March 2019 Forum Focus

Forum Focus The free monthly news magazine for the Blandford area

March 2019 Issue No. 84 Est: 2012

Crossroads upgrade will bring weeks of disruption A SCHEME to upgrade the Badger crossroads at the junction of Salisbury Street, Park Road, Salisbury Road and Damory Street on which work started on February 18 could cause significant hold-ups over the next couple of months.

The extensive upgrade should improve the junction for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists, replacing signals originally installed in 1980.

But there will be temporary traffic signals, and motorists have been advised to look out on the works signs for dates and times when the roads, which are also bus routes, will be closed.

Local traffic, and residents in the immediate area who were advised by letter ten days before the work started, may be expected to use alternative routes, including Jubilee Way, Heddington Drive and St

The Badger crossroads.

FORUM FOCUS

Leonard's Avenue, to avoid the junction.

Other drivers using the junction of two of the main routes into the town from the north and west may have little notice.

Project engineer for Dorset Highways, Roger Derrick, said: "Unfortunately, with this sort of work, some inconvenience may be caused, but we will ensure that it is kept to a minimum.

"A series of road closures and associated diversions will be in place at times during the 12week programme. Every effort is being made to reduce the disruption."

The temporary signals in place through the work will include pedestrian crossings across Salisbury Road and Park Road, which will be controlled manually during peak times to reduce delays as far as possible. • To Page 2

Maisy, Romilly, Ruby and Nell who will be litter picking on March 16.

The clean-up brigade A GROUP of Year 6 pupils at Spetisbury School are planning to do their bit to tidy up Blandford town centre.

'The Big Blandford Litter Pick' will be taking place on Friday, March 16, between 10am and 2pm.

Nell, Romilly, Ruby and Maisy are inviting others to join them to help and have been in touch with Mayor of Blandford, Roger Carter, and Cleanup Blandford, the group which regularly organises town centre clean-ups, to seek advice on how to go about organising the event.

Nell said: "There will be a handout point for litter pickers, hi-vis vests, bin bags and gloves, as well as a drop-off point for filled bin bags on the green area behind the end of the Morrisons car park in the Marsh & Ham, between the two big bridges.

"There will be no specific route for people to walk around - they can basically go wherever they like - and they don't have to stay the whole time but can come and help at any point during those hours."

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March 2019

FORUM FOCUS CONTACTS Editorial: Nicci Brown T: 01258 459346 E: editor@forumfocus.co.uk Advertising: John Stayt T: 01258 454427 E: advertising@forumfocus.co.uk Distribution: Jackie Stayt T: 01258 456999 E: distribution@forumfocus.co.uk Design: David Eidlestein T: 01258 450989 E: de@deadlines.eclipse.co.uk Forum Focus is an independent, not-forprofit, community publication produced entirely by volunteers. We are always pleased to receive offers of help.

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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.

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Crossroads work will mean traffic disruption • From Page 1 And in an effort to minimise disruption by sharing traffic management, Dorset Highways will be working alongside Southern Gas (SGN) as it replaces gas pipes in Salisbury Street and Salisbury Road from the middle of March.

As well as the signal heads and poles being updated, all the underground ducting and cabling, which connect the signals to the controller and the detector loops in the road, is being replaced with the latest low-voltage equipment.

There will be 75m-long trenches in the road and the traffic islands will be reshaped.

The improvements will provide 'Puffin' pedestrian crossing facilities on each arm of the junction,

and new detectors will ensure that pedestrians have enough time to cross while minimising delays for motorists. Cyclists will be provided with advance stop lines giving them a segregated area in which to wait for the signals to change.

Local residents have been given contact numbers to report any problems which could be resolved by special arrangements. The construction team's representative, Dave Stone, can be contacted on 01305 228100, and out-of-hours emergencies can be reported on 01305 221000.

Roger Derrick, the project engineer, can be contacted on 01305 225440 and the project team emailed at highwayimprovements@dorsetcc.gov.uk.

Murder charge A SHAFTESBURY man has been charged with the murder of Polish national Marcin Tameczka, 25, who was found with serious injuries and pronounced dead at the scene at Hanford Farm, near Blandford, on September 28 last year.

Matthew Cradock, 26, appeared before Weymouth Magistrates charged with murder and was due to appear next at Winchester Crown Court in February.

