June 2017 Forum Focus

FORUM FOCUS For Blandford and surrounding villages Issue No. 63

Meet the new Mayor: Page 3

June 2017

‘We’re getting there’ pledge from troubled school A LOCAL school, judged 'inadequate' by Ofsted in a recent inspection, has reassured parents and the community that many of the shortcomings had already been identified by the new headteacher and governing body, and that action was in place to deal with them.

Blandford St Mary Primary School in Birch Avenue was visited by Ofsted inspectors in March, and their report, published last month, is highly critical of almost all aspects of its effectiveness, describing them as inadequate and requiring improvement in others.

But they noted that the school's new headteacher Daniel Carter, appointed in late 2016, was effective and knew what needed to be done to secure improvements in teaching and learning.

They found that the quality of teaching in Years 2 and 6 was starting to raise standards in reading, writing and mathematics in those year groups.

But subject leadership was ineffective, teachers' weak subject knowledge limited the pupils' development in literacy, work was not tailored effectively or effectively checked, and the governors had failed to hold leaders to account.

The inspectors concluded that those responsible for running the school had not responded well to significant changes in personnel

in terms of both staffing and recruitment to the governing body.

The school, which at its last Ofsted inspection in 2013 was judged as 'good' overall and 'outstanding' for pupil behaviour and safety, converted to academy status in July 2014, and works with two other partner schools in the Blandford Education Trust.

In a statement, the Trust said: "The headteacher, staff and governing body, supported by the CEO of the Trust, Jo Hicks, have spent the weeks since the inspection reviewing all aspects of the Blandford St Mary operation, working in detail on the findings and constructing a positive way forward.

"There is every confidence that the Ofsted grade will be improved in the shortest time possible.

With the drive of staff, governors and trustees of Blandford Education Trust, and the support of parents, it will be achieved."

Chair of trustees Dan Roberts said one of the advantages of the Trust was that they could call on expertise and support from partner schools, Archbishop Wake and Spetisbury primaries, who earlier in March had their first Ofsted inspections since their conversion to academy status which found progress continued to be good.

"The recommendations in the • To Page 2

Smile, please! Rachel Brownbridge and Gary Sollis get into the spirit of the occasion at Blandford Georgian Fayre. Despite the forecasts, the weather was kind but there are worries about the soaring costs of staging the annual extravaganza. Report & more pictures: Pages 8-10.

FORUM FOCUS: Your FREE monthly community newspaper

Election time: just when we thought it was all over, along comes another one!

General Election line-up: Pages 4-5.

Council results: Page 6 www.forumfocus.co.uk

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June 2017

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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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We’re learning the lessons, promises ‘inadequate’ school • From Page 1 report are a valuable tool to guide the trustees, governors and staff in the months ahead," he said.

Chair of governors at Blandford St Mary, Trevor Keep, said: "The schools and governing body have had a turbulent couple of years with many changes and knew that this Ofsted Inspection would be a tough review.

"We will accelerate the improvement work in hand and are confident that we will see some firm evidence of this when the current Year 6 SATs results are published in early July."

• Milldown C of E VC Primary was also found to still require improvement in all areas in a report published in February which followed a similar judge-

Inadequate: Blandford St Mary Primary School. ment in 2014.

But leaders and the new headteacher were said to be working on the right priorities for improvement and had good understanding of the school's strengths and weaknesses, with a vision which was shared by governors and had parental support.

Full details of the latest reports on all local schools can be found on the Ofsted website.

• Dunbury Church of England Academy, a member of the Diocese of Salisbury Academy Trust, is celebrating a recent 'good' rating in all areas in both Ofsted and SIAMS inspections.

Their Ofsted report highlights improving outcomes, teaching and performance management.

The school has announced that it is extremely proud of the split-site village school and feel that the future looks very exciting.

In addition, the school was successful in securing grant funding from the Bishop Wordsworth Education Trust, which has been used to fully refurbish an area of their Winterborne Whitechurch site, creating an exciting learning environment for all of the children to enjoy. The launch of the new classroom and learning space, called the 'Learning Hub', took place on May 26.

NOMINATIONS are being invited by Volunteering Dorset for this year's Volunteer Awards evening which will take place on Thursday October 26 at the Dorset Centre, Bridport Road, Dorchester. The evening celebrates contributions by young volunteers, teams and groups, individuals and the private and public sector. For details email info@volunteeringdorset.org.uk or call the Volunteer Centre on 01305 269214.

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June 2017

Builder takes office as the town’s mayor COUNCILLOR Peter Clark, who was first elected to Blandford Town Council in 2011 and has served as chairman of the planning committee, has been chosen to be Mayor of Blandford for the year ahead.

He was formally elected at the traditional mayor-making ceremony in the Corn Exchange on May 12 and takes over from Councillor Jackie Stayt.

A builder by trade, Mr Clark's proposer Hugo Mieville said the qualities demanded in that role would serve him well as mayor, and his seconder, Councillor John Stayt, continuing the humorous theme, said he would do a grand job in 'cementing' relationships.

His consort will be his wife, Linda Clark, and his mayoral charities the Dementia Action Alliance and Blandford Scouts.

Mr Clark said the council would face many challenges in the year ahead, but work was starting soon on the façade of the building in which they met, and they would continue to work with North Dorset District Council on issues such as parking and the Tourist Information Centre.

At the same event, four members of the community were presented with Certificates of Appreciation in recognition of their work for various charities.

The first was presented to Dave Bealing, of Philip Road, Blandford, in recognition of his unsolicited

care for the environment, travelling around the town and particularly on to Larksmead playground on his mobility scooter, with his dog, to pick up litter.

Two of the certificates were awarded to town councillors for work they have done over the years in other roles - Councillor Colin Stevens, for his chairmanship of the Blandford Opportunity Group and Georgian Fayre and his role with the Blandford charities, and Councillor Steve Hitchings, for his 30 years as a retained firefighter with the Blandford crew.

A fourth was presented to former County Councillor Barrie Cooper, recognising his 32 years of service in that role which came to an end with defeat at the county council elections on May 4.

There was also a presentation by David Jenkins and Hilary Trevorah, president and chief executive of the Dorset Association of Parish and Town Councils, of the Quality Gold award earned by the town council.

Mr Jenkins said it demonstrated that people could be proud of their town council.

Retiring Mayor Mrs Stayt thanked staff, fellow members, Mayor's Scout Maya Haines and Mayor's Chaplain the Rev Jonathan Triffitt, who will continue in that role this year, for their support, and said it had been an honour to serve.

Scaffolding in place SCAFFOLDING went up on Blandford Corn Exchange in mid-May for repairs to the front of the building and roof, and is expected to be in place for several months.

Stone masons will be carrying out repair and restorative work on the Town Hall and Shambles.

The contractors will be using the Shambles area for materials storage, a mixing area and scaffold access, and both sides will be securely cordoned off with only their staff and Town Council staff having access. A central aisle from the front gates through to the inner lobby area will be maintained to allow public access to the Corn Exchange and Town Hall.

A survey of the external condition of the building identified a number of areas requiring urgent attention to preserve the historic fabric and detailing of the façade, and to remove previous inappropriate repairs or materials such as plastic guttering and cement mortar. The survey highlighted the extent of decay to the frieze and potential for historic detailing to be lost.

There will also be repairs to the lanterns of the Shambles and the clock, which will be more expensive than originally thought after further issues were found during a pre-contract meeting with the contractors.

Blandford’s new Mayor for 2017/18, Councillor Peter Clark.

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June 2017

GENERAL ELECTION NEWS ROUND-UP

Four candidates fight for North Dorset seat FOLLOWING the county elections in May, the snap General Election called for June 8 means a continuation of the vote-seeking and canvassing on behalf of candidates for the North Dorset parliamentary seat.

Speculation mounted as to how many would challenge Conservative Simon Hoare, who was elected last time with a majority of more than 21,000.

The Lib Dems, traditionally runners-up in North Dorset but beaten into third place by UKIP in 2015, were first to announce Tom Panton as a last-minute replacement for their former prospective candidate Hugo Mieville, who decided to stand down due to personal circumstances.

He said the joint pressures of supporting his 23-year-old son,

who suffered a serious head injury in a car accident last year, plus a new full-time role at Milton Abbey School, meant that he did not feel he could fulfil the demanding role of Parliamentary candidate as well as he would like to. "The snap General Election arrived at entirely the wrong time for me personally," he said.

Party meetings resulted in the Greens, who came bottom of the poll two years ago but with an increased share of the vote, agreeing unanimously to field a candidate, John Tutton.

Blandford Forum Town Councillor Pat Osborne is standing for Labour.

UKIP's Steven Unwin, runner-up in 2015, decided not to oppose the Conservative candidate after listening to the views of party

members. He said: The vast majority of our members and supporters have made it quite clear that they wish us to allow Theresa May to gain the mandate she claims she needs to bring about a full and clean UK exit from the European Union.

"Whilst Simon Hoare, North Dorset's Conservative MP, supported remaining in the EU, he has consistently stated he will abide by the decision in the Referendum and will not frustrate the will of the majority of those of the British people who voted to

leave. Furthermore, as a junior member of Mrs May's Government, he will be expected to support her in achieving a British exit from the EU. "I will not, however, be giving him any support as I do not want to be party to legitimising any Tory backsliding from a true exit from the EU that may occur in the future. My message to Simon Hoare is, although you are all wearing UKIP clothing, we will be watching."

ALL four candidates in the forthcoming General Election have been invited to a Parliamentary Hustings in Blandford Forum Parish Church at 7pm on Monday June 5 by the Rector, the Rev Jonathan Triffitt. At the time of going to press, the date and time had not been confirmed, so keep a lookout for public notices about the event.

He said the intention was to allow each to speak for three minutes by way of introduction, and then answer written questions submitted in advance to ensure a fair balance of questions covering key areas of interest, concluding with a final three minutes for each candidate to give a summary.

John Tutton - Greens JOHN Tutton grew up in Poole and attended local schools before studying science at Bournemouth and Poole College and going on to read environmental science with the Open University.

He has spent most of his adult life as a mental health support worker, giving him the freedom and the funds to travel extensively across the globe, learning about other cultures.

With a niece and nephew growing up in Verwood, he is horrified at the damage the current government has done to the education system with endless testing, the threat of grammar schools which will only put further pressure on our young people - and the soaring costs of attending university.

A vehement supporter of the rights of others, he has supported

his local communities through different charities and projects and spent much of last year volunteering in Greece within the refugee crisis.

Policies close to his heart are preventing development on greenbelt land; a fair price for farmers' produce to lower the need for intensive agriculture; and saving the NHS - in particular, raising funds for mental health.

He said: "Since a child, I have been a keen observer of the world and have always sought to be a voice for the vulnerable. It has saddened me to see the continued contempt for our NHS, increased homelessness and poor social care. These, along with the incumbent government's inability to face up to environmental responsibilities, have strengthened my desire to bring about a more equal, sustainable future."

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June 2017

Simon Hoare - Conservative SINCE his election in 2015, Simon has been a strong voice for North Dorset in Parliament, raising key local issues, from the provision of rural broadband to the importance of local farming.

He has also been a key campaigner to save our beds at Shaftesbury Hospital and has made regular representations to the Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group.

He has worked closely with local councils, held regular meetings with business groups and the NFU and visited schools and charity organisations across the constituency.

