FORUM FOCUS For Blandford and surrounding villages Issue No. 58
Special award recognises Peggy’s charity work: Page 21
January 2017
Traffic fears as another housing plan is unveiled A PUBLIC consultation into development proposals for land at Lower Bryanston has renewed concerns about traffic impact on the New Road/Fairmile Road junction. The masterplan - presented at Blandford St Mary Primary School's hall by Amec Foster Wheeler (AmecFW) on behalf of Bryanston (RFE) Ltd, the new owners of the former Crown Estates land - indicates around 80 new homes off a spinal road from a new access off New Road. AmecFW sought views on what people saw as the most important potential benefits and issues. These included the mix of new homes, their design and character, the number of affordable homes, minimising car use, pedestrian and cycle links, ensuring sufficient local infrastructure, protection and improvement of wildlife habitats and landscape setting, provision of public open space and play areas and management of flood risk and climate change. Consultees had three weeks to submit their comments at the meeting or online at Survey Monkey. Spokesman Stuart Williamson for AmecFW said: "The masterplan has been influenced by initial discussions with key stakeholders and supporting technical work. It is not fixed, but is intended to demonstrate how the site could be developed. "We intend to consider all the comments after the deadline and then assess changes to the masterplan." More than 90 per cent of
Safe trip home, Santa - see you next Christmas!
A sunny morning on the North Dorset Trailway as some exhausted Santas head for their sleighs, their busiest time of the year behind them. Story: Page 3. Bryanston residents questioned in 2012 for the Neighbourhood Plan felt that the environment of Bryanston was very important, with 85 per cent enjoying the tranquility of the village, and 71 per cent wanting no more housing. But the site was nevertheless included as a potential development site in the recently approved North Dorset Local Plan, which is now under review in the light of central government calling for housing numbers to be increased. Neighbouring Blandford St Mary Parish Council has indicated it will
be objecting to the proposal (see page 26) and the consultation has already generated concerns about traffic impact (see letters on Pages 14-15). Local resident Andrew Goodland has suggested adding a fifth roundabout to the Blandford bypass above the Bryanston Hills estate to facilitate access to all three developments now in the planning stages - 350 homes between the A350 and A354, over 60 at Dorchester Hill and now 80 at Lower Bryanston. A new access road, he says,
could lead to Fairmile Road where a smaller new roundabout could give proper access to known and future 'unlimited' development, and a second could feed back into the designated 350-home area. None of the three new developments, in total more than 500 homes, would need to use Bournemouth road and the Tesco roundabout during the construction phase. Workers and materials on two of the sites would not need access along West Street • To Page 2
The team at Forum Focus wish all our readers and advertisers a very Happy New Year
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January 2017
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IF anyone would like join our team to deliver in their own or any other area that has no delivery, please get in touch (see contacts above). Copies can be picked up from any of our drop points listed below: 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, Abbott Garden Centre, Langton Long, 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, Okeford Fitzpaine village shop, Londis Shop & Royal Oak at Milborne St Andrew, The Crown at Winterborne Stickland, Post Office and Surgery, Milton Abbas, and The Cricketers at Shroton.
Approved Persimmon Development
The master plan showing how land at Lower Bryanston might be developed.
Traffic fears over homes plan • From Page 1 and Bournemouth Road. It would also allow redesign of the New Road/West Street/Dorchester Hill junction to give priority to Fairmile Road traffic, and save the Lower Bryanston Farm development from needing a new access from New Road. "The advantages would include a natural speed reduction on the A354 approach to the Tesco roundabout, a safer access to the 350home development site, long-term reduced traffic impact at the Tesco roundabout, and maintenance of pedestrian and cycle access to the town," says Mr Goodland. "Improved road quality and layout improves life for existing residents during and after construction and, importantly, provides opportunity for relatively easy phased development of 1,000s more new homes in the future to meet the unremitting pressure from central government."
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January 2017
Charitable Santas turn the trailway red NEARLY 100 runners, walkers, joggers, cyclists and dogs turned out on a bright sunny Sunday morning to take part in Blandford Stour Rotary's Santa Fun Run along the North Dorset Trailway. After partaking of mulled wine and seasonal refreshment and donning their Santa suits, they set off along the route to Stourpaine and back, a distance of ten miles,
deciding for themselves how much or little to cover. Serious runners included Team Runblandford from the Blandford Park Run, while the strollers included a large number of family groups with toddlers and young children enjoying some healthy exercise with their parents. In between were the dog walkers and runners, with Frodo and
Parking issues worsened by site closures THE thorny issue of residents' town centre parking has been aggravated in two areas by the withdrawal of unofficial 'free' parking on two privately owned sites at Wessex Court and in Albert Street. The redevelopment of the Wheatsheaf pub site in Albert Street had led to the loss of its car park, and a request was made to North Dorset District Council to consider allowing residents to buy parking permits for the nearby Station Court public car park at a reduced rate. Councillor John Tanner said his initial request for the discounted permits to be made available to people in Albert Street had been refused, but he was pursuing the matter since permits have not been sold for all spaces in the car park. At the same time, a letter sent to all residents in Orchard Street by Sovereign Housing, successors to Spectrum, advised them that as of November 30, the car park at Wessex Court would be closed for maintenance work, and would no longer be available to non-residents of the social housing development. One Orchard Street resident said: "Residents will have nowhere to
park and will face a huge problem in the future." County Councillor Barrie Cooper told town councillors he had asked Sovereign to assess how many parking spaces were actually needed by residents, and whether others could be offered permits for those remaining. He has also been in discussion with highways officers on the possibility of a parking survey of Blandford to review how issues might be addressed. Councillor Haydn White asked whether a survey could include roads beyond the town centre. He and Councillor Hugo Mieville said Hunt Road, Barnes Close and Albert Street should also be considered. Councillor Cooper was reminded that several months ago a request had been made for a parking survey in the whole of the Victorian development area of the town. Councillor Steve Hitchings requested urgent consideration of Black Lane, where the transfer of services to include other than education services had led to increased parking problems throughout the day, and Councillor Cooper confirmed that that was an area which would be included.
SAINSBURY'S Argos have confirmed that the Blandford Argos located within Homebase is scheduled to close on July 22. A spokesman said: "A period of consultation will take place in due course and where possible store colleagues will be provided with alternative employment in neighbouring Argos stores.� The future of the outlet in Blandford, which moved to Homebase when its East Street store closed in January 2015, has been in doubt since its ownership transferred from Homebase to Sainsbury.
The Santa catering team at the start of Blandford Stour Rotary's Santa Fun Run. Monty and their owners Laura Stevens from Canford Heath and Lisa Froment of Winchester sporting antlers and suits as Rudolph and Santa's little helper. The Trailway came alive with Santas, and it was a delight to see from the main A350 Blandford to Durweston road the constant stream of red suits making their way along the path running parallel with it. The Rotary Club organisers were
delighted with the response on the first occasion they had held the event, following the example of Sturminster Rotary whose Santa Stride at the other end of the Trailway took place the previous week, and has become well established over the years. Spokesman David Rose said: "We hope to have raised a lot of money for Rotary causes." • More pictures on our website forumfocus.co.uk.
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BLANDFORD Fashion Museum held its customary free admission open day to mark the end of the season, with lace, jewellery and button-making displays to complement the costumes on show. The museum will be reopening at school half-term in February with new exhibits featuring 'Dorset Ladies' of distinction, who will include Henrietta Bankes, Henrietta Portman, Mary Anning and Joyce Badrocke, a designer for Horrocks in the 50s and 60s. There will also be a display of 'Styles that changed fashion', and of 'Ladies Taking Tea' at a Victorian tea party. • Pictured is Dorset button maker Anna McDowell of Henry's Buttons.
