October 2015 Forum Focus by Sevensioux

FORUM FOCUS For Blandford and surrounding villages Issue No. 43

October 2015

School’s pride at exam results: P29

Pretty in pink . . . The Blandford Twirlight Majorettes made their carnival debut as part of a highly successful procession through the town. Turn to Page 10 for the start of our four-page coverage of the event.

Closing time for two pubs THE closure of two long-established Blandford pubs - the Railway Hotel and the Wheatsheaf - made Friday 28th August a black day for local pub-goers. Both had operated since 1865 in the days when the Somerset & Dorset Railway ran through the town. The Railway in Oakfield Street, next to what was then the railway station, was built to serve rail travellers through the town. The Wheatsheaf, until it was extended to incorporate adjacent cottages in 1982, was long reputed to have the smallest public bar in the town. Neither pub can claim to be the oldest - in fact, with the exception of Nelsons in Salisbury Street they are the youngest - but after nearly 150 years’ trading they survived where other longer-established premises have not.

Railway licensee Nigel Jones, who on 12th September held a sale of glasses and memorabilia from the pub, told town councillors, at the time of his planning application for conversion of the premises to residential, that it was a reflection of the changing nature of the licensing trade as well as of society, which no longer supports the larger establishments and favours the smaller and more intimate facilities offered more economically by wine bars and licensed restaurants. In Blandford particularly it reflects the growing café culture which sees more and more people socialising in coffee houses and finding their entertainment at home, online and in venues other than the traditional British pub.

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Hopes of a new wine bar opening in Salisbury Street have been dashed after negotiations fell through for the transfer of the premises from Julia's House, which previously had a charity shop on the corner of Bryanston Street. They have now announced that they will be moving back there from their charity shop in East Street. Meanwhile a planning application has been submitted by Colin Young to extend his community club in Damory Street by adding a first-floor extension. A group of Wheatsheaf customers earlier this year successfully applied for the listing of the pub as an asset of community value, and registered an interest in bidding for the premises when it was put on the market, with the result that it could not be sold for six months. But Councillor Hugo Mieville, who represents to Page 2

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October 2015

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Where to find Forum Focus WE are still seeking volunteers willing to deliver on the Damory Down estate and in the Langton Road and Black Lane area. To deliver in your street or area, or act as a drop point, email distribution@forumfocus.co.uk or call 01258 456999. Other main drop points are: Blandford and Blandford St Mary: The Post Office, Library and Parish Centre in The Tabernacle, the Corn Exchange, the Spar shop in Market Place, Gorge Cafe in East Street, Blandford Museum in the Market Place, the Tourist Information Centre in West Street, James Newsagents in The Plocks, the Co-op in Salisbury Road, the 3Cs in Damory Street, the Damory Garage and One Stop in Salisbury Road, Cherry's hairdressers in Elizabeth Road, CLP stationery on Blandford Heights industrial estate, 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, Child Okeford 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.

No flagging for the green team BLANDFORD's Big Clean-up Day on 5th September coincided with the presentation of the Green Flag Award to the meadows and Milldown nature reserve, which in the case of the Milldown is for the ninth

year running. In 2013 it was joined by the Marsh and Ham, Stour Meadows and Langton Meadows in receiving the Keep Britain Tidy award winners. Dorset Countryside Ranger Giles Nicholson said it was thanks in part to Cleanup Blandford and its volunteers, who regularly help to keep the

meadows and town litter-free. The volunteers this time were focusing largely on the town centre, in anticipation of Dorset Architectural Heritage Week events starting the following Wednesday, but as usual started their patrol from under the Mortain bridge on the Marsh and Ham, from where they are pictured.

Closing time for two pubs From Page 1 the ward which includes the pub in Albert Street, said it seemed unlikely that any bid would be forthcoming. He told town councillors last month that the closure of the car park, whose spaces have been rented to and used by local residents, would exacerbate the problems with on-street parking in the area. He asked that Dorset County Council be reminded of a request made earlier this year for a full review of the road network after residents objected to the possibility of further parking restrictions in Queens Road, and said that the one measure agreed, of double yellow lines at the junction with Salisbury Road, had yet to be implemented.

October 2015

Defeat for hedge campaigners RESIDENTS who pledged to look after a stretch of hedgerow between their homes and a public play park when they learned it was to be grubbed out and replaced with a metal fence have been disappointed. They have been told that cancelling the contract, which had already been agreed for the fence work, would cost Blandford Town Council ÂŁ2,700. Nine-year-old Olivia Mann and her parents led the campaign in Langton Road and were supported by neighbours who said the hedge was an important and much-loved feature, providing habitat for wildlife as well as a natural border to the play area, shielding it from the road and houses beyond. But when they attended a meeting of the town council's general purposes committee and offered to maintain the hedge themselves, they were told the contract to remove it at the end of September had already been let. Councillors also told of the difficulties for resident groups taking on such a project as, in time, they might lose interest. They also stressed that the hedge removal was a safety measure to prevent cars being scratched as they passed, as well as making the play area more overlooked and safer for children using it. Olivia said: "My four friends and I do not want a fence instead of the hedge, which is across the road approximately ten metres away from our house. With no hedge we will look out on a fence and telephone wire, which is hidden at the moment. Please tell me how I can stop this happening." Her mother Toya Meadway said: "We have lived here for 12 years and have watched the hedge mature during this time. We oppose the plan to remove the dense foliage to make way for metal fencing. "It offers a soft edge to the green space between the road and woodland beyond the play area. It lives and breathes, supporting a wealth of wildlife including ivy, blackberries, birds, other small A JCB Hydraulic Breaker and Beaver Pack (Jack Hammer) were stolen from the Blandford Heights industrial estate on 14th September at 9am. Anyone with information should call Dorset Police on 101 or CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111, quoting crime number 55150089057.

creatures, insects and fungi. The children pick the berries and cats shelter beneath its foliage." She said it was much nicer to play and relax next to nature than next to a fence and busy road, and the hedge needed to be maintained, not removed. Town clerk Linda Scott Giles said the town council had discovered only recently, when it took over the play area from North Dorset District Council, that the town should have been responsible for its maintenance during the years it was leased from the district, and it should never have been allowed to grow so large. She said the council was responding to a number of complaints over the years that the hedge was untidy and overgrown, giving poor visibility for children crossing the road, and leading to cars being scratched as they were driven past. She said the work, due to start on 28th September, was being done at the correct time of year so as not to disturb wildlife. Asked why residents had not been consulted beforehand, she said that although the town council consulted widely in many cases, they did not consult on what was purely a maintenance issue. Committee members confirmed the decision to remove and replace the hedge with fencing, saying it was the correct decision and too late to review it.

Campaigners in Langton Road, Blandford, say the hedge behind them, separating their homes and the road from the children's play area, should not be replaced with a fence.

October 2015

Bruce the cat goes home - after two years ‘on the run’

John saddles up for Paris challenge LOCAL man John Jenkins has decided to take up the TEDDY20 Challenge by taking part in a group cycle ride of 300 miles from Bournemouth to Paris next May. John is not used to long cycle rides - in fact he hasn't ridden a bike for many years. So armed with his bike and accessories purchased from Offcamber in Blandford, he is starting the long nine-month fitness programme. He is being supported in his challenge by Owen Newton, fellow cyclist and founder of the childhood cancer charity Teddy 20. John plans various fundraisers in the next few months in the lead-up to the event in his bid to raise at least £1,200, and the first is a coffee morning in the Woodhouse Gardens on Saturday 31st October from 9.30am to 12.30pm.

To sponsor or hold an event for him please contact his wife Veronica by email at Merlameg@hotmail.co.uk.

BRUCE the cat has been reunited with his owners more than 100 miles away after going missing two years ago. The short-haired black and white puss was found making distressed calls in the Pimperne garden of John Tanner, who took him to the Damory Veterinary Clinic to check whether a chip was inserted. It was, and revealed an address on Blandford Camp, but there was no reply from the number and Mr Tanner took him home, intending to call the Cats Protection League or RSPCA if he was still around in a couple of days. But further investigation by the Damory Vets resulted in a response to a text message to one of the phone numbers on the chip from a family from Herefordshire, who had relocated from Blandford - and were at that moment on holiday in Devon. Owner Gill Osborne said: "When an app on my smart phone told me Damory Vets were texting, I knew Bruce - so called because the markings on his face look like a Batman mask - had been found. We were able to call in and pick him up on the way home, and when I saw him for the first time, sitting in a cardboard box in the car, I knew he remembered me. Not a doubt in my mind." She said the family had lived on the camp for two years, and Bruce, a rescue cat from Cats Protection, regularly disappeared for a couple of days from time to time, and was once spotted living in a rabbit warren. "When I got him I was told he'd

been feral, and he probably still would be if he hadn't liked my bed and Whiskas so much," she said. "I just hope whoever was feeding him for all this time doesn't read this article and want him back! The best thing about all of this is that we know he's alive. Not knowing is awful, and the children, eight-year-old Euan and four-year-old Callum feel a connection with him. "Bruce is settling back in well but with some adjustments. Since his absence we have two new members of the family, namely Buster, our Jack Russell and Sootie, our small cat who are best of friends as they've been together since they were small. It took Bruce a while but so far it seems to be working out well."

Signals future unclear DEFENCE Secretary Michael Fallon says the future location of the Royal School of Signals, currently based at Blandford Garrison, is being assessed as part of work to establish a more effective use of the Defence estate. Defence chiefs have abandoned an original plan to relocate Defence College of Technical Training bases for the Army, Navy and Air Force to what is now MoD Lyneham, but have now announced that it will be for the Army only, a move which is already underway with the relocation of the REME Schools from Bordon and Arborfield. "The re-evaluation of the programme has determined that consolidation on to a single site at MoD Lyneham is not the best solution," said Mr Fallon. Local MP James Gray has suggested that other Army training centres may move to Lyneham to take up the spare capacity and hoped that the first of these would be the relocation of the Royal School of Signals.

October 2015

Crazy craft group starts A NEW craft group for mums and toddlers has been launched by a couple of friends who call themselves the 'Crazy Ladies'. The first session in Blandford was held on the morning of Wednesday 16th September, and will be followed every first and third Wednesdays in the Methodist Church Hall. The group also meets at Pimperne village hall every second and fourth Thursday morning. The women behind it are Michelle Rope and Andrea Lukey, who said: "There are lots of activities around for children, but nothing for mums with their children, and we want to show mums how they can use discarded household items and recycle them into something." Attendance costs just ÂŁ1 per family, but those taking part are encouraged to bring along materials to work with.

