May 2016 Forum Focus

FORUM FOCUS

Top marks for school catering chief Karen: Page 11

For Blandford and surrounding villages Issue No. 50

May 2016

Doctors reaching crisis point 4-week wait for routine appointments GPs dealing with 90 patients a day A CRISIS in NHS GP surgeries, which has been felt throughout Dorset and across the country, is now taking its toll in Blandford.

Whitecliff Surgery's non-clinical partner and practice manager Carol Tilley said in her April report: "The practice is reaching crisis point."

Dr Jonathan Evans, senior partner at the same surgery, is quoted in the national press as saying: "The situation is unsustainable and is leading to the demise of UK general practice, with disastrous implications for patients and the NHS as a whole."

Complaints have been made over four-week waiting times for routine appointments.

Dr Evans said he and his GP colleagues were each contacting 70 to 90 patients - one every nine minutes - over a working day that stretches to between 12 and 14 hours. The European average is 25 contacts per day.

He said calls for a third doctors' surgery in Blandford highlighted the fundamental problem of a lack of resources in the NHS to support such development.

"Sadly, nationwide there has been no significant investment in GP surgeries for over 11 years. If another surgery were to be built, the possibility of finding GPs and nurses to staff it is at an all-time low.

Lidl sets its sights on Blandford

"The medical practices of North Dorset have been advertising for a number of years to recruit doctors, with minimal success. New figures from the Royal College of General Practitioners show Dorset has more than 25% of GP posts vacant."

Mrs Tilley said that, with one doctor having left, two on maternity leave, another off long-term sick and a national GP shortage, it was very difficult to find an available locum to cover for absentees.

The situation has persisted for some time. A year ago the practice reported a similar shortage of GPs. Steps to address the problem included the appointment of an advanced nurse practitioner to deal with appropriate cases and a community pharmacist to undertake medication reviews by phone.

Mrs Tilley said the practice continued to look for locums and advanced nurse practitioners to support the GPs with urgent care work, while the secretarial team are now working as PAs to ensure that the GPs only deal with admin paperwork that requires clinical input.

Over the last three months, across the Blandford and Child Okeford surgery sites, the practice has offered 26,114 clinical appointments face to face and by

Council puts its HQ up for sale

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phone, of which nearly a quarter were for urgent, same day appointments.

On 29th March this year there were a record 161 urgent calls.

The average of nearly 6.4 appointments per patient per year

Princess pays a visit to Pimperne

FORUM FOCUS: Your FREE monthly community newspaper

compares with the Royal College of GPs' recommendation of 5.3 appointments per patient per year, and 315 of them (five per cent) were missed last month.

Additionally, she reported that the To Page 4

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May 2016

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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: Morrisons, Greyhound Yard; M&S Langton Road; 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.

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Council to sell HQ but questions unresolved NORTH Dorset District Councillors have agreed to put their Nordon headquarters in Salisbury Road, Blandford, up for sale on the open market.

Following discussions since 2014 and agreement in principle last October to the disposal of the site, members met on 4th April to agree the marketing strategy and external marketing with a budget of 1.25 per cent of the sale price, together with setting up a project team with member involvement to plan and prepare for the move.

The council's strategic director Martin Hamilton said: "The Nordon office site will be marketed on an unconditional basis, meaning that the sale is not dependant on the securing of planning permission. Strutt & Parker will be marketing the site and the details will include plan-

ning information.

"The council has committed to providing a local council centre at Blandford. Moving from Nordon will involve carefully planning across a range of issues, such as how the public will continue to access the services they need, where staff will be based, where meetings of Cabinet, Scrutiny and Council, for example, will take place.

“This work will be guided by the Member Project Board. At this stage, we have yet to reach a conclusion on any of these issues."

North Dorset has already joined up staffing and services with West Dorset District and Weymouth & Portland Borough councils, making significant savings, and is seeking to further streamline services and increase

income to reduce costs by almost £2.6 million by 2020.

"These changes are about matching our resources to the demands of the communities that we serve," said Mr Hamilton.

"I would like to reassure people in North Dorset that we are committed to the delivery of services and that council officers will still operate in the heart of Blandford for residents to access council services.

"The sale of Nordon will result in some significant savings, which is essential if we are going to meet our target savings."

A number of staff who were working in Blandford have now moved to offices in Dorchester and Weymouth, but a spokesman said that to date only a dozen staff have left its employ since 1st October 2015.

Spectrum merger plan SPECTRUM residents are being consulted on proposals to merge their housing association with Sovereign, another larger housing association in the south-west, based in Newbury.

Proposals for the merger were outlined to North Dorset District Councillors by Spectrum chief executive Richard Hill.

He said it was partly in response to changes in the social housing rent formula announced by the government in the recent Budget which would lead to a loss of £12 million in revenue to Spectrum over the next four years.

He said there was "a good fit" between the two associations and the merger would increase capacity and operational efficiency.

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May 2016

Churches unite for Easter walk BLANDFORD Churches' Walk of Witness on Good Friday followed a different format from previous years when a short service was held in the churchyard in front of the parish church rather than in the Market Place where craft stalls occupied the Shambles.

The Rector, the Rev Jonathan Triffitt, gave a talk during a service attended by representatives of all the town’s churches before setting out on the walk, during which prayers were said around the town.

The walk, in which a wooden cross is carried through the streets in front of the marching congregation, followed a different route around the town centre, up Salisbury Street and through The Plocks and The Close to Damory Street before returning along East Street to the church.

It had followed a hot cross bun service in the church early on Good Friday morning, and shoppers in the streets were offered hot cross buns by the marchers. In the afternoon many churchgoers attended a more meditative Taizé service, taking the opportunity to lay down a symbolic black ribbon at the foot of the cross.

On Easter Sunday a united benefice service at the Parish Church welcomed the new Bishop of Sherborne, Karen Gorham.

Lidl confirm plans to open a store on site spurned by Asda NEWS that Lidl are seeking planning permission to build a discount store on the site off Shaftesbury Lane which had been earmarked for an Asda has been warmly welcomed by local people.

The German supermarket chain pulled out all the stops when they launched their bid for a 1689 square metre sales area and associated office space on a mezzanine floor, writing to all residents inviting them to a consultation in the Corn Exchange on 11th April.

There the hundreds attending were offered Lidl products to sample. Residents were also sent a form on which to respond.

The application, which has been submitted to North Dorset District Council, is for only about half the site which would have been occupied by Asda, leaving the rear of the field between Glenmore Industrial Estate and the bypass vacant.

It makes provision for 174 parking spaces, including 13 disabled and 16 parent and child spaces and 16 secure cycle stands, and promises up to 40 full- and parttime jobs for local people.

Comparison with the earlier Asda application, which promised up to 250 jobs in a 2,500 square metre store and £573,000 funding for a package of measures to mitigate the impact on the town centre, is inevitable.

Discussion locally is already focusing on how any Section 106 money might be used to compensate the town centre for the loss of business as a result of Lidl's arrival.

Ian O'Gorman, the company's

head of property acquisitions, said feedback had already confirmed that support for a shuttle bus serving both Lidl and the town centre would be appreciated.

Asda had agreed to support an additional two journeys per hour for three years, costing £240,000, together with funding for the appointment of a town centre manager and other improvements.

But Lidl have been quick to point out that their strategy is to offer customers the highest quality products at the lowest prices through neighbourhood stores serving local needs, and the limited range of products and modest turnover will ensure that any impact on Blandford town centre is minimal.

Mr O'Gorman, who confirmed last August that Lidl were actively seeking to move into Blandford, admitted that negotiations for the site were already underway when Asda announced they had abandoned their project.

"We couldn't say anything until the contract for sale subject to planning permission with the landowners was finalised," he said.

Lidl's new stores offer wider aisles, more circulation space and more fresh products, together with improved customer facilities and a full in-store bakery, together with better staff welfare facilities for staff, who in October last year became the first in British supermarkets to be paid the National Living Wage.

Formal consultations on the application began on 11th April and will close on 2nd May.

The Cross is carried through the Market Place as part of the Blandford Churches Walk of Witness on Good Friday.

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May 2016

Katrina: accused denies murder charge A MAN charged with the murder of Blandford hairdresser Katrina O'Hara has pleaded not guilty at Winchester Crown Court. The trial of Stuart Thomas, 49, of Salisbury Road, Blandford, is due to start on 11th July.

Katrina, 44, was found dead at Jock's Barbers, East Street, on January 7th, and a post-mortem concluded that she had died as a

result of two stab wounds to the chest.

A service of thanksgiving was held in Blandford Parish Church on 19th March for the life of the mother-of-three when family members, friends, colleagues and customers were among nearly 200 people who gathered to pay tribute.

Following the service, which was

Balloons are released outside Blandford Parish Church in memory of Katrina O'Hara.

led by Blandford Rector, the Rev Jonathan Triffitt, balloons were released outside the church in her memory.

Anne-Marie Purvis described Katrina's early life as one of six children brought up in Bathgate, West Lothian, her marriage and family, the amazing bond which had developed between Katrina and her daughter, Morgan, born in 1999, and her move to Blandford where she retrained as a hairdresser, at one stage opening her own shop.

Eldest son Kyle spoke movingly of her sense of humour and understanding, her unconditional love for her family and friends, and her extraordinary strength in facing life's challenges. "We promise to make you proud," he said.

Mr Triffitt said her three children had faced a difficult time since her death with integrity, courage and grace which was an inspiration to everyone.

"Katrina was a vibrant, creative, fun-loving and family-centred

Katrina O’Hara: tributes. woman who stood out in a crowd for all the right reasons and touched people's lives in a way that words fail to express."

Quoting the words of her son he said: "Out of one act of evil there have been a thousand acts of love and kindness."

