October 2017 Forum Focus

FORUM FOCUS For Blandford and surrounding villages Issue No. 67

Carnival of delights: Pages 8-10

October 2017

Another Long Lost Family reunited

Now Liz finds brothers she never knew IN Blandford's second 'Long Lost Family' reunion story in as many months, two brothers have come along unexpectedly for Blandford's deputy town crier Liz Rawlings, who was adopted at birth.

Last month we reported the discovery by Joan Wills of the son she had given up for adoption 50 years ago.

This month it's a 70-year gap

Liz's brother Chris when they toasted their meeting over champagne at the Crown Hotel in Blandford.

which has been spanned with the discovery and meeting with two brothers Liz did not know she had in the space of two-and-ahalf weeks.

"You wait 70 years for one to come along, then two turn up at once!" said the ever-adventurous Liz, who celebrated her 70th birthday last year by abseiling down the tower of Blandford Parish Church.

It was through a kind friend in Blandford, Mike Lofthouse, who researched her birth family for her using a well-known genealogy site, that she first learnt of her birth mother's background.

"By Easter I was content in the new-found knowledge that she was half-Welsh and halfAmerican, that I was apparently named after my feisty Welsh grandmother and that I could trace my American roots back a couple of generations. I felt grounded at last.

"Then, on July 1, Mike spotted a posting that had flagged up on the site - someone else was researching his (my) birth mother's family.

"Being told by Mike 'You have a

Liz and her brother Michael in Blandford’s Stour Meadows a few days after her meeting with her other brother Chris. brother' was an unbelievable moment! The following day we made full contact, and my brother Christopher and I chatted delightedly for nearly an hour.

Twenty months younger than me, and also adopted, he's a retired commercial pilot with a small farm near Bedford, a lovely wife and five beautiful and very talented daughters."

Over the next few days they exchanged emails and photos

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and finally met for lunch on July 12, along with Chris's wife Aeone and, of course, Mike Lofthouse, without whose efforts this would not have happened.

"Then over a champagne toast, Chris announced that two days earlier he had found another brother!

"We knew our mother had married in 1956, and that both she and her husband had died in the • To Page 2

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October 2017

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CONTACTS

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Forum Focus is an independent, not-forprofit, community publication produced entirely by volunteers. We are always pleased to receive offers of help.

Where to find Forum Focus IF anyone would like join our team to deliver in their own or any other area that has no delivery, please get in touch (see contacts above).

Copies can be picked up from any of our drop points 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, Chaffers in Salisbury 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, Blandford Leisure Centre in Milldown Road, the Central Shop in Heddington Drive, the Brewery Visitor Centre, Lidl in Higher Shaftesbury Lane, 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.

DEADLINES Adverts: Wednesday October 11 Editorial: Thursday October 12 Deliveries from Wednesday October 25 View future deadlines on our website.

OUR ADVERTISERS Please support our advertisers who have given us their support. All material published in Forum Focus (either in the magazine or the website), including adverts, editorials, articles and all other content is published in good faith. However, Forum Focus accepts no liability for any errors or omissions and does not endorse any companies, products or services that appear in the publication or on the website.

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Mother charged over daughter’s crash death A MOTHER has been accused of causing her three-year-old daughter's death and of drink-driving after their car crashed on the A354 at Thickthorn Cross, near Gussage St Michael, on August 24.

Alanda Pike, 34, of Shaftesbury, was driving a Vauxhall Astra when it collided with a Ford Transit at around 7.45am on the opening day of the Great Dorset Steam Fair.

She suffered a serious head injury and was flown to Southampton General Hospital by air ambulance alongside her daughter Louisa May, who died the following day.

The van driver, a 44-year-old woman from Salisbury, suffered serious injuries and was taken to Salisbury District Hospital.

Both drivers have subsequently been released from hospital.

The crash caused major disruption with the start of the Steam Fair.

Dorset and Wiltshire firefighters, paramedics and ambulances and two air ambulances attended, and some fair-goers reported seeing up to 20 police vehicles.

The road was closed for seven hours between the B3081 Sixpenny Handley roundabout and the Long Critchel junction for forensic examination and for the scene to be made safe.

Diversions were put in place.

Police appealed for witnesses, asking anyone with information to contact PC 1970 Kevin Farenden of the Serious Collision Investigation Team at Dorset

Police at dorset.police.uk, via email SCIT@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting incident number 24:76.

Alanda Pike appeared at Poole Magistrates' Court charged with causing death by dangerous driving, causing serious injury by dangerous driving, and causing death by careless driving while over the prescribed alcohol limit.

She is due to appear at Bournemouth Crown Court on October 5.

• A 24-year-old man from the Shaftesbury area has been charged with causing death by

driving without due care on April 2 when a couple from Blandford died as a result of a crash on the Higher Shaftesbury Road, near Compton Abbas airfield.

He is due to appear before Weymouth Magistrates' Court on October 9, accused also of causing death by driving a vehicle unlicensed and while over the specified drug-drive limit.

Motorcyclist Sid Samways, 74, died at the scene and his pillion passenger wife Barbara, 71, was airlifted to Southampton General Hospital with serious injuries and died later.

Liz’s long lost brothers • From Page 1 last few years. He had rung our mother's funeral directors who had given him a contact number.

"Chris assumed he was ringing her brother-in-law, so was astounded to be told 'no, I'm her son'. Michael (and his older brother Peter, who sadly died a few years ago) were born to our mother and her husband before their marriage, which explained why we hadn't found them earlier - we'd both been looking, just in case.

"On learning of Chris's and my existence, Michael's first remark was 'I've always wanted a sister'!"

Michael and his wife, who live near Bath, met Liz six days later, revealing an unexpected wealth of information about their mother, photos, and the knowledge that Peter's widow also wanted to make contact.

"Since then the three of us have undergone sibling DNA testing, in case there's a paternal link as well, but the results so far are inconclusive. We're waiting on further test results, which may be some time in coming as the samples are in a lab in Houston Texas, which is still recovering from the August hurricane," said Liz. "While there is a slight possibility that we're full siblings (the history is complicated!), we'll happily settle for half-sibling status, and our friendship continues to grow and deepen."

October 2017

Two die in plane crash

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A 64-year-old pilot from the Blandford area and his passenger, a 67year-old from Shaftesbury, were killed when their Tiger Moth light aircraft crashed east of Compton Abbas Airfield on August 16.

Police received a report at 9.28am of the plane coming down. Road closures were put in place while the smoke cleared and emergency services attended the scene.

The airfield on their Facebook page announced: "Many of you will be aware of the very sad events surrounding last weekend's incident at the airfield. The incident is being investigated and we expect it will take several months for the report to come out."

The two men have not been formally named, but one of the victims was revealed to be a stalwart supporter of Shaftesbury Football Club, whose members stood for a minute's silence before their next game.

Historic choir signs off on a sad note BLANDFORD Choral Society has announced that the last chords have been sung, ending more than 150 years of music making.

The choir will formally close from the end of September.

Members, many of whom have belonged for more than 30 years, were saddened to hear of the closure, but their number has depleted to such an extent that they no longer have a viable range of voices.

The choir, which rehearsed in Blandford St Mary Primary School, have performed a variety of music in and around Blandford, their most recent performance being with the Weatherbury Singers at Blandford Parish Church with the Faure Requiem and Cantique de Jean Racine and Pergolesi Magnificat.

They regularly sang at the Civic Remembrance Service in November and Carols at Christmas in Blandford Parish Church, and last year joined several choirs from Dorset in the Dorset Guild of Singers to perform Rossini's Petite Messe Solennelle at The Lighthouse in Poole.

Chair Judith Crompton said: "Surplus funds are being distributed to charities supporting singing in Dorset, including the Dorset Rural Music School, and the Michael James Trust (a previous conductor of BCS)."

Most other assets have been disposed of to various choirs, but they still have to find a home for 25 aubergine scarves and 12 bow ties. Enquiries to 07484 737687.

Station boards in place REPLICA running-in boards have been provided at the Spetisbury station site thanks to a generous donation from the parish council.

Until the station closed in 1956, large timber signs informed passengers that they were arriving at Spetisbury, and one has been positioned on each platform in the approximate position as the originals.

The cost of the materials was met by the parish council, and both signs have been built and painted by members of the Project team who met for a special work party. After a final coat of paint, they will become a welcome addition to the station site, and it is planned to add more authentic-looking signage in the future.

Station Project members Kevin Mitchell and Moira Connolly are pictured next to one of new replica running-in boards.

Five of the many students at The Blandford School who achieved excellent results in this year’s A-level exams, putting the school among the top 25% in the country. Pictured are Alyce Peaty, Emma Sully, Cameron McNab, Flo Bailey and Ashlea Gale. Full story & more pictures on Pages 24-25.

Display team’s last ride THE Royal Signals Motorcycle Display Team, The White Helmets, rode for the last time through Blandford on Wednesday September 27 in their final public appearance and as a gesture of farewell to the town where they have been based.

The event, arranged jointly by the Town Council and Blandford Camp, became the focus of the Civic Day of Mayor Councillor Peter Clark.

Mayors and chairmen of other local authorities in Dorset were guests.

Councillor Clark, speaking before the event, said: "It will be an honour to have the White Helmets ride through the town. For 90 years the riders have demonstrated the finer qualities of the Royal Signals soldier that of teamwork, confidence, commitment and courage. Qualities needed in 1920 and from the Royal Signals soldier of today."

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Heatwave brings a boost for successful steam fair THE Great Dorset Steam Fair showcased picture perfect vintage Britain during the August Bank Holiday weekend, when scorching temperatures gave the event a huge boost, with massive numbers attending and lots of pay-on-arrival campers.

The event, which consistently draws impressive crowds of dedicated enthusiasts, was regarded by the organisers to have been one of the most successful.

The fair works to bring history alive, encouraging a wide range of diverse and rare exhibits from across the UK and Europe, as well as showcasing traditional skills and equipment such as steam ploughing, threshing, heavy horses and agricultural machinery.

Alongside traditional working and showman's engines for which the event is famous, visitors were delighted with lovingly preserved shepherd's huts and living wagons, as well as a vast range of restored vehicles.

