FORUM FOCUS For Blandford and surrounding villages Issue No. 62
Town crier Jean has something to shout about: Page 3
May 2017
Pre-school closure shock LARKSMEAD Pre-School, which won planning permission to build new premises in Hunt Road from which to operate when it has to quit The Lodge at Nordon, has announced it will not be progressing the scheme and will instead be closing in July. Blandford Town Council chairman Lynn Lindsay announced at April's planning committee meeting that parents were due to be informed that week. The pre-school has operated in the town for more than 30 years, first at Larksmead Pavilion which it had to vacate for Blandford Rugby Club. For the past three years it has been based at Nordon, where the Lodge is now to become a hub for North Dorset District Council services following the closure and sale of the main building and relocation of most staff to Dorchester.
What’s so fascinating to the children of Durweston School’s Starfish class? Find out on Page 27.
Villagers force year’s delay for bridge closure CLOSURE of Durweston bridge for repairs, due to start on May 1 and take up to four months, has been put back until next year following concerns from villagers. Parishes were advised in February of the potential disruption, and concerns about timing were immediately brought to the attention of the highway engineer. Clerk to Durweston Parish Council, Wayne Lewin, said: "We made strong representation that the time frames both informing the parish and to repair were not sufficient and thus the proposed works have been postponed for a year." The road closure would have meant disruption to Durweston school access and also access to this month's May Fair, which is expected to be a very large event this year, as well as diversions through Child Okeford, Manston and Sturminster Newton at a time of logistical problems associated with the planned improvements to the A350 and C13. It was agreed to delay the works
until the A350 works are completed, but because of the special circumstances surrounding the Grade II* listed structure, built at the end of the 18th century by Joseph Towsey for H W Portman of Bryanston, it will have to take place in the summer. The Environment Agency does not allow works in flood plains after the end of September, while conservation and environmental factors restrict when the works can start in the spring. Arrangements are now being made for a meeting with the parishes and engineers later in the year, so that full information is available regarding the extent of the works and parishes are given an opportunity to raise issues of concern. Haywards Bridge between Shillingstone and Child Okeford was closed for six months last year for major structural repairs to strengthen the bridge so that it could carry heavier traffic. It is not known whether a similar road closure will be needed when repairs are underway to the
Blandford road bridge, which carries the Bournemouth Road into West Street over the river Stour. Listed building consent is currently being sought by Dorset County Council. • To Page 2
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Above: Durweston bridge. Work has been put back until next year. Below: Blandford bridge, also in need of structural repairs.
County Council election line-up: Pages 6 & 7 www.forumfocus.co.uk
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May 2017
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Where to find Forum Focus 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.
Diary events are updated regularly on our website so it is always worth logging on to stay up to date with what’s happening in the area. The website also carries additional pictures of local events and background information on stories.
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River sprayed to keep the fly under control MEMBERS of the public should be able to walk with confidence on the banks of the Stour this month, safe in the knowledge that the river has been once again treated to reduce the number of Blandford Fly insects emerging. Roger Frost, North Dorset District Council's food, safety and licensing manager, has confirmed that the treatment has been carried out. He said: "The council works extremely hard to gain permission to treat the river. This includes working with partners to make sure everything is in place by the time we need to treat the river, within a short timeframe before the flies emerge. "River scientists continue to treat
the river in a similar way as for over 20 years, resulting in a significant reduction in complaints from residents and visitors about bites since the treatment began. "A meeting will be held later in the year with the council and other partners to discuss treatment for 2018." District Councillor Andrew Kerby, who holds the portfolio for community safety, said he would like to publicly thank Mr Frost for organising the spraying.
"This year we are on an experimental licence gained through working with the Health and Safety Executive. It took many hours of Roger's officer time." Fears in 2014 that the treatment might be withdrawn following the introduction of new licensing regulations and debate over who should pay for the treatment led to a review by Public Health England and a public campaign with a petition signed by thousands to ensure it continued.
Bridge work delayed • From Page 1 The works planned at Blandford are less structural, involving repairs to the bridge, retaining walls and flood arches. Dorset Highways' project engineer Richard Parfitt said: "When it will happen, how much it will cost and what traffic management will be necessary is all dependent on receiving listed building consent and permission from the Environment Agency. Once these permissions are received an estimate for the works will be completed and the construction programmed." The Grade II listed bridge was originally built 500 years ago and widened and extended in 1783
and 1812, with additional works in 1930. It is in need of repairs to masonry and cracks, repointing and vegetation clearance to ensure the structural integrity of the bridge, for the safety of road users and to enable ongoing movement of vehicles including HGVs. The bridge will suffer accelerated deterioration without early intervention. The work includes replacing missing stones, repairing the faces of others, repointing lost or damaged mortar, structural repair of large cracks within span three, repairs to spalled concrete and rebuilding of a bulging spandrel wall.
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May 2017
Town crier Jean has plenty to shout about BLANDFORD town crier Jean Wells will be called by a different name following her marriage to Roy Jeffrey. Jean, whose first husband Eric died over six years ago and who celebrated her 80th birthday in 2014 by donning a polka-dot mini-skirt and fundraising for Age Concern in the Market Place, met Roy on a Bus2Go trip. The couple embarked on a whirlwind romance which led the pair of octogenarians - Roy is her 'toy boy' at only 81 - to Blandford Methodist Church on April 8. With characteristic carefree style, the legendary cake-maker and thespian with the Tarrant Valley Players, famous for her colourful dress and equally colourful earrings, arrived and departed with
her husband in a suitably decorated Land Rover after their reception in the Woodhouse Gardens. Meanwhile Blandford's deputy town crier Liz Rawlings was enjoying a change of scene after flying off to Bermuda to take part in the Town Criers' World Championships. Liz, who celebrated her 70th birthday by abseiling down the tower of Blandford Parish Church last summer, secured her place in Bermuda after being invited to apply through her membership of the Lyme Regis Twinning Association, when she met her Bermudan counterpart. She will be reporting back on her experience in next month's Forum Focus.
Surgeries hit back over closure fears A BLANDFORD GP surgery has challenged a suggestion in a political party's publication that the surgeries in Blandford may close. Carol Tilley, practice manager at Whitecliff Surgery, said it was simply not true that the surgery was threatened with closure. She said the content of a recent North Dorset Focus published by the Liberal Democrats is misleading. "It will cause needless distress and worry to many frail and vulnerable patients who rely on the local GP practices," she said. "It is also extremely unhelpful for the GP practices as they rely on their reputation as sustainable organisations to be able to attract clinical staff to come and work for them. "The Whitecliff Group Practice is currently bucking the national trend and has managed to fill all of its GP and nursing posts. "We have worked very hard to achieve this but if potential employees believe that there are questions regarding the sustainability of our organisation, then staff may look for posts elsewhere or not apply for future vacancies." Lib Dem Councillor Barrie Cooper, in the leaflet headlined 'Your surgery is under threat' which goes on to say that 'there
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is a very real possibility that it could close by 2021', said the total number of surgeries in Dorset is planned to be drastically reduced. His point, he said, was that Blandford needed extra surgeries, not fewer. If surgeries across rural Dorset were being reduced it would put even more pressure on the ones which are left, such as the two in Blandford. "Eagle House and Whitecliff are both excellent surgeries. The GPs, nurses and staff are very much valued, and anything that we can do to retain but also encourage people in the medical profession to come to Blandford must be encouraged." A Dorset Primary Care Commissioning Group Strategy is currently being consulted upon and states there are at present 131 'delivery locations' including 97 GP practices across the county. It suggests the potential for one or two groups to work together through a reduced number of locations. North Dorset currently has nine general practices working across 14 sites, and they are being asked to produce their own solutions to local challenges and work in partnership to co-produce a service meeting local needs.
Newlyweds Jean and Roy Jeffrey at their reception in the Woodhouse Gardens.
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Pictured (from left): are venison donor Gary Judd, licensees Lynne and John Andrews, Nicky Dimmer, representing Lloyds Bank for which she is manager at Sturminster Newton, log donor Leo Tandoh, volunteer Ian Faulkner and Wendy Burke of the Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance.
A pheasant surprise PROCEEDS of an annual Pheasant Fest staged at the Bakers Arms, Child Okeford, amounted to a record £3,383 which was presented to the Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance. Air Ambulance volunteer Wendy Burke received the giant cheque, which was presented by licensee Lynne Andrews. Proceeds were swelled to twice as much as last year by donations of £1,000 from Lloyds Bank, £500 from Bournemouth AFC, and from an auction which included a signed Bournemouth football shirt, a trip round Poole Harbour in their new Pilot boat, and logs from Leos Logs of Child Okeford. All the game was donated from local shoots by participants giving a couple of items each time, which were stored in freezers and prepared for sale by Caroline Cheeseman and chief cook Bob Smith. A special air ambulance cake was made by licensee John Andrews.
May 2017
Selfish shoppers add to surgery parking problems AS free parking spaces become even more scarce in Blandford, problems are being compounded at the hospital and the surgeries, where the increasing number of patients attending appointments are finding nowhere available. A review is being carried out by Dorset County Council into the difficulties in Jubilee Way and Milldown Road around the hospital. Forum Focus has been contacted by two people using the Whitecliff Surgery in Whitecliff Mill Street to find spaces used by people returning from the town with their shopping bags. Carol Tilley, practice manager at the surgery, said: "As in most busy towns, car parking is a problem. Unauthorised parking at the Whitecliff Group Practice is a symptom of this and the root cause is that in the centre of town, the surgery car park is one of the main places where people can park for free - albeit by trespassing on private property. "We have tried lots of different tactics including signage, putting notes on offending vehicles, members of the Patient Group monitoring activity and staff challenging people who park without authority. "Using employees to police the car park raises two issues: firstly I would have to reduce the money spent on clinical services to pay
their wages (and we would rather spend this money on patients’ health) and secondly I cannot put staff in the vulnerable position of people becoming aggressive and threatening when challenged. "We have considered having a barrier, but as we must maintain easy access for ambulances and there is often congestion at the entrance, we believe that this could cause accidents, delay emergency services and increase the traffic backing up in the road. "There is no easy answer - we are appealing for the community to act responsibly. The Whitecliff Group Practice car park is not 'publicly owned space' - it is private property and should only be used for surgery business, including evenings and weekends. "The double yellow lines in the car park are there for a reason: to keep emergency exits clear so patients and staff can evacuate the building quickly and to allow essential services such as the ambulance, delivery and bin men to operate safely. "People are asked to move their car once their consultation has finished and not go into town to collect prescriptions or go shopping, and are reminded that by abusing the car park, you are preventing other people who are frail or unwell from getting a space."
CATHOLICS in Blandford celebrated the completion and opening of the extension to their church of Our Lady of Lourdes & St Cecilia in Whitecliff Mill Street. The new hall, which will provide facilities for meetings and activities, was officially opened by the Bishop of Plymouth, the Rt Rev Mark O'Toole.
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May 2017
Three dead after road accidents THE tragic deaths of three elderly people as a result of local road accidents has shocked the community. Sid Samways, aged 74, and his wife Barbara, 71, of Blandford, were riding their black Kawazaki motorcycle on Spread Eagle Hill, near Compton Abbas airfield on the afternoon of Sunday April 2 when it was in collision with a Ford Escort driven by a 24-yearold man from the Shaftesbury area. Mr Samways died at the scene, and his wife, who was the pillion passenger, died from her injuries five days later in Southampton General Hospital. In a statement, the couple's family said: "To lose both Sid and Barbara is heartbreaking. We wish to give our thanks for all the expressions of sympathy and kindness we have been shown. We would ask that our previous request for complete privacy continues while we come to terms with what has happened." Tribute was also paid by the Dorset branch of the Honda
Sid and Barbara Samways. Owners Club, of which the couple were active members. The driver of the Escort was
arrested on suspicion of driving offences and is on police bail until the end of June pending further enquiries. On March 12, an 84-year-old woman was seriously injured in a collision between a Toyota Corolla and Ford Focus near the Sturminster Marshall junction on the B3082 Badbury rings road. She died a month later. She had been a passenger in the Toyota, whose 85-year-old male driver was taken to Poole hospital and 64-year-old female passenger was taken to Salisbury hospital, both with
minor injuries. All three came from the Trowbridge area of Wiltshire. The three occupants of the Ford - a 75-year-old male driver, a 72-year-old woman and an 89year-old man - were all from the Blandford area and were taken to Poole hospital with minor injuries. Police appealed to anyone with information about either collision to call Dorset Police on 101 or email101@dorset.pnn.police.uk, quoting incident number 12:133 for Badbury Rings, or 2:268 for the Compton Abbas incident.