A funeral service was held in Katrina's home town of Bathgate in February.

Doctors at crisis point From Page 1 practice was being asked to repay £53,000 overpaid in error

by NHS England three years ago, despite failed attempts to seek clarification and a breakdown of the payment, which had been spent on clinical services.

"Repayment of this amount of money and the £77,000 personal medical service review funding reduction will mean that services will inevitably be impacted," she said.

Sarah Dummer-Wade, practice manager at the nearby Eagle House Surgery, was unable to comment without first speaking to the partners, which was not possible before Forum Focus went to

press. She also declined to reveal whether or not the practice was accepting new patients.

However, at a meeting of the practice's patient participation group in January, she spoke of the increasing pressure on reception and admin staff and training of five new members since September.

She said GP recruitment was difficult, and Eagle House was facing the same challenges as other practices. Strategies being considered included admin support where appropriate and possible, and recruiting of another health care assistant.

Letters: Page 14.

A MASSIVE sale of jumble by the Blandford CARES team generated over £800 for the project launched to help refugees in the so-called 'Jungle' in Calais.

In addition to donated items on sale brought back from Calais as unsuitable for the refugees, unsold items raised £200 through 'Cash for Cash'.

The event also attracted more donations of goods of value to the refugees, and attracted more supporters and volunteers for the project launched by Mike and Suzy Hearn, who have taken van loads of clothing and other goods from Blandford to Calais since last year.

"The event was directly responsible for over £170 in sponsorship and the opportunity for people to deliver it personally and talk to us about our experiences," said Mr Hearn. "We received a lot of items suitable for delivery to refugee camps in Calais, Greece and elsewhere, and thanks to the efforts of our widening team of supporters a further £400 has been raised selling higher quality items on eBay." For more information on Blandford CARES phone 01258 458411 or email hearn@forumsprings.plus.com.

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May 2016

Royal approval for new village school PIMPERNE's new primary school was given the royal seal of approval when Princess Anne, The Princess Royal, officially opened and toured the building next to the village hall.

After meeting the children, the Princess thanked them for saying on the plaque that she had opened the school, although it had actually opened when the pupils themselves cut the ribbons at the classroom doors in April last year.

It marked the achievement of the governors, staff, parents and pupils who had waited nine years to become the last school to be replaced or extended following the switch from three-tier to twotier education in the Blandford area in 2004/5.

The Princess was presented on arrival by the Lord Lieutenant of Dorset, Angus Campbell, to civic dignitaries, North Dorset MP Simon Hoare and representatives of Dorset County Council, as well as to chair of governors Steven Fielding and headteacher Jerome

de Silva, who escorted her around the school, introducing her to staff, members of the parent/teacher association, and the seven 10-year-old house captains.

They then accompanied her to meet the pupils, teachers and helpers in the Reception, Chestnut (Year 1), Cherry (Year 2), Willow (Year 3), Sycamore (Year 6), Silver Birch (Year 4), Oak (Year 5) classes, where she learnt of their recent success in a maths competition on the online website Sumdog.

In the last classroom the Princess met governors, contractors, builders, volunteers and local representatives before proceeding to the main hall where she was invited to unveil the plaque and sign the visitors' book.

Finally she was presented with a posy by four-year-old Olivia Brown and 11-year-old Owen Wallis, the school's youngest and oldest pupils.

Among the guests was Cathy

Pre-school’s hope for new premises THE Easter Bunny hopped along to give children sweet treats at Larksmead Preschool's Easter coffee morning.

The activities, consisting of cake sales, raffle, tombola, children's crafts and face painting, raised ÂŁ150.

The pre-school is raising money to fund new premises, having moved to temporary accommodation at The Lodge, Nordon, from its base for 33 years at Larksmead Pavilion in Blandford.

There is now a possibility of being able to build a childcare facility not far from where they originally began.

The process to get the project underway has started, with careful consideration being given to the impact the undertaking will have on the local community.

Permanent premises will secure good quality early years education and affordable

childcare at the top end of town for years to come.

The pre-school would be grateful for any support from individuals, organisations or businesses, be it financial or practical, to enable them to see the project to fruition. They can be contacted by email at larksmead.preschool@gmail.com, in writing to The Lodge, Nordon, 58 Salisbury Road, Blandford, or phone 01258 456383.

The Princess Royal chats to pupils in Willow class at Pimperne Primary School with teacher Carole Brannigan.

Rimmer, head teacher for many years at the old school in School Lane, where it succeeded in 2011 in earning an 'outstanding' church inspection report, and for the last 10 years has had consistently 'good' Ofsted reports, despite years of uncertainty and changes in leadership.

Mr De Silva particularly thanked the builders ISG, who he said had endured some of the worst

rainfall and flooding on record during construction, and to governors Mike Oliver and Peter Slocombe, whose perseverance and determination had brought about the wonderful new school.

"What a difference this has made to our teaching and learning in a great school with its dedicated hardworking teachers and staff, and wonderful children who are so keen to learn," he said.

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May 2016

Action-packed May Day weekend BLANDFORD will be packed with entertainment for all ages this May Day weekend, with the extended four-day Teddy Rocks Festival on the Stour Meadows starting on Friday 29th April and the Georgian Fayre in the town centre the following Monday.

The rock festival, with a host of headlining acts among the 90 due to perform on three stages, is expected to bring thousands of visitors, having grown every year since it started in Greyhound Yard in support of childhood cancer charities.

At its new location it has an increased capacity of 2,200, and tickets have been selling fast, with reduced prices for local residents.

Car parking has been arranged in a field off the A3082 Wimborne Road, with shuttle buses from Poole and Bournemouth train stations, and a drop-off point in a bay along Stour Park road, close to the public car park, for festival attendees being dropped off by taxi or private car.

For more information see the website teddyrocks.co.uk or teddytwenty for its parent charity,

which fundraises throughout the year in memory of childhood cancer victim Ted Newton.

On Bank Holiday Monday, roads in the town centre will be closed to traffic between 7am and 7pm, and the taxi rank will be moved to Bryanston School gates and the corner of Damory Street and East Street.

Whitecliff Mill Street will again be two-way from Park Road to Eagle House Gardens to allow access to homes in that residential area.

After initially believing the fayre would this year be unable to use the Marsh and Ham because of plans for the extended Teddy Rocks Festival, the relocation of the music event to the Stour Meadows, next to the skatepark, has meant that the area is once

again available. It will be the site of demonstrations by the Wessex Dog Agility team, with an opportunity for people to take their own dogs to try out the course.

Jamie Jigsaw, duck races organised by the Blandford Scouts, and ferret racing are also planned, together with a classic and vintage car display in the car park.

The town will be filled with traders and food stalls, fairground rides and stalls, and many of the shops will be open.

The fayre will be opened with a parade of town criers from many different towns and the opening

by Mayor Steve Hitchings and the Mayor of Blandford's German twin town, Preetz, who is leading an exchange visit to Blandford

that weekend.

The Parish Centre will be hosting a model railway exhibition, and the church an exhibition by Blandford Art Society, with entertainment all day in the Market Place and the Town Criers South West of England Championship in the Woodhouse Gardens.

A total of nearly 40 local charities and groups will be taking part, either fundraising with their own stalls or helping with the organisation. All proceeds from donations, entitling the donor to a programme offering the chance of a ÂŁ100 instant win cash prize, or winning your height in beer from one event sponsor Hall & Woodhouse or a flight from Compton Abbas airfield from another, will go to local charities.

There will also be helicopter circuit or sightseeing flights from the Crown Meadows with Heliflight (UK) Ltd. Other sponsorship comes from Britannia Parking, whose car park behind M&Co will be used by the Fayre, the Inside Park caravan and campsite, U Drive vehicle rental and electrical wholesalers Eyre & Elliston.

May 2016

Library cuts consultation A FURTHER consultation has begun into the future of the mobile library service by Dorset County Council and will end on 14th May. Having already agreed, after consultation last year, to a reduced timetable of services with effect from 9th May, the council is now asking users to comment on the changes and look at overcoming access issues by extending the Home Library Service in partnership with the Royal Voluntary Service or creating access to library services through car sharing and good neighbour schemes.

Cllr Colin Jamieson, Cabinet member for economy and growth, said: "We want to understand the impact of any changes and by working with communities and the voluntary sector, we will try to reduce the effects that any alterations may bring."

Forms are available through the libraries, on the mobile library vehicles and online at dorsetforyou.com/mobile-library-consultation.

Factors behind the council tax increase BLANDFORD's town clerk Linda Scott Giles has answered criticism from a local taxpayer that the town council tax was by far the highest of all those in North Dorset.

Comparing the ÂŁ1,841.42 payable at Band D against every other parish, the writer noted that no others were in that charge region, and asked why, when "the roads are appalling, the pavements and pathways are badly neglected, litter is strewn everywhere, and with the exception of M&S no decent shops are interested in opening here".

"The town offers nothing whatsoever to attract visitors or new developments," he wrote.

Mrs Scott Giles said the town council's budget setting had been much debated and widely consulted upon. The increase of 3.47 per cent took the precept, paid in full by town ratepayers since the town council received no government funding, to ÂŁ200.67 for a Band D property, compared to ÂŁ193.34 last year.

"A benchmarking study across the county looking at the amount of council tax charged across the different Dorset district council areas and then adding the town/parish council precepts, found little difference in the overall totals.

"All town councils vary and carry out different functions. Here in North Dorset, for some years now, the

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support for the discretionary services has been transferred to the towns and parishes, or stopped altogether.

"As a direct result of public consultation over the last few years, the town council budget has increased as councillors have voted to save services that the public indicated as important to them. These are services that the district and county councils could no longer support financially, such as the public conveniences, amenity areas, the leisure centre and most recently the youth centre."