The White Helmets also performed their final big event in the South before disbanding after 90 years, and a particular success was the WWI area, with its authentic recreated trenches and soldier encampment.

The 'Skinners Remount Horse Depot', with fully accessible stable, received Overall Best Exhibit and was awarded the Michael Oliver Memorial Cup.

Acting and retired servicemen, led by Andy Smerland, gave the public an insight into the role horses played during WW1, and their connection to Dorset with the various regiments based here.

The crowds were also delighted to see the 'Ypres Bells' - on display throughout the festival in a very late addition to the Steam Fair programme, and cast by John Taylor & Co as part of a unique heritage project for the Passchendaele commemorations.

As a fitting close after a small dedication of thanks by managing director Martin Oliver and project coordinator Alan Regin, the bells left the site by Dennis and Thornycroft army lorries owned by John Arthur and John Marshall from North Yorkshire in the first leg of their journey to deliver the bells via the Menin Gate Memorial to St George's Memorial Church in Ypres.

Martin Oliver said: "This year's event has been a resounding success and in keeping with our passion to bring history to life, it has been an absolute pleasure, as always, to work with the various heritage groups. People often think we are purely a 'steam event,' but it's much, much more. Each year we want to bring something more unusual."

Next year will be the 50th anniversary of the event, founded in 1968.

October 2017

Andy Smerland with the Michael Oliver Memorial Cup for best exhibit overall. Photo: Sian Court, SKC Photography.

Louise Hall, the charity ride co-ordinator, with Laura Kelly, the fundraising manager from Julia's House.

The Rev Anthony Macrow-Wood gives the address at the GDSF thanksgiving service.

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October 2017

Churchman’s praise for community spirit THE archdeacon of Dorset, the Rev Anthony Macrow-Wood, gave the address at the traditional Sunday morning service of thanksgiving for the steam fair, saying it was the first year he had spent in the fair's church tent.

"I was bowled over by the scale and nature of the thing," he said. "An extraordinary temporary town springs up in the middle of the countryside with 20,000 residents and 40,000 visitors a day, all sharing a love of agricultural and industrial heritage.

"It is good to remind ourselves of where we have come from to give us confidence about the future.

Events at Grenfell Tower showed us how fragment-

ed parts of our society have become, and community is forged by sharing experience and knowledge.

"This is a temporary but very real community, not a virtual community existing by Smartphone - in online presence we can apply a filter of bits we like that we want others to see of us."

He said the whole of the show was a memorial to its founder Michael Oliver, and to other supporters, exhibitors, commentators and helpers now passed away, whose names were read out, including the former show chaplain Chris Edmunds, who had made the lectern from which he was speaking.

The hard drive goes under the roller

Grisly ending for author’s final books

A few of the volunteers from the 11th Signal Regiment with a selection of the many engines, men and crew who have been involved in the charity rides this year.

Left: Linda Smith outside her living wagon. Above: The road diggers at work at the fair. Photos: Sian Court, SKC Photography.

Children’s hospice the chosen charity THE 11th Signal Regiment this year supported Julia's House, the charity chosen as beneficiary of the trailer steam rides around the heavy haulage area, during the event with volunteers from the Blandford Camp.

They collected money on behalf of the charity, having approached the children's hospice prior to the fair in an effort to build relationships within the community and support the charity, which offers respite care to support families and friends of those with children with life-limiting

illnesses.

They provide a support network for people, taking them on days out or going to their homes to provide care, and depend on charity donations to operate, receiving only six per cent of their funding from the government.

• 4ever Vintage, whose shop is next to Beatons in the Market Place, Blandford, were thrilled to be awarded the Sheila Howe Bowl trophy for the best stall display, judged amongst the hundreds of craft stalls at the Great Dorset Steam Fair.

THE unfinished books of Sir Terry Pratchett were destroyed by a steamroller at the Great Dorset Steam Fair.

In line with the late novelist's wishes, his computer hard drive was crushed by a vintage steamroller named Lord Jericho.

The destruction of the hard drive was conducted ahead of the opening of a new exhibition about the author's life and work.

Rob Wilkins, who manages the Pratchett estate, tweeted pictures of the event from the official Terry Pratchett Twitter account.

He wrote: "About to fulfil my obligation to Terry. There goes the browsing history. Many thanks to @steamfair. Soon to be on display at @SalisburyMuseum."

He later tweeted an amusing internet meme with the words: "It's as if a million readers suddenly cried out in horror."

Pratchett, famous for his colourful Discworld series, lived near Salisbury and died in March 2015 after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease.

After his death, fellow fantasy author Neil Gaiman, Pratchett's close friend and collaborator, told the Times that Pratchett had wanted "whatever he was working on at the time of his death to be taken out along with his computers, to be put in the middle of a road and for a steamroller to steamroll over them all".

The mangled hard drive has now gone on display at a major exhibition about the author at Salisbury Museum. It will run until January 13.

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October 2017

Corn Exchange verdict causes disagreement THE future of the Corn Exchange following Blandford Town Council's decision to abandon the grandiose regeneration and development scheme for which they hoped to secure Heritage Lottery funding has continued to be a hot topic for debate.

The Friends of the Forum, who relaunched under their new branding at a High Sheriff's reception in the Corn Exchange in March last year, after originally launching a regeneration funding campaign in September 2014 as the Corn Exchange Challenge, have announced they are disbanding.

Over the last 12 months they have been focusing largely on establishing a Community Interest Company, but chairman Helen Cooper announced on September 8: "The current committee of Friends Group volunteers will be standing down with immediate effect.

"The Corn Exchange Regeneration Project aimed to restore some-

thing special, together with providing an innovative community venue fit for the 21st century. We feel that the 'patch it and repair' approach now being taken by Blandford Town Council is unsustainable, and will not create a venue capable of meeting the needs of the town."

The Friends' group was tasked with raising match-funding for the ÂŁ5 million project, as well as raising the profile of the venue, and she said huge support had been forthcoming.

"We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported the scheme to help raise over ÂŁ7,000, which we would like to donate towards the installation of the lift. This will improve access to the upper floors and increase the lettable space for events in the building. The Georgian Chambers upstairs - the oldest and most beautiful element of the Corn Exchange - are currently underused because access is so difficult."

The Town Council responded that they were shocked and disappointed at the Friends of the Forum's announcement, which they had chosen not to discuss with any members of the council before it was issued.

They revealed that a meeting had been arranged with the Town Clerk to discuss a future event and general update, but would now only be held for the transfer of the funds that the Friends raised.

"As stated in Forum Focus last month, councillors felt that without the certainty of external funding from the Heritage Lottery, the plan for the regeneration, radical and bold in its inception and scope, cannot be fulfilled.

"It was for these reasons that the chairman of the Corn Exchange Regeneration Project Board, the late Cllr Esme Butler, first raised grave concerns over the future of the project and the Stage 1 HLF funding application back in January 2017.

"We had hoped to continue working with the Friends of the Forum on a revised regeneration project as doing nothing is simply not an option for this Grade I listed building and a patch/repair job is not the approach that has been agreed by the Town Council.

"It is reassuring that the Friends intend donating the funds, raised with Cllr Butler's support, towards a lift because the access to the Town Hall and Council Chamber needs addressing."

Visitors and exhibitors at the Community Expo in the building on September 16 were invited to give their views on how the project might be taken forward. The Town Council has asked for written representations by October 16 in time for the council meeting later in the month to consider the options; it is likely to be held in closed session because of potential staffing implications.

Those campaigning for the retention of the stage have been seeking and offering advice on how the acoustics and stage area might be improved, and a number of suggestions have come forward in the light of work currently being carried out on the façade.

Some of the items in the original scheme for which planning permission was granted in 2014 have now been superseded by plans to upgrade the existing kitchen area and install new lighting using funds which are already available to the town council.

Ex-Mayor died from meningitis AN inquest which opened in Bournemouth was told that former Mayor of Blandford Esme Butler had died suddenly from meningitis.

A serving member of Blandford Town Council and North Dorset District Council, she collapsed at her home on May 15 and was rushed to Poole Hospital but failed to respond to treatment and went into cardiac arrest, passing away less than 24 hours later, aged 61.

Assistant coroner Brendan Allen adjourned the inquest until February 14 next year and has asked for statements from Mrs Butler's GP and family, as well as reports from Poole Hospital.

DETECTIVES are not looking for anyone else in connection with an alleged rape in Blandford in the early hours of Sunday August 27 following the release without charge of a 21-year-old man. He had been arrested on suspicion of rape after the incident near Hawkers Close in Salisbury Road involving a 19-year-old walking home from a nightclub at around 4.15am.

October 2017

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8 AFTER heavy rain on the Friday evening which brought the funfair on Crown Meadows to a halt and more rain next morning, the skies cleared during the afternoon to bring out the crowds, the entries and the helpers at Blandford Carnival.

Seven steam engines led the procession through the town, and a giant C&D South West articulated lorry festooned with balloons brought up the rear.

In between were three bands, four groups of majorettes, performances by three youth drama groups and an arts festival, one large float and a strong field of walking and vehicular entries, some motorised, some not.

It was a magnificent show of support but the four-strong committee has appealed for more help to organise the town's annual event.

Blandford Lions, who urged people to buy glow sticks and other items from them rather than from traders who give nothing to Carnival, turned out in force to raise a total of ÂŁ600, which was split equally between Carnival funds and their own local causes.

There was only a short shower as the steam engines and Quarterjacks Youth Marching

October 2017

Carnival of delights

A colourful contribution from the Performing Arts Theatre Academy.

Band headed off at a cracking pace, followed by the Mayoral party and Carnival Court (Miss Blandford Carnival Evie Rodger, Princess Lexi Wright and attendants Kacey Bumby and Lara Miller) and the rest of the parade.

Blandford Evening WI, winners of best endeavour and local entry, followed the Yellow Brick

Road as characters from the Wizard of Oz, young performers from The Performing Arts Theatre Academy won the People's Choice Rosebowl.

Other entrants were Stagecoach, Signs Drama, the Free Expression arts festival, and Magnum CC with the impressive tableau, 'Secret of the Loch', judged best overall.