Alongside his work in North Dorset, he has written over 2,500 letters on behalf of constituents, and spoken 232 times in the Commons, gaining him the title of most prolific speaker of the 2015 intake!

Simon chairs the All-Party

Groups on dairy, Lyme Disease, multiple sclerosis and Thalidomide and is vice-chairman of the Bees and Rural Broadband & Business groups.

He works alongside Blandford Town Council to get things done in the town, and is currently working on funding for a town centre manager to help in the town's progression.

Simon has also made strong representations to Defence ministers to ensure the long-term future of Blandford Camp.

He and his wife Kate and daughters Imogen, Jessica and Laura live in Lydlinch with their two dogs. The girls attend St Gregory's Primary at Marnhull.

He said: "It has been the greatest honour to represent the North Dorset constituency and if re-elected in June, I will continue to be a strong voice for our area."

Pat Osborne - Labour PAT Osborne is a member of Blandford Forum Town Council, treasurer of North Dorset Labour Party and a member of the Unite Union.

He has lived in North Dorset all his life, studied at Gillingham School, where he was deputy head boy, and currently lives in Blandford with his wife and two young children. A business change manager with LV in Bournemouth, he first settled in Blandford in 2010, and fought for the Blandford division in the recent County Council elections.

A former youth worker and youth centre management committee chair, he stands for traditional working-class values, such as respect for people working hard for themselves and their families, and standing up for one another on the things that really matter.

Pat says: "We live in one of the wealthiest regions in one of the wealthiest countries in the world, but still our local health and social care services are being strangled, our schools are at breaking point, the cost of housing continues to soar while wages stay unbearably low, and hard-working families, friends and neighbours are reliant on food banks just to get by.

"I have campaigned tirelessly against all of these things because I care about North Dorset, and I want to help deliver the change that North Dorset deserves.

"Only Labour offers a positive fully costed alternative to five more years of cruel Tory misrule and false austerity.

"A vote for me on June 8 is a vote for a better, fairer future for North Dorset."

Tom Panton - Lib Dem TOM Panton, who lives in Stour Row, is fighting on issues such as cuts to public services, school funding, retaining local health services and affordable housing.

He is passionate about education, support for rural communities and getting young people involved in politics - especially those disaffected by the Brexit vote.

Educated at the Canford School and at university in Southampton and Bergen in Norway, he has worked as a researcher and parliamentary assistant to two Liberal Democrat MPs in the House of Commons and in hospitality.

He says: "This election provides voters in North Dorset with an opportunity to change the direction of the country. The Liberal Democrats are the only credible alternative to the Conservatives in this constituency, and only a

strong Liberal Democrat presence in Parliament will provide decent opposition. A vote for the Liberal Democrats is the only way to protect the local economy by staying in the Single Market and avoid going over the cliff-edge with the Tories' reckless Hard Brexit."

The Liberal Democrats have committed to keeping the 'triple lock' annual pension increase by at least 2.5%, meaning a state pension of at least ÂŁ137.15 a week by 2021, an extra ÂŁ772 a year, paid for in part by restricting the winter fuel allowance for the wealthiest pensioners.

Mr Panton said: "25,000 people in North Dorset receive the state pension, and the Liberal Democrats are making a clear commitment to older people in this area, unlike the Conservatives who have repeatedly refused to give this guarantee."

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June 2017

Tories triumph in county poll IN May's Dorset County Council elections, two local Conservative members, Deborah Croney in Hambledon division and Hilary Cox in Winterborne, held their seats, but Lib Dem Barrie Cooper, who was first elected in 1985 and has held the Blandford seat almost continuously since, was defeated by newcomer Conservative Byron Quayle.

It was again a close call in Blandford where, with the lowest turnout in the North Dorset district, only 51 votes separated Mr Quayle and Mr Cooper, who won with a majority of only 165 in 2013.

In Hambledon, Mrs Croney secured a convincing win with 1,841 votes, more than twice the total cast for the Lib Dems' Martin Strange (488), Labour's Keith Yarwood (221) and UKIP's Robert Snow (178).

In Winterborne the result was similarly conclusive for Mrs Cox with 1,527 votes, although the competition was stronger from Lib Dem David Fox with 506 and Labour's Haydn White with 284.

The winning Conservative line-up

Byron Quayle (Blandford)

Deborah Croney (Hambledon)

Hilary Cox (Winterborne)

The turnout locally of around 35 per cent was higher than at the last county elections in 2013 when only around 32 per cent voted. Overall, the Lib Dem vote increased by a third, and the Conservatives increased by nearly a quarter, but the UKIP vote fell to less than a third of that in 2013. The Labour vote remained almost constant.

Elsewhere in North Dorset, the

turnout was around four per cent higher, and the Conservatives won another four seats, the Lib Dems winning just one for Derek Beer in Shaftesbury.

Throughout the district, UKIP candidates collectively recorded only 1,676 of more than 24,000 votes cast, and Labour only 2,056.

County-wide, the shock result of

the evening was the defeat in Sherborne of Conservative council leader Robert Gould by Lib Dem Jon Andrews with a majority of only 22 votes.

The council now has a make-up of 32 Conservatives, 11 Lib Dems, two Greens and one Labour and Co-operative member.

BLANDFORD FORUM Turnout: 35.10% Bryon Robert Quayle (elected) (Con) Barrie George Cooper (Lib Dem) Pat Osborne (Labour) Jane Mary Unwin (UKIP)

1,086 1,035 291 116

HAMBLEDON Turnout: 35.48% Deborah Anne Croney (elected) (Con) Martin Thomas Strange (Lib Dem) Keith Yarwood (Labour) Robert Michael Snow (UKIP)

1,841 488 221 178

WINTERBORNE Turnout: 36.01% Hilary Ann Cox (elected) (Con) David Charles Thomas Fox (Lib Dem) Haydn Roger White (Labour)

1,527 506 284

For full results, see dorsetforyou.com/elections

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June 2017

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June 2017

Another triumphant Georgian Fayre . .

SUNSHINE brought out the crowds for Blandford's 21st Georgian Fayre on Bank Holiday Monday, but clouds are looming over the rising costs of staging the event, which has provided a free day out for visitors since it

was founded 24 years ago.

Chairman Colin Stevens said: "At the safety meeting with North Dorset District Council a week or so before the event, I was told that I needed to comply with 'vehicle penetration of a pedestri-

an area'.

"We needed to prevent a large vehicle driving into the town at high speed during the fayre. Lots of options were looked at, but the easiest solution was three large trucks from the fair as they were already in town. The drivers were paid to stay by their vehicles."

He said the cost for just the logistics of the Georgian Fayre, which includes toilets, waste bins, St John Ambulance, road closure, a health and safety officer, a fire risk assessment officer, professional stewards and radio equipment, were now just over £5,000.

He thanked the Coles Funfair family, Hall & Woodhouse, the Fayre's main sponsor, and all the advertisers in the programme for their support.

"This year we managed to increase our programme size with 36 advertisers, and we are grateful to them all. There were money-off and money-back offers

within the programme worth over £40 and the chance to win a flight from Compton Airfield, your height in beer, and eight sets of tickets to local attractions. As we cannot charge an entry fee, the cost of the programme at £2 is our best source of revenue."

Rain on Sunday and a discouraging weather forecast resulted in a number of cancellations from stall holders and attractions, but after a slow start the celebration brought thousands into the trafficfree streets filled with market and charity stalls and traditional entertainment.

The New Forest Yokels, Gurkha dancers, Stour Valley Band and local singer Lili White provided almost non-stop music in the Market Place, alongside the glistening gallopers, swing-boats and carousel. Elsewhere there was more music - large crowds gathered in front of the stages in the Ham car park and in front of the

Goats' milk soap from May Cottage in Wimborne.

Macebearer David Jardine, left, with Mayor of Blandford Jackie Stayt, Carnival Princess attendant Lara Miller, Princess Elizabeth Hunt, Miss Carnival Lauren Gubbins and Mayor's Consort John Stayt at the opening of the fayre.

The Blandford Safer Neighbourhood Team on parade.

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June 2017

The Gurkha dancers take a bow after their performance in the Market Place.

A Georgian captain, aka James Mayo of the Blandford Lions.

. . but soaring costs are a cause for concern parish church - and there was plenty of other activity to please the visitors.

A revival of an ancient tradition of barrel racing had to be cancelled due to a shortage of entries, and there was no maypole dancing as a result of illness or dog agility demonstrations because of poor ground conditions.

But craft stalls in the Corn Exchange, an exhibition by Blandford Art Society in the parish church, a model railway exhibition by the Blandford Railway Club, a food producers fair and beer festival at the Crown Hotel, a circus workshop and children's entertainment in the Woodhouse Gardens, and the modern fairground on the Crown Meadows, together with a fascinating exhibition in the Masonic Hall on

the history of Freemasonry in Blandford and Local organisations reported a very successDorset, left people spoilt for choice as they ful day, and other Blandford attractions open wandered around among stallholders and for the day, such as the Town Museum and people in Georgian Fashion Museum, costume. reported a very good Blandford Evening WI More pictures on Page 10 & on attendance. have become a popu- our website forumfocus.co.uk The Fayre was officially lar fixture at the opened by the Mayor Fayre, dispensing of Blandford Jackie beverages with quality cakes and the women, Stayt and her consort John Stayt, accompaassisted by their honorary male members, set nied by Blandford Carnival Princess Elizabeth up shop at their new venue of the Parish Hunt, her attendant Lara Miller and Miss Centre. This year there was a bonus in the Carnival Lauren Gubbins. Blandford's maceform of Mr Chord, a busking band consisting bearer and Fayre committee member David of Jo, Alan and Mike, who entertained the Jardine and Fayre secretary Niki Roper were clientele with local songs and music. thanked for their support on their respective birthday and wedding anniversary.

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Traditional fairground fun with the carousel, swing boats and gallopers in the Market Place.

June 2017

Debbie from Ashleys Barbers gives a Georgian hairstyle to Kitty Huthwaite to raise funds for the Margaret Green Foundation.

If the cap fits . . .

A trio from the Somerset and Dorset Hog Roast prepare to serve.

A couple of Georgian pirates, Teresa Gover and Fay Barnes.

Candice Willatt with one of her paintings in the Blandford Art Club exhibition in the church.

No Georgian costumes here, but the uniforms of the St John Ambulance crew.

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June 2017

Freemasons parade to mark a milestone AS part of the tercentenary celebrations of the formation of the first Grand Lodge in England, more than 80 Freemasons paraded from the Masonic Hall in West Street to the Corn Exchange in Blandford.

The Blandford Lodge of Honour and Friendship No. 1266, successor to the town's first Lodge founded in 1771, held its first meeting in the Corn Exchange in 1869.

One of its current members is the Assistant Provincial Grand Master of Dorset WBro Stephen James, who was born and bred in Blandford.

Although they regularly take part in the town's Remembrance Day parade, it was the first time for 98 years that Blandford Freemasons had paraded in full regalia on the streets.

The parade was led jointly by both Blandford Lodges: Lodge of Honour and Friendship No. 1266 and Bleckley Clarke Lodge No. 8290, founded in 1969.

The Provincial Grand Master for Dorset, RWBro Richard Merritt joined the parade with a full complement of Dorset Provincial Grand Officers.