She said examples provided by the letter writer were not within the town council's remit.

"Roads and pavements are the responsibility of Dorset County Council's highways team and litter is the Dorset Waste Partnership. We have no influence over which businesses choose to come to the town as that is entirely their own commercial decision.

"When Asda changed their minds about building their store, a public meeting was held by the Town Council and residents asked that Lidl was approached, which was actioned the next day. But the Town Council had no control over it."

She added that a list of services and facilities provided by the Town Council was available to view on its website at blandfordforum-tc.gov.uk.

Letters: Page 15.

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North Dorset MP Simon Hoare at the controls of the Pines Express in the Blandford Railway Station model layout with (left to right) museum chairman Nessa Hickish, Mayor of Blandford Steve Hitchings and David Cash, chairman of the Blandford Railway Club, which built the layout in Blandford Museum. Above right: Student volunteers Toby Gent and Katherine Stanley with her education timeline project

May 2016

Full steam ahead for the new season at the museum BLANDFORD Museum's president Tony Owen welcomed guests at the official reopening for the season, saying they were

all very proud of the wonderful work being done on very scant resources.

"Everyone is a volunteer and the museum is not just a repository for archive material, but also very active in the community, with a huge education programme," he said.

"We are fortunate in being helped by the Town Council with an annual grant, but otherwise depend on the subscriptions of our very supportive members to maintain what is truly a community facility where everyone of all ages and background can come and learn about the importance of the town."

North Dorset MP Simon Hoare, invited to formally open the museum in Bere's Yard after viewing its exhibits old and new, said: "The role of volunteers is crucial and in our villages and market towns is evident and tangible on a daily basis."

Comment was also made on the value of free admission to the local and wider community, which had led to a six-fold increase in attendance.

New and expanded exhibits this year include the timeline of education in Blandford, created by student volunteer Katherine Stanley, work on the Seals Project by intern Toby Gent to identify the images represented on ancient deeds, and research into the background of 19th century sculptor and artist Alfred Stevens.

There was also an exhibition of

work by pupils at Archbishop Wake Primary School, who, with guidance from Year 3 teacher Sarah Winter and museum education co-ordinator Sylvia Hixson Andrews, worked on a project in association with the museum which included a whole-school excavation and study of successive eras by individual year groups.

Museum chairman Nessa Hickish, at a private view for pupils, parents and staff three days before the museum's opening, said: "It is a fantastic display of wonderful artwork produced by the children and a perfect example of the museum and education working together."

Dressmaker to the Queen BLANDFORD Fashion Museum, on Wednesday 18th May, is hosting a talk from the woman who made beautiful clothes for the Queen for more than 30 years.

Maureen Rose also made clothes worn by many film stars and was first asked for a fitting for the Queen in 1973. It led to numerous visits to Buckingham Palace and Sandringham. She still receives a Christmas card from the Queen each year.

Tickets for the talk can be booked by contacting the Museum on 01258 453006.

May 2016

Young musicians’ dazzling display THE cream of the south-west's young musical talent gathered in the Elder Concert Hall at Bryanston School for the regional final of the Rotary Young Musicians contest, hosted by the Rotary Club of Blandford.

Vocalists and instrumentalists from Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset, who had qualified through district-wide competitions, performed items ranging from folk song through musical theatre to opera and composers from Bach to Benny Goodman.

It was, as promised by MC Rotarian John Bentley, a mesmerising performance by 11 remarkable young musicians, who dazzled with their skill and confidence in entertaining the panel of judges and the audience of guests, parents and representatives of Rotary.

Following the presentation of certificates of achievement to each of the contestants, and while the adjudicators considered their verdict, the audience was treated to a stunning performance by guest artist George Hewett of Iwerne

Minster. A classically trained singer and saxophonist, 20-yearold George was the winner of the 2013 south-west regional final and now teaches saxophone, jazz piano and clarinet locally, runs a five-piece jazz band and is preparing to study popular music at the Royal Northern College of Music in September.

The winners were instrumentalist 16-year-old Matthew LloydWilson (violin) and vocalist 17year-old Iolla Grace, both sponsored by Bournemouth Rotary, and runners-up 17-year-old Sophia Elger (saxophone) from Bryanston School sponsored by Blandford Rotary, and 15-yearold Suzanne Poole sponsored by Romsey Test Rotary.

They were presented with their awards and cash prizes, sponsored by Blandford's community magazine Forum Focus, by Mayor Steve Hitchings and by the Lord Lieutenant of Dorset Angus Campbell, who told the competitors: "Over time this competition has just got better and better, and you should all be very proud.�

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Winners and runners-up with representatives of the Rotary Club of Blandford.

Front (from left): vocalist runner-up Suzanne Poole, vocalist winner Iolla Grace and instrumentalist runner-up Sophia Elger. Back (from left): Rotary organiser Andrew Munden, president-elect Steve Adamson, instrumentalist winner Matthew Lloyd-Wilson and Rotary MC John Bentley.

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May 2016

Teachers pass a diamond milestone DEREK and Peggy Waldie celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary at the Langton Arms with a congratulations card from the Queen.

They were married on 7th April 1956 at the Wesley Church in Newquay, Cornwall, where Peggy grew up, and after teaching for five years in a Missionary School in Nigeria, they came to live in Lower Blandford St Mary in October 1961.

Derek was a lecturer with the Army at Bovington Camp from 1962 to 1993, and Peggy taught for several years at the former Blandford High School.

In 1980, they moved to the Old Rectory, Blandford St Mary, and at that time, and for 30 years altogether, Derek was secretary of the Blandford St Mary flower show, which for many years was held at the Old Rectory. He was

Salsa fans take steps for charity

Derek and Peggy Waldie celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary with son and daughter Carena and Lincoln.

Right: on their wedding day in 1956.

warden at the church during this time, and Peggy organised church flowers.

They have two children, Carena and Lincoln, and five grandchildren, Jessie, Greg, Leo, Emily and Abi.

A GREAT night of Latin music was enjoyed by dancers from around the county at an event organised by Salsa Amigos for Spinal Research, a charity close to the heart of organiser Hazel Savage.

A total of ÂŁ500 was raised when guest instructor Femi Otukoya treated everyone to a fun Salsa class and led some line-ups for all to join in. The DJ was Jason Flanagan from Bachata Caliente who kept the beat going all night.

Salsa Amigos meets every Tuesday at Bryanston Club, Blandford, 7.45 to 10.30pm, and anyone can come along to try Salsa and other Latin dances.

You do not need a partner and complete beginners are welcome. Jason also holds a Bachata class on the first Thursday of the month at Bryanston Club.

Salsa Amigos believe that dancing is good for the mind and body - and a great way to raise money for a good cause.

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May 2016

Top honour for school catering chief Karen THE Blandford School is celebrating the success of its catering manager Karen Hall following a win at an awards ceremony of national independent contract catering company, Catering Academy.

The company, which has held the catering contract at The Blandford School for the last two years, hosts its Pride Live Awards each year to celebrate the achievements of its 1,650 team members working across the company's contracts nationwide.

Karen was awarded the 'Highest achiever in H&S and food hygiene' award following a stringent review of the audits carried out by the Academy's health, safety and wellbeing team.

She was praised for her signifi-

cant commitment to not only following but exceeding hygiene and safety standards since joining the team at Blandford and her care and attention to detail across all aspects of her day-today role.

Following on-site observations, the judges noted that team work and performance at the school was 'second to none' and health and safety standards exceptionally high.

Offering congratulations to Karen on behalf of the Academy and The Blandford School, Catering Academy's founder director, Louise Wymer, said: "Karen and her team have such a positive 'can-do' attitude and this contract is always an absolute pleasure to visit."

Church repairs are progressing well WORK is progressing on the restoration and repair work to the tower and cupola of Blandford Parish Church and it is hoped that the scaffolding will come down in June.

The contractors have completed all the necessary repointing, replaced about four blocks of stone, and cleaned all the Portland stone decoration.

Cupola Project leader Sara Loch said: "They have opened up the base of the cupola and found a lot of air where there should

have been wood, as well as healthy-looking beams that were rotten down the middle - water had been getting in around the spindle of the weathervane.

"But not all the oak coming down from the church tower is completely riddled with rot, beetle, etc, and it is has all been going into the skip on Sheepmarket Hill, so if anyone is interested in having some, let me know. We have already had an offer from one person to make something from the wood to keep for posterity."

The apprentice bell has come down out of the bell tower and will go off to the bell-hangers for an overhaul, and the clock face has been painted glossy black prior to its re-gilding. The hands have been taken away to be cleaned and gilded and the weathervane has also gone for restoration. Work has started on the four curved structures that go at the corners.

Rotten wood inside the cupola of Blandford Parish Church.

"What still needs to be done is to finish off the work to the base of the cupola and then tackle the cupola itself, put the apprentice bell up and put the clock back together - doesn't sound like much but it doesn't surprise me that it will take another two-and-a-half months!" said Miss Loch.

From left: Catering Academy Nutritionalist Louise Goodall, Blandford School Catering Manager Karen Hall, and Catering Academy's Health & Safety Advisor Brad Strezelec and Hygiene, Safety and Environmental Manager Paul Harrison.

'Beatons Bi-Monthly Book Review What Milo Saw' by Virginia Macgregor, pub Sphere 2015 p/b ÂŁ7.99 I discovered Virgiina Macgregor while researching about Crowthorne, Berkshire - home to our new Beatons tearooms. A joy that took three sittings to read. Try not to fall in love with three endearing, utterly individual, desperately human characters - Milo, Gran and Tripi - not to mention a pig called Hamlet!