Planning blueprint under scrutiny as deadline nears NEIGHBOURHOOD planning group Blandford Plus is continuing to challenge proposals for the Blandford area in the draft North Dorset Local Plan, which has now reached the final stages before its adoption. They say that the possibility is well advanced for development of new infrastructure to the north and east of the town, and that planning for major housing growth to the south cannot be considered sensible or sustainable. "It will result in many more traffic movements through the historic town centre and around the increasingly congested bypass than is necessary," they claim. The group, which is promoting housing growth north of the bypass, objected to the draft Local Plan strategy and land use proposals for the Blandford area favouring development to the south, and made representations at the examination hearing, with further representations in May. They say that, despite modifications suggested by North Dorset District Council, it remains unsound and unsustainable. Steering group chairman Sara Loch says, in their response to the consultation on the main modifications, the district council has failed to address matters of considerable importance to the local community. "Since May, further consultations with the owners of land north and east of the town and with Dorset County Council have revealed that significant progress has been made in proposals for business development and the provision of a new primary school in that location. "The land is also being assessed

for its potential to relocate the existing recycling centre and to establish a larger further education facility for the town. "In addition the landowners have undertaken work to address the concerns raised by the district council in 2010 of developing land that is inside and outside the AONB and of its flood risk, biodiversity and traffic impacts. "This progress highlights the benefits of the growth strategy proposed by the group, and also reinforces the weaknesses in the Local Plan growth strategy on the opposite side of the town, furthest away from this new employment and social infrastructure." Miss Loch says the district council's failure to assess the alternative since 2010 means the Local Plan cannot be properly justified. In the absence of that assessment, the group has undertaken its own comparison of the two proposals, and their alternative growth strategy out-performs the preferred strategy across a range of sustainability measures, notably those related to improve social outcomes. "The district council has chosen to allow one of 15 measures - landscape impact - to dominate all others, but not to allow the opportunity for additional landscape assessment work to be undertaken of the alternative to demonstrate how impact on the land can be successfully mitigated." The group has also submitted a detailed response to the Dorset County Council consultation on siting a new waste recycling centre, favouring the site close to the Sunrise Business Park, and arguing strongly against the other four suggested alternatives.

Crazy Ladies crafts sessions are held in Blandford and Pimperne by Michelle Rope, left, and Andrea Lukey, who are pictured with some of their creations.

Charity shop reopening THE YMCA charity shop in the former Argos unit in East Street, which closed at the beginning of September and is now boarded up, should have reopened by the time Forum Focus is published. A spokesperson for YMCA England said on 16th September: "YMCA England occupies a shop unit in Blandford on a temporary basis while the landlord continues to market the retail space. "We vacated the unit on 2nd September after the landlord requested access to carry out essential works. We should be back trading within the next two weeks."

Zelston tops the charts

October 2015

DT11 villages were among the prizewinners in the Dorset Best Village competition announced on 17th September, with Winterborne Zelston scooping the top prize for best small village. The new 'Neighbourliness' category was won by Okeford Fitzpaine Community Group, who produce a welcome booklet for the village, organise clean-up days, a wide range of social activities, fundraising and bulk purchasing of winter fuel to reduce costs for residents. The village as a whole was runner-up in the large village section, with Sturminster Marshall third. Shroton's Wild Flower and Orchard project was a close runner-up in the Environment section, and Child Okeford won the previous winners' large village section. Tarrant Hinton received a North Dorset District Council Special Award.

School raises Nepal cash A TABLETOP sale organised by students and staff at The Forum School's satellite houses in Blandford raised £165.50 for the Nepal Earthquake Disaster Fund. Parents and staff at the houses for older students from the special school in Shillingstone were asked to donate items for sale and students helped produce the posters advertising the event and price up the items for sale. Staff and students from the main school went along to spend their money, and were joined by friends and neighbours from the wider community. It was a real achievement for the students, and an ideal opportunity for people outside the school to meet students in a relaxed environment. Students and staff have thanked everyone who supported them.

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Hall committee chairman Sherry Jesperson welcomes the Lord Lieutenant of Dorset, Angus Campbell, to the reopening of Child Okeford village hall.

Village hall back in use AN astonishing £100,000 has been raised in only about a year by the community in Child Okeford for their much-loved village hall, whose extension after refurbishment was officially opened by the Lord Lieutenant of Dorset, Angus Campbell, from neighbouring Iwerne Minster, on 12th September. Only about £20,000 of the total cost of £120,000 has come from grants, from the parish council and a couple of trusts, to extend the main hall, reinstate a small meeting room, refurbish the floor, upgrade the heating and induction loop for the hard of hearing and provide new toilets. The Bell Street Jazz Band entertained guests attending the opening ceremony, which was overlooked by portraits of the Queen and of Lord Portman, who originally gave the village the land on which the hall was built. Hall committee chairman Sherry Jesperson said: "Residents absolutely love this hall and it is home to so many groups for short mat bowls, bingo, sport and arts, yoga, jumble sales and barn dances." The reopening came just days before the village was declared the best this year among past winners of the Dorset Best Village Competition.

Ringing for the Queen ROUNDS and call changes were rung on the bells of the parish church of St Peter and St Paul to celebrate the longest reign of the Queen on 9th September. Appropriately the Blandford band of ringers included a change odd-numbered bells followed by even-numbered bells - which is known as 'Queens'. They were conscious that it could be the last time they gathered for a special event before the bells are silenced while restoration work is carried out on the church tower.

October 2015

Prizewinner Joan finds solace in her garden

BLANDFORD was well represented when Spectrum Housing tenants across North Dorset were asked to prove their green-fingered credentials in the housing association's annual garden competitions, which saw entries from all over the district. In the Communal Garden section, Pat Christopher took first place for Station Court in Blandford, with runner-up Mark Graves at Churchill Court, Winterborne Stickland. Ray Eveleigh, from Child Okeford, came top in the Home Grown Edible Produce section, and Annette Chattaway, of Gillingham, was judged first among the small garden cultivators, with Louise Chaffey of Blandford second, and Cecil Walbridge of Blandford third. For Joan Carter of Blandford, winning first prize against strong competition in the large garden section was a particular triumph, her success following a second place last year and commendation the year before. But she was also delighted, since her efforts in creating a garden brimming with a multitude of colourful plants, decoration and ornaments had been in memory of her late mother, who died in 2013. She said: "It helped me deal with my grief and other personal difficulties since her death, and I feel I can now make a new start." Mr and Mrs Davis, of Shillingstone, were runners-up, and Tim and Debbie Walbridge, of Tarrant Launceston, third.

Cupola images to feature in craft show THE iconic cupola on top of the tower of Blandford Parish Church is the subject of a competition being staged as part of the church's craft show next month. People are being asked to submit photographs, drawings, even models of what is one of the town's signature images, viewed from any and all corners of the town. "There are so many vantage points from where you can see it you can be driving or walking around the town and look up to see it peeking through," said Sara Loch, project manager for the Cupola Project for the restoration of the church. "Your image may be from the car park in Shorts Lane, or the view from Bryanston Woods, or closer to home from the Woodhouse Gardens. We want to find the

most exciting representation of the tower and cupola for a competition and display which will be exhibited at the show for everyone to see." The entry fee for the competition is ÂŁ1, and application forms are available from the church office, all proceeds going towards the restoration project. The prize for the winner will be a chance to go up the scaffolding or as high up the tower as they dare during its restoration as part of the project. The craft show will be staged in the church on Saturday November 7th from 10am to 3.30pm, and will include displays and workshops in die-casting, parchment craft, crochet, banner making, jewellery, homemade toys, gift and artwork, as well as the unique display of cupola pictures.

Beggars a nuisance FOLLOWING complaints that elderly people are being targeted by street beggars in Blandford, police have responded that they are aware and dealing with the situation. Neighbourhood inspector Rob Hammond said: "We are prioritising our work around current problems and concerns so rest assured the nuisance persons, and problems that emanate, will be effectively resolved one at a time." He said he was not aware of a large number of homeless people in the town, but there were a couple causing concern to locals and visitors. DT11 Forum chairman Nic Nicol said he had been told of an increasing number of incidents of older women being troubled by people asking them to buy them lunch.

Joan Carter in her winning garden with her dog Yeoshe and a picture of her mum.

Liz Tredrea with her sketch of a nesting mouse, top left, awarded President's Choice at Blandford Art Society's open exhibition.

Above left: Art Society chairman Mike Lofthouse with Wendy Hermelin, winner of the best non-member award. Above right: Mayor Steve Hitchings with David Windsor, right, whose winning line drawing was called 'Treeface'.

Artistic excellence on show BLANDFORD Art Society's annual open exhibition in the Corn Exchange featured more than 220 paintings and sculptures by members and non-members, together with a selection of work by students from The Blandford School. Mayor of Blandford Steve Hitchings, at the private view, said the standard of work surpassed what he had seen at the 2014 exhibition, and society chairman Mike Lofthouse thanked exhibition co-ordinator Rachel Baynes and all those who had helped with the set-up in the days beforehand. "We plan to offer something new every year and this year we have workshops and demonstrations with our guest artist Claire Thomas, myself, and local professional artist Annabelle Valentine," he said. "We are also inviting members of the public to produce an artwork which will be included in a sketchbook to go on display at our 2016 exhibition." Competition awards announced were: Max Bennett prize for line drawing - David Windsor for 'Treeface'; the Chairman's Choice, with the subject of Thomas Hardy's poem 'Afterwards' - Jennifer Martindale for 'Culliford View' in linoprint and oil; President's Choice selected by Sue Coke Liz Tredrea for 'Nid Nodding', a pencil on Ho Shu paper sketch of a nesting mouse; best picture by a non-member, chosen by Claire Thomas - Wendy Hermelin of Beaminster for a view through a window in framed stitched textile of 'On Whin Rigg'; Harding Trophy (subject 'The Path') - Tina Rowley; Viewer's Choice (voted for by exhibition visitors) - Jake Winkle, Watchful Hare.

October 2015

Radio 4 slot for poet Paul AWARD-winning poet, travel author and biographer Paul Hyland (above), of Blandford, was a guest speaker at the End of the Road music festival at Larmer Tree Gardens on 4th September. The BBC commissioned Paul's talk, 'Trust me, I'm a magician', for broadcast in Radio 4's 'Four Thought' slot on October 14th at 8.45pm. Four of Paul's books have been Books of the Year in UK and US newspapers, and he is also a professional magician who entertains at house parties, banquets and events. His talk is about glamour, grammar and honest deception in art and magic, compared with the dishonesty we expect of PR people and politicians. Best known in Dorset for his classic book about Purbeck, Paul has also written books about the Isle of Wight, the Congo river, tribal India and Iberia. He was born in Poole and is now based in Blandford, and he has lived and travelled in many places in between. His wife Jana is an American translator and magician.

Pigeonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s flight of fancy A RACING pigeon released in a race from Blandford at the beginning of August and apparently twice attacked by hawks was rescued at sea by a paddle boarder off the Devon coast a month later. Tory Pigott spotted and rescued the injured pigeon and traced the owners, Ray Eccles and his son Brendan, of Baldock, near Stevenage in Hertfordshire. It had been found injured in Plymouth, nursed back to health and rereleased before being injured again. Brendan Eccles said the four-month-old pigeon, which set off from Blandford on 1st August, should have been home "in a few hours", but could have become disoriented and headed in the wrong direction.

