January 2019 Forum Focus

FORUM FOCUS For Blandford and surrounding villages Issue No. 82

Annie’s Bright Friday gives a boost to the Food Bank: Page 3

January 2019

The team at Forum Focus wish all our readers and advertisers a very Happy New Year

Homes project hits resistance DETAILED plans for 211 homes in the first phase of development at St Mary's Hill, on the opposite side of the A354 to Bryanston Hills in Blandford St Mary, have encountered resistance from local councils and residents.

The application has been submitted to North Dorset District Council by Savills on behalf of Bellway Homes (Wessex) Ltd, following outline approval in November 2016 for the whole scheme for up to 350 dwellings.

Blandford St Mary Parish Council has agreed to hold an extraordinary council meeting on Wednesday January 16 to more fully consider the application after discrepancies from the approved outline application were highlighted by Councillor Paul Hill.

Chairman Malcolm Albery confirmed that he had instructed the council's solicitors to help in ensuring that the original agreement for S106 contributions and community hall for the village are secured.

Blandford Town Council has reaffirmed its objection to the development, which is not included in the draft Blandford Plus Neighbourhood Plan on which consultation took place last month.

It has restated its insistence that it should not go ahead without a footbridge or underpass so that residents could safely cross the A354 Blandford bypass to reach

Dressed for action: RunBlandford raised ÂŁ500 for Bowel Cancer Research in the Maverick Dark Race in Wareham Forest after their Blandford parkrun on December 8 and next day took part in the Rotary Santa Run. See page 23. the rest of Blandford St Mary and the town.

Dorset County Council's senior ranger Graham Stanley, who has welcomed the proposed funding for a better surfacing of the bridleway Wards Drove, has asked for the inclusion of the possibility of joining the development with the trailway when the neighbouring field is developed, as was sought at the outline application, to provide a more direct route less

close to the A350.

He has also repeated the advice that the proposed toucan crossing over the A354 should be single phase to avoid walkers and cyclist stacking on a central island.

The application promises 44 per cent affordable homes in the first phase - higher than the recommended level - with the object of bringing the affordable homes forward quickly.

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January 2019

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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 Coop 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, Anvil and Farquharson pubs in Pimperne, the White Horse Inn at Stourpaine, Iwerne Minster Post Office, Child Okeford Post Office, Shillingstone Garage, Okeford Fitzpaine village shop, Londis Shop & Royal Oak at Milborne St Andrew, The Crown at Winterborne Stickland, Post Office and Surgery, Milton Abbas, and The Cricketers at Shroton.

Diary events are updated regularly on our website so it is always worth logging on to stay up to date with what’s happening in the area. The website also carries additional pictures of local events and background information on stories.

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A £4.2m shot in the arm for health care in Dorset A £4.2 million investment in GP and community services in Blandford is promised as a result of a £15.2 million award to Dorset's Integrated Care System by the Department of Health to continue a major programme of transformation and improvement in the county's health services.

The Blandford share is earmarked to create a hub at Blandford Community Hospital, bringing more services to the hospital and improving access for local communities.

The money, announced on December 7 by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, will be used to fund three major initiatives: • Mental health estates development (£5.9m) • Major hospitals' pathology service improvements (£5m) • GP and community services (£4.2m) The mental health investment is earmarked for the development of in-patient older people's services at Alderney Hospital, Poole, and for the delivery of a major upgrade for the existing accommodation for older people at St Ann's Hospital in Poole.

The pathology service investment will be used to make significant improvements to the digital information system that underpins the pathology service across Dorset's three acute hospitals and partners in Hampshire, making the sharing of laboratory results much easier and forecast to save local NHS organisations up to £2 million a year.

The allocation by the Department of Health follows

the award of more than £100 million last July to support the changes being made to planned and unplanned hospital services following Dorset's Clinical Services Review.

Tim Goodson, leader of Dorset's Integrated Care System and Chief Officer of Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group, said: "This money will support us to take another step forward to improve the quality of health and care services in Dorset.

“The three projects being funded are all quite different, showing the scale of our ambition and commitment to delivering the very highest quality services."

The announcement came out of the blue for Blandford's two surgeries, which last year announced proposals for a possible merger after the practices had waited for a response to a premises improvement bid submitted to NHS England in March 2017.

Practice manager at Whitecliff, Carol Tilley, said: "The practices have not yet had the opportunity to discuss this matter in depth with the CCG or the other stakeholders. Being awarded a grant of £4.2m is fantastic, but we must make sure that any redesign meets future needs of the community.

"It requires careful consideration of all of the available options. At this stage no decision has been made and we are mindful of the feedback from patients regarding their concerns about a move to the hospital."

Hammer attack: man to face court A 30-year-old man is due to appear at Weymouth Magistrates' Court on January 7 in connection with an assault in Blandford.

He has been charged with attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent, criminal damage and dangerous driving

on May 7 last year.

Officers were called at 9.12pm that day following reports that a 31-year-old man had been assaulted.

The victim sustained injuries to his face and stomach and was taken to hospital for treatment after allegedly being struck with

a claw hammer and then driven at by a man in a Mercedes car.

A spokesman for Dorset Police said: "Two other local men, aged 29 and 42, who were arrested in connection with the incident, have now been released from under investigation and will face no further police action."

January 2019

Community support gives Food Bank a festive boost BLANDFORD Food Bank has able to send a carload of donahelped nearly 4,000 local people tions to the Food Bank with the since it opened in 2012, but has generous support of our cusin the past year seen a 20 per tomers. This year, we wanted to cent increase in people who need make it two carloads. We also their help. sold 'shares' in large sacks of essentials such as rice, pasta and A new initiative - the Reverse porridge oats so we could send Advent Calendar - was launched larger amounts of basics to the to gather support in the lead-up to Food Bank."

Christmas.

She said that with their 'Bright Local churches, schools and busiFriday' event, they were offsetting nesses were invited to take part the consumerism of Black Friday by adding an item of non-perishwith some good old-fashioned able food or a useful item of toicaring that would benefit those in letries to a box each day so they the local community in need of a could be given to families most in little extra help. need over the Christmas period.

By the end of the day there was a Food Bank volunteers also put large crate of tins and cartons full together bags filled with a Christof tomatoes, beans, soya milk, mas yuletide log, mince pies, bisdried fruit and lentils - things the cuits, chocolates, crisps, a canFood Bank had told them were dle, tinsel, crackers and baubles. urgently needed.

Students and staff of The • Blandford St Blandford Mary Primary School had School was one to already rallied take up the together to Reverse Advent donate a trolley challenge, and load of food to made a donation Blandford Food and the Food Bank.

Bank was also They and their supported across families donatthe Okeford ed items benefice from throughout December 1 November as through an alterpart of the native Advent calschool's house endar. In Okeford competition, Fitzpaine, Child and the Food Okeford and Bank organisShillingstone ers were churches there extremely Blandford School Year 10 students were 24 boxes into grateful for their Sam and Nathan deliver a trolley which people could donation. load of food. donate suitable Gail Del Pinto, food items.

Food Bank manager, said: "It is People were invited to pledge to wonderful that the students are so do so every day, and to encourinterested in the work of the Food age their children to think about Bank. Without the donations of the real meaning of giving food and cash that we receive, through Advent. we would not be able to continue Blandford Lions bought gift helping the vulnerable within our vouchers from Mato's butchers to community." donate, and Mayor of Blandford • At independent healthfood store Roger Carter, who has made the Cariad Wholefoods in the Food Bank one of his charities for Georgian Passage off East Street, the year, helped host extra collecproprietor Annie Heritage once tions at Tesco at Stour Park. again held her own version of Donations can continue to be Black Friday on November 23 made direct to the Food Bank on when, instead of cutting prices, Tuesday and Thursday mornings customers were invited to purbetween 10am and 12 noon. chase items for the Blandford Food Bank, which were matched And a date for your new 2019 pound for pound with another of diary: the Food Bank is hosting a the same items. quiz evening on February 22 at the Parish Centre.

Annie said: "Last year, we were

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Annie Heritage, of Cariad Wholefoods, with some of the items donated to the Blandford Food Bank, part of her ‘Bright Friday’ initiative

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January 2019

Smiles by the mile at the Yuletide Festival

Santa arrives in his sleigh ready for the tree lighting ceremony.

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The civic party ready for the lantern parade: (from left) mace bearer David Jardine, Gail del Pinto of Blandford Food Bank, Mayor's consort Heather Carter, Mayor Roger Carter, Rector the Rev Canon Jonathan Triffitt and Deputy Mayor Nocturin Lacey-Clarke.

