corn Exchange Regeneration project, which in addition to raising funds for the refurbishment of the building is seeking to increase the range of events and the profile of the venue.

Tree surgeon set for payout after High Court verdict BLANDFORD tree surgeon Chris Baxter, who was seriously injured when a cherry picker toppled over in November 2010, is in line for massive damages after a senior judge found the machine was not fit for purpose. Mr Baxter, 33, was using the elevated platform to prune trees at a house in Milborne St Andrew, when it slipped from its pads and crashed to the ground. He suffered multiple injuries, including a fractured spine, dislocated shoulder and broken ribs and pelvis. He also fractured his right leg and smashed a number of teeth. Mr Baxter sued Up and Out Platform Hire, based in Lymington, Hampshire, which supplied the equipment, claiming the cherry picker was not safe to use for the job it was hired to do. The firm denied liability but, after a week-long hearing at London's High Court, Judge Andrew Collender QC ruled in Mr Baxter's favour, paving the way for him to be awarded substantial compensation for his devastating injuries. During the hearing, the court heard Mr Baxter, who runs his own firm, Chris Baxter Arborists, had been hired to prune a large tree in the grounds of The Old Rectory, in Milborne St Andrew. He and his employees did as much work as they could using a rope and harness, but Mr Baxter decided they would need a cherry picker to safely cut back

branches that were growing out sideways over the house and garden. It was while using that machine that it toppled over, injuring Mr Baxter and one of his employees, Dan Milbourne, who was also in the basket and suffered a broken femur. Speaking outside court following the ruling, Mr Baxter said: "It's a massive relief to finally know that this accident was caused by the machine and not by my error or an error of my employees. "When the machine was installed I believed that I was given the right equipment for the job and that the machine would be safe for me and my employees to use - especially because the company came out to help set it up. "I now understand the machine is no longer in production and the new machines on the market have a significantly different design to make them safer. "I hope that my case raises awareness of the importance of making sure you have the right tools for the job and that working with heavy machinery can be dangerous. "It was really important to me that we highlighted any safety concerns so that others don't suffer as I have." The amount of Mr Baxter's damages has yet to be finally assessed. However, given the severity of his injuries, his payout is likely to run into at least six figures.

POLICE have warned business owners to keep their premises and goods secure following a break-in at an industrial unit on Blandford Heights industrial estate between 1st and 5th January in which a quantity of diesel was stolen.

February 2015

River rescue plan unveiled A RESTORATION plan for the river Stour and its tributary the Moors has been drawn up by organisations wanting to preserve their environment. A poster display of the Stour Catchment Initiative (SCI) will be exhibited in Blandford Corn Exchange Monday 9th to Wednesday 11th February and again from Monday 16th to Wednesday 18th February. The project was outlined by representatives of the initiative at a series of public engagement events in November, and the exhibition seeks to involve the wider community. Judith Crompton, Wessex programme manager for the Environment Agency, outlined the Stour's historic importance with an extensive flood plain, important settlements and fording places, and its recreational and ecological value for wetland plant and animal species, including salmon, brown trout and the Blandford otters. "Man has impacted on the catchment with waste water, urban and industrial and agricultural activity, and like most rivers it fails to meet the target set by the European community."

Only a sixth of the river is considered of good quality, with the remainder moderate, poor or bad. She explained how the partnership, including Wessex Water, the Dorset Wildlife Trust and a number of other bodies, wanted to mitigate against the impact of man-made physical modifications, straightening, deepening, and building weirs through collaboration and sharing information, for example by locating woodland planting by landowners to increase biodiversity and reduce soil run-off into the river. Project manager Lydia O'Shea, of Wessex Water, explained the river's differing characteristics in the lower, middle and upper sections and how the water authority worked with landowners and tenants to encourage agricultural stewardship and catchment sensitive farming, working with DEFRA, Natural England, the Dorset Wild Rivers Project, the Wessex Chalk Stream and Rivers Trust. Feedback on water quality is provided by the Dorset environmental records centre, and there is an opportunity for volunteers to become involved in monitoring, and in individual river enhancement projects such as the

Garage rent worry CONCERNS that rent increases for garages owned by Spectrum Housing in Blandford are forcing tenants to give them up and add to roadside parking in the town were answered at a meeting of North Dorset District Council. Housing association representatives told councillors at their scrutiny meeting in January that the garages were rated according to demand, and some of those remaining vacant were in areas where they were not needed. The average rent increase last year was 3.1 per cent - the retail price index plus 0.5 per cent. Tenants do not pay VAT on garage rents, but non-tenants do. The number of garages currently vacant had risen from 190 to 224, and occupancy was running at 72.2 per cent of the total 764 garage in the district. But there was a waiting list of 44 for the northern area, including Blandford and surrounding villages, and 26 in the southern area including Charlton Marshall and Winterborne Kingston. Spectrum operations manager Rob Webber said: "In some areas, where parking is an issue we have a high demand for garages. We are planning a review of all our garages across the group.â&#x20AC;?

removal of invasive species like Himalayan balsam. She said volunteers could also become involved in fundraising, and parish councils could encourage local projects. Ben Rayner, of the Environment Agency, said the Stour had been included with the Moors, a site of special scientific interest, in what was a five- to seven-year project, and a pilot project aimed to reduce the impact of a weir on the river Crane at Edmonsham. "It is not practical or even desirable to return rivers to their original state - we are just talking about giving nature a helping hand to restore diversity by removing and moving obstructions to reduce their impact and improving bankside management and reinstatement. We want to identify those who want to get involved." To find out more about the initiative, visit stourcatchment.co.uk, contact Stour Project Officer Sarah Galsworthy on 01258 489514 or email Sarah.Galsworthy@environment-agency.gov.uk or Dorset Catchment Co-ordinator Ben Rayner on 01258 483452, email Ben.Rayner@environment-agency.gov.uk. BLANDFORD teenager Scott Holland is celebrating earning his coveted green beret as a member of the Royal Marines. He joined as a recruit in November 2013 and his Passing Out Parade was held in Devon at the end of November. Scott (17) lived in Blandford until September 2013. He attended Spetisbury Primary School and then The Blandford School, leaving after completion of his GCSEs in July 2013.