Freemasons came from as far away as the Channel Islands to be involved.

The Brethren were delighted by the friendly reaction they received from the people on the streets who stopped to watch them pass.

More than 100 Freemasons attended the full masonic meeting in the Corn Exchange in which a new member was brought into the Lodge of Honour and Friendship by the Provincial Grand Master - a huge honour both for the new member and for the Lodge.

Dorset Freemasonry is currently gaining around 120 new members a year, some entirely new and others who are already Freemasons who have come to Dorset to live, work or retire.

All the Brethren then made their

The Blandford Masons standard bearers lead fellow Brothers past their Lodge in West Street way to the Crown Hotel for a formal dinner, during which ÂŁ565 was raised to be donated to the Blandford Corn Exchange project.

Blandford Freemasonry is pleased to support organisations and institutions such as the Corn Exchange that are there for the use and benefit of all the resi-

dents of the town.

It was also proud to show off its history to the town when the Lodge was opened to the public on April 30 and May 1 during the Georgian Fayre, when visitors were invited to view its heritage and learn about the part it has played in the town's government and economy over 200 years.

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June 2017

Stage presence pays off

St George challenges the Dragon at Child Okeford.

Mummers see off the dragon THE Okeford Mummers and friends paraded up the main street and acted out the play of St George and the Dragon at the village cross in celebration of St George's Day and May Day in Child Okeford.

There was also a hog roast at the Bakers Arms, where a folk band played in the afternoon, and a collection was taken for the Richard Ely Trust, which supports young musicians.

The lively re-enactment ended with a peal of bells from the church of St Nicholas, where there was an exhibition about bell ringing and a project, for which a fundraising campaign was launched on Easter Sunday, to replace the bells with a lighter, more manageable and more tuneful peal.

Villagers have been invited to contribute and the Dorset County Association of Ringers has already given ÂŁ1,700 towards the ÂŁ17,500 needed.

A NUMBER of Stagecoach Blandford performing arts students entered for the New Era Performance Arts examinations this term and have had tremendous results, everyone passing with either Merits or Distinctions.

The exams are well established and at higher levels attract Ofqual credits which are so desirable for students aiming towards university.

Proud Principal Di Waterman said: "They all worked exceptionally hard from the youngest three, 6-7 year olds Rebecca, Gracie and Emma, who all gained distinctions, to our oldest teens, Ellen, Poppy and Izzy, who also gained Distinctions at much higher grades. Other successful candidates who gained Foundation Musical Theatre Medals were Sol and Tom, two of our teenagers.

We will certainly build on this success in future terms."

Some of the Stagecoach Blandford students pictured with their awards.

A calendar of memories BLANDFORD opticians Scrivens have invited local people to capture their 'Memorable Moments' for a national charity calendar in aid of Alzheimer's Society, its chosen charity for the third successive year.

The photographic competition was launched during Dementia Awareness Week in May to find special images of landscapes, people and joyous occasions to feature in the calendar. Staff dressed up to sell books, cakes and goody bags in the Market Place branch to raise funds for research and awareness of dementia.

The Scrivens charity calendar will go on sale in the branch later this year. Details of how to enter the competition are available in the branch and online at scrivens.com/moments.

More magical moments HUSBAND and wife illusionists Paul Hyland and Jana Bundy (pictured right) are back for a second season of 'Baffling Blandford' weekly walks, illustrating the quirky character of the town.

Walks start from the Crown Hotel's garden at 4pm every Sunday and feature a magic show at stops along the way.

Paul is a Dorset-born author, broadcaster and magician who has performed magic for celebrities in the UK, in Venice and the US. He has lectured at the world-famous Magic Circle. Jana is an American wordsmith who

has performed magic since her childhood in Arkansas. They kicked off their 2017 season as part of the Free Expression Arts Festival in May. The 90-minute tour is wheelchair accessible, with free parking at the nearby Marsh & Ham car park. Tickets from the Crown Hotel Reception, Blandford TIC or from Paul and Jana on the night. See artoftheimpossible.com/magic or find them on Facebook.

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June 2017

Mike and Jill Oliver in the garden of their Pimperne home, where they celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary with a party for 50 guests.

A diamond celebration FORMER chairman of North Dorset District and of governors of Pimperne Primary School, Mike Oliver, and his wife Jill, celebrated their diamond wedding in April.

After a family gathering at the Castleman Hotel, they invited friends and neighbours to drinks and canapĂŠs at the home they have shared in Chapel Lane, Pimperne, for 40 years.

They came to Dorset after Mike's career with the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards took them to Bovington Camp, and Pimperne was chosen as a location within easy reach.

Jill is a former chairman of the Bryanston group of Riding for the Disabled. Mike, who retired from the Army at the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, was first elected to the district council in 1991 and chaired it for five years until 2009. He was also chairman of governors of Pimperne First, now Primary School, for 11 years.

Festival planned at church MEMBERS and friends pictured outside Blandford's United Reformed Church, which this year celebrates the present church's 150 years of worship.

To mark the anniversary there will be a flower, art and craft festival in the church in Salisbury Street from Friday to Sunday June 16 to 18, with lunches on the Saturday and afternoon tea on Sunday.

There is also a concert on Saturday evening at 7pm, supporting Julia's House Children's Hospice. For more information from Margaret Evans 01258 450518 or email margaret-evans01@hotmail.com.

www.forumfocus.co.uk

14

June 2017

Society to host blue plaque celebration

Chris Winter (left) of Civic Voice presents the Civic Day 2016 award to Terence Dear, chairman of Blandford & District Civic Society.

Gardens revealed THE open gardens season is upon us, and this year celebrates the 10th year of Blandford's Hidden Gardens event on Sunday June 25.

Fifteen gardens of a variety of sizes, content and plants will be open, ranging from courtyard to large, with views across the meadows, from Georgian to contemporary, with modern sculptures and listed ponds.

Refreshments will be available at some.

Lead organiser David Rose said: "The Hidden Gardens, which over the years has raised ÂŁ14,400 for local charities, is designed as a community event for all ages at which people can meet each other, see parts of the town they do not normally go to and raise a bit of money for local charities."

For other gardens open, see pages 17 and 32..

A CELEBRATION of National Civic Day will be hosted by Blandford & District Civic Society on Saturday June 17 with an exhibition in the Woodhouse Gardens Pavilion, when it is hoped the weather will allow visitors to enjoy the gardens so beautifully maintained by Blandford Town Council.

The exhibition will focus on those featured through the society's Blue Plaques scheme, and the 20th is due to be unveiled in The Tabernacle at the entrance to the gardens, explaining the reason for its being so named.

A number of other organisations which play their part in maintaining the local environment and have contributed to the town's wellbeing have been invited to

take part.

The Society held its annual St George's Day lunch in the Blandford Royal British Legion, Coupar House, on April 24 when their guest speaker was Chris Winter, chairman of Wells Civic Society and a trustee for the national civic movement Civic Voice.

She presented Terence Dear, the Society's chairman, with an award for its participation in National Civic Day in 2016, when a number of local organisations sharing the objective of promoting civic pride were invited to join the society to exhibit their work in the Corn Exchange. She said it highlighted the importance of partnership working to achieve the best results.

Mayor of Blandford Jackie Stayt and her consort John Stayt with guests at her Civic Day service of thanksgiving

Civic chain of events MAYOR of Blandford Jackie Stayt welcomed more than two dozen mayors and chairmen of neighbouring authorities and their partners to Blandford Parish Church for a thanksgiving service on her Civic Day as she neared the end of her term of office on April 28.

The service was led by the Rector, the Rev Jonathan Triffitt, who gave the address, and prayers were led by ecumenical partners, with hymns accompanied by

the Stour Valley Band.

A retiring collection was made for the Mayor's charities, the Friends of Blandford Community Hospital and Blandford Scouts, and after the service the guests were invited to take a tour of the newly refurbished church tower led by church personnel, Chris Curtis and Richard Owen.

The church service was followed by a coach trip to Blandford Camp for a curry lunch and tour of the camp.

Remanded on murder charge A Winterborne Stickland man is one of three who appeared in court on May 6 charged with the murder of insurance executive Guy Hedger at his home at St Ives, near Ringwood on April 30.

Kevin Downton, aged 40, appeared with Jason Baccus, 41, and Scott Keeping, 44, both of Verney Close in Bournemouth, at Poole Magistrates' Court for a short hearing and were remanded in custody to appear at Winchester Crown Court.

15

June 2017

Litter-pick volunteers clean up the town MEMBERS of the Cleanup Blandford Campaign, Blandford Stour Rotary, the Stour Valley Canoe Club and Dorset Rangers took part in the annual Big Blandford Clean Up. Teams litter-picked through the town, trailway and meadows.

Organiser David Rose said: "There is always a degree of litter in town but this time it was not too bad. What is disappointing is the increasing amount of dog fouling and bags with mess being left everywhere except the dog bins.

If you do see anyone allowing their dog to foul, please remind them that it is an offence."

He said that due to the low water levels, the Canoe Club recovered a significant amount of litter including a bike and supermarket trolley - and CUBC were very grateful for their efforts.

For more information on CUBC litter picks and how to organise your own, email cleanupblandford@hotmail.com A similar exercise over a much wider rural area in Hilton early this year resulted in numerous bags of rubbish being collected, and revealed a significant amount

of fly-tipping and bags of household waste which could have been taken to the household recycling centre.

Personal identity details were found among the rubbish and passed to the Dorset Waste Partnership.

Litter pick organiser Catherine Langham said: "The amount of litter dropped on these quiet rural lanes is beyond belief. We collected two Land-rover loads in just over two hours. It always amazes me to find Costa coffee cups and MacDonalds cartons at least eight miles from the nearest outlet."

She urged all parish councils to organise their own litter pick on the quieter roads and lay-bys. Dorset Waste Partnership will lend highvisibility vests and heavy-duty gloves, advise on risk assessment and then collect the rubbish from a designated location.

A temporary 30mph speed limit was introduced on Blandford bypass in early April to allow the Dorset Waste Partnership to safely carry out a litter pick on the four-mile stretch between south of the Tesco roundabout to the Milldown Road B3081 junction.

Members of the Cleanup Blandford Campaign prepare for work.

Scouts prepared to parade THE scouting movement in North Dorset celebrated St George's Day in Blandford with a parade through the town centre and service in the Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul.

Hundreds of Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Explorers and their leaders, led by the Shaftesbury Town Silver Band, marched from East Street and on to the church, where they entered through a guard of colours from each of the branches.

They were welcomed by the Rector of Blandford, the Rev Jonathan Triffitt, in the presence of the Mayor of Blandford Jackie Stayt and Deputy Mayor of Gillingham, Belinda Ridout, with their respective consorts John Stayt and David Walsh. The service was introduced by district president Dave Watham.

Focus on the Forces THE Royal Signals Museum and Blandford WWI 14-18 commemoration group have joined forces to host an Armed Forces Weekend exhibition in Blandford Corn Exchange on Saturday and Sunday, June 24 and 25.

'Communications - the difference between Victory and Defeat' includes interactive hands-on displays and activities illustrating WWI communications with Morse code, semaphore, wireless codes and code breaking, field telephones, interception and electronic warfare.