Police said that a 27-year-old Shaftesbury man who was previously arrested on suspicion of murder will face no further action.

Local lottery winner A POSTCODE in Iwerne Courtney (Shroton) was a winner in The People's Postcode Lottery on February 7 when each of the 20 Daily Prize winning tickets across the country scooped £1,000. A minimum of 32 per cent of ticket sales in the lottery goes directly to charities, and players have raised £382 million to date for 5,500 good causes.

March 2019

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Brewery’s life-saving fundraisers

Slippery slabs to be replaced

BREWERS Hall & Woodhouse have raised a total of £114,287 in support of eight local air ambulance charities after agreeing to make them their official charity partner from 2018 to 2020.

Support from the company is being given to the Devon, Great Western, Hampshire and Isle of Wight, Kent, Surrey, Sussex, London, Thames Valley and Wiltshire Air Ambulances, in addition to the local Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance.

The 52 pubs in the brewers' managed house estate across the south have been raising as much as they can through fundraising initiatives such as quiz nights, sponsored events and family fun days, and last June the annual Dorset Beer Festival at the Blandford brewery raised £12,000.

A team raised £8,000 in their first Jurassic Coast Challenge, and £3,400 has been raised by

NEARLY 20 years after Blandford town centre was 'enhanced' with the stone paving slabs which people said would not be fit for purpose, agreement has been reached to replace them with something more hard-wearing.

The slabs have been blamed for the number of pedestrians slipping and falling on the uneven and worn surfaces, and for the patchworking which results when tarmac is used for lengthy periods because of the cost and delay in sourcing replacements.

County Councillor Byron Quayle, who has campaigned to get the slabs replaced, said he had finally secured agreement from the county council in what was a great result for the town's residents and businesses.

He said: "We have funding, and a number of options have been found to meet council requirements, but we need to engage with others in consultation on the paving slabs to be used.”

The Hall & Woodhouse team with members of the local air ambulance.

38 houses featuring a 'charity dish' on their pub menu, with part of each sale going to the charity partnership.

Lucinda Gray, the company's Charity Champion, said: "We are absolutely thrilled to have raised such a tremendous amount for the local air ambulances. Last year we set our fundraising target at £100,000 for the year and are proud to have smashed it."

On behalf of all eight charities, Tracy Bartram, communications

Four-week closure for bridge work WORK could be starting late in March on the work on Durweston Bridge, beginning with works in the fields on either side of the highway.

A four-week closure of the A357 allowing structural replacement work is being scheduled to start in late June, with the road reopening to traffic by midAugust.

Embankment works and parapet installation will then be carried out using temporary traffic management.

The dates are subject to the result of a planning application which was due to be submitted in February, negotiations with the owner of land either side of the road, and a diversion route application, which was also due to be submitted to the traffic management team in February.

A NEW choir, ROKiT, has launched on Wednesday evenings at Blandford Methodist Church, and numbers are growing. All are welcome, regardless of ability or experience. Sessions start at 7.30pm.

The proposed official diversion of around 45 miles will follow Aclass roads. Stakeholders, including emergency services, parishes, farmers, businesses and bus services, are being consulted.

But the county council has agreed that it is important to not disrupt the routes during exam periods and identified that the least disruptive time for the road closure will be the four weeks starting June 24, after the end of the GCSE exam period.

The owner of the fields either side of the road has been consulted on the need for some land acquisition and a licence to carry out construction works and replacement of the estate fencing alongside the highway.

The works, including new structures with a design working life of 120 years, widened embankments to support the highway and verges to improve the safety of the A357, are planned to address concerns about the condition of the network, and significantly lower the highway maintenance demand.

manager at Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, added: "It is extremely rare for eight air ambulance charities to have an opportunity to be the beneficiaries of one 'Charity of the Year' initiative, which makes the Hall & Woodhouse Charity Partnership unique.

"With the approximate cost per air ambulance mission being £3,000, this means that in the first year the houses have potentially funded 38 life-saving missions."

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March 2019

DORSET GETS SET FOR A LOCAL GOVERNMENT SHAKE-UP

Nine councils to become two AT the end of this month, Dorset's nine district and borough councils and its county council will be disappearing and merging into two unitary authorities.