February 2015

NEWS IN BRIEF

Backing for heritage bid FURTHER support for Blandford's UNESCO World Heritage Site status bid has been offered by the leader of Dorset County Council Robert Gould. In a letter to Nic Nicol, one of the promoters of the bid, he has said that assistance may be available from officers managing the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site on the Dorset coast. "I am sure we would be happy to provide some advice from our lim-

ited resources on the prospects for such a bid, and the pros and cons of doing so," he wrote. "It is no small undertaking, and while WHS status can bring many benefits, it does not come with a guarantee of resources, and involves significant obligations to UNESCO and the international community." Mr Nicol said a meeting was being arranged with the DCC officers.

Police chief goes online Scouting duo honoured LONG service to the scouting movement by Dave and Beth Buchan of Blandford has been rewarded with the presentation of the Scouting Silver Acorn. They received the award from the County Chairman Penny Mogg at the 2014 County AGM in recognition of the work they had done over the years.

THE Office of the Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner, as part of a commitment to expanding its engagement, has announced the launch of its new website, which offers quick and easy access to information giving visitors a better understanding of the Dorset OPCC. It has a comprehensive engagement section with updated news and events and includes more focused pages on commissioning, statutory work and the budg-

et. The new website went live on 13th January and can be found at dorset.pcc.police.uk. The online platform will enable the team to do more consultations and polls to boost interactivity between the public and the office. The PCC and the engagement team will also continue to tour towns across Dorset on their community days, to meet the public and visit a number of projects.

February 2015

Members of North Dorset Green Party gathered to celebrate the recent surge in membership.

Greens gear up for the May elections MEMBERSHIP of the North Dorset Green Party has doubled since January 2014, in line with a national 'Green surge' which has seen membership rise to over 27,000 in less than 12 months. Many of those joining in North Dorset are young people and those who have not been involved with politics before, as well as members and activists from other parties. NDGP Chair, Anna Baker, said: "We believe this surge in support is partly driven by the recent success of the Green Party in the European elections, returning our first South-West MEP Molly Scott-Cato, and partly due to the overwhelming need to offer a different voice opposing the austerity agenda. "The Government tells us that we need to balance the books and reduce the national debt for the economy to recover, but the

austerity agenda is continuing to widen the gap between the wealthiest members of society and the increasing numbers of 'working poor' needing benefits to bridge the gap between cost of living and low pay. "UKIP must not be allowed to set the agenda as the only voice saying anything different to the three 'business as usual' parties in North Dorset." The party is looking to build on the 2,000-plus Green votes cast in North Dorset for the European elections and appealing for supporters to assist in the run-up to May, when they say they will be fielding candidates in both the General and District elections. A gathering in Shaftesbury to celebrate the surge in membership included a presentation from the Fields not Houses campaign group, a stand from Shaftesbury Fairtrade Town Group, and fundraising activities.

Evolution course IT'S not too late to sign up for a 10-week human evolution course, which started at the Blandford Museum on Wednesday 28th January, led by Prof Peter Andrews and Dr Sylvia Hixson Andrews. The weekly series between 7 and 9pm gives an insight into the 20 million year story of the origins and development of apes and humans leading to the evolution of our own species. Topics covered will include fossil finds, DNA from extinct human species and genetics, the evolution of human behaviour such as bipedal locomotion (walking), tool use, symbolism and art, and how technological advances are transforming our understanding of the past. Peter is curator of Blandford Museum and was formerly head of human origins at the Natural History Museum. Sylvia Hixson Andrews is an anthropologist and the education officer at the Museum. For further information or to book contact: Sylvia Hixson Andrews on 01258 458911 or sylhixsonandrews@gmail.com.

The View from the Hill by George Hosford George Hosford farms above Durweston in a business involving three generations of his family. He started The View from the Hill in 2003 as a monthly article in The Durweston News, which has now sadly ceased to publish. Forum Focus has offered him the opportunity to share with our readers his commentary on life on the mixed arable and stock farm. His account can be found in more detail on the associated website viewfromthehill.org.uk, where he welcomes feedback on what he hopes is an informative small window on the agricultural world.

FARMING HESE handsome young birds (pictured right) arrived on the farm as chicks after hatching at Blandford St Mary Primary School last summer. We know nothing of their parentage, other than a good deal of Buff Orpington and other rare breeds in them. Our former battery hens are probably responsible for the two or three eggs a day we are getting, pretty good in the middle of winter. There must have been some watery eyes in the henhouse when the huge egg on the left of this picture (below left), a double yolker, was laid. The next one along would be a regular large egg, and the far right is what one young hen keeps laying, with no yolk. Our beef cows are happy and contented in the shed at Shepherds Corner, munching away on silage and straw. The young stock are in the yards at Websley, also eating silage, and much happier than trudging around in mud outdoors looking for turnips as they were last year. The sheep, much more tolerant of the weather than the cattle, are mostly on turnips now. A handsome horny beast spent several weeks next door to our

February 2015

Pretty young hens brought to the farm after hatching at Blandford St Mary Primary School. meadows with a small group of ewes to entertain him and wore a blue raddle, which shows the shepherd which ewes he has covered. When we brought some of our own ewes down to the meadows to tidy up the grass, our Horned Dorset neighbour was twiddling his thumbs having finished his allotted task. It was only a matter of time before he made his way into our field, and one or two rears got painted blue, so we may be blessed with a few lambs who sprout horns. We are late lambers and our usual motley gang of rams arrived later with a mixture of black faces (Suffolks), white ugly faces (Texel) and white fluffy faces (Polled Dorset). Our rams

don't bother with raddles, we trust them just to get on with it. Our friend Ern Steele has been busy in the hazel coppice cutting hazel sticks to make into thatching spars. The coppice is in good shape, cut on a seven-year rotation which means it is one of the richest ecosystems and a haven for birdlife, small mammals and insects. Growing borage a few years ago left a legacy of seed in the fields which comes back to haunt us. There is no weedkiller that will kill borage in a rape crop, so we rely on a few sharp frosts to do this for us. The cold weather over Christmas seems to have done the trick, also knocking out any poppies that may have grown in the rape.