October 2015

Radio return for Blackadder FORUM Drama is preparing a unique production of three episodes from the Blackadder TV series as a single radio play which will be recorded in front of a live audience at Durweston village hall in November. Using the original scripts by Richard Curtis and Ben Elton with additional material by Sam James, the play sees the Mayor of Blandford Mr Edmund Blackadder looking back at his family's history while attempting to write a commemorative speech. The action moves from the Tudor through the Regency period and up to the First World War. Comic Relief, who own the copyright, have never before given permission for the scripts to be used, and they have not before been recorded as a radio play. Forum Drama's artistic director Terence Dear said: "Although we are relocating to Durweston for this event on Saturday 14th November, with recordings at 2.30 and 7.30pm, we remain deeply committed to Blandford and will be returning to the Corn Exchange in April with a stunning production of The Railway Children. There will be Shakespeare in the summer and then back to the Corn Exchange next autumn for Wind in the Willows."

Tragic tale of a notorious Dorset murder AFTER a sell-out tour with Artsreach last summer, the acclaimed Dorset-based physical theatre company Angel Exit are back this autumn following high demand for a retour of The Ballad of Martha Brown, a tale of jealousy and passion based on the true story of the last woman to be publicly hanged in Dorset. Angel Exit look at the circumstances that catapulted Martha Brown from being an insignificant milkmaid to an infamous murderess tried in Dorchester County Court and hanged by the infamous hangman William Calcraft in front of 3,000 people. Presented in the company's rich visual style, this new show is spliced through with wicked humour, an original score, macabre songs and live music, with a grim chorus of hollow-eyed storytellers. Early booking on 01258 882322 is recommended for a performance at Milton Abbey New Barn Theatre on Sunday 11th October at 4pm.

Artsreach 25th anniversary DORSET's rural touring arts programme Artsreach celebrated its 25th anniversary with a special Birthday Bash at The Exchange in Sturminster Newton. CompĂ¨red by BBC Radio 4 and Wimbledon Poet in Residence Matt Harvey, the programme included string quartet Bowjangles, who combine dance, vaudeville comedy and four-part harmony singing with fiery musicianship, members of the klezmer ensemble She'Koyokh and Turkish singer Ă&#x2021;igdem Aslan as The Bucimis Trio with the Londonbased Bulgarian Voices. Launched in March 1990 with just nine villages signed up to host live, professional shows in their community, Artsreach now has around 60 rural communities on its circuit and has brought over 3,000 performances by international, national and local artists to Dorset. Artsreach director Ian Scott said: "It's great to begin our main winter touring period this year in such style and with performers who manage to reflect both some of the highlights of our recent past as well as new programming strands for the future."

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CARNIVAL

October 2015

Carnival proves a winner . . . FOLLOWING another successful Blandford Carnival, chairman Barrie Jones has urged anyone with a little time to spare to consider helping the committee of just five people organising the annual event. Crowds once again lined the streets to cheer the floats, decorated vehicles, walking entries and entertainment provided by the marching bands and majorettes, who this year were preceded by an impressive parade of steam engine owners, who had asked to join in when another engagement was cancelled.

Mr Jones said the committee was delighted with a good turnout, despite clashing with Mere Carnival on the same evening, which had attracted some of the larger floats which might otherwise have been at Blandford. He welcomed the involvement of a number of new participants, and said: "It ran well. We let the steam engines go early so the rest of the procession could catch up at the bottom of St Leonards Avenue, and they all went through the main streets together, finishing on schedule and allowing us to reopen the roads five min-

utes early." But he said the organising committee now consisted of only five members, and with more help they could do a lot more to raise funds for local charities. His wife and Carnival secretary Sara Jones said: "We have a lot of people helping us on the day, but we organise a number of fund-raising activities during the year, including our next bingo session at the Royal British Legion on 21st October, and we could do more if we had more people." The couple have succeeded Barrie's parents,

Remembering 'Childhood Days' with Storm CC. Above & below: Milldown Primary School pays tribute to those in the First World War with 'Lest We Forget'.

Blandford Firefighters with their youngest recruits.

CARNIVAL

October 2015

The Signs Drama Mime Artists had the best overall and most humorous entry.

A parade of steam engines lead the way.

. . but more helpers needed Lil and John Jones, who had headed up the Carnival committee for most of the time since its revival in the 1970s. Among the new entrants this year were the Signs Drama Mime Artists from the workshop run by Jess Ryall, who won the best endeavour, most humorous, playgroups and associations' class and best overall walking section with their theatrical faces and poses; and the newly established Poole Field Gun Display team, who impressed spectators with their explosive demonstration. The parade also featured the first outing for Blandford's own newly formed majorette troupe, The Twirlights, now with over 30 performers, who at a presentation earlier had been one of five recipients of a ÂŁ50 donation from Carnival proceeds. The others were the Blandford Evening WI,

the Stour Valley Band, Magnum Carnival Club and the Age Concern Wednesday Drop-In. The Age Concern donation was the choice of long-serving Carnival collector Janet Hinton, who in the evening won the collectorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; class dressed as a witch, and the WI were winners of the general class with their celebration of the movement's centenary. Magnum won the Carnival Club class and best endeavour in the float classes with their tableau The Smugglers Haunt, and The People's Choice Rosebowl was presented to Carnival Club runners-up Storm Carnival Club with 'Childhood Days'. Best local entry and overall walker trolley winners were the Fowler, Toy and Minney families with Pirate Ship Voyager, and best overall in the float classes went to the St John Ambulance Badgers

Thundagbirds are Go!! With the Disability Action Group.

with their space rocket 'Bertie's Over the Moon'. The parade was led by the Mayor, Councillor Steve Hitchings, Miss Blandford Carnival Lauren Johnston and her attendant

More pictures: Pages 12-13

Kristina Valdez Campouerdo in open-top cars, and the Blandford Carnival Princess Ginny Dugdale, with attendants Dulcie Burton and Alyssa Miller, accompanied by To Page 12

CARNIVAL

October 2015

Carnival capers From Page 11 marching bands. Regular popular attractions were the parade of Subarus bringing up the rear, the Thundagbirds from the Disability Action Group, first in the humorous class, Milldown Primary School with their 'Lest We Forget', and the massed entries of the Rugby and Football Club youth sections. The Bournemouth Youth Marching Band and Port Bredy Allstars Majorettes picked up the awards in their sections. At the Carnival Baby Show in the afternoon, four-and-a-half month-old Lillyanne, daughter of Jessica Critchell of Blandford St Mary, was judged the winner out of 20 entries. Above left: Magnum Carnival Club in 'The Smugglers Haunt'. Above right: Miss Blandford Carnival, Lauren Johnston.

Carnival Princess Ginny, centre, and her attendants Dolcie and Alyssa.

George and Henry Mitchell of Portsmouth, who were visiting their grandparents in Blandford, with 'Let's Play Lego'.

October 2015

CARNIVAL

The Fowler, Toy and Minney families with the Voyager Galleon.

The Varley and Davidson families in a variety of guises.

Carnival Baby Show winner, Lillyanne, daughter of Jessica Critchell of Blandford St Mary.

Two-year-old Isabelle Toy as Princess Jasmine from Aladdin.

October 2015

Bidding for high street prize cash

WI’s proud milestone A PLAQUE in Blandford's Woodhouse Gardens recognising the planting of roses to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Women's Institute worldwide was unveiled by the town's Deputy Mayor Jackie Stayt, pictured left. She said the movement's founding in Canada had shown that when an energetic and determined group of women get together, they could create a phenomenon, and welcomed the Blandford Evening branch, re-established only 30 months ago with active support from the Dorset county federation, saying: "A town without a WI is a town without a heart." Thanks were expressed to county representatives Heather Bartlett, Tess Burt and chairman Linda Whatman, who were guests, and to all those who had assisted the group in its programme of events by branch chairman Simone Walls-MacDonald, pictured right.

Members of the Blandford Evening WI serve up refreshments to guests in the Woodhouse Gardens Pavilion. JOSEPH HAYDN will be the subject of the new music appreciation course starting in Blandford on Thursday 1st October at the Dorset Rural Music School. Director Dr Richard Hall will be exploring Haydn's life and works over a seven-week course on Thursdays from 2.15pm to 3.45pm. Costs are £45 for the course (£40 for Friends of DRMS) or £7.50 per session. For further information see the website drms-music.co.uk or email office@drmsmusic.demon.co.uk or phone 01258 452 511.

Busy on the buses TRAVELLERS with Bus2Go over the summer have enjoyed two trips on the Dolphin boat at Poole, which specialises in boat trips for the disabled, the first a cruise up the river to Wareham and the second three days later a tour of Poole Harbour, which also turned into a Honeymoon Cruise for two. The boat and Lakeside Fish 'n' Chips, Poole, where they lunched were suitably decorated for the occasion. The community transport group has thanked Dee Bonham Christie, RVS Befriender for Blandford, for helping to arrange the outings and for a generous donation from the Bonham Christie Family Charitable Trust used to hire the buses and pay for lunch and tea. Other venues visited during the summer were the Donkey Sanctuary, where some of the passengers took donkeys they had knitted for sale in the gift shop, and Buckham Fair, where actor Martin Clunes joined them for a chat.

BLANDFORD could be in the running to win up to £50,000 in prize money as part of a nationwide search for Britain's best high street. A nomination has been submitted for the Market Town Great British High Street award, in recognition of the efforts of the Blandford Business Group, a recently formed group of retailers and small businesses keen to promote the town and revitalise the area. People have been voting to support the nomination at thegreatbritishhighstreet.co.uk and if it is shortlisted will be able to vote for their favourite high street. Efforts to rejuvenate the town have included relaunching the farmers' market, introducing craft markets and art exhibitions, organising 'In Conversation with Author' events in local cafés, presenting free lunchtime concerts in the church and holding monthly 'moviola' film events during the winter. If successful, Blandford would win a share of the cash prize pot, and dedicated support and mentoring from industry experts. Business Group spokesman Helen Cooper, who can be contacted for more information on 07753 808736 or by email to helen@heraga.co.uk, said: "High streets are a vital part of our community and make an important contribution to the economy through the billions of pounds they generate and the thousands of jobs they support in retail, leisure and other businesses. This competition is searching for the very best ideas, innovation and creativity."

Café at the new M&S SPECULATION continues over the opening date of a Marks & Spencer food hall in the former Co-op in Langton Road, but application has now been made by the company for the signage of their new store, which indicates that there will also be a café. Planning permission is also being sought for external alterations to the existing premises, together with a new trolley bay, resurfacing of part of the car park and installation of plant and machinery.