But there should not be any major changes to council services from April 1.

Bin days will stay the same, you will still be able to park in the same car parks and roads, public spaces will be maintained as normal, and phone numbers and email addresses will remain in use.

There will be new logos appearing for both new authorities, in most cases, over time, as items with branding become due for replacement.

But some needed rebranding before the start, and the one for the new Dorset Council, designed in-house at minimal expense, is already being rolled out in council reception areas, on vehicles, on uniforms for those in customer-facing roles, ID cards, council tax bills, the council website and stationery, and signage and vehicles for the parking service.

Meanwhile, hundreds of local government employees have been sent notice that their current positions are at risk, and more than 100 are facing possible redundancy.

Meetings and consultations began at the end

of January and are due to continue until the first week of March, but no forced redundancies will be possible until after the new council comes into being on April 1.

The savings made by combining council services and reducing the number of duplicate jobs are estimated at £5.7 million in the first year, and up to £10 million in the longer term.

They are planned to be invested in front-line service, capital projects, children's and adult services and recycling, despite the loss of more than 200 council jobs.

There will be common fees across the area for building control, food safety, search fees and other services, half a million pounds in savings from having fewer councillors and a saving of £189,300 in having to pay for just one annual audit rather than six.

Shadow council finance brief holder, Councillor Tony Ferrari, has said that income

from council tax will bring in around £241million towards an annual budget of £290 million, making the council less reliant on the Government and other sources of income.

"Our income from council tax is a large chunk of what we need, giving us more control and putting us less at the whim of the Government," he said.

There has been some good news for around 80 organisations sharing just under £2 million in council grants, which the new council's executive committee had agreed should remain as they are in 2019/20.

The decision comes with the warning that there will be a review for the 2020/21 budget.

But it means that the Citizens Advice Bureau, whose North Dorset base is in Gillingham, which received around £530,000, arts, heritage and community organisations receiving respectively £376k, £232k and £330k and other organisations receiving one-off payments totalling £393k, can rely on continued funding and sufficient notice to reduce costs should it become necessary in the future.

More information about the changes including frequently asked questions can be found at dorsetforyou.gov.uk.

Tories in turmoil over ‘shambolic’ Brexit CONSERVATIVES throughout North Dorset are reported to be in turmoil over the Government's handling of Brexit.

There have already been a number of high-profile resignations from the party and there are dire warnings that more will follow.

Among North Dorset district councillors who have quit the party is John Stayt, a Tory for many years, who plans to fight the forthcoming county election as an Independent.

He said: "Along with many other Conservative Associations and branches throughout the county, North Dorset Conservatives are in a state of upheaval and disaffection as a result of the ill-advised Brexit referendum and the shambolic procedure, mismanagement and inexplicable outcomes surrounding the forthcoming elections for a unitary Dorset

Council." His wife, Jackie Stayt, has also resigned from the party, while another former Conservative councillor, Mike Gould of Gillingham, will fight the election as a Liberal Democrat.

Mr Stayt said other party members are also considering their positions, adding: "At the very least there are another four councillors who have yet to post their resignations.

“A number of prominent supporters of the local Association have withdrawn their not inconsiderable financial support."

It is thought that, pending the outcome of the county elections in May, there are likely to be a significant number of Independent councillors, from across Dorset, who can combine to form a strong and unified presence on the new council.

Social media’s role in the elections LOCAL election fever is hotting up and, possibly for the first time, will be conducted more widely on social media.

Comments prompted a Facebook post from the Mayor of Blandford, Roger Carter, in January, who said: "We are in an election year locally (both the Town Council and the new Dorset Unitary Authority) and, of course, facing one of the most momentous decisions as a country that I can remember.

"In the fog of claims, counter claims and the general discrediting of opponents in the political arena, it's very hard to sort out the truth. My sincere hope as local election fever heats up and the Brexit day fast approaches, is that politicians at all levels

remember that you don't make your own candle shine brighter by trying to blow out someone else's, and that, in fact, you weaken your own arguments and demean yourselves."

The notice of election will be given on March 15, and nominations open on March 18 for the election on May 2 for 16 councillors to serve on Blandford Town Council for a five-year term, aligning with the new Dorset Council.