Hamdinger returns

A full range of egg sizes.

THE Blandford Hamdinger Riverside Festival will return to the town beside the river Stour on Monday 4th May. Following the decision of the Georgian Fayre committee that the May Day event should remain biennial, the Blandford Events Group has agreed to fill the slot with a repeat of the popular event. The Hamdinger is a product of the Riverside Diamond Jubilee party held in 2012, with the public enjoying it so much it came back in 2013 to alternate with the Georgian Fayre. The event will again be free but BEG are relying on organisations playing their part on stage and in the performance area, and will be seeking donations of cakes and looking for additional volunteers to help on the day. The Hamdinger will have the famous mini flotilla so residents are invited to start making small boats that can float down the leet. Individuals, clubs and organisers of sporting and entertainment activities who would like to promote their activities or offer help in any way are asked to get in touch as soon as possible with Esme Butler on 01258 480756 or email esbutler@sky.com.

Bus set to go again

Feeding toast to last year's pet lambs.

AFTER a very busy fun-packed autumn/winter schedule, Bus2Go are preparing for spring and two mystery lunches this month (see back page listings). In March and April, they will be back to three outings a month or more, depending upon the weather. Outings further afield include the Donkey Sanctuary, Otter Nurseries, Swanage Railway, Exbury Gardens, Motorbike Museum and Craft Centre, Hengistbury Head and Christchurch, Salisbury market, Clarks Shopping Village, Buckham Fair and a couple of theatre visits. Sadly, just after Christmas their chair since Bus2Go began in 2012, Ron Ward, died. The committee and passengers have sent their deepest condolences and sympathy to his family.

February 2015

Emotional return for Spectrum’s Nepal fundraisers A TEAM of staff from Spectrum Housing Group have recently returned from Nepal where they helped build homes for those in need and in doing so also raised over £26,000. The seven-strong Team Nepal were on an organised trip with the charity Reall, formerly Homeless International. Supported by Spectrum, they raised money throughout 2014 with various events to help the charity house those in need in Nepal, a country which has some of the poorest people on the planet. Events included bread making, pancake tossing, cake sales, a talent show, bingo, car boot sales and bag packing. One of the team, Barbara Cox, who works in the finance office at Spectrum in Blandford and lives in Medbourne Close, Blandford, said: "It was a truly amazing experience and very, very emotional. The things you see really do touch your heart, seeing the slums and the way they live. "My husband and I went on a safari in Africa for our 25th wedding anniversary and afterwards visited Kenya where we saw how people lived. It made me want to go deeper into how people live in other parts of the world."

Another member of the team, Claire McKenna, said: "I was recently left a small sum of money by my late grandad. He was a modest, hard-working man whose goal in life was to ensure that his children had secure homes for themselves and their families. While the money left to me could have paid for a nice holiday it would not have bought me a home. It could, however, go a long way to providing a home or making a significant difference to those living in poverty in Nepal. "My grandad served in the British Army alongside the Nepalese Gurkhas and for that reason, working with Nepalese communities struck a chord with me and felt like it was something that he would have encouraged and been proud of." They joined 27 other housing professionals to help build homes in Pokhara as part of Lumanti's cliff side project. Pauline Lewis from Reall said: "We are so grateful to Team Nepal for all their hard work throughout their fundraising and the trek. Their dedication has meant that four Nepalese families will be able to complete their homes in just four months, as opposed

Team Nepal from Spectrum Housing. to the typical six-month building period. Their visit to the site in Pokhara has also resulted in the local municipality pledging further longterm support to our housing projects, which is fantastic news." Richard Hill, CEO of Spectrum Housing Group, said: "Staff at Spectrum are really proud of what Team Nepal have achieved. The work of Reall fits in with the work that we do as a housing association in this country. Everyone deserves to have a decent home." The challenge has raised over £140,000. To find out more about Spectrum Housing Group, visit spectrumhousing.co.uk.

February 2015

Rain-lashed departure From the book 'Gallipoli as I Saw It’ (1965) by Joseph Murray, Hood Battalion

A poignant farewell to so many young sons

AFTER the parade Chief Petty Officer Milton told us we were destined to force the Dardanelles and that we would be leaving almost at once. The following day I wrote to my people with the news. We paraded wearing our recently acquired sun helmets, even though it was pouring with rain. At six in the evening, Lieutenant Colonel [Arnold] Quilter gave the order we had waited for months to hear. The

Battalion [The Hood] will move off in column of route, 'A' Company leading. We had expected to entrain at Blandford but after a two-hour march in heavy downpour, we arrived at Shillingstone and boarded the waiting train. At three in the morning we arrived alongside the Grantully Castle at Avonmouth. When we had eventually loaded our equipment we received orders to stay aboard. We had more or less got settled down when another train drew alongside bringing the Anson battalion.