HE ninth annual Yuletide Festival was staged on the bitterly cold but dry evening of December 12 and once again attracted thousands to the parade of lanterns by schools, youth groups and individuals, followed by community carol singing led by the Mayor Roger Carter and Rector the Rev Jonathan Triffitt in the Market Place.

Shops opened late and there were stalls in the streets and Corn Exchange, street entertainment and fairground rides, concluding with a grand fireworks display over the rooftops.

The Mayor was also invited to make his personal choice of favourite tree in the Christmas tree festival in the Parish Church, where the winners of the public vote were announced as Spetisbury Primary in the schools section, and the Blandford Museum Victorian Garden Club in the community section.

Spetisbury School's tree spelt out the message 'Reuse, Recycle, Rejoice' with a mass of smiling tin cans, and the Garden Club's entry was decorated with produce grown in the garden.

The Mayor's own choice was the Panda PreSchool, whose pupils had put forward their own ideas of how they could be kind to others in response to the theme of 'Peace on Earth'.

More than 1,000 members of toddler groups, pre-schools, schools, craft groups, community groups, individuals and care homes had contributed to decorating more than 30 trees.

Mr Carter was also one of the judges of the shop window competition organised by Blandford Town Council and presented awards to those businesses that were open.

He said the judges had been impressed by the number of local businesses which had made a special effort to decorate their premises - and by the residents of homes with shop window frontages who had added to the festive street scene.

First prize was awarded to Safer Cigs (Vapes) in Salisbury Street, with runner-up Vecchia Roma in the Georgian Passage, which was praised not only for its window but also for its outdoor Christmas tree attracting people into

The Spetisbury Piper's first visit to the festival.

See him again at the Mayor's Burns Night in the Sealy Suite of the Crown Hotel on January 25.

Jack Delaney raising funds for the homeless with left, his assistant Erin Milburn and Mayor Roger Carter.

the passageway. Area 55 was third for the originality of its series of themed windows.

The judges had been joined by two young people who also nominated their own Young Persons Choice as Knitwits in East Street.

The charity award went to the Sue Ryder shop in East Street, with high commendations for the Age UK Market Place charity shop, Cotton Moon, the Old Bayleaf Takeway in West Street, and Jestyn Coke as the best estate agents' window. There were commendations for Dec the Halls, the Blandford Barber Shop in East Street, and CafĂŠ No 8 in Tabernacle Walk.

This year's street lighting display was enhanced with new column lighting. The traditional Market Place tree lighting ceremony, with civic reception and the arrival of Father Christmas on his sleigh provided by the Blandford Lions, was followed by a civic carol service in the church, at which Mr Carter thanked Councillor Steve Hitchings and Colin Stevens for again installing the decorated Christmas trees on main street properties.

The long arm of the law - underneath that costume left is Sgt Dimmock, with engagement officer Lynn Pur.

January 2019

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Anyone for hot chocolate? Diane Beasley and Anne Shire serve refreshments in the church.

A couple of young revellers well wrapped up against the cold

More pictures from the Yuletide Festival on our website www.forumfocus.co.uk

Blandford Scouts were among the schools and groups represented in the lantern parade.

Crowds gather for community carol singing in the Market Place.

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January 2019

Objections mount to village homes plan DOZENS of objections, including from Pimperne Parish Council, have been received by North Dorset District Council to outline plans for 39 homes on land east of Franwill industrial estate in Down Road, Pimperne, submitted on behalf of Edward John and Moira Thomson-Lukins.

The application includes pedestrian links to the school and village hall, widening of the road, and a replacement with a community shop for the former village shop, which is now the subject of plans for residential redevelopment.

But many of the objectors are concerned at the likely impact on traffic, which has already increased with the opening of a commercial gym at Stud Farm.

They say also that the proposal does not conform to the draft Pimperne Neighbourhood Plan, for which an examiner's report was reported to a NDDC Cabinet meeting on October 29, when members decided that it can proceed to public referendum to take place on January 10.

The plan designates three sites within Pimperne where future development of 15 houses per

site is permissible to ensure that future development would be fairly allocated in the village and that one area alone does not bear the brunt of all development, which would not only change the character of an area of the village but also impact on traffic management and other environmental issues.

Parish clerk Janet Fairman said: "Although this site is one of the allocated sites, the development of 39 houses greatly exceeds what has been outlined in the Neighbourhood Plan, therefore we do not accept this application."

There is further objection from the council's planning obligations manager on the grounds that there has been no consultation with either the school or Dorset County Council on the proposed pedestrian links over school land, and the county's transport development management team has asked for an extension of time so that the implications can be properly assessed.

John Lukins argues that one of the three sites proposed in the Neighbourhood Plan is not currently available, and that widening the upper part of Down Road,

adding a pavement and footpath to the village hall and school, and provision of a community shop should be welcomed.

"I remember when Stud Farm employed more than 30 people and had a full range of livestock.

Back then the amount of feedstock lorries and tractors in Down Road was much greater. That kind of heavy traffic is almost non-existent now that the farming model

has changed."

He says the inclusion of 40 per cent affordable housing on a site between an existing, relatively densely developed estate and employment, is preferable to adding houses at the far end of the village, abutting Manor Farm Close, and putting more cars on a part of Church Road where the pavement is narrow and passing already difficult.

Artsreach comes to town

Mayor of Blandford Roger Carter and his wife and consort Heather Carter, with Nick Hennessey at the inaugural Artsreach performance.

THE storytelling evening The Liberty Tree at the United Reformed Church Hall in Blandford was memorable for two reasons.

Firstly it was a sell-out success for the inaugural event in what promises to be a series of shows promoted by Dorset Rural Arts Company Artsreach in the town.

And secondly, instead of a twohander featuring Nick Hennessey and Hugh Lupton, it became a one-man show due to a family illness making it impossible for Hugh to appear.

Nick skilfully filled the programme with a series of stories in the first half, and then an abridged version of The Liberty Tree, high-

lighting tales of 'Robin Hood and other English radicals'.

Mayor of Blandford Roger Carter and his consort Heather Carter were in attendance to mark the occasion.

He said: "I'm delighted that Artsreach is now able to programme shows in Blandford. The solo performer reminded everyone of the wonderful art of storytelling. It was a very entertaining evening, well-attended and pointing up the need for more events like this in Blandford."

Artsreach plans to be back in Blandford on March 31 with a contemporary circus event at the Corn Exchange.

January 2019

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Asha Menon.

January 2019

The sound of Africa

Boyd James.

Frankie Yeatman.

Young talent put on a show for the Mayor THE Mayor's Fabulous Forum in the Corn Exchange was a chance to showcase some of Blandford's young talent and at the same time raise funds for the Mayor's charities, the Blandford Food Bank and Opportunity Group.

It was compered by Tom Henley, who also sang individually and with Frankie Yeatman and Emma Wright, including a number of items from recent productions of The Blandford School at The Tivoli.

The show featured performances by members of the Performing Arts Academy in an extract from 'Matilda', pianist Sidney Jenkinson, Asha Menon with two songs, including the one she wrote to win the World War One commemoration song-writing competition, young stand-up Boyd James, ballet from Jasmine Upward, the Mad Hatter's Tea Party from the forthcoming pantomime 'Alice in Cuckooland' and a finale from the Stour Valley Band.

FOLLOWING the division of the former Argos store in East Street, Blandford, into four individual units, two of which have remained unoccupied, the owners of the building have now applied to convert the two vacant units back into one. A letter from the agent to North Dorset District Council states that the application to vary the approval for the division of the units to allow two of them to be combined is because the owner has found no takers for the individual units but believes there may be a better chance of letting a larger unit with an 1800 square foot sales area.

THE acclaimed African Children's Choir, which stole the hearts of the nation during their uplifting performance of the number one single 'Sing' with Gary Barlow at the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations, will be performing at The Blandford School on Sunday January 27.

As part of its new 'Just as I am' tour, it is coming to Blandford combining traditional hymns with African cultural sounds and a stunning visual story. The familyfriendly event is full of inspirational stories, beautiful voices and lively African songs.

The choir travels the world, acting as the ambassador for Africa's children, and Music for Life, its official fundraising charity, has educated over 52,000 children.

Tickets for the concert are available from Blandford Evangelical Church (01258 450689 or email admin@becbygrace.co.uk) or Blandford Parish Church (01258 456260) or email office@bfpc.org.uk).