Forms went online in mid-February for them and for the hundreds of vacancies on neighbouring parish councils. The Dorset Association of Parish and Town Councils is running new councillor courses.

The statement of nominated per-

sons will be published on April 4, the deadline for registering to vote is April 12, and the last date for applying for a postal vote is April 15.

Nominations also open on March 18 for the 82 councillors in the 52 wards which make up the new Dorset Council. Currently there are 46 county councillors representing 40 wards. But the election could result in a large number of people seeking election to what is effectively a smaller number of seats since there are currently a total of 174 councillors representing the total of district and county council seats which will disappear.

Members of the current district council could be fighting those

currently representing the larger Dorset County Council wards and colleagues from neighbouring district councils.

In the Blandford area, there will be two vacancies in the town. It is currently represented by Byron Quayle on Dorset County Council, and on North Dorset District Council by Conservatives Nocturin Lacey Clarke, Jackie Stayt and Traci Handford and Liberal Democrats John Tanner and Barrie Cooper. In future there will be two Blandford representatives.

There have been ward changes for neighbouring parishes, currently represented by more than a dozen county and district councillors, which will in future be represented by only five.

March 2019

Grant money put to good use at the town museum BIG changes are underway at Blandford Town Council in the Blandford Town Museum, where Corn Exchange on Sunday, April volunteers have been working 28, has been invited to perform even harder than usual during the official reopening of the the winter closure supporting the museum on Sunday, March 31. work of contractors in remodelVisitors will find exciting new ling the facility. acquisitions on display, including Successful grant awards from the a framed embroidery worked in North Dorset Local Action Group silk in 1784 with the embroidered for ÂŁ20k and Lidl Section 106 for signature 'Mary Dean, Blandford ÂŁ5k in 2018 gave the museum School'. the opportunity to update and Donations from generous supupgrade the building in Bere's porters allowed the museum to Yard to provide an improved purchase at auction the work, environment for artefacts, visitors whose unusual design by a local and volunteers. girl depicts a county map of Renovations have included elecEngland and Wales. The musetrical work, insulation and an um would like to hear from anyupgrade of the front-of-house one who might be able to shed reception, toilet and kitchen area light on Mary, her family and to improve working conditions for descendants. the volunteer staff and visitors, Also on display will be four items together with first-floor flooring. on loan from the Dorset County Museum director Sylvia Hixson Museum, two from the county's Andrews said: "We are excited to Alfred Stevens collection; a firebe taking some long-awaited place surround made by the steps towards greater comfort for Coalbrookdale Iron Company in both our Shropshire treasured around 1860 objects and and a framed our volunphotograph teers. of a mirror designed for "Having the Dorchester right enviHouse. A ronmental George II conditions longcase in place will clock, made allow us to

by John accept arteSpinney of facts on Blandford, loan and and a exhibitions George II on tour wheel baromfrom sister eter, made museums

by John with imporBastard, tant and complete the interesting set. collections.

We think The 1784 embroidery by Mary Dean, purchased On loan our visitors by the Blandford Town Museum. from the will be county pleased with our efforts. library is a very early oil on board image of Blandford Forum paint"The museum also looks forward ed by an unknown artist after the to hosting school and group visits 1731 fire and believed to show and our meeting facilities will be the Bastard brothers' vision for available for hire. In these ways the rebuilding of the town. While Blandford Town Museum can the proposed Corn Exchange secure a continuing future as a and water pump were subsereal asset to the town and its quently built in 1740 and 1760 community." respectively, the spire on top of Martin Brown, illustrator of the the church tower was temporarily Horrible Histories series of books substituted by a cupola which and author/ illustrator of Lesser remains to this day and the marSpotted Animals, who will be givket cross was never replaced. ing a presentation hosted by

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Work in progress at the Town Museum. Below: The 18th century oil painting on loan from the County Library.

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March 2019

Council tax rises are on the way

Street lunch comes in RESIDENTS of Orchard Street and Dorset Street in Blandford, who have for a number of years held an outdoor street gathering on the first Sunday of June, the day of the national 'Big Lunch', have broken with tradition.

The national initiative was launched by the Eden Project in 2009 to bring neighbours together and build communities.

In response to a suggestion from one of their number, David Jardine, the Blandford group agreed to hold a winter gathering, which was staged in Blandford Parish Centre on Sunday, February 10.