Yet Virginia Macgregor covers the uncomfortable realities of the mixed-up world of war-torn Syria and the worst of the UK care system in this heartwarming novel, peppered with humour. Fast-paced and yet sensitively observed by the artlessly simple writing of a real pro, 'What Milo Saw' is so visually rich I can see it up there on a 'Milo adapted' big screen. The story left me wanting more of Milo and Macgregor. Good thing her next book has just come out!

by Liz Darcy Jones, Beatons HQ

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Trailway bike ride to remember the railway THE S&D50 cycle ride from Blandford to the Gartell Railway at Common Lane, Yenston, marking the 50th anniversary of the closure of the Somerset & Dorset Railway, will start at 9.30am on Bank Holiday Monday, 30th May, from the Blandford Railway Arches on Langton Meadows.

The riders will follow the North Dorset Trailway, along the former route of the Somerset and Dorset Railway, to the Shillingstone Railway Project and Sturminster Newton, and from there via Stalbridge and Henstridge to the narrow gauge Gartell.

On their return to Blandford the riders will visit Blandford Museum to see the Railway

Club's model of the station in operation.

Numbers are limited on the ride and being decided on a 'first come first served' basis, but places may still be available by calling 07732 761200 or emailing timjchapman@aol.com.

The S&D50 touring exhibition, prepared by the Somerset and Dorset Railway Trust to mark 50 years since the railway's closure, is on display at the Priest's House Museum and Garden in Wimborne until 2nd May, and is due to arrive at Blandford Museum on 17th July and remain until 17th August.

For further details and full programme of S&D50 events see www.sdrt.org.

May 2016

The Tile Your Town team: Team PA Hepzi Hickish, head maker Anna Richards, Pottery Parlour creative director and proprietor Vanessa Conyers, pottery teacher Lindsay Maxwell, pottery teacher Lucy Ward and mosaic artist Judy Baker.

Tiles with style and smiles A DARK corner of a well-used Blandford passageway has been brightened up by the addition of a tiled mosaic.

The mosaic in a bricked-up doorway in Greyhound Yard was the result of the BBC's 'Get Creative' and 'Tile Your Town' project which invited communities to liven up their towns by creating new artworks.

Vanessa Conyers in December held an open workshop at her 'Pottery Parlour' in the Greyhound Passage, where dozens of tiles were made using modelling techniques to create the pieces for the brightly coloured mural.

They were then put in place by Vanessa's team with the guidance of local mosaic artist Judy Baker, who said: "I used mirrors as the background to reflect the sky in what is a rather dark area. We had to be careful to ensure there were no sharp edges."

The new covering was unveiled by Mayor of Blandford Steve Hitchings, watched by many of the participants in the workshop who enjoyed cakes and drinks served in some of the distinctive ceramics made at the Pottery Parlour.

Short stories in a flash THE second annual Blandford Rotary short story competition, organised by Blandford Rotary's Satellite Group, is now up and running with an additional category of flash fiction.

Sponsored by Blandford Forum Town Council and Beatons Tearooms, it offers cash and other prizes in addition to the presentation of the Mayor's Cup to the winner of the open category.

Short stories up to a maximum of 2,500 words and flash fiction of up to 250 words are invited in adult and under-18 age groups, with a special prize for the best story set in the Blandford area.

The closing date for entries is 31st July. Full details and rules are on: blandfordrotary.org.uk.

May 2016

Grant cash gives Arts Festival a boost BLANDFORD's Arts Festival being planned for the first weekend of June has been boosted by the promise of a £4,260 grant from the Arts Council.

Organiser Kate Seeger, who failed in her original bid for funding, said she was delighted, but the grant is subject to match funding being found for the programme of events lined up.

She has launched an appeal for support through Crowdfunding at crowdfunder.co.uk/ free-expression-arts-festival, and has already received pledges of support from, among others, Forum Focus.

Kate, who organised a similar festival as part of the celebration of the 400th year of the granting of Blandford’s Royal Charter in 2005, said: "There are a number of activities I may have to drop, including the street

dancers and a number of workshops.

Basically the more we can raise, the more events I can put in."

Her aim in promoting the Free Expression Arts Festival is to celebrate the arts and give employment and commissions to established and emerging artists, as well as an opportunity for the public to watch, experience and take part.

Activities confirmed with the artists, for which she is still seeking funding, include a children's entertainer, a street dance event, a trapeze artist, story teller and sculpture and model-making workshops.

Activities going ahead include a drumming workshop and performance, pottery, painting, mosaic making, children's creative writing, model-making and doodling workshops, an art exhibition with local creative artists,

Parishes urged to support leisure centre PARISHES in the DT11 area are to be asked to help keep Blandford Leisure Centre afloat in the face of expected cuts in funding from both Dorset County and North Dorset District councils.

At a meeting of the district council's overview & scrutiny committee on 13th April members learnt that, although attendance at the Milldown Road centre had increased since it was taken over

by SLM (Everyone Active), there continued to be a shortfall which was being met through grants from both local authorities, Blandford Town Council, and a handful of parish councils in the area.

Although the district and town councils have signed up to continue giving £148,000 and £50,000 a year until the end of the contract with SLM in 2019, Dorset County Council is due to make its final contribution of £33,000 a year in 2017.

Meanwhile the support from parish councils, which reduces the total given by the district council, has diminished over the years, so that now only four or five continue to give grants

amounting to a total of less than £5,000 a year.

Figures showing the leisure centre memberships from each parish were produced revealing that many of the top-using parishes, including Blandford St Mary, Shillingstone, Okeford Fitzpaine, Milborne St Andrew, Spetisbury, Child Okeford and the Winterbornes, each with more than 200 leisure centre card holders, are making no contribution at all, and Pimperne, with 537 card holders, are contributing £50.

Chairman, Councillor David Milsted, noted the large number of card holders from Tarrant Monkton and Launceston who were undoubtedly residents at Blandford Camp, and suggested that the Ministry of Defence might be invited to contribute for military personnel and their families more than 100 of the swimming lesson participants are from those parishes.

A simple calculation reveals that if each parish gave a pound for each card holder in their parish, the total would be nearly £15,000.

A FREEDOM Parade by the Queen's Gurkha Signals, who were granted the Freedom of Blandford in 2005, will be taking place on Sunday 8th May. Around 100 troops and the Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas will march through town in a free show of ceremony and colour in an event arranged jointly by Blandford Forum Town Council, the Queen's Gurkha Signals and Blandford Camp.

Mayor of Blandford Steve Hitchings, who on the same day holds his civic service to which representatives of other authorities in Dorset and beyond are invited, said he would be welcoming the Queen's Gurkha Signals and celebrating their bond of friendship and respect.

@forumfocus

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and an evening classical concert featuring local musicians and choirs.

She is also seeking volunteers who can help in any way. They can contact her by email to freeexpressioncreative@gmail.com or find more information at free-expression.com.

LETTERS

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Readers’ 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

May 2016 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.

Desperate need for a new doctors’ surgery I READ with interest the proposed plans for many new houses to be built on three sites around Blandford, two of them being north and south of the bypass.

None of these plans include a new doctors' surgery which we desperately need. Our two surgeries cannot cope now. And I realise the doctors are doing their best in a bad situation.

Two weeks ago I rang to make an appointment and was told a doctor would ring me.

Having waited in all morning, I popped outside

for a matter of seconds, and missed the call.

The doctor then rang me at 7.15pm and I was offered an appointment a week later! I was advised to have an x-ray and return when the results had been received at the surgery.

I had the x-ray three days later and when the results had been received I called to make an appointment and was told the earliest I could be seen was April 27th, four weeks later. This is absolutely shocking. Is someone hoping we will die before we get to see a doctor?

I am not surprised there are such a lot of people who either forget or miss their appointments because they have recovered because of the time lapse. Of course the surgery should be notified if the patient wishes to cancel.

But I feel the time talking to a doctor on the phone could be better spent in the surgery where an examination could be made if necessary. The triage system in place at my surgery really does not seem to work at all.

Names & address supplied, Blandford

Keep a warm welcome in store for Lidl I WRITE in reference to the Lidl application for a food store in Blandford.

I have lived in Blandford for over 55 years. In that time I have seen many changes to the town.

My biggest concern, after the destruction of the rail network, is the deterioration of the town, due to natural and unavoidable changing times, but also to having too many of the same shops, the unattractive general appearance of things like the pavements

and shops not conforming to the Georgian appearance that visitors like to see.

I also believe the largest cause of any town becoming a ghost town is to allow supermarkets to be within five miles of any town, but the clock cannot be turned back.

As we have supermarkets in town and close to it, the best possible step to take is to allow Lidl to increase the competition to keep the prices down for the community.

I spearheaded a campaign for Asda to be built on the same site, an application which was granted because the councillors' listened to the local people and voted in favour. Unfortunately, because the planning took so long, and due to the growth of online shopping, Asda, like all supermarkets at that time, decided to stop building new stores.

We are lucky to have a second bite of the cherry but we must not take too long.

I am surprised at the number of families that travel to Poole and other big towns to do their weekly shop. If they can be encouraged to shop at local supermarkets and a better selection of shops is available in town, then the town may improve.

Wimborne was in the same position as Blandford years ago, now it is thriving.

Colin Young Damory Street, Blandford

A town asset in need of a helping hand I AM writing to Forum Focus with a plea for help because, since the newspaper began, you have proved yourselves to be very supportive of Blandford Fashion Museum and keen to promote local enterprise.

I am hoping that someone among your readers may feel able to help us now.

Since the Fashion Museum opened in 1996, its administration has been in the capable hands of Gordon Boutelle.

Under his guidance the museum has developed from a small, private charity to a nationally recognised accredited organisation with a much expanded collection.

After so many years ensuring the smooth day-to day running of the museum, Mr Boutelle would like to share some of his responsibilities and is, therefore, eager to find a volunteer to work with him and share his consider-

able knowledge.