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January 2019

Justify the demolition of Nordon, demand opponents HISTORIC England have renewed their opposition to the proposal to demolish North Dorset District Council's former headquarters at Nordon in Salisbury Road, Blandford, and replace it with some of the affordable homes planned for the site.

The application, submitted in July 2018 by Chapman Lily Planning on behalf of the Aster Group Ltd, is awaiting determination by North Dorset District Council, the owners of the site.

After seeking further information from the applicants, Historic England's principal inspector Simon Hickman says their response does not provide sufficient justification or evidence that the public benefit would be high enough to outweigh the 'substantial harm' the proposal will cause to the conservation area, whose boundary was drawn specifically to include the undesignated heritage asset of Nordon and its grounds.

"The house has clear and considerable aesthetic value and strong historic connections with the Hall and Woodhouse Brewery, one of the town's principal industries," said the inspector.

"The building is integral to the character and appearance of the conservation area. Its loss would remove the special architectural and historic interest of the site and render it unworthy of conservation area designation.

"The question of how much weight should be given to the laudable provision of affordable

housing is not one Historic England can answer, but the National Planning Policy Framework advises that, when considering the impact of a proposed development on the significance of a designated heritage asset, great weight should be given to the asset's conservation.

"The Blandford conservation area is a designated heritage asset and these proposals would cause substantial harm to its significance."

He asks that if it is proposed to determine the application in its current form, Historic England should be informed of the committee date so that attendance can be considered.

North Dorset's conservation officer Jen Nixon says the applicants' response only reiterates that the retention of the existing historic building is unviable and would introduce greater pressure to fell more of the site's trees. It provides no evidence to support such an out-

come, and no options appraisal indicating that alternative plot layouts have been explored.

"Reference is only made to Nordon itself, in that the lack of viability for its conversion is due, to a large degree, to the resulting spacious size and final value of the likely six, well-appointed apartments formed, and that these would be at odds with accommodation generally allocated for affordable housing.

"This fails to justify the building's lack of viability, only that the scheme proposed is unable to accommodate the heritage constraints of the site."

She highlights conflict with the North Dorset Local Plan vision to make prudent use of natural resources, saying demolition is unsustainable, and questions the true level of public benefit in view of the considerable objections raised as both the principle and content of the proposed scheme.

PLANS have been submitted by Bryanston Estates for the conversion of buildings at Normandy Farm in Winterborne Stickland to commercial use, and prospective tenants are being sought by the applicants.

The outline application to North Dorset

District Council seeking permission for the access relates to the demolition of a dairy building central cattle shed for development of a building for business, industrial and storage/distribution uses. Anyone interested can call 01722 426808 for more information.

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January 2019

Perfect timing as Phyllis hits 100 A PARTY was held in Blandford Methodist Church Hall for Phyllis Smith, who celebrated her 100th birthday on December 2 when she was taken out to lunch by her family.

number of stores where the requirement to be properly dressed and punctual was something which had stuck with her for life. "If I'm going somewhere, I have to be on time," she said.

She was born in the village of Great Milton, Oxfordshire, in 1918 and worked in Oxford in a

During World War Two she joined the WRAF, rising to the rank of corporal, and served in Hamburg, where she remembers the women were given a hard time but worked hard. "I was in my mid-20s and we girls weren't allowed out on our own," she said.

It was after the war that she met husband-to-be Royston Smith, who after they were married was invited to take up a job managing the Lady Bailey Caravan Site at Winterborne Whitechurch.

And there they stayed - Phyllis for many years running the campsite shop - until Roy's death about ten years ago, and where Phyllis continues to live independently with support from family, friends and the Methodist Church pastoral team.

She had played the organ from the age of six, and became organist at Winterborne Whitechurch and Winterborne Kingston, as well as at the Methodist church. She still has an organ at her home, where her favourite hymn is 'What a friend I have in Jesus'.

Phyllis and Roy had one son, who died in his 50s, but he and his wife had three children, Lucy, Emma and Simon. Phyllis now has six great granddaughters and one great grandson.

Dog wardens strike gold DOG wardens for the Dorset Councils Partnership, including North Dorset, have won recognition from the RSPCA for providing a 'gold standard' in animal welfare for their stray dog service.

It is the third year running that they have received the Gold Stray Dog Footprint from the charity as part of its Community Animal Welfare Footprints (CAWF) Awards.

Members of the dog warden team attended the CAWF Winners Reception in London.

Molly McGowan.

Special day for Molly A RESIDENT at Colten Care's Whitecliffe House in Blandford celebrated her 102nd birthday in the town where she was born and bred and has lived all her life.

Molly McGowan was born in East Street, one of seven children, and has lived through two world wars and seen the streets which once were filled with horses and carts become filled with cars and lorries.

At school she enjoyed sports, including swimming and tennis, and in later life would volunteer as a substitute games mistress at a Blandford School.

But straight after leaving at 14 she worked for a private grocery firm, where she was in charge of weighing the tea and packing butter.

She met her husband when she was dared by a girlfriend to say hello to a soldier, Yorkshireman Joseph Michael McGowan, a sergeant with the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers, who was camping in the New Forest, and who offered to walk her home. They married, but she spent many years with her husband away on service.

They had two children, Judith and Bryan, and when Joseph left the Army after the war, they settled in Blandford where he worked as a bus company engineer and later for the council.

Molly and her son Bryan, her grandson Robin and two granddaughters-in-law, Alison and Jay, were joined in the birthday celebrations by Blandford Mayor, Roger Carter, who presented the great-grandmother-of-six with flowers and a card.

She was also treated to a birthday cake made from her favourite Chelsea buns.

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January 2019

A happy ending for short story writers ASPIRING writers came under the spotlight at the fourth annual Rotary Short Story competition finals night held in the Parish Centre, Blandford.

There was a wide range of subject matter in the sometimes gripping stories, and it was one of the under-18 category entrants, Evie Askew, who was judged overall winner for her story 'Channel Hopping' by the panel of judges, Pam Fudge, Sandra Crook and Nick Allen.

Evie was presented by Mayor of Blandford Roger Carter with the Mayor's Cup and £50, a framed

certificate and high tea voucher from main sponsors Blandford Forum Town Council and Beatons Tearooms and Bookshop.

The winner of £50 and a Beatons voucher in the open category was Carol Waterkeyn for 'Chateau Bernard'.

Other sponsors were Morrisons, W H Smith and the Lesley Shand Funeral Service. The other category winners received £25 and/or a Beatons voucher, and runners-up £10 gift vouchers.

Winners and runners-up at the Rotary Short Story competition: Back row: Jim Atkins (senior vice-president of Blandford Rotary), Mayor Roger Carter, Evie Askew, Dick Taylor; front row: Carol Waterkeyn, Cathryn Thomas, Kevin Burke, Pam Fudge (judge).

In the flash fiction category, the winner was Cathryn Thomas for 'Nana', and the Dorset Theme category was won by Kevin Burke for 'Angel of Cold Water'.

Frances Colville was runner-up in both, with 'Magnolia Blossom' and 'The Memory Train'.

Runner-up in the open category

Mayor of Blandford Roger Carter presents the trophy to the overall winner Evie Askew.

Kesiah Rigby, aged nine, received a special prize for her story 'The Seashell Café'.

Residents’ petition over parking issues EFFORTS to resolve parking problems in Milldown Road in advance of the town parking review currently underway are being made by town councillors following a petition signed by residents who say it has become dangerous.

They have agreed to seek parking and loading restrictions on one side of the road between Jubilee Way and the furthest pinch point to prevent reducing the road to single-carriageway and restricting sight-lines.

Members of the town and general purposes committee heard the plea of resident Mark Bellman in support of the petitioners for restrictions on both sides of the

road, but agreed instead to one side only, and also to ask for the removal of the middle pinch point.

They confirmed the problems for residents using their driveways and for motorists confronted with oncoming traffic when they tried to enter what had become a oneway street, but were concerned that restricting parking on both sides would drive parked cars to other congested areas.

Councillor Byron Quayle said it could be some time before recommendations were made as a result of the parking review, which could only look at how to work with the existing infrastructure, since there were problems in securing new parking areas.

Town councillors have agreed to seek a long-term lease from North Dorset District Council for the land between Philip Road and Elizabeth Road which currently serves as town allotments. It was agreed that no approval should be given until the cost implications were known.

was Dick Taylor for 'Dear John' and in under-18s for 'Written on My Palm', Millie Chinnock, who was unable to be present and whose story was read by her mother and teacher.