From 'At Antwerp and the Dardanelles' (1918) by Rev Harry C Foster, quoted in 'The Hood Battalion, Royal Naval Division, Antwerp, Gallipoli, France 1914-1918'. Foster was Chaplain of the 2nd Naval Brigade and the first Anglican chaplain to land on the Gallipoli peninsula. OUR last day in Blandford Camp was 27th February and in the afternoon of that day a large number of relations and friends assembled on the parade ground to bid us 'God speed'. The bands were playing national airs, the most popular being 'For Auld Lang Syne'. How little did we realise then that many fathers and mothers were saying goodbye to their brave young sons for the last time. And yet we tried to keep smiling and to look on the bright side, but it was difficult. At 7.15pm the division (apart from the re-formed and untrained Collingwood, Benbow and Hawke Battalions) marched out of camp in pith helmets, with the rain pouring down. They marched 10 miles to Shillingstone railway station. Here was a long tedious wait, but our comfort had not been forgotten. Lady Baker *, who lived close to Blandford, and who had on many

occasions shown a kindly interest in the men's welfare, had arranged for a number of ladies to run a canteen in the vicinity of the station. Here a plentiful supply of hot coffee proved to be a Godsend to us all. The only excitement was provided by some new mules, who lived up to their reputation for being the most frisky and unmanageable of all animals. I do not think any of us envied the transport officer or his assistants, who experienced the greatest difficulty in getting their charges safely deposited in the special train. Our train left at 3.30am on Sunday 28th February, and we took off our equipment and boots and had a good sleep in the carriage. It was eight o'clock when we awoke in the morning, to find ourselves at Avonmouth Docks, Bristol. * Lady Baker was the widow of the Rev Sir Talbot Hastings Bendall Baker Bt. of Ranston.

Churchill’s inspection visit ON 27th February 1915, the men of the Royal Naval Division left Blandford Camp to march across the fields to Shillingstone. A visit had been paid to the camp by Winston Churchill, First Sea Lord, and King George V for a parade and inspection on 25th February. Despite heavy rain there was a large audience of townspeople as Mr Churchill carried out an inspection of the men and their equipment. After the inspection, Mr Churchill visited the offices and the stores and transport depot in Damory Street. The First Sea Lord and his staff then lunched at the Crown Hotel. ANYONE who would like to share with our readers pictures and details of events relating to relatives who played a part in World War One is invited to contact Forum Focus by calling 01258 459346, emailing editor@forumfocus.co.uk or writing to 18 Tudor Gardens, Blandford DT11 7PL.

The Grantully Castle. Picture: www.simplonpc.co.uk

The ship that took our brave boys off to war THE transport ready to take them to the Middle East was the Union Castle Line twin screw ship Grantully Castle, and amongst those on board was [poet] Rupert Brooke, who had taken part in the ill-fated five-day Antwerp Expedition of 3rd October 1914 in which heavy casualties were incurred. The Collingwood battalion returned with just 22 men. Brooke had transferred from the Anson battalion to the Hood battalion where he found himself in 'A' company of that battalion under the command of Bernard Freyberg. The other officers in 'A' Company were Arthur 'Oc' Asquith, son of prime minister H H Asquith and brother of Raymond Asquith, Grenadier Guards, who had arrived on 10th November 1914, and others who were to become Brooke's friends. Arthur Asquith's sister Violet came

to see her brother before he sailed. Asquith took his sister on one side and in the course of conversation said prophetically: "I may be wounded but I shall come back." Then, with Denis Browne, Rupert Brooke and her brother, she went to a nearby hotel for lunch. Returning to the dock they found the vessel had slipped its moorings and had moved to the mouth of the harbour. After farewells on board, the vessel steamed out of harbour and the sound of the battalion's trumpeters could be heard playing a salute to those waving on the quayside. During the voyage, Arthur Asquith seems to have been a generous host for quite often he would send Joseph Murray, his seaman servant, (who incidentally survived to the age of 97), with an invitation for Brooke and his friends to join him at table. © Copyright www.1914-1918.co.uk.

Forum Focus would like to thank the Blandford 14-18 Group for their help in researching this material.

February 2015

Rotarians deliver a helping of festive fun A RECORD number of Blandford residents, who would otherwise have been on their own, enjoyed the Blandford Rotarians' annual 'Alone on Christmas Day' lunch. A splendid Christmas lunch with all the trimmings was served to 56 people in the Sealy Suite, where facilities were kindly provided once again by the Crown Hotel. Entertainment was provided by professional musician Sam Ryall (accordion) with his colleagues David Daly (double bass), Jim Daly (French horn), Jemimah Daly (flute) and vocalists Anna Hayball, Lissa Kirby and Sylvia Hixson Andrews. Town Mayor Steve Hitchings talked to guests and thanked Blandford Rotary for organising this event year after year. The staff of Sandisons, a Blandford Rotary business partner, had again held a fundraising day just before Christmas and donated the proceeds to support the lunch. President of Blandford Rotary, Steve Adamson, thanked Rotarians Mike Jones, Nigel Wright, Yogesh Patel and his

Above: Blandford residents enjoy the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Alone on Christmas Dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; lunch, organised by the Rotarians.

extended family for organising the event and all those who had supported it by donating gifts and helping on the day to prepare the room, serve the food and drink and clear up afterwards. Tesco and Morrisons were thanked for their contributions. He added "We are delighted to be able to organise this event each year for people to share a full Christmas Day lunch with many others who would otherwise have spent the day on their own." Blandford Rotary meets on Monday lunchtimes at The Crown Hotel, Blandford and welcomes applications from prospective members. They also have a 'satellite' group of Rotarians who meet informally once a month.

Mayor Steve Hitchings serves some happy guests.

Talks over Phoenix House DISCUSSSIONS are taking place between Dorset County Council and a health care provider for the sale of Phoenix House in Heddington Drive to provide health care for the community. County councillor Barrie Cooper reported at the December town council meeting the potential disposal of the property, which closed last year only three years after being built behind the former Beeches care home site to provide care and accommodation for the severely handicapped.

Musician Sam Ryall and colleagues entertain the guests.