October 2015

Village hands out its festival proceeds A PRESENTATION evening was held in Spetisbury village hall to celebrate the success of this year's summer festival which ran for a week and raised £3,000 for three local charities. After the presentation of the cheques to Mosaic, Home-Start North Dorset and Blandford Foodbank, a film of the Festival highlights made by Dan Mudford and featuring, among other things, a dog's eye view of the proceedings and some talkative spaniels, was enjoyed by all. Spetisbury Festival has been running every two years since 2003 and this year included theatre (a very funny version of Macbeth), open gardens, a nature walk, baking competition, an arts and crafts exhibition, a quiz and a radio play. It culminated in the popular country day, devised by Mick Fowler, showcasing many aspects of rural living and giving people the chance to try clay pigeon shooting, archery, welly throwing or many other activities. The village may have fewer than 500 inhabitants, but it has plenty of energy. Its fete and dog show in June raised another £2,000 for the village's grade 1 listed St John the Baptist church.

Pictured (from left): Zoe Nicholson from Mosaic, Andrew Daymond from Home-Start North Dorset, Gail Del Pinto from Blandford Foodbank and Jan Ellis-Child for Spetisbury Festival.

Remembrance service

Police save their energy

BLANDFORD Forum Town Council and the Blandford Royal British Legion are planning for this year's Remembrance Sunday outdoor service and parade in the Market Place.

BLANDFORD Police Station has become the first in the county to be fitted with energy-saving solar panels.

Please notify the Town Clerk by Friday 16th October by calling 01258 454500 or emailing admin@blandfordforum-tc.gov.uk if you or your organisation would like to take part in the parade or if you would like to lay a wreath as part of the outdoor service.

Energy efficient panels were constructed on the roof of the building as part of improvements to the station to replace a defective generator, and will help Dorset Police function with a reduced carbon footprint, providing around 10 per cent of the annual electrical consumption of the building and saving £1,850 a year.

October 2015

Welcome refugees, council is urged AN online petition asking North Dorset District Council to welcome refugees to Blandford has been presented to the council's chief executive Matt Prosser and deputy leader Councillor Graham Carr-Jones. Signed at that point by 196 people, it is part of a nationwide group of petitions set up by the pressure group 38 Degrees asking councils to commit to having refugee families live in their area. North Dorset was asked to find homes for 50. Councillor Carr-Jones said: "We have all been moved by the distressing images of people in crisis. We are waiting to hear from the Government to see if we will be called upon to help in the response to the refugee crisis. "Our authority will do its bit although we have to be careful not to promise resources that we do not have. Any response would be made in co-operation with other authorities including

Dorset County Council." At present there is no commitment to take any of the 20,000 Syrian refugees David Cameron has promised to have in the UK. However, North Dorset are already in discussions with West Dorset and Weymouth & Portland councils to assess any available housing, and to consider how they could best welcome refugees to the area while maintaining resources for current residents. They are also asking people who are interested in having refugees living with them to contact the council. Councillor Carr-Jones explained that this would help them work out how many refugees it may be possible to house, but stressed that people on the list were not committed to doing this and could pull out at any time. To express interest, email Stuart Gill at s.gill@westdorset-weymouth.gov.uk The council is also recommend-

Matt Prosser, chief executive of NDDC, and deputy leader Councillor Graham Carr-Jones receive a copy of the petition to help Syrian refugees from campaigner Sascha Miller, watched by supporters. ing donations to the Red Cross at redcross.org.uk/refugeecrisis To sign the petition which is still

open on line go to https://you.38degrees.org.uk/effo rts/refugees-welcome

ORGANISERS of the Blandford Yuletide Festival, which will this year be held on Wednesday 9th December, have agreed that the popular Lantern Parade which starts the event should be opened to nonschool organisations. Any children's or youth group interested in joining in should contact the BYF chairman, Steve Hitchings, at chairman@blandford-yuletidefestival.org.uk or 01258 455840. More street entertainment is also being planned for this year's event, and Mr Hitchings would also like to hear from any individual or group wishing to take part.

October 2015

Above left: Dave Miles with best exhibit in the vegetable classes. Above right: Ann DaviesHutton with her best floral exhibit.

Hostess Joanna Mains and show committee chairman Anna Snook open the gate to admit visitors .

Anniversary show is a record breaker ORGANISERS of Blandford St Mary's 70th anniversary fete and show were thrilled to achieve a new record for the combined event, banking in excess of ÂŁ3,000. Chairman Anna Snook in particular thanked Jeremy and Joanna Mains for the use of their beautiful grounds of The Manor House to stage the event, including the horticultural show, held more recently in the church grounds. Exhibitor Barry Gould headed the trophy list in the horticulture marquee, with the best flowering pot plant, the best entry in the flower classes, most points in the vegetable and fruit classes, and the Blackmore Vale Onion Championship. Other best exhibit winners were David Miles (vegetable), Peter Eveleigh (pom-pom dahlia), Joanna Mains (hybrid tea roses and decorative dahlia), Anne Davies-Hutton (flower arranging), Mrs B A Hilton (homecraft), David Eastment (handicraft), D R Chaloner (photography), and Myles Parsons-Mahon (children's). Blandford St Mary won the team award among nine entries for the highest yield in the potato challenge. There were stalls and games in the gardens, afternoon teas served in the courtyard and a grand raffle. In the neighbouring field, judge Jo King from Witchampton had a difficult task in the fun dog show ring with over 50 entries in up to six classes. Sponsored by Damory Vets, it was organised by Deni Frost of Hinton Martell.

Bus card campaign success A CAMPAIGN for the launch in North Dorset of the 16-25 Age group pilot key card system used on the Isle of Wight for bus travel with More Bus has been partially successful. The DT11 Transport Action Group (TAG) lobbied for and were promised that the scheme would allow use on non-consecutive days, particularly suitable for students attending colleges fewer than five days a week. TAG chairman Nic Nicol said: "We are confident that this too will be available shortly. We will keep checking that More Bus delivers on its promises." Ed Wills, operations director at Go South Coast, said: "There is still a lot to do and we have not done our full launch yet, but we have already issued 250 plus cards, and details are available from our website at morebus.thekey.co.uk/smart-card.

Eight-year-old Aurelia Furcher of School Lane, Blandford St Mary, won a number of the children's classes, including the art class 'Fruits of the Earth'.

STEAM FAIR

October 2015

Bumper crowds and fine weather ensure steam fair is a success THE Great Dorset Steam Fair came to a close after five days of near-perfect weather which saw bumper weekend crowds and a packed programme of attractions day and night. Further work had been carried out during the year on the trenches dug for 2014 and on exhibits which will continue to be developed until 2018 as GDSF marks the centenary of the conflict. This year also saw significant improvements including the relocation of car parks and camping fields, and more than three kilometres of new roads laid in the first stage of a three-year project to improve traffic management, site operations, public safety and welfare. The Rollers and Road Making Section, as part of their display, finished the last 40 metres of road before the official opening when it was named Oliver's Way, honouring the show's founder, the late Michael Oliver. It was completed by his son Martin, now GDSF managing director, in Lord Jellicoe, a 1929 Fowler 8-Ton roller purchased by Michael Oliver in 1968 which has remained in the family since he

died in November 2009. The first vehicle to drive on it was a Jeep which had also belonged to Mr Oliver senior. Martin Oliver said: "I couldn't imagine anything more fitting than to complete this first phase of our new roads in my dad's roller. It was the perfect way to demonstrate that, while we are updating the event to improve visitor experience, we will always stay true to our history and heritage. My dad was always so recognisable to everyone on site by his Jeep, so it was only right that it should be the first to drive over the final stretch of road." The show also welcomed a number of other well-known faces, with BBC Radio 2 presenter Johnnie Walker steering on the last leg for the Clinker's Challenge' team fundraising for Cancer Research which arrived after steaming 189 miles from Cornwall. TV weather presenters Sam Fraser from South Today and Laura Tobin from Good Morning Britain were welcomed with their respective camera crews to give viewers an encouraging forecast, and Paul Heiney from ITV's Countrywise took a turn in the

heavy haulage arena. Programmed attractions included the Kangaroo Kid, Big Pete Monster Trucks, Adam's Axemen, the Sheep Show, falconry and gundog displays, heavy horses, steam, military and vintage vehicles, heavy haulage, ploughing, rural crafts and trade stands. A multitude of entertainers and tribute bands in the music festival continued into the late evenings Wednesday to Saturday until the traditional sounding of the hooters of the show engine line-up at midnight. Martin Oliver said: "This has been one of the smoothest running shows we've put on so far. The bank holiday was later than usual this year so we had to run the

event when children had gone back to school, which had an impact during the week, but this was compensated by the huge turnout of visitors over the weekend. "We are so pleased with the weather we've had all week, especially after the torrential rain put a dampener on things last year. We have had some brilliant feedback from visitors and all our exhibits have gone down very well, especially the World War One section." Community and local authority representatives will be meeting on 9th October at the North Dorset District Council offices in Blandford to consider how this year's event went and any issues which it raised.

OC A Co Royal West Kents Chris Jupp and OC C Co 10th Essex Rob Thrush spent the week living in their HQ dugouts in the trenches.

Small and large in the heavy haulage arena.

STEAM FAIR

October 2015

The road-making team at the steam fair.

Raising a glass: fun in the sun at the fair.

The Kangaroo Kid thrills the crowds with a spectacular lorry jump.

A WWI tribute at the entrance to the trenches overlooking the steam fair site.

A steam roller passes among the crowds.

Relatives of steam fair founder Michael Oliver (from left): Rob Oliver (grandson), Sarah Oliver (daughter), Jean Oliver (wife) and Martin Oliver (son).

October 2015

Octoberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s casualties

Last month we described the experience of Thomas Caslon at the Battle of Loos. This month we print an extract from his letter home on 24th October 1915, in which he described a trip to the front line trenches by him and his brother.

TWO Blandford men died while serving with the Dorsetshires in October 1915. The first was William John Blandford, a private in the 1st Battalion Dorsetshire Regiment, who had been born in about November 1893 in Hinton Martell. He was the son of labourer Harry John Blandford, who had died in 1894, and Louisa Jane Blandford, who following her husband's death was remarried in 1900 to Percy Saunders. William John Blandford, who lived at 51a Dorset Street, was posted to France in September 1914, a year after his marriage to Lucy Amelia Pike, and killed in action on 5th October, aged 21. He is buried in Point 110 Old Military Cemetery, Fruicourt, Somme. Charles William Symes died four days later, on 9th October 1915, and with no known grave is commemorated on the Amara War Cemetery, Iraq. He was a solicitor by profession and was Blandford's town clerk, living at Stoneville in Salisbury Street, Blandford. The Dorset County Chronicle reported on 21st October that a meeting had stood in silence to express condolences to his bereaved mother, and a memorial service held the following Sunday at the Parish Church. Born in May 1883 in Crediton, Devon, Mr Symes was the son of agricultural labourer Charles Symes and his wife Emma. He was a captain in the 4th Battalion Dorsetshire Regiment, territorial soldiers who were mobilised in August 1914 to provide reinforcements for other divisions. He had been posted, attached to the 2nd Battalion Dorsetshires, in May 1915 to Mesopotamia, where he is believed to have died of disease.