The Royal British Legion Club, Greyhound Inn and Crown & Anchor have joined together with

SSAFA, the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal, Nepalese Earthquake Disaster Appeal and local Army Benevolent Fund, to host an open evening with live music and adult humour from Matt Black on Friday June 23.

It is followed on the Saturday by an open day during which Church Lane will be closed to traffic for a children's street party, and evening live music in The Greyhound.

Armed Forces Weekend celebrations are also planned at the Kings Arms, with live music, a tombola, buffet and cake stall and fundraising for Help For Heroes.

16

Readers’ letters

A chance to make a real difference LAUNCHED with great enthusiasm back in 2013, with numerous working groups, the Blandford Forum Town Team is alive and kicking, and now needs new ideas and new blood to remain a vibrant going concern that can successfully promote our town, and reflect the broadest possible view about the town's future and Town Team priorities.

Regeneration of the town's markets was our highest priority from the outset. Having been undermanaged by NDDC for years no doubt through a lack of resources - we are delighted the Town Council now has control and that the markets' manager is

June 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

doing a great job bringing in new stallholders and improving promotion and presentation.

The town survey led by Peter Newall and David Rose in 2014 established clearly that our Georgian architecture is of great value and is why Blandford is such a good place to live, and a real and unique selling point. We need more people to know this.

I'd like to make marketing the town our highest priority in 2017/18.

I'd also like to put Blandford on the map as a clean-air town completely unrealistic today, but eminently achievable over the next 10 years, and could bring tangible benefits in health, traffic flow through the town and inward investment. It's my view that this should be part of the Town Council's plan, and should be targeted at making Blandford one of the first towns to benefit from central government policy and funding.

The point of the Town Team is

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.

essentially to help make Blandford Forum an even better place to live and work, especially for our young people, and to attract new businesses and investment into the town.

At county level, the money seems to go to the Jurassic Coast and the urban conurbations. A well thought through marketing plan - perhaps including a Town Manager - will help to put this right. The Town Council is on-side, and lacks the resources to take this on. With one or more enthusiastic volunteers with the appropriate skills, the Town Team can do this, and will work with the Town Council and other interested groups to do so for the benefit of the town.

There is a lot going on in the town that can make a real difference - the successful Cupola project, the ongoing regeneration of the church, the multi-purpose Corn Exchange project, the Fording Point theatre and arts project and better markets, amongst others.

However, the biggest benefit and attraction of the lot was started by the Bastards after the fire in 1731 . . . or was it?

If you have some spare time, and an interest in continuing the work of the Town Team, please email me on nicnicolnms@aol.com, or telephone 07793 048075.

Nic Nicol, Chairman Blandford Forum Town Team

Magical at the Abbey THE National Heritage Lottery Fund has awarded a grant of ÂŁ1,249,200 to Milton Abbey, amounting to 73 per cent of the total cost of a major repair programme which is urgently required to preserve the Abbey for future generations and to enhance its integration within a stunning 500-acre landscape designed by Capability Brown.

Viridor, the refuse company, have also donated a very large sum of money to help make up the shortfall required.

It was all due to the handiwork of a certain Mr Brown, who laid some grass and planted a few specimen trees surrounding this wonderful Abbey.

But in truth the setting is quite magical - in fact, the perfect place for tranquil, peaceful and spiritual meditation. There is no mobile telephone connection anywhere in the area, which is an added bonus.

It is thrilling that this restoration project is receiving such significant Heritage Lottery funding. It aims to restore the Abbey, revitalising its internationally significant landscape, reveal the rich history of the site and provide facilities, activities and events for visitors (don't mention the dirty word 'tourist'!).

The scheme covers a three-year period during which meaningful engagement will take place with local people, recruiting enthusiasts to join the happy band of volunteers who have faithfully served the Abbey for decades.

Not a lot of time to do a great deal of work.

On a more personal note I have over the years had the privilege of holding many civic, social and charity functions in the Abbey, during which there was always the expectation that the walls might topple!

But I attended a service in the Abbey over the weekend and it was a truly magical experience.

Della Jones MBE

Support for rural bus plea THANK you for publishing my letter about the bus services in the May Forum Focus.

I've had a good response from various people who felt it was good that I hit home the point of no secured/regular transport in the future.

Thinking of the residents of Whitechurch, I would also like to say thank you to the people who organised and ran the Teddy Rocks Festival this year.

Robert Cowley Winterborne Whitechurch

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17

June 2017

Terry’s a later painter TARRANT Gunville artist Terry Hilton will this month be exhibiting as part of the Gunville open gardens and art exhibition in the village hall.

Terry originates from London and was brought up by his elder sister after losing his parents during the war. His art teacher saw his talent and wanted him to go to college,

but he needed to go to work and left school at 16. After a couple of years barrel making, he went into an air-conditioning business.

He and his wife came to Dorset around 30 years ago and about five years ago he took up painting again. Although it is only a hobby, he has sold around 100 works. Recently he asked butch-

Bus at a standstill as car causes road block A SERVICE bus was stuck for one-and-a-half hours in Larksmead, Blandford, when its route was blocked by a Mini parked on the opposite side from a row of parked cars.

The bus driver was unable to reverse because of other cars parked nearby. The congestion was caused by people attending a rugby match on Larksmead playing field, where Blandford were playing league leaders Wimborne in the final match of the season.

Although enquiries were made at the ground, the driver could not be located until the end of the game,

when she came back to her car.

The rugby club usually put out cones to prevent drivers parking opposite each other when a big game is being played but on this occasion none were to be seen.

Police were called and spoke to the driver about the obstruction when she returned, by which time the following service bus had been forced to stop and reverse into Buttercup Lane so as to return up Larksmead to continue on its way.

Fortunately, the first bus was carrying no passengers at the time.

Trust formation bid A PUBLIC meeting will be held in the Blandford Parish Centre on Friday June 2 to hear about progress and invite contributions to the formation of the Blandford Area Development Trust.

The trust will take the recently closed DT11 Forum Community Partnership on to the next level by providing a representative and independent focus to attract investment and grant funding into the Blandford area.

Its objectives will include support for businesses, training, startup funding and young people, projects to promote the town and the DT11 area, and collaboration with and support for community, civic and leisure group activities and local government community initiatives. It will also aim to provide an essential bridge between reorganised local government and the Blandford area community. The meeting starts at 7pm.

Terry Hilton puts the finishing touches to his cockerel painting. er Stuart Pearce in Blandford Market Place if he was interested in displaying some of his work, and a couple went on display, followed by the cockerel pictured.

His studio will be open on Saturday and Sunday, June 17

and 18, between 1pm and 5pm as part of Tarrant Gunville and Stubhampton Open Gardens, and he will be exhibiting in the display in the village hall. Proceeds from the event will be going to Weldmar Hospicecare.

18

June 2017

A FULL programme of entertainment and activity is planned for Archbishop Wake Primary School's summer fair on Saturday June 10.

In addition to the barbecue, donkey rides, large inflatable area and game stalls, there will be display by the majorettes, Tai Kwondo, Starlight and Janet Knight School of Dance, Blandford Performing Arts, Stagecoach and the Gym Club, together with school performances. The fair opens at 11am and will end at 2.30pm.

The main stage at Teddy Rocks.

Rock on! Teddy festival raises over £76,000 A PHENOMENAL £76,659 was raised for children fighting cancer in three days at the sixth Teddy Rocks Festival, held for the first time at Charisworth Farm, Thornicombe, from April 28-30.

The festival moved out of town to accommodate camping and a larger number of stages, and the risks of a move to a larger site, with more bookings and extra manpower requirements paid off, smashing all previous records.

There can have been few better tributes than the review posted by Stuart Walker on 'Gigs and Bands' which read: "If you ever need an antidote to the world of cynicism, dishonesty and deceit then Teddy Rocks provides it in spades.

Politicians are busy ripping chunks out of each other, Theresa May is telling the Europeans what awful people they are and an American fund manager is explaining to the BBC how he systematically buys up distressed companies and 'looks for value', but I have just spent the weekend at the oasis of goodwill that is

known as Teddy Rocks."

Festival founder Tom Newton, who six years ago started raising money to fight childhood cancer following the diagnosis and subsequent death of his younger brother Ted, said: "Everyone stepped up and worked tirelessly around the clock.

"To everyone involved, thank you from the bottom of my heart for keeping Ted's name alive, and supporting my crazy, stupid ideas and making them a reality. We are going to do some serious good with this money and it is all down to you. I quite simply will never be able to thank you all enough. I am literally speechless.

"To date this festival has raised £170,159 since we first rolled our kit into the Corn Exchange in 2012."

Headlining bands included Twin Atlantic on day one, the Foo Forgers, Tom's own band The Bottom Line and Mode Step on day two, and Vant and Scouting for Girls on day three. Throughout the three days, a constant stream of local, tribute and up-and-coming bands performed to the delight of the thousands of visitors.

There was also a range of fun activities, including bubble football, go-karts and Teddy Rocks tattoos.

BLANDFORD and District Horticultural Society holds its 22nd annual sweet pea and rose show on Wednesday June 21 at the Anne Biddlecombe Hall, Tarrant Keyneston.

Judging starts at 6pm and the public will be admitted at 7.45pm.

19

June 2017

Bermuda, a far cry from home for Liz

Craft items come into fashion

From our Deputy Town Crier Liz Rawlings, just back from representing Blandford in an international Town Criers' competition

A NEW series of craft-made items is being introduced for sale in the gift shop at Blandford Fashion Museum in The Plocks.

The items are made and designed by local crafts people and the museum is the only outlet in the area, so the collection is a must for those looking for that special gift.

Rachel Raine produces gorgeous silver jewellery, each piece unique, and Lynne Dinmore makes delicate ceramic vases, jewellery and lacy bowls inspired by the Dorset flora and fauna.

Letton Buttony's interesting creations include pretty presents for those friends who love special objects, and for the young at heart, Alison Aldrige makes mobile phone deckchair rests and hanging mobiles.

A special half-term reduced price entry to the Fashion Museum is offered for children and students until Saturday June 3. For details call 01258 453006.

PICTURE the scene - sprawled on a sunlounger in four inches of impossibly turquoise sea, on an idyllic palm-fringed beach, one foot idly trailing in the crystal clear water, listening to a wild hen softly crooning to her tiny cheeping brood six feet away . . . and not a seagull in sight.

Welcome to Bermuda.

But I was there on a mission. I'd been invited to take part in an international Town Criers' competition, and 15 of us noisy types were here in a luxury hotel as guests of the sponsors, Goslings, makers of Bermuda's famous rum.

Seven British, seven Canadians and one American, all vying loudly and eloquently to be the best over three days of celebrations.

The first round was held in the pretty town of St George as part of their annual Peppercorn ceremony, attended by the Premier,

the Governor General and other island dignitaries, to whom we were subsequently introduced at a sumptuous buffet in a nearby park.

The next day found us in the capital, Hamilton, performing in front of a large crowd in the grounds of the magnificent, white Civic Hall.

This was followed by a spectacular lunch in a hilltop fort overlooking the city, entertained by the Bermuda Pipe Band - yes, bagpipes, and wonderful they were too.

Come the final round and we were back in lovely St George, telling the story of Admiral Sir George Somers, founder of Bermuda while standing beside the statue of the man himself, which I found incredibly moving.