GARDENING

Up the garden pat h An occasional series of articles with a gardening theme from the Blandford Museum Victorian Garden Club

Plant history on our doorstep STANDING near the back of the Blandford Museum Victorian Garden is a tree the like of which Queen Victoria never saw. It is a beautiful Paper Bark Maple (Acer griseum) from China. Now, before you start making strangled indignant noises the way I do at the television when I see an Atlas Cedar in a period drama, we keep it for a reason; that reason being, it was collected by Ernest Henry Wilson on a plant-hunting trip for Veitch's Nursery in 1901 - the year Queen Victoria died. Veitch's Nursery, based in Exeter and Chelsea, was a leading importer of exotic plants throughout the Victorian period and they sponsored many intrepid explorers to enter often very dangerous country indeed to find new plants for their catalogue. Plant collecting was a massively big

business with fortunes to be won for whoever could first return with viable seed or live specimens of what would soon be the next 'must have' plant for the large country landowners. Visit the country houses around Dorset whenever their gardens are open. What you will see is a botanical map of the world, while the relative ages of the specimen trees will tell you when their particular part of the world first opened up to Britain's intrepid explorers. So with humble apologies to all pedants, we are keeping our Chinese immigrant, despite it just missing Victoria, as a tribute to the Victorian era plant-hunters and the huge number of plants you see around you everywhere you go that they risked their lives to bring home. Mark Hinsley

February 2015

OBITUARIES

Roy Adam, one of Dorsetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favourite sons, dies at 91 A MEMORIAL service was held in Blandford Parish Church on 23rd January for Roy Adam of Pimperne, who died on New Year's Eve at the age of 91. Mr Adam was for 21 years chairman of the Society of Dorset Men, and for 58 years the organiser of the Collingwood memorial service, held annually at Collingwood Corner near Blandford Camp. He had taken on that responsibility from his father, Fred, following his death in 1958. Mr Adam senior had served in the Hood Battalion and had for years tended the memorial unveiled in June 1919 by the widow of Collingwood Battalion Commanding Officer, Alexander Spearman, who died alongside more than 500 others at Gallipoli in 1915.

Roy Adam organised the annual service, which first took place in 1950, in their memory and that of his father, and he continued to devote himself to the memory not only of those who fell at Gallipoli but also others who lost their lives in the services. When he learnt that Hugh Parmiter, whose name is inscribed on the war memorial in the village's church of St Peter, was buried in an unmarked grave in the churchyard, he researched for six years to discover that the corporal in the 5th Dorset Regiment had died in 1918 following discharge suffering from pneumonia and pleurisy in addition to being wounded in the Mediterranean in 1915. A request was made to the War Graves Commission to erect a

Death of former fayre chairman Jackie Roorda A FORMER chairman of the Blandford Georgian Fayre, who left Dorset to move to Canada and remarry in 2012, has died at the age of 52. Jackie Roorda, formerly Baker, who helped run the Georgian Fayre for more than 18 years and

briefly succeeded its founder and current president Janice Driscoll as chairman, relocated to Alberta after meeting Canadian engineer Oene Roorda, but three weeks into her new life in Canada developed an aggressive form of breast cancer. A qualified pharmacy dispenser who worked at the Whitecliffe surgery in Blandford and had also lived in Poole, she had in 2003 started her own business in event management. She was also involved for eight years with the Dorset Summer Music Society, was secretary of the

North Dorset Netball League and an active team member until five years ago. She is survived by her husband Oene and her four children, Douglas, Kirsty, Ellen and Rachel, by her father Gerald, sister Julie and granddaughter Evie Rose. Her funeral was held in Canada, where she had made many friends and lived life to the full while undergoing treatment, and a memorial service was held in the UK. Donations in her memory went to the Foothills Country Hospice in Okotoks, Alberta, and to Macmillan Cancer Support.

Roy Adam, of Pimperne, died on New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eve. memorial over Mr Parmiter's grave, and the stone was erected and ceremonially marked in May 1996. Mr Adam's unique record of service was recognised by an MBE in the Millennium Honours list, and in 2010 he received honorary membership of the Gallipoli Association. Roy Adam was 17 when he joined the Royal Navy and volunteered for combined operations and commando training at Inveraray and Dorlin Castle. During World War Two he served with distinction in Egypt, Malta and Italy during the invasion of Taranto, and then at Gurnard Point on the Isle of Wight as part of D-Day Force J, landing at Arromanches on 6th June 1944. Post-war he worked as a pig farmer, shadow pub landlord, Special Constable for 17 years, and local government officer, serving as member or clerk of Pimperne Parish Council for 38 years. He started the Pimperne cricket team, helped start the Blandford Royal Naval Association 60 years ago, was a founder member of the Blandford RNLI branch 46 years ago, and a founder and life member of the Friends of the Fleet Air Arm Museum. "Roy Adam was the very personification of the Dorset countryman," said Michael Hooper-Immins, spokesman for The Society of

Dorset Men. "A member for over 40 years, as chairman from 1988 he led us for two decades and saw the society through some difficult years. "He was the popular Master of Ceremonies at the annual county dinner, leading the traditional ceremony of welcoming the Dorset Blue Vinny cheese - always finding the right words for any occasion with his strong Dorset voice, wit and infectious laughter until a stroke in January 2009 robbed him of his speech. "He had an overwhelming passion and love for his beloved home county of Dorset that shone through every day of his life, and we will all miss his calm influence and immense kindness." Roy Adam leaves a widow Hazel, son Stuart, who followed him as chairman of The Society of Dorset Men and chairs the Friends of Collingwood, daughter Suzannah and grandchildren Adam and Sam. The memorial service followed a private family funeral. Roy's friend Gordon Hine of Shaftesbury, secretary of The Society of Dorset Men for 25 years, died just 16 days before him, leaving the 110-year-old society to mourn the loss of two of its greatest stalwarts in one month.