A special prize was awarded to nine-year old Kesiah Rigby for her story 'The Seashell Café'.

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Readers’ letters

Do we really need more new homes?

I REGULARLY read in the local press of residents' concerns about planning decisions made by local authorities and have to agree that some common sense seems to be missing from some approved developments.

Planning permission is often granted to developers who really only want to build their new homes as cheaply as possible on land bought as cheaply as possible.

Once the last house is built the builder is keen to move on. The day of moving into a new home is not the joyous occasion that many dream of. Many a new owner has been told by the builder "we'll sort that out once you've moved in".

Land alongside the brewery in Blandford is being used for building new homes. When details and prices are made available I'm sure that there will be many people wanting to buy in this almost town centre location close to the River Stour and the recreation meadows. But I doubt whether many will be existing Blandford residents.

The downside to this near-idyllic location, as Blandford residents are aware, is that being alongside the brewery there are odours from the manufacturing of beers, and unless the new residents keep their windows

January 2019 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

closed their homes will be impregnated. Sitting in their small gardens will also be unpleasant with the noise of a large industrial site working round the clock next door.

I hope that when development was allowed so close to the river, the insect problems of the past were considered, together with the potential for flooding, and that any wildlife and natural features between the site and the river will not be endangered?

I've often seen otters, swans, cygnets and various ducks at the water's edge near to the site's boundary.

There is only one road that the new residents and their visitors may use to access the site by vehicle - an already busy piece of road between Tesco and Bryanston School roundabouts.

Building this new development will take several years so plant machinery, site staff vehicles, delivery lorries and visiting vehicles will mean quite a lot of daily traffic bringing mud onto the main road.

Whilst there is a surplus of existing properties on the market locally that are for sale or for rental or properties that just sit empty, we do not need panic situations where planning permission is granted just to make up the numbers of new homes being built.

Please give thought and use common sense in granting planning applications.

Nicholas Smith Blandford Forum

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.

Badger cull: the other point of view I FEEL I should reply to Suzanne Aldous's letter (November issue).

Firstly, my information came straight from a statement from Farming Minster George Eustice on the DEFRA website, that reductions in new outbreaks of bovine TB of 50% had been recorded in Gloucestershire and Somerset following the completion of their licensed four-year badger culls, and that findings were in line with expectation based on the scientific evidence from the Randomised Badger Culling Trial which underpins the approach to tackling bovine TB. (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-data-showsdrop-in-bovine-tb-as-furthermeasures-to-fight-diseaseunveiled) Secondly your correspondent quotes an unnamed veterinary source. All the vets I know support the current policy and do not dispute what is being said by DEFRA. Vets are keener than anyone to get rid of TB because so much of their time is taken up by TB testing. We absolutely must stick to the science, but we should be careful how we interpret it.

I agree that farmers need to pay attention to biosecurity, but hungry badgers will go to a great

deal of trouble to steal cattle feed. They roam cattle pastures, re-filling their latrines and urinating freely. It is widely accepted that badgers excrete BTB copiously.

The public want, and some dairy companies insist, that their farmer suppliers' cows must spend a percentage of their lives outdoors, with a significant fresh grass diet.

I don't want to see all cows kept indoors all year round but it is the only likely outcome if we cannot get on top of TB. Your correspondent is quite right in saying that clearing infected cattle out of herds is essential, but it must go hand in hand with control in wildlife.

Any new herd breakdowns to TB after the second year of a cull are subjected to the much more stringent gamma interferon blood test, which takes out infected animals missed by the skin test.

It also takes many false positives. Farmers have been calling for better tests for many, many years. No-one likes to see cattle or badgers needlessly killed.

Not too many years ago TB was under control and we had a healthy badger population, managed by treating every outbreak fiercely - all badgers in setts within a certain radius of an outbreak were destroyed and the setts were kept clear of re-inhabitation for a set number of months.

Sadly we don't seem to have the stomach for this simple, humane and effective treatment any longer.

There is no simple way to cure TB: antibiotics do not work and vaccination is not a guaranteed cure-all. But the building mountain of new anecdotal evidence that culling areas are seeing reductions in new outbreaks of TB should be welcomed.

The target is a stable and healthy badger population, and a stable healthy cattle population.

No-one is enjoying the cull, which is firefighting, but together with more stringent cattle testing, biosecurity and maybe vaccination when it becomes available, is the only way I can see of achieving this.

George Hosford, Durweston (Editor's note: This correspondence is now closed).

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January 2019

Award delight for Cambridge Lady SPETISBURY'S Cambridge Lady, Nicki Edwards, was shocked to hear her name announced as winner of the South West Regional Consultant of the Year at the annual Cambridge Weight Plan convention held at the International Centre in Telford.

Nicki, who provides her clients with support from her home in the village, has been a consultant for over five years and has previously been named a Top 50 UK Consultant.

She said: "I am so excited to have won this award, but it wouldn't have been possible without the support and dedication of all my lovely clients. This truly does go to them.

“It was totally unexpected and I think I may have been a little overexcited when I was called onto the massive stage with my name up on the huge screen.

The managing director of CWP certainly got a huge hug when he presented me with the award!"

She said she also found the Saturday Night Slimmer of the Year Awards moving and inspiring. "It was a wonderful event and I feel both honoured and humbled at the same time."

Nicki was also able to meet Father Lomas, star of the BBC's Crash Diet Experiment, who put his type 2 diabetes into remission through rapid weight loss using Cambridge Weight Plan.

Thousands of independent consultants from all over the world

How to deal with winter colds and 'flu Colds are mild viral infections affecting nose, throat, sinuses and upper airways. Symptoms include a blocked or runny nose, sneezing, sore throat and cough. Colds typically last a week in adults, but up to two weeks in younger children. There's no cure for a cold. Take plenty of rest, fluids and painkillers, such as ibuprofen or paracetamol, to relieve aches and pains.

Colds are spread by: • direct contact - sneezes and coughs launch virus droplets into the air to be breathed in by others; • indirect contact - sneezing onto a door handle means another person touching the handle can catch the cold virus if they touch their mouth or nose.

A person is contagious 2/3 days before symptoms appear and until all symptoms have gone - about two weeks.

Flu is not a 'bad cold'. Each year, thousands of people die of complications after catching the flu. Colds and flu share some of the same symptoms (cough, sore throat), but are caused by different viruses.

If you're generally fit and healthy, you can usually treat flu yourself, without seeing a doctor, as with a cold (above).

Preventing the spread of colds and flu • wash hands regularly • sneeze and cough into tissues • use your own cup, plates, etc

Nicki Edwards with her award as Cambridge Weight Plan South West Regional Consultant of the Year. gathered at the event to celebrate and recognise the amazing and inspirational achievements of consultants and slimmers.

It included new product launches and the announcement of the rebrand to The 1:1 Diet by Cambridge Weight Plan to more accurately reflect the important role of the consultants in helping their clients to reach their weight loss goals through private, oneto-one support.

MORE than £3,200 was raised at the Chase Benefice Christmas Fair, held at Tarrant Keyneston village hall in November, in support of the Sudan Medical Link. Spokesperson Caroline Tory said: "It was a fantastic result - thank you to everyone who supported us."

You only need to see your GP if you have: • symptoms more than three weeks • high temperature (fever) of 39°C (102.2°F) or above • blood-stained mucus when you cough • chest pain • breathing difficulties • severe swelling of lymph nodes (glands) in neck and/or armpits See your GP for concerns about a baby, elderly person, or if you have a long-term illness, such as a chest condition.

Phone NHS 111 for an assessment. Tests may be needed to rule out a more serious infection such as pneumonia.

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January 2019

January 2019

Panto people hit town for Alice’s pop-up promotion THE panto season in Blandford began with the very proactive promotion of the town's first home-grown pantomime in the Corn Exchange in the middle of December.

Three sell-out performances of 'Alice in Cuckooland' presented

by Oh No It Isn't were preceded by the appearance of characters popping up all over the town - at the library, in the shops and in the pubs and cafes, at a preschool and even at a private birthday party - and in a 'test run' with an audience from Mosaic, the Milborne St Andrew-based charity supporting bereaved children.

A scene was also presented at the Mayor of Blandford's charity night in the Corn Exchange in November, when Kayleigh James was a last-minute stand-in for Jade Alcock as Alice, who was unable to appear that night.