The Blandford St John Ambulance Badgers celebrated Bertie's 30th birthday and winning the Lil Jones Memorial Cup behind a giant birthday cake, Malcolm Fowler and Ellie and Barney Hayfield as the Minions were judged most humorous on route, the Little Devils Juvenile

Club from Frome added a piratical presence; and the Storm CC Young Farmers celebrated their new combine harvester.

Among the walking entries and street collectors were best endeavour and best overall walking winner Alice Loftus with 'Bake-Off'; Karen Knapp as 'Witch Way' who was judged best overall walker trolley; 'naughty boy' Jackie Vacher; and the JCB barrow boys.

Bands included the section winners the Bournemouth Youth Band and Stardust 80s Heartbreakers, the Shaftesbury Town Band, Port Bredy Allsorts, Castle Cary Cygnets, Stardust and the Wessex Majorettes.

More pictures on Pages 9 & 10, and on our website forumfocus.co.uk. For a high-speed view of the Carnival parade, see the Facebook page of SkyFast Media, who have been commissioned by Blandford Town Council to produce a promotional video of the town.

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October 2017

The Lions with their glow sticks.

Blandford Evening Women's Institute with the Wizards of Oz.

Stagecoach were ready for any rain!

Crowds gather to watch the steam engines line up to start the parade.

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October 2017

Carnival team’s plea for more help next time BLANDFORD'S four-strong Carnival committee thanked everyone who turned out to support them but the following week renewed their appeal for people to join their small number when they took a stall at the Community Expo in the Corn Exchange.

Secretary Sara Jones said: "It takes a lot of organisation to bring the event together and we hope someone will step forward to help us next year."

They also hope that people will support their bingo sessions in the Royal British Legion on the third Wednesday of the month, starting on October 18, which raise funds to stage the annual event.

Their thanks included those who had helped with the float for the Carnival Court - Florabunda for the beautiful flowers, Mark Farwell for the loan of his trailer, Bradfords, Bartletts and Travis Perkins for their donation of goods for the float, and the float builder and grower of beautiful dahlias, as well as Robert Briney, who stepped in at the last minute to drive the girls, and Derek Fowler whose Austin Healey carried Miss Blandford Carnival.

Thanks were also expressed to all the local businesses, shops and traders who donated prizes and vouchers for the grand carnival bingo on the Wednesday preceding the Carnival, and to Alison Falconer from Ragtags, who sponsored the baby show on Carnival Day morning. Thanks were also given to the judges who declared age group winners as Oscar Ball 0-6 months, Grace Macmillan 12-18 months and Lainie-Ray Varley 18-24 months, and Emerson Toomer 6-12 months, the overall winner.

The committee was less grateful to those who had vandalised and removed the road closure signs put in place in advance of the Carnival, which meant they had to be repaired and replaced at a cost of ÂŁ70 a time.

Emerson Toomer and his mum Kerrie Toomer.

Carnival Court attendants Kacey Bumby and Lara Miller.

The JCB barrow boys.

Carnival Princess Lexi Wright.

Malcolm Fowler and Ellie and Barney Hayfield as The Minions with their 'driver'.

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October 2017

Funding worries for Age Concern group FUNDING worries were expressed by Age Concern Blandford chairman Peter Slocombe at the AGM held in the Woodhouse Garden Pavilion.

"Concern regarding funding remains high, especially as we have been informed by Dorset County Council that their annual grant in the sum of ÂŁ2,230 is highly likely to be withdrawn."

He said he would be recommending that the trustees appoint a fundraising committee to carry out research and apply for grants.

"Many providers will consider grants for projects, but not running costs, which of course is what we need to keep our premises and service in operation.

"We remain a Friend of Age UK, with Age UK Dorchester being our brand partner, and attend the Friends Charter meetings at Age UK Dorchester to learn of the problems encountered by other Age Concerns in North Dorset and Purbeck.

"Our information and advice

service is unique and recognised

by Age UK Dorchester, who now offer assistance in terms of help and support to certain projects."

He gave thanks for the support and work of all the trustees, volunteers and clients, with particular thanks to Phil Allen for his contribution on benefits, but most of all to vice-chairman and manager Carol Bunnagar for her conscientious and consistent service to the charity.

He also paid tribute to trustee and benefits adviser David Toze, who died earlier in the year. A memorial service was held in Pimperne Parish Church.

Condolences had been sent to his widow Jennifer.

Age Concern Blandford's Carol Bunnagar is presented with a bouquet of garden flowers by their president Elaine Shanahan (right), watched by chairman Peter Slocombe, left, and members and committee members.

Jazz night boost for arches coffers A SUCCESSFUL open-air jazz night was staged in the atmospheric venue under the flood arches which once carried the Somerset & Dorset railway over the river Stour in Langton Meadows, Blandford.

The music was provided by the versatile Dan

Baker Trio, with food provided by members and supporters of the Blandford Railway Arches Trust. Funds were being raised for the development of the site as a location for arts and music events and a focus for environmental appreciation and industrial heritage.

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October 2017

POLICE suspect that arson was the cause of a fire which almost completely destroyed a barn at Pimperne on Saturday, September 16.

Anyone with any information or witnessing the incident has been asked to contact Dorset Police on 101 and ask for PC 2082 Beasley, quoting occurrence number 55170144566.

Fire and Rescue crews from Blandford and Shaftesbury attended the blaze at the barn, measuring approximately 25m x 10m, and local residents were advised to close windows and doors as a matter of precaution.

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

Don't 'Call the Midwife' - call the florist!

AFTER a career in midwifery, Laura-Jayne Sweetland has given up one calling to develop another which began when she took a Saturday job as a teenager.

At 15, after living in Blandford all her life and attending local schools, she worked as a Saturday girl in a local florist, and her passion for flowers and beautiful blooms was born.

At 21, she put floristry on hold and became a qualified midwife.

"But I never put my floristry scissors away, and always dreamed of owning my own florist," she said.

For seven years she built up her Sweetpea Florist business from her home studio, and in 2016 she took the plunge to develop it full-time, initially working from her studio and with a stall in Blandford Market.

But this month she will be opening her own shop which will be open threeand-a-half days a week alongside the Hambledon Gallery in Salisbury Street, and she is proud to be a recommended supplier to the Crown Hotel.

"I have swapped delivering babies for delivering flowers - although I can still do both if required! - and I am looking forward to my new business growing within Blandford and the surrounding villages. Exciting times lie ahead!"

Laura-Jayne Sweetland on site at a wedding venue.

SEAMSTRESSES at Simply Sew, which meets every Friday in the Parish Centre, have been busy making lap quilts for the patients in Tarrant ward at Blandford Community Hospital.

Hospital matron Darren Wickwar was delighted to accept the quilts, consisting of around 1,200 four-inch squares of donated material, one of which had been exhibited in the handicraft section at the recent Blandford Horticultural Society show.

Hurricane horror for Tom’s band tour BLANDFORD firefighter and Teddy Rocks Festival founder and manager Tom Newton was caught up with his punk rock band The Bottom Line in the horror of Hurricane Harvey in Houston, where the band was due to play at the House of Blues.

After a concert at The Anvil in Bournemouth, the band headed off on the next leg of their international tour which took them to China. But their arrival in the USA to tour with Simple Plan coincided with the hurricane, and Tom and his fellow musicians were forced to leave town.

He wrote on his Facebook page: "Classic us. Arrive just as the worst hurricane in 47 years is due. Not sure what is going to happen tonight but let's hope we'll get through this in one piece."

Later came the news: "Show's off tonight. It is being postponed but sadly we won't be able to make

the rescheduled date. We are getting out of here. This is ‘hurrendous’."

In Lubbock, Texas, he wrote: "After an 8-hour drive we are out of the hurricane risk areas. We are all safe and in good spirits.

Been a brutal few days of travelling to not be able to play the Texas shows. We are truly gutted.

It's all been a bit surreal here. All the supermarkets are out of water etc. People buying supplies - a little bit frightening when we were told to get the hell out.

"We've had a really rough couple of days. Two shows lost for us due to the hurricane meaning three days off with no income."

He said they had decided to add their States merchandise, designed as States exclusives, to their online store to offer them to everyone and try to recover some of the big financial loss they had suffered.

The Bottom Line at their concert in Prague, shortly before their arrival in America.

13

October 2017

Screen Bites serves up another tasty menu

Pictured (from left) at the Hall & Woodhouse Dorset Community Chest awards night are local beneficiaries Sally Gardner and Mike Holloway of the Sensory Gardens Project, Bob Henley and Colin Stevens from the Opportunity Group and Dianne Benfield of Iwerne Minster's Abingdon Hall.

Community cash for local groups THREE local organisations were among 51 beneficiaries of this year's Hall & Woodhouse Dorset Community Chest, from which awards were presented in the Sealy Suite of the Crown Hotel.

Blandford Opportunity Group was given £300 to re-felt the storage sheds at their base in the Opportunity Hall in Whitecliff Gardens, Blandford; the Woodhouse Gardens Sensory Project - based in the garden of the former home of brewery director Mark Woodhouse's grandfather - was given £500 to purchase more plants; and there was also a donation of £800 for chairs and tables for the Abingdon Hall, Iwerne Minster.

West Dorset and North Dorset Citizens Advice Bureau received £1,000 towards its work, and Yewstock Special School in Sturminster Newton, whose pupils come from across North

Dorset, received £2,000.

Guests of honour at the presentation evening included the Rt Rev Karen Gorman, Bishop of Sherborne, and deputy Lord Lieutenant Timothy Palmer, who said: "We are astonished at the range of awards, and the effort which goes in and has been going on for 15 years to give away a total of over half a million.

Hall & Woodhouse is a great local institution and business."

The Community Chest was again sponsored by BV Media and the Dorset Community Foundation, who also provided some of the judges of the 427 applicants for a total of £726,000. They had been narrowed down to 51 organisations receiving a share of £51,000 across the south of England. In Dorset there were 27 award winners, including two food banks and a number of village halls.

BLANDFORD town councillors met in closed session after their meeting on September 18 to consider the outcome and recommendations of the Blandford+ Working Group which met three days earlier to review its options following the negative response to their key proposals from the inspector appointed to review the draft Blandford+ Neighbourhood Plan.