February 2015

Gallipoli victims to be commemorated with repeat march ON 27th February 1915 four battalions of the Royal Naval Division - men who had signed up for the Royal Navy but trained at Blandford Camp for trench warfare - marched, wearing pith helmets in the pouring rain, across the downs to Shillingstone Station on the first stage of their journey to Gallipoli (see page 20). Within four months, on 4th June, the majority of them were killed there. On the nearest Sunday to the centenary of their departure, the march will be recreated, with or without the rain, and with the assistance of the former Somerset & Dorset Railway which has now become the North Dorset Trailway. Those involved in organising the march will, like the men of the Hood, Anson and other battalions, be wearing pith helmets, tunics and breeches which made up the uniforms of the day. The 10-mile hike will be starting at 10am on Sunday 1st March, and anyone who would like to take part is invited to register either by email to rndwalk15@aol.com or by picking up a registration form from the Blandford Town Council office in Church Lane. It is one of a series of events and projects planned as part of the Gallipoli Music Festival 2015,

which involves local schools and museums as well as the choir of Clare College, Cambridge, where composer William Denis Browne studied, and the South Bank Sinfonia. They will be taking part in events including Evensong at Clare College for the centenary of the Third Battle of Krithia and William Denis Browne's death on 4th June, a musical event at St John's Church, Waterloo, and a community musical event on 21st June at Blandford Parish Church, where the Ensign of the Hood Battalion hangs. The project, launched in January to include learning resources and academic archives, and nine local schools, the Blandford and Royal Signals Museums, and the Parochial Church Council are involved in working together to restore and conserve the ensign. Local embroiderers will create a large banner to hang in the parish church to tell the stories of creative artists at Gallipoli. There will also be a project exhibition in April and May in Leamington Spa, where Browne was born and the 29th Division camped before departure for Gallipoli, an exhibition in Clare College and Cambridge libraries in July, and an exhibition in Blandford and other Dorset museums in August.

FIRE crews from Blandford, Sturminster Newton and Bere Regis attended a blaze on 22nd December at commercial premises in Lower Ansty, using breathing apparatus and hose reels to extinguish the fire in a tumble dryer. The ambulance service also attended to a man suffering from the effects of smoke inhalation.

Trench models go on show MODEL World War One trenches, created by pupils from The Blandford School, went on display in the Corn Exchange as part of the Khaki Canteen organised by the Blandford 14-18 Commemoration Group. Also on display for visitors arriving to enjoy WW1 cakes, soup and bacon butties was an exhibition related to wartime in the winter of 1914 which had been mounted for the Yuletide Festival the previous week. Pictured below is the work of Year Nine pupils of the school.

SCHOOLS

February 2015

Germaine Greer’s feminism message Thought-provoking talk raises eyebrows CLAYESMORE School celebrated the 40th anniversary of becoming co-educational at their annual lecture led by Germaine Greer with the title 'Forty Years of Feminism and Fun'. Her subject chimed with the school's own co-educational journey and highlighted the fact that she has been immersed in 'feminism and fun' for the same length of time as girls have been benefiting from a Clayesmore education. Professor Greer was introduced by head girl Tatiana Dyer and went on to describe the development of her feminist voice and what drove her to write 'The Female Eunuch'. She touched on the influences of her early life, then spoke of the difficulties for women who 'sniffed independence' during the Second World War when they took on traditionally mas-

culine roles but then had to become 'the epitome of femininity' for returning heroes. She said the dissatisfaction she felt at the lack of freedom and opportunity for women led to the creation of her iconic feminist tome, explaining how the book was written in an episodic way so that women could read it during a moment of respite from housework. Audience members sought her opinion about women on the front line and she ended her thought-provoking talk by stressing the importance of protecting the whole human race and taking care of our planet. She thanked the audience and gleefully remarked that she had seen 'many eyebrows leaping about'. Head boy Eric Newland concluded an unforgettable lecture by thanking Professor Greer for a talk that had raised lots of

Pictured, from left: Eric Newland (head boy), Tatiana Dyer (head girl), Malcolm Green (vice-chairman of the council of school governors), Germaine Greer and Martin Cooke (headmaster) chuckles, a few frowns and a little blood to several cheeks, but was sure to encourage everyone, both

girl and boy pupils, to have a long hard think about the treatment of women.

Engineering scholarship for Clayesmore pupil A FUTURE engineering star at Clayesmore, pupil Niall Reed, has been awarded an Arkwright Engineering Scholarship at a ceremony in London. The scholarships, highly regarded by universities and industry and awarded to outstanding potential engineers, are offered by The Arkwright Scholarships Trust, an independent charity that identifies, inspires and nurtures future leaders in engineering and technical design. They support STEM (science, technology, engineering and

Niall Reed receives The Arkwright Engineering Scholarship sponsored by Meggitt. maths) students through their sixth-form studies and encourage

them to get into top universities or higher apprenticeships. They also include an annual financial award to each scholar and their school, so Niall will receive a £300 bursary and Clayesmore's DT department has been awarded £200 which will be put towards a second 3D printer. There is also an exciting range of enrichment activities, such as mentoring and industry visits to enhance Niall's experience of engineering and technical design in the real world. Niall's scholarship is sponsored

by Bournemouth-based company Meggitt PLC, a global engineering group specialising in extreme environment components and smart sub-systems for aerospace, defence and energy markets. He was chosen because he expressed a particular interest in aerospace engineering in his scholarship application, and will benefit from having an experienced mentor who is currently enrolled on the Meggitt Global Engineering rotational programme in California.

Knighton House pupils take inspiration from Piper KNIGHTON House School year eight pupils presented a fantastic exhibition of 17 paintings at the beautiful venue of Pythouse Kitchen Garden Café and Shop at Tisbury. Inspiration this year came from the British artist John Piper, a 20th century English painter, graphic artist, designer and writer. He had a long and diverse career but is particularly noted for his paintings of architectural views, especially of churches and stately homes. The girls were fortunate to have the opportunity to use the grand interior architecture of Milton Abbey as their inspiration and after a series of study visits, the girls used the structure to create their Piper-inspired compositions. Sara Burton, from Milton Abbey's art department, kindly judged the work. After a difficult decision she announced Poppy Hughes in first place and Emily Hawkins in second place. All the girls were congratulated and told they should be extremely proud of what they had achieved, and a huge thank you was given to Pythouse for again inviting them to exhibit in such a special setting and enjoy a delicious lunch.