Audiences were greeted by a bubble-blowing caterpillar and castle guards in a production which featured town clerk Linda Scott-Giles and financial officer Jenny Tempier as the dancing comedy duo Tweedledumb and Tweedledumber, deputy mayor Nocturin Lacey-Clarke as Chester the Cat and Graham Haigh as the King of Hearts.

The evil Queen (Beatrice Hunt) had banned Christmas and imprisoned Santa (Simone WallsMcDonald). Coming to the rescue with much audience interaction were Old Mother Wobbly (Tony Horrocks), the Mad Hatter (Wren Holdom), the White Rabbit (Liz Rawlings), and romping throughout was Marchy the Hare (Sam James, the show's writer and director and compere) with a rousing finale from the Starlight Dancing Academy.

Oh No It Isn't and their co-producers Clive Newlin and Tony Horrocks are to be congratulated on Blandford's first home-grown pantomime in many years, thanks to sponsorship from ten local businesses, colourful sets designed and built by Roger Heath, and magnificent costumes by Leander Cunningham.

• The panto season began in the villages at the Brewery Hall, Ansty, with Madcap Productions' presentation of Peter Pan on December 7 and 8.

On Friday and Saturday, January 18 and 19, Iwerne Minster presents its panto at the Village Club, starting 7.30pm, and from Thursday, January 24, to Saturday, January 26, with evening performances at 7.30pm and a Saturday matinee at 2.30pm, the Tarrant Valley Players present 'Tarrant-Ella', their 20th panto, at the Anne Biddlecombe Hall, Tarrant Keyneston.

On the same weekend, Friday and Saturday, January 25 and 26, and again on Friday and Saturday, February 1 and 2, Spetisbury Occasional Dramatic Society (SODS) present Aladdin at Spetisbury village hall, 7.30pm.

Rehearsals are well underway for the ever-popular story of Snow White (with a few surprises) which will be presented by the Milborne Players, at Milborne St Andrew village hall on February 8, 9 and 10 at 7.30pm, with a matinee at 2.30pm on Saturday.

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A scene from Alice performed at the Mayor's Fabulous Forum, with Tony Horrocks as the Dame, Kayleigh James as Alice, Wren Holdom as Marchy the hatter, and Liz Rawlings as Floppy the White Rabbit.

Comical cut for charity AT the next 'Teddy Laughs' Comedy Exchange event on Saturday January 26, co-promoter Sam James’s wife Kayleigh (right) will be having her head shaved live on stage in support of Teddy 20 in the hope of raising £500 for the charity supporting those affected by childhood cancer.

She said: "They do amazing work for families and children. I hope to raise as much money as possible by people sponsoring me or by buying tickets to come see it happening live. I also want to build awareness of this fantastic charity and hopefully encourage more people to do something to support them - and hope you can all get a laugh out of my new look."

People can donate on her page at virginmoneygiving.com.

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January 2019

The View from the Hill

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

T

HE cows and calves are now comfortably bedded and chomping through the winter silage supply indoors.

One bunch had a 10-day detour to a field of phacelia and clover cover crop, to see if they liked it, and whether recycling it through the bovine digestive system was a good way to cut the excessive growth down to size.

They reduced it to a manageable size for the spring preparation of seedbeds for barley, although they spent more time near the silage feeders we were buffer feeding them with, so the poo got deposited in a fairly concentrated area. To do the best for the soil, we need to train them to do this evenly all over the field and not all in one place.

The lambs have been introduced to the pleasures of turnips. Once they get used to the taste, they grow like crazy and will be happy for months - just don't smell their breath. The ewes are grazing fodder rape in the field next door - their old teeth aren't quite up to turnips!

We experimented with a large area of cover crop this autumn, all of which has grown extremely well, and we wonder how on earth we are going to incorporate all this plant material into the soil.

The manufacturers of a newstyle of 'no-till' seed drill are

Cows in clover. falling over themselves to sell new kit to farmers like us, but it would be very easy to spend upwards of ÂŁ100,000 on the wrong machine. We are coping with our existing kit and mowing off three-quarters of the height of the plants. Decomposing mowings should give the worms and other soil dwellers something to feed on, raise soil organic matter content, and break down the plant material into nutrients that can be used by the next crop.

T

here has been a steady flow of lorries in and out of the farm over the last weeks. Wheat has gone to various homes, and barley has gone to Southampton to be loaded onto a boat bound for Ghent in Belgium, where it will be brewed into some delicious European lager.

How this kind of trade will take place after March 29, 2019, is anyone's guess. Will we have to pay enormous tariff charges in a WTO scenario, or will all have been smoothed over so our country can continue to function properly?

We have also begun to ship out the pile of maize silage that was made by Nick Bragg and his team back in September. Once unsheeted its delicious smell fills the air. There is a single lorry on turn-around between the farm and the digester, bringing spent digestate for us to spread on the fields in spring and taking away the maize on the return journey.

The digestate is a lovely dry fibrous material, not unlike pot-

ting compost, it looks like a great soil conditioner.

N

ow that we have had a respectable amount of rain (185mm in November), the ground has softened up sufficiently to allow Gary and Brendan to get on with erecting the long-awaited new fence along the track between Knighton and Websley. The old one was very tired and was demolished almost a year ago.

The summer was too dry and the ground too hard to replace it until now. They have put a smart new gate in the middle which will cut whole minutes off the daily stock inspection round.

A

covering thousands of hectares, on land owned by many thousands of landowners owning very small areas.

On one farm we visited of 7,000 hectares, they were harvesting sugar beet in one field (300 ha), and growing wheat in another (600ha), the size of our whole arable operation, with no hedges or trees across the entire field.

There appeared to be no attempt to grow any areas for wildlife - it was an environmental desert. It led me to think about the extra costs we incur in providing wildlife friendly stuff in the UK, and how we are to compete with those who provide none?

farmers' study tour to Hungary at the end of November was fascinating. From an agricultural point of view, the communist era has left its mark in a very substantial way. Land was all taken into collective farms and production centrally controlled with the inefficiencies one might expect.

Once the wave of new democracy freed the country in 1989, the land was eventually returned to its former owners.

Many had found other jobs and many more had lost their farming skills, so the current system developed of large farmLoading maize for the digester. ing corporations, often

January 2019

Public plaudits for the museum’s volunteers THE work and dedication of several volunteers at the Blandford Museum was recognised by the Dorset Volunteer Centre in their Volunteer of the Year awards.

Special guests were the Lord Lieutenant of Dorset, Angus Campbell, and Lady Emma Fellowes.

The event publicly recognises individuals and groups of volunteers who have made a difference to various organisations in the county.

Sally Woodlock, who has been volunteering at Blandford Museum for many years, received an individual award as secretary for the Blandford Museum Archaeology Group, for which she has worked tirelessly to help create a vibrant group.

She is involved in organising talks and dig opportunities, sends out monthly newsletters and organises regular finds days, together with the club's social events, the Christmas party and the annual fish and chips quiz night.

The curatorial team received a Volunteer Group of the Year award, which will be displayed at the Museum, and the individuals concerned each received personal certificates.

The team is made up of Peter Andrews, Emeritus Curator, and Michael Le Bas, Senior Curator, both of whom have worked tirelessly for over 20 years, curators Tessa

Pearce and Carolyn Martin, who create exhibitions and manage the huge task of recording additions and keeping track of their very large collection, Mark Churchill who has completely reorganised the archives, and David Hurley, photo archivist.

Mike Lofthouse is art curator and has organised a series of excellent exhibitions, and David Hiscock works with the newspaper collection, all behind-the-scenes efforts not readily seen by the public but essential to the museum's existence.

Mr Le Bas also received an award from the Dorset Museums Association at their recent AGM in recognition of his huge contribution to the Dorset Museum community and specifically for his work for more than 25 years with Blandford Museum as curator, lecturer, archivist, exhibition preparer and in many other ways.

The museum, which is currently undergoing modernisation prior to reopening in the spring, is always keen to welcome new volunteers to help with their work, and particularly at the moment those who can help in its important education programme helping schools and young people learn to appreciate their past through the material which has been preserved. For information, call 01258 450388 or email blandfordtownmuseum@uwclub.net.

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Peggy still lends a hand - at 95 PEGGY Whitty (right), who two years ago was presented with a 'Volunteer of the Year' award by Dorset Community Action for her work with the Blandford group of the Alzheimer's Society, celebrated her 95th birthday on November 13.