Letters told of life in the trenches "We have got wonderful trenches here, and practically the only casualties have been caused by snipers. Even as we were entering the communication trench (the trench where you leave "above-ground" to get to the front line), a bullet sung over our heads. It may have been a stray one but it was a remarkable coincidence that as we were leaving the trench again at the same spot some time afterwards, another bullet sung past us. It is extraordinary how absolutely used one gets to people trying to "do you in" and the only thing to be done is to grin at the bad luck of the sniper. In spite of the excitement we got out of it, all the wise ones never run any unnecessary risks and always keep their wits about them as we realise that it is the careful man who will see this war out. The trenches here are all built up with sandbags and are about 9 feet deep - four and half feet parapet above ground and four and a half feet excavated below it. On the 'base' of the trench is a platform supported on beams raised about 6 inches above the ground so that the occupants remain dry footed even with water in the trenches, which is everything. Into the side of the sandbags all the dugouts are built in which the men sleep. In case of heavy shelling the men have deep dugouts dug right under ground where it would very

difficult for any shells to reach them. All observing in the daytime is done by means of pieces of glass, stuck on the end of sticks, and used as periscopes. It is almost certain death for anybody to show his head over the parapet during the daytime. At night both sides send out what is called "listeners"- men who have to crawl as near as possible to the opposing trenches to see or hear what is going on (hear what they are talking about and what they are doing.) The rival listeners often meet on 'no man's land' when there is then a scuffle and the man who is the stronger takes the other prisoner. (This is absolute fact, not hearsay). This happens very frequently. All trenches are numbered and many of them named, mostly with names taken from some of the better known streets of London. Chris and I are only just beginning to realise how extremely lucky we were to have come out of the Battle of Loos without a scratch. The very name of Loos will conjure up the most awful memories during the remainder of our lives. And yet we were very, very lucky to have seen such a show. There are men out here who have been out 12 months or more who have not seen a tithe of what we saw during that week, war in its most terrible form. In the ordinary way the ammunition column sees nothing, but we were once actu-

ally at one time in front of the guns we were supplying, when we ought to have been at least 3 miles in the rear. We were caught near Loos at a village called Vermelles (we can tell you names now) right in the centre of the whole battlefield and in full view of the German Artillery observers.â&#x20AC;?

MP wounded in action From the Dorset County Chronicle CASUALTIES in October were far lower than in September, though admissions to hospital numbered nearly 150. On the 7th October, Dorset Yeomanry's Col. Troyte Bullock was invalided home with dysentery. On the 21st October Major J. B. H Gooden was placed in command of the 2nd Regiment and Major R. G. S. Gordan assumed command of the Dorset Squadrons. 14th October 1915: Lily Bellows of Blandford was charged with assisting Sapper Smith of the R.N. Division to improperly absent himself from duty. Smith was removed on September 27th. 21st October 1915: A cable was received by Lady Baker from Alexandria on Wednesday 17th October 1915 stating that Sir Randolf Baker, member for North Dorset, who went to the Darnadelles with the Dorset Yeomanry and had been wounded, was returning home the same day and expects to arrive in Dorset the following week. (Sir Randolf served as MP for North Dorset from 1910 to 1918, a JP and deputy Lord Lieutenant of Dorset. He was the fourth Baronet of Ranston, born July 1879, who died in July 1959 and is commemorated in Iwerne Courtney (Shroton) church: In loving memory of Sir Randolf Little Hales Baker D.S.O Fourth & Last Baronet of Ranston, 20 July 1879 - 23 July 1959 Also of Dame Elsie his first wife, 10 February 1885 - 1 February 1955

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

October 2015

Readers’ letters

An insult to Albania I WOULD like to comment on a recent letter sent in by Mungo Powney who said the only rational explanation for M&S sparking a wave of delight is that people have been tunnelling through from Communist Albania and heard wild tales of its luxury and excess. My husband is Albanian and did not know how to take this comment without causing offence. Not only that, but Albania have been out of Communism for some time. Albania is a beautiful country with some truly lovely people. Janice Cara Address supplied

LETTERS Please 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 to: Forum Focus, c/o Colin's

October 2015 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.

Help us fill the Oxfam gap with a community bookshop THE departure of the Oxfam books and music shop from its long-term base in Salisbury Street, Blandford, has left much of the community bereft. The shop has been very successful on many levels - in addition to raising significant funds for Oxfam, it has provided a unique and much-valued hub for the community. A committed and skilful band of volunteers provided the bedrock and a very loyal and enthusiastic customer base ensured the shop's ongoing success. The shop nourished the intellectual and social heart of our town community. There are a group of volunteers, ex-Oxfamers, who believe there is a possibility here to turn a misfortune into an exciting and fresh opportunity for Blandford - that is, to open A Jolly Good Read, a Blandford town community books and music shop. It would be a non-profit organisation with the priority

being to cover its costs to enable it to stay open and fulfil its mission. It would be staffed entirely by volunteers. Any profit made would be given straight back to the community of Blandford, to local charities, and to fund events promoting books and the arts in the town. To do this, a premises are needed, ideally somewhere central and with good access. There are empty shops available in the town but rents and rates are extremely high and, at this early stage, there is an understandable reluctance to commit to signing any long leases. If you are able to help with supporting the group to find a location or have any other ideas or suggestions that would enable the shop to open, please contact me. Judy Baker (Address supplied) judypbaker@gmail.com

Thanks for the welcome Let’s follow Sherborne’s example FOLLOWING our recent move to Blandford, where I have taken up the post of Rector of Blandford & Langton Long, we have been deeply touched by the warmth of welcome that we have received from the people of the town. We are very much looking forward to serving the community and growing new friendships over the coming years. It is a joy and a privilege to be here! With all good wishes, Rev Jonathan Triffitt Rector of Blandford Forum & Langton Long

WELL done, Carole Colden, who wrote of her recent move to Blandford from a similar-sized town in Suffolk, which does not have a single empty shop. It must have been a shock. Blandford and the surrounding catchment area has a population of over 12,000 potential shoppers. It is on the main tourist route from the south-east to Weymouth and other holiday destinations, and has good access

Look elsewhere for waste site

WHEN I read the proposal for traffic, except buses, to be diverted up Sheep Market Hill, I rapidly read the date of publication. No it was not April 1st. How can people sit down and propose such lunacy? One would have to drive up to The Tabernacle, navigate the worst blind spot outside the sorting office and end up at The Plocks junction to go where? Access to the surgeries would for most south town dwellers be only via the bypass. We have a reasonable system now, but too much

I AM appalled to learn that the council is even considering siting a new waste management facility right next to the biggest housing development in Blandford at Shaftesbury Lane. Some 300 households will be subjected to the noise, dust, smell, flies and traffic involved in this activity on their doorstep. Much as Blandford deserves a site which is adequate for its needs, surely there must be a more suitable location which could be utilised. R Hammond, Alner Road, Blandford

from all around. It is a remarkable and almost unique example of a Georgian market town, with an interesting history. Set in acres of picturesque countryside, and on the River Stour, what more could you want? But the streets of unlet shops and dilapidated buildings attract very few visitors - and it's a disaster for those who are still trading, I am sure. Like Carole, I say 'Come on,

Blandford'. There is so much potential here, and to actively regenerate the town with the advice of Historic England and specialist developers could bring in tourists, local shoppers and prosperity for all. Pedestrianising the town centre as far as possible would be the first of some brave decisions needed. Sherborne has done it, so why can't Blandford? Name & address supplied

Traffic change proposals are no joke priority is given to pedestrians on the unofficial crossings. Two strategically placed pelican crossings would help the traffic flow. Spending £2.5 million on the Trailway area, on art and on doing up an old arch shows that we are focusing much-needed cash in the wrong direction. Can't wait for Marks and Spencer to open. A ready meal for two, a bottle of wine for £10 and forget about these committees that live on a far-off planet. William Hussey, Address supplied

Quiz night proceeds will help those in need PLEASE may we use your columns to say a big thank you to everyone who supported the Rokon Link's quiz night on 4th September. Thanks to quizmaster Simon Roberts and organiser David Rake, we all had a good time, and raised £218, which will go to support an

agricultural project we are planning in partnership with our friends in the Diocese of Rokon in South Sudan. We are particularly interested in the environmental, nutritional and financial benefits of planting trees to provide fruit and firewood. This meshes well with the vision that the South Sudanese government

has for agriculture and with the plans that local chiefs have developed for their 'bomas' (parishes). So thank you again to everyone who came. Your fun may eventually be turned into fruit trees. Ian Pinder, Chair, Rokon Link Steering Group, Milton and Blandford Deanery

October 2015

LETTERS

Readers’ letters

Food bank’s recipe for success MANY people have asked why the Blandford Food Bank does not put together a recipe book that could go out in food parcels. The answer is that we cannot assume that our customers have anything at all in their larders, and it's therefore very difficult to suggest interesting recipes. So now we have decided to challenge our kind-hearted community. Can you make up an interest-

ing savoury and an interesting sweet recipe with just these ingredients: pasta or rice, Smash or tinned potatoes, pasta sauce, tinned meat, fish and vegetables; rice pudding or custard, milk, sugar, cereal, biscuits, jam and fruit juice. If you need an extra ingredient, you can only include it if you are willing to donate a packet, jar or tin of that ingredient. (It must be

We need to restore pride in our town THE letters from your correspondents Mungo Powney and Elizabeth New reflect the limited aspirations and lack of foresight evident among many in Blandford. The sad truth is that Blandford has very little to offer residents or visitors in the way of quality shops and restaurants, and although there is considerable wealth in the area, evidenced by the expensive cars seen in town, where do the owners go to shop? Poole, Bournemouth and Castlepoint. While this expenditure takes place elsewhere, Blandford will never prosper. Elizabeth New recognises that Blandford is dying on its feet by listing the shops that used to be here - and in the same breath advises people to go to Winton to shop. Even attempts by Ros Nelmes and the Town Team to restore some of the Georgian features to

the town is met with ridicule by short-sighted people who "can't see the need for change". Blandford describes itself as an 'interesting Georgian town', which I would question, but it does have the potential to become an attraction which tourists would be pleased to visit. Everything possible should be done to encourage investment in the town, be it rates concessions or other financial advantages. Growing prosperity brings more local employment and an increase in property values as more people want to be associated with a successful area. So get some pride in the town, and whilst Tesco and Morrisons are highly valued retail establishments, don't criticise new arrivals like Marks and Spencer - not everyone wants to buy cheap food and merchandise. R Hammond Alner Road, Blandford