Flowers for Aunt Dottie’s final journey A MASS of floral tributes were left at the grave of Dorothy Turner of Salisbury, whose funeral was held in Blandford in accordance with a long-established tradition of a number of Romany families who have adopted Blandford Cemetery as their last resting place. It attracted a large number of mourners from across the region for the woman many knew as 'Aunt Dottie'. The cortege with its large limousines attracted plenty of attention as it processed from the town centre up Salisbury Street and Salisbury Road to the cemetery.
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May 2017
Main parties to fight County Council seats IN the forthcoming Dorset County Council elections, which take place on Thursday May 4, there are three divisions covering the DT11 area. Following a Boundary Commission review, new electoral arrangements have come into force, with the result that Badbury Heights, formerly in the Blandford division, is now in the Hambledon division. The Blandford division includes the rest of Blandford town. Hambledon division also includes Sutton Waldron,
the Iwernes, Child Okeford, Hanford, Shillingstone, Durweston, Stourpaine, Iwerne Steepleton, Pimperne, the Tarrants, Langton Long, Chettle, Farnham and Ashmore, together with villages to the north. Winterborne division includes Milborne St Andrew, Milton Abbas, Hilton, the Winterbornes, Spetisbury, Charlton Marshall, Blandford St Mary, Bryanston, Turnworth, Ibberton and Okeford Fitzpaine. Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm.
Labour
Conservative Blandford Forum: Byron Quayle Byron is a former Royal Marine who first came to Blandford with the military while training, and after working as a commercial business manager is now furthering his education at Bournemouth University. Recently coopted as a Blandford Town Councillor, he says: "Blandford is a special place and I would like the opportunity to help keep it so. This is the place I have chosen to start my family and where their future lies. I want to build on all that's great while working to change the things that aren't. I have talked to many of you, including local businesses and community groups and your priorities are my priorities. With your support I will work to make sure Blandford is properly represented, has better transport, more school funding, protected leisure facilities and support for local businesses.
Hambledon: Deborah Croney Deborah, of Iwerne Minster, is married with two grownup children and previously worked in retail management and IT sales and support. The former leader of North Dorset District Council, to which she was elected in 2007 as member for Hill Forts, she was elected to
Dorset County Council in 2013. She says: "Having lived in this lovely area of Dorset for the past 17 years I feel I understand the issues and challenges of our rural communities. The current economic climate means that there are still many difficult decisions to be made. I will seek to provide you with quality, efficient services at an economical cost. I will promote greater independence for people and smarter services that empower people to have control of their lives. I will work closely with the Parish Councils to ensure the local view is heard."
Winterborne: Hilary Cox Hilary has lived in Dorset since being posted to Blandford Camp in 1970, has served as a district councillor, and since 1997 on Dorset County Council where she is currently Vice Chairman, having previously been the holder of the environment portfolio. She says: "Your County Councillor should have a real understanding of the needs of all. I have worked closely with parish councils, helping resolve local issues and other problems as they arise, and I know the issues which concern the residents of Winterborne. I am closely involved with all environmental issues, chairing the Dorset Waste Partnership as it was set up, working with the County Farms, on local government reorganisation, the AONB, Jurassic Coast Trust and on the Local Nature Partnership. I pledge to represent you whatever your needs and interests."
The Labour Party are opposing the Conservatives' increase in council tax while cutting public services. Their objectives are: opposing the cuts being imposed on Dorset by the Conservative Government; improving, not cutting, the social care services needed by our elderly; restoring the much-needed youth centres closed by the Conservatives; and ensuring that available funds are spent on improving our schools and not diverted to setting up new, unnecessary and divisive grammar schools.
Blandford Forum: Pat Osborne Pat is a member of Blandford Forum Town Council, treasurer of North Dorset Labour Party and a member of the Unite union. He stands for traditional working-class values, like respect for people who work hard for themselves and their families and standing up for one another on the things that really matter. Pat was born and raised in North Dorset and has lived here almost all of his life. He is a former youth worker and youth centre management committee chair. He is a business change manager with LV in Bournemouth. He first settled in Blandford in 2010 where he lives with his wife and two young children.
Winterborne: Haydn White Haydn has lived locally for 50 years. He has been a Parish/Town Councillor in the
Blandford area for more than 40 years, as well as Blandford's Mayor three times. For the last two years he has been chairman of Dorset Association of Parish and Town Councils where he has negotiated with the County Council the future role of Parish/Town in the new local government set-up. Haydn has national as well as local government experience, serving as vice-chair of the Larger Councils' National Committee. He taught in Blandford Secondary School and is a retired secondary/middle school head teacher. He is president and player in the Stour Valley Brass Band.
Hambledon: Keith Yarwood Keith is a former technician and theatre production manager and was a Bristol City Councillor from 1990 to 1995, and a member of the board of South West Arts and the Arnolfini Gallery. He worked at the University of Bristol for over 20 years, and was chair of his workplace union. He was also a governor of the Bristol Old Vic Theatre, and a founder trustee of the Bristol Cultural Development Partnership. Since moving to Dorset in 2003, where he is now retired and living in Stourpaine, he has served on his parish council for 10 years.
May 2017
Liberal Democrat
UKIP
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Blandford Forum: Barrie Cooper
Winterborne: David Fox
Jane Unwin: Blandford Forum
Robert Snow: Hambledon
Barrie has lived and worked in Blandford and area since leaving school. He is a family man, married to Dorothy, both being elders at the Blandford United Reformed Church, and he serves on the management committees of the New Blandford Youth Club and the Blandford Foodbank, as a foundation governor at Archbishop Wake Primary School, and on the Blandford Leisure Centre Group.
David was first elected as County Councillor in Winterborne 20 years ago. Last time he fought the seat there were just 70 votes in it. Few people know these villages as well as David, who still helps on the family organic farm, and has worked in housing and The Princes Trust, helping young people start businesses. He has campaigned on rural services as a parish councillor for 32 years. He says: "Only voting 'David Fox' sends the Government a message that Dorset deserves better. Labour cannot win here. Voting Tory says carry on regardless. They cannot manage Dorset's taxes, they allowed a new school to go ÂŁ20m over budget, and now Conservative councillors punish the most vulnerable by cutting home care, mobile libraries and bus services. The new mega-council means we need to pass power downwards."
Jane Unwin is contesting the Blandford division and is a wife and mother who has lived and worked in North Dorset for 23 years.
Robert Snow of Iwerne Courtney, was born in Salisbury and spent his formative years in Sturminster Newton.
A former member of the Dorset Police Authority, he has been a county councillor for 30 years, working closely with Blandford Town Council, Dorset Police, Dorset Waste Partnership and other organisations and charities to resolve local issues. His main priorities are opposition to further cuts to front-line services, working to reduce the impact of car parking in the town and achieving better road maintenance funding in Blandford.
Hambledon: Martin Strange Martin lives in Pimperne with his husband and is now working part time at Blandford Hospital after serving for 19 years as a police officer with Dorset Police. "I am standing in my first election for the Liberal Democrats as I believe in local people fighting for people in the area in which they live. It is as important to keep our local area open, tolerant and united as it is nationwide. "We are fighting the harsh austerity of the Conservatives such as the cuts to local services and the waste of public money on vanity projects with the refurbishment of County Hall.
She said: "There is a lack of democracy with the three old parties. UKIP do not operate a party whip, enabling Councillors to represent you, not party politics. I oppose proposals to replace North Dorset's Blandford-based local government with a remote Dorset 'Super Council'. "I believe in maintaining and reinstating rural bus services. "To save money: slash excessive pay deals for senior council staff; cut councils' advertising and selfpromotion budgets; control immigration to ease the burden on our health, education, housing, welfare, police and other emergency services; and deliver Brexit."
A former military man, he served in the Middle East for some time and also in Germany, but was forced to leave the Army after sustaining a severe spinal injury and now works as a freelance proof-reader. He said: "I am disgusted at the way our government and politicians are pushing through changes without consulting the electorate that they are supposedly representing. "This is not a real democracy, the politicians are out of touch with the people that elected them."
Focus
bonus for Scouts and elderly FORUM Focus celebrated its fifth anniversary last month by donating a surplus from its trading over the year to two local groups representing the young and the elderly in the community. Blandford Scouts, who are currently carrying out a major maintenance and remodelling of their headquarters in Eagle House Gardens to make them fit for the 21st century, and Age Concern Blandford, who provide such valuable service to the elderly from their offices in Nightingale Court, were each presented with cheques for ÂŁ750. Blandford Scouts chairman Dave Smith, who was accompanied by Mayor's Scout Maya Haines, said: "This will pay for half of our new kitchen which is being supplied at cost by one of
Nicci Brown, second from right, of Forum Focus presents cheques for ÂŁ750 each to Peter Slocombe (right) of Age Concern Blandford, and Dave Smith, chairman of Blandford Scouts, with Mayor's Scout Maya Haines. our supporters and will be installed by scouting volunteers." Age Concern chairman Peter Slocombe said: "The donation will be a great help in meeting our overheads in offering our advice service in Nightingale Court." Nicci Brown, chairman and edi-
tor of Blandford's local community magazine, said: "As a company limited by guarantee, we do not seek to make a profit, and if we are fortunate enough to have a surplus at the end of our financial year, thanks to the support of advertisers and readers, we aim to plough it back into the local community."
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May 2017
Planning blueprint under scrutiny
Mayor of Blandford Jackie Stayt with her husband and Consort John Stayt (right) and magician Paul Hyland (left) and at her charity dinner dance.
Everyone’s a winner despite clash of dates AN unfortunate clash of events did little to diminish support for three fundraising events taking place in Blandford on the night of Saturday April 8.
The Mayor of Blandford's charity dinner dance in the Corn Exchange coincided with a concert by the Dorset Police Male Voice Choir in the Parish Church and a race night at Bryanston Club, organised for Blandford Cricket Club by a number of sports organisations in the town. But each was well attended, despite Mayor Jackie Stayt's dinner dance, in support of her mayoral charities, Blandford Scouts and Community Hospital, also coinciding with another 'chain gang' event elsewhere in the county. Her husband and Consort John Stayt said: "We know of at least 15 couples who were unable to attend, but everyone who came had a good time." Entertainment was provided by the Sam Ryall Trio, a homegrown cabaret and magician Paul Hyland, who gave his services free of charge. Paul will this month be launching a new season of Sunday afternoon 'Baffling Blandford' events, combining magic with a tour of Blandford's historic buildings. There was also a fundraising raffle and drinks sales managed by members of the Scouting Association. There was a similarly high attendance in the Parish Church for the Rotary Club's concert in support of Rotary charities and the Cupola Project, and at the Cricket Club event.