Peggy was born in England, where her father met her mother while convalescing in Swanage after being gassed in France during World War One. At six months old, she travelled to Australia with her mother and two brothers, an eight-week journey on board ship.

In World War Two, she served as a member of the ATS, finally stationed at Salisbury, and with her husband, a Grenadier Guard, moved to Langton in 1950, but was widowed 43 years ago. She has lived in and around Blandford ever since and remains a popular member of the volunteer team at the Blandford Memory CafĂŠ and Singing for the Brain.

"She comes every week without fail to help with refreshments, and always has a smile on her face, a spring in her step - and perfect hats!" said Sarah Rampton of the Alzheimer's Society.

Blandford Memory Cafe and Singing for the Brain groups are beneficial for people with dementia and their carers. For information, call 01305 259740 or email sarah.rampton@alzheimers.org.uk.

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Fashion Museum draw prizewinners Jean Dale, Rebecca Pride and Jane McIntyre, with Mayor Roger Carter.

Jean’s a shining example ONE of the longest serving volunteers at Blandford's Fashion Museum, Jean Ballett, has received a commendation from the Dorset Museums Association in recognition of her commitment to the Museums of Dorset.

Having only come into the museum in The Plocks for a cup of tea, Jean joined in 1997 as a volunteer, and was nominated as a Volunteer of the Year as a fantastic example of what volunteering is all about - loyalty, dedication and team work. Museum administrator Kathryn Reed said: "We are extremely proud of her."

The Fashion Museum held its Grand Christmas Draw at its close-ofseason open day and three lucky winners, Jean Dale, Rebecca Pride and Jane McIntyre, received their prizes from Mayor of Blandford, Roger Carter.

January 2019

Teddy team turn out to ensure a fun time NOVEMBER and December were busy months for the Teddy20 team supporting children with life-threatening conditions including cancer.

Charity founders Kim and Owen Newton have thanked the many volunteers who make it all happen, starting with the eager group who met up at Smyths Toy Store in Bournemouth to buy gifts for the children on specialist children's cancer Piam Brown Ward at Southampton Children's Hospital and the Kingfisher Ward in Dorchester. All were delivered in time for the festivities to begin.

The Christmas Hero party went off without a hitch. Children travelled from all across the south, along with their siblings, to have a very special party.

Durweston village hall was transformed into a winter wonderland along with a grotto. Visitors included real reindeer, a unicorn, Dorset Fire Brigade, and Santa and Mrs Claus in their sleigh.

There were sparklers, a DJ, face painting, gingerbread decorating, arts and crafts, rock painting, reindeer food bags, lots of cake and sweets, a hog roast, pizza and coffee for all to enjoy.

The children left with their goodies in a Teddy20 bag along with a t-shirt, their arts and crafts, cake, sweets and gift from Santa, and a great day was had by all.

Above & below: Christmas fun for the children at Durweston.

SINCE 2003 when Durweston village hall opened, Rachel Hosford has put on a concert either in the hall or the church each year to celebrate Christmas or New Year. This time it is a New Year concert starting 7pm in the church on January 4, and although it will contain some music with a sacred seasonal theme, it will include other entertaining music and readings appropriate for New Year. The Durweston Village Singers, well known for their CD of the Durweston Carols, will be joined by Rachel's pupils, friends and family, with piano accompanist Elaine Korman. All proceeds will go to St Nicholas Church. Admission is ÂŁ7 (children free) to include an interval glass of wine or soft drink.

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January 2019

Help for the elderly

Chris Sommerfelt, Tony Harker and Paul Santer of the Blandford Men's Shed with their display at the Bluebird Care community engagement event.

Community groups call for volunteers THE recently established Men's Shed, operating out of the former woodworking building at The Blandford School, is in need of new recruits to help with the various activities underway, which include renovating fingerposts all over the district.

They also made the cut-out figures for the final 14-18 commemoration group exhibition in the Corn Exchange, and have been renovating bicycles, and they are now trying to bring back into working order the town's original generator, which provided electricity to the town and which is now owned by the Town Museum. To get involved, email blandfordmensshed@gmail.com.

The Men's Shed is not the only community organisation keen to recruit those who may have retired from work but have time on their hands and are seeking a useful activity.

Jenny Thompson, who works with the Friends of Blandford Community Hospital (email

dhc.friends.blandford@nhs.net), said she recently hosted a volunteers' tea party which was attended by around 20 people from the Friends and other town voluntary groups, but only five of them were men. "We badly need more male volunteers," she said.

The RVS (Maria.Jacobson@royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk) run a home library service for the housebound and a hospital trolley service, and the Friends of Blandford Community Hospital need volunteers for the services they offer, including hospital visiting, befriending as well as fundraising.

Age Concern Blandford (ageconcernblandford@talk21.com) is seeking help in providing its valuable advice services to the elderly, and there are dozens of groups in the town which would welcome both men and women.

For a list of community groups, see the community section of the Blandford Town Team (blandfordtown.co.uk).

A COMMUNITY engagement event for services supporting older people in Blandford was hosted by Ferndown-based Bluebird Care and coincided with the offer of a ÂŁ250 award to a project improving the quality of life for older residents.

The home care company offers short- and long-stay visits and overnight and live-in support as an alternative to residential care, and invited local organisations to join them in the Corn Exchange to display promotional material as part of its commitment to supporting community projects and initiatives.

Masen Naidoo, Bluebird Care's managing director, said: "As well as providing care and companionship services to people living in their own homes, Bluebird Care wants to support groups and charities that work hard to improve the quality of life for older people."

The grant was awarded to Knees-Up, the charity based in the studio behind M&Co in East Street, which provides structured exercise activity for those

Knees-Up chairman Hugh Shackell and longest serving committee member Hazel Warrington receive their cheque from Bluebird Care managing director Masen Naidoo. of more mature years who may be recovering from ill-health or seeking preventative measures.

Chairman Hugh Shackell said it would go a long way towards replacing one of the charity's exercise bikes which have become in need of renewal.

"Prevention is better than cure, and for the cost of a pint of beer you can have an hour in a cardio class here which will prove beneficial to your heart."

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January 2019

Daredevil Ben brings inspiration to schools FOLLOWING his remarkable achievement in reaching the summit of the world's tallest mountain earlier this year, TV presenter and adventurer Ben Fogle has returned to his educational roots in the heart of Dorset.

Pupils at Bryanston School and Durweston CVEA Primary School were provided with a fascinating insight into the challenges he faced on Mount Everest and his many other adventures around the globe.

Since he left Bryanston in 1992, they have included rowing 3,000 miles across the Atlantic with Olympic rower James Cracknell, reaching the South Pole in commemoration of the historic race between Amundsen and Scott in 1911, crossing one of the world's largest deserts in Oman and completing the six-day Marathon des Sables across the Sahara Desert.

Above: Ben Fogle with Durweston Primary School pupils on the banks of the River Stour. Above right: Ben Fogle with Bryanston head Sarah Thomas.

Many of his endurance tests were in support of charities close to his heart such as the Worldwide Fund for Nature and the Tusk Trust.

Twenty-two pupils from the primary school joined him on the banks of the River Stour to hear about his experience of swimming with wild crocodiles on a river delta in Botswana. Each pupil had written a letter to the headteacher to explain why they would like to meet the TV star and UN Environment Patron. After answering their enthusiastic questions, he explained the important

role the younger generation has to play in helping to protect wildlife and the environment.

Earlier in the day he gave an inspirational presentation for all pupils at Bryanston. He said his life at the school helped to open his eyes to the wonders of the natural world and encouraged him to rise to new challenges and pursue his own dreams.

He said: "Reading about the first ascent of Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary in the school library was truly amazing, but I never thought I would one day be following in his footsteps."

Pupils were given an insight into the challenges that he faced during the ascent and descent in the Himalayas. He said Bryanston had helped to set him on course, define his sense of purpose and provide mental and physical resilience. He encouraged all pupils to follow their dreams and use their own educational and life experiences to empower themselves, achieve their goals and reach their own summits.

During his visit to Bryanston, he also met a number of his former teachers and held separate meet-

ings with senior pupils, Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award participants and high achievers within the school's Performance Sport Programme.

"We were delighted to welcome Ben back to the school and I know everyone found his stories about 'achieving the impossible' truly inspiring," said Sarah Thomas, head of Bryanston. "It's very pleasing to hear Ben say that his time at the school helped him to overcome his early shyness to become such a focused and motivated individual who has achieved so much."

Nicola Brooke, headteacher at Durweston Primary School, said all of the pupils who met him had been excitedly talking about his adventures ever since.