We need proper shops I WAS interested to read the letter regarding Blandford town centre from Carole Colden in the September issue. She has said what we locals have been saying for years, and that is that we need some more PROPER shops, and only one Boots chemist plus an independent! Now there are talks of pedestrianising the town centre. Just put the centre back to how it was, so there are two lanes of traffic to allow flow when cars reach West Street. How on earth is two-way traffic going to work in the narrow streets now there is more traffic. There used to be twice as many parking spaces in the Market Place, as cars were able to enter at one end and leave from the other. If cars are not allowed to enter the Market Place, how are less able people going to manage? It's going to drive even more people away to shop elsewhere. Lower the parking charges - even better, make parking free. Let's face it, the town "enhancements" have NEVER worked. Helen Rawles Address supplied

something that will keep.) All recipes will be given out in a parcel with, if necessary, the extra donated ingredients. The best recipes will be made into a booklet and given out regularly. Recipes not needing extra ingredients can be sent to Blandford Food Bank, Methodist Church, The Close, Blandford Forum, Dorset DT11 7HA or email blandfordfoodbank@gmail.com. If you are giving us a recipe with an extra ingredient, please take it to the Food Bank on a Tuesday or Thursday morning, 10am to 12 noon. On 8th October there will be a free cookery workshop at the Parish Centre between 10am and 2pm for those accessing the food bank and anyone interested in learning new recipes, especially using the items from the food parcel. For details call 01258 456093. Jenny Galuschka Blandford Food Bank Steering Group

Forum Focus: a ‘little gem’ I JUST felt I must drop you a line to tell you what a 'little gem' you have in Forum Focus. My wife and I did a bit of shopping at Blandford St Mary on Bank Holiday Monday, having not visited Blandford in recent months. As we were leaving the store, we picked up a copy of your magazine. What a thoroughly good 'read' and excellent quality format it is, too! By the end of the evening we had booked two separate shows, for ourselves and friends, at the Sturminster Newton Exchange. Prior to this, we had not known the place even existed! Congratulations again, on the great quality of your magazine. In our opinion, it certainly stands out from all the others we see distributed around the county. Helen & Keith Edwards Corfe Mullen, Wimborne

October 2015

Tributes paid as VJ Day remembered A SERVICE of remembrance at the Blandford Royal British Legion headquarters was led by Bryan Kelly, branch chairman, on 15th August in recognition of the 70th anniversary of VJ Day, the end of the Second World War in Japan. Sgt Phil Harler of the RAF, based

at Blandford Camp, led the prayers, and the Mayor of Blandford Steve Hitchings thanked the Legion for taking the lead in hosting the ceremony. He welcomed guests from Blandford care homes, whose relatives had served in Japan, to the commemoration which was

The service held outside the Blandford Royal British Legion Club to commemorate VJ day on 15th August.

Residents from Blandford care homes attending the service of remembrance.

shared across the world. Paying tribute to all who served in the armed forces from the UK and Empire, civilians and internees, he said Blandford Camp had considerable connection with the Japanese campaign, the 2nd Division Signals having been involved in the action at Kohima. It was an occasion of particular significance for Terence Dear, of Marsh's Court, whose father Sapper Cecil Dear was captured at the fall of Singapore on 15th February 1942 and spent the next three-and-a-half years as a slave on the Thai/Burma Railway. He was kept at Changi until October 1942, and then moved to Tarsao to Tha Makhan from November 1944 to January 1945, where he was involved in the rebuilding of the infamous 'Bridge on the River Kwai' after Allied bombing raids, and survived the worst of the raids on 29th November during which 19 POWs were killed and 68 wounded. He was then moved to Kashu Mountain Camp, Phetburi until August 1945. As the defeat of Japan came closer, the Japanese high command issued orders that all Allied prisoners were to be killed by 28th August 1945. The POWs were made to dig large burial pits round the camps but the collapse of Japan happened so swiftly after the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings that only on Borneo were the instructions carried out. There, 2,400 British and Australian prisoners were massacred, with only six men surviving. More than 12,600 of the 61,811 POWs used to build the ThaiBurma Railway died. Having survived disease, indescribable brutality and bombing by his own side, Sapper Dear was fortunate to be included among the 1,500 POWs on the first ship home, the SS Corfu, which docked in Southampton on October 7th 1945. Also remembering the end of the war in Japan was Blandford newsagent Pauline Murray, whose cousin Stanley Wort spent three nightmare years as a POW, which he described in his book, 'Prisoner of the Rising Sun' published in 2009. Mr Wort, who moved to Connecticut after the war, was the son of Emily and Charles Wort, who lived in Field View, Alexandra Street, Blandford, and after leaving Poole Grammar School had joined the Civil Service in 1937.

Terence Dear with a display on his father, Sapper Cecil Dear.

Pauline Murray with a copy of the book written by her cousin, former POW Stanley Wort.

In April 1940 he enlisted in the Royal Navy, and on Christmas Day 1941, a month after his 21st birthday, was in Hong Kong when it surrendered and he was taken prisoner. He was held in Sham Shui, surviving a diphtheria outbreak thanks to a serum smuggled in by a Japanese Christian, until the end of 1943, when he was transferred to and set to work in one of the slave labour camps at Narumi. At the end of May 1945, he and around 180 fellow prisoners remaining were transferred to Toyama on Japan's West Coast, and it was there in August that they witnessed their Japanese captors bowing before the loudspeakers through which the Emperor announced Japan's surrender.

October 2015

Etching sale charity boost THE Blandford Forum Mental Health Support Willow Tree Group, which last year received ÂŁ3,600 from the auction of a sketch donated by Grayson Perry, has now enlisted the support of another famous artist, Frank Auerbach. His donated etching (above) was auctioned by Duke's of Dorchester on 17th September, and raised ÂŁ1,200. After one year without support from Dorset County Council, the group is continuing to help those with mental health problems with support from a number of organisations, including the Blandford Lions and Rotary and Blandford Town Council. They have also raised money themselves from sales, raffles and car boots, and received donations from many other celebrities to help them survive and provide a sociable environment, home-cooked meals and visits. Anyone interested in helping them in the coming year should visit thewillowtreegroup.co.uk.

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Training day for reading coaches VOLUNTEER reading coaches gathered for a training day at the Adult Learning Centre to hear from Ginny Williams-Ellis, the founder of Read Easy UK. She explained how, with the help of an award-winning manual 'Yes we can read', they can guide new adult readers to an undreamt-of level of literacy. Ginny and the newly appointed Paul and his coach Annabelle at regional trainer, Nicky Connell, Blandford Read Easy UK. showed 13 new coaches how in esteem, improved health and relaone-to-one sessions taking place tionships and above all, the conin quiet, approved venues in venience of being able to read Blandford, the new reader and instructions and directions and the coach work through the phonicsjoy of reading just for pleasure. based manual with no pressures of time or undue expectation until, Two new Blandford readers who usually within six or seven had achieved their literacy goal months, a satisfactory level of were awarded certificates and reading ability is reached. spoke proudly and enthusiastically about their Read Easy experiSpecific difficulties such as dyslexence. ia and more general learning problems are addressed in a symTrained volunteer coaches are pathetic and professional manner, now standing by ready to help and all new readers testify with anyone aged 18 years or over great enthusiasm as to the enorwho struggles with reading and mous benefits that follow from would like help. Contact Ann their new ability to read. Fookes on 07789 771999 or at blandford@readeasy.org.uk. Increased confidence and self-

News in brief HALL and Woodhouse's Beerfest at the brewery in Blandford St Mary on 26th September was this year fundraising in support of the Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance, Teddy 20, the Alzheimer's Society and the Blandford Opportunity Group. See a report and pictures in next month's Forum Focus. BLANDFORD Library Writers is a free, fun and stimulating group for writers of all ages, types and abilities which meets once a month at Blandford Library. For details contact the library on 01258 452075. A BENCH which had been secured to the ground was stolen from an allotment in the Blandford area overnight on 28th August. Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 quoting crime number 55150079242.

New face for Methodists BLANDFORD Methodist Church has the services of a new Deacon in Alison McMillan (above), who took up the post for the Christchurch and Wimborne Methodist Circuit from 1st September. She will be dividing her time between Wimborne and Blandford churches, living in Blandford. Originally from Brighton, after gaining a theology degree at Chichester, she was a religious studies teacher in Oxfordshire, before studying for the Diaconal Order at the Queen's Foundation in Birmingham. She will be involving herself in the community, helping to enhance relationships with other churches, and establishing contacts in both Blandford and Wimborne. A 'Welcome Service' for Alison took place in Wimborne Methodist Church on 3rd September.

MARK Wellman (right), who undertook the RideLondon event cycling 100 miles through London and the Surrey hills with 25,000 other cyclists, completed his ride and raised a massive £2,167 for the Motor Neurone Disease Association. He has particularly thanked the Dolphin pub in Blandford, who with the support of landlord David Tancock got on board with his fundraising efforts to help him to smash his original target of £600.

October 2015

A SUMMER fun day at the Blandford Grange in Milldown Road raised a total of £245 for extra facilities at the home. A key attraction was the Stour Valley Band playing a selection of music, including a rousing chorus of 'Happy Birthday' to resident Jean Russell. There were stalls and a bouncy castle for younger visitors, and Phil Burt brought along his model Burrell steam engine. Manager Caroline Bacon thanked all those who had helped with a very successful day.

October 2015

Dachshund sewing challenge

Jack Delaney interviewing Autumn Sharif on his online blog JDTV.

Torch bearer Jack’s new blogging role BLANDFORD Olympic torch bearer Jack Delaney, who was chosen to take part in the 2012 relay when he was 17, is asking people to support him in his new venture, an online blogging channel through which he shows interviews with some of the stars he has met. Jack, now aged 20, was born in York but raised in Blandford, and has to cope with a rare muscle disorder, arthrogryposis, and scoliosis. For as long as he can remember he has loved attending live concerts and sporting events, and has developed a strong interest in personalities and collection of memorabilia. In 2009 he became ambassador for the charity U Support, which

helps disabled and disadvantaged children attend sporting and cultural events, and it was in that role that he was selected to carry the torch through Blandford in the 2012 relay. After finishing his A-levels at school he went on to volunteer for U Support in Southampton, and has now set up JDTV, with interviews from the worlds of sport, music and food including those with three friends from the BBC1 show The Voice. "Jamie Johnson, Chris Royal and the beautiful Autumn Sharif have supported me from the start and inspired me by showing that dreams are possible," he said. Find JDTV at officialjdtv.com or on Facebook and Twitter @officialjdtv.

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COTTON Moon, in East Street, Blandford, is running a fun sewing competition to raise much-needed funds for Woofability, the Dorset-based charity that trains assistance dogs for the disabled. The competition is to sew a fun and colourful dachshund, the more unusual the better. It will be judged on Saturday 17th October by a representative of Woofability during 'Sew Saturday', a national event which aims to bring awareness of sewing and haberdashery shops on the high street and is being supported by Sew Magazine and Simplicity. There are two categories in the competition, under-10s and adults, and the winners will be presented with a Sewing Project hamper. When you enter, at a cost of £3 with all money going to Woofability, you will be given the pattern and instructions and 10 per cent off any supplies needed to make your own unique dachshund. Call into Cotton Moon and fill in the entry form, pop on your creative hat and take your little sausage dog back on or before Sew Saturday. Cotton Moon's take on 'Sew Saturday' will be a fun-filled day in the theme of a 'Crafty School Fair' with competitions like Name the Owl, the Crafty Tombola and Guess How Many

St John seeking volunteers ST John Ambulance has opened a new adult unit in Blandford and is looking for more volunteers. The aim is to train more life-savers and provide first-aid cover at a wider range of events. The unit's first meeting, with ten volunteers including teenagers progressing from the town's successful cadet unit, was held at the SureStart Children's Centre in Black Lane, and weekly meetings will be held at the same venue. Debbie Smith, Blandford's volunteer unit manager, said: "It's very exciting to be starting a new St John Ambulance group for adults in a town that's always been

hugely supportive of us and our work with young people. "We believe that no-one should die because they needed first-aid and didn't get it, which is why we teach people skills that could help them be the difference between life and death. "Our new recruits will be trained to a high standard to provide first-aid treatment to patients at events in the community, such as concerts, shows and sports events at the local, regional and national level everything from the Bournemouth Air Show to the London Marathon." For more information about joining St John email ian.shortman@sja.org.uk.