No specialist fashion expertise is required, merely a willingness to become part of a friendly team helping to run a delightful museum, in a beautiful Georgian house in the heart of Blandford.

Blandford Fashion Museum is committed to supporting the Town Council in its efforts to regenerate the town, by continuing to provide an important tourist attraction.

To do this, it is vital to secure the long-term future of this valuable asset. If any reader feels able to offer their help, please contact Mr Boutelle at the museum on 01258 453006. He will be delighted to give more detailed information.

Isobel Gilpin Chairman of the Trustees Blandford Fashion Museum Lime Tree House The Plocks, Blandford

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May 2016

LETTERS EXTRA

I’m not grumpy, just puzzled by spending I am NOT grumpy, really! I just do not understand this modern life of unnecessary expense and consumerism. I do not understand why it is the norm these days to rush into shops and pay vast sums of money on clothes that are already torn, holed, distressed and faded, etc.

I don't also understand why we dutifully recycle our discarded food scraps and then go to garden centres and buy 'designer' bird food. I don't understand why people buy 4 x 4 vehicles and never, ever go off-road with them.

I do not understand why we buy expensive water in bottles, when what comes out of our taps is of the highest quality. And I don't understand that when we recycle those plastic bottles, we go to a

sports shop and buy designer bottles to drink more water from.

Talking of sports, I don't understand why we buy expensive branded sports clothes and equipment when we know jolly well that they will get dirty, sweaty and covered in mud.

And on a more serious note, I don't understand why billions of pounds are spent on space probes, to research our universe, when here on Earth children are dying because no-one can fund the drugs.

Yes, I did come from a very different lifestyle and times have moved on, but please try to understand me: that was how I was brought up, and this old leopard finds it difficult changing his spots!

Martin Brickell, Blandford

Why is tax so high?

HAVING just received our notification of the new council tax I was astonished to note that from all of Dorset, Blandford Forum was by far the dearest.

As we are Band D I was interested to compare the £1,841.42 we are paying against every other council and not one other was in the £1,800 region.

Why is this? The roads here are appalling, the pavements and pathways are badly neglected, litter is strewn everywhere and with the exception of M&S, no decent shops are interested in opening here.

The town offers nothing whatsoever to attract visitors or new developments.

I would be interested to hear the council's reply.

Name & address supplied, Blandford

Wood team seek support THE Blandford Environmental Trust (BET) has launched a members, friends and patrons scheme to help them manage Angus Wood in St Leonard's Avenue, which they maintain on behalf of the local community.

The three levels of membership will help provide the funds needed to meet public liability insurance and maintenance costs for the wood, for which they have a 25-year lease from the Woodland Trust.

The secluded spot provides an environment for nature and nature lovers close to the town centre and is highly valued by local residents and dog walkers in particular.

The last six years have seen the installation of an all-weather path and regular work mornings on the last Saturday of every month, often with the help of local community groups, to open up the canopy and plant hundreds of trees, including over 100 this year alone.

There have been successful open days and popular Halloween nights, and on Saturday 11th June there will be a midsummer party with music, poetry, a barbecue and refreshments, followed on Sunday 31st July by a teddy bears' picnic.

Their AGM is on Wednesday 7th September in the Blandford Museum at 7pm with a party afterwards.

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May 2016

May 2016

All aboard for a memorable trip on the railway

THERE can be few people who have not read E Nesbitt's classic 'The Railway Children', or seen its various incarnations in television and film, and it was with a degree of familiarity that audiences entered Blandford Corn Exchange to see the production staged by Forum Drama in association with the Performing Arts Theatre Academy.

They were not disappointed by a script true to the well-loved tale, told in a large part by stationmaster Perks as narrator (John Cody) but also brought to life through individual scenes by the rest of the cast and the hard work of the creative team, led by director and designer Mike Lofthouse, associate directors Lauren Newbury and Becky Hollands, set designers Jane Gould and Keith Martin, lighting and sound engineer Clive Newlin and costumier Elaine Lofthouse.

The family uprooted from their comfortable London home to poverty in a rented cottage when their father is arrested was totally believable, with Chrissy Regler as mother, Carla North as Roberta, Alexandra Hunt as Phyllis and Boyd James as the cheeky young Peter.

They were ably supported by the rest of the cast, who included Christopher Sharpe as the doctor, Richard Owen as the Russian author Szczepansky, Mark Hume as the railway company's district superintendent, Tony Horrocks as the 'Old Gentleman', Jenny Tempier as Mrs Perks and Charlie Biggs, Albie Jones, Izzy Woodbridge, Thomas Sullivan, Molly Carter and Immy Woodbridge as the Perks's six children.

The imaginative staging, making best use of the layout of the Corn Exchange stage to distinguish between the cottage, surrounding countryside and the station, whose 'platform' and on occasions railway track, extended up the central aisle, was surpassed entirely at the climax of act one, when a landslide on the track threatened a serious crash.

The entrance to a railway tunnel had been revealed in the countryside landscape at the back of the stage, and as Roberta frantically waved her red petticoat to stop the approaching train, whose headlight shone through the darkness, the front of the train dramatically appeared, apparently from within the tunnel, but actually released from above the backdrop.

The action continued swiftly after the interval with the reward to the children for saving the train, Perks' birthday 'collection', the hare and hounds race accident, and the heart-warming reunion of Roberta with 'my daddy' - no less moving after plans to fill the auditorium with steam had to be abandoned when, in rehearsal, it activated the Corn Exchange fire alarm.

The production was, as always, thoroughly researched by the team with copious programme notes on the history of the book and of the Somerset & Dorset Railway which closed 50 years ago.

The success of this first joint production between Blandford's amateur theatre and teaching companies bodes well for the forthcoming adaptation of Kenneth Grahame's 'The Wind in the Willows' to be staged in the autumn.

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May 2016

Two towns’ links stretch back to the Middle Ages THE two towns had had an earlier relationship in the Middle Ages, when Mortain was the head of an important county (comté), reserved for the reigning house of Normandy and bestowed on Robert, Count of Mortain, who also owned land in England and Dorset.

When Robert's son and successor William rebelled against Henry I and was captured at the battle of Tinchebrai, Henry bestowed the comteship on his nephew Steven, who on his death in 1154 was succeed by his son William. William died childless in a shipwreck at the age of 17 in 1159, and the title was resumed by Henry and remained with English rulers until Normandy was lost in the Treaty of Paris of 1259 between Louis IX and Henry III. Recaptured by the House of Lancaster, Edmund Beaufort, later Earl of Dorset and a grandson of John of Gaunt, was created count of Mortain until 1449.

Blandford was spared enemy occupation during World War Two, but Mortain was not, and in August 1944 was the site of an important battle between the German and American forces.

Over a period of six nights the 30th Infantry Division fought valiantly (with one radio and dying batteries) against the German Panzer counter-attack of Operation Lüttich, to preserve the breakout established in Operation Cobra.

Blandford's Grade I listed 18th century Georgian church replaced the 13th century original lost in the Great Fire, but the Collegiate church of St Evroult in Mortain remains a magnificent example of the transitional style of the early 13th century.

Another noted feature of the town is a pair of waterfalls, La Petite Cascade and La Grande Cascade, a short walk from the town centre. Its main employer is Acome, a now-international company manufacturing electric and optical fibre cables which relocated from Paris during World War Two and now has five factories in the town.

Gabriel Destais and David Wright, third and fourth from left, who were joint signatories of the 1986 Twinning Charter, with other civic dignitaries from both sides of the Channel at the ceremony in Blandford Town Hall.

Mortain: 30 years of friendship THIRTY years ago a group of Blandford residents, led by the then Mayor David Wright, travelled to Mortain in Normandy to take part in the signing of the Twinning Charter between the two towns.

It followed exploratory visits by representatives from both sides of the Channel and decisions by their respective local councils.

The first part of the charter was signed by Cllr Wright and by then Mayor of Mortain, Gabriel Destais, during a weekend of celebration hosted mainly by Blandford Town Council in March 1986, and three months later the second part was signed amidst similar celebrations in Mortain.

Since that time regular annual

exchange visits have been made and many good friendships and links established. School and student exchanges have taken place, and even now regular visits are made to Blandford by French students hoping to improve their knowledge of England and its language. Round Table and Rotary visits have been held.

Over the years the twinning or 'jumelage' has had the support of both the Stour Valley Band and the Band of the Royal Corps of Signals, who have visited Mortain on several occasions to provide entertainment and concerts.

The new town bridge across the Stour (the blue bridge) was named the Mortain Bridge at a foundation

ceremony in 1996 during the 10th anniversary of the twinning association, which was attended by Dr Noel Blin, then Mayor of Mortain.

The 15th anniversary celebrations included the Band of the Royal Corps of Signals visiting Mortain with the exchange from Blandford, and the 20th anniversary year was marked with a visit to Mortain during which a public bench was placed in a newly constructed 'Place du Jumelage' near the town centre.

This year the 30th anniversary will be celebrated over the weekend of 5th to 8th May with a civic reception, barbecue and a formal dinner on the Saturday evening, with entertainment provided by the Stour Valley band.

Twinning breaks down barriers IN the 15th anniversary year, a coachload of visitors from Blandford arrived in Mortain more than four hours late following the cancellation of their ferry from Poole and transfer to Portsmouth.

Close to midnight they were greeted with a resounding handclap from their French hosts in the town's community hall, followed by a magnificent buffet meal and dancing into the early hours.

Next morning the Band of the Royal Signals, making their third visit to their French twin town with their director Col John Eubank, marched and performed in the town square.

Gifts were exchanged at the reception in the town hall gardens when the Consul General of Mortain, M Destais, who was mayor when the twinning charter was signed, praised the spirit of twinning between towns of different countries.