January 2017
Lions set out on a mission to save more lives THE number of life-saving defibrillators available in Blandford to assist those afflicted by sudden heart failure is growing, and will grow further in the coming year, thanks to Blandford Lions. They have made the provision of defibrillators their 'Centennial Challenge' in their movement's centenary year. Their appeal was launched at their Christmas craft fair in the Corn Exchange, when Mayor of Blandford Jackie Stayt attended to announce her backing for the project to install defibrillators wherever they are needed. The Lions say one of the problems is lack of information about where they are located and lack of confidence in using them, and a key part of their project will be to draw up and maintain a list of sites to keep the public informed and run public training sessions in their use. The Mayor said: "I am delighted that the Town Council will be supporting this exciting and important project for Blandford and wish the Lions every success." Blandford Town Council has agreed to back the project by including information about training sessions and locations of defibrillators in its newsletter and other publications. All proceeds from the craft fayre and Lions' fundraising events will be ring-fenced for this project, and the Lions will be engaging
with local businesses to seek their support for the initiative. Anyone wishing to donate to the fund should contact Nigel Hodder at blandfordlions@hotmail.co.uk or on 01258 880229. Dorset Freemasons were the first to install a Blandford defibrillator on the wall of their Lodge in West Street as part of the Queens' Jubilee celebrations, although because of the planning issues of its installation outside a listed building it was the last of 17 to be installed outside all 17 Masonic buildings in Dorset. Two - in Weymouth and Swanage - have already played their part in saving lives. In Blandford Brother Melvyn Curtiss has responsibility for regularly checking and maintaining the equipment. He said: "The Freemasons of Blandford hope you never need their defibrillator, but if you do, please know you are very, very welcome." Its location, and that of others nearby, was not known to people at the Greyhound Inn when two people suffered heart attacks on the same day, one outside the pub and the other in the car park. It prompted them to launch their own appeal to buy one, which is now in place, and Archbishop Wake Primary School also launched an appeal to parents to help fund one for the school and wider community in Black Lane.
Brother Lion Nigel Hodder and Mayor of Blandford Jackie Stayt launch the Blandford Lions defibrillator appeal.
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January 2017
Call for more of the Lidl cash to come into town CONSTRUCTION of the Lidl supermarket is well underway at the top of Shaftesbury Lane and it could be open in the next few months. But the agreement that £250,000 should be devoted to extending the bus service to and from the new store has caused concern to those who would have liked to see more of the supermarket's contribution to the town devoted to town centre enhancement. Blandford's Town Team has submitted a Freedom of Information request to North Dorset District Council, asking a series of questions about how the agreement was arrived at and who will be accountable for the way the funding is spent. Town Team vice-chairman David Rose said: "It is the Blandford community's information that the allocation of Blandford 106 Lidl
money is to be split: £250,957 to support a 20-minute frequency bus service from Blandford Forum town centre to Lidl and back for up to three years, and £77,766 to town centre improvements. "The town recognises the importance of the bus service to those without private transport. Lidl's customer demographic is unusual in containing more bus users and those on a tight budget than other supermarkets. "However, increasing the frequency of the current service may be unnecessary. The X8 service can be extended to take in Lidl on its outward and return journeys. It should be noted that, at the time of the Asda agreement (2012/13) the X8 bus was not going through the Persimmon estate, as it is now (introduced in 2014).
Groundworks underway at the Lidl site off Shaftesbury Lane. "Clearly a bus shelter will be required at the Lidl store. It's equally clear that the bus service will not mitigate the impact on the town centre for the loss of shoppers to the Lidl store, as implied by the calculation in the delegated officer's report. "It is the Town Team's view that there should be an adjustment to reduce the sum spent on extending the bus service and increase the amount available to make the town centre more attractive to shoppers." He said North Dorset District Council should be aware that ensuring a vibrant town centre
has been a key part of local government policy, supported by the Mary Portas Report (2014) and Grimsey Review (2015). "The Freedom of Information request was prompted by the wish to ensure that NDDC consults the community and the Town Council on how the Lidl money is spent, and the requirement for information to be made available to the public on the plan, the processes and progress." The request was submitted to NDDC's chief executive Matt Prosser on December 1, and a response was expected within 20 working days.
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January 2017
Above: Crowds fill the Market Place for the community carol singing which followed the lantern parade.
Archbishop Wake Primary School pupils with their glowing lanterns, some of the hundreds who took part in the parade.
A trio of young singers follow the words for the carols in the Yuletide programme, distributed free of charge to all attending.
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January 2017
Fun, food and fine weather make Yuletide Festival a crowd puller BLANDFORD's seventh Yuletide Festival was again blessed with fine, mild weather which brought huge crowds to witness the children's lantern parade and enjoy the festivities in the traffic-free town centre. Paraders, led by Father Christmas on his float, Mayor of Blandford Jackie Stayt and her retinue, and the Stour Valley Band, included large contingents from primary schools in the area, together with other youth groups in the town who had all produced some spectacular lanterns with which to light their way. East Street, Salisbury Street, West Street and Sheep Market Hill were packed with traders' stalls from the Farmers and Anonymous Markets and hot food sellers, while the Market Place was filled first with the lantern paraders, their families and friends for community carol singing led by the Rector, the Rev Jonathan Triffitt. The festival was formally opened by the Mayor, who thanked all those who had volunteered their time to organise what has become such a popular social event. There was then a programme of entertainment offered both in the Market Place and Corn Exchange, with performers including the Stour Valley Band and Wessex Majorettes, who had marched in the parade, Sam Ryall's Blandford Ukulele Group, Baffling Blandford magician Paul Hyland, and various groups of singers. A magnificent firework finale over the Market Place rooftops brought the evening to a close. Visitors had also been able to enjoy craft stalls in the Corn Exchange, a craft fair at the Crown Hotel, fairground attractions, and refreshments from shops and businesses which had stayed open for the occasion.
The Blandford 'detachment' of the Wessex Majorettes who performed in the Market Place. The group meets at the Methodist Church Hall on Wednesday evenings.
More festival pictures on our website forumfocus.co.uk
Blandford Ukulele Group, a now regular feature at many events and catering for all ages, entertaining in the Corn Exchange.
Yo ho-ho! And off we go in the Yuletide Festival lantern parade. Santa had a busy evening meeting children in the Corn Exchange.
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January 2017
SPETISBURY Yuletide Brass played Christmas carols at Tesco and M&S in Blandford, and made a collection for the Friends of Blandford Hospital. Winston Leese, Lorna Leese, Tony Hart and Les Hart are pictured with Mac McLaughlin, vice-chairman of the Friends.
Vets issue alert over pet virus increases A WORRYING increase locally in the number of parvovirus cases in both dogs and cats has prompted the Damory Vets in Blandford to urge pet owners to take precautions against an infection which can often prove fatal. Due to the number of cases they have seen, they have launched a vaccine amnesty, allowing any dog or cat not up to date on their vaccines to have a restart course for the price of a booster, and the second vaccination free of charge. A spokesman for Damory Vets said: "We are regularly asked whether vaccinations are necessary. This has come about due to the decreased incidence of many diseases, which can be directly attributed to owners vaccinating their pets. It is for this reason that we are in no doubt of a genuine need for them to continue to prevent and protect against outbreaks such as this." Guidelines issued by both the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA - Vaccine
guidelines) and the British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) outline core vaccines, one of which is for parvovirus. Initial courses of two injections at eight weeks and 12 weeks for dogs and cats need to be followed by boosters and revaccinations at three-year intervals against parvovirus, and annually against distemper, hepatitis and leptospirosis in dogs and cat flu and feline leukaemia in cats. Parvovirus is a severe form of infectious gastroenteritis affecting dogs and cats and leading to profuse bleeding from the intestines. It is more common in puppies and kittens and is often fatal but those that survive require intensive treatment, and infected pregnant dogs and cats can pass the disease onto their unborn young. Dogs and cats receiving yearly vaccines also have the added benefit of receiving a full health check from a veterinary surgeon. Appointments can be made with Damory Vets by calling 01258 452626.
BLANDFORD'S Stour Valley Band has asked the Town Council for a service level agreement, giving funding for an agreed number of engagements promoting the town. Its request was considered by the town finance and staffing committee in December, which recommended to full council that the band is offered ÂŁ1,500 a year for up to 10 performances. The band lost income when its services were no longer required at the Great Dorset Steam Fair and incurred extra expense through hire charges for its rehearsal room. Last year it received more than ÂŁ4,000 from the Mayor's charity fundraising which was almost entirely used for the purchase of a single musical instrument. It relies largely on donations, sponsorship and collections at performances to meet its overheads. Since 2014, when the Band of the Royal Corps of Signals left Blandford Camp, the Stour Valley Band has fulfilled additional engagements in a town programme.
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January 2017
Cut-price bus fares threatened
£160,000 makeover launches pub’s revival THE reopening on December 2 of Nelson's Cheese & Ale House after a £160,000 refurbishment has been welcomed by pub regulars and the wider community. Recent years have seen a frequent turnover of managers at the pub and lack of investment, but it has now had a complete facelift with new signage, furnishing, decoration and restoration of traditional features. The work is thanks to the arrival last February of Samantha-Jade Martin, her mum and business partner Janie Martin, and other members of the family, who have built up its turnover and been supported by owners Star Pubs & Bars, the pub business of Heineken.