A PROGRAMME full of fun, food and unusual foodie films has been created for the final year of Screen Bites by Caroline Tory of Tarrant Keyneston, founder members Gay Pirrie-Weir and Fanny Charles, and the rest of the committee.

The first screening in the Forum Focus area, at Durweston village hall on Saturday October 21, Baby Boom, has a suitably apple flavour and will include judging of the Great Screen Bites Bake Off for the best Dorset apple cake - ring Caroline on 01258 452452 to enter.

The next, at Ansty's Old Brewery Hall on Wednesday October 25, is the hilarious A Private Function by Alan Bennett, requested by a Screen Bites regular, starring Michael Palin as a chiropodist newly moved to a small town with his socially ambitious wife (Maggie Smith), her confused mother (Liz Smith) and featuring a pig and Denholm Elliott as a dominating doctor. Food appropriately on the night comes from the Ansty Herd, as well as other local producers.

The festival finale at Tarrant Keyneston - the only village the

festival has been to every year is Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death, a comedy whodunnit.

Quiches, gluten-free delights and delicious, original tarts are on the menu from Christine's Puddings, Lizzie Baking Bird, and other Screen Bites regulars, including Purbeck Icecream at the interval from Caroline in her famous Panama hat and ice-cream basket.

For Tarrant Keyneston bookings ring Caroline on 01258 452452, and for other bookings and information call Gay on 01963 32525 or visit screenbites.co.uk.

A SPECIAL half-term holiday event at Blandford Fashion Museum in The Plocks is offering reduced price entry for students and children between 10am and 5pm on Saturday October 21, Monday October 23, and Thursday to Saturday October 26 to 28. There will be free admission for those 18 and under, and entry for just £1 for students 18 and over. Children under 11 must be accompanied by an adult.

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Readers’ letters

Museum is a precious asset FAR too often, what is familiar becomes ignored. We walk past things, minds elsewhere, without noticing what's around us.

I'm as guilty as anyone. However, prompted by reading too many negative comments on social media about Blandford - written by people who, presumably, have chosen to live here - I really want to take issue and state the case for looking around and being grateful for all that we have.

Ours is a truly beautiful town with so much going for it - its setting, green spaces, architecture, streetscape, heritage, independent shops, voluntary organisations, even its own newspaper in Forum Focus!

It is true that austerity has taken, and continues to take, its toll but those who administer Blandford

October 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

do their best with the meagre resources at their disposal.

The revival of the market, still a work in progress I imagine, is a huge credit to those involved, but I think the one institution that is largely unsung and for which we should all be grateful is our wonderful town museum.

Apart from being a very important and successful attraction for visitors, it is a superb volunteer-run resource for anyone with local links wishing to research family, social or industrial history. It is endlessly fascinating, always welcoming and on my many (free!) visits I have never failed to make a rewarding discovery.

I am not connected with the museum, so this is an unbiased observation, but I just want to urge anyone who hasn't been to go (it is closed between October 31 and April 1) and start an acquaintance with one of Blandford's greatest assets.

Rosie Eidlestein Salisbury Street, Blandford.

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.

An utterly delightful town I RECENTLY stopped in Blandford Forum to break my journey home and found it to be an utterly delightful town.

Everyone I spoke to was friendly and helpful and I enjoyed visiting a range of independent shops, the museum and eating lunch on the banks of the beautiful river Stour. I ended up spending four very agreeable hours there and so I simply wanted you to know how much I liked your town.

With best wishes Jill Hiron, Frome, Somerset.

Slow down on the pavements MAY I use your letters page to make a plea for users of motorised disability buggies to

slow down and take more care?

Blandford's pavements are not the place for high-speed antics and I fear that sooner or later, some innocent pedestrian is going to be badly hurt.

I have lost count of the number of times I have had near-misses while walking around the town.

Recently, a woman in a jet-propelled wheelchair shot around a corner, missing me and my sixyear-old grandson by inches.

As she shot off into the distance, she called out an apology, though did not slow down. Had she smashed into us, our injuries would undoubtedly have been considerable.

We are all sympathetic to those people requiring wheelchair assistance in order to get around and we show consideration for them when they drive on pavements; an irresponsible few do not show much in return.

Name supplied, Blandford.

October 2017

Formal opening of new hospital unit A NEW palliative care unit at Blandford Community Hospital was officially opened by Lord and Lady Fellowes.

The development, costing over £200,000 and funded by the health authority with assistance from the Friends of Blandford Community Hospital, has involved converting part of the first-floor Tarrant ward and disused Betty Highwood ward, which was closed in 2013, into a separate unit.

It provides two palliative care suites, four side rooms, a day room and outdoor facility which will in due course be shared with patients in Tarrant ward.

Julian and Emma Fellowes, who are both vice-presidents of Weldmar Hospicecare and wellknown for their patronage of causes for the elderly, said: "Until recently death was something we didn't talk about. We have been the same about death as the Victorians were about sex. But

when you are dying, you are a patient going through a perfectly natural process, and in recent years we have seen a revolution in palliative care.

"We are doing so much better in recognising families need to be involved, and this makes such care accessible to the local community so that relatives do not have to travel long distances to be with their loved ones."

Lady Fellowes said it was a great honour to be with people when they were dying, and could on occasions be a very happy time.

Mac Maclaughlin, vice-chairman of the Friends group that contributed £750,000 towards the £1.5 million cost of remodelling the former Portman ward to create the Portman Unit which opened in 2014, said: "The Trust have built this unit and we put the icing on the cake, providing pictures, televisions, etc, and funding towards the day room."

Hospital staff look on as Lord and Lady Fellowes inspect the new unit.

Cathedral choir at Shroton A RARE opportunity to hear the renowned girls and men of the Salisbury Cathedral Choir singing in the fabulous acoustics of St Mary's Church, Shroton, comes on Monday, October 9.

The 16 girls, who are educated at Salisbury Cathedral School, join the choir from all over the country, and in recent years there have been many who have come from the Blandford area.

They will be performing choral masterpieces by Gabrieli, Mozart, Rachmaninov and Rheinberger.

Proceeds from the concert, which starts at 7.30pm, will be shared equally between the Blandford Food Bank and St Mary's Church, Shroton. Tickets at £10 are available to book from the Benefice Office on 01285 861576 or on the door.

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Lord and Lady Fellowes cut the ribbon with Blandford Community Hospital Matron Darren Wickwar and, behind them, Sister Gill Wood, senior clinical lead on Tarrant ward.

16

Gardeners reflect on show’s 40 years CHILD Okeford Gardeners' Club celebrated its 40th anniversary at its village show, taking full advantage of the recently extended village hall to display a magnificent range of produce, homecrafts and handicrafts.

Entries were up by 80 on last year, with new exhibitors attracted by free entrance for first-timers, and there was a chance to reflect on the club's history with programmes from the first, tenth, 20th and 30th shows alongside that for the current year.

They revealed that awards had been presented on the first occasion by Laura Renwick and admission to the show for nonmembers was 10p. At the tenth show, Dick Harthan did the honours, and admission had doubled to 20p, and by the 20th in 1997 it had risen to 30p with Valerie Smallwood the guest of honour.

Rose Dennison presented the awards in 2007.

This year it was the turn of longterm supporter of the club, 92-

year-old Walter Ransom, who was invited to choose the best exhibit in the vegetable, fruit and flower sections: a plate of melons exhibited by Jane Mackbeth.

Wendy Addley and Roger Hull took a handful of trophies each, Wendy with the best handicraft and RHS Medal for most points in fruit, flowers and floral art as well as the RHS Grenfell Medal for highest points in the fruit and flower sections, and Roger for most points in vegetable, fruit and photographic classes.

Elspeth Roberts had most points in baking and preserves, Eric Blakeley the best photo, Tony Harrison the most unconventional vegetable, Jan Ward the best rose, Di Morgan most points overall, and Elspeth Roberts most points under 16 and Isabel Perry the best exhibit.

Show organiser Roger Hull said they were particularly pleased with the number of children's entries, which included a number of cakes baked by under 12-year-olds.

October 2017

Wendy Addley and Roger Hull with some of their awards at Child Okeford Gardeners' Club's 40th anniversary show.

Scout Group return to action CHARLTON Marshall Scout Group began again in September and is a very active group where the children learn new skills every week in a fun environment.

There are spaces for Beavers (aged 6 to 8) and Cubs (aged 8 to 10 and a half.)

Beavers meet on Fridays at Charlton Marshall Village Hall from 5.30pm to 6.45pm, and Cubs meet at the hall on Mondays from 6pm to 7.30pm.

For more information contact Peter on 01258 720052.

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October 2017

Alan scoops awards across the board

Trade park proving a success THE last remaining unit at the new Blandford Trade Park, at the front of Glenmore Business Park off Shaftesbury Lane, has been snapped up by Motor Parts Direct.

The quoted price for the 2,599 sq ft two-floor premises (pictured above) was ÂŁ295,000.

Motor Parts Direct, supplier of car parts to the independent garage industry, was founded in Kettering in 2000 and has since gone from strength to strength.

The business expects to become the UK's largest independent such dealer this year and already has more than 1,300 employees.

Blandford Trade Park is a new development of industrial/warehouse units fronting Shaftesbury Lane, which has direct access to the A350 Blandford bypass and the A354 Salisbury Road.

Dean Speer, of Myddelton & Major, joint agents with Goadsby and Symonds & Sampson, said: "This latest sale means that the very popular Blandford Trade Park development by the Glenmore Group is fully occupied.

"However, there is general industrial, warehouse and office space still available in Blocks E & F at the adjacent Glenmore Business Park, the final phase of the development on the outskirts of town."

For more details call 01722 337577 or visit myddeltonmajor.co.uk.

Friends set date for fair THE Friends of Blandford Hospital are to hold their very popular autumn fair in the Corn Exchange, Blandford, on Saturday October 14 from 9.30am to 2pm.

There will be a wide range of stalls available with quality goods at very low prices - a great opportunity to do some early Christmas shopping and at the same time support a very local charity.

BLANDFORD & District Horticultural Society staged its annual show at Tarrant Keyneston village hall.