BLANDFORD'S Neighbourhood Plan came in for a bit of a grilling when a hearing was held by the plan's independent examiner into objections raised when it went out to public consultation last year. The plan, which covers Blandford, Blandford St Mary and Bryanston, has been drawn up by the Blandford+ group, chaired by Sara Loch, who was joined by their adviser Neil Homer at the hearing held by Deborah Cann in the district council chamber at Nordon. Its key principle is that future development in the Blandford area should be north of the bypass on either side of the Salisbury Road. There were arguments against it from the Cranborne Chase AONB, represented by Richard Burden, North Dorset District Council, represented by planning policy officer Ed Geary, and Pimperne Parish Council, represented by Jo Witherden. Miss Loch and Mr Homer stressed that the development promoted by Savills to the north of the town was put forward less to address housing supply in the future, and more to secure infrastructure needed for the town, such as a new school and health facilities. Another proposal was the suggestion that the whole of the Crown Meadows and Bryanston Deer Park should be declared public open space, which was opposed by Stuart Williamson, representing Bryanston RFE, the new owners of the land, which was controversially put forward for development by the Crown Estates a few years ago. There was also discussion on who should be included in the eventual referendum on the plan, should it be found sound and put forward for adoption. Ms Witherden argued that Pimperne residents - a modest eight per cent of the total population of the other three parishes - should have a say, since development in that area would impact heavily on the village which is drawing up its own Neighbourhood Plan after declining an invitation to be part of the Blandford+ group.
May 2017
Twins Tilda and Odette Miller, aged five, on their grandad Peter Miller's 1926 Royal Enfield.
Vintage bikes on show for their finest hour DOZENS of bikers gathered to display their machines for an hour before setting off in convoy on the annual rally of the Dorset section of the Vintage Motorcycle Club starting from Blandford Market Place. The rally is organised every year by Peter Miller, himself the owner of a 1926 Royal Enfield, on which his twin grand-daughters, Tilda and Odette, aged five, were happy to take a seat, if not a ride. The section is part of the VMCC set up in 1946 by 38 enthusiasts and now with more than 15,000 members worldwide. Phil Allen, of Blandford said: "We are always looking for new and younger members to keep the club going. New members are the lifeblood of the club, and we are always there to welcome them to our monthly club night, where members share their knowledge of veteran, vintage, classic and modern motorcycles." Many members have motorcycles which are over 100 years old, and 2017 is particularly important for the Dorset section as it is their 50th anniversary year. Forthcoming events include the Weymouth 50th run from Weymouth Pavilion on Sunday May 21, Classics Around Dorset in Hazelbury Bryan on Sunday May 28, a 50th anniversary Camping and Run in June, Gillingham in Gear, a Sherborne Castle event, and various monthly runs throughout the year culminating in the section's 50th Birthday Bash on September 13.
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May 2017
A musical milestone DORSET Rural Music School, in its 70th anniversary year, has a busy month ahead with 'Dorset Island Discs' at Durweston village hall on Friday May 5, followed by a classical concert at Blandford Parish Church on Saturday May 20. The Durweston event will feature DRMS director Dr Richard Hall interviewing Rod Kennedy, director of Dorset Opera, about his life and favourite music choices. It starts at 7.30pm and tickets, to include a glass of wine and canapĂŠs, are available from the school or by calling 01258 452511. The concert in the Parish Church, which starts at 6pm, is part of the Free Expression Arts Festival with free admission, but a collection will be taken for the DRMS and the Cupola Fund.
Some of the Masonic artefacts that are to be displayed.
Masonic heritage to go on public display A MASONIC History event on Sunday April 30 and Monday May 1 is part of national celebrations to mark the 300th anniversary of the forming of the first Grand Lodge in London. It will be a unique opportunity to delve into the past and answer the question: who were the Freemasons of Blandford? The joint Blandford Masonic Lodges are holding historic displays between 10am and 4pm both days and inviting local historians, genealogists, Freemasons and the simply curious to discover the part Blandford Freemasons have played in the history of the town, the county,
the country and the world. Their ongoing research has revealed an astonishing range of professions, whose membership of the Lodges spans the 200 years from 1771 to 1971, including 41 Bailiffs and Mayors of Blandford. On Tuesday May 9 the tercentenary celebration will continue when they parade with the Provincial Grand Master of Dorset and a full team of Provincial Grand Officers in full regalia with banners from outside the Lodge in West Street at 4.05pm, where they will form up to march to the Corn Exchange for a closed meeting.
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May 2017
Farewell to Nordon
Ring-in marks restoration of church bells BELLRINGERS of Blandford were joined by a number of guest ringers when the bells of Blandford Parish Church rang out for the first time in 14 months. They fell silent during the restoration of the tower when the louvres were removed so that a cross beam could be put across the bell frame to support the scaffolding, and a mesh floor has now been built above the bell chamber making it possible to look down on the bells. The new platform above them will also ensure safer passage up to the top of the tower. For the two-hour ring-in to celebrate the progress of the Cupola Project to restore the entire church, the Blandford ringers were joined by Alan Bentley, who lives in Verwood and usually rings at Wimborne Minster; Malcolm and Ann Corry, who have rung for almost 50 years at Durweston; and assistant branch ringmaster Jack Pease, who was inspired to take up bellringing
The bell ringers in the ringing chamber of Blandford Parish Church, Ann Corry, Kate Brice, Richard Owen, Malcolm Corry, Alan Bentley and Jack Pease. when he heard Big Ben in London as a teenager, and volun-
teered at his local church in Hampreston.
THREE Blandford organisations have been awarded grants by the Town Council. The Blandford Town Team will receive £480 to cover its hire of the community room for meetings for the year; Blandford Forum Railway Club will receive £750 to support its activities; and Blandford Cricket Club was awarded £1,500 for equipment for its youth section. Brendoncare's Blandford Flyers Club was refused funding towards its weekly activity sessions for the elderly in the Parish Centre, but advised to approach the charity of William Williams.
COUNCILLORS, former councillors, staff and Aldermen of North Dorset said farewell to the Nordon Council Chamber at district council headquarters in Salisbury Road, Blandford, on March 24. The informal gathering followed the merger of North Dorset District Council into the Dorset Councils Partnership with West Dorset, Weymouth & Portland, and the decision to sell the Nordon premises and open a smaller hub on the site. All council meetings have been relocated to South Walks House in Dorchester apart from full council and planning meetings, which will be held at Durweston Village Hall in Church Road, Durweston, and meetings with agenda items creating a lot of public interest in the area. Leader of North Dorset District Council, Cllr Graham Carr-Jones, said that they would still be making decisions about services for residents of North Dorset, and Nordon was still open for residents to access vital services.
12 A WORKING group of Blandford town councillors has been set up to consider suggestions which have been put forward for town centre enhancement with the money given by Lidl following approval of its new supermarket in Shaftesbury Lane. They include the appointment of a town centre manager, as envisaged at the time of the Asda supermarket application, and a suggestion supported by North Dorset's conservation officer of town centre bike racks.
May 2017
Barrels of fun as fayre revives an old tradition BLANDFORD'S Georgian Fayre will be reviving an old tradition when it celebrates its 25th anniversary year on Bank Holiday Monday, May 1. New this year is the barrel race, open to teams of four who, from noon to 12.30pm, will be rolling out the barrel from the brewery of main sponsors Hall & Woodhouse down the Bournemouth Road, over the bridge into West Street and into the Market Place. Barrel races were held in the town annually until the outbreak of World War I, when most of the town's young men went to war. The races were to commemorate the night in around 1750 when locals broke into the excise officers' bonded warehouse in Whitecliff Mill Street to remove barrels of liquor which had been seized from smugglers. The tradition is being revived by the Georgian Fayre with a trophy to be contested annually by teams transporting an 18gallon barrel of ale, the only stipulation being that any devices used should be without wheels. Thousands of visitors are expected to descend on the town as it relives its
Georgian past, with streets free of traffic. Programmes went on sale in advance, this year including pullouts and tokens for discounted rides on the funfair, tickets for the Great Dorset Steam Fair, brewery visits and advertisements for over 30 local businesses, which will be promoted on their website all year round. Local artist Lili White, whose debut single Skyline Pigeon was launched in February, will be performing in the music zone on the Ham car park, where there will be music and dance to suit every taste, and a performance by the Blandford Performing Arts Theatre Academy. Other attractions include re-enactments, rural crafts, dog agility demonstrations, a classic car show and a model armour exhibition down by the river. In the Woodhouse Gardens will be a circus workshop, in the parish church an art exhibition with teas and refreshments in the parish centre from the WI, the funfair on the Crown Meadows and traditional fairground rides, Gurkha displays, maypole dancing and entertainment in the Market Place. Craft stalls will be in the Corn Exchange and market stalls in the streets. Donations given by visitors are ploughed back into community groups within the Blandford area, which has benefited from over a million pounds in the last 24 years thanks to the time and commitment given by the committee, individuals and local A LITTLE intruder, in the form of a organisations. solitary tulip, spotted during the The Fayre opens at 10am and monthly tidy-up by the Friends of closes at 5pm, and the town cenAngus Wood, which manages the tre roads will be closed to traffic woodland in Blandford's St between 7am and 7pm. The taxi Leonards Avenue, was allowed to rank will be moved to Bryanston stay put. School gates and the corner of Botanical adviDamory Street and East Street. sor Dr Peter Whitecliff Mill Street will again be Andrews said it two-way from Park Road to would have to Eagle House Gardens to allow go, but chairaccess to homes in that residenman of the tial area. Free parking will be Friends Steve available on Stour Meadows and Adamson at the brewery, from where a vinargued that tage bus will take people to the they had a duty to protect all town centre. species equally, regardless of For more information see the where they come from. website at blandfordgeorgianHe said: "We don't do flowers in fayre.co.uk or Facebook at facethe wood, apart from snowdrops book.com/groups/177053229027 and other indigenous wild 621/ species. We believe the tulip came in with the fine Norwegian pine donated by someone living close to the wood." The tulip, of course, originates from Turkey. The Friends of Angus Wood welcome new members, who are invited to go along to help for whatever time they can spare on the last Saturday of the month between 10am and noon.
Intruder reprieved
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May 2017
Alice’s solo turn is concert highlight AN outstanding solo performance was the highlight of a concert organised by Blandford Rotary at Blandford Parish Church, featuring the Dorset Police Male Voice Choir. The choir excelled in a programme that ranged from African spirituals to 'There is Nothin' Like a Dame' from South Pacific. But the highlights of the evening were two solo spots sung by Alice Couling, the year 12 student at Clayesmore School, who earlier this year won the Blandford Rotary Young Musician of the Year contest and was a regional finalist in the national Rotary competition. The musical director of the Male Voice Choir, Dr Jane Oakland, told an enthralled audience of nearly 150 that Alice had recently gained a distinction in her grade 8 singing examination. Alice showed her great versatility, personality and strong voice by singing operatic arias as well as 'Habanera' from Carmen and
'Maybe This Time' from Cabaret. The concert raised more than £1,200 for the Cupola Project and other Rotary charities. Past President of Blandford Rotary, Vic Chippendale, who organised the concert, was delighted with the result and President Steve Adamson thanked all those involved who had helped to make the evening such a great success.
Alice acknowledges the applause from the appreciative audience and members of the Dorset Police Male Voice Choir.
Matchstick Fleet’s final berth? THE world-famous Matchstick Fleet will berth in Blandford Corn Exchange for probably the last time over the weekend of May 19-22. It has been built over 60 years by Blandford's Phillip Warren, who has exhibited all around the UK and has attracted international interest in his collection of more than 400 models of 1:300 scale of ships of the Royal Navy and the United States Navy. The ships are incredible models made with amazing detail right down to the aircraft on the aircraft carriers. Some take over a year to build using a ruler, razor blade and glue and are over three feet long. Mr Warren has indicated that he may be retiring the
fleet (many of the actual ships modelled are already retired) and this may be the last time to view them for free in detail with Phillip there himself to talk about them. Blandford Forum Town Council's 14-18 Working Group is hosting the exhibition which will also feature the Blandford Model Railway Club's Somme diorama. Refreshments will be available from the WW1 Group's Khaki Canteen. The exhibition will be open between 12pm and 4pm on Friday, between 10am and 4pm on Saturday and Sunday and from 10am to 1pm on Monday. Call 01258 480756 for further details.
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Above: Retiring High Sheriff Sir Philip Williams and his successor John Young lead the procession into the Old Town Hall. Below: John Young, left, is congratulated on his appointment by retiring High Sheriff Sir Philip Williams.