Samantha-Jade Martin and her mum Janie, who are in charge at the new-look Nelson's Cheese & Ale House. A new kitchen has also been installed, and from January the pub will be offering real pub food. The beer garden has been enhanced with a rose garden alongside the extensive decking area. There has already been a full programme of activities, including a festive evening in
December featuring a jam session with local jazz musician Dan Baker and the Hurricanes, mulled cider and mince pies to celebrate the pub's reopening and a New Year's Eve party was planned to celebrate the year ahead and the pub's new lease of life.
CONCESSIONARY fares currently available before 9.30am on buses for which there is no alternative before 10.30am could be withdrawn this spring by Dorset County Council, which on December 1 began a consultation into the proposals. The consultation - which can be found on dorsetforyou.gov.uk/ travel-dorset/conessionary-passes-consultation - ends on January 13, and the results, Cabinet decision and implementation information will be published on the same website in due course. Routes affected include the X12 Weymouth to Blandford, 20 Salisbury to Blandford, service 185 to Blandford Camp, 309 Blandford to Gillingham and return, 311 Blandford to Dorchester and return, 368 Blandford to Dorchester and return, X9 Gillingham to Blandford and X10 Yeovil to Blandford.
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January 2017
Christmas trees dress their best for church festival AROUND 30 decorated Christmas trees adorned Blandford Parish Church from December 10-17 as part of the church's second annual Christmas Tree Festival. They represented as many carols, hymns and songs, having been decorated by groups in the church community and town. Rector, the Rev Jonathan Triffitt, was delighted with the response. "There are far more trees than last year, which was the first Christmas Tree Festival held in the church," he said. The Festival opened with carols and seasonal music from the Stour Valley Band, and on the second Saturday there was children's festive entertainment. Members of the public could vote for their favourite to receive the Lantern Award. They chose Durweston School's 'Drummer Boy', a tree laden with tiny
drums, drumsticks and images of soldiers, topped off with a modelled 'Jimmy'. On the evening of the Yuletide Festival, Mayor Jackie Stayt opted to give 'The Mayor's Choice' award to the Blandford Museum tree, bedecked with glittering lights. Among the contenders was the very original offering from Milldown Primary School, whose 'In the Bleak Midwinter' saw fabric snowdrifts climb the sides of the tree. There were no prizes for guessing the title of Durweston Primary and Handy Paws trees laden with little donkeys, nor that of the church flower ladies, laden with little reindeer and red lights, and the Free Expression Arts Festival did what it does best, with a large slice of artistic licence in their interpretation of Jingle Bells, which ended with the sleigh crashing!
Particularly tasteful were the ‘Angels from the Realms of Glory' from the Cupola Project, featuring the church tower and cupola. The 12 days of Christmas by Blandford Guides and Brownies.
Handy Paws Pre-School, Durweston.
Silent Night by Spetisbury School.
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January 2017
Angels from the Realms of Glory by the Cupola Project.
Exhibits from MIlldown and Durweston schools.
Jingle Bells with the Free Expression Arts Festival.
Hark the Herald Angels Sing.
From the left: entries by the Townswomen's Guild, United Reformed Church and public choice winner Downlands School, as well as that of the church itself.
Blandford Foodbank’s Figgy Pudding.
It Came Upon the Midnight Clear.
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January 2017
Left: Father Christmas and Mayor of Blandford Jackie Stayt at the tree lighting ceremony. Photo: Rachael Piper Harding. Above: A festive scene in the Market Place.
Town dresses up in its festive finery FATHER Christmas arrived in style for the Christmas tree lighting ceremony on December 2 aboard the float provided for the second year running by the Blandford Lions. He processed through the main streets to the Market Place, where he was joined by Mayor of Blandford Jackie Stayt for the lighting of the tree. Crowds had gathered to celebrate the occasion and afterwards enjoy festive entertainment in the Corn Exchange, where the Stour Valley Band played carols, Jamie Jigsaw provided juggling entertainment on stilts, Santa met children and all enjoyed refreshments and the Christmas quiz laid on by Blandford Forum Town Council. The event was enhanced by the presence of stallholders from the Blandford Farmers' Market in the
Market Place, and followed by a civic carol service in the Parish Church, led by the Rector the Rev Jonathan Triffitt, who gave the address. Participants included the choirs of The Blandford School, Archbishop Wake CE Primary School, Milldown Primary School, and the Dorset Rural Music School 'Sing for Pleasure'. There were readings by North Dorset MP Simon Hoare, Mayor's Scout Maya Haines and Blandford Freeman Carole Sharp, with prayers led by Blandford Guides. The retiring collection was shared between the church and Mayor's charities - Friends of Blandford Hospital and Blandford Scout Group. • More pictures on our website forumfocus.co.uk.
January 2017
Council hits back at the Christmas critics NEGATIVE comment about Blandford's Christmas decorations on the Public Forum Facebook page has prompted a response from the Town Council spelling out its involvement in supporting and creating a festive atmosphere in the town. The statement, released at the request of council chairman Lynn Lindsay and posted on social media, listed the activities organised and supported by the council: the Christmas shop window competition, the tree lighting and civic reception, the professional pantomime in the Corn Exchange and free parking on two Saturdays in December in association with North Dorset District and Dorset County Councils. It detailed the provision of Christmas trees and decorations in the Market Place, Corn Exchange, churchyard and Tabernacle, and the role of volunteers in maintaining the street lighting scheme of 100 small trees in wall-holders at considerable saving to council taxpayers.
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In 2015 companies quoted tens of thousands of pounds a year for professional installation, removal and maintenance of Christmas lighting schemes, including strings of decorations across the streets which would need highway authority permission. Research revealed that in many other places, town councils were still supported by their Chambers and Business Improvement Districts with contributions from local businesses to the provision of lighting schemes, as Blandford's was in the past. The statement read: "For the last few years members of the public have criticised the condition of the small trees, unaware of the volunteers' efforts to carry out the work involved. Some of these small trees are in desperate need of replacement as they cannot be unfurled due to their fragile state. The purchase of new trees is being phased due to the costs involved." The scheme is now supported by volunteers involved with the Yuletide Festival. Anyone who would like to help with or donate to it is asked to contact Yuletide committee chairman Steve Hitchings by email to chairman@blandford-yuletide-festival.org.uk or call 01258 455840.
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War veteran Ernie honoured at last WAR veteran Ernie Aylott, who at 93 years old was presented with his long overdue war medals by Dorset's Lord Lieutenant Angus Campbell in September, has now received France's highest award, the Legion d'Honneur, for his part in the country's liberation in the Second World War. His case worker for SSAFA Forces Help, Nick Bate, who encouraged him to apply for the medals he deserved, attended Mr Aylott's home at Ashley Wood Caravan Park to present him with the medal and read a letter of appreciation from the French Ambassador in the presence of his family. Mr Bate said: "Ernie was extremely modest and moved. It was a moving day and I have really enjoyed helping a very deserving and lovely man."
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Readers’ letters
A coherent solution? I ATTENDED the public consultation for the latest in the series of new housing developments proposed for our immediate vicinity. My views follow, for what they are worth, though I am sorry to say I fear that whether one, 100,
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
1,000 or 10,000 people feel the same way, the piecemeal development process will go on and we will collectively miss the opportunity to extend the Blandford conurbation in the most coherent manner. It seems to me that we as a community are preparing a series of inadequate picnics when a banquet is within our compass. We and future generations depend wholly on the actions of the NDDC planners to
January 2017 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.