Other speakers from Mortain included Mme Brigitte Mautarent, president of the French Blandford/Mortain group, who said: "I think we have a place in the construction of Europe," and Dr Blin, who presided when the first sod of the Mortain bridge was cut, and

Blandford Mayor, Cyril Hill, who had been present at the charter signing.

Other speakers from Blandford included then twinning association chairman Don Herring, who said the exchanges helped reduce cultural barriers and hoped they would continue for generations, and Martin Brickell, the first mayor to visit Mortain in 1985, then chairman and now secretary of the BlandfordMortain Twinning Association.

Dr Blin spoke of the ‘boomerang’ effect of twinning which created new links and strengthened others, and Blandford Mayor, Cllr Sheila Chapman, said: "Our son and daughter have both visited Mortain twice, and I hope our grandchildren will do so in the future. We are people, not countries or politicians, and we share the same hopes, dreams and ambitions."

In the afternoon, a tug-of-war for the Frankie Lane challenge cup was won by Mortain and followed by tasting of local produce, and in the evening there was a packed audience, and standing ovation, for the Royal Signals Band which gave a rousing concert in the parish church.

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May 2016

Mums join in the fun at Home-Start morning MORE than 20 families with 45 children, aged from one to 12 years, enjoyed a morning of creative activities at the Woodhouse Gardens Pavilion in Blandford.

The event was organised by Home-Start North Dorset in collaboration with DCC children's services. Home visiting volunteers from Home-Start and representatives from children's services supervised the children, and parents were encouraged to join in with all the activities.

Fine weather allowed the children to play outdoors with sand and water, making and painting rabbits and creating crazy insects, while inside the pavilion there was more making and

painting of butterflies and other creatures.

One mum with two children under three said it was the first time she had had the confidence to go out and join in an activity with her children. With the encouragement and support of her visiting Home-Start volunteer, she said: "I was able to do it and I would like to come again."

The feedback from parents and children to organiser Jamie Keast was extremely positive, building on the experience of a similar day run in the Christmas holiday at Sturminster Newton, attended by over 100 children and their parents.

Home-Start now plans to run fur-

One-year-old Elsie and her two-year-old sister Darcy with their mum. ther days in the summer holidays and is looking for sponsorship for the family activity days.

Anyone wishing to help can con-

Three challenge incumbent in election of police chief VOTERS in the Blandford area will go to the polls with the rest of the country on May 5th to elect their Police and Crime Commissioner for Dorset, a position held for the last four years by Independent Martyn Underhill.

But in Hill Forts and Blandford Hill Top wards they will also be electing replacements for two councillors who have stood down only a year after their election in 2015.

Polling stations open at 7am and close at 10pm.

In Hill Forts, which includes Pimperne, Stourpaine, Iwerne Minster and Child Okeford, Conservative Piers Brown of Cann faces UKIP's John Leslie England, of Sutton Waldron, Lib Dem David Tibbles of Sturminster Newton, and Labour's Keith Yarwood of Stourpaine.

In Hill Top, Conservative Traci Handford faces Lib Dem Hugo Mieville, Labour's Haydn White, all from Blandford, and UKIP's William George Woodhouse from Mappowder.

In the PCC election, Martyn Underhill is seeking reelection against competition from Conservative Andrew Graham, Labour's Patrick Canavan and UKIPs Lester Taylor.

Andrew Graham, a father of four from Sherborne, is a retired Lieutenant-General who served in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and has since been chief executive of youth development charity the British Exploring Society in London.

Patrick Canavan is a law graduate who spent most of his career working for trade unions, largely with Amicus and its successor Unite, as a regional officer. He has contested two general elections, including last year when he finished fourth at Mid Dorset and North Poole.

Lester Taylor served in the Royal Navy for 25 years and has also worked in the NHS and as a financial adviser. He was elected to Shaftesbury Town Council last May after contesting Gillingham in 2013 and in 2014 becoming chairman of UKIP's Shaftesbury and District Group and membership secretary for UKIP Dorset North.

tact Ruth or Jamie at The Exchange, Sturminster Newton, on 01258 473038, email office@home-startnorthdorset.co.uk or look on the website home-startnorthdorset.co.uk.

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May 2016

The battleships HMS Temeraire (above) and HMS Bellerophon (right) that took part in the Battle of Jutland.

Heavy casualties in Battle of Jutland THE Battle of Jutland took place between the British Grand Fleet under Admiral Sir John Jellicoe and the German High Seas Fleet under ViceAdmiral Reinhard Scheer on 31st May 1916 in the North Sea, off the mainland of Denmark.

It was the only major naval battle of World War I, and in terms of the numbers of battleships and battlecruisers engaged, the largest sea battle in naval warfare history, bringing together the two most powerful naval forces in existence at that time.

The British lost 14 ships and the Germans 11, but the German High Seas Fleet suffered more longterm damage and importantly, Admiral Scheer's plan of exterminating Admiral David Beatty's battlecruiser fleet failed.

The British losses of major ships were sudden and spectacular, caused by the weakness of their defensive armour that allowed German shells to pierce the British ships' magazine holds, resulting in massive explosions. But several surviving German ships were so badly damaged that they took months to repair. Admiral Jellicoe, on the other hand, reported 24 battleships ready for action the day following the battle.

German newspapers naturally claimed a glorious victory based on the numbers of ships sunk. It was significant, however, that the German High Seas Fleet did not put to sea again for the rest of World War I and the Royal Navy's British Grand Fleet continued to remain in command of the sea.

The battle claimed more than 8,600 lives, nearly

6,100 of them British, including four from the area around Blandford.

Two were serving, Albert Laws (26) as a Leading Stoker and Frederick Bertie Stickley (24) as Stoker 1st Class, on the battlecruiser HMS Queen Mary, which was sunk with the loss of 1,266 crewmen; only 20 survived.

Albert was born in Shillingstone, on whose war memorial he is remembered, and was the son of John and Harriet Laws, eldest of their two sons The King-Emperor inspecting the crews of the ships which and two daughters. He had married took part in the Battle of Jutland.

Kate Ethel Vivian in Portsmouth in Able Seaman Charles Harry Sylvester, 19, had 1915, having enlisted there on 8th June 1909 and been born in Mitcham, Surrey, the son of farm been promoted to Stoker 1st Class in December 1910. labourer Charles and Mary Martha, who had marFrederick, whose father died in the same year, was ried in Wilton and lived in Heytesbury, Wiltshire, the second of five sons of Charles and Elizabeth before moving to East Street, Stourpaine, and later Stickley, who had married in Blandford in 1890, to Pimperne. and the family lived in Orchard Street. He had enlisted in Portsmouth on 27th May 1913 and become Stoker 1st Class a year later.

Also sunk on 31st May was HMS Invincible, with the loss of 1,026 men and six survivors.

David Stephen Penny was an 18-year-old Ordinary Seaman who had enlisted in March 1913 as Boy 2nd Class, the son of carter Walter Penny and his wife Emma, who lived at Brockington, Battleship HMS Monarch that took part in the Gussage All Saints, and had five daughters and Battle of Jutland. four other sons.

Volunteer died before seeing action Charles Fielding Krikorian, whose grave is in Blandford Cemetery, was a Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, serving with the 2nd Drake Battalion when he died aged 34 in Blandford Hospital of heart disease.

Born in Kensington, London, he was the son of Turkish (Armenian) national and hotel proprietor Krikor Garabad Krikorian, who had died in Kensington in 1905. His mother, Jessie Ellen (nee Bulkeley) had married in Kensington in 1880. She died in 1940 in Brighton, where the family was living in 1901 when Charles was listed as an apprentice sailor living at the Hotel Victoria in Kings Road. In 1891 he was a pupil at Dyke Road School in Brighton.

He had married Emily Elizabeth Sawyer in London in

1911, and they had two children, Warrenne Alfred, born 1912, and Vernon, born 1916, both in London.

He was commissioned as a Temporary Sub-Lieutenant in January 1915 and posted to Blandford in November of that year. Records show he was 'lent' to the 2nd Drake Battalion in May 1916, 12 days before he was discharged dead on 22nd May, so saw no active service.

Another death in May 1916 was that of father-of-three Lance Corporal William John Clarke of the Hampshire Regiment, who died aged 28 at home on 16th May 1916.

He was born at Fiddleford, the son of George Clarke, and in 1907 had married Ada Upshall Newman of Bagber at Sturminster Newton. In 1911 he was listed as a railway labourer living at Lanchard, Shillingstone, on whose war memorial he is remembered.

The grave in Blandford cemetery of Charles Fielding Krikorian.

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.

21

May 2016

Successful verdict at law firm quiz night IT was fingers on the buzzers as teams battled it out at a fun charity quiz night organised by Blanchards Bailey.

More than ÂŁ500 was raised for the legal firm's chosen charity, Blandford Opportunity Group, a pre-school for children with special needs.

Mayor of Blandford, Steve Hitchings, took part in the quiz, which was the first fundraiser the Dorset-based solicitors have hosted, as president of the charity.

Held at Blandford British Legion

The winning quiz team, Quintus Arrius.

Club, the event attracted more than 70 people who also took part in a charity raffle.

Twelve teams entered the quiz, including friends and family of the Blanchards Bailey team and local businesses including estate agents Vivien Horder. The winning team was Quintus Arrius and wooden spoons went to Chalke Valley Misfits, who finished last.

Trainee solicitor at Blanchards Bailey, Carla Phillips, said the quiz was a big success: "The whole event went above and

beyond our expectations. We're thrilled we were able to raise such a significant amount of money for a local charity.

"We had great support from local businesses who donated some wonderful prizes for the raffle, including chocolates from House

of Sarunds, Champagne from Marks and Spencer and Goadsby estate agents, and a fantastic hamper from Tesco.