"It was a fantastic opportunity for our pupils to hear such wonderful stories from someone who has truly gone the extra mile and overcome the odds to achieve so many things. It was great to see their wide eyes and the smiles on their faces as they heard what it was like to swim with crocodiles.

They all enjoyed the time spent with Ben very much indeed."

Making good progress A BLANDFORD school which was put under special measures following a disappointing Ofsted inspection in March 2017 has been given a favourable report following a monitoring inspection by Ofsted inspectors Nathan Kemp and Paul Smith in November.

After what was the third monitoring inspection since the full

inspection in 2017, Daniel Lasbury-Carter, head teacher at Blandford St Mary C of E Primary in Birch Avenue, has been told that leaders and managers are continuing to take effective action towards the removal of special measures and that the school can now appoint newly qualified teachers.

THE Diocese of Salisbury Academy Trust is seeking a new governor at Dunbury Academy, to join the team overseeing the budget, helping recruit staff, monitoring performance and advising on policies and procedures.

Full training is available for anyone interested in taking on the role, for which no particular experience or qualifications are required other than the commitment to attend usually six meetings a year and share the governing body responsibilities. To discuss the role, contact the school office on 01258 880501 or email office@dunbury.dsat.org.uk.

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January 2019

The Dingly Dangly scarecrows at the school harvest festival.

Fossil hunting at Charmouth.

Fossil hunt starts a busy term for Durweston pupils A BUSY term at Durweston School included a visit from Ofsted, which confirmed that effective action was being taken to make the school even better.

Sharks class (Years 4 and 5) started off with a visit to Charmouth as part of their topic on coasts and found lots of fossils which inspired

them to learn more.

The annual poetry competition was followed by entertainment for villagers with poetry readings in the village hall. There was a tag rugby tournament, climbing at Bryanston, a smoothie sale organised by the head boy and girl, a race night organised by the PTA, and

Hot meals at school win the MP’s vote DORSET school meals provider, Local Food Links, celebrated the 25th anniversary of National School Meals Week (NSMW) with North Dorset MP Simon Hoare, who went back to school for a hot meal at Downlands School on Blandford Camp.

NSMW promotes the quality and value of the cooked meals delivered every school day by members of LACA (the Lead Association for Catering in Education), and Mr Hoare sampled the baked fishcake with buttery potatoes and peas, followed by a chocolate crispy cake.

Dining alongside some of the pupils with Garrison CO LieutCol Paul Williams, Garrison SgtMaj WO1 Fitzmaurice and Garrison Staff Officer Lieut-Col (Retd) Bob Brannigan, were chief executive of Local Food Links Caroline Morgan and school headteacher Susan Whitlock.

Mr Hoare saw how pupils benefit from cooked meals while developing their table manners and conversational skills.

He said: "I thoroughly enjoyed my lunch. The pupils were very engaging and keen to tell me

North Dorset MP Simon Hoare tucks into school dinner with pupils at Downlands Primary School. about their favourite meals.�

Local Food Links has recently expanded and now supplies 50 local schools, serving 700,000 meals each year. As a social enterprise, it prides itself on being a business for social good with 92 per cent ingredients bought in Dorset.

Schools interested in working in partnership with Local Food Links should email caroline.morgan@localfoodlinks.org.uk.

finally the school's harvest festival.

All the children visited Salisbury Cathedral to think about the season of advent, and in workshops led by Cathedral staff, made candles and advent wreaths and had a chance to reflect on what the next few weeks would mean to Christians.

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January 2019

New facilities put Bryanston ahead in the world of sport NEW state-of-the-art sports facilities at Bryanston School are the first phase of a pioneering programme to maximise engagement and personal achievement for young men and women in all areas of sport and physical exercise.

In addition to pupils and staff at the school, many others are already taking advantage of the development, including talented pupils from local schools, professionals from the sporting world including AFC Bournemouth, Team Bath Netball and Bath RFC and athletes from the UK's top sports university.

The new programme for Bryanston Sport, conceived and managed by Bryanston's director of sport Alex Fermor-Dunman, followed an exhaustive review of the school's sports resources and processes and was given the green light in 2015.

All design and management for the new and refurbished facilities has been co-ordinated by Jon Mortimer, Bryanston's design con-

sultant, and the multi-million pound construction programme has run in tandem with investment in new processes and personnel to deliver best practice in coaching and training across all sports and physical activities.

This has included the recruitment of head of performance sport Alex Chapman, a former head of physical preparation for the English Institute of Sport. Head coaches for each sport and a team of experienced physical education teachers deliver the school's sports programme, which also features the expertise of external specialists and professional coaches.

The school's gymnasium and sixlane swimming pool have been redeveloped and a dedicated performance development suite has been created to provide groundbreaking monitoring, insight and bespoke training. It supports the development of young people who excel in their chosen sport, and improves the physical development and education of all pupils at the school through a focus on the

Alex Fermor-Dunman, Bryanston's director of sport, left, with Alex Chapman, head of performance sport. maturing adolescent.

All the principal facilities are now operational, and the second phase of the programme will include a new social and recreation area, special physiotherapy and analysis rooms, dedicated sports classrooms and extensive landscaping around the new sports centre.

Mr Fermor-Dunman said: "Although we're still a year away from full completion, we're delighted that the first phase of our ambitious project has been delivered on schedule. The endorsement from Premiership clubs in rugby and football, alongside national teams and governing bodies of

many sports, provides a real vote of confidence in our efforts to create a world-class venue for sporting excellence and endeavour.

"As we move towards completion of the remaining elements, we will be consolidating our close partnership with the pioneering work of the sports faculty at Bath University, and introducing initiatives to deliver the latest in sports science and research.

"Other local and preparatory schools are now working with us and using our new facilities and expertise to help develop their own pupils' engagement with sport and physical wellbeing."

Pimperne Primary's Year 6 football team: Freddie, George, Ollie, Josh, Alfie, Ben, Ryan, Thomas and Jack.

Footballers do Pimperne proud NINE boys from year 6 at Pimperne Primary School competed in the North Dorset U11 mixed football tournament at Gillingham School in which 13 schools took part.

Pimperne faced five other schools in their group, and finished in second place. They drew 0-0 with Sherborne Abbey, won 3-1 against St Gregory's with goals from Freddie, Thomas and George, won 2-0 against Chilmark and Milton with goals from Freddie and George, and drew 0-0 with Wyke A.

23

January 2019

Cricket club in new pavilion plan bid REVISED plans have been submitted on behalf of Blandford Cricket Club for the refurbishment and extension of the cricket pavilion on Park Road Recreation Ground, which in 2015 was threatened with closure due to the condition of its electrics.

It is the third time an application has been submitted to North Dorset District Council after a proposal for a joint use facility shared between the football and cricket clubs was dropped following objections from the cricket club.

The first application for full replacement of the pavilion was withdrawn because of siting problems, and new plans were submitted, amending the location of the new pavilion to be set across the eastern corner of the public Recreation Ground, bringing it very close to the access to the public trailway route and to the boundary with the residential

home at Trailway Court.

Town councillors were told early in 2018 that a further amendment was being proposed to make it a two-storey building on a smaller footprint.

But the application now submitted is for the demolition of the implement store and renovation of the existing pavilion with extension to the east to allow its use for girls and women as well as men and boys cricket. The design is influenced by that of the existing 100-year-old pavilion.

A new implement store will be sited in the area occupied by the former public toilet block on the southern part of the recreation field for which planning permission for demolition has already been approved.

The town council has agreed to give ÂŁ6,000 to both the football and cricket clubs towards the creation of an accessible path to their respective new pavilions.

Reward for rail group A ÂŁ1,000 cheque was presented to the North Dorset Railway Trust by Martin Oliver, managing director of The Great Dorset Steam Fair (GDSF) when he visited Shillingstone station.

The donation was to thank them for their volunteer work providing passenger rides with the Aveling & Porter 1926 steam loco Blue Circle, owned and driven by Mike Smith and used on the Rusden, Higham & Wellington railway, at this year's 50th Steam Fair.

Mr Oliver said: "They stepped in at the last moment to run rides on the beautiful old loco which attracted so much attention. It is an honour to return to Shillingstone station, which due to its closure in 1966 led directly to my late father, Michael Oliver, starting the first Steam Fair 50 years ago."

Mr Oliver added he was keen to further collaborations between NDRT and the GDSF. NDRT chairman David Caddy thanked Mr Oliver for his donation and said he also hoped for closer relations with the Steam Fair as the Trust moved towards becoming the first operational heritage railway in North Dorset.