A clutch of awards was presented to Alan Newman, who won the Top Vase class, the blue ribbon for the best exhibit in show with his runner beans, the Banksian Medal for most points in vegetable and flower sections, the Floral Cup for most points in the flower classes and the Greensbridge Cup for best gladioli exhibit.

Sue Billington had highest points in all classes, having also had highest points in cookery and preserves. Pete Eveleigh had highest points in the vegetable classes, and Rachel Eveleigh highest points in floral art and in photography.

The cup for best novice exhibit in floral art went to Grace Brealey.

Rosemary Howland's sloe gin won the award for best exhibit in the wine classes.

Best cookery and preserves exhibit award went to Arthur Yeo for his sausage rolls. He also won best exhibit in the homecraft section with a magnificent rocking horse, and the housewife's

From left: exhibitors Dave Eastment, Arthur Yeo and Pete Eveleigh gather to inspect the impressive vegetable collections at Blandford & District Horticultural Society's annual show staged at Tarrant Keyneston village hall. choice in a basket class, where Pete Eveleigh was second and Rachel Eveleigh third.

First in the potato challenge was Phil Williams with 11lbs 2oz, and there was a tie for second place between Jacob Williams and Dave Miles, who each had 9lbs 12oz. Barry Gould won the Gardens News Top Tray class and was second in the Top Vase.

Best in the floral section went to Cyril Hovard with a beautiful orchid.

A number of new exhibitors, especially in the handicrafts section, were welcomed.

Bank closing for refurb LLOYDS bank will be temporarily closing their branch in Blandford Market Place on October 6 for refurbishment and improvements to the layout. It will reopen at 9.30am on Wednesday, October 25.

Customers have been advised to visit branches at High West Street, Dorchester, High Street, Shaftesbury or High Street, Gillingham, if needed during the closure, or to use the telephone banking service (0345 300 000) or Internet Banking at lloydsbank.com.

www.forumfocus.co.uk

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

Yoga classes to suit all Chrissie Haskett spent her early years in Blandford, and having returned home, after many years living away, has begun to teach yoga in the town.

Classes are held in the Parish Centre on Thursday mornings and evenings, and monthly on a Saturday morning. Everyone is welcome, especially those new to yoga; classes are small, easy-going and friendly, with people of all ages and abilities attending, and yoga is noncompetitive, health-enhancing, relaxing and fun.

Chrissie trained in India at The Sivananda Ashram in Kerala, but her classes are a blend of her learning experiences from 30 years' practising yoga and complementary therapies. She has just completed a course of Yin Yoga, an exciting new style which blends yoga with ancient Chinese Acupuncture theory.

For more information, call her on 07341820716 or email to apointofstillness@yahoo.co.uk.

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Students add new dimension to artists’ show BLANDFORD Art Society's annual open exhibition opened to the public on August 14 after a private view the previous day at which the competition award winners were announced.

Guest artist was Patricia Burns, and featured sculptor Alan Rutter, whose imaginative and often humorous pieces were a delight.

There were workshops throughout the week, and on the stage an exhibition by Key Stage 3 students at The Blandford School, showing the work they have done on tone, colour and texture, on distorted portraits, and on Steam Punk.

Organisers were grateful to shopkeepers who displayed information about the exhibition in their windows to help publicise it in view of the Corn Exchange being hidden under scaffolding.

A new award this year in memory of Esme Butler, who died in May and was described as a great friend of local artists and of the Society, had the theme of Vision of Blandford.

It was won by Rachel Baynes with 'Stour in Flood', a study of the flood arch on the Langton Meadows.

The choice of the President Sue Coke was Judith Hyde's 'Man of War from the Beach', and the Chairman's Class, with the theme of 'It seemed always afternoon', was won by

October 2017

Blandford Art Society member Peter Smart with his paintings 'Defender' and 'Lining Out'.

Mary Straughan with 'Summer'.

The Harding Trophy for a colour picture with the theme of 'Trees Living or Dead' went to Gill Faraway for 'Woodland Morning', and the Max Bennett Trophy for line drawing to Ruth Kimber with 'Pegi'.

The best picture by a non-member was Michael Hemming's 'Preparing to Sail', with runner-up Barbara Davis and 'Distant Rapeseed Field'. The winner of the public vote, chosen by visitors to the exhibition throughout the week, was 'Smoke Break' by Geoff Collins.

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October 2017

Valley celebrates restoration of bells PARISHIONERS from Shroton (Iwerne Courtney) and their Iwerne Valley benefice gathered in their village church of St Mary for a special commissioning service with the Bishop of Sherborne, the Rt Rev Karen Gorman, for the newly restored church bells.

The congregation was welcomed by the Bishop, who said: "I grew up in a church with no bells, then worked in one with only one, and it was not until I worked in a church with 14 that I fully appreciated them as something joyful, intrinsically linked with prayer and

worship, and a call to commitment and celebration."

Prayers were led by the Rev David W John. The Rev John Simmons, former Blandford and Milton Rural Dean and Shroton parishioner, paid tribute to tower captain Malcolm Trowbridge, who following the church refurbishment of 2012, has insisted 'the bells must come next', and had worked tirelessly towards the project.

As part of the act of re-dedication, Mr Trowbridge presented the bells to the Bishop on behalf

THE annual vintage rally and dog show for the RNLI, organised by the Blandford supporters branch at Spetisbury Manor, raised around £2,300, only £100 short of last year's figure. Organiser Kath Underwood thanked all those who had supported the event. Attractions included the dog show, and a variety of vintage and veteran cars. There was musical entertainment, refreshments, and stalls offering everything from books and bric-a-brac to RNLI merchandise.

Pictured is Phil Burt of Blandford with his scale model Rustin Proctor engine Dorothy, and behind a scale model Burrell.

In the ringing chamber of St Mary's Church, Shroton (from left): Simon Adams of John Taylor & Co, tower captain Malcolm Trowbridge, Bishop Karen Gorman, the Rev David W John, the Revd John Simmons, Jan Simmons and Malcolm Cavan. of all those who had supported and carried out the project. He said: "The bells in this tower have been retuned, reinstalled and are now ready to be rung."

Fundraising has been taking place over the last two years towards the £60,000 project which was launched after the church itself was renovated some years ago.

Around half the funding has come from the Heritage Lottery, with the remainder raised through local efforts and grants from a number of sources, including the Llewellyn Edwards Appeal Fund,

Persimmon Homes, the Erskine Muton Restoration of Churches Fund, the Iromongers Company and, as Mr Simmons was keen to point out, HM Revenue and Customs through Gift Aid and the return of VAT. He also thanked his wife Jan Simmons and Malcolm Cavan for all manner of activities organised to raise funds, and Simon Adams of the only remaining bell foundry in the country, John Taylor & Co of Loughborough, for their work which has included recasting the tenor bell, and inviting them to the foundry to view the process.

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October 2017

A bloody month in Belgium claims five sons of Blandford F

IVE names on the Blandford War Memorial record the deaths of Blandford men in Belgium in October 1917.

William Frederick Vane was born in Timsbury, Hampshire, and came to Blandford following his marriage in 1916 in Southampton to Florence Frederica Brown, who was born in Paddington, London.

Their only child, Fredrica F Vane, was born in Blandford in 1917, the same year in which he was killed in action in Belgium on October 4, aged 23.

William Vane served as a Lance Corporal in the 1st Bn Hampshire Regiment, and is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

George Baverstock was Blandfordborn, the son of house painter Charles James Baverstock and his wife Ann (nee Hayward). He was their second son and third of nine children. One of his younger brothers, Reginald William, was to be killed in action in March the following year.

In 1911 he was working as a butcher and living at the family home in Victoria Road. He had married a Blandford girl, Kathleen Louisa Durant, in 1915 in Southampton where their son George S Baverstock was born.

He was killed in action, aged 28, in Belgium on October 9, serving with the 2nd Bn Royal Warwickshire Regiment, and is also remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

Frederick Charles Mantell was

also Blandford-born, the only son of fellmongers labourer Arthur Mantell and Annie Eliza (nee Coward), who married in Blandford in 1896.

He was born the following year, and had two younger sisters, Laura and Hilda, living in Portmans Yard, described variously in censuses as Bryanston Street and Whitecliff Mill Street.

He was 20 when he was killed in action in Belgium on October 12, while serving with the 112th Bn Machine Gun Corps (Infantry). He had initially served with the Dorsetshire Regiment, and is buried in Hooge Crater Cemetery.

Henry George Parsons died of wounds in Belgium on October 16, aged 19, a private in the 6th Bn Dorsetshire Regiment. He is buried in Dozinghem Military Cemetery. He was the younger son of railway porter Frederick Parsons and his wife Elizabeth Ann (nee Miles), and had a brother and four sisters. The family lived in Whitecliff Mill Street.

Robert Ingram Richards was 18 when he died of wounds in Belgium on October 27. He was born in Warminster, the first of two sons of chemist and druggist Harry Richards and Clara Ellen (nee Bennett), who in 1911 were living at 11 Salisbury Street.

He served as Second Lieutenant in the 1st Bn London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers) and is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial, at Pimperne, and on the Blandford Grammar School Memorial.

Dozinghem Military Cemetery in Belgium, where local men Henry George Parsons and Herbert William Walley are buried.

Heavy losses also felt in the villages A

NOTHER nine men from local villages who died in October 1917 include three remembered at Tyne Cot and two teenagers.

Robert Edwin Coward, of Stourpaine, was killed in action on October 7, aged 32, serving as a private with the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry 1st Bn, and was a farm labourer's son whose mother had died the previous year.

Shepherd's son and farm labourer Frederick Charles Rayment, of Tarrant Keyneston was 27 when he was killed in action on October 10, serving with the 2nd Bn Hampshire Regiment.

Fred Newman, of White Pit, Shillingstone, was a cowman's son, killed in action, aged 21, on October 26, serving in the Royal Marine Light Infantry 2nd RM Bn RN Division.

The first of the teenagers was 19-yearold Cossley John Berkley Hunt, who at 13 had been living with his grandparents John and Mary Knight in Blandford St Mary, where he is remembered. He was born in Cann, the elder son of thatcher and spar maker John and Wilhelmina Hunt, and was killed in action on October 4, serving with the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry 1st Bn. He initially served with the Dorsetshire Regiment, and is buried in the Bedford House Cemetery.