May 2017
Former JP takes over as Dorset’s new High Sheriff BLANDFORD'S historic old town hall was selected by John Young, of Durweston House, as the venue for his official acceptance of the office as High Sheriff of Dorset for the next 12 months. The use for the first time in living memory was in recognition, he said, not only of his love for the town where he had spent most of his working life, but also of the Corn Exchange, in which the town hall is housed, and his role as a magistrate for many years. He recalled that when he first started sitting as a magistrate in the new purpose-built court in Salisbury Road in 1987, it was with magistrates who had sat in the old town hall until its replacement in 1970. "That replacement has now been demolished and replaced by flats, but this splendid building and court room remain, and there is no pretty way to say it, but we owe the Bastards a great deal." He also told invited guests that 100 years earlier, confectioner Mrs Palmer had pleaded guilty in that very room to selling a bar of chocolate to a small boy, and was fined two shillings and tuppence. "It was a great deal of money in those days, bearing in mind what was happening in France and Russia at the time," he said. Guests at the ceremony were welcomed by Helen Cooper, of the Friends of the Forum, the organisation working with Blandford Town Council to transform the old building through a restoration and regeneration project. She said that rather than dwell on the poor acoustics, the shortcomings of the stage, and the state of the decor, she would especially welcome all those who had struggled up the 'unforgiving staircase' which is planned to be replaced by a lift as part of the project. "In the 1860s this building was the meeting place of Blandford, the Facebook of its day, in the heart and at the heart of the town. It is a building in need of repair and work is about to start on the restoration of the facade, including cleaning of the clock face and rehanging of the gates, which will be a rallying call for the town." Musical accompaniment was provided by director Richard Hall and members of the Dorset Rural
Music School, where Mr Young has been a pupil. They played items contemporary with the rebuilding of Blandford in the 18th century as the guests arrived, and later accompanied opera singer Carolyn Dobbin in another contemporary piece, Handel's 'Where'er you Walk' from Semele, and 'Botany Bay', recalling that the first woman transported to Australia was convicted in Dorset of stealing a handkerchief. Sir Philip Williams, the retiring High Sheriff, announced the 'pricking' of Mr Young from the List of Sheriffs for England and Wales as Sheriff for the County of Dorset for the Shrieval Year 20172018. After counter-signing Mr Young's formal declaration with fellow magistrate Louise Dutton, Sir Philip passed on the replica of the Key of the Poole Town Gaol, the symbol of the authority of Sheriff of Town and County of Poole presented on its amalgamation with Dorset in 1974. Mr Young said he and his wife Hattie had been persuaded by Sir Philip's mother, the first female High Sheriff in 1979, to move to Dorset in 1973 and had been responsible for his becoming a magistrate. He said he would be working on a project with Dorset Police and Bournemouth University on domestic violence. He was joined in the ceremony by his Under Sheriff Katharine Jones and his chaplain the Rev Canon Charles Mitchell-Innes.
Lead thieves strike again MORE lead has been stolen from the roofs of buildings in Blandford, including the United Reformed Church Hall and twice from the Corn Exchange. Blandford Town Council was told that, like the Blandford Fashion Museum last summer, listed building consent was needed for repairs to the Corn Exchange. The total cost of the work there will be ÂŁ1,000, and discussions are taking place with the district council's Conservation Officer over alternative materials which are less attractive to thieves.
May 2017
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Readers’ letters
The end for rural buses? AT a meeting of the DT11 Action Group on March 22, it was said that further cuts to rural bus services will happen, but that details of affected services will not be known until the end of May/June due to the contract tendering process. In the discussion, it was reported that communities are coming together and supporting villages once served by a bus - DCT, Bus2Go, Car Share, your taxi company and neighbour car in what is now called the transport link by Dorset County Council. I am concerned that we will have no rural buses in the next few years, and that unless you have a commercial service (X8) running past your door, you are at risk.
May 2017 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
Buses that have few people using them and are supported by the council are under threat. Apart from school services, X10, X12, 187 and 311, these services will go or have revised timetables from the end of July and the free bus will become a thing of the past in rural areas. Is this the end of rural public transport as we once knew it? Robert Cowley Lady Bailey Park
History of the hall EAST Street Hall in Blandford (behind No 26 East Street) has had various uses over the last half-century. I am researching its use prior to that - up to the time it was vacated by the Brethren assembly in
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.
the mid-20th century. I know that a social gathering was held in October 1874 when the Brethren began to use the hall as a place of worship. Mr F Wyatt read a portion of scripture and welcomed friends from other congregations. The congregation continued there for 80 years or more. Can anybody give me information about any of the following please - the life and membership of the congregation, whether the hall was built for the Brethren in 1874 or already existed, whether other organisations used parts of the premises, whether the hall and No 26 belonged together, when the congregation finally ceased and what the hall was subsequently used for? Mark Churchill mk.cmanor@googlemail.com, 01258 452872.
Dogs give their thanks ZEUS, Brenna and our human folk wish to thank all the shoppers at Tesco in Blandford who donated a total of £330 to our charity in February. Many folk are surprised to learn that Guide Dogs receives no government funding to provide our services. Guide Dogs are always looking for new puppy walkers. If you would like to know how to become a puppy walker or volunteer in any way, please visit guidedogs.org.uk. Thank you. Hillary George Milldown Road, Blandford
Diary led to wreath laying IN your January edition, you mentioned Frederick Richard Sprake's death in 1916. I was very privileged to visit his grave in Rouen with a friend and lay a wreath back in the '90s. A Mr Sprake (I don't know his first name and I think he has sadly passed on now) was one of my customers in the Crown and we would chat in the morning over coffee while his wife did the shopping.
He was an elderly chap and was aware of my annual trips to the War Graves of Europe. One day he showed me a trench diary which belonged to Frederick Sprake, the last entry being in 1916. He explained that the Vicar from Lytchett Matravers had called him, having found the diary in a box of jumble handed into the church, so he went through the phone book until he found a relative and gave him the book. We looked into the CWGC and found the correct grave, and Pete Clark (now Town Councillor) and I made a point of going there over the next Armistice weekend to lay a wreath. James B Mayo Blandford
Bridge work questions THE bush telegraph tells me that there are to be repairs made to the Durweston bridge causeway, which will require closure of the A357 for three months. This was to have taken place from May to August this year, but in the face of local parish protest, has been postponed to the same period in 2018. In recent years, it seems to have become commonplace to close a road, rather than to make an effort to enable traffic to continue to use it during repairs. Very often this kind of action causes misery and hardship, for example at Hayward bridge in Shillingstone last year, which was closed for an unforgivable six months. It is common sense to agree with the argument that the roads must be kept in a good state of repair, and that safety of the workers is paramount. However, why cannot a little intelligence be used here? The cost to the local economy, although very hard to measure, will be enormous during such road closures. 24-hour per day working to get the repair dealt with as quickly as possible is the first solution; the council should devise a watertight contract with the contractors, with serious default penalties written in. The cost of 24-hour working simply must be afforded and can surely • To Page 17
May 2017
Letters extra
• From Page 16 be justified by sensible cost/benefit calculations. Secondly, if we are to endure, in Durweston's case, what will surely be a period of extreme annoyance and disturbance, why not sweeten the pill by going the whole hog and improve the bridge and traffic light area to such an extent that we no longer need the traffic lights, and traffic might flow freely at this busy junction for ever more? A good deal more money would have to be spent, but why not? The time wasted by people sitting at the lights simply because we insist on forcing 21st century traffic over an 18th century bridge is a disgrace. The bridge could be dismantled, and rebuilt sufficiently wider to take the traffic in both directions, with a small roundabout in an enlarged area on the A350, created by seriously hollowing out the bank opposite. A project so radical would be a bold statement for the modern age and an example to all the other places where we are hidebound by outdated infrastructure, when we are all too often frightened to do the right thing, eg:
Sturminster Newton. George Hosford Durweston
Focus on excellence FIRSTLY I would like to thank you most sincerely for being there on February 22 to cover our event at Blandford Hospital and the very good photographs you sent through afterwards and published last month. I am a great admirer of Forum Focus for its content, excellent photographs and the quality of presentation. It keeps us in touch with personal, religious and commercial events in and around Blandford. The speed at which it 'flies off the shelves' in local shops is testament to its popularity with the growing readership you have acquired. Well done to you all and every success in the future in the service you provide. All Best Wishes Ray Suter Shillingstone
Support the tourist office IN 1940 I was bombed out of London, and with no other place to live we came to live in Blandford. Until 1962 I lived a very happy life here before moving to Gloucestershire and then Yorkshire. Every April and October I come back here to meet and dine with old friends, and whilst here I always pay a visit (and spend money) in the Tourist Office. The staff there are always delightful to meet (although I do not know how they put up with me) and it is a wonderful place to wallow in nostalgia and catch up on local news. How can the local councils and population allow the possible closure of this wonderful unit to happen? I have never felt a sense of shame about Blandford until now! Frank Coombes, Featherstone, Pontefract
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Lions’ plea to traders BUSINESSES in Blandford have been asked to support the Blandford Lions campaign to install defibrillators in the town and train members of the public in their operation. It is the Lions' anniversary project celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of the Lions International movement in the USA, and Lions clubs around the world have been asked to take part by contributing a lasting legacy. Public access defibrillators can be found in a number of locations in Blandford, but one of the Lions' aims is to publicise those locations and add to them. They are inviting businesses to help by providing sites, sources of electricity, members of staff to carry out testing, electricians to wire up the installations, premises for training sessions, and direct financial donations or fundraising event sponsorship. Lion Nigel Hodder said: "Please consider how you can help to make Blandford a place where, if you have a sudden heart problem, you will know that the right equipment is near to hand." For further information, call Nigel Hodder on 01258 880229 or email blandfordlions@hotmail.co.uk More than 40 villagers in Tarrant Monkton signed up for training on the defibrillator for which they raised the funds and which has now been installed in the Langton Arms. A second will be installed in the village hall. A similar project was undertaken in Stourpaine, where one is in place at the White Horse pub.
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May 2017
NEWS in BRIEF PROPOSALS for a staircase and safety fencing allowing access to the top of the flood arches in Langton Meadows, which once carried the Somerset & Dorset Railway, have been supported in principle by Blandford Town Council, which leases the building from North Dorset District Council. The plans have been drawn up by Western Design Associates for the Blandford Railway Arches Trust which is working towards the restoration and reuse of the arches so that a planning application can be submitted. ••• FOLLOWING the complaints of inadequate repairs being carried out during a three-day closure of Milldown Road, Dorset County Council has confirmed that the work was designed to fix only the worst problems, since the whole of the road between the Kings Arms in Whitecliff Mill Street and the Leisure Centre in Milldown Road is due to be resurfaced in the autumn. ••• LIDL whose new supermarket is currently under construction off Shaftesbury Lane in Blandford, have confirmed that the new store is on course for opening in about three months' time. Senior Consultant Acquisitions, Ian O'Gorman, said: "The development is progressing well and is currently on schedule. The expected opening date remains end of July or beginning of August."
Student volunteers Helen Gibb, Catherine Stanley, George Dutton, Seren Birtels, Emma Humphrey, Rian Lewis-Smith, Tyler Costtick and Ottilie Tabberer with (second from left) museum director Sylvia Hixson Andrews and (third from right) chairman Nessa Hickish at the museum opening.
American brothers join museum reopening party THERE was an added historical dimension to the opening of the Blandford Town Museum for the season when the party was joined by brothers James and Michael Ryves from America. The boys are direct descendants of Robert Ryves, who was the purchaser in the 16th century of Damory Court and Ranston at Shroton, and who is remembered on a plaque in Blandford Parish Church. His grandson George was the founder and benefactor of Ryves Almhouses in Salisbury Street. Michael, who works for GC & E Systems Group in Atlanta, Georgia, is researching their family history and was visiting England with his brother, a PhD student in chemical biology at John Hopkins University in Baltimore, and spent five days in London before coming to Dorset. Their family emigrated to Virginia in the early 1700s before moving south. Michael said: "I am trying to trace the family's roots which could have been in France from where they fled as Protestants." They particularly thanked museum assistant curator Michael Le Bas for the excellent guided tour of the museum and information about their family he gave them. The brothers, on their first visit to the town, were unlikely to have appreciated the transformation that has taken place of some of the exhibits in the museum after the winter closure. A group of young volunteers from The Blandford and Bryanston Schools who have worked with student intern Jake Storer were invited by museum chairman Nessa Hickish to perform the official opening and talk about their contribution to the work.