Prizes were awarded at a gala dinner in Hamilton on the last night, the championship being justly won by Mark Wylye of

Liz Rawlings shouting for Blandford on the steps of Hamilton Civic Hall in Bermuda.

Calne, with Canadians taking the rest of the honours. We had been royally hosted for five magical days, and although I came home empty-handed, I'd had the time of my life.

20

June 2017

Dorset families answered the call to help with the growth of Canada I

N the early years of the 20th century Canada was rapidly expanding and calling for emigrants to come and help build the burgeoning agricultural economy.

Many from Dorset responded, and when war was declared, some enlisted in Canada and others returned to the UK to fight with British regiments.

When Sydney Broadbent, whose death we reported in March, signed up with the Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians), over 65 per cent of his regiment were born in the UK, and 43 per cent had their next of kin in the UK, indicating that they were probably single, recent immigrants.

Two other families whose sons had emigrated to Canada lost family members in June 1917.

Douglas George Lucas, born out of wedlock to Maria Lucas in Sixpenny Handley, lived with his maternal grandparents but emigrated to Canada OTHERS to lose their lives in June 1917 all died in when he was 28 and served with the France.

George Squires, the youngest son of gamekeeper George Squires of Eastbury Park, Tarrant Gunville, and Hannah (nee Hansford) Squires, changed his name and was serving as Sapper Charles Andrews with the Royal Engineers Railway Operating Dept when he died of meningitis on June 1, aged 32.

He had previously had a less than glowing career in the 2nd Dragoon Guards, from which he was discharged in 1905 as 'incorrigible and worthless' after being court martialled three times in 1903 and 1904.

RMS Royal George, one of the ships which carRobert James Snelling, who was awarded the ried migrants from the UK to Canada in the Military Medal, was a Sergeant in the 124th early 20th century.

Battery, Royal Field Artillery, killed in action on June 4, aged 34, and is buried in the Aubigny Canadian Infantry 2nd Bn. He died of Communal Cemetery Extension, Pas-de-Calais. wounds on June 4 in hospital in Glasgow.

He was the son of policeman and gasworks stoker James George, of 13 Charles Street, Blandford, and William John Beaumont of High Mary Snelling. His younger brother William had been Farm, Blandford St Mary, was 20 killed in 1916 and his father died six months after when he died on June 11 in Robert’s death. His mother had for at least 16 years Mesopotamia serving with the Royal been an inmate at Charminster Hospital in Dorchester, Horse Artillery/Royal Field Artillery where she died in 1919. His sister Rose Mary, who (Territorial). had married to become Mrs R M Caines, was listed as He was the younger brother of Charles his next of kin by the Commonwealth War Graves Thomas and James George Beaumont, Commission. who had sailed to Quebec in 1911 on Gerald Humphrey Moore was born in Child the Royal George migrant ship from Okeford, the son of groom Joseph and Alice Moore, Bristol. and married Evelyn Mary Louisa Naylor in Blandford Charles Thomas was killed in in 1909. They had three daughters and a son, and November 1916 serving with the lived at New Milton in Hampshire. He enlisted in Gloucestershire Regiment 2/5th Bn September 1914 and was promoted to Corporal in (Territorials) and James George enlistMarch 1916 in the 6th Battalion Royal Irish ed in 1916 in Winchester, was gassed Regiment, having previously served with the 7th in 1918 but survived the war. William's Hussars. other brother, Arthur, served as a priPosted to France in December 1916, he was killed in vate in the Dorsetshire Regiment and action on June 7, 1917, aged 31, and with no known in the Labour Corps.

France takes a heavy toll grave is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial Ypres, and remembered in Blandford and Child Okeford.

Herbert Oborne was born in Sherborne but had worked as a gardener at The Bothy, Milton Abbas, and is remembered on the Milton Abbas Memorial after serving with the Dorsetshire Regiment 1st Bn and dying, aged 36, on June 13.

William George Thorne is listed on the Roll of Honour in Child Okeford church, but our researchers have not discovered why. He was born in 1889 in Shepton Mallet, on whose memorial he is also listed.

The son of a Royal Artillery pensioner, he was an Acting Bombardier with the Royal Field Artillery 37th Bty when he was killed in action on June 21, and was buried in the Ecoivres Military Cemetery, Mont-St Eloi.

In the year he died he had married Rose Crossman at Shepton Mallet, where her son William's birth was registered in 1920, and her address was given as 2 Chapel Cottages in Corfe Castle, but three years later she married Leonard C Jeffries in Blandford St Mary.

William George Guy was a gunner in the 285th Siege Battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery, born in 1878 in South Kensington, and probably the son of William John and Esther Guy, but in 1891 was living with his grandparents in Blandford. In 1901 he married Esther Cribb in Blandford, and they had three daughters and two sons, living at 31 Orchard Street.

He worked as a bricklayer, and enlisted in December 1915. He was posted to France in March 1917, and died of gunshot wounds, aged 39, on June 27, 1917.

Remembered on the Blandford Roll of Honour, he is buried in Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension.

Killed in action on the same day was 39-year-old wood sawyer and father-of-five Everard John Kiddle, who was born at Hilton. the son of gardener George Kiddle and his wife Eliza, and served with the Dorsetshire Regiment 6th Bn.

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.

June 2017

OBITUARIES

Lunch club stalwart THELMA White, who for a quarter of a century ran the Methodist Lunch Club held in the Methodist Church Hall until early this year when frailty prevented her continuing, died in May at the age of 96.

Her daughter Sarah Healey, who had worked with her, and the probation service which provided the catering team for the club, had died on February 13 this year.

Thelma was in 2015 awarded a Certificate of Appreciation by Blandford Town Council for her contribution to the lunch club and the town.

More obituaries: Page 23

OBITUARIES

21

Long-serving town councillor and magistrate FORMER Blandford Town Councillor and local magistrate Mike Owen died on April 24 after being diagnosed last summer with mesothelioma, the asbestos-related cancer. He was 70.

He was first elected to the Town Council in 1991 and served almost continuously until his resignation in May 2016. He had been chairman of the planning committee and the recreation and amenities committee.

In 1999, he was a guiding light on the Millennium Book project, which involved photographing every household, business and club in the town.

He was the council's tree officer for many years; represented the authority on Archbishop Wake School governors and the Blandford-Preetz Twinning Association; was involved in Treads, the youth dropin centre and the development of the skate park.

A member of the Labour Party, he fought a number of elections at district and county level. He was a self-employed builder by trade, but much of his life for over 20 years revolved around his work as a magistrate until he retired in September 2016.

Mike was also a member of Bryanston Choral Society and appeared in a number of productions by the Spetisbury Occasional Dramatic Society (SODS) and Forum Drama's radio play of Black Adder, where he played the modern-day Baldrick.

A funeral service to celebrate his life and achievements will be held in Blandford Corn Exchange at 12 noon on Friday June 2. No flowers please and the dress code for the funeral will be bright colours.

Donations will go to Marie Curie, Weldmar Hospice Trust and Medical Aid to Palestine.

Well-known walker ROY Hain, who died suddenly last month, aged 81, was a well-known figure in Blandford, where he was often seen walking in the town and along the bypass and latterly along the Trailway after he moved to live at Trailway Court.

He was widely respected and fondly thought of by many for whom he always made time to talk, and scores of tributes were left on the town Facebook public forum page. He leaves two sisters and six nephews and nieces.

Former Blandford Town Councillor Mike Owen.

22

The View from the Hill

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

A

STREAK of red campion in the pollen and nectar mix contrasts with the rape coming to the end of its very long flowering period. Once it has gone over, I wonder what will be left in its place. It hasn't left much room for the clovers, phacelia and trefoils that are meant to be there.

The rape has flowered for pretty much the whole of April and is now taller than it has been for several years.

The dry weather continues, with a brief wet spell at the turn of the month, and coupled with the very cold nights we are having, has turned into a peculiar spring.

Grass growth has slowed, and cereal crops are looking patchy due to moisture variation in the soil. We are now running at nearly 10 inches Rocky's fleece. of rainfall deficit compared to an average year. Let's hope it doesn't all fall at once!

Organic content is key to healthy soil and ideally four or five per cent, and for every per

FARMING June 2017 cent we can increase it, we increase the soil's water holding capacity, with huge implications for flood prevention. Many arable soils are nearer two per cent organic matter, and farmers are rapidly learning that for successful crop growing, we need to build these levels. We A streak of red campion. can add manure, or grow soilimproving cover crops, and alter what we do to our soils with for foxes to be bold or strong having borne triplets for six machines. The art is to do as litenough to take anything other years running. tle as possible in order to form than newborns, so steps are We decided last year to prevent a decent seedbed, and then now being taken to try to preher from getting in lamb, as she leave it alone. vent it. is now quite aged in sheep heep shearing champion &O Tractors Ltd shocked years, but once she was shorn Dean Nelmes called round their farmer customers last it became rather obvious that last week with week by announcing that they she was in his shearing are ditching their long-standing lamb anyteam, and polrelationship with New Holland way. A bit of ished off our (Blue tractors) and from now on a mystery, 264 sheep in will be selling Massey Ferguson until we disshort order tractors and combines (Red). covered that before lunch.

Many readers will, I am sure, she may Rocky, our remember C&O's predecessors have spent a five-year-old Stanley Pond Ltd, who took on few hours wether, is Ford Tractors in the 1970s, in with the huge, and can place of . . . yes, Massey rams when be very stubFerguson. they were born. delivered in From the archive, I have found However, Dean A shorn ewe with her lamb.

December. a picture of the earliest Massey got the better Unlucky, knowing that the ewe Ferguson I can remember on of him in the end. is only receptive to the attenthis farm. There has only been For video of Dean in action, tions of a ram for approximately one other since then. The there is an entertaining inter30 hours in a cycle of 17 days, farmer in the picture is consultview with former Durweston resand a lesson in birth control. ing the instruction book for the ident, reporter Steve old-fashioned finger-bar hedgeOf Sammy's offspring, we still Humphries, on trimmer that is hitched to the have Tilly, who had three lambs the BBC webtractor and clearly receiving herself this year, and during the site. It includes valuable help from his assistant. first few days of lambing, we a sheep being suffered some shorn in just bad attacks 30 seconds, by foxes. One and an attempt of Tilly's

by Steve to triplets was shear a sheep taken on the himself. first night. We Within a week penned them of shearing, up for the the ewes have started lambing. second night, Four of six of our small pet flock then another, of former orphans have already large and lambed, including Sammy, who strong lamb is now seven years old. She was taken on gave birth to her 17th, 18th and the third night.

19th lambs and is exceptional, It is unusual A 1960s Massey Ferguson, 65 Horsepower.

S

C

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June 2017

OBITUARIES

Language expert’s twinning group role

Sidney and Barbara Samways.

Couple’s passion for bikes and family MORE than 100 motorcycles escorted the funeral cortège for Sidney and Barbara Samways, and more than 200 people attended the funeral held at Weymouth on May 5.

The couple died after a collision on the C13 Higher Shaftesbury Road on April 2.

Mrs Samways, 71, had been brought up in Weymouth where she attended St Paul's Infants School, St Mary's Junior School and then Weymouth Grammar School. She worked at Winfrith for the Dragon Program before moving to Blandford where she worked for the North Dorset Conservative Association, for MP Nicholas Baker and his successor Robert Walter.