control the evolution of our living environment. We have in prospect 62 homes in Dorchester Hill, 80 homes at Lower Bryanston Farm and 350 or so between the A350/A354 which will inevitably create noise, damage and inconvenience to the local people and those passing through until at least 2021. It is unlikely that 500 will be sufficient and additional development may be unavoidable. A coherent solution is needed that will work best for everybody and be more suitable in size for the long-term requirements than those we have seen. The Rothermere dynasty could see some of its land used to facilitate a 'state-of-the-art' town extension of which they and we could all be proud and grateful. One major development scheme (say 1,000 dwellings) would reduce or eliminate immediate pressure from central government, facilitate a much more significant S106 contribution to provide the much-needed infrastructure to benefit new and existing inhabitants, and add to rather than detract from the neighbouring AONB. A key step would be to add a fifth roundabout to the existing four on the town bypass in the wedge above the Bryanston Hills development allowing access roads for new development. I am not an expert, and I may have overlooked some aspects, but I care about Blandford and wholeheartedly wish our planners can be open-minded and brave. Please let that be, so that they can look objectively into the much longer term rather than grappling with short-term expediencies. Andrew Goodland Bryanston Hills resident Address supplied
Help for the children LAST year you helpfully let me put in a letter asking for MP3 players to take with me to Tanzania. In 2013 I had climbed Kilimanjaro, and since then had wanted to go back and visit the friends I made then, and hopefully make some new. In July 2015 I had made a rash
decision to quit a perfectly good job, pack my bags and go to Tanzania for the rest of the year. I did make many new friends, and one of the first people I met was Mandela. He was raised in orphanages himself and now does all he can to help anyone. He started Komboa Vulnerable Groups Association in 2013. In 2015 he started a pre-school for very poor children between four and six. These were the children I taught (or tried to teach) while I was in Moshi. I was there for nearly six months, until my money ran out. Komboa has a farm; the food produced is handed straight to the families who need it. He helps teenagers learn skills such as sewing, computer use and hospitality. Money is needed for upkeep and renovations at the Komboa centre. I am now helping to raise money for the centre in Moshi that helps teenagers from the streets, of whom there are many, poor kids, with pre-school and sponsorship and their families with food. Specifically we are raising funds to make urgent repairs to the building. To help, go to gofundme.com/Komboa. Trine Pedersen Kings Road, Blandford
Dangerous junction ANYONE using the road junction at the bottom of New Road/ Fairmile and Dorchester Hill regularly will tell you about the dangers and frustration negotiating this part of Blandford St Mary with Bryanston. Parked cars along the stretch of road into Blandford along Dorchester Hill into West Street cause a chicane, made worse by the narrowness of the road and a slight bend which seriously hampers visibility. The junction itself does not have any footpaths or even room for any, making a safe crossing for pedestrians impossible. You only have to look at the hedge opposite the end of New Road to see evidence of vehicles embedding themselves in an effort to pass. Local people will tell you of damaged cars, agricultural machinery • to Page 15
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January 2017
Letters extra
Foodbank’s invitation BLANDFORD Foodbank has issued an open invitation to an open day lunch they will be holding at the Methodist Church on Wednesday January 25 to give people a chance to tour the Foodbank, meet members of the steering group and hear about the Foodbank's impact on clients. There will also be an opportunity to read the latest annual review, network with referral agencies, and talk to the volunteers who run the charity. It operates under Faithworks Wessex to meet the short-term needs of those who find themselves without the resources to feed themselves and their families. Trustee Brook MacCallum said: "We want to invite anyone from the community who is interested or has in any way supported the Foodbank to come, enjoy some refreshments and hear and see what is presented. “We do need people to let us know if they intend visiting, in order that we can adjust the catering." To respond to the invitation, call 01258 456 093 or email blandfordfoodbank@gmail.com.
Stationary Santa THANK you for featuring the Spetisbury Station Project over the past year. We had our last work party of the year today, December 11, and, as has become customary, we decorated the 'up' platform booking office fireplace to ensure Santa and his reindeer continue to stop at the station, although the trains no longer do. The team will be back at the station in January, with several exciting projects planned for 2017, and thank local people for their support during the past year. We wish everyone a happy and healthy New Year. Kevin Mitchell, Spetisbury Station
Dangerous junction • from Page 14 getting stuck and buses having to go right to turn if they have emerged from New Road, so that they can negotiate the corner and chicane into Blandford. Yet this junction is deemed safe by DCC Highways as there is insufficient evidence to the contrary. Indeed, at the Planning Committee deciding the planning application in July, for the new estate of around 61 houses to be built at Dorchester Hill, the representative from Highways stated there would be little increase from the traffic from the new estate at Dorchester Hill and yet the planning application expected children to use this junction to safely walk or cycle to school, and the disabled, cyclists and motorists to use it to go to work. The problem could now get a lot worse, as a public consultation was held on November 30 prior to another planning application
being submitted for around 80 houses at Lower Bryanston Farm. This is not a comment on that development but a plea for common sense from planners and Highways to look seriously at this junction and how it can be improved before we add any more road users to this congested area and we have a fatality. If everyone using the junction and local residents could report incidents to the Police, including damage to vehicles, inconsiderate parking including on corners, etc, perhaps the evidence will accumulate to prove to council officials the problems currently, before we add any more road users from the two new estates, including more pedestrians and construction traffic. It is not very hard to imagine that one day a fire engine or ambulance will not be able to pass through to attend an emergency. Name & address supplied
Thanks for supporting our hall I WOULD like to thank all the businesses in Blandford Forum and Sturminster Newton and the residents of Child Okeford for supporting the Christmas bingo in aid of the village hall. We made £350. Sylvia Holdeman, Jacobs Ladder, Child Okeford
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January 2017
Girls sacrifice their long locks for charity THE Little Princess Trust has benefited from two charity haircuts in Blandford in recent months. Martha, a 13-year-old pupil at The Blandford School, bravely shed 14 inches of her long hair to donate to the charity to provide at least one real wig for a child who has lost their own hair through cancer treatment. She was also fundraising for the Southampton Hospital Planets charity, who carry out research and give invaluable support to those affected by pancreatic cancer. Five years ago Martha's father was diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumour on his pancreas. He was fortunate to have it successfully removed and is now fit and healthy. Martha is raising money to help fund research for Planets and increase awareness of this type of cancer and has so far raised over £640. Anyone who would like to help support her can follow the justgiving.com link to /fundraising/EmmaStorey5. Customer service representative Jude Castell picked one of the coldest weekends of the year to help cancer and hair loss sufferers by going hairless. The head-shave at Blandford Constitutional Club was in support of the Dorset Cancer Care Foundation, and the long locks, which were first plaited by hairdresser Kirsty Jackson and then
Above: Martha with her Planets certiicate just before losing her locks at the Synergy salon in Blandford. Above right: Jude Castell having her hair cut by partner Luke Reddaway. ceremoniously cut off by friends and relatives in return for a donation, have been sent to The Princess Trust. Jude's partner Luke Reddaway was sponsored for an extra £100 to have his head wet-shaved. There was also a raffle, and wristbands on sale in support of the cause. Jude, who works for Caterpillar Marine Power UK Ltd in Wimborne, said: "Dorset Cancer Care Foundation is Caterpillar's chosen charity this year, and I also know a lot of people who have been affected by cancer, so I wanted to do something to help." She has been fundraising all year, and after the head-shave counted the money for the night to find she had raised £413.35, making the total so far £2,254.35. Caterpillar will match the money have raised, so then the total will be £4,508.70. "I have sold all my 400 wristbands - I never thought I would do it!" she said, thanking all who had supported her. "It was definitely worth it. I'm just so happy to have raised so much for such a lovely charity and hopefully my locks will make a little girl somewhere happy too."
Support for cycle racks A SUGGESTION from Blandford Rotary and Town Team that more bicycle racks be installed in the town has been strongly supported in principle by the Town Council. But members of the town and general purposes committee were reluctant to support suggested locations in front of Scriven opticians in the Market Place and the hairdressing salon between Whitecliff Mill and Salisbury Streets in view of the possible issues for users of mobility scooters, wheelchairs and pushchairs accessing those areas. It was agreed that the views of North Dorset District Council's conservation officer should also be sought, and that possible locations might be the bottom of Sheep Market Hill and outside the Yellow Bicycle café.
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January 2017
Forum Drama take a sideways look at Shakespeare BLANDFORD's community theatre company Forum Drama chose two of Shakespeare's most comedic pranks to celebrate 400 years of his legacy in 'A Little Touch of Shakespeare in the Night' at the United Reformed Church Hall, Blandford. Excerpts from Twelfth Night featured Malvolio's cross-gartered yellow stockings and from A Midsummer Night's Dream, featuring the Rude Mechanicals' rehearsal and performance of Pyramus and Thisbe, were clever adaptations which brought out much of Shakespeare's wit and poetry. They were guaranteed to raise a smile in the audience, requiring little understanding of the rest of the content or context of the plays. 'Midsummer Madness', directed by Joyce Carter, gave Richard Owen and Mark Hume plenty of scope as the scheming Sir Andrew Aguecheek and Sir Toby Belch, supported by Annie TomsWhittle as Olivia, the Countess, of whom the misled Malvolio (Christopher Sharpe) is enamoured, and Deborah Seeley and Graham Haigh as Maria and Fabian, her servants. They were let down only slightly by John Cody's stumbling over his lines as Feste, the clown. The second, another tale of misdirected affections, 'Bewitched by Moonlight', directed by Terence Dear, demanded a little more imagination from those familiar with the play. It was only slightly disconcerting to find Oberon (Terence Dear)
and not Titania (Emma McAlister) to be enamoured of an ass, Puck (Liz Rawlings) to be the servant of the Faerie Queen and not the Faerie King, and Peaseblossom, Moth, Cobweb and Mustardseed (played, as were Titania's retinue of fairies, by members of the Performing Arts Theatre Academy) the servants of the King. And while it is one thing to see Bottom 'transported' into the body of a donkey, it was another to see the entire cast of Pyramus and Thisbe (with the exception of Jacques Thornewill as Francis Flute/Thisbe) transported to the female gender. But it was delightful, particularly in the character of ebullient weaver's wife (Simone WallsMcDonald), who perhaps owed more to Hyacinth Bucket than to Shakespeare, and the rest of the players remained so perfectly in character throughout. Sheila Chapman as Snug/Lion, Annie Toms-Whittle as Snout/Wall, Beatrice Hunt as Starveling/Moonshine were convincingly led by Joyce Carter as Quince, reprising on stage the role she had played for 'Midsummer Madness', and expertly interchanging with that of accompanist to musical interludes. Their play was watched with understanding but incredulity by Theseus (Scott McAlister), Hippolyta (Sara Loch) and their PA Phyllis Strate (Deborah Seeley). SNB
A scene from Midsummer Madness, by Forum Drama.