James and Michael Ryves from America at the exhibit describing the part their family played in Blandford's history in the 16th and 17th centuries. Museum director Dr Sylvia Hixson Andrews, who also heads up the educational work in the museum, said: "We wanted to better tell the story of the area through the exhibits we have here in the museum, and the students have done some wonderful work." In addition to the new Durden's Corner following their visit to the British Museum in February and newly designed archaeology exhibits created by assistant curator Tessa Pearce and Jake, the students have redeveloped others to show Blandford through the centuries, including displays and explanation of the finds at the Shillingstone Roman villa and one on work by the museum's archaeology club at Bryanston. For information on how to get involved as a volunteer at the museum, contact Sylvia at 01258 450388 or blandfordtownmuseum@uwclub.net.
May 2017
A busy weekend of Free Expression THE Free Expression Art Festival returns to Blandford on the weekend of May 20-21. On the Saturday there will be a free drop-in pottery workshop at the Pottery Parlour, street entertainment, an evening concert organised by the Dorset Rural Music School, and pre-concert drinks in the Blandford Museum Victorian Garden. On the Sunday the Great Dorset
Rapper Charley Blue.
Art Fair takes place on the Marsh and Ham with more than 20 artists displaying their work. Creative workshops are planned in the morning in the town centre and at the Town Museum, including stone carving, African drumming, trapezing and crafts. The afternoon programme features jazz singing, violin playing, rapper Charley Blue, who took part in the BBC's The Voice, and the return of Airtime Circus Creation in a theatrical aerial trapeze performance. The event is part-sponsored by Humberts estate agents, other businesses and individuals. Further sponsorship is welcome, together with volunteers to help on the day. They are invited to contact the organisers through their donations and volunteer pages on the festival website at free-expression.com. "We want all the workshops to be free," says Festival Director Kate Seeger, "but if we don't reach our funding goal then there may be a small charge. Fingers crossed we will get there."
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Lions replace station bench THE Spetisbury Station Project was delighted to be presented with a new bench generously provided by Blandford & District Lions. It replaces the one vandalised last year and which had been originally donated by a local resident Roy Guscott. Roy, now in his 80s, is a frequent visitor to the station with his dog but finds any great distance a bit of a struggle, so he provided the bench as a resting place for his daily walks. Blandford & District Lions were keen to help replace the bench, and the concrete base to which it is firmly fixed was provided by the Spetisbury Station Project team. Following an appeal for local residents to adopt a flower bed at Spetisbury Station, five people are now doing a marvellous job helping make the site look its best for visitors. Residents with time to spare who would like to get involved are asked to call Moira on 0776 1383563. • Project manager Dean Cockwell is pictured with Veronica Pope from Blandford Lions on the new bench.
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May 2017
Blandford men who met their deaths on the same fateful day TWO men named on the Blandford Memorial, who died in May 1917, met their deaths on the same day, but were far apart in age, rank and location. Regimental Sergeant Major James Townsend was with the Army Service Corps based at Remount Depot in Southampton when he died, age 50, on May 16, having served previously with the 21st (Empress of India's) Lancers and is buried in Blandford Cemetery in a grave erected by the officers, warrant officers and sergeants of the RSC Depot. James was born in 1886, the third of six children, and lived originally in Sawston, Cambridgeshire, where his father was a farm labourer. He was a pre-war regular soldier who had enlisted in Nottingham. He married Mary Ann Biddulph in Bangalore, India, in 1890 and their first daughter Constance was born in Secunderbad where Mary Ann had been born. Their second, Hilda Mary, was born in Gillingham where they lived in Victoria Road, but five further daughters and one son were all born in Blandford between 1903 and 1910. Their address was in Damory Street. He was listed as Squadron
Sergeant Major and soldier instructor in 1911. He was attached as an instructor to the Dorset Yeomanry, with whom he earned a Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. His eldest daughter Irene married a Blandford man, Philip Drew, in 1921, but the rest of the family moved back to Wandsworth where his wife was living at the time of his death. Bertram Philip George Shave was killed in action on the same day, serving as a private with the Dorset Regiment 6th Bn, aged 19, during the second battle of Arras, and is remembered on the Arras Memorial at Fauberg-d'Amiens. The son of Tarrant Monkton-born gardener Frederick and Eliza Hampton, who married in Hampshire where their first child was born, Bertram was the sixth of eight or nine children. The family then lived in Kendalls Yard, Salisbury Street, and later at Lynwood in Orchard Street. Bertram's younger brother Percival Edward, their seventh child, also died in action on April 10, 1918, aged 18, and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, West Vlaanderen. Neither has any known grave.
RSM James Townsend's grave in Blandford Cemetery.
Villages remember THOSE from the villages who died in May 1917 included three from the 6th Bn Dorsetshire Regiment, who lost their lives in France. Reginald Henry Rideout, born in Stourpaine in 1889, was a private, killed in action on May 15, aged 28, and is remembered on the Arras Memorial. He was the eldest son of eight children of house painter Henry William and Martha Jane Rideout, who lived in Stourpaine. Edward James Ingram, born in 1886 in Turnerspuddle, was a private killed on May 16, aged 37. Buried in Brown's Copse Cemetery, Roeux, he was the son of shepherd Edward and Mary Jane Ingram and had a brother and two sisters. His mother died in 1896. In 1911, he was working as a farm labourer in Langton, and he is remembered on the Blandford St Mary memorial. Walter George Ricketts, born and remembered in Winterborne Stickland, was killed in action aged 22 on May 24 and is buried in the Thiepval AngloFrench Cemetery. He was the son of William James and Jane Ricketts, but his mother had died in 1903, leaving their five sons. Walter, who worked as a butcher's boy at the age of 15, and his brother Ernest William were both born in 1896. Charles Henry White, born in 1879 in Winterborne Whitechurch, was a private in the 5th Bn Dorsetshire Regiment and was killed in action in France on May 1, aged 37. He is remembered on the Arras Memorial, at Whitechurch, and at Hilton, where he lived and worked as a groom. The eldest son of Joseph and Ann White of Whitechurch, he married Lena White of Hilton in Blandford in 1905, and they had one daughter. Percival Arthur Miller was the son of farm labourer Charles and Elizabeth Miller, of Winterborne Kingston, and was serving as a Lance Corporal with the Middlesex Regiment 11th Bn when he died of wounds in France on May 14, aged 30, and was buried in the Duisans British Cemetery at Etrun.
Farm labourer George James Miller was the elder son of bricklayers labourer George and Lizzie Helena Miller, who lived in West Street, Winterborne Stickland, and died aged 21 on May 17, serving as a private with the 2nd Battalion Dorsetshire Regiment in Mesopotamia, where he is remembered on the Basra Memorial. Arthur Henry Lawes was one of 31 seamen to lose their lives when the Royal Navy's 'Q' Ship HMS Paxton was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-46 on May 20 some 90 miles west of Great Skellig Eire in the North Atlantic. His body was not recovered, and he is remembered on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, as well as at Hinton Martell, where he is recorded as being a native by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. But he was born in Allington, Wiltshire, son of shepherd Arthur and Sarah Jane Lawes, and after working as a teenager as a shepherd in Wiltshire, enlisted at Portsmouth in May 1914. He served on HMS Liverpool and HMS Birkenhead before progressing to able seaman while with HMS Birkenhead and then serving on Q25 before his death, aged 21, aboard HMS Paxton. Frederick Charles Caines, who was killed in action on May 19, age 31, is remembered at Charlton Marshall, where he lived in 1901. He was born in Sturminster Marshall, the son of groom Christopher and Louisa Caines, who lived variously at Piddletrenthide, Milton Abbas, Pimperne and Sturminster Marshall. He served as a private with the South Wales Borderers 2nd Bn and previously with the Welch Regiment. We have been unable to trace the Dorset connection of James Edward Hinton, who is remembered on the Spetisbury war memorial, but appears to have been born in Warwickshire, lived in Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire, and served with the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry 5th Bn as Company Sergeant Major. He was killed in action on May 3 in France.
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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May 2017
Strong support for food project
Quality Gold honour for the Town Council BLANDFORD Town Council has become the first in Dorset to receive Quality Gold status as part of the Local Council Award scheme, recognising its good practice in governance, community engagement and council improvement. The award recognises that the council goes above and beyond its legal obligations. The report of the inspecting panel highlighted areas of strength in being well organised, accountable to its residents, with a comprehensive range of well-prepared policies and commendable use of social media and its website. The council's approach to developing its Neighbourhood Plan with adjoining parishes, its support for the local Dementia Action Alliance and the creative use of social media in its election video were highlighted, together with the onsite consultation on development at the skate park. The Town Council applied for Quality Gold status last year, but was awarded only Quality and resubmitted after taking into account the panel's suggestions for improvements. Town Clerk Linda Scott-Giles said she was thrilled with the outcome and congratulated her team on working together with councillors to gain the Quality Gold status. She said the council welcomed input from local people and partners as it reviews ways in which it can keep improving its service to the local community. At April's town assembly Mrs Scott-Giles was thanked by council chairman Cllr Lynn Lindsay for the work she personally had put into submitting the application with the assistance of council staff and members. But she said it was sad that embracing social media through the council's website and social media resulted in so many negative comments. "We would like the public to realise that where they get the best information from is through their ward member, and that if we can't help we can refer them to the district or county council which may be able to."
A PILOT project in Blandford Parish Centre in the first week of the Easter holidays saw meals offered from the Community Kitchen when a cooked lunch was served, followed by a quiz, game or craft activity for families to enjoy. Rector the Rev Jonathan Triffitt said: "The purpose of the initiative, which received local sponsorship, was to provide free meals during the school holidays, primarily for low-income families, but not exclusively as we wanted anyone to join us. We served over 180 meals, and the support and momentum for this has encouraged us to consider regularly offering meals during school holiday times." Meanwhile the Blandford Foodbank is promoting a series of weekly Frugalicious cookery sessions starting in the Methodist Church Hall on Wednesday May 3 between 10.30 and 2.30pm. It will be run by Vicky Ashley for anyone - not only Foodbank users - wishing to learn how to make basic recipes for storage in the freezer for future use.
Flying the flag THE Commonwealth flag flew for the third time from Blandford Corn Exchange on March 13 as part of 'Fly the Flag for the Commonwealth Day', which was celebrated world-wide by hundreds of councils and groups. The Mayor, Councillor Jackie Stayt, read the message from the General Secretary and the Commonwealth Affirmation prior to the flag raising and playing of the Commonwealth anthem, and members of the public joined town councillors to mark the occasion. North Dorset District Council also flew the flag throughout the day outside its headquarters at Nordon in Salisbury Road.
Another hurdle cleared for hall CHARLTON Marshall village hall trustees and committee have been given the go-ahead to complete the third and final stage of their Big Lottery Reaching Communities bid for ÂŁ500,000 towards the replacement of the hall. They have also been awarded a development grant of ÂŁ28,000 to complete site investigations, surveys and engineers and building regulations. The villagers must now complete and submit the Stage 3 application, after which it will be up to four months before the decision is known.
FARMING
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The View from the Hill by George Hosford More from George on viewfromthehill.org.uk
T
HE rape has caught us out this year, racing upwards and starting to flower before the end of March. We failed to spray it with a fungicide when we should have due to pressure of work and by the time we had caught up, it was too windy to spray. The advice was that we'd be better to wait for the next timing, mid-flower, when we target the risk from a disease, known as Sclerotinia, which flourishes on fallen petals when they stick to the damp leaves. The first timing should have been to control light leaf spot, and to provide some
Three in a row.