"We truly appreciate all the support we received from the local community and we're already looking forward to the next event."

Morrisons Blandford have presented a cheque for ÂŁ19,539 to the charity Diverse Abilities to help develop new facilities to benefit disabled children and their families within the local community. Kelly Wolfendale, centre, and manager Rebecca Rogers, right, presented the cheque on behalf of the Morrisons Foundation to Nuisha Russo of Diverse Abilities.

Forum Focus is pleased to announce that Morrisons are to become a distributor of our community magazine and will be stocking copies from this month onwards.

22

The View from the Hill

by George Hosford More from George on viewfromthehill.org.uk

L

UCKILY TB testing in March showed the cows are all clear, although we are unsure whether we are completely TBfree yet after one poor cow tested as inconclusive for two tests in a row back in the autumn and had to be destroyed. The rest of the herd had to be tested again, despite her having been kept in isolation between tests. The bureaucracy governing all this is an utter nightmare.

Calving has continued busily and now we are into a long gap before any more births are likely.

A premature arrival?

May 2016 This gorgeous song thrush spent several days building a very comfortable nest within easy sight of our bathroom window and then sat tight for a good 10 days. Yesterday she was suddenly not there any more, leaving a solitary pale blue egg with faint spots behind. We can't decide if she has met with some catastrophe (our cat is too fat to manage such a heinous crime), is in search of a mate, or has got bored and started to build another nest elsewhere. She is much more handsome and Readers may recall from last autumn that a long-drawn-out calving period is expected due to the trouble we had with our bulls.

One little calf born at the end of March has mystified us, having not been expected until the end of May since the mother, an attractive ginger heifer, was only attended by the AI man in September. But he was healthy, keen to drink, and his mother had milk ready for him, so he remains happy and is growing well.

We managed to get all of our spring crops sown into lovely seedbeds before the end of March and now the barley is emerging in its neat green rows.

The poppies are somewhat slower; just a few tiny purple leaves are showing right now, but within a couple of weeks the fields should have a strong green tinge.

We had to spend several hours repairing our Knight cultivator.

The bearings attaching the press rolls on the back to the main frame have to withstand pretty rough treatment, dragged up and down fields all day being whacked by heavy flints and a constant stream of flying soil.

There is a certain knack to removing rusty old bearings and

forklift and lifting straps.

interesting to watch than the fat pigeons that usually nest in the same area and we hope she will return very soon. it was heavy work with hammers, chisels, oxy-propane heating kit, angle grinder and large socket spanners, not to mention the

GPS controlled fertilizing

Bearing breakdown!

Crops waking up after the winter need a few doses of fertilizer and the odd splash of fungicide and weedkiller if they are going to give of their best, so the sprayer has been busy, and the fertilizer spreader has been spreading MOP (potash) fertilizer on the fields we know need it after GPSguided soil tests in the autumn.

The tractor is 20 years old, but still reliable and capable of carrying the GPS kit controlling how much fertilizer to apply in each part of the field. The yellow beacon on the top of the cab is the GPS receiver and at any one time may be talking to a dozen or more satellites in order to plot an accurate position for the tractor.

May 2016

BLANDFORD Schools' netball tournament saw five primary schools brave the high winds and rain and resulted in a win for the team from Archbishop Wake, consisting of Lottie Cleal, Freda Ellerton, Ollie Hudson, Jess Andrews, Erin Freak, Freya Duke and Shaz Saleem (pictured above).

After playing three of their four matches, they had not conceded any goals, and in their final match against Downlands, they held their nerve for a final score of 10-1 which secured an overall win of the tournament.

SCHOOLS

23

A VISIT to Stonehenge by Years 2 and 3 at Knighton House School (pictured above) was part of their study of life in Stone Age Britain, and an opportunity to see the site they had discussed in class and see some of the artefacts on display in the museum.

They were also able to carry out a 'crouch burial' on top of one of one of the stones, and see a film of the stones through the seasons.

PUPILS at Pimperne Primary School took part in a Dorset competition on the maths online website Sumdog and were delighted that, out of 366 participants, Pimperne came in first, second, third, fifth and sixth places

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24

A valuable lesson in factory life KNIGHTON House year 7 and 8 girls chosen to visit the Emma Willis factory in Gloucester had a detailed tour of the factory where luxury shirts, boxer shorts, pyjamas, dressing gowns and walking socks are made using traditional methods of cutting and sewing to the highest standards.

Emma is a former Knighton House pupil and runs the worldfamous eponymous luxury British shirt makers with a shop on Jermyn Street in London and online worldwide sales.

The girls saw garments worn by famous names ranging from Prince Charles to Daniel Craig, a bespoke shirt being made, the ready-to-wear collection and even the boxer shorts, witnessing how every step in the procedure was carried out with the utmost care and precision.

They also learnt that running a successful business is often a bumpy journey and it takes dedi-

SCHOOLS

May 2016

Knighton House pupils with ‘old girl’ Emma Willis. cation, hard work, attention to detail and a real love for what you do.

The girls were inspired by Style for Soldiers, the charity that Emma Willis started in gratitude for the courage and sacrifice of our service men and women, to organise a Style for Soldiers Day at school to raise money for the charity by wearing their own favourite top into school.

Over lunch Emma shared memories of her time at Knighton House School. She will be returning to the school to watch the fashion show this summer, when each girl is creating a garment on the theme of 'literary favourites'.

Knighton House and The Orchard Pre-school are holding visitor snapshot mornings: on Tuesday 10th May or Friday

20th May. For information call 01258 452065.

Pupils also helped raise £500 for the Kingfisher children's ward at Dorset County Hospital, which was presented by headmistress Sarah Wicks and two pupils.

The money for the Kingfisher ward was raised in a combination of ways including the school Christmas fair and church services.

May 2016

SCHOOLS

25

Artwork and history on the timetable AN exhibition of wonderful artwork produced by the children of Archbishop Wake Primary School was hosted at the end of their Arts Week, during which they adopted an historical theme.

Children in each year group learned about a different period in British history, from the Iron Age through to the 1960s, and produced 2D and 3D pieces, using a wide range of media, as well as experiencing dance, drama and music linked to the theme.

Opportunities to enhance the children's learning were provided

by Blandford Town Museum, who supplied a wide range of artefacts, giving the children real hands-on learning opportunity, and by staff of the Ancient Technology Centre, who led an archaeological excavation on the school field where the children

were able to try their hands at being archaeologists.

The children all enjoyed World Book Day and receiving their book from WH Smith. Children in Foundation Stage and Key Stage One had the opportunity to hear stories from lots of different teachers. Some lunchtime supervisors dressed up for the occasion.

Other activities have included the children playing a range of maths games with their Buddy Classes a great opportunity to learn from each other.

As part of their topic, the Year 1 children visited the Priest's House Museum in Wimborne to learn about homes in Victorian times, and the Lionfish and Starfish classes were excited to have eggs brought into school by Living Eggs, and to watch and wait for the chicks to hatch.

Lunchtime supervisors dressed up for book day at Archbishop Wake School.

Pictured (from the left) are Peter Musson and Ralph Kerr of Clayesmore music department, Abi Morgan and Headmaster Martin Cooke.

Abi’s proud milestone

Pictured are Jacqui Greenhaf, community fundraising manager at Julia's House; Will Dunlop, head of Clayesmore Prep; head girl Lucy Slay and head boy Daniel Coleman.

Zumba nets charity cash CLAYESMORE Prep School has presented a cheque for ÂŁ3,614 to Julia's House Hospice as a result of an epic Zumbathon in which members of the pre-prep and nursery took part.

The school had been visited earlier by a charity representative, who spoke about the work they do for children suffering from incurable conditions. As a result, pupils were inspired to help make a difference and were soon pestering everyone with their sponsorship forms to contribute.

Jacqui Greenhaf, community fundraising manager at the charity, thanked staff, students and parents for their support saying: "It is an incredible amount and is

enough to pay for 120 hours of care, having a hugely positive impact on the lives of the families we support."

YEAR 11 Clayesmore School pupil, Abi Morgan, reached an extraordinary musical milestone when she passed her flute performance diploma, awarded by the ABRSM, the exam board of the Royal School of Music.

Abi, who has been playing for eight years, had to perform a tricky selection of pieces at the exam in London, some unseen, provide the examiners with programme notes she had researched and written and then answer questions.

She can now lay claim to a degree and is eligible to wear a gown and hood. These were presented to her by Headmaster, Martin Cooke, at a choral concert in the school's chapel. To join in the spirit of the event, teachers in the music department donned their robes, too.

Next, she'd like to take the teaching diploma but also add a performance diploma in piano to her tally as she's already achieved Grade 8 in that, too.

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26

SPORT

May 2016

Mayor of Blandford Steve Hitchings on one of the training bikes at Exercise Racing Tiger, with Col Steve Short, commanding officer of 11th (RSS) Signal Regiment.

Mayor’s fitness test TEAMS from the Blandford Garrison competed in a 12-hour rowing and cycling event in the Shambles of Blandford Corn Exchange on 6th April, when they took turns on the mounted static and training machines for 30 minutes to see who could go furthest.

The charity event was in support of the Blandford Food Bank, Help for Heroes and the Royal Signals Benevolent Fund. The sportsmen

were joined by the Army recruitment team who set up their stall outside along with other charities.

Exercise Racing Tiger, organised

by Sgt Ryan Virot, of 2 (Catterick) Squadron, raised a total of around ÂŁ750 which was shared between the three charities.

Among the participants was Mayor of Blandford Steve Hitchings, who took a turn on one of the bikes.