War medals stolen WAR medals belonging to the father of a resident in Damory Court Street were stolen during a burglary on December 1 in which jewellery was also stolen from her property. Police have appealed for witnesses and anyone aware of anything suspicious in the neighbourhood at the time, or offered items of jewellery or medals for sale in suspicious circumstances, to contact them. PC Matt Weldon, of Blandford police, said: "The items stolen are of great personal significance to the victim who has, in effect, had her family history stolen from her. I would urge those responsible to do the right and moral thing and return these items." Anyone with information should email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or call 101, quoting occurrence number 55160180386. They can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or via crimestoppers-uk.org.
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LEADERS of the Blandford Evening WI crafting group, Peta Lys (pictured) and Vicky Watkinson, with help from Sandi Disney and Jenny Wise, set out a well-stocked tombola stall at a recent Thursday market in Blandford Corn Exchange. The table was decorated and set out to their usual high standard and they were able to earn ÂŁ127 for Blandford Evening WI funds.
January 2017
A charity focused on families
The group is this month moving its monthly meeting to the Parish Centre in the Tabernacle, Blandford, since membership has increased over the last few months and the previous premises can no longer accommodate the members comfortably. The next meeting is Friday 13th January at 7pm. More details on blandfordeveningwi.com or find them on Facebook.
Day Centre BLANDFORD Day Centre in Heddington Drive is now accepting direct referrals without the need for a care manager or social worker to recommend the placement. An interim process has been introduced allowing others wishing to attend the session and receive the support they require, as long as the centre can meet their needs. They have asked anyone who knows of someone who may benefit from the service to get in touch to discuss the details.
THE story of a mum supported this year by Home-Start North Dorset was read out by a homevisiting volunteer at their AGM held at The Exchange, Sturminster Newton. Unable to attend the event, she wrote: "I owe you so much and your wonderful organisation that offers families so much." Another mum whose story was told by the volunteer who has supported her and her children over the past year wrote: "HomeStart has been a life-saver; the help has been about me, my family, our needs." Organiser Jamie Keast reported that over the past year 60 families and 292 children have benefited from the trained volunteers' home visits. Rural isolation and poor mental health account for most problems local families face. Outreach family days and weekly mess and more mornings, established in partnership with children's services, are helping bring families together in the community. Chairman Jenny Kretz said: "There are no hard-to-reach families, just hard-to-reach services. One of the ways Home-Start helps is enabling families to access such services." She advertised the launch of 'Sponsor a Volunteer for a year for ÂŁ1,200' and expressed her appreciation of their patron Lady Emma Fellowes's support by endorsing this appeal. Val Pitt-Rivers, a long-time supporter of Home-Start, chaired the meeting and commended the sponsorship appeal, speaking warmly of the work done by the charity.
January 2017
Janet’s abseil pays off
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JANET Winder, who was one of the people who abseiled down Blandford Forum Parish Church to celebrate completion of the tower restoration phase of the Cupola Project, raised £600 for Macmillan Nurses thanks to customer donations, sponsorship from colleagues at Morrisons, family and friends. The Morrison Foundation has matched this amount and Alex Turton, store manager at Blandford, presented the cheque which is being sent to Macmillan Nurses. The Morrisons Foundation is funded chiefly through the sale of carrier bags in Morrisons stores in England. They provide match funding for Morrisons colleagues and donate grants to registered UK charities undertaking projects that improve people's lives.
Rock festival band line-up announced TEDDY Rocks Festival has announced its three biggest headliners to date for the festival which will take place at the end of April at Charisworth Farm, near Blandford. Tickets went on sale on December 16 for a strong lineup which will include Twin Atlantic, Modestep and Scouting for Girls. Sponsored by CheckATrade, Vocalzone and the Greyhound pub, the three-day charity and family-friendly rock festival, which raises funds to fight children's cancer, has this year moved to a new, bigger site and made weekend camping tickets available for the first time. Scottish band, Twin Atlantic, who are heading for Dorset on Friday April 28, last year released the single 'No Sleep', premiered by Annie Mac on Radio 1 as the Hottest Record in the World. Their highest charting single 'Heart and Soul' won Best Independent Track at the 2015 Association of Independent Music Awards. In the same year Twin Atlantic were named Best UK Band at the SSE Scottish Music Awards. They have performed at Reading and Leeds, Glastonbury, and T in the Park festival. Dubstep and electronic rock band from London, Modestep, set to headline on Saturday April 29, have also performed at Glastonbury, Reading and Download Festival in recent years. They shot to fame with their debut album 'Evolution Theory' which included popular singles 'Feel Good' and 'Sunlight'. Closing the charity festival on Sunday April 30 is four-times Brit award winners, English pop rock band Scouting for Girls, whose chart-topping singles include 'She's So Lovely’,
'Heartbeat' and 'Elvis Ain't Dead'. For ticket information visit teddyrocks.co.uk.
Scouting For Girls.
Morrisons store manager Alex Turton presents the cheque for Macmillan Nurses to Janet Winder, who abseiled down Blandford church tower for the charity.
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January 2017
Large families faced tragedy more than once ONE of the startling features to emerge from the Roll of Honour for those who died in January 1917 is the size of the families from which they came. Of the ten listed on local war memorials whose deaths occurred that month, seven came from families of six or more children, and one had 13 brothers and sisters. Three of those families were, over the course of the war, to experience the loss of a close relative more than once. Frederick James Fripp of Hilton was a gunner with the Royal Garrison Artillery 30th Coy who had worked as a gamekeeper and postman. He was the son of sawyer and shopkeeper Charles Fripp, who had died in 1903, and mother Fanny. He was the youngest of their eight children. He and his wife Caroline, whom he married in 1909, had three children, all
under five, when he died on January 2, aged 32, of spinal meningitis. He is buried in Abbotsbury Road Cemetery, Weymouth. His wife was remarried in 1919 to Cecil A W House and had two more children. Walter Gray was born in Devon, the son of Edward and Mary Ann Gray of Ottery St Mary. The youngest of their three sons, he had six older and younger sisters. He died of pneumonia on January 27, aged 21, only a fortnight after joining the 1st Reserve Bn of the Royal Marine Light Infantry at Blandford. He had enlisted in December 1915, and his elder brother William, who enlisted in the same month and served with the Royal Garrison Artillery, survived the war with a gunshot wound to his abdomen. Reginald Bertie Lane was the third of the four Lane brothers of
Walter Gray's records show he died 'at home', and he was not as far away as those who died overseas. But his death was at Blandford Camp, and his grave is in Blandford Cemetery, not in Ottery St Mary where he was brought up, or Honiton, where his parents lived.