Like mother, like daughter. growth regulation. The season is already racing along; crops are growing fast, due to the warmer than average soil temperature coming out of winter, woodland flowers are looking fabulous, and the sprayer has been flat out applying fertiliser, fungicides, weedkillers and growth regulators to all the crops. Partway through this early spring rush, the time came to change the sprayer wheels from the wide winter set to the narrower summer season ones. We discov-
ered that we had forgotten we promised ourselves last year that we were going to repaint them, due to rust appearing through the old paint. We got stuck in, and after a lot of rubbing down, and five layers of paint on each side of all four wheels, they look like new. Changing the wheels is pretty slick, loosely modelled on a Formula One pitstop, but with only two people. A pneumatic socket gun, a fancy jack, and a wheel mover all help to get the job done swiftly. It is rare these days to find yourself working with even one other tractor in the field at the same time. We usually wait for the soil to dry a bit between each operation, so the previous machine is usually long gone before you pull in with the rollers. Recently we had the unusual event of three tractors working in the same field, plus the sprayer operating within view over the road. Unfortunately, the planets weren't quite in alignment on this occasion, and I couldn't quite catch all four in line. Calving has continued apace over the last month. We have now turned out the main bunch of cows with their calves, and just the last 12 remain indoors
May 2017 waiting to calve. The young stock have also been let out from their Websley winter quarters, as there is already plenty of grass for them to get stuck into. The mucking-out team are already chasing around with forklift and trailers, getting the sheds mucked out while we have some extra labour about in the holidays. The lovely sunny weather over the last couple of weeks has brought spring in with a rush, and masses of wildflowers, especially in the woodlands. On warm afternoons butterflies are active, flitting from flower to flower. It is early for butterflies, so perhaps a long warm summer is ahead of us? Either that or they know they need to get going early because it will be quite the opposite. A bit of a nature ramble one Sunday afternoon revealed several natural wonders. A hovering bee, feeding from dandelion flowers, turned out to be a Bee Fly, Bombylius major, for the entomologists (see video on Viewfromthehill website). Woodlice and centipedes were found lurking under the flaky bark of a rotting fallen tree, and a tractor cab was discovered going back to nature!
A tractor cab goes back to nature.
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May 2017
Celebration of success for the Remembering Tree A TRIAL project to support those in the community suffering memory loss reached a triumphant conclusion at the Blandford Community Centre in Heddington Drive when those involved in the Remembering Tree Café gathered to celebrate its success. It was created by a team from two Blandford organisations, Skills & Learning and the Tricuro Community Centre, to offer new ways of communicating memories and engaging people with memory loss. "Two slightly different approaches were linked by the same passion for creating something that made a difference to people, and everyone who took part in this project agreed that this Café certainly did," said Dorota Toon, Tricuro's deputy manager. "The six weeks spent together brought companionship and achievement to everyone." Memory loss is a tremendous challenge and possibly one of the biggest challenges any relationships can endure, and the unique project aimed to look at these challenges in a different light. "The Café sessions offered specific activities to people with memory loss and, simultaneously, support to their carers, helping them to feel stronger to face challenges and have more insight to understand them. "Through art, and its multifaceted ways of expression, the carers and their loved ones were able to create new memories together, find support and communicate with one another in a different way, and the vari-
Above: Mayor of Blandford Cllr Jackie Stayt with participants and their giant painting. Right: The Remembering Tree. ous incredible examples became the leaves on their Remembering Tree," said Ms Toon. "The project participants also created an impressive abstract painting in the Jackson Pollock style which became a demonstration of the friendship and sense of community that grew among them." The event received great interest and support in the local community as well as across the county. Mayor of Blandford, Cllr Jackie Stayt, who together with her escort Cllr John Stayt, joined the participants and organisers for the project's grand finale, said she hoped this first project would not be the last, and that the Remembering Tree Café would continue to support all current and future participants. It resumed on Friday April 28 and will continue every second Friday of the month between 10am and 12 noon.
Lions launch bake-off BLANDFORD & District Lions are holding their 'Blandford Bakeoff' in support of their defibrillator appeal on Saturday May 27 at the Blandford Royal British Legion from 2pm to 5pm. Several classes are available for men, women and children, with book token prizes for winner and runner-up in each category and a trophy for the overall winning baker. Classes open to all are for Victoria sponge, lemon drizzle, chocolate sponge and decorated cake and for the savoury class of flan, quiche, 5 sausage rolls, 4 cheese scones. Men only can enter with Victoria sandwich, lemon drizzle classes and children under 16 can enter 6 cup cakes, 4 ginger biscuits and 4 chocolate brownies. There is also a gluten-free class for the baker's own choice. Entry forms are available from the Blandford Town Council Office, or from Tony Ives by email to tonyandrosieives@yahoo.co.uk.
Pimperne shop cuts services PIMPERNE shop and post office has reduced its trading hours in response to falling custom. Sunday trading ceased some time ago, and as of April 3, the hours were reduced by owners Peter and Fiona Everitt to coincide with those of the Post Office - Monday to Friday from 9am to 5.30pm, and Saturdays from 9am to 4pm, and newspapers are no longer saved for customers. In a message to customers, Fiona said: "I am sure you are aware that the shop has been struggling for some time, mainly due to the loss of some customers that have either sadly passed away or moved. "Peter and I are endeavouring to keep both sides of the business going, but we are having to make some changes as we have now both had to take jobs to subsidise it. We hope we can keep the shop trading but we do need your support."
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May 2017
Permanent memorial to an historic railway
Marilyn Peddle at her exhibition in Child Okeford.
Marilyn’s picture show BLANDFORD Forum Camera Club's 61st annual exhibition will be held in the Corn Exchange in Blandford on Saturday May 27 and Sunday May 28. It will be open from 9am to 5pm with free admission, a raffle and refreshments. There was a chance to see some of the work of one of its members, Marilyn Peddle, at her 'retrospective' exhibition staged in her local village hall at Child Okeford where she exhibited a wide range of photographs taken since 2012. "I had all these pictures stored away at home and people kept saying I should hold an exhibition and offer them for sale. I'm just coming up to my 64th birthday and becoming a pensioner, so it seemed like a good time to do it. "The oldest date back to 2012 when I went on a taxi ride round London at night with some other photographers, but most are taken around Dorset." A raffle and stall raised £150 for the charity Pound Puppy Animal Rescue. "I recently adopted a rescue dog from them whose name is Tilly and is gorgeous!" she said.
A PERMANENT memorial to the Somerset & Dorset Railway has been installed at the entrance to the North Dorset Trailway in Station Court and at the Wimborne Road/Damory Court Street junction as part of a project by the Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust commemorating the 50th anniversary of the railway's closure in March 1966. The Trust secured Heritage Lottery funding towards its commemorative events and information boards along the route of the railway, and negotiations with Blandford Town Council town clerk Linda Scott-Giles resulted in the scheme being drawn up for the two boards, with match funding from the town council and the S&D Trust. The boards have been profes-
sionally designed using text from Jonathan Edwards and images supplied by the Trust and others, including the Blandford Railway Club, and were erected in April. Godfrey Baker, chairman of the S&D Railway Trust, said: "It gives us all great pleasure within the Trust to see a lasting legacy of the S&D 50 project. One of the objects of the Trust is to advance the education of the public about the history and social and economic impact of the Somerset & Dorset Railway on local communities. I believe these information panels fulfil that commitment very well." A further information panel has been installed at Burnham-onSea in a similar partnership project, and a fourth is planned at the former Charlton Marshall halt.
The board where the viaduct used to cross the Wimborne Road.
Dolphin future in doubt AFTER several months of uncertainty, a new tenant is being sought for the Dolphin pub in East Street, Blandford, following the decision of the tenants to cease trading. Tracey Norman and her partner Ben, who took over the pub 14 months ago, held a leaving party at the end of March, but after closing for a couple of days, reopened saying that they had been told by Enterprise Inns that they had to give six months' notice. They reported on social media that they had taken on the pub in good faith on the understanding that repairs costing thousands of pounds were not their responsibility, and had put their heart and souls into it with great support from locals. When they withheld the rent because the accommodation was uninhabitable, the pub chain, to which they were tied, refused to supply them with beer. Tracey said: "We understood they were going to repossess, but after we had held our leaving party on April 1 and moved out our furniture, we were told by Enterprise we had to give six months' notice and trade because we were still liable for the rent and bills, so we are now in legal dispute with them." Trading is continuing, at irregular hours, despite Enterprise stating on April 10 that the couple had ceased trading and the pub was closed. A spokesman said: "We would like to reassure the community that we aim to reopen this site as soon as possible."
May 2017
Action-packed show in a classic tale THE stage of Blandford Corn Exchange was packed with activity on the river bank, in the wild wood, in the magistrates' court and Toad Hall when Forum Drama, Blandford's community theatre, brought together a full cast of young and old in Wind in the Willows. The dramatisation by Alan Bennett of the Kenneth Grahame children's classic called for a remarkable series of set changes which kept the scene shifters busy throughout, and introduced some very talented youngsters in the roles of river bankers and wild-wooders, with rabbits, mice, hedgehogs, squirrels, otters, a fox, ferrets, stoats and weasels. Directed by Joyce Carter, with costumes co-ordinated by Beatrice Hunt and a production team and set builders led by Mike Lofthouse, Sam James and Gerry Chapman, it featured an ingenious system of wheeled sets and vehicles, including a rowing boat, houseboat, horse-
drawn caravan, car and barge. As the incomparable Mr Toad (Sam James) lived through his infamous crazes and adventures, despite the best endeavours of his friends Mole (Mark Hume), Ratty (Christopher Sharpe) and Badger (Simone Walls-McDonald), the rest of the two dozen cast played a multitude of roles. There were some delightful cameos from Tony Owen as the magistrate, Liz Rawlings as the bargewoman, Sheila Chapman as the washerwoman, Deborah Seeley as the chief weasel and Mike Lofthouse as the horse, Albert. Forum Drama's next production, back by popular demand, is Blackadder at Durweston village hall on Saturday July 1. There will be an afternoon and evening performance of three further adventures from the television series, produced with the exclusive permission of Ben Elton and Comic Relief to be recorded as for radio before a live audience.
A dramatic challenge A DEATH in the family, dysfunctional relationships between siblings, bad language and the smoking of pot - and oodles of comedy. SNADS - Sturminster Newton Amateur Dramatics Society - are presenting The Memory of Water, a thoroughly modern and challenging play, by Shelagh Stephenson and directed by Linda Cowley. The six members of the cast, Tania White, Alison Mash, Jenny Young, Vanessa Dawson, Bill Peat, and Robert Cowley, have certainly had a lot of fun in rehearsals. Written by Stephenson in 1996 it transferred to the West End where it won an Olivier Award for Best Comedy in 2000. The play centres on three sisters who meet on the eve of their mother's funeral. Heart-warming, troubling, sad and funny, this play contains some strong language and adult content. The Memory of Water is on at The Exchange on May 18, 19 and 20 at 7.30pm.
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Above: Toad meets his come-uppance in the magistrates court. Below: Albert the horse with Ratty, Toad and Mole.
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May 2017
Three worthy winners THREE students from The Blandford School - Alice Youngson, Phoebe Stanley and Chloe Pike - were nominated by their teachers for their leading part in the school's prestigious National Young Enterprise Project for this year's Roger Bignold Award. The award was introduced in memory of a much-loved local businessman and member of the Blandford Stour Rotary. Carl Conlon, Blandford Stour's President, said: "It is always an
honour to present this particular award and this year's winners are more than worthy to receive it. Our thanks again go to The Blandford School and in particular to Fiona Mackay for her assistance." The Young Enterprise project is designed to bring out the best in understanding and implementation of business strategies and objectives, preparing students for individual achievements in the commercial world after education.