A Woofability dachshund created at Cotton Moon Buttons, and they hope to have a small sewing project that adults and children can do too. For more information email info.cottonmoon@gmail.com or keep up with the event on facebook/cottonmoonblandford. ROTARIANS in Blandford, who collected over £1,500 for the people of Nepal over the early May bank holiday weekend, have heard from fellow Rotarians how the money they raised has been used. Sturminster Newton Rotarian Chris Hardiman has worked on a birthing centre project in a remote area of Nepal for several years and visited last year at his own expense, having developed reliable working relationships with the Nepal Trust. He says there are many problems with the distribution of disaster relief funds in Nepal, and he and Trust chairman Mike Love are determined to ensure that money donated by North Dorset Rotary clubs is used to fund projects that will make a real difference to very poor people's lives.

Story of success for young writers SIX aspiring writers from The Blandford School took part in this year's Rotary Young Writers competition, a nationally recognised literary event organised by the Rotary Clubs of Great Britain and Ireland and co-ordinated at a local level by the Blandford Stour Rotary Club. The judges were very impressed with the standard and imagination displayed in the entries, which were split into two age groups. Of the final essays, two were forwarded to the Rotary District panel of judges and one went on to be awarded the third place on a national level - a terrific achievement from those who took part in this annual competition. The Rotary Club of Blandford have received 50 entries for their short story competition which they hope will become an annual event. A presentation evening will be held next month in the Corn THE Friends of Angus Wood on St Leonard's Avenue will be holding a spooky Halloween event for children in Angus Wood on Saturday 31st October. The event for children up to age 14 will start at 6pm and go until 8pm. Anyone who would like to help with the decorations starting this month should contact Sylvia Hixson Andrews on 01258 458911.

SCHOOLS

October 2015

Teacher Suzanne sets sail for a major challenge

Pictured (from left): Sally Wilson, head teacher, Blandford School, students Aislinn Lewis-Smith, Mansoon Tamang, Jaime Nicholas, Georgina Bennetts and Teagan Roper; and Chris Grant from Blandford Stour Rotary Club. Not shown is Joe Carter who was awarded third National place. Exchange, where 10 shortlisted authors will read their respective entries prior to the announcement of the winners, with prizes in three categories for adults, young people and the best story set in the Blandford area. Competition organiser, Rotarian Adrian Ford, said: "The idea of the competition is to give short story writers an opportunity to match their skills against others in the local area and be part of a significant charity fund-raising event. We wanted the event not only to appeal to all sections of the community as entrants, but also to involve local businesses and the Town Council." Mr Ford added: "We are very grateful to our sponsors for this event, Beatons Tearooms and Bookshop, who are putting up three prizes; Blandford Forum Town Council who have offered a splendid 'Mayor's Cup' for the overall winner; and Healthy Pets (Blandford) Ltd who have covered some of the competition's incidental expenses. There will be free entry for everyone to the presentation evening starting 6.30pm on Friday 6th November, and a licensed bar, canapĂŠs and other refreshments will be available.

KNIGHTON House School is sponsoring a member of staff, Suzanne Hughes (pictured right), as crew member in the London to Rio leg of the Clipper Round the World Race, founded by the first round the world single-handed sailor Sir Robin Knox Johnson. The race raises money for a chosen charity, in this case UNICEF, and crew members, not necessarily from a sailing background, face a significant challenge. A member of the sports staff at Knighton House, Suzanne is a member of the crew for Leg 1 5,200 nautical miles from London to Rio - and left St Katharine Docks in London on 30th August for an adventure expected to last 30 days, depending on the winds. She said: "The Clipper Race will, I am sure, be a fantastic experience for me as it is for all who take part. I am very excited about being part of the crew - at the age of 51 it is not something you do without a great deal of thought and training. It will be a personal challenge and I am sure I will learn a huge amount in terms of life skills as well as sailing skills." Sarah Wicks, Headmistress of Knighton House School, said: "We are immensely proud to support Suzanne. It not only takes huge personal investment and training but also courage to do something so far away from her everyday life teaching sport. I know that she will find the experience enriching and will pass this on to the pupils on her return in October."

Staff and pupils have been keenly tracking the progress of Suzanne and the Clipper crew at clipperroundtheworld.com. * In September the school welcomed 29 new pupils, bringing the pupil roll to 121, its highest in over five years. On 19th September the school welcomed back former pupils, staff, parents and friends of the school to celebrate its 65th anniversary. Following a church service guests were able to have a tour of the school, picnic on the front lawn and watch displays, as well as catch up with old friends. On Saturday 3rd October, the school is holding an open day with activities themed on 'Sun, Moon & Stars' from 9.30am to 12.30pm for children from the ages of 3-11. Places can be booked by emailing admissions@knightonhouse.co.uk. Blandford's Craft Club has restarted after its summer break on the first Tuesday of every month at 6.45pm in the Parish Centre. It is an opportunity to take your own craft work along while socialising with others. Tea and biscuits are provided.

October 2015

School gets licence for weddings KNIGHTON House has been granted a civil ceremony licence allowing couples to marry within the house and grounds of the wedding and events venue which opened in the spring. The licence covers several indoor and outdoor spaces including The Portman Suite, which has been renovated over the summer and can accommodate up to 90 guests, along with the Drawing Room and Library at the front of the house, the cobbled courtyard and the woodland summerhouse. The grand 18th century property was formerly the dowager house of the Portman family estate, and since 1950 has been home to the school which celebrates its 65th anniversary in the autumn. To celebrate the opening of The Portman Suite, there will be an open house event on Sunday 25th October from 2pm to 6pm when a selection of suppliers will be exhibiting. For more information contact the venue co-ordinator Lucy Hinks on 07759 350407, by email to lucy@knightonhouseweddings.co.uk, or see the website knightonhouseweddings.co.uk.

Ringing the changes IT was with great excitement that Okeford Fitzpaine welcomed Bernard Trowbridge into school for the first ringing of the newly restored bell to announce the start of a new academic year. The school bell will become part of village life marking the start of the school day in a traditional way. On hearing the bell the children went into school ready to start the new term. It also rang the changes for the school, welcoming the new headteacher Alison Chant, as well as Huw Thomas as the new teacher for years 5 and 6, and chair of governors Dee Sale, who took up her role at the end of the last school year.

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SCHOOLS

School’s pride over students’ exam results MORE than two-thirds of students at The Blandford School taking GCSE exams this year achieved five or more A*-C grades, and nearly 60 per cent passed with A*-C grades in five subjects including English and mathematics. Performance in English was phenomenal, with an 88 per cent pass rate at A*-C. The highest achievement was for Niko Zachary, who not only achieved an A grade in AS additional mathematics but has also an extremely impressive seven A*s and four As in his GCSEs. Superb results were also achieved by Jasmine Hancock with 11 As, Bethan Amey (3 A*s, 7 As and 1C), Hannah Smith (4 A*s, 6 As and 1B), Alyce Peaty (4A*s, 5 As, 1B and 1C), Luke Powell (5 A*s, 4 As and 2Bs), Emma Sully (5 A*s, 4 As and 2Bs), Conor Mackenzie (2 A*s, 6 As, 2 Bs and 1C), and Verity Ellis (2 A*s, 6 As and 2Bs). Headteacher Sally Wilson said: "I am thrilled for our students who have worked extremely hard for these results. So many youngsters in this year group took advantage of lunchtime, afterschool and holiday revision sessions which definitely improved their performance. We are always delighted with our 'high fliers' and there are 22 of those this year - they should all give themselves a pat on the back. "Over the years we have worked very hard to improve progress between Key Stage 2 and 4. Students of all abilities should be equally proud of the progress they have made.”

High flier Niko Zachary with seven A*s, four As and an A grade in AS additional mathematics.

Hannah Smith, left, with four A*s, six As and one B, and her friend Lucy Brunsden.

Bethan Amey, who now has 11 GCSE's, include three A*, seven A and 1C.

Luke Powell with five A*s, four As and 2Bs.

FARMING

October 2015

The View from the Hill by George Hosford More from George on viewfromthehill.org.uk

EAPING the last of the harvest at around 5.30pm on Friday 4th September was a huge relief, after endless days watching the rain sweep through again and again, making progress impossible. The crops need to be dry before the combine can process them - barley, for example, can stand very little rain before the straw wraps around all the moving parts on the header and runs the risk of burning out drive belts and breaking shafts. A couple of days were lost when the straw chopper belt burnt out, and a breakage in the sieve area inside the rear of the combine took a lot of sweat and grunting to remove and replace. The last three days were a frantic rush trying to get finished so various members of the team could enjoy the Dorchester Show and the Steam Fair. On the Thursday we cut until 1am as it was a good dry evening and dew didn't arrive till quite late - around 350 tonnes of wheat in one day, close to 35 tonnes per hour coming through the combine. A better-than-average yield in all crops is very fortunate, since grain prices are down by between ÂŁ20 and ÂŁ50 per tonne compared to 12 months and 18 months ago. Our friends the dairy farmers are looking down the barrel of a loaded gun in

terms of milk prices but could get some relief from lower feed prices. But I wonder how many readers have noticed food prices getting cheaper? The raw materials we produce represent a very small proportion of the costs. The poppy harvest was completed a gnat's whisker before the worst of the rain set in. The contractor brought in his forage harvester and cleared nearly all in just a day-and-a-half, and the trailer drivers had their work cut out hauling 50 loads back to the store. See the machine in action at www.viewfromthehill.org.uk During the damper periods we managed to get all our new season oilseed rape sown. The emerging rape is at its most vulnerable when its little cotyledons (first leaves) are very attractive to passing slugs and flea beetles in particular. After a couple more weeks, a few expanding true leaves should be big enough to fend off more attacks, till the pigeons move in during winter. The use of some insecticidal seed dressings in oilseed rape is a contentious issue. The neonicotinoid family of chemicals are highly effective at preventing early season attack by flea beetle when used as a seed dressing in rape in particular, and can mean less spraying with its risk

of collateral damage to other species. The suggestion that neonicotinoids might damage bees led the European Parliament to ban them, requiring concrete proof that they don't harm bees, and they remain banned on the precautionary principle. It is extremely difficult to prove a negative, but if proved I will be first to call for a ban. Until then we should be able to use all tools available to grow crops as safely and efficiently as possible. In the last few weeks we have imported a large amount of chicken muck, lime and fertiliser for our autumn-sown crops, which needs prompt incorporation in the soil to cut down the smell and loss of nutrient by oxidation in the air. This is keeping Gary busy with various cultivation rigs. If it wasn't possible for the baler to be in the field at the same

time as the combine, the straw often got soaked, and lying in rows it takes much longer to dry out than when standing, so the tedders and rakes have to be brought in to spread it and row it up again for baling when dry. This has happened several times in the same fields this year, frustrating both for the buyer and for us when we want to get on with cultivation and preparation for the next crop. Last week we mowed off and baled some of our headland margins, where the flowering is largely over. We do this roughly once in every three years to encourage better flowers next year by reducing fertility which makes competing grasses less vigorous. A useful by-product of this is some high roughage, low calorie silage for the cows, which keeps them busy in the winter, but does not make them fat.