It was a convivial occasion, everyone bringing their own food contributions to share around.

Caroline Telford, who originated the first Big Lunch, said: "We'll be having an outdoor lunch as usual on June 2, but it was good to have a get-together in February when everyone's calendar is less busy."

COUNCIL tax payers are facing quite an increase this year, with a small rise in the amount paid towards the town council's precept and a much larger increase in the tax paid to the new Dorset unitary council, resulting in a rise of just over 6 per cent.

The Shadow Executive Committee met on February 11 to consider the 2019/20 budget which was due to be set by the Shadow Council on February 20.

But the decision to agree a uniform rate for the whole of the new council area means that those in North Dorset, whose district council tax has been historically low and prevented from increasing by central government capping, could face an increase of over six per cent on the combined district and county rate, amounting to nearly £100 on a Band D charge, from £1,533.30 to £1,629.75.

Dorset Police and Crime Panel met on February 7 to agree the £24 increase sought by the Police & Crime Commissioner to £230.58, and Wilts & Dorset Fire Authority met on February 12 to agree its budget for the coming year, restricted to a 2.99 per cent increase to £74.87.

The Band D rate for the town

council, currently the highest in the county, will rise by 2.21 per cent to £224.64, an increase of £4.85 a year.

It takes the total for Blandford (local villages being slightly less with a lower parish precept) to £2,159.84, compared to this year's £2,032.27.

A proposal by Councillor Nocturin Lacey Clarke, seconded by Councillor Byron Quayle, to impose no increase from Blandford on council tax payers by reducing the Corn Exchange budget was heavily defeated, and there was no vote on Councillor Lacey Clarke's subsequent suggestion of a reduction.

The proposal agreed, with an increase of almost half the figure suggested when the budget was first considered in December, was proposed by Councillor Lynn Lindsay and seconded by Councillor Jackie Stayt.

Members said that they needed the increase to at least meet inflation levels and be aware of services which might need to be provided in the future, as well as the possibility of capping, which limits the percentage increase in tax and budget levels and could in future be introduced for town and parish councils.

Caring donors take more aid to refugees VOLUNTEERS with Blandford Cares have been continuing to supply a huge amount of aid to refugee camps and projects overseas thanks to their supporters bringing a steady supply of goods to the parish and United Reformed Churches.

In the last year they have raised thousands of pounds for refugee projects and delivered at least 12 loads to Taunton RAFT for onward shipment to Syria, Greece and Calais, four van loads to Calais and two to Greece.

Group founder Mike Hearn said: "We are getting a fantastic response from the schools where we make presentations about our work, including enough from Bryanston to warrant a specific run to Calais."

As the only collection centre in the county, they have also received donations from churches

in Salisbury, Halstock and Gillingham, from Doraid in Dorchester, and from Ringwood.

"It is hard to keep track of it all but it wouldn't go anywhere if it were not for our fantastic core team of helpers who sort, pack and label the items, and drivers travelling thousands of miles to collect and deliver," said Mr Hearn. He can be contacted by calling 07768 403512 or by email at hearn@forumsprings.plus.com.

"Not all the donations we receive are suitable for sending overseas, so we try to find a good home for everything.

“We continue to support the Dorset Bus Shelter project and have been able to contribute toys to the Rotary collection, or resettlement help to individuals and Lego to the library. Other items are mainly split between Sue Ryder and Friends of Blandford Hospital shops."

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March 2019

Closing time for village pub A BID to register The Woodpecker pub in Spetisbury as an asset of community value has been submitted by Spetisbury Parish Council following the closure at the beginning of February of the free house owned by Swanky's Pub Company of Weymouth.

Parish clerk Steve Pardey said: "A notice went up two weeks earlier that it was to close, and the council decided on February 4 that an application should be made to give the community time to consider what might be done to preserve this significant social hub in the village."

He said he understood the pub, the last remaining in the village, was on the market for ÂŁ600,000, a significant sum for a free house which has only a small roadside garden, car park, dining area and no letting rooms.

The pub is owned by Richard and Sharon Jones, who also own the Antelope at Hazelbury Bryan, and who bought both pubs from Blandford brewers Hall & Woodhouse some years ago.