Strong start for triathletes NORTH Dorset Tri club members were out in force for the first of many local triathlon competitions. Twelve members and many supporters from the club were up early to attend the Bustinskin Osprey Sprint Triathlon in Portland. The race consisted of a 300m pool swim, followed by a 17km bike ride up to the Bill and back, then a 5km run along Hamm beach to the ferry bridge and back. A total of 261 triathletes competed. North Dorset Tri's first competitor in was Antony Aspden, who came ninth overall. North Dorset Tri club meet for weekly swim, bike and run sessions based at Blandford Leisure Centre. For more information please visit northdorsettri.org.uk or find them on Facebook.
Choral concert delights church audience ON a sunny spring evening the music of hope rose serenely in Blandford Parish Church. Blandford Choral Society were joined by the Weatherbury Singers to perform Faure's Cantique de Jean Racine and Faure's Requiem, which was followed in baroque style of Pergolesi's Magnificat. The flamboyant style was enhanced by alto and tenor contributions and the resonance of the baritone soloist. The concert
was enjoyed by a large audience. On the afternoon of June 24 Blandford Choral Society will perform Music for a Summer Afternoon with tea at various venues in Blandford. Singers are invited to join the group in this short performance for which there are three rehearsals - May 22, June 5 and June 19 at Blandford St Mary Primary School. For details call 07484 737687.
Pictured (from left): Alice Youngson, David Rose (Blandford Stour Rotary), Phoebe Stanley, Fiona Mackay, Chloe Pike and Carl Conlon (Blandford Stour Rotary President).
A star performance THERE has been another fantastic set of results from the students at the Performing Arts Theatre Academy after Musical Theatre and Drama LAMDA examinations and ABRSM singing examinations. Fourteen students attended their exams in March and all have passed with high marks. Principal Rebecca Hollands said: "We are exceptionally proud of all our students who took examinations and the results have shown just how hard they have all worked." The Academy will be performing at the Georgian Fayre on May 1.
www.forumfocus.co.uk
SCHOOLS
May 2017
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Jake’s musical workshop A MUSIC producer and songwriter returned to his old school to share his knowledge with some of the area's most talented young musicians. Jake Gosling, a Brit and Grammy Award nominated producer/songwriter best known for his work with artists including Ed Sheeran, One Direction and Paloma Faith, attended Bryanston School in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He returned to hold a workshop for a small selection of aspiring singer-songwriters from The Blandford School, Queen Elizabeth's School Wimborne, Sturminster Newton High School
and Bryanston. All benefited from one-to-one time with Jake in Bryanston's recording studio, receiving invaluable, constructive feedback on structuring and shaping their song for today's pop industry, and learned from Jake about his journey into the music world. Lucy Bowerman-Ellis, head of performing and creative arts at The Blandford School, said: "The experience is something the pupils, Frankie Yeatman and Bill Moulton, will remember forever and no doubt have a huge impact on their progression into the music industry."
Fencing trial at Milldown Durweston School's Starfish class (Reception and year 1) investigated local birdlife thanks to a class set of binoculars loaned by the RSPB, and went on a walk in the fields and lanes near the school looking for birds. They listened as well as looked and learned how to identify great tits and chiffchaffs by their song.
Oscar thrill for Nina WHEN several pupils at Milldown Primary School expressed an interest in trialling a fencing club, the school was able, with the assistance of sports coaches from Premier Sports, to run the club with 20 places available to pupils in Years 3-6. A spokesman said: "The school wanted to continue the Olympic legacy that was started from London 2012 and provide an enrichment opportunity for its pupils. All involved in the club thoroughly enjoyed the sessions and we hope to run further sessions in the future." CLAYESMORE Prep School's Chamber Music ensemble has been judged one of the Chamber Champions in the Pro Corda finals. Year 7 pupils Lily (trumpet), Louise (clarinet), Edward (clarinet), Hope (piano) and Matilda (drums), competed against 26 ensembles from 15 schools, and was one of only five prep school age ensembles. The prestigious Pro Corda National Chamber Music Competition provides a platform for celebrating the extraordinary talent and dedication to chamber music from schools and centres across the UK.
AND the Academy Award goes to . . an Old Clayesmorian! Nina Williams, who grew up in Iwerne Minster and attended both Prep and Senior Schools at Clayesmore between 2000 and 2009, is holding the Oscar for Best Visual Effects, won this year for its work on The Jungle Book by the Moving Picture Company (MPC) which she works for. After leaving Clayesmore, Nina read computer science and maths at Oxford Brookes and then went on to do a Masters in advanced computing with creative technology at Bristol University. She has since been working as a software developer for MPC in London, and has been involved
with various projects, including Ghostbusters and the latest Pirates of the Caribbean film, as well as the Oscar-winning remake of the famous Rudyard Kipling story.
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CHILDREN from Durweston school were delighted to return home victorious after taking part in a tennis tournament organised by their tennis coach, Simon Kevern. Mixed teams from several of the local schools that Simon works with took part. The children have just one question: is this the tiniest trophy ever?
Fashion for funds A CHOICE of fashion shows with Travelling Trends is available this month to help local schools raise funds. The first, on Thursday May 4 in the Sealy Suite of The Crown Hotel, Blandford, is in support of the Panda Pre-School at Milldown Primary. Doors open at 7pm and tickets must be bought in advance by calling 01258 458151 or emailing pandapreschool@hotmail.co.uk The second, starting at 7pm on Friday May 19 at Durweston village hall, is in support of Durweston Primary School's Forest Schools Project. High street brands will be available to buy. Tickets must be bought in advance by phoning the school on 01258 452277 or Della Nicholson on 07979 979597.
May 2017
New head chosen for Knighton House THE head of Beeston Hall in Norfolk, Robin Gainher (pictured right), has been appointed as the first headmaster since 1999 at Knighton House School and will take over from Sarah Wicks this summer ready for the autumn term. Robin, educated at the LSE and at King's Bruton in Somerset, has successfully led Beeston Hall for seven years, during which time he enriched the life of the school while transforming academic attainment across scholarships and Common Entrance. Before Beeston he was deputy head and director of studies at Cranleigh in Surrey. He will be joined at Knighton by his wife Ali, who has experience of both the administrative and pastoral sides of prep school life. They have three daughters, Natasha (20) Abigail (18) and Madeleine (15). Knighton's chair of governors Camilla Masters said: "The board of governors is unanimous that Robin is the best choice for the role. He brings a raft of new ideas and initiatives to ensure
that all Knightonians will continue to enjoy a unique and very special foundation to their education." Mr Gainher said: "Ali and I are absolutely delighted to be taking over at Knighton House and I am thrilled to be appointed as Knighton's tenth Head. I am confident that we will help build on the successful leadership of the present Head and take the school forward into the next new and exciting chapter of its history."
SCHOOLS
May 2017
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Easter lessons at Cathedral CHILDREN from Durweston School's Porpoises class (years 5 & 6) visited Salisbury Cathedral to experience a day of drama, discussion and art exploring ideas about Easter. The children were truly gripped by a range of activities, which included meeting someone in the role of Peter after the Crucifixion, and they were entranced by the scale of the building. The school would like to take each of the classes to similar days at the cathedral and have applied to the Bishop Wordsworth Trust for a grant to cover the costs.
Amelia’s sign of success CHILDREN from Blandford St Mary Primary School were excited to receive a certificate and prize vouchers at an award ceremony during a recent assembly. First prize went to Amelia, with runners-up Kayleigh, Grace and Abi, for their participation in producing a pictorial road sign for the village. The awards were presented by parish councillors Malcolm Albery and John Stayt, accompanied by Parish Clerk Nicola Phillips. Council Chairman Malcolm Albery said: "We were delighted with the children's enthusiastic response to the competition and thank all those involved. We are hoping to make this just the beginning of a closer co-operation with the school in particular and Blandford St Mary residents in the near future."
Above: Durweston pupils enjoy a bit of impromptu exercise in their lunch break during their visit to Salisbury Cathedral. Left: Getting down to some work based on some of what they learnt during their visit.
Childcare available
Above (from left): Blandford St Mary parish councillor John Stayt, clerk Nicola Phillips and chairman Malcolm Albery, with the prizewinners. Right: The winning design.
THE Orchard Nursery and Preprep at Knighton House in Durweston is offering eligible parents of three- and fouryear-olds 30 hours of free childcare per week, an increase of 15 hours per week. The pre-prep is also part of National Tax Free Childcare scheme, another government scheme to help parents pay for childcare. Deputy head Heather Nye said: "We are pleased to extend the free childcare provision in The Orchard. This means that working parents can take advantage of this for a fantastic start to their children's education." For further information, call 01258 452065.
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Pictured (from left): Antonia Weight, Kerry James (manager) and Claire Scott (deputy manager).
Pre-school outstanding THE Oak Tree, Bright Sparks pre-school, at Okeford Fitzpaine, is celebrating being rated 'outstanding' in all areas in an Ofsted inspection earlier this year. The report stated: "Children make excellent progress from the start. Staff use their observations extremely well to make very precise assessments of their learning. The manager's highly effective monitoring of the learning programme quickly identifies any gaps for individuals or groups of children." It praised the exciting and stimulating outdoor spaces that inspired children's imagination, the children's excellent behaviour and very high self-esteem, communication between staff and parents and other professionals to provide a consistent approach to learning. Spaces are available in September and further information available on 01258 860023.
May 2017
Textile students with designs on success STUDENTS from The Blandford School were finalists in 'Project Fresh Face', a competition run by the clothing company FatFace in partnership with Hampshire Cricket in the Community. The project was launched at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton, in January when 150 pupils from six schools in the south entered the competition. Following a series of rounds including FatFace visiting all schools, The Blandford School got through to the semi-final, which involved a group of students presenting to a panel of judges. Students Erin, Bertie, Willow and Kiana of Year 9 got through to the final following an outstanding presentation of their design ideas and marketing inspiration. They went on to compete against three other teams in the final and presented their designs and marketing plan to FatFace management at their headquarters in Havant at the end of March. Blandford, one of the runners-up, was offered a limited run of either adult or junior garments.
The design by the winners, Wildern School (Hedge End) will be produced by FatFace and sold in their stores. Ali Marsh, deputy head of design & technology at The Blandford School, said: "The FatFace Project has been a fantastic experience for all our textiles students and such a rare opportunity that couldn't be missed. "The group has worked so hard as a team showing entrepreneurial spirit. I am so proud they managed to get through to the final despite strong competition. They are a credit to the school and themselves. Their presentation to the judges was inspirational." • Tickets are now on sale for Stephen Sondheim's 'Into the Woods' which is this year's production from TBS Productions at The Blandford School. There will be four performances on stage at the Tivoli Theatre in Wimborne on July 18-20 at 7pm, with a matinee on July 19 at 1pm. Bookings can be made on the Tivoli Theatre website, or by calling 01202 885566.