Whitecliff Mill Street, Blandford, to die during World War One, two of his older brothers, Frederick and Albert, having been killed in action on July 1, 1916. His eldest brother Harry was killed in 1918. Reginald had enlisted in August 1914 in Blandford, and served with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force in the Dardanelles. But for nearly three months he was in the Military Hospital at Birkenhampstead, then at Sutton Coldfield, Rhyl and Wyke Regis, before being posted with the Dorsetshire Regiment 5th Bn in September 1916 to France, where he was killed in action on January 11, aged 21. Maurice Harry Green of Iwerne Minster died of broncho pneumonia and measles at the Royal Naval Hospital Haslar on January 16, aged 19, and is buried in the Haslar Royal Naval Cemetery. He had served as stoker 2nd class with the Royal Navy on HMS Diadem, a stokers training ship, since enlisting in November 1916. He was the eldest of four sons of garden labourer Harry Green and his wife Sarah, and had five older sisters. William James Laws of Shillingstone, killed in action in France on January 23, aged 21, was a gunner with the Royal Garrison Artillery 'Z' 6th Trench Mortar Bty, and is buried in the Cambrin Churchyard Extension. He was the sixth child and second son of farm labourer Joseph and his wife Kate and had two younger brothers. Frederick Charles Tooze was 28 when he died in Mesopotamia, serving as Lance Corporal with the Dorsetshire Regiment 2nd Bn, on January 28. His father John was a railway signalman and had married Elizabeth in Bampton, Devon, in 1876, where Frederick's two oldest siblings were born. He and his 11 other brothers and sisters were born in Shillingstone.
Sidney Elliott was the eldest of three children of sawyer and roadman Tom John Elliott and his wife Rose Emma, who lived at Gussage All Saints. He served first with the Dorsetshire Regiment but was with the 6th Bn Wiltshire Regiment when he died of wounds in France on January 28, aged 19, and is buried in Varennes Military Cemetery. Sidney Herbert Ford died on January 28 in Mesopotamia, aged 22, serving as a private in the 2nd/4th Bn Dorsetshire Regiment and is buried in Amara War Cemetery. He was the son of taxidermist Sidney and Kate Ford who had married in Blandford in 1889 and lived at Tudor House in Oakfield Street, and had two brothers. His younger brother Cecil Tom had been killed at Gallipoli in 1915 with the 5th Dorsetshires, but his elder brother, who joined the Life Guards in 1914, survived the war. Frederick Richard Sprake, of Winterborne Stickland, served first with the Dorset Yeomanry but was with the Dorsetshire Regiment 6th Bn when he died in France on January 30, aged 30. He was the third son of farmer John and Thirza Sophia Sprake, who lived at Hedge End Farm, Winterborne Stickland, and at the age of 13 was a student boarder at Ashfield East Hill in Winchester. He is buried in the St Sever Cemetery Extension in Rouen. Cecil Littler was born in Pimperne and died, aged 31, in Mesopotamia on January 31, serving with the Dorset Regiment 2nd Battalion. His father Joseph was a carpenter who came originally from Leicestershire, and his mother, Pimperne-born Susannah (nee Bishop) whom he had married in Croydon, had died the previous year. Cecil was the second youngest of their ten sons. His older brother Charlie had been killed in action at Gallipoli in 1915 with the 5th Dorsetshire Regiment.
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.
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January 2017
Recognition for Peggy’s dedication A 93-year-old volunteer with the local group 'Singing for the Brain', run by the Alzheimer's Society, was one of those to receive a Volunteer of the Year award at a ceremony hosted by the Volunteer Centre Dorset in Dorchester. Peggy Whitty has helped with the group, who meet at the United Reformed Church just across the road from Hanover Court where she lives, for a number of years. Her nomination for an individual award was kept a secret from her when she accompanied her Alzheimer's Society group, who were nominated for a Volunteer Group of the Year award. She was thrilled, and not a little surprised, to receive her welldeserved certificate for a marvellous achievement from Lord Julian Fellowes and his wife, Lady Fellowes. Others from the Blandford area to receive awards were David Thomas of Pimperne, who has been volunteering for the Blandford Museum for four years, having originally looked for work experience through the Job Centre Abilities programme. Now in employment, he continues to give one day a week to help at the museum, and has organised and labelled their electronic equipment, repaired and updated computers, and helped with painting, moving equipment and researching. Sixteen-year-old Katherine Stanley and 18-year-old Jake Storer were nominated as Young Volunteers of the Year. Katherine started helping at the museum at 14, carrying out research on the history of Blandford schools, and worked with a curator to redesign their schools exhibition. Jake has volunteered for three years to work on projects including cleaning, photographing and re-labelliing the militaria exhibit and creating documents for visitors to read about the items on display, redesigning their '400 years of Blandford history' exhibition, and helping with museum events.
Volunteer Centre Dorset holds its awards ceremony every year to recognise the outstanding contribution all volunteers make, and to highlight some of those contributions, made over the last year. The prizes were presented by Jane Lang, Deputy Lieutenant of Dorset, and Debbie Ward, Chief Executive of Dorset County Council, and by Lord and Lady Fellowes. Speeches were given by Marie Waterman and Hedley Harrison, music was by Anacrusis from Weymouth College, and the compere was Alan Knott, with photographs by Jenna Whyman. The Volunteer Centre has, with funding from the National and Postcode Lotteries and Dorset County Council, launched an accreditation scheme for volunteers helping to empower people with learning difficulties. Volunteer mentors and their learning-disabled volunteers can earn community credits which can be exchanged for a local health and wellbeing activity. For more information see volunteeringdorset.org.uk or call 01305 269214 or email info@volunteeringdorset.org.uk.
The Blandford Alzheimer's Society group receive their award.
Above: Katherine Stanley receives her award from Jean Lang, Deputy Lieutenant of Dorset. Above right: David Thomas receives his award from Lord Fellowes.
To advertise in Forum Focus, phone 01258 454427
Peggy Whitty receives her award from Lord Fellowes.
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The View from the Hill by George Hosford More from George on viewfromthehill.org.uk
A
T last some real winter weather, but, oh, where did it go? Today we are back to an utterly useless 12 degrees and tedious dampness. To solve some of the problems we have in the fields with difficult weeds and persistent insects, we need a good 10 days of sub minus 5 to sort them out. Don't get me wrong, last week was beautiful, crisp frost and lovely sunny days, but please could we have a bit more? The cold weather also means we can get the grain in store down to sensible temperatures, which discourage insect attack and mould formation. Blowing ambient air through the heaps is the only way to do this, and cold weather is essential. The irony is that, although we have solar panels on the roof of the grain store, which means cheaper electricity in the daytime, the real cold is of course at night.
Ice crystals in the sun on top of a fence post.
FARMING Like many walks of life, farming mer, such as the swallow, and those who live here all year is very susceptible to fashion. I round. His report is a fascinating don't mean wellies and boiler read, summarising 56 species suits in fancy colours, but in found on the farm during breedterms of the latest fads, teching season, and 77 in total. niques and machines, that the right-on farmer just must be seen His estimate of 50 species to be using. breeding on the farm is a testament to the mixed habitat we are Top of the list this season is blessed with, and high numbers cover crops. The current idea is of pairs of hedgerow nesting prithat it is no longer a good thing ority species such as yellowhamto leave bare stubbles over winmer, song thrush and linnet show ter because unused nitrogen that hedgerow management is remaining in the soil after the conducive to their needs. wasteful previous crop has been harvested might be leached into groundwater by winter rainfall. If you sow a cover crop straight after harvest, it will soak up any spare nitrogen, and grow vigorously through the autumn, storing the nutrient in an unleachable form. At the end of the winter we kill off the cover crop before establishing next season's spring crop, the cover then dies off, and slowly supplies the new crop with nutrient as it decomposes. There are numerous different types of crop we can use for this purpose, and as we at Travellers Rest are suckers like all the rest, back in August we sowed two An ear of millet, packed with ripening experimental 5ha patches with a seed. mixture of fodder radish and phacelia. Both have grown vigorously in the very mild (until last week) autumn, and now we turn our minds to how we are going to make a satisfactory seedbed next March. Cover crops that we grow for other reasons, such as bird food, are still standing well and are holding a huge amount of grain to keep the birdlife well supplied through the winter, mainly millet, but also barley and linseed supply grains of different sizes to suit different species. A series of bird surveys over the past year by a local expert has revealed a wide variety of birdlife on the farm: migratory species, Pheasants. Not the most elegant of who might come here to feed in birds when wobbling on the wires. the winter, or to breed in sum-
January 2017 In the middle of November Durweston School visited Four Acre wood, one class at a time, for a session with Becky, a Forest Schools specialist teacher. The activities they undertook included making clay hedgehogs, cooking over a fire, building shelters, and generally exploring the great outdoors. The teachers and children all said what fun they had had, and are hoping to repeat the exercise next year. They were very lucky with the weather, the smaller children were ferried up to the wood in our farm tour trailer, which added to the fun. A visit to the wood afterwards found some evidence of some of the activities, all of which will gradually disappear as they weather and fall down. Four Acre wood is available to schools and interest groups to use for similar activities. Please get in touch via the website if interested.
Above & below: Evidence of a visit by Durweston School's young artists.