Mr Samways, 74, was born in Martinstown, near Dorchester, and grew up around there and Weymouth, moving to Blandford in 1994. He helped to build the Preston beach road sea defence, working for Weymouth & Portland Borough Council, and at various other places working for Wessex Water.

He had been riding motorbikes since he was very young and always had bikes, riding scrambles, trials for Weymouth & Bridport MCC and road bikes.

Together the couple went on their road bikes to France, Germany, Andorra, Switzerland and Italy, and every year attended the Moto GP at Le Mans in France where they were due to go this year.

They were members of three bike clubs - the Dorset Honda Owners Club, the Red House Bike Club based in Yeovil, and Purbeck Motorcycle Club. Their two main loves were their motorbikes and their five grandchildren.

They also leave three children, and daughter Jo Kempster said: "We are all truly and absolutely devastated but also so grateful for the wonderful memories they have left us with."

On the day of the funeral another man suffered serious injuries after a crash between a motorcycle and car on the C13, and was taken to Southampton General Hospital, but his injuries were not life-threatening.

DON Herring, who died on April 28, aged 89, was a former chairman of the Blandford Mortain Twinning Association and cofounded the town's thriving U3A (University of the Third Age).

He was already bilingual in French and English when he was evacuated from Guernsey during the war at the age of 11. He stayed with an aunt and uncle in Scotland until joining the Army at the age of 14 as an apprentice.

His love of languages developed as he picked up Italian, Malay and others while serving with the Royal Signals in Trieste, France, Belgium, Holland, Cyprus, Egypt, Hong Kong and Malaysia.

He reached the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, and following retirement from the Army spent 11 years as a civilian engineer with NATO, working on a variety of projects.

He and his wife Brenda, who had four children, had bought a house

in Fishers Close, Blandford, in 1972, and when he retired in 1993 they came back to live there.

He joined the Twinning Association because he wanted to keep up his languages, and was quickly appointed secretary, then chairman from 1997 to 2004. He also started teaching Italian for Blandford U3A, which he co-founded with the late Ian Taylor in 2002 and for many years was co-chairman.

Mr Herring had been diagnosed with dementia several years before the death of his wife in May 2014, and he moved to the Grange care home in Milldown Road in 2013 when they could no longer look after one another without full time assistance.

A funeral service was being arranged for 11am on Wednesday May 31 at the United Reformed Church, followed by cremation at Poole Crematorium at 12.30pm.

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June 2017

Hall extension joy for church members CATHOLICS in Blandford celebrated the completion and opening of the hall extension to their church of Our Lady of Lourdes & St Cecilia in Whitecliff Mill Street with the Bishop of Plymouth, the Rt Rev Mark O'Toole, on the Feast of St Mark, April 25.

The Bishop officially opened the new hall, which will provide facilities for meetings and activities, following a service in the church. He was accompanied by parish priest Father Thomas and his predecessor Father Chacko in leading the congregation out of the church to the entrance.

He blessed the hall saying it would act as a threshold to the church in which the Catholic community could welcome visitors to events and festivals and so introduce them to the Catholic faith.

Father Thomas said the hall, costing £110,000, had been a long-held ambition for the local Catholic community, and several years in the planning, which had originally been led by Father Chacko.

He said it was the result of the endeavours of all members of the parish, paying particular tribute to the steering group of Marion and Ken Bateson, Lou Baily and Ruth Hiscock and the very active Catholic parish council which had co-ordinated fundraising activities.

"We are a small community, but our people are very faithful," he said.

A BUSY couple of months for the Performing Arts Theatre Academy was rewarded by the success of their first two ballet students passing their Grade 1 RAD exam.

The exam success this year has been a real highlight for the Academy, and to put the icing on the cake, a large proportion of the students performed at the Georgian Fayre.

Principals Becky Hollands and Lauren Newbury said: "They have all worked so hard and enjoyed every second being on stage, coping well with the technical difficulties and delays. Thank you to all the parents for your continued support - we couldn't do any of this without you."

Bishop of Plymouth, the Rt Rev Mark O'Toole, blesses the hall with Father Thomas and former parish priest Father Chacko.

Good causes in line for bag money THREE local projects are in competition for a share of a total of £7,000 in funding from the Tesco/Groundwork Bags of Help which will be decided this month and next by shoppers in Tesco's Blandford St Mary store.

Blandford's Cupola Project (Improved Access), the Disability Action Group's 'New for Old' and Stourpaine Parish Council's Grace Upward Junior Play Area will receive grants of £4,000, £2,000 or £1,000 from the 5p carrier bag levy.

Shoppers are being invited to vote for who they think should take away the top grant by casting the tokens they are given when they shop in store.

Durweston School Forest Classroom was one of the three nominated in the last round, and projects in Milborne St Andrew, Milton Abbas and Blandford St Mary shared the total in February.

The 'Improved Access' project at Blandford Parish Church is to improve disabled access, allowing full and dignified entry for those in wheelchairs, buggies and with walking aids through the front (west) door instead of having to use a side entrance via the bins, boiler and lavatories.

Rector, the Rev Jonathan Triffitt, said: "An award will go a long way towards securing the necessary funding required to improve access for all."

The 'New for Old' project for the

Disability Action Group funds new replacements for the oldest of its fleet of more than 100 mobility scooters and aids which the charity hires out at low cost to the disabled community of North Dorset.

Chairman Tony Dando said: "Eventually these scooters become beyond economical repair and have to be scrapped so purchasing new ones obviously reduces the workload of our small team of volunteer mechanics."

Stourpaine Parish Council is seeking funding to upgrade the Grace Upward Junior Play area, named after the family which looked after it for many years and donated the site on a peppercorn lease which has just been renewed with Stourpaine Village Hall and Playfield Fields Committee. The apparatus is old and needs replacing to offer outdoor activities to children in the village, particularly those in Hod View.

BLANDFORD Parish Church has relocated its church office from the Church of St Peter and St Paul in the Market Place to the Parish Centre in The Tabernacle.

Office hours will remain the same 9.30am to 12 noon Monday to Friday, and the phone number is still 01258 456260.

The church itself will remain open all day Monday to Friday until 4pm, and on Saturday mornings for coffee from 10am to midday.

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June 2017

Legion’s message: maybe we can help ANYONE who knows someone living in or around Blandford who may be entitled to help from the Royal British Legion is being urged to get in touch with its Blandford branch.

Branch treasurer Alex Williams said: "We may not be trained to help, but as they say, we know a man who can."

She said that there was now a £10 million fund available to former serving personnel, to supply hearing aids of far superior quality to those available on the NHS to those who have suffered as a result of their serving activities.

A serving or former member of the Armed Forces diagnosed with Mesothelioma (cancer caused by exposure to asbestos), who until recently would be retired on their War Pension only, can now choose a £140,000 lump sum to

help them and their families, bringing the amount more in line with what those on 'Civvy Street' are awarded.

Mrs Williams said: "As from April this year, War Pensions are exempt when means testing for social care takes place. After all, if you need care as a result of serving your country, why should you have to use your pension to pay for it?

"The Royal British Legion campaigns and lobbies governments tirelessly to get a fair deal for those who have, those who are and those who will in the future, dedicate at least a part of their lives, to protecting our country."

For information, call into Legion House in Church Lane, Blandford, or contact her by email to Blandford.treasurer@rbl.community.

New role at Abbey MILTON Abbey Heritage Trust, which has recently been formed to progress the Heritage Lottery and Viridor-funded restoration of the historic Abbey Church and landscape, has appointed the former estates bursar at Milton Abbey School as development manager to the project.

Brian Larcher brings years of experience in caring for property, design, development and operational management of visitor centres at Stratford-upon-Avon and Winchester, and will be working closely with the many volunteers and helpers who have given so generously of their time and talents over the years and helped to establish this project.

He is also seeking others to join them as stewards and guides. A reception on Thursday June 1 at 6pm for 6.30pm is open to all to hear about the programme of refurbishment and how people can be involved in events.

A summer exhibition featuring the landscape, history and heritage of the Abbey will be open from July 7 to August 30, and the recently appointed Provost of the Abbey at Milton, Chris Jervis, former chaplain at Canford and vicar of St Helier, Jersey, will lead a celebration of St Benedict Day on July 11 in the Abbey.

For more information, contact Brian by email to brian.larcher@maht.org.uk.

Lisa Holden (principal, Blanchards Bailey), Bob Henley (Blandford Opportunity Group treasurer), Colin Stevens (Blandford Opportunity Group committee chairman), and Laura Martin (solicitor and mediator, Blanchards Bailey).

Legal aid brings huge boost for pre-school A £2,000 cheque has been presented to a Blandford pre-school for children with additional needs, the Blandford Opportunity Group, by solicitors Blanchards Bailey following their fundraising for their nominated charity of the year in 2016.

The money raised will go towards buying new resources for the group. Spokesperson Nicola Roper said: "We are extremely grateful for the efforts of Blanchards Bailey and the money raised for the Opportunity Group.

"We have already bought a light box for the children to use. We are also planning to update our outside area now the weather is improving and hope to enhance this with lots of gardening equipment and plants and flowers."

The lawyers carried out a host of fundraising activities throughout 2016, including a quiz night, raf-

fle, the Trailway Challenge, dragon boat racing, bake sales, dress-down days, social evenings and an Easter egg hunt, in addition to supporting the charity at various events such as the Dorset Steam Fair and Blandford Yuletide Festival.

Solicitor and mediator at Blanchards Bailey, Laura Martin, said: "We are pleased to have raised this money for such a worthy cause. The charity does great work by supporting children who need additional help and giving them better opportunities in life.

"We have really enjoyed being involved and raising money for the fantastic children and staff at the school. Everyone had a great time knowing they were helping the charity."

The firm's chosen charity this year will be Age UK Dorchester (Rowan Cottage).

www.forumfocus.co.uk

26

The Blandford Friars Moor Veterinary team.

News from the surgeries IF you are planning to travel abroad for your holidays, you may need vaccinations.

Travel vaccinations against diphtheria, polio and tetanus (combined booster), typhoid, hepatitis A & B, and cholera are usually available free on the NHS to protect against diseases thought to represent the greatest risk to public health if brought into the UK. You're likely to have to pay for travel vaccinations, from designated centres only, against: Hepatitis B when not combined with hepatitis A, Japanese encephalitis and tick-borne encephalitis, meningitis vaccines, rabies, tuberculosis (TB), yellow fever.

The cost varies, but could be around £50 for each dose.

Neither Eagle House nor Whitecliff Surgeries provide these vaccines and the closest private clinics are at the Quarterjack Surgery in Wimborne, Sturminster Medical Centre or Abbey View Surgery in Shaftesbury. Some pharmacies and other GP practices may also offer this service, but you will need to ask.

Antimalarial medication can be bought over the counter at a pharmacy, but you should avoid travelling to an area where malaria is a risk if you are pregnant.

Travel vaccination arrangements should be made, if possible, at least eight weeks before you travel, to allow time for a comprehensive risk assessment of your travel plans. Some vaccinations need to be given well in advance to allow your body to develop immunity, and others involve multiple doses spread over several weeks.

Dependent on when and where you travel and the activities you plan, you don't always need vaccinations For up-to-date information on which vaccinations are recommended for different countries, see www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/destinations.aspx

June 2017

Diamond milestone for veterinary clinic FRIARS Moor Veterinary Clinic this year celebrates its 60th anniversary serving the community, and their sixth anniversary since opening in Blandford.