October 2015

Sasha takes the title

THIRTEEN-year-old Liam Tuck caught this pike in the river Stour on Bank Holiday Monday while fishing by the black bridge with friends who all have fishing licences. Unfortunately he didn't have his scales to weigh the fish, but going by other catches he thinks it was probably around seven or eight pounds. A keen fisherman since taking it up last year, Liam goes fishing to the Stour most days, and also enjoys going to Chesil beach and Todber.

TWO junior members of Blandford Bowling Club contested the final of the inaugural under-16s girls' singles bowls competition held at Dorchester on 5th September. The competition was four sets each of five ends and the spectators were very impressed by the high level of competence of Millie Tuck and Sasha Osmond. This has been achieved because both are regular attenders at the Blandford Junior Section coaching sessions which are held every Saturday morning. The outcome for the trophy could not have been closer with each girl winning two sets causing a play-off of one bowl, and even this was a measure before Sasha was declared winner. The cups were presented by Dorset Ladies' President Pamela Montgomery.

More singers sought BLANDFORD Choral society is looking for new members to help celebrate 70 years of singing with an exciting programme of music including a carol concert at Blandford's parish church and a performance at the Free Expression festival next year. Both will be under the auspices of their new directors Dr Richard Hall and Richard Marchant. There will also be an opportunity to sing with the Dorset Guild of Choirs during the spring term. Established in 1946, the Society celebrates its 70th anniversary during this musical year, but evidence suggest that it existed in a more informal way earlier, and

could now actually be 140 years old. It would like to celebrate the anniversary with as many people from Blandford and the surrounding area as possible, so anyone interested in joining is invited to go along and join in their first two rehearsals, held in Blandford St Mary Primary School every Monday evening between 7.30 and 9.30pm, free of charge. There are no auditions, and everyone is encouraged to 'have a go'. For more information contact chairman Julie Newall on 01258 456721 or see their Facebook page for more details.

Verge problem solved THE overgrown verge at the junction of Milldown Road and Jubilee Way on which we reported in August has now been cut back, although its ownership has still not been established. County Councillor Barrie Cooper has reported to concerned residents and town councillors that he had arranged for the Highways Authority team to cut it back, and for it to go on to their regular cutting schedule. Anyone wanting to report problems with overgrown verges, hedges and trees, potholes, flooding, drainage, street lights or abandoned vehicles can do so quickly and easily by going to the Dorset for You website 'Roads and Transport' section and clicking 'Report a road problem'.

Millie Tuck (left) runner-up and Sasha Osmond with the winner's trophy.

Rotary gift box plea BLANDFORD Stour Rotary are once again running their Christmas shoebox appeal to provide boxes full of gifts for the many disadvantaged children who would otherwise have no presents. Each year different countries are chosen to be recipients, and this year Rotary in UK and Ireland will be delivering to children in Albania, Montenegro and Moldova. Last year Blandford Stour Rotary had a record year sending out 304 boxes, an increase of just over 100 on the previous year,

thanks to many in the local community. Club members provide many boxes, but they need help from the local community, schools, youth organisations and others to achieve this. If you, your school, workplace or family want to help making up some boxes, email Jan at conlons@lineone.net or phone 01258 454463 for further information and leaflets. Leaflets are also available at Roberts Media Services in Salisbury Street, Blandford.

October 2015

Forum Focus - forthcoming meetings & events OCTOBER Thursday 1st October: Blandford Museum First Thursday talk, Edrys Birkham, 'Roman excavations at Bryanston School', 7 for 7.30pm Friday 2nd October: Film Night, Blandford Corn Exchange, 7.30pm, The Railway Man (sponsored by Blandford Camp) An Autumnal Evening of Song with Dulcima, The Gravellers, Mike and Linda Brown and Sam Ryall, proceeds to church and Air Ambulance, All Saints' Church, Hilton, 7.30pm Blandford United FC Sportsmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dinner with Phil Thompson, Crown Hotel, tickets 07787 903434 Saturday 3rd October: Bus2Go trip to Stourhead, see bus2godorset.org Cider Day, Clapcott's Farm, Spetisbury, 11.30am to 4pm. Bring washed apples to be pressed and clean containers for juice (50p a litre) Sunday 4th October: Round Robin Ramblers meet 2pm, Badbury Rings car park off B3082, for 4.5-mile walk, Kingston Lacy and Badbury Rings Monday 5th October and every Monday: Fellowship at Blandford Evangelical Church, 2.30pm Monday 5th October: Blandford Floral Group meets United Reformed Church, 2.15pm, Angela Norris presents 'A Few of My Favourite Things', competition: Recycling Autumn Thursday 8th October: Free cookery workshop, Blandford Parish Centre, 10am to 2pm, details 01258 456093 Blood Donor Sessions, Crown Hotel, Blandford, 12.50 to 3.30pm and 4.30 to 7.15pm Thursday 8th to Saturday 10th October: Tarrant Valley Players present 'There Goes the Bride', 7.30pm, tickets 01258 863476 Friday 9th October: Blandford Farmers Market, 9am to 1pm, Market Place Saturday 10th October: Wessex branch of Western Front Association meets 2 for 2.30pm Pimperne village hall, talk by Martin Willoughby on the French Foreign Legion in the Great War, details 01929 553060 Sunday 11th October: Pimperne PTA Autumn Market (10.30am to 2pm) in the Village Hall and new school grounds Angel Exit present 'The Ballad of Martha Brown', New Barn Theatre, Milton Abbas, 4pm, booking 01258 882322

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

Good finish for paint party A COLOURFEST paint party planned for August Bank Holiday Monday had to be relocated to the Deer Park Riding Stables when poor weather left the Crown Meadows waterlogged. But the event went ahead successfully, including live music, stalls and refreshments in support of the NCS charity in support of child carers and thoroughly enjoyed by all. Monday 12th October: Vintage at the Village Hall, Corn Exchange, Blandford Blandford Forum Railway Club meeting with guest speaker Graham Clackett (Branch lines and Byways), Scout Hut, Eagle House Gardens, 7.30 to 9.30pm Wednesday 14th October: Bus2Go trip to Holm Nursery, see bus2godorset.org Blandford branch of the NHS Retirement Fellowship meets, Committee Room, Blandford Community Hospital 10.15am Thursday 15th October: Blandford Art Society meets Pimperne Village Hall at 2pm, 'Rubens'. A talk by Neil Houghton. Details from Tina Rowley 03330 112174 Friday 16th October: Oxfam Quiz Night and supper, Anne Biddlecombe Hall, Tarrant Keyneston, 7 for 7.30pm, tickets 01258 452237 Saturday 17th October: Sew Saturday and Woofability competition judging, Cotton Moon, East Street Friends of Blandford Community Hospital Autumn Fair, Corn Exchange, Blandford, 9.30am to 4pm

Cats Protection coffee morning and stalls at Woodhouse Gardens Pavilion, Blandford 10am - 12:30 pm Tarrant Keyneston Primary School reunion, bar and hog roast, Tarrant Keyneston village hall, 4 to 10pm, please call 01258 830076 Cancelled - Blandford Museum Quiz Night, Williams Opportunity Hall, Whitecliff Gardens Blandford School reunion for students who left in 1976/77/78, 7pm, Live music, disco, buffet and bar, entrance by ticket only from Steph (Chimes) Sheppard 01258 450342, Karen (Thorne) Lalor 01258 459252 Monday 19th October: Blandford Blind Club meets Williams Opportunity Hall, 2 to 4pm, handbells, bring and buy sale Child Okeford Centre for Care and Learning meeting, David Kjaer on 'The Return of the Great Bustard', 7.30pm: to reserve a ticket call 01258 860767 Tuesday 20th October: Blood Donor Sessions, Crown Hotel, Blandford, 12.50 to 3.30pm and 4.30 to 7.15pm

Wednesday 21th October: Blandford Carers meet Durweston village hall 2 to 4pm, speaker from The Samaritans Dorset Wildlife Trust, 'What is Living in Dorset's Chalk Streams?' by Angus Menzies (DWT Researcher). 7.30pm Fontmell Magna Village Hall (SP7 0JU) Friday 23rd October: Film Night, Blandford Corn Exchange, 7.30pm, Far From The Madding Crowd Quiz Night and supper, Tarrant Hinton village hall, 7 for 7.30pm Friday 23rd to Sunday 25th October: Tears in the Fence poetry festival, White Horse, Stourpaine Saturday 24th October Bus2Go trip to Wyevale Garden Centre, see bus2godorset.org Regeneration Lecture, 'T E Lawrence's life and death in Dorset' by Peter Preen, Corn Exchange, Blandford, 6pm Sunday 25th October: Knighton House Durweston DT11 0PY, weddings & events Open House 2 to 6pm. Enquiries: lucy@knightonhouseweddings.co .uk Monday 26th October: Screenbites Family Day and marmalade competition, Anne Biddlecombe hall, Tarrant Keyneston, 3pm for competition entries, 6.30pm for public tastings and 'Paddington', details 01963 32525 or 01258 452452 Monday 26th to Tuesday 27th October: Performing Arts Theatre Academy 'Thriller' workshop, The Blandford School, details 07920755791 Wednesday 28th October: Bus2Go trip to Weymouth Fire and Rescue, see bus2godorset.org Blandford Forum Townswomen's Guild meets 2pm, Williams Opportunity Hall, Whitecliff Gardens, 'History of Blandford Camp' Col RV Brannigan (Retd), visitors welcome Friday 30th October: Last Friday social evening in the Blandford Museum Victorian Garden, from 4.30pm Film Night, Durweston Village Hall, 'Far From the Madding Crowd', 7.30pm. Saturday 31st October: Halloween party for up to 14year-olds, Angus Wood, St Leonards Avenue, Blandford, 6 to 8pm, with the Blandford Environmental Trust Charity quiz night and fish and chip supper in aid of Lions club charities, Winterborne Whitchurch village hall