Herbert William Walley died of wounds in Belgium four days later, also aged 19, serving as Lance Corporal in the 5th Bn Dorsetshire Regiment. Buried in the Dozinghem Military Cemetery, he was born at Iwerne Minster, the son of dairy manager William and Annie Walley, who lived in Child Okeford, Weymouth, and Abbotts Court, Winterborne Kingston, where he is remembered.

Also killed in action in Belgium and buried in Hooge Crater Cemetery was gardener James Read, aged 26, of Child Okeford, second son of cowman James and Sarah (nee Drake) Read. He was serving with the 9th Bn Devonshire Regiment when he died on October 10. He had the previous year married Ethel Gray, who lived at Sherbourne Cottage, Child Okeford.

Three others died in France, including Clarence Edward Moore of Farringdon, who died of wounds on October 12, aged 22, having served as sergeant in the 1st Bn, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, and is buried in Godewaersvelde British Cemetery. He was the youngest son of Albert and Ann Beatrice Moore and had at 17 been working as a grocery shop assistant.

Blacksmith Harold Joseph Tapper of Stourpaine died of wounds, aged 29, on October 17, serving with the 5th Bn Dorsetshire Regiment and is buried in Boulogne Eastern Cemetery.

His twin brother Frederick Joseph Tapper was left disabled after being wounded in the left thigh, and his younger brother Richard, serving with the Labour Coy in the Dardanelles, suffered gunshot wounds in both legs.

They were three of the five sons and five daughters of coachman Samuel Charles and Ann Eliza Tapper, of Shroton, East Lulworth and Stourpaine.

Bootmaker's son Reginald Sidney Hart, of Shillingstone, was killed in action on October 27 serving with the 62nd Div Ammunition Col of the Royal Field Artillery, and buried in Favreuil British Cemetery. He was the youngest son of Henry and Eliza Hart, and his mother had died in 1912, leaving his father with six children.

Anyone who would like to share with our readers pictures and details of events relating to relatives who played a part in World War One is invited to contact Forum Focus by calling 01258 459346, emailing editor@forumfocus.co.uk or writing to 18 Tudor Gardens, Blandford DT11 7PL. Forum Focus would like to thank the Blandford 14-18 Group for their help in researching this material.

October 2017

Deena’s project pays off as men getting healthier A YEAR-long project run by practice nurse Deena Geal at Eagle House Surgery in Blandford was one of only ten chosen nationally for a funding award for Innovation and Leadership from The Queens Nursing Institute (QNI) and Burdett Trust.

The projects, aimed at improving men's health, and the 'Way To Go' project, for which Deena gained support, targeted men aged between 50 and 65 who usually do not attend the doctor's surgery.

She said: "I have been supported by the Queen's Nursing Institute and the team at Eagle House to run a men's MoT clinic. I wanted to promote a proactive approach to support men and their partners, hoping to reduce the risk of diabetes and heart disease developing.

"Men are now more aware about their heart health, risk of heart disease and diabetes and can make informed choices about how

to make sustainable changes."

Anne Pearson, director of programmes for the QNI, visited the surgery to review the Way To Go project. She said: "The response to the invitations to attend the men's MoT service has been high and I am pleased that the patient satisfaction surveys show that men feel supported to have the opportunity to find out more about their health.

"Data collected so far by the team shows positive lifestyle changes are happening, with improvements in men's health."

• Practice Nurse Deena Geal is pictured bottom right with QNI director of programmes Anne Pearson, bottom left, and other members of the Eagle House team, including practice manager Sarah Dummer-Wade to Anne's left, and from the top left Dr James Clements and Dr Pip Scorey.

Emma’s extreme surprise as centre gives a cheque A COMPETITOR in a charity challenge at Gorcombe Extreme Sports found herself on the receiving end of a cheque presentation to one of the two charities supported when the proceeds were presented by proprietor Phill Meaden.

The event, involving nearly 200 people in a series of often gruelling activities including wading through a slurry pit, raised an astonishing total of nearly £15,000 for the Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance and Weldmar Hospicecare, resulting in each being presented with £7,409.84.

Receiving the cheque on behalf of Weldmar was business development fundraiser Emma Brown, who, as a member of the Run Blandford Pirates - winners of the inaugural event in 2016 - had fought to retain their title.

It was not to be, since the challenge was won by a team of St Trinians-clad schoolgirls led by Steve Crane, but Emma, who has only recently taken up her post with Weldmar Hospicecare, was delighted to receive her first cheque on their behalf as a result of an event in which she had taken part.

Mr Meaden was also delighted to have far exceeded the target he had set of £8,000 to double the amount raised at the inaugural event in 2016, held in memory of a cousin Sophie Spicer, who had been cared for by Weldmar

Caroline Guy of Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance, left, and Emma Brown of the Weldmar Hospicecare Trust receive the shared proceeds of a charity challenge at Gorcombe Extreme Sports from proprietor Phill Meaden.

Hospicecare prior to her death.

He said the second beneficiary, the Air Ambulance, whose cheque was received by lottery manager Caroline Guy, was chosen in recognition of its life-saving service to the community. He said that fortunately it had rarely needed to visit Gorcombe, although ambulance visits were more frequent to the venue which hosts a variety of extreme sports.

He said: "We set out to double the number of teams and amount of sponsorship, and almost succeeded in doubling that."

He thanked all those who had sponsored both the team members and the event, including many local businesses.

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22

The View from the Hill

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

H

ARVEST ground to a halt twice with breakdowns during the final week. At last conditions had come good, and we were going for it.

Unfortunately, when we were down next to the village cutting wheat in Wynchard, the unloading auger packed up - not very helpful when you've a full tank of grain and you want to fill it up again many times over.

It was well after last-chance ordering time for new parts, and took half of the next day to take the machine to pieces to find out what was actually wrong.

Eventually we found that the splines of the gearbox had worn,

FARMING October 2017 and in such a way that the auger could not be separated from the gearbox, which normally it should.

It was particularly tricky to diagnose and in the end we cut the auger open so we could see what was happening from inside.

In the event, both parts had to be replaced. ÂŁ3,000 and two days later, we had the correct parts and were able to reassemble. But one day was lost by the wrong part being supplied from Nottingham at first attempt, this being blamed Since harvest we have been sowing the new oilseed rape crop, all on John Deere's computer system done now and neatly rolled down with our shiny new rollers changing part numbers without which arrived a couple of weeks ago. They are considerably more telling anyone! One advantage of solid than the old ones and we hope they will last longer. They the delay was that the wheat was are certainly doing a firmer job in the field. so much drier by the time the combine was fixed that it didn't need drying.

We finished cutting the wheat and the poppies on Bank Holiday Monday, a beautiful and very hot day. The dust was flying when our poppy buyer came down from Northants to see the harvester in action. When our previous buyer ceased operation last winter, we jumped at a contract for growing poppy seed for the culinary trade and sowed 80ha in March. A few weeks before harvest, our buyer asked if we would be happy for him to take the whole crop after all, for morphine as before. So this has been done, the poppy straw is safely in store, and is

Many gardeners will be all too familiar with these unpleasant characters which venture out of headlands in search of delicate, newly emerged rape plants in continuing damp weather. Slugs can demolish a good many young plants in a night, so we have to dish out some poison to keep them under control in the form of slug pellets, now ferric phosphate, not as environmentally controversial as metaldehyde, which is responsible for a lot of trouble with water supplies in some parts of the country.

now destined for Australia after processing in the new year.

The 2017 harvest was one of the longest I can remember. Having started on July 7, we had hoped we were in with a good chance of an early finish and some relaxation time. As many readers will recall, late July and much of August were pretty unhelpful weather-wise, and after the rain and other delays, we were right back to normal timing, only just finishing before September.

G

lyphosate has been in the news lately as the EU authorities consider whether it should have its licence renewed for a further 15 years.

There has been a great deal of fuss made by the anti-pesticide lobby about this and the antiMonsanto brigade. Monsanto invented glyphosate and are seen by some as the evil bogeyman of agribusiness, particularly as they have been prime movers in the development of GM crops in other countries.

Monsanto may be evil, they may not be, but glyphosate has been used on farmland around the world for the last 40 years and for many years now has been manufactured by many other compa-

nies since it went off patent.

After nitrogen fertiliser, it is the most cost-effective and incredibly useful input we use in arable farming. It enables us to control weeds very cheaply when there is no crop growing. It allows us to operate a series of stale seedbeds in a field, shallow cultivating to encourage weed seeds to germinate and spraying them off before we sow the next crop, several times if possible.

Done effectively, it can drastically reduce the need for subsequent applications of other chemicals while the crop is growing. It also helps when we are looking for strategies to avoid encouraging resistance to chemical control developing against many commonly used 'in crop' chemicals.

Glyphosate's mode of action means that it is much slower than many in inducing resistance in target weeds, and even after 40 years there are few reported cases. It also enables us to keep our soils in a healthier state, allowing us to establish crops without moving a great deal of soil.

If it is banned, we would have to return to more intensive cultivations, and even ploughing, in order to bury the most difficult-tocontrol weeds.

October 2017

Vicar’s bike marathon pays off THE Rev Jonathan Edwards (above), vicar of Blandford St Mary, Charlton Marshall, Spetisbury, Sturminster Marshall, Shapwick and Kingston Lacy, completed a charity bike ride in aid of Weldmar Hospicecare.

He visited all 26 hospice shops and outlets in Wimborne, Poole, Swanage, Wareham, Wool, Dorchester, Weymouth, Portland, Bridport, Lyme Regis, Beaminster, Sherborne, Gillingham, Shaftesbury and Blandford.

In all he covered 172 miles, climbed 9,317 feet, spent 12 hours and 10 minutes in the saddle at an average speed of 14.5mph. The whole trip took almost exactly 16 hours.

He raised £466 in sponsorship which, together with a personal donation, meant that he was able to send Weldmar Hospicecare a cheque for £500.

The NHS contribute 25% of their clinical costs, leaving Weldmar needing to raise £10,240 per day to fund their free-of-charge services through fundraising and their chain of 20 charity shops and six outlets.