February 2015

Civic stamp of approval HARD-WORKING posties in Blandford had a pre-Christmas visit from the chairman of North Dorset District Council Councillor Su Hunt, who called in the Royal Mail delivery office in the Tabernacle to see the mail being sorted and despatched. She was given a tour of the facilities by Royal Mail manager Craig Quine, who explained that although many people now send e-cards the traffic in parcel post has increased massively with the growth of online shopping. Councillor Hunt said: "It's always interesting to see how local services operate and get a view behind the scenes. All our posties work really hard, especially at this time of year. I was really impressed with the organisation at Blandford. Everyone was very welcoming and seemed extremely happy, despite their early start." There are 24 different postal rounds that emanate from the Blandford depot, a mixture of urban and rural deliveries. Staff arrive at work at about 5am to sort the letters and parcels

Cllr Su Hunt, Chairman of North Dorset District Council, at the Blandford Royal Mail depot with manager Craig Quine and one of the delivery team. before setting out on their rounds at around 7am, and at Christmas

time, some do not finish until 3pm or 4pm.

Death crash driver charged A BLANDFORD man has been charged with causing the death by careless driving of teenager Ellie Jackson, who died following a car crash on the A30 Sherborne Causeway last June. Police said Kieran James Marshall, 20, of Blandford, would initially appear at Weymouth Magistrates' Court. Miss Jackson, 16, of Shaftesbury, was a passenger in a silver Volkswagen Polo. She sustained head injuries and died three days later in hospital.

Crackdown on the under-age sales MANY people are concerned about the potential availability of age-restricted products to young people. Trading Standards enforce the law when it comes to the sale of alcohol, tobacco, knives, DVDs, video games, solvents and fireworks to young people. Retailers know that they should not sell age-restricted goods to people younger than allowed, but to check they are not selling them, young people are used as volunteers to go out with Trading Standards officers and attempt to buy these goods. Training materials are provided to shops to reinforce their knowledge of their responsibilities so when there is a test, there is no excuse for a sale to a young person. Trading Standards rely on information from the public about shops selling to people younger than the law allows in order to target their checks. They also work with the police and district council licensing teams. So if you have any concerns about any premises supplying young people with age-restricted products phone the Citizens Advice consumer service on 03454 04 05 06. A FREE money-saving workshop and advice session held in the United Reformed Church was sponsored by Prama, Dorset Community Action and the Whitecliff Group Practice in Blandford. A 45-minute workshop was followed by an advice surgery.

February 2015

Panto weaves its magic spell THE magic of pantomime came to the Corn Exchange in Blandford at the end of December, when REAMA Touring Pantomimes from Yeovil presented the story of Peter Pan. The rapt faces in the audience, and the young members who climbed ever closer to the stage to engage in the story, showed how this very British custom continues to delight. Pirate extras drafted in from the Poole Re-enactment Society greeted panto-goers in the Shambles; there were crocodile lookalikes at the refreshment point. The performance, organised by Blandford Forum Town Council and the Corn Exchange Regeneration project, was a sellout. The show itself was full of colourful sets and music, dancing, comedy, slapstick and special

Wendy's brother John and the crocodile at the refreshment stall.

effects, including a dancing Tinkerbell light. From Thursday 29th to Saturday 31st January, the Tarrant Valley Players are presenting their pantomime Treasure Island at Tarrant Keyneston village hall at 7.30pm. The Milborne Players present Robin Hood in Milborne St Andrew village hall from Thursday 5th to Saturday 7th February. And on Fridays 6th and 13th and Saturdays 7th and 14th The Valley Players present Alice in Pantoland in the Pamela Hambro Hall, Winterborne Stickland, with a Saturday 14th matinee.

Living landscapes THE February meeting of the North Dorset group of the Dorset Wildlife Trust will focus on the work of the Living Landscapes project. Nature conservation has concentrated on establishing reserves for wildlife in an effort to ensure that they are protected and secure. But nature doesn't recognise borders and needs space to be able to thrive and develop. With that recognition has come the new initiative from Wildlife Trusts across the south-west region, a project which in Dorset is supported by a grant from the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation. Working with landowners in priority nature areas throughout Avon, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire, the Trusts are linking habitats to create robust wildlife 'heartlands' that will provide wildlife with opportunities for mobility and adaptation in the face of climate change. President of the Dorset Wildlife Trust, Tony Bates, will give an illustrated talk on the work that is ongoing in Dorset and how it links with similar work in other counties. The talk is on Wednesday 18th February at 7.30pm in Fontmell Magna Village Hall (SP7 0JU) and admission is ÂŁ2 (no charge for children).

Captain Hook and his sidekick.

Scary pirates take over the Shambles.

February 2015

Funding cut threat to rural support network DORSET Community Action is asking people to join in an urgent campaign calling on the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) not to withdraw funding for the ACRE Network of Rural Community Councils (RCCs). The ACRE Network, of which Dorset Community Action (DCA) is a member, is the only nationwide organisation with a dedicated rural community focus, strengthening local communities and enterprises, and supporting the most vulnerable in our society. It provides advice, support and training to the 80,000 volunteers who keep England's 10,000 village halls alive, and has been supported by Government investment for decades, but has been advised to expect no further funding from Defra as of 19th January 2015. If funding is withdrawn from ACRE, DCA will be severely hampered in its ability to deliver vital services specifically tailored to rural communities, including preventing the closure of village post offices and

pubs, assisting people on low incomes, and supporting local community transport and Community Land Trust schemes. At a time of cuts to public services and communities being encouraged to take on services that local councils are no longer able to deliver, DCA believes that this is not the right time to be withdrawing funding from ACRE. Nationally, ACRE is asking the Secretary of State for an investment of just £2m in 2015/16, without which it will have to discontinue some of its rural suppport services. Community organisations and interested individuals are asked to show their support for rural communities by writing to Elizabeth Truss MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London, SW1P 3JR or email her at defra.helpline@defra.gsi.gov.uk to call for a further two years of transitional funding for the ACRE Network, and sign the epetition online at epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/73418.