FORTY members took part in the first seniors' and ladies' competition of the season at Ashley Wood Golf Club, a fun Texas Scramble which resulted in a lot of laughter and good humour throughout. The winners, with a splendid score of 63.3 points, were Valerie Williams, Micky Briggs, Joan Bartlett and Bob Clarke.

May 2016

SPORT

Niece inspires Kathie to run LOCAL runner Kathie Child, who was due to compete in the Virgin London Marathon on 24th April, has already completed five of the big six, including New York in 2013, Berlin in 2014, Boston and Chicago in 2015, and the Tokyo Marathon which took place in February.

Kathie secured her London Marathon place through a charity and was planning to complete her world majors for the Child Growth Foundation, which helped her niece, Georgia and her family through some pretty tough times.

She said: "Georgia is the most inspirational person I have ever known. Despite being born early, diagnosed with Russell Silver Syndrome and having undergone many operations and procedures, she is the happiest person I know. She is very determined and does not admit defeat, making the most of every opportunity she has, and a true inspiration to me."

The Child Growth Foundation support research and development to help children and families who have growth problems, similar to Georgia's. They promote and fund research into the causes of growth and endocrine disorders and work with medical professionals to encourage growth monitoring and development of treatments, providing equipment and training.

Kathie can be sponsored at uk.virginmoneygiving.com/KathieChild. Further information on the Child Growth Foundation can be found at childgrowthfoundation.org.

Girls make a splash for Sports Relief A GROUP of girls, who got together to do the Swimathon for Sport Relief at Blandford Leisure Centre, all train together with the Blandford Flyers Swimming Club.

They swam 5km in a great time of 1hr 45m and in the process raised an incredible amount of nearly ÂŁ400.

Jessica Newton (year 6), Emily Keep (year 4), Millie Creffield (year 6), Ellen Spicer (year 7) and Connie Wharton (year 6), pictured left to right, were all very pleased with their achievement and justly proud of themselves.

Kathie Child (right) with her niece Georgia, for whom she was running in the London Marathon.

27

Why not try bowls?

IT has been a long, hard, wet winter but summer sunshine is surely on the way and now may be the time to consider new activities.

Lawn bowls is a great sport for people of all ages and all abilities, and the opportunity to try it is being provided on Saturday 7th May, between 10 am and 4pm, at the open day of Blandford Bowling Club at the Park Road recreation ground next to Blandford Hospital.

For those who have never bowled, it will be a chance to find out about the playing and social aspects of the local club, whose season began on 16th April.

No special equipment is needed to take part in the open day, when members and coaches will be on hand to help and explain both the game and the excellent facilities and range of social activities at the club.

For further details contact Tony Ives on 01929 472336, email tonyandrosieives@yahoo.co.uk or go to blandfordbowlingclub.com.

28

May 2016

Forum Focus - forthcoming meetings & events Friday 29th April to Monday 2nd May: Teddy Rocks 2016, Stour Meadows, Blandford (see page 6) Sunday 1st May: (and every first Sunday following) 'Allsorts' - a service for children with special needs, parents, carers.

Shillingstone Church Centre 3.30 to 4.30pm Monday 2nd May: Blandford Georgian Fayre (see page 6) Blandford Art Society Members Exhibition in Blandford Parish Church 10am-4pm. Details from Rachel Baynes 01258 489612 Tuesday 3rd May: Blandford Macular Group supporting people with central vision loss, meeting at the Parish Centre, Blandford, details 01258 454461 Wednesday 4th May: Blandford St Mary Parish Council meeting Thursday 5th May: Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) election and North Dorset District Council by-elections, polling 7am to 10pm Blandford Museum first Thursday talk. Robert Warry - 'An Auctioneer's Lot', 7 for 7.30pm Friday 6th May: Debate on the EU Referendum, Blandford Parish Centre, 7.30pm Saturday 7th May: Open Day, Blandford Bowls Club, Park Road, 10am to 4pm Coffee morning, Shillingstone Church Centre, 10.30am to noon Sunday 8th May: Blandford Mayor's Thanksgiving Service, Parish Church 11am and Civic Day, Corn Exchange, Queen's Gurkha Signals Freedom Parade 3pm Monday 9th May: Blandford & District Floral Group meets URC Hall 2.15pm, Tracey Griffin 'Inspired by Nature', competition 'Beautiful Bark' Talk by Mike Beale,'The End of the Line' at the Railway Club, Eagle House Gardens, DT11 7BT, 7.30pm, see newblandfordrailwayclub.co.uk.

Wednesday 11th May and Saturday 14th May: Dorset Wildlife Trust Dawn Chorus Walks at Bere Marsh Farm near Child Okeford. Book on 01258 471339 or email anna.aubrey@btinternet.com Thursday 12th May: Living Spit present Fabulous Bacon Boys (Artsreach promotion), Winterborne Stickland village hall, 8pm, details 01258 880920 Friday 13th May: Blandford Mayor Making Ceremony, Corn Exchange Blandford, doors open 11am

Entries in this diary are free of charge. If you have an event you would like included, 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. Readers are advised to check with event organisers before attending.

Blandford Inner Wheel President Sylvia Elley is presented with a certificate acknowledging the club's 70th anniversary by District 11 chairman Alisson Smith, watched by Mayor of Blandford Steve Hitchings.

Landmark for Inner Wheel THE 70th anniversary charter lunch of Blandford Inner Wheel saw the launch of a booklet chronicling the history of the group, written by member Judith Ford.

It describes the formation, on 29th January 1946, when a group of wives of Blandford Rotarians met at Hicks Café in West Street to elect four office holders - president Mrs Ivan Sheppard, vice-president Mrs G Blandford, secretary Mrs A V Winsor and treasurer Mrs H R Allen, together with a dozen founder members. The charter presentation took place on 25th June that year in the Town Hall.

Mrs Ford said the booklet, now on sale in support of Inner Wheel charities, demonstrated the underlying compassion of the organisation, quoting as an example its work for Hungarian refugees who came to live in Blandford in the 1950s.

At the lunch at the Langton Arms, Tarrant Monkton, Inner Wheel Blandford president Sylvia Elley was presented with a certificate of appreciation, acknowledging the club's 70th anniversary, from District 11 of which it is part by its chairman Alisson Smith.

The 43 guests included Mayor of Blandford, Councillor Steve Hitchings, Blandford Rotary President Vic Chippendale, International Inner Wheel past president Janet Day and past district chairman Judy Adams, herself a member of the Blandford club.

They were joined by several members of Blandford Rotary and ladies of the Inner Wheel clubs of District 11.

Farmers Market, Market Place, and Shambles Craft Market Saturday 14th May: Charity fashion sale, Woodhouse Gardens, from 10am Dorset Coppice Group open day at The Living Classroom, Bonsley Wood, near Blandford, 10am-5pm Sunday 15th May: Dorset Clubmen re-enactment, Badbury Rings, 12 noon Tuesday 17th May: 'Take a bunch of supermarket flowers'.

Child Okeford Flower Arranging Club, Child Okeford Village Hall, 2.15pm, Details: 01258 863775 Wednesday 18th May:

Blandford Fashion Museum lecture by Maureen Rose on dressmaking for the Queen, 10am coffee, 10.30am talk. Tickets: 01258 453006.

Blandford Carers meet Durweston Village Hall, 2-4pm, talk on Dorset Air Ambulance Thursday 19th May: Blandford Heart Forum meets 2pm in the Studio, Common Lane, Blandford (behind M & Co East St.), speaker Stuart Gillespie on ‘Remembering Great Entertainers’, details blandfordheartforum.org.uk Blandford Art Society meets

Pimperne Village Hall, 2pm, 'Dramatic Pastel Skies,' a demo/practical with Keith Scott, details 03330 112174 Blandford Archaeology Group meeting, Blandford Museum, 7.30pm, 'Chalkland, Stonehenge, and Snails' with environmental archaeologist Mike Allen Blandford Folk Singaround, Royal British Legion, 8pm, acoustic musicians, story tellers and poets welcome, details 01258 451371 Friday 20th May: Wessex Acoustic Folk, Blandford Royal British Legion, 8pm, Gerry Colvin Band, support Bob Kirkpatrick, details 01202 732239 or wessexacoustic.co.uk Saturday 21st May: Cats Protection coffee morning, Woodhouse Gardens, Blandford 10am to 12.30pm Sunday 22nd May: Spring concert in aid of Bryanston Group Riding for the Disabled, Holy Rood Church, Shillingstone, 2.30pm. Tickets 01258 863683 or springheadjackie@hotmail.com.

Wednesday 25th May: Dorset Community Action community project advice sessions, Blandford Fire Station 9am to 1pm, book an appointment with Annie Hobell on 01202 847605 Blandford Forum Townswomen's Guild meets 2pm, Williams Opportunity Hall, Whitecliff Gardens, 'Endangered Species'; with Dawn Laurence Thursday 26th May: Blandford Horticultural Society meeting and plant sale, United Reformed Church Hall, Blandford, 7.30pm, speakers Peter & Jill Pitman, ‘Gardens Great and Small’ Friday 27th May: Shambles Craft Market Last Friday Social in Blandford Museum Garden, from 6pm Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th May: Blandford Camera Club annual exhibition, Corn Exchange Saturday 28th May to Sunday 12th June: Dorset Art Weeks, more than two dozen artist exhibitors in DT11 area, see dorsetartweeks.co.uk Blackmore Vale branch of the Embroiderers' Guild exhibiting at Bishops Caundle Village Hall, DT9 5NB, 10am to 4pm, enquiries 0196323467 Monday 30th May: S&DRT 50th anniversary cycle ride: Blandford to Gartell Railway, register by email to timjchapman@aol.com or calling 078732 761200 Companion dog show and have a go Agility, Shillingstone recreation ground, DT11 0TH, 11am sign-in for 12pm start. Details 01258 860019