The practice was started in 1957

by Norman Coles from the family bungalow in Manston Road, Sturminster Newton. He was joined by a number of partners, including Ron Thrift, whose children Jane and James Thrift remember it being very much like James Herriot's 'All Creatures Great and Small'.

Ron's stepson, Douglas Adams, would often call him to ask for scientific terms and advice for his upcoming radio play, 'The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy'.

A purpose-built surgery in Sturminster Newton opened in 1981 and has now grown into a busy modern practice employing a dedicated team of 49 local people with 20 vets at branches in Sturminster Newton, Shaftesbury

and Blandford.

The modern Blandford clinic, located with ample parking on the Sunrise Business Park, is well equipped to remain progressive with veterinary science. The veterinary team of Andrew Hooker, Gilla Primrose and Tom Felton provide a professional and dedicated service, supported by a knowledgeable and friendly team of registered veterinary nurses and support staff.

For more information and to find out about their new Lifetime Care Club, call 01258 472160, or visit friarsmoorvets.co.uk.

The anniversary celebrations include a prize draw for all clients with a top prize of a £250 Plumber Manor voucher to be drawn after the Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show, where two stands will be decked out in vintage style with displays of veterinary equipment from the 1950s onwards.

Riders’ blue heaven AFTER several years of retirement, the Blandford Bluebell Ride returned on May 1, and this year raised funds for Southern Sudan.

It started at Newfield Farm, Pimperne, and wound its way through some of the most stunning bluebell country in the Cranborne Chase, including evocative landmarks like Fox Warren, Harbins Park, Peaky coppice, Stubhampton Bottom, Bloody Shard Gate and the Gunville Gallops.

Ride organiser Russell LucasRowe, said: "We were delighted

to host the event for such a good cause and the route we chose was truly stunning. The bluebell season in Dorset is one of the UK's most sensational events and there is no better way to experience it than on horseback."

The ride was for all ages and abilities with a choice of a seven or 14-mile course, and proceeds will be sent to the charity CRESS (Christian Relief and Education in Southern Sudan).

• See more on their Facebook page 'Heart of the Chase Bluebell Ride 2017'.

Natasha’s top marks A YOUNG lawyer from Stour Road, Blandford, has gained a distinction and the highest examination mark globally in 2016 in the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) 'Trust and Estates' exam, receiving a 'special' recognition award for this achievement.

Natasha Evans (right) is associate solicitor at Farnfields, Shaftesbury, practising private client work. Natasha is a

former pupil of The Blandford School and graduate of Bournemouth University School of Law.

June 2017

SCHOOLS

By George, what a show!

27

THE whole school supported Year 2 and Year 6 pupils at Milldown Primary during their SATS week in May - and put up a banner on the schools gates to prove it.

Children at Durweston CE VA Primary School celebrated St George's Day by coming in to school wearing their uniforms - not school uniforms, but those of the different organisations to which they belong outside of school. It was a great opportunity for the children to share all their badges and be proud of being a Scout, Guide, Cub, Beaver, Brownie or Rainbow.

Great fun at the fair EVERYONE had great time at the Durweston Country Fair and the organisers offered a huge thank you to everyone who helped make it happen and to everyone who came along.

Durweston Primary School and the playing fields committee had joined forces to put on a magnificent event that started with maypole dancing, ended with the White Helmets and had plenty to keep everyone entertained in between.

An enormous number of people came to join the fun - more than 1,200 cars were parked during the day. Pictured are the Sharks class maypole dancing.

Excellent outcome to Knighton House check THE Independent Schools Inspectorate gave Knighton House School and its pre-school The Orchard a perfect score when an inspection was carried out in March to evaluate the quality of education pupils are receiving.

The report judged pupils' academic and other achievements and their personal development and the school was found 'excellent' on both measures.

An open morning on May 20 gave an opportunity to tour the school, to meet the new Head Robin Gainher and, for those girls interested in boarding, to stay the night.

The science department at Knighton House started the term with a visit from Fantastiko science circus. The aim is to bring science and the circus together, and the day was run by a retired trapeze artist/engineer.

All the children experienced circus tricks and activities and learnt about the science behind the trick. They were then able to

apply what they had learnt about forces to further pieces of equipment, such as bean bag juggling, feather balancing, stilts and the unicycle, and finally the thrill of the tightrope and trapeze (pictured above).

"Finding out how circus tricks work is a great way to ignite the children's interest in science," said headmistress Sarah Wicks.

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SCHOOLS

June 2017

School’s blanket coverage A SMALL band of children at Pimperne Primary School gathered together with a couple of volunteers from the community to boldly go where they had not been before!

The aim was to knit a blanket for one of the local Blandford care homes, while gaining skills for life for a new up-and-coming generation of knitters.

After returning time and again to their lunchtime knitting club, the children will soon be presenting the finished work to the residents of Whitecliff House care home.

The children have loved every stitch in this endeavour and some are now ready to move on to knitting patterns to create their own items.

The way to win A team of children from Durweston CE VA Primary school went to Canford School to take part in an inter-school orienteering event organised by Poole and East Dorset School Sports Association.

Five other schools took part but Durweston came home victorious, despite being up against some much older children.

Durweston's Year 6 Amelie Tetley (right) was the fastest girl overall, beating girls in years 9 and 10.

Pimperne Primary School's knitting club members with the blanket they have knitted for Blandford's Whitecliff House care home.

June 2017

SPORT

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Swimmers splash out for charity MEMBERS of the Blandford Flyers swimming club took part in the Swimathon in aid of Marie Curie at the Blandford Leisure Centre, and thoroughly enjoyed themselves. They swam a total of 11.5km between them with a combined time of just under four hours to raise over ÂŁ600 for the cause.

Bowling club vice-president Norman Arnold, Mayor Jackie Stayt, Mayor’s Consort John Stayt and club president Gill Walford at the opening of the season at Blandford Bowling Club.

Bowlers back in action

From left: Taryn Scott-Brown (12), Jess Newton (11), Connie Wharton (11), Millie Creffield (11) and Alicia Fielding (11).

MORE than 70 members of Blandford Bowling Club assembled at the Milldown Road green for the opening day of the new season.

During the closed season, considerable work to upgrade the standard of the green was undertaken by club members, under the guidance of Dave Burge, and improvements have also been made to the club house facilities.

A cloudy but dry day allowed Mayor, Councillor Jackie Stayt, and Consort John Stayt to bowl the first woods and declare the new season underway.

The Mayor wished club president Gill Walford and members success in taking the club forward with an ambitious programme for the men's, ladies' and juniors' sections. Club members then had their first bowl on the improved green and retired to the clubhouse for a buffet meal.

On May 6, an open day gave visitors an opportunity to try their hand at the sport and sample the facilities in the clubhouse, and junior members enjoyed their practice session.

For more information, see blandfordbowlingclub.com.

Valley call to runners RUNNERS of all abilities are invited to help Tarrant Monkton celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Tarrant Valley 10, which will be held on Sunday July 16.

Registration is open until the date of the event for the 10k race on roads, bridleways and farm tracks across the Cranborne Chase, and the one-mile children's fun run.

For more information see tarrantvalley10.webs.com.

Erin Wells, aged 11.

Joseph Silk (14) and his brother Ben Silk (8).

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SPORT

Cycling for a good cause

Winners at Ashley Wood

Winners of the Buck Trophy at Ashley Wood, June Walker (left) and Terry Everett (right), with a stableford score of 39, pictured with club captain Clive Jones and ladies’ captain Ann Morris.

LILLI Horn, a Junior member at The Ashley Wood Golf Club, walked away with the title of Dorset Schools Girl Champion and U16 champion with a score of 77 at the Dorset Schools golf championship played at Weymouth.

She now goes forward to the SW Schools Championship in Bristol and the National Schools Championship in Walsall.

June 2017

Winners of the Keith Durbin Shield at Ashley Wood were vice-captain Steve Sanger (left) and Sue Hampton (right), with a score of 40 points. They are pictured with club captain Clive Jones and ladies’ captain Ann Morris.

REGISTRATION is now open for the 2017 Macmillan Dorset Bike Ride, which will pass through Blandford on Sunday July 2, with a refreshment stop at the Corn Exchange.

The annual event, now in its 29th year, is supported by Sunseeker International and others so that all the money given by those taking part goes to help people living with cancer in Dorset.

Cyclists can help by joining in the ride and raising funds through a variety of different means, and will be starting from Corfe Mullen recreation ground on a choice of six different routes.

For more details and how to enter visit the website at macmillanbikeride.co.uk or call 01202 601705.

THE Friends of Blandford Hospital are holding their annual charity golf day at Ashley Wood Golf Club on Friday June 23.

There are still a few team slots available for a fun competition with great prizes supporting a very local cause. For more information or to register a team, call 01258 451456.

SPORT

June 2017

Wheelchair rugby helps Jack find a new way forward JACK Sims, of Off Camber in Salisbury Street, suffered lifechanging injuries in a bike accident in the French Alps last year.

Neighbouring business, the Yellow Bicycle CafĂŠ, on Easter Monday staged a pancake bake-in to raise funds to help him with some of the specialised equipment he needs as a result.

Freshly made pancakes were offered in return for a donation, and staff gave their wages for the day, with the result that a total of ÂŁ635.85 was raised and presented to Off Camber. Around 250 pancakes had been devoured in the space of four hours.

"People came from as far afield as Gillingham to join in, and at one point we were so packed we were serving pancakes on the other side of the street," said proprietor Steve Bell. "Jack himself came along and let people have a go on his hand bike."

Jack, meanwhile, has taken up a new sport ideally suited to someone confined as he is to a wheelchair. He is a member of the Dorset Destroyers Wheelchair Rugby Club, which currently has a team in second place in its league, and has four local members.

He said: "Since my cycling accident in the Alps last July, my life has had an abrupt change of direction. Waking up in Grenoble hospital to find that I had badly fractured four vertebrae, essentially severing my spinal cord resulting in complete paralysis from my

chest down, was a tough pill to swallow initially."

After two weeks in France he returned to the UK by ambulance and spent 11 weeks in Salisbury hospital.

"When I eventually started getting up, we started with 15 minutes a day. That was when the severity of my injury really hit home. I felt as if living any sort of 'normal' life again would be totally unachievable."

Now, however, he finds it hard to believe that he managed to mentally accept what had happened so quickly, despite his share of medical issues along the way.

But with the help of the team at Salisbury and community occupational therapist, he now lives totally independently and drives a car converted with hand controls, with a hand cycle on order generously funded by the Matt Hampson Foundation, which helps young people injured through sports.

While in hospital a wheelchair rugby taster session was arranged, and after five minutes he was hooked.

"After the session I immediately got in contact with the Dorset Destroyers, who train in Poole.

The next Sunday I was there for the first of my four free taster sessions and they couldn't do enough for me, even welding extra supports to my chair before becoming a full member.

"We train once a week, and the club also runs various other wheelchair sports on a Friday evening. It

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Above: Jack with the pancake team.

Below (from left): local members of the Dorset Destroyers, John Colgan, Jack Sims, Paul Sutherland and Dave Jolliffe.

has not just given me a sporting vent, but a chance to meet some amazing people, draw from their personal experiences, and at the same time practically forget that any of us have a disability at all."