SPORT
May 2017
Sports unite to support cricket club race night SPORTS organisations came together to support Blandford Cricket Club when it held a race night at Bryanston Club on Grand National day, April 8, to raise funds towards the new cricket pavilion being planned at their Park Road ground. Cricketers were joined by members of Blandford Rugby Football Club, Blandford United Football Club and Okeford Football Club at the event, which was sponsored by Patrick Hurst Carpentry & Building. Barclays Bank had pledged to match the amount raised. The hall was packed with punters and representatives of many local companies which had sponsored the individual races. The total raised, with Barclays backing, was £2,611. The club is fundraising to replace the white pavilion that dominates the skyline at their ground but has been declared uneconomical to repair. In partnership with Blandford Forum Town Council, which is responsible for the Park Road recreation ground, the club is seeking planning permission for a new purpose-built pavilion which will cost around £250,000. Part-funding has already been secured through contributions from housing developers towards sport in the town. The club is hopeful of a grant
Event organisers Linsey Gillingham of Blandford RFC, Frank Webber of Blandford UFC, Martin Webber of Okeford FC, main sponsor Patrick Hurst and Stuart Robbins of Blandford Cricket Club at the Cricket Club's race night. from Sport England to provide 21st century facilities for its thriving adult and junior sections, which have two teams playing Saturday cricket, two on Sunday and one in the midweek evening league, together with teams in the U9s, U11s, U13s and U15s and others attending Friday night training. Blandford was one of the first cricket clubs in the county to obtain English Cricket Board Clubmark accreditation, and has now signed up to the new ECB
Scramble starts the season
DESPITE the fog and a somewhat delayed start, the first mixed competition of the season at Ashley Wood Golf Club saw 24 seniors and ladies taking part in a Texas Scramble. This annual fun event was played in good spirits and the winners with a splendid score of 66.1 were Audrey Skivington, Tony Foort, Valerie Williams and John Phillips, seen receiving their prizes from their respective Captains. • Pictured (left to right) are Lady Captain Ann Morris, Tony Foort, Audrey Skivington, Valerie Williams, Senior Captain Bob Clark and John Phillips.
initiative of 'All Star Cricket' to encourage youngsters into cricket, and received funding for a project to introduce more girls. Head youth coach Stu Robbins said: "We will be going into schools during the summer to support this initiative." To help with the club or donate to the project contact chairman Ian Milne (ian-milne@sky.com), club secretary Tom Snape (tom.snape@which.net) or localgiving.org/charity/blandford-cricket-club.
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EIGHT-year-old William Yorukoglu (above), who has been involved in much charity fundraising since his family held a jumble sale and raffle for the Spires Cleft Centre at Salisbury Hospital after he was treated there for the condition when he was a baby, turned his attention to Marie Curie when he completed a swim challenge at Blandford Leisure Centre. He raised £150 by swimming 1.5km (60 lengths) in an hour, and has thanked everyone who sponsored him in the event. William's mum Helen said: "We have done other charity things, for the Air Ambulance and Help for Heroes. William saw a leaflet at the leisure centre and said he would like to do it, as it was a way of swimming and raising money for charity at the same time." It's not too late to offer more sponsorship, which can be done by contacting Helen by email to helen_yorukoglu@hotmail.com.
Bowlers to open up AN opportunity to try out lawn bowls is being offered by Blandford Bowling Club at its open day on Saturday, May 6, between 10am and 4pm. They say lawn bowls is a great sport for everyone of all ages and all abilities, and they are offering the chance to those who have never bowled before to find out about the playing and social aspects of the club in Park Road, next to the recreation ground and Blandford Community Hospital. You will not need any special equipment and there will be coaches on hand to show you the ropes. Secretary Kevin Donaldson said: "Most people think that bowls is an old person's sport. It
is certainly ideal for mature people because most physically able people can compete at their own level. It also provides exercise, a social dimension and winter indoor activities at low cost." The club opened for the summer season on April 15 when the Mayor of Blandford was invited to bowl the opening wood, and there was an internal friendly game and buffet. The club also has a thriving junior section, which was holding an open day to attract potential new recruits on April 29. For more information contact Mr Donaldson on 01258 451375, by email to kevindjdonaldson@hotmail.co.uk, or see blandfordbowlingclub.com.
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May 2017
Forum Focus - forthcoming meetings & events Monday May 1: Blandford Georgian Fayre, 10am to 5pm Blandford Food and Beer Festival, Crown Hotel, 10am to 3pm Tuesday May 2: Blandford Macular Support Group meeting, Parish Centre (every 1st Tuesday) 2pm to 4pm, new members welcome with a friend, details 01747 811191 Wednesday May 3: First of fiveweek Frugalicious cookery course, Methodist church hall, Blandford, 10.30am to 2.30pm Thursday May 4: Travelling Trends fashion show in aid of Panda Pre-school, Sealy Suite, Crown Hotel, Blandford, doors open 7pm, tickets £6 from Panda Pre-school, or 01258 458151 or pandapreschool@hotmail.co.uk Friday May 5: Vintage Fair, Corn Exchange, Blandford, 9.30am to 3.30pm, £1 entry, refreshments available, details 01308 482406 Dorset Rural Music School's Dorset Island Discs, Dr Richard Hall interviews Roderick Kennedy from Dorset Opera about his life and favourite music choices, Durweston village hall, 7.30pm, tickets £12.50 (incl refreshments) Saturday May 6: Big Blandford Clean-up, 9.45am to noon, details cleanupblandford@hotmail.com Blandford Bowls Club Open Day, 10am to 4pm Coffee morning with plant sale (bring plants to sell, donation in lieu of table fee), Shillingstone Church Centre, 10.30am to noon Coffee morning with cakes, books, cards & more, Child Okeford village hall, 10.30am to noon, Jumble sale, Okeford Fitzpaine village hall in aid of hall funds, 2pm, refreshments and tombola Jazz American supper with Sunny Side of Swing band, Shroton village hall, 7.30pm Sunday May 7: Durweston Country Fair, maypole dancing and display by Royal Signals White Helmets, dog show, stalls, noon to 4pm Fun dog show, Winterborne Stickland village green, 11 classes from 2pm, £1 entry per class on the day, agility demonstration, refreshments Book launch with Stephen Deutsch, author of Zweck, Beatons, Blandford, 4.30pm, tickets from Beatons Monday May 8: Blandford Floral Group demonstration by Jo Richards, What Inspires, United Reformed church hall, 2pm Visually impaired readers' group, Blandford Library (every 2nd Monday) 2pm to 4pm, all welcome, details 01747 811191 Blandford Forum Railway Club talk by Colin Divall, Scout HQ, Eagle
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 events@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. House Gardens, bring a train to run on test track, £2 incl refreshments, parking, 7.30pm to 9.30pm Tuesday May 9: Blandford Forum & District Stamp Club monthly meeting, Woodhouse Gardens pavilion, 7.30pm, details 01258 471422 Wednesday May 10: NHS Retirement Fellowship Blandford Branch, talk by Jake Moore, Dorset Police cyber-crime prevention officer, Committee Room, Blandford Hospital, 10.15am-noon, details Liz Malin on 01929 472441 Frugalicious cookery course (2nd of 5), Methodist church hall, Blandford, 10.30am to 2.30pm Film Night, The Girl on the Train, Charlton Marshall village hall, 7.15pm for 7.30pm start, tickets £5.50, details 01258 488431 Thursday May 11: Talk by 'Student Curators' on their recent experiences at the museum, Blandford Museum, 7pm for 7.30pm Friday May 12: Blandford Farmers Market, Market Place (every 2nd Friday) Mayor making ceremony, Corn Exchange, Blandford, 11am, refreshments, meet councillors, officers, organisations, view town's collection of silver Swinging '60s and Groovy '70s night, Crown Hotel, Blandford, 7.30pm-midnight Wessex Acoustic Folk, Mike O'Connor and Barbara Griggs, Royal British Legion, Blandford, 8.15pm Live music with Dan Baker and his one-man band. White Horse, Stourpaine, 9pm Saturday May 13: Dawn chorus walk, meet Bere Marsh Farm near Child Okeford, 4.45am for 5am start, £12 (incl farmhouse breakfast), booking essential via Anna Aubrey on 07970 903679 Holy Moly & The Crackers, Artsreach promotion, Sturminster Marshall Memorial Hall, 7.30pm, details 01258 857447 Saturday May 13 and Sunday May 14: White Horse Inn, Stourpaine, 'Steam Up' with big engines arriving between noon and 1pm Saturday, live music with Jack & A Box from 9pm, Steam Up continues Sunday Tuesday May16: Child Okeford Flower Arranging Club demonstration by Julia Harrison, 'I'm in the mood for', Child Okeford village hall, 2.15pm, details 01258 863775
Wednesday May 17: Frugalicious cookery course (3rd of 5), Methodist church hall, Blandford, 10.30am to 2.30pm Talk on Living Well and Pete's 60th birthday celebrations, Blandford Carers, Durweston village hall, 2pm Talk by maze designer Adrian Fisher after visit to his maze at Durweston, The Valley Garden Club, Pamela Hambro Hall, Winterborne Stickland, members free, non-members £2, 7.30pm Thursday May 18: Talk by Dr Dennis Wardleworth on Alfred Stevens, Blandford sculptor and artist 1815-1875, Blandford Art Society, Pimperne village hall, non-members welcome (£4), 2pm, blandfordartsociety.weebly.com Blandford Archaeology Group talk by Mike Allen, environmental archaeologist, on the Bronze Age Wilsford Shaft, and other Bronze Age shafts, Blandford Museum, 7.30pm, details 01258 452831 Kings Fat Thursday Jazz Night, Kings Arms, Blandford (every 3rd Thursday), 8pm Friday May 19: Fashion show for Durweston Primary School, Durweston village hall, tickets £10 incl. drink, nibbles and raffle, 7pm, details 01258 452277 Friday May 19 to Monday May 22: The Matchstick Fleet on display, Corn Exchange, Blandford, Fri noon to 4pm, Sat/Sun 10am to 4pm, Mon 10am to 1pm Saturday May 20: Dawn chorus walk, meet Bere Marsh Farm near Child Okeford, 4.45am for 5am start, £12 (incl farmhouse breakfast), booking essential via Anna Aubrey on 07970 903679 Car boot and table-top sale, Our Lady of Lourdes and St Cecilia's RC Church, Whitecliff Mill Street, Blandford, 10am to 1pm, £5 per space, refreshments, details 07831 614478 Cats Protection coffee morning and stalls, Woodhouse Gardens Pavilion, Blandford, 10am to 12.30pm Coffee morning, St. Nicholas Church, Child Okeford, 10.30am to noon Guided heritage walk with Dorset Buildings Group, 2pm, details 01258 459346 Dorset Rural Music School classical concert, Blandford parish church, free entry, collection for DRMS and Cupola Fund, 6pm An amble through Okeford's history, illustrated talk by Susie and
Robin Clay based on Bernard Trowbridge's memories, St. Nicholas Church, Child Okeford, 7pm, tickets £5 incl wine and light refreshments, details from Susie on 01258 861063 Saturday May 20 and Sunday May 21: Free Expression Arts Festival, Blandford Sunday May 21: Hammoon's Rogation Sunday walk, pray and eat, meet at the church at 10.30am, bring food for shared lunch, details from Georgina on 01258 860910 Wednesday May 24: Frugalicious cookery course (4th of 5), Methodist church hall, Blandford, 10.30am to 2.30pm Blandford Museum AGM at Masonic Hall, West Street, followed by tour and talk on Freemasons in Blandford, 7pm for 7.30pm Thursday May 25: Blandford and District Horticultural Society monthly meeting with speaker David Hiscox on Songbird Aquilegias, plus plant sale, Blandford United Reformed Church hall, 7.30pm, all welcome Friday May 26: Craft market in The Shambles, Blandford Corn Exchange, 9am to 2pm Blandford & District Civic Society afternoon tour of St Giles House with the Earl of Shaftesbury, details 01258 459346 Blandford Museum's Last Friday in the month social in museum garden, from 6pm Julia's House quiz night for teams of up to six, British Legion, Blandford, £5 to include buffet supper, 7.30pm Film night, La La Land (12A), Child Okeford village hall, 7.30pm, booking 01258 860518 Friday May 26 to Sunday May 28: Badbury Rings Rewind Festival Saturday May 27 and Sunday May 28: Blandford Forum Camera Club 61st annual exhibition, Corn Exchange, 9am to 5pm Sunday May 28: Woodpecker Cider Fest, Spetisbury, with food and music by local band The Replicas, noon until late Monday May 29: Photography courses with Edward Parker, £25 each, booking essential, Garden and Landscape 10am to 1pm, People and Portraits 2pm to 5pm, plus open garden with stalls, 10am to 5pm, café, £3.50/Friends and U16 free, details 01747 811853 or springheadtrust.org.uk Tuesday May 30: Talk for Resurgence Dorset on Climate Change - the Tipping Point, by Robin Miller, Blandford Museum, Beres Yard, free entry (donations), refreshments, free parking by museum, details from Pam on 01258 818223 or meetup.com/Resurgence-Dorset