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January 2017
Church group help Ugandan school A GROUP of people from Blandford Evangelical Church have formed a charity to help people in eastern Uganda. Phil and Sylvie Good travelled there in 2013 and made friends with a couple who have formed a small church in Budaka, which is 203km from the capital, Kampala. The church is now around 500 strong and they have started to build a small school. The school is a vibrant place but lacks many of the basics, such as windows, doors, books and water. They have 500 children, 200 of them boarders, and no water on site.
When Phil and Sylvie came home and told their church about this, it was felt that something ought to be done. So, over the Christmas period that year, through donations, the church raised nearly ÂŁ2,000 towards the project. In April last year Phil went out again with Rick Saunders and Cathryn Thomas, who teaches at a North Dorset primary school. They were there when work started on the water tank, which will harvest rainwater from the school roof and provide drinking and cooking water for the school for part of the year. There are two
Light relief for school FESTIVE decorations on private houses are as usual brightening up the town's streets in the evenings, and at 17 Castleman Smith Close, are being put to charitable use. Pete Dear has every year put up Christmas lights and collected donations for a good cause. This year the donations will be going to Yewstock School, where his son is a pupil. "It is an amazing school which does wonders for children with special needs, so please help me raise as much as I can for them by putting a donation through my letterbox," he said on his Facebook page.
Children in Budaka fetch water from the well. rainy seasons in Uganda, when rains can be expected every other day, so there is plenty of chance to fill the tank, which holds 20,000 litres. The school is thrilled with the new water facility as previously the children were trekking over a mile to carry back swamp water, for drinking and washing. Their health has improved since they now have filtered rainwater instead. The charity plans another trip to
Uganda this year to encourage the teachers and paint some of the dormitories, and is also raising funds for mosquito nets to further improve the children's health. New team members were sought at a fundraising and information evening at the Parish Rooms in Blandford. Anyone interested in joining them for the trip or supporting the project can contact Phil on 01258 817674, or email phil@bugwere.com.
SCHOOLS
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January 2017
Stunt team’s visit to Durweston DURWESTON Primary School were treated to a visit from the Royal Signals White Helmets Motor Cycle display team. As well as learning about the team's stunts, the children from Dolphins class learned about the parts of the motorbike. At the end of the session, the children were given a signed picture to keep in school.
Dandelions’ Ofsted delight Pipers’ rousing welcome THE parents and children of Durweston school were welcomed in to school by the rousing skirl of the pipes when Clayesmore Pipe Band came to celebrate St Andrew's Day. Acting headteacher Nicola Brooke said: "After playing the children into school, the pipers visited the Reception class and then led the whole school down the road and into church for assembly. What a fantastic way to start the day!"
DOWNLANDS Dandelions at Blandford Camp were one of two local education settings to receive an award for being graded outstanding by Ofsted. The DCC Early Years and Childcare Awards ceremony celebrates the success of Dorset's outstanding child minders and day care providers as graded by Ofsted during the 2015/16 academic year. Pictured are Downlands Dandelion staff who collected the award at the presentation at Merley House (left to right): Julie Palmer, Shelley Hitchings, Tania Williams, Lesley-Ann MacDonald Wootton and Cress Cooper.
Hockey girls’ success KNIGHTON House's U13 hockey team have been unbeaten since September, and topped off their best season by qualifying to represent Dorset in the In2Hockey tournament. The squad (Clemmie, Blanca, Millie, Rowena, Daisy, Louisa and Ruby with help from Mencia, Scarlet and Ellie) have played 10 fixtures this term and won them all. They came first in the In2Hockey tournament at St Mary's where, despite the freezing cold, they won their group stage, beating Gillingham, Clayesmore and Leweston. They then played Castle Court in the semi-final and, having drawn with them 3-3, went on to win through penalty strokes. This meant
a place in the final against Sherborne Girls School which they won 2-0. Knighton House School now go on to represent Dorset in the next round of the competition. The outstanding year for the Knighton girls is testament to their dedication and hard work in training. Knighton House School hockey coach, Justin Perry, said: "This hockey team has made huge progress over the last two seasons and shown commitment to improve through practice, with many attending extra hockey at Blandford Hockey Club. This is a welldeserved successful season for them."
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January 2017 BLANDFORD Museum's retiring curator, Professor Peter Andrews, now Emeritus Curator, has been presented with a Dorset Museums Association award for his dedication to the work as a volunteer. The presentation was made at the association's annual general meeting and conference and recognises his role in transforming the exhibition areas to tell the story of Blandford, with new ideas. He also created a new operating environment, adopting a more professional approach, procuring grant funding and establishing policies, a five-year plan and accreditation.
Witty window wins it for wool shop THE winner of Blandford Town Council's Christmas shop window competition was declared as Knit Wits in East Street, whose traditional display filled with knitted festive fare and figures caught the imagination of the judging panel. Runners-up were near neighbours Area 55 Tattoo Studio, whose wintering 'Moonies' were very imaginative and entertain-
Artistic tree brings delight RESIDENTS, craft club members and gardener Joan Bachelor, at Whitecliffe Residential and Nursing Home, helped create their autumn project, a tree made from all kinds of crochet, knitting, wet felting, sock art, sewing and wicker, with contributions from people in the community. The autumn colours were wonderful, and they were
thrilled with the outcome and the way it moved in the wind like leaves on the trees. Whitecliff activities organiser Kay White thanked all who had played their part in helping to get the project completed, saying: "It's amazing what people can achieve when they all work together."
The winning window at Knit Wits. ing, but perhaps lacked a true festive flavour. Both had received a significant number of public votes in the shortlisting carried out by the Town Council through its Facebook page and by email. Third prize went to the simple but effective Christmas tree created with sticks and baubles in the window of CafĂŠ Soba in West Street. High commendations were awarded to East Street Dental Practice, Papyrus and Safer Cigs in Salisbury Street, and to The Sapling in East Street and CafĂŠ 65. The winner of the charity
shop window prize was Julia's House, with runner-up Sue Ryder. The judges, Blandford Business Group chairman Alison Moore, Forum Focus editor Nicci Brown, and council town and general purposes committee chairman Roger Carter, were particularly pleased to see the number of traders who had made an effort to take part. They noted the effort made this year by many of the town's estate agents and other services to add to the town's festive spirit, and some of the very imaginative and innovative contributions made.
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January 2017
Church packed for Somme concert A RETIRING collection after a Requiem concert commemorating the end of the Battle of the Somme raised more than ÂŁ1,000 for the ABF - the Soldiers' Charity. The free concert, in a packed Blandford Parish Church, was organised by the town's 14-18 Commemoration Group and Blandford & District Civic Society. It featured Southampton Symphony Orchestra with the Briantspuddle Singers, with guests from Blandford Choral Society, the Occasional Singers and other local choirs, conducted by Rob Dishington. A performance of Mozart's Requiem was preceded by Britten's Fanfare for St Edmundsbury, played from three different areas of the church by Emily Hill, Liam Carey and Marcus Adams. The organist was Sam Hanson, and soloists were Jacqueline Foan (soprano), Elizabeth Denham (alto), Michael Aitkenhead (tenor) and Richard Lea (bass). The names of the 42 men from Blandford and surrounding
parishes who fell at the Somme between July 1 and November 18, 1916, were read by Capt Nicholas Oliver of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards and WO1 GSM Andrew Williams of the Royal Corps of Signals. The names of 19 fallen from Blandford's twin towns of Mortain in Normandy and Preetz in Germany were read by WO2 Les Cummings of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards and WO2 Christian Bissel, German Liaison Warrant Officer from Blandford Camp. At the conclusion, a single bell tolled movingly from the church tower as concert-goers left the building. All the performers gave their services free of charge, and the commemoration was supported by Blandford Town Council, a number of local businesses and individuals, and members of the Blandford Troop 'B' Company of the Dorset Army Cadet Force. The concert was the finale to a very comprehensive exhibition in the Corn Exchange, which was highly praised by hundreds of vis-
Ian Edlin with the 3D scale model of the Somme battlefields. itors over the weekend. It told the story of the battle with maps, testimony from survivors, and a scale model of the battlefield created by Ian Edlin of Shillingstone and a team of fellow members from Blandford's model railway club. Members of the public were invited to add leaves to a tree of commemoration for friends or relatives lost in combat.
Southampton Symphony Orchestra and choir presenting Mozart's Requiem in a packed church.