John Colgan of Blandford, Jack Sims of Off Camber, Paul Sutherland of Durweston and Dave Jolliffe, a former local teacher of Winterborne Stickland, are all members of the Dorset Destroyers wheelchair rugby team, which has been running for two years.

It is now second in division three of the new recreational league, allowing the more functional disabled to play. Paul Sutherland of

Durweston is club captain.

Jack said the Destroyers had given his life so much in just a few months, it was time to give something back, so he is arranging and taking part in a 10km sponsored XC push in his day-to-day wheelchair on July 30.

"Be prepared to see me wheeling around town with my sponsorship forms. I would like to say a massive thank you to all the individuals, businesses, charities, friends, family and groups that have helped me along the way and all gone well above and beyond. The kindness of everyone has been humbling."

England joy for Abbi ENGLAND secured victory in Prague thanks in part to 16-year-old Pimperne girl Abbi Smith, goalkeeper to the England U17s water polo squad, who won the EU Nations Cup after beating South Africa in the final.

Abbi, whose competition kit was sponsored by Blandford Lions, is also part of a smaller squad who are in training for selection as one of the final 13 players to represent Great Britain at the European Championships in Serbia.

The Lions' Nigel Hodder said: "Blandford Lions are proud to have sponsored Abbi. It is a shame that talented young sports people have to rely on charitable donations in order represent their country on the international stage."

Abbi, a student at Parkstone Grammar School, is the only Dorset girl in the squad, and one of only three in the country who have represented England as goalkeeper.

Blandford Lions' Nigel Hodder presents a giant cheque for an England sports kit to water polo star Abbi Smith.

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June 2017

Forum Focus - forthcoming meetings & events To Saturday June 3: Special halfterm reduced price entry for children and students, Blandford Fashion Museum, details 01258 453006 Thursday June 1: Reception, Milton Abbey, for those interested in helping with the Abbey community, 6.30pm Friday June 2: Public meeting to form Blandford Area Development Trust, Parish Centre, Blandford, 7pm The Watkins and Swarbrick Band, acoustic music, Durweston village hall, 7.30pm, free but must book on 01305 837299 Wessex Acoustic Folk, Chris and Kellie While, Silver, Royal British Legion, Blandford, 8.15pm Friday June 2 and Saturday June 3: Spetisbury Festival, Spetisbury Occasional Dramatic Society present two evenings of comedy sketches, village hall, bar 7 for7.30pm, details Lynne Nicholls 01258 858964 Sunday June 4: Spetisbury Festival Country Day, DT11 9EA, 11am to 5pm Round Robin Ramblers meet 2pm Milton Abbas church for 4.5-mile walk around Milton Abbas, details 01258 880044 Baffling Blandford magical walk, starts Crown Hotel, 4pm (and every Sunday), details on Facebook or artoftheimpossible.com/magic Monday June 5: Blandford Floral Group demonstration by Julia Russett, My Life in Flowers, United Reformed church hall, 2pm Election hustings with parliamentary candidates, 7pm, Blandford Parish Church Tuesday June 6: Blandford Macular Support Group meeting, Parish Centre (and every 1st Tuesday) 2pm to 4pm, details 01747 811191 Wednesday June 7: Frugalicious cookery course (5th of 5), Methodist church hall, Blandford, 10.30am to 2.30pm Step Ahead group for carers of people with memory problems, Blandford Community Centre, Heddington Drive, 1.30pm to 3pm (every 1st Wednesday) The Big Festival Quiz, teams of 6, Spetisbury village hall, 7.30 pm, booking essential via Stuart at slinsley1967@gmail.com or 07464 709672 Thursday June 8: General Election, polling stations open 7am to 10pm Friday June 9: Blandford Farmers Market, Market Place (every 2nd Friday) New specialist respiratory class, Knees Up, The Studio, Common Lane, Blandford, 1pm to 2pm, details 01258 458116 Blandford Evening WI, Experiences of a Documentary Maker, with Richard Edwards, Parish Centre, Blandford, 7pm Saturday June 10: Spetisbury Festival nature walk, free but must book on 01258 857336,

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. meet Spetisbury school car park, 10.30am Archbishop Wake Primary School, Blandford, summer fair with BBQ and donkey rides, 11am to 2.30pm (car booters from 10am) Shillingstone Seniors Club coffee morning with stalls, for club and Air Ambulance funds, Everetts Lane, Shillingstone, 10am to 12.30pm Tarrant Gunville village fete, Eastbury House, Tarrant Gunville, with Stour Valley Brass Band and Mr Merlin & Okey Dokey the Dragon, from 2.15pm Bingo Night for Julia's House, Blandford United Reformed Church hall, 6.30pm Quiz in aid of school for teams of 6, refreshments, Okeford Fitzpaine primary school, 7pm, details sharonconway44@yahoo.com Musical variety with Jubilate, Child Okeford village hall, tickets 01258 860279, 7.30pm Sunday June 11: Open farm Sunday, Gold Hill organic farm (with Dorset Wildlife Trust and National Trust), cafĂŠ and art gallery open; and at North Farm, Horton, 11am to 4pm Concert by classical guitarist Mark Jennings, St Mary's church, Shroton, 5.30pm, refreshments, tickets on door Monday June 12: Visually impaired readers group, Blandford Library (and every 2nd Monday) 2pm to 4pm, all welcome, details 01747 811191 Blandford Forum Railway Club open night summer social at Scout HQ, Eagle House Gardens, refreshments, parking, 7.30pm to 9.30pm Tuesday June 13: Blandford Forum & District Stamp Club monthly meeting, Woodhouse Gardens pavilion, 7.30pm, details 01258 471422 Thursday June 15: Carers' Vintage tea party to celebrate National Carers Week, Blandford Community Centre, Heddington Drive, book on 01258 480762 Blandford Art Society review of work for exhibition, Pimperne village hall, 2pm, details on blandfordartsociety.weebly.com Blandford Archaeology Group visit to Martin Green's farm and museum near Sixpenny Handley, 7.30 pm, details 01258 452831 Kings Fat Thursday Jazz Night, Kings Arms, Blandford (every 3rd Thursday), 8pm Friday June 16: Blandford Community Centre and Castleman House open day, 10am to 2pm, details tricuro.org.uk Pop-Up Opera present Camerosa's comic opera Il Matrimonio Segreto

(The Secret Marriage), Durweston village hall, 7.30pm, tickets 01258 488883 Friday June 16 to Sunday June 18: 150th anniversary Flower/Art/Craft Festival, United Reformed Church, Blandford, 10am to 6pm, Saturday lunches and evening concert 7pm Saturday June 17: National Civic Day, Woodhouse Pavilion, 10am to 4pm, guided walk 2pm, details 01258 459346 Sturminster Newton Show, 10.30am to 4pm Daniel Jones memorial football tournament and family fun day, Stourpaine playing fields, from 11am Child Okeford Hey Day noon to 5pm, plus Hey Night with beer, hot food and a boogie, 7pm to 11pm Beetle Drive, Blandford Methodist Church hall, in aid of Blandford Foodbank, 7.30pm, book on 01258 454091 Saturday June 17 and Sunday June 18: Tarrant Gunville & Stubhampton open gardens and art exhibition in village hall, 1pm-5pm, for Weldmar Hospicecare Sunday June 18: French market, Blandford Market Place Fippenny Fayre, Okeford Fitzpaine recreation ground, with Shaftesbury Town Silver Band, novelty dog show, refreshments, car boots, stalls in aid of village hall, from noon Fathers' Day and The Great Get Together 2017 celebration with teas, music, magic, Winterborne Stickland village green, from 3.30pm Tuesday June 20: Child Okeford Flower Arranging Club practical workshop on topiary trees, village hall, 2.15pm, details 01258 863775 Wednesday June 21: Blandford Forum Townswomen's Guild talk by Sara Loch on the parish church Cupola Project, Blandford Community Centre, Heddington Drive, 2pm Blandford Carers, Durweston village hall, 2pm, talk by diabetic education officer from Forston Clinic Blandford and District Horticultural Society 22nd Annual Sweet Pea and Rose Show, Anne Biddlecombe Hall, Tarrant Keyneston, doors open 7.45pm, refreshments, free entry Heritage perimeter walk with Blandford & District Civic Society from Eagle House Gardens car park, 7pm, details 01258 459346 The Valley Garden Club, Pamela Hambro Hall, Winterborne Stickland, talk by Thomas Stone on roses of Mottisfont Abbey, 7.30pm Thursday June 22: The Hub at the Club, all ages welcome, Iwerne Minster Club, 9.30am to noon, details Jenny Parkhouse 01258 812603 Dorset Wildlife Trust morning walk

on Fontmell Down with DWT warden Steve Oliver, meet NT car park 10am, please book on 07824 874273 Living Spit with The Fabulous Bacon Boys, Gold Hill Farm, 7.30pm, cafĂŠ from 6pm, bookings 01258 861612 Friday June 23: Friends of Blandford Hospital charity golf day, Ashley Wood Golf Club, details and to register a team 01258 451456 Friday June 23 and Saturday June 24: Dorset Midsummer Music Festival, Warren Farm, Bulbarrow DT11 0HQ, Friday 8pm to 10.30pm, Saturday noon to 11pm, see midsummermusic.co.uk Friday June 23 to Sunday June 25: Armed Forces Weekend Friday: Open evening with comedian Matt Black, Royal British Legion, Church Lane, Blandford, from 7pm Saturday: Celebration street party from 11am, Royal British Legion, evening live music at the Greyhound, live music and buffet at the Kings Arms Saturday and Sunday: Exhibition 'Communications - the difference between Victory and Defeat', with Royal Signals Museum and Blandford 14-18 Group, Corn Exchange, Blandford, 10am to 4pm Saturday June 24: Dorset Beer Festival, Hall & Woodhouse Brewery Blandford Cats Protection Coffee morning and stalls, Woodhouse Gardens Pavilion, Blandford, 10am to 12.30pm Spetisbury fete and dog show, Spetisbury Manor DT11 9EB, noon to 4pm Blandford Choral Society presents Teatime Summer Music, Blandford Parish Centre, cream tea, 3pm, details 07484737687, and Summer Music at The Crown, 5pm Shroton summer fete, The Glebe Sunday June 25: Blandford Hidden Gardens, 15 gardens open for local and national charities, refreshments, 11am to 5pm Tuesday June 27: Resurence Dorset talk by Charles Miller on Soils, Sabotage & Sequestration of the planet, Blandford Museum, Beres Yard, 7.30pm, details 01258 818223 or meetup.com/ResurgenceDorset Thursday June 29 to Sunday July 2: Festival of Flowers, St Nicholas Church, Child Okeford, 10am to 4pm Friday June 30: Blandford & District U3A, Adrian Green of Salisbury Museum on General Augustus PittRivers, Durweston village hall, 2pm, details 01258 455081 Wessex Acoustic Folk, Jess and Richard Arrowsmith, Royal British Legion, Blandford, 8.15pm Last Friday in the Blandford Museum Garden, social evening with refreshments, from 4pm Friday June 30 and Saturday July 1: Well and Connected exhibition, Corn Exchange, Blandford, Friday 2pm to 7pm, Saturday 10am to 3pm