Search starts to find Dorset’s best village THE search has begun for Dorset's best village with the launch of the 2015 competition organised by Dorset Community Action for the past 28 years. Entry packs are being sent to villages inviting them to enter either through the parish council, village hall committee or other active community group. Magna Housing, the major sponsor for the competition since 2010, has renewed its support this year as have additional sponsors. DCA's competition organiser Rita Burden says: "Last year 53 villages entered one or more categories of 'Best Village’ so our aim this year is to encourage communities which have never taken part in this rewarding competition to enter for the first time. "Any organisation can enter its village and even Dorset's smallest hamlets can enter." Besides the main Best Village competition, there are further entry sections for The People's Project - the village with the best project involving local active people; Environmental Champions - the village doing the best 'Green' initiative; and Best Village Shop, sponsored for the second year by the Dorset branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England. The deadline for entries, which can be made online, is 5pm on Monday 6th April and entry packs can be downloaded from dorsetcommunityaction.org.uk or by phoning DCA on 01305 216407.

Forum Focus - forthcoming meetings & events FEBRUARY Monday 2nd February: Blandford Floral Group meet 2.15pm,United Reformed Church Hall for a demonstration by Irene Hickson ‘Flora Maestro Please’. Visitors welcome £5. Tuesday 3rd February: Weldmar Hospicecare Trust Snowdrop Service of Remembrance, Blandford Parish Church, 2pm Wednesday 4th February: Public meeting, Blandford St Mary Primary School, 7pm (see page 22) Thursday 5th February: Blandford Town Home Watch, Blandford Police Station, 7pm Friday 5th and Saturday 6th February (also Friday and Saturday 30th and 31st January): SODS present panto 'Pirates', Spetisbury village hall, 7.30pm Fridays 6th and 13th and Saturdays 7th and 14th February: The Valley Players present 'Alice in Pantoland', 7 for 7.30pm (matinee Saturday 14th 2.30pm) Saturday 7th February: Sonic Silents, Ibberton village hall, 7.30pm, bookings 01258 817269 Monday 9th February: From the Dales to the Dolomites with a Botanical Twist, illustrated talk by Graham Poynter, Child Okeford Centre for Care and Learning, 7.30pm Monday 9th February to

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 Wednesday 11th February: Stour River Restoration Plan exhibition, Corn Exchange, Blandford Wednesday 11th February: Bus2Go mystery lunch, return fare £6.50, call 01258 837749 Blandford Forum Film Society presents 'American Hustle', The Blandford School, 7.30pm, guest tickets 01258 453851 Friday 13th February: Film Night, Corn Exchange, Blandford, 7.30pm, 'What we Did on our Holiday' - comedy drama (12A) with David Tennant, Rosamund Pike and Billy Connolly, from the team behind 'Outnumbered' Monday 16th February: The Blandford Fashion Museum, Tearoom & Shop reopen for the new season at 10am. New displays include ‘A Lady's Day in 1930’ and for younger visitors a museum trail and dressing-up corner Half term entertainment with Mr Merlin, Corn Exchange, Blandford, 11am, tickets free from the Town Council office Monday 16th February to Wednesday 18th February: Stour River Restoration Plan exhibition, Corn Exchange,

Blandford Tuesday 17th February: Bouncy Fun Play inflatable play for children 0-9 years, Corn Exchange, Blandford, 10am to 4pm Snowdrop Project open garden, Springhead Trust, Fontmell Magna, 10am to 4pm Photographic course with Edward Parker, Springhead Trust, Fontmell Magna, 11am to 2pm, details and to book 01747 811853 Cirkus Spectakular, Angel Heart Theatre, Hazelbury Bryan village hall, 10.30 am, bookings 01258 817212 and Memorial Hall, Sturminster Marshall, 4pm, bookings 01258 857019 Wednesday 18th February: Blandford Carers meet Durweston village hall 2 to 4pm, speaker from Access Dorset Cirkus Spectakular, Angel Heart Theatre, Durweston village hall, 4pm, bookings 01258 452641 Dorset Wildlife Trust North Dorset Group meets Fontmell Magna village hall (SP7 0JU) 7.30pm for illustrated talk by Tony Bates on the Living Landscapes project Thursday 19th February: Blandford Rural Home Watch, Okeford Fitzpaine Sports

Pavilion, 10.30am Blandford Heart Forum meets 2.30pm Blandford Hospital restaurant, speaker Mike Bolton, ‘Agog in Dorset’ Saturday 21st February: Cats Protection coffee morning and stalls at Woodhouse Gardens Pavilion, Blandford 10am 12.30pm Tuesday 24th February: Durweston Choral Society present An Evening with auctioneer Richard Bromell, Durweston village hall, 7pm, to book phone 01258 472253 or 451186 Wednesday 25th February: Bus2Go mystery lunch, return fare £6.50, call 01258 837729 Blandford Forum Townswomen's Guild meets, Williams Opportunity Hall, Whitecliff Gardens, Blandford, 2.15pm, Dorset Heroines with David Beaton Blandford Forum Film Society presents 'The Fairy' ('La Fee'), The Blandford School, 7.30pm, guest tickets 01258 453851 Friday 27th February: Flute and Harp Fantasia with Amalthea, Milborne St Andrew village hall, 7.30pm, bookings 01258 837371 Saturday 28th February: Serious Kitchen present The Whispering Road, Pamela Hambro Hall, Winterborne Stickland, 7.30pm, bookings 01258 880920