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January 2017
Rotarians sponsor youth kit BLANDFORD Youth Football Club (BYFC) were pleased to welcome Carl Conlon and Ian Holmes from Blandford Stour Rotary for the formal handover of new football kit. The sponsored training jackets were much appreciated during the cold weather. Ian Holmes said: "When possible, we are always looking to help financially or practically organisations and individuals in the local community. We are particularly pleased to have provided financial help towards the purchase of football kit for the team and wish the club every success for the future." Chairman of BYFC, Steve
Carl Conlon and Ian Holmes of Blandford Stour Rotary hand over sponsored kit to Blandford Youth Football Club U16 team. Powell, thanked the new sponsors and recognised how important the generosity of local supporters is to the ongoing success of the club. "We are faced with ever-increasing costs in the running and administration of our club. This
season over 140 youngsters will play in 14 youth teams from the ages of six to 16. Our aim is to ensure that anybody who wants to play can. "Thank you to Blandford Stour Rotary and our other existing supporters whose sponsorship
helps enormously in keeping the costs down for our young players. We are always looking for additional sponsors to help ease the financial burden. If any local organisations or individuals feel able to help, please contact me via the club website."
Concert promotes youth music openings THE Dorset Youth Music Service staged a concert at The Blandford School where it is now based to promote the various groups which it operates and the vacancies available to young performers. The Dorset Youth Symphony Orchestra is supported by professional musicians to provide highend musical experiences to students of all ages who have reached grade 3 standard playing orchestra instruments, and is working towards a large-scale concert at The Lighthouse Poole on Thursday July 6. Rehearsals are held one Sunday a month at Blandford, where there are also Sunday afternoon meetings of the Dorset Guitar Group, Saturday morning rehearsals of a brass club led by John Randall,
the Dorset Youth Jazz Orchestra and a folk group Reel Dorset. A choir, Dorset Youth Voices, meets fortnightly on Thursday evenings at Durweston village hall. The concert showcased the work first of the Dorset Youth Jazz Orchestra, led by Colin Francis, then of Reel Dorset led by Titch Roberts, and finally of the Dorset Youth Symphony Orchestra and Dorset Youth Chamber Orchestra, led by William Goodchild, with works by Jonathan Randall, Peter Warlock, FaurĂŠ and W A Mozart. For information on joining any of the Dorset Youth Music Service groups, see dorsetforyou.com/music, email dorsetmusicservice@dorsetcc.gov .uk or call 01305 225770.
The Dorset Youth Jazz Orchestra, led by Colin Francis.
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January 2017
Thrift Shop gift saves the party
Road repair cash to be allocated
AGE Concern's post-Christmas party for members and helpers was saved this year by a donation from the Thrift Shop at Blandford Garrison, when the shop organiser learnt that Age UK would no longer be giving the Blandford charity a grant to pay for the event. Chairman Peter Slocombe explained that in the past the national charity, which has two fund-raising shops in Blandford from which the local independent group receives nothing, had supported the group with the grant which paid for the gettogether. "When they told us they would no longer be giving their grant, we wrote to the Thrift Shop and asked if they could give £500 towards our running costs or pay for our Christmas lunch which will be held this January in the Parish Centre." Garrison Commander Col
A SUM of £5,000 has been recommended for inclusion in Blandford Town Council's budget to meet unforeseen expenditure on highway repairs which may in future not be carried out by Dorset County Council. Members were advised that the county would be carrying out 'statutory functions only', and that any extra work sought by individual communities would have to be at their own expense. The council's finance and staffing committee agreed to include the sum in its budget, which was considered alongside the budgetary requirements of the council's other service committees, indicating that the precept might have to rise from £681,000 to £739,000, resulting in a possible 12 per cent increase in Band D council tax from £193.94 to £217.41. The final figure is subject to confirmation of all the expenditure by full council in February.
Andrew Percival attended one of their December 'drop-ins' in the Woodhouse Gardens Pavilion with volunteers from the Thrift Shop to present the cheque.
• Col Percival is pictured centre with (from left): Jean Peck, Peter Slocombe, Age Concern manager Carol Bunnagar, Jenny Wise and Jenny Robinson.
AN application for listed building consent has been submitted by Blandford Town Council for urgent works to the Corn Exchange which need to be effected prior to the main restoration project. Project officer Nicki Ginn told a council meeting that work continued to prepare additional documentation requested by the Heritage Lottery Fund prior to bid re-submission for the main project. The Corn Exchange Project Regeneration Board met to review progress on that and the need for North Dorset District Council's agreement to the handling of the Church Lane car park. A further report will be given to recreation and amenities committee meeting in January.
Forum Focus - forthcoming meetings & events JANUARY 2017 Sunday January 1: Vintage and classic vehicle run from Sturminster Newton 11am, via Blandford Marsh & Ham, 11.30am Wednesday January 4: Blandford St Mary Parish Council, Bryanston Court, 7pm Friday January 6: Wessex Acoustic Folk, Edwina Hayes, Royal British Legion, Blandford, 8.15pm Saturday January 7: Christmas tree chipping, Child Okeford village hall, 10am to noon, donations for Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and Village Hall. NB: No Saturday coffee morning at Shillingstone Church Centre. Next one, February 4 Wednesday January 11: Bumblefly Theatre with Forest Forge in The Elves & the Shoemaker, St Nicholas School hall, Child Okeford, 6pm. Tickets 01258 861391 Blandford Film Society, The Blandford School, The Apartment (PG), comedy romance, 7.45pm. Guest tickets 01258 454697 Friday January 13: Farmers Market, Blandford Market Place, 9am to 1pm Monday January 16: Grahame Downer shows pictures of his Adventures in the Alps, Child
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 editor@forumfocus.co.uk. 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. Okeford Centre for Care and Learning, 7.30pm. Tickets 01258 860767 Tuesday January 17: Child Okeford Flower Arranging Club, 'Well Read, Volume 2' demonstration by Allison Finch, Child Okeford Village Hall, 2.15pm. Details: 01258 863775 Wednesday January 18: Round Robin Ramblers meet 11am at Washer's Pit entrance to Ashmore Woods, Fontmell Magna to Ashmore road, for 6-mile walk Ashmore Woods Illustrated talk Birds of Prey and the work of the Hawk Conservancy Trust by Dr Campbell Murn, of the HCT, for North Dorset branch of Dorset Wildlife Trust, Fontmell Magna village hall 7.30pm Thursday January 19: Talk by Luke Winter on the Ancient Technology Centre, Blandford Town Museum, 7.30pm Kings Fat Thursday Jazz Night, Kings Arms, Whitecliff Mill Street, Blandford, from 8pm Friday January 20: Julia's House Blandford Friends
Group quiz night and buffet supper, Royal British Legion, Church Lane, Blandford, 7.30pm. Teams of up to six. Book on 01258 480589 London Mozart Players, Elder Concert Hall, Bryanston School, 7.30pm Tickets boxoffice@bryanston.co.uk Saturday January 21: Cats Protection coffee morning & stalls, Woodhouse Gardens Pavilion, Blandford, 10am to 12.30pm Coffee morning, St. Nicholas Church, Child Okeford 10.30am to 12 Blandford Museum Archaeology Group quiz and fish supper with Julian Richards as MC, Blandford Parish Centre, 7pm Sunday January 22: Compact present Charlie Bicknell in 'No Angel', Artsreach promotion, St Nicholas School hall, Child Okeford, 7.30pm, tickets 01258 861612. Tuesday January 24: Blandford Library Lecture, 'End of Empire' by Mark DuBuisson, 7pm Wednesday January 25: Blandford Foodbank open day
lunch, Methodist Church Hall, The Close, Blandford, noon to 2pm (RSVP by Saturday January 15) Blandford Film Society, The Blandford School, Victoria (15), crime drama, 7.45pm, guest tickets 01258 454697 Thursday January 26: Talk by the Rev Stuart Timbrell on Burial at Sea, Blandford Forum Townswomen's Guild at Royal British Legion, Blandford, 2pm. Visitors welcome Friday January 27: Talk by Wayne Bennett on life as a stage manager at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Blandford & District U3A, Durweston village hall, 2pm. Details 01258 455081 Singer/storyteller Nick Hennessey and Suunta folk music ensemble present 'Fire in the North Sky' stories and music, Pamela Hambro Hall, Winterborne Stickland, 7pm Wessex Acoustic Folk, Gill & Bob Berry, Royal British Legion, Blandford, 8.15pm Sunday January 29: Blandford Museum Garden Club Potato Day, Pimperne Village Hall, 10.30am to 1.30pm Tuesday January 31: Resurgence Dorset meet Blandford Museum 7.30pm for talk, 'India - a Rare Glimpse' by Charles Miller, details 01258 818223