Richard, who is managing director of builders Blacknoll Ltd with over 30 years' experience in the construction industry, quashed any rumours that the Antelope was similarly under threat, saying it was still trading and would do so for the foreseeable future.

But he said: "After ten years of heartache and the Woodpecker not making a bean - in fact, losing money - it was decided that the

pub has no future with us so we have closed it. We have not decided the next move yet but are talking to the relevant bodies.

"Fundamentally the pub and its land will be going up for sale - it could reopen as a public house, but we feel that we have done our bit and can't do any more, so should let someone else take over the reins."

A notice from the company on the door of the pub said: "It is not big news that a village pub has had to close. After 10 years of constantly battling with the finances of running a village pub, the board has decided for the pub to close.

"It has been a great effort from all concerned to keep the pub trading during this time. The company has not been liquidated so any monies owed to staff and suppliers alike will be paid in full."

Vets’ gift brings a smile to hospital patients PATIENTS on Tarrant ward at Blandford Community Hospital have been enjoying the benefits of a music box system that has been purchased for use in conjunction with the Tovertafel system installed last year.

The additional equipment has been paid for with the generous support of the Damory veterinary clinic in Blandford in response to a request from regular ward volunteer Eileen Walters. It adds music to the projector system and the speakers, sensors and projector work together and interactively with the patients. The Tovertafel boxes - there are two on Tarrant ward which were installed with funds from the Friends of the hospital - are high-quality projectors which project games onto a table. The colourful objects respond to hand and arm movements.

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March 2019

Raise a glass to WI group’s birthday THE members of Blandford Evening Women's Institute celebrated their sixth birthday on February 8 with a demonstration from award-winning cocktail maker and bartender Alex Young from Ginger Viking Cocktails.

He showed them how to mix a mean cocktail - and invited them to sample his wares.

Among the guests were Wendy Burke and Richard Robbins, representatives of the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance for the last 17 years, to whom the ladies presented a cheque and two rather full collecting boxes, representing the proceeds of a barn dance they held in the Corn Exchange last year.

Richard said: "We get a lot of

Branch chairman Simone Wallis (centre) and other founder members blow out the candles on the birthday cake.

enjoyment from all the people we meet, and it's people like you who keep the aircraft flying for 19 hours a day."

Alex Young and his team take over the Forum Café on Thursday to Saturday evenings and provide the bar at the Comedy Exchange events in the Corn Exchange and many events, including private parties and the Teddy Rocks charity music festival, where this year they are raffling a 6-litre bottle of vodka.

It's been a rollercoaster year for him and his partner Emma, whom he married last year, since celebrating the first anniversary of his own business last March. He said it was through competition against others that he learned many of the techniques of cocktail making, which was a very intricate, almost scientific skill.

He came fourth against the Savoy and Ritz in the first competition he entered, getting to the finals of all the others, being voted one of the top 20 places to drink in the country in the Observer Food Monthly, and finally in November being judged the Meridian UKBG Cocktail Bartender of the Year.

At the end of January, he competed in Caen, Normandy, to win the Calvados Nouvelle Vogue UKBG competition with a 'concept' presentation focusing on the forthcoming anniversary of D-Day, the centenary of World War One, the Liberation of France and Remembrance, and featuring fruit to be found in hedgerows during World War Two. Now with a newly sign-written van, he hopes in the very near future to open his own premises in the former Humberts estate agents property in the Market

Blandford Evening WI treasurer Josie Tuck toasts the group's sixth birthday with one of Ginger Viking's cocktails.

Alex 'Ginger Viking' Young demonstrates cocktail making.

Place, to be operated as a café deli in daytime and brasserie in the evening.

And he has been invited back to the WI's August meeting after being challenged to create their own Blandford WI cocktail.

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March 2019

Police: we have to prioritise NORTH Dorset's Neighbourhood Policing Team Inspector Simon Perry has defended the police against criticism that there are no longer enough 'bobbies on the beat'.

At an informal meeting of Blandford Town Council, he said the role of the police had changed considerably since he joined, when safeguarding was not an issue and mental health

was not recognised.

He said a lot of their work was not as visible as it was in the past, and they could not fulfil their roles in dealing with incidents with a threatened risk if they spent their time meeting people in locations with minimal issues.

With two sergeants, five constables and 10 police community support officers covering an area

Barclays to close town branch BARCLAYS have announced they will be closing their Blandford branch in the Market Place on Friday, June 7, and have written to their customers advising where they will be able to find a branch in future.

They say the difficult decision to close the branch, which cut its Wednesday opening hours some time ago, has been taken because fewer customers are using it for everyday banking, and they have identified that only 121 customers use the branch exclusively.

They list the alternatives available in the area, which are cash machines at Lloyds, NatWest and HSBC in Blandford, and Barclays branches in Broadstone, Shaftesbury and Poole, together with online, mobile and telephone banking and Pingit.

In their letter to customers Barclays say: "We are committed to supporting customers and the community as much as we can during and after the closure. We will be speaking with our customers and contacting members of the local community to understand their concerns.�

of 245 square miles, social media was used to engage with the community, and the focus was on the locations with the highest number of vulnerable victims.

"We have to do more with less and there is no hard and fast rule on response, but if someone is at risk it is prioritised. It is not effective use of resources to send an officer if it is not going to go anywhere," he said.

He said there was no evidence in Blandford or North Dorset as a whole of involvement in the socalled 'county lines' in which drug dealers from London and Merseyside preyed on the young and vulnerable to deal drugs. But Gillingham had a railway line and Blandford had a reputation for alcohol and drug abuse, so there was a customer base which could be targeted.

Asked whether the ANPR cameras now installed at each entrance to the town were proving useful, he said they were really helpful because it was a national system and could and had been used to track people coming from London or else-

where.

He confirmed an increase in reported hate crime, partly as a result of negativity on social media as well as issues over Brexit, immigration and the LGBT community, and the encouragement to people to report it, but the majority was verbal, not violent.

And he warned of the increase in car key burglary, and of a device now available to get car key details through wi-fi, now that vehicles could no longer be hotwired, and advised motorists not to leave their keys in easily accessible places.

But answering the query of a correspondent in last month's Forum Focus about stolen vehicle recovery rates, he said statistics could be misleading, and that in North Dorset of 12 vehicles stolen, seven had been recovered.

The website police.co.uk showed crimes in a more localised area for better comparison, and if officers were asked to provide statistics it meant taking them away from other duties to extract the information.

10

March 2019

Tons of talent on show at Paddocks

Semi-finalists in 'The Furlong Trophy' talent competition at The Paddocks.

New site earmarked for waste disposal

A TALENT competition being hosted at the Paddocks Bar in Salisbury Street, Blandford, over the last few months reached its semi-final stages in February and the final takes place on Sunday March 3.

Congratulations were extended to the first three finalists, Velvet Rose, Russell Starmore and Rosie Kate, who were chosen on February 3, with another six semi-finalists due to compete for the other three places on February 17.

The winner of 'The Furlong Trophy', sponsored by Ellbee Capital Services, can look forward to a prize of £450, with cash prizes of £200 down to £40 to each of the other finalists - a

A PLANNING application is due to be submitted this summer for Blandford's much-needed new waste transfer station, which is likely to be on land south of Sunrise Business Park, accessed from close to the Sunrise roundabout.

Officers from the Dorset Waste Partnership presented their proposals in January to town councillors, who were told it would be similar to the successful facility in Bridport, providing separate access for waste lorries and members of the public depositing household

total of £1,000.

The competitors have also received radio coverage thanks to Abbey 104 and Wimborne FM. Stuart Lawes, of Ellbee and The Paddocks, said: "The competition has been well received by the people of Blandford, councillors, teachers and the contestants in helping getting them on the route to a music career.

"It's been tough with the ability and talent so far, which has been beyond my expectations.

"Following the huge success of this competition for youngsters up to 19 years of age, further competitions are being planned in other age categories with a possible final play-off to find the Champion of Champions."

waste and recycling.

A slip road off the bypass would lead in to the site and a one-way exit will have the least impact on the highway network.

But it would not be possible to use the same road for access to the neighbouring land, which is being considered for a new primary school and other development north of the town, proposed in the Blandford Plus Neighbourhood Plan which has now been submitted to North Dorset District Council.

11

March 2019

Ancient hillforts to be restored THE National Trust has been awarded ÂŁ800,000 towards restoring the 13 Iron Age hillfort sites in Dorset and Wiltshire, including Hambledon Hill, Hod Hill and Badbury Rings.

The monuments all date from more than 2,000 years ago and, in addition to their archaeology, they have diverse fragile habitats, home to threatened butterfly species including the brilliantly coloured Adonis blue, the small Duke of Burgundy and the orange, yellow and brown chequered marsh fritillary.

The defences of the Iron Age Hambledon, with its three ramparts encircling the hill, are among the most impressive archaeological earthworks in southern England.

National Trust ranger Clive Whitbourn said: "The hillforts protrude mysteriously from the landscape, offering stunning views across the Dorset countryside.

"They are thousands of years old and reveal much about the way of life of our ancestors. Due to scrub encroachment and erosion, urgent action is needed to protect them for the future for everyone."

The work to be done with the help of volunteers will include scrub removal, erosion repairs to paths and ramparts, and improved fencing and access to visitors.

Better care of the chalk grassland habitat will help attract more wildlife, including wildflowers like pyramidal orchid and cowslip, birds like skylark and kestrel, or mammals like brown hare, and butterflies and archaeological features will be better protected.

A shaven Kayleigh James with Owen Newton and Kim Newton, founders of Teddy20.

Head shave for Teddy A TOTAL of ÂŁ1,930.91 was raised for local children's cancer charity Teddy20 by Kayleigh James when she underwent a head-shave on stage in the Corn Exchange.

The event was streamed live on Facebook to more than 1,500 viewers from the Teddy Laughs evening in aid of the charity.

She said: "I am so blown away by the support I've received and the money raised. More than anything I just want people to know who Teddy20 are and the amazing work they do and maybe inspire a few people to go out and do something amazing to raise even more money for them."

Her efforts took the total raised at the event to a massive ÂŁ3,000.

Kim and Owen Newton, Teddy20 trustees, said: "To receive an

amount like this can make a massive difference to the children Teddy20 support providing emotional, educational and financial assistance where needed.

Thank you so much."

12

Snow threat melted away but ice caused problems THE first snow of the year came and went almost overnight in Blandford on January 31, but the weather warnings brought severe disruption to schools and activities in the town, and the villages were more severely affected.

Buses and taxis to many schools in the area were cancelled, and some closed early on the Thursday, when snow was forecast for around 4pm, and remained closed on Friday.

They included The Blandford School, The Forum Centre and seven of the 11 local primary SAM Ryall's Blandford Ukulele Group (BUG), which meets on Mondays at the Royal British Legion in Church Lane, has extended its sessions to three hour-long groups for different levels.

Attendees can go along for all or any of the sessions for ÂŁ5 an evening. All ages welcome.

schools - Milldown, Archbishop Wake, Pimperne, Milborne St Andrew, Shillingstone, Child Okeford and Dunbury.

Okeford Fitzpaine remained partially open, as did Blandford St Mary, Durweston and Spetisbury.

A number of shops closed early and evening activities were curtailed, but the entire gritting network having been treated, along with community links, most in the town were back to normal next morning, by which time the snow in the town was melting, leaving only some outlying villages and roads snowbound.

The B3081 between Zig Zag Hill and Wyn Green was particularly hazardous.

The Met Office issued a new warning of ice for Bournemouth, Poole and the rest of Dorset, until 11am on the Saturday, when there were icy stretches, especially where there was lying snow or melting of snow.

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service reminded people not to risk walking on ice.

Area Manager Dave Graham said: "From the bank, ice can look firm enough to take your weight and it can even feel safe when you first venture out, but it takes just a second for the ice to crack and suddenly you're submerged in freezing cold water. People have died after going out on frozen lakes."

The South Dorset Hunt Point-toPoint at Milborne St Andrew, scheduled for Sunday February 2, was postponed until February 9 due to three inches of snow on the course.

It was abandoned when all racing was suspended due to an outbreak of equine flu, but the suspension was lifted in time for the Countryside Alliance to go ahead on February 24 at Badbury Rings. The Wilton Hunt Point-to-Point at Milborne St Andrew is scheduled for a 12.30pm start on March 23.

March 2019

Double act a success ARTSREACH and their local business supporter Blanchards Bailey had cause for a double celebration following the launch of the new Artsreach spring programme, the team