An appeal launched in May has resulted in the purchase of a new pressure-relieving mattress for every bed in the inpatient unit, saving time and money. Before the appeal, the Dorset hospice had to hire mattresses as and when they were needed and often move them from bed to bed.

The charity's fundraising and service to the local community has recently been further enhanced by the opening of its huge outlet store off Shaftesbury Lane, just across the road from Lidl.

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The life-enhancing effects of Weldmar’s new centre THE opening of the Weldmar Wellbeing Centre at Blandford Community Hospital just over a year ago has enhanced the lives of local people needing care and treatment, who can enjoy lunch and take part in activities, giving them confidence and the ability to share their experiences with others.

Maureen Streeter from Child Okeford is in her 70s and has motor neurone disease, for which Weldmar is a centre of excellence. She has attended day services in Shaftesbury and more recently Blandford, giving her husband 10 hours of respite while she takes part in activities and talks to people "without feeling self-conscious".

"Everyone is lovely here," she said. "Weldmar do a lot for MND patients and offer a lot of palliative care. I've had MND for nine years. It wasn't as bad before but some days it's difficult to speak now and I get speech therapy. I love it here - it gives me confidence.

"I have an iPad and can communicate with that, but here I feel I can talk - anywhere else I feel self-conscious if I don't know people. The reiki and other complementary therapies help me a lot, and despite never having done arts and crafts before, I like it."

Brenda Webster, 69, from Pimperne, having beaten breast cancer 26 years ago only for it to return, says she is having "treatment after treatment to extend my life."

She's a bit of a record breaker, having had 43 cycles of her last drug. "My doctor said it must be a world first," she joked.

It's been an up-and-down few years as different treatments were offered with varying sideeffects, but she's been able to enjoy the Thursday sessions in Shaftesbury for the last five years and more recently, Wednesday sessions in Blandford too.

"My wonderful community oncology nurse suggested I come to Weldmar day services and I thought, I can't do that. But I felt worse and worse, and when I was invited to come for a coffee and see how I liked it, I was welcomed by another patient, Susie.

She was gorgeous and after lots of talking the group just pulled me out of this black hole I was

Maureen Streeter.

Brenda Webster.

in. After three weeks or so I was driving home and suddenly felt uplifted."

Brenda, who worked as a legal secretary, has even become keen on arts and crafts having "never liked it before". "It takes you away from your problems," she said. "You can concentrate on something else."

She added: "Sometimes we talk about our problems - it helps a lot. We don't always want to offload on our nearest and dearest because it upsets them. But you can always get the lovely people at Weldmar to help you out. And if you have any problems with medication or anything they will sort it out for you."

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An A-Z of success for TBS A-level students FROM astrophysics to zoology and Oxford to Italia Conti, post-16 students celebrated success at The Blandford School, having achieved some excellent results which placed the school within the top 25% nationally.

It was a year which had seen much curriculum change, including the introduction of new linear A-levels. Headteacher Sally Wilson expressed her delight, saying: "I am thrilled at the success of our students of all abilities. They have worked exceptionally hard.

"Our high-fliers have done exceptionally well and students across the board have gained places at top universities, including Oxford.

"We are really proud of our comprehensive intake with 26% of students achieving A*- A grades this year, half the cohort achieving A*- B and a pass rate of 99%.

"I have a very dedicated team of staff and they should feel exceptionally proud of their contribution to student performance."

A* students this year included Luke Powell with 2 A*'s, 1 A and a Distinction* in music technology, who has accepted a place at Bath University to study aerospace engineering. He was quick to praise staff, saying: "I have never felt I couldn't ask for anything. I want to thank TBS staff for helping me achieve the results."

Others were Bethan Amey with 2 A*'s and 2 B's; Alyce Peaty with 2 A*'s and 1 B; Alisha Dolman with 1 A* and 2 B's; and Ella O'Loughlin with 1 A* and 2 B's.

Tom Ansell, with 1 A* and 2 A's, who will study film

and theatre at Reading University, said: "I don't regret anything during my time here. The attitude of staff and the efforts they go to are second to none. There is nowhere else I would rather have studied."

Hannah Smith, with 1 A* and 2 A's, who is now reading history at Merton College, Oxford, said: "I'm so grateful for the support of all the teachers at TBS. I couldn't have done it without them."

Students following vocational pathways also achieved very well indeed.

Top performers include Dipes Limbu and Scott Pearson, both with 3 Distinction*'s, and Phoebe Stanley with 2 Distinction*'s and a Distinction.

Scott will be joining Lloyds Bank on their higher apprenticeship scheme and Phoebe will be embarking on a higher apprenticeship with JP Morgan.

Students in this year's cohort have chosen a wide variety of future careers and routes, including degrees in mathematics; accounting and finance; business management; physiotherapy; creative music technology; clinical psychology; forensic chemistry; English literature; international business; fashion buying and merchandising; economics and law.

Mrs Wilson said: "As a comprehensive sixth-form we are equally pleased that students who have chosen alternative routes than HE have been successful in securing their chosen paths, and we would also like to wish those students well who are taking an exciting range of gap year opportunities."

October 2017

Hannah Smith: reading history at Oxford.

Rachel Jennings: A-level success.

Luke Powell, whose outstanding A-level results have led to a place at Bath University to study aerospace engineering, pictured with The Blandford School headteacher Sally Wilson.

Happy with that: GCSE students Devica Rai, Erin Abbott and Madelaine Hand.

Georgia Bennett was one of the top achievers at GCSE.

October 2017

Top GCSE student Darcy Emmet

Eleanor Keats.

Head’s pride in exam achievements in year of change YEAR 11 students at The Blandford School continued to perform in line with national standards in their GSCE examinations and headteacher Sally Wilson was very proud of the year group.

She said: "I am delighted for our students who have worked extremely hard in a year which has seen so much assessment and curriculum change, including the introduction of the new numerical grades.

"So many took advantage of the extensive intervention programme we offer. There are a number of individuals who should

GCSE students Sam Langford, James Guyler, Cameron Guest and Joe Freak.

Pedal power at Durweston

IT was Cycle to Work Day on September 13 and an intrepid group of parents, teachers and children from Durweston celebrated by cycling in to school. The group met at Stourpaine church and then cycled over the footbridge and past the mill before carefully crossing the A357 to get into Durweston. Nicola Brooke, Acting Headteacher, said: "It was lovely to see the bike shelter full of bikes and might be good practice for when the bridge is closed later this year."

be very proud of their achievements. I would like to thank their teachers, support staff and parents for supporting them."

The highest performing student this year was Darcy Emmet, who achieved the top Grade of 9 in mathematics, a Grade 8 in English literature, Grade 7 in English, and a further 6 A*'s and an A. Other students who did particularly well are Max Denton-Smith, who achieved mathematics 8, English 7, English literature 6, 5 A*'s and 2 A's; Lauren Stephenson achieved mathematics 8, English literature 7, English 6 and a further 4 A*'s and 2 A's; Georgia Bennett who achieved mathematics 8, English 7, English literature 6, 3 A*'s and 4 A's.

Students of all abilities did well, and a significant number have now joined the very successful sixth-form, which offers a broad range of courses.

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New top team at Knighton House KNIGHTON House School in Durweston welcomed their new Headmaster Robin Gainher and his wife Ali (pictured above) at the start of the new academic year.

They are a team with significant experience. Most recently Robin was Head at Beeston Hall in Norfolk and, as parents of three daughters, they know much about building confidence in girls.

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October 2017

News from the Surgeries Groups bid for Tesco cash The impact of missed doctors' appointments Lots of people comment about the time they have to wait to get a routine doctor's appointment. However, the sad fact remains that, for a variety of reasons, patients missing appointments add up to a significant amount of GP or nurse time per year which has a serious impact on waiting times. Whitecliff Surgery, for example, have calculated that nearly 23 weeks of GP or nurse time is lost per year (3% of appointments).

Reasons for missing appointments range from patients who are too ill to come to the surgery, hospitalisation, memory problems, to too many patients who just forget, feel better, or who are too busy to bother to attend. Both surgeries in Blandford work hard to cut the number of missed appointments. Texting reminders has been a success story, but only if the surgery has an up-to-date mobile number or email address.

So, what can you do to cut waiting times?

1, Record the appointment and check it doesn't clash with a holiday, for example 2, Inform the surgery if you are unable attend an appointment as it can be offered to someone else, even at the last minute 3, Inform the surgery if you, or a relative, are hospitalised - the hospital will not tell the surgery 4, Make sure your surgery has an up-to-date phone number, mobile number and email address - to text reminders, for example.

You can easily cancel your appointment by phone, online, email (Eagle House) or text. Please see the Eagle House or Whitecliff Surgery websites, or ask at your surgery reception, for more information.

Finally, if you are moving out of the area, don't forget to tell the surgery too.

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BEREAVED children's charity Mosaic, The Blandford Schools' STEM project and Blandford Scouts are competing against each other in the Blandford St Mary Tesco store this month for a share of the Tesco Bags of Help fund.

Mosaic, based in Milborne St Andrew, is seeking funding to take bereaved children and their families on days out. The Scouts are hoping to develop and cultivate a green space at their HQ in Eagle House Gardens which is currently being refurbished.

The STEM project aims to generate a thirst for learning about Science, Technology, Engineering

and Maths with activities and memorable experiences.

Tesco’s community funding scheme sees grants of £4,000, £2,000 and £1,000 - raised from carrier bag sales in stores - being awarded to community projects.

Three groups in every Tesco region have been shortlisted to receive the cash award and shoppers are invited to vote in the stores for they project they think should take away the top grant.

Voting opened in September and will remain open throughout October for customers to cast their vote using a token given to them at the checkout.

BLANDFORD's new curate Neil Robertson and his wife Sarah were among those taking part in the Dorset Historic Churches Ride & Stride on September 9. They are pictured with the Rector Jonathan Triffitt, left, outside Blandford Parish Church, with parishioner Vilette Goosen, right.

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October 2017

A damp celebration as United open their new clubhouse BLANDFORD United Football Club had to celebrate in the rain when they opened their new clubhouse on the Park Road recreation ground.

Plans for a variety of events and juniors' games had to be abandoned, and festivities moved inside the new building, where the official opening ceremony was brought forward to allow two veterans' teams to play each other in the afternoon, when the rain briefly cleared.

John Wakefield thanked all those who had contributed to the club's long history and helped with the project to build the new clubhouse, including the members, directors, local businesses with whom they had worked for the construction, and with special thanks to Blandford Town Council for its support by pledging substantial funding some years ago and sticking to their promise.

He also thanked Stephen Hill, general manager at North Dorset District Council, which put in a large sum of money and had

backed the club since proposals were first drawn up in 2003.

He said the club's development in recent years had included the all-weather pitch at The Blandford School, to which the Football Association contributed ÂŁ3 million, and he thanked Dave Fraser and Allie Morris for the hours they had put in painting and decorating and getting thing ready for the opening.

"We have not finished, and the changing rooms and other areas still need work for which we are ÂŁ10,000 short, but we hope to be finished by this time next year.

"I have particularly enjoyed compiling all the photos and archives, and studying the history of the club which is awesome. We want players to love the club in the way we have done."

Club president Micky Westwood said: "On behalf of the club and community, a big thank you to all.

This has been a long time coming. We all love football, and now you have a focus for your children and grandchildren."

Club officials, members and supporters in front of the clubhouse.

Geoff Chandler, one of BUFC's oldest members. who played for the team in the 1950s, pictured with his son Nick.

BUFC committee member Allie Morris and chairman Dave Fraser at the serving hatch.

Tree snag brings a halt to cricket pavilion plans A PLANNING application for Blandford Cricket Club's new pavilion on the recreation ground was withdrawn on September 8.

The application for the demolition of the existing pavilion overlooking the cricket pitch and erection of a replacement with implement store was submitted by Blandford Town Council for the club in February.

But the Cricket Club's proposals for a replacement for its now-condemned pavilion hit a further stumbling block after town coun-

cillors objected to an application to fell a protected chestnut tree next to the existing structure to allow their new proposal to go ahead.

At the town council's planning committee meeting in September, Councillor Dianne Robinson said: "It's a perfectly healthy and beautiful tree and its removal is a nonstarter. Trees should come before buildings."

Councillor Haydn White said: "This is a recreation ground, not just a cricket ground

and football pitch, and the tree is part of the peace and quiet of its environment."

Councillor Roger Carter said it had been suggested that the new building might be moved away from the tree, but asked whether any survey had been done to suggest how the tree's roots might be affected.

"We are between a rock and a hard place," he added, and was the only member to abstain when the council's objection was put to the vote.

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October 2017

Forum Focus - forthcoming meetings & events OCTOBER To October 31: 200th anniversary exhibition on artist Alfred Stevens, Blandford Museum, Monday to Saturday 10am to 4pm Sunday October 1: Benefice service at Hammoon with Bishop Karen, 10.30am Songs of Praise service ‘Just as I am’, Shillingstone Church Centre, 3.30pm, a dementia friendly event Round Robin Ramblers meet 2pm at Fiddleford Mill car park for 4.5 mile walk, Broad Oak and Sturminster Newton, details 01258 880044 CODA, the German Youth Chamber Orchestra, in concert, 3pm at Springhead Trust, Mill Lane, Fontmell Magna SP7 0NU. Tickets info@springheadtrust.org .uk or 01747 811853 Monday October 2: Blandford Floral Group demonstration by Pauline Hurran on theme of 'Inspired by...', United Reformed church hall, 2pm Wednesday October 4: Step Ahead group for carers of people with memory problems, Blandford Community Centre, Heddington Drive, 1.30pm to 3pm (every 1st Wednesday) Biodanza in Blandford, United Reformed Church Hall, guided dance to feel good, 7 to 9pm and every 1st and 3rd Wednesday, see Facebook or call 01258 268661 Thursday October 5: Week 2 of 10-week series of talks on Aspects of Human Evolution, Blandford Museum 7 to 9pm.

Details 01258 458911 or see blandfordtownmuseum.org Friday October 6: Blandford Forum Railway Club, A presentation by Frank Thurlby, My railway images, 7.30 to 9.30pm, Scout HQ, Eagle House Gardens, Blandford Wessex Acoustic Folk, Chris Leslie tbc, Royal British Legion, Blandford, 8.15pm Saturday October 7: Coffee morning with sale of CDs, DVDs, Listening tapes, videos, Shillingstone Church Centre.

10.30am to noon Monday October 9: Visually impaired readers group, Blandford Library (and every 2nd Monday) 2pm to 4pm, all welcome, details 01747 811191 Paulley Charitable Trust coffee morning, Crown Hotel, Blandford, from 9.30am Salisbury Cathedral Choir in concert, St Mary's Church, Shroton, 7.30pm, tickets 01285 861576 or on the door Tuesday October 10: Blandford Forum & District Stamp Club

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.

A parish barbecue and get-together was held in the garden at Our Lady of Lourdes and Saint Cecilia Catholic Church in Whitecliff Mill Street, Blandford.

The weather was threatening with frequent rain showers but there was plenty of delicious food and drink to be enjoyed and a good time had by all.

Pictured in the shelter of the kitchenette serving refreshments are (from left) Marian Baeman, Julie Mulloy and Josie Seath. monthly meeting, Woodhouse Gardens pavilion, 7.30pm, details 01258 471422 Milldown Primary School open morning and evening for prospective students, 9.30, 10.30 or 11.30am and 6 to 7pm.

Wednesday October 11: NHS Retirement Fellowship Blandford branch, talk by Dawn Lawrence on the world's endangered species, Committee Room, Blandford Hospital, 10.15amnoon, details 01929 472441 Friday October 13: Saplings Baby & Toddler group, Knighton House School, Durweston, 10-11.15am - Meet & greet the Knighton House ponies (free - wear suitable clothing) Blandford Farmers Market, Market Place (every 2nd Friday) Blandford Evening WI, Jocelyn Jenkins on Bed & Breakfast (The Other Side), Parish Centre, Blandford, 7pm Saturday October 14: Friends of Blandford Community Autumn Fair, Corn Exchange, Blandford, 9.30am to 2pm Blandford Transition Town apple juicing, Blandford Musem 10am to 11am, details 07788 101796 Quiz and Curry Night, Okeford Fitzpaine Village Hall, 7pm, tickets £10, details 01258 861126 Sunday October 15: Harvest Festival followed by a bring and share lunch, Holy Rood, Shillingstone, 11am Harvest Festival at Hammoon.

6.30pm Monday October 16: Child Okeford Centre for Care and Learning: talk on Rasputin,

Royalty and Revolution, 7.30pm, tickets and details 01258 860767 Tuesday October 17: Child Okeford Flower Arranging Club, 'Berry Bliss' Workshop, further details: 01258 863775 Wednesday October 18: Talk (speaker tba), Blandford Carers, Durweston village hall, 2pm Thursday October 19: Blandford Art Society at Pimperne Village Hall, 2pm, practical session led by Judith Ryde and Kathe Holt in time for Christmas, full details from website Museum Archaeology Group Talk, Blandford Town Museum, 7.30pm: '300 miles in the Footsteps of Vespasian' by Paul Cheetham, an update on the dig at Lake Farm, Wimborne Kings Fat Thursday Jazz Night, Kings Arms, Blandford (every 3rd Thursday), 8pm Friday October 20: Blandford and District branch of the Royal British Legion, AGM, 8pm at Legion House, Church Lane Julia's House quiz at Blandford British Legion, 7.30pm start, teams of up to 6, tickets include buffet, please book on 01258 480589 Saturday October 21: Cats Protection coffee morning and stalls, Woodhouse Gardens Pavilion, Blandford, 10am to 12.30pm Start of half-term holiday student discounts at Blandford Fashion Museum Coffee Morning at St. Nicholas' church, Child Okeford, 10.30 to noon

Jumble sale for village hall, Child Okeford village hall, 11.30am to 1.30pm, details 01258 860990 The Bingcows, Portman Hall, Shillingstone, 7.30pm, see artsreach.co.uk Screenbites Food and Film Festival, Durweston village hall, 7pm, Baby Boom (Cert 15) with apple cake competition see screenbites.co.uk Sunday October 22: Owdyado Theatre present A View from the Edge, Milborne St Andrew village hall, 7.30pm, see Artsreach.co.uk Tuesday October 24: Box Tale Soup present Wind in the Willows, Durweston village hall, 11am, see artsreach.co.uk Wednesday October 25: Blandford Forum Townswomen's Guild, talk by Phil Allen on Age Concern, Blandford Community Centre, Heddington Drive, 2pm Screenbites Food and Film Festival, Ansty Old Brewery Hall,7pm, A Private Function (Cert 15) see screenbites.co.uk Thursday October 26: Tall Tree Theatre present Shackleton, 11am, Sixpenny Handley village hall, see artsreach.co.uk Friday October 27: Film Night, Child Okeford village hall, 'Their Finest' (12A), 7 for 7.30pm, details 01258 860518 Shillingstone English Barn Dance Club. Portman Hall, Blandford Rd, Shillingstone DT11 0SF. 7.30 for 7.45, live music and experienced callers. details 01258 861184 Wessex Acoustic Folk, Reg Meuross, Royal British Legion, Blandford, 8.15pm Saturday October 28: Blandford Environmental Trust's annual Halloween Spooktacular! 6 to 9pm, Entry £1 / family £4.

Angus Wood on St Leonard's Avenue Comedy Exchange, stand-up comedy, Corn Exchange, Blandford 7.30pm, in aid of the Cupola Project, tickets from blandfordcommunitypromotions. co.uk Screenbites Food and Film Festival Finale, Tarrant Keyneston village hall, 7pm: Agatha Raisin: Quiche of Death (Cert 12), see screenbites.co.uk Sunday October 29: Messy Communion at St. Nicholas' church Child Okeford, 10.30am Taize service at Holy Rood, Shillingstone. 6.30pm Tuesday October 31: 'Groundswell RISING'Sustainable Dorset present antifracking documentary, Blandford Town Museum, 7.30pm, details meetup.com/Resurgence-Dorset or 01258 818223