The RunBlandford team in the Rotary Santa Run.

Santas set the pace THE RunBlandford team from the Blandford Parkrun turned out in force in their Santa suits to take part in the Rotary Santa Run on December 9, having the previous day run twice, on their weekly Saturday run and in Wareham Forest supporting Bowel Cancer Research.

The following Saturday, the parkrun was taken over by the North Dorset Tri Club which provided all the volunteers and pacers for the event. The Tri Club's juniors held their Christmas party at a pool session and the club as a whole celebrated a year which included four championships - a short and long course for both male and female - and 66 members, 26 of them women, crossing a finish line 289 times.

Iain Binsley, in the club's final newsletter of the year, revealed that overall they raced a total of 768 hours, 14 minutes and 31 seconds - equivalent to a whole month of non-stop racing.

The most popular events were Sprint Tris, with 62 finishers, and half-marathons with 50. There were 43 finishers in 10k runs.

Crossing the finish line most were Angela Hunt (13), Becky Dawson (12) and Nicola Remnant (10) among the ladies, and Paul Dunlop (18), Andy Loveless (17) and Tim Wetherilt (14) for the men.

The starting line-up.

24 JANUARY 2019 Tuesday January 1: New Year's Day Fly-In, Compton Abbas Airfield, 0930-1700, details 01747 811767 or comptonabbasairfield.co.uk Vintage Vehicle Rally from Station Court, Sturminster Newton, 10 for 11am Tuesday January 1 to Sunday January 6: Cinderella, Tivoli Theatre, Wimborne (excludes Wednesday January 2), see tivoliwimborne.co.uk or call 01202 885566 Wednesday, Thursday and Friday January 2, 3 and 4: Community Kitchen, Blandford Parish Centre, The Tabernacle, from 12pm Friday January 4: New Year Concert with the Durweston Village Singers, pianist Elaine Korman and pupils of Rachel Hosford and Elaine Korman, Durweston Church, 7pm Blandford Forum Railway Club open night, Scout HQ, Eagle House Gardens, Blandford, entrance £2, refreshments included, parking Sunday January 6: The Art Room - informal art session for beginners, 11am-1pm at The Kings Arms, Blandford, details blandfordartsociety.weebly.com Wednesday January 9: Blandford Forum Film Society, The Blandford School, 7.45pm Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (Martin McDonagh, UK 2017) Drama Dorset Moviola shows ‘Mamma Mia! Here we go again’, Fontmell Magna village hall, 7 for 7.30pm.

Thursday January 10: Forum Cancer Support Group, Woodhouse Garden Pavilion 2 to 4pm (every 2nd Thursday of the month), details 07561 114644.

Square Dancing, Spetisbury village hall, 4 to 6pm (and every Thursday) Friday January 11: Blandford WI meet, The Parish Centre, The Tabernacle, 7 to 9pm, Resolutions for the Annual National Meeting. Details blandfordeveningwi.com or on Facebook Saturday January 12: Christmas tree chipping by Okeford Tree Care at Child Okeford Village Hall car park, 10am - 12.00. Donations to Macmillan Cancer Support and The Village Hall Traditional music from Wales with ALAW, Child Okeford village hall, 7.30pm, tickets 01258 861621, details artsreach.co.uk Monday January 14: Child Okeford WI meets 2pm The Community Centre, Station Road, Child Okeford DT11 8EL: NFWI Resolutions meeting plus a fun

What’s on this month 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.

TWO folk bands and a storyteller are coming to village halls locally this month through Dorset rural arts promoters Artsreach.

ALAW - World Class Music from Wales will be presented in Child Okeford village hall on Saturday January 12 at 7.30pm by three leading musicians who have been described as a 'Welsh supergroup'.

The Longest Johns, who are coming to Shillingstone's Portman Hall on Saturday January 19, are a Bristol-based, a capella folk music band, performing songs that are hundreds of years old plus their own original creations.

'A Hundred Different Words for Love' (pictured above) is James Rowland's story of falling in love and being left broken-hearted, told with live music, heartache, humour and lots of words in a heart-lifting story of romance, despair, and above all, friendship, from one of the UK's most acclaimed storytellers, coming to Tarrant Gunville village hall on Sunday January 20 at 8pm. activity and bring & buy stall Child Okeford Centre for Care and Learning talk by Pete Finklaire - ‘Adventures in Mountaineering’, The Ark's room, St Nicholas School, Child Okeford, 7.30pm, tickets 01258 860767 Tuesday January 15: Child Okeford Flower Arranging Club 2.15pm, 'Chinese New Year' with floristry students from Kingston Maurward, Child Okeford Village Hall, details: 01258 863775 Wednesday January 16: Child Okeford WI Theatre Trip to 'Calendar Girls The Musical': Mayflower Theatre, Southampton, details childokefordwi@gmail.com 'It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet', talk

by Dorset vet Martin Fielding to North Dorset Group, Dorset Wildlife Trust, Fontmell Magna village hall, 7.30pm Thursday January 17: Blandford Art Society workshop with Zara McQueen - Memories and Feelings, 1.30pm at Pimperne village hall, details blandfordartsociety.weebly.com

Blandford Museum Archaeology Group meets 7.30pm for talk by Martin Papworth (National Trust) on Chedworth Roman Villa, details 01258 452831 Friday January 18: Wessex Acoustic Folk, Blandford Royal British Legion Club, Church Lane, 8pm, Gerry Colvin Band Friday and Saturday January 18 and 19: Iwerne Minster's pantomime, The Village Club, 7.30pm Saturday January 19: The Longest Johns, Shillingstone Portman Hall, 7:30pm, tickets 07870 972089, details artsreach.co.uk Sunday January 20: James Rowland - A Hundred Different Words for Love, Tarrant Gunville Village Hall. 8:00pm, tickets 01258 830361, details artsreach.co.uk Wednesday January 23: Blandford Forum Film Society, The Blandford School, 7.45pm I Got Life! (Blandine Lenoir, France 2017) Drama Thursday to Saturday January 24 to 26: Tarrant Valley Players

January 2019 'Tarrant-Ella', Anne Biddlecombe Hall, Tarrant Keyneston, 7.30pm (Saturday matinee 2.30pm), tickets 01258 453399/830641 or True Lovers Knot 01258 452209 Friday and Saturday January 25 and 26 and Friday and Saturday February 1 and 2: Spetisbury Occasional Dramatic Society (SODS) presents Aladdin, Spetisbury village hall, 7.30pm, details and tickets 01258 857515 and 01258 857260 Friday January 25: Blandford & District U3A. David N. Smith on ‘Kingston Lacy: an undiscovered history’, Durweston village hall, 2pm, free admission, details 01258 455081.

Burns Night Dinner and Dance for the Mayor's Charities, Sealy Suite, Crown Hotel, Blandford, 7.30pm - tickets £40 from Town Council office or Chaffers, Salisbury Street, includes 3course meal and disco Film Night, Child Okeford village hall, FilmFlixs presents ‘Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again’ (PG), 7.30pm Saturday January 26: Kipling's India, lecture by Andrew Lycett, Old School, Sturminster Marshall, 2.30pm, tickets 01258 857528, proceeds to the Mackrell Charity Teddy Laughs @ the Comedy Exchange, Corn Exchange, Blandford, 7.30pm, see b-cp.co.uk An Evening with The Gravellers, St Mary's Church, Sturminster Marshall, 7.30pm, supporting Read Easy, details 01258 453293 or email thegravellers@gmail.com Blandford Museum Archaeology Group annual quiz and fish supper, MC Julian Richards, details 01258 452831 Sunday January 27: Blandford Museum Victorian Garden Club with Pennard Plants, Potato Fayre, Pimperne village hall D11 8UZ, 10.30am to 1.30pm, cash only, details 01258 454491 Just as I Am: The African Children's Choir in concert at The Blandford School, 7pm, tickets 01258 450689 or 01258 456260, email admin@becbygrace.co.uk or office@bfpc.org.uk Monday January 28: Stroke Association Peer Support meeting at the Church Room & Village Centre, 1 The Close, Charlton Marshall, DT11 9PA, 10.30am to noon Thursday January 31: Discovering Dorset, Part 1 talk by Stewart Timbrell, All Saints Church, Tarrant Monkton, 7 for 7.30pm, in aid of All Saints church, tickets £5 include glass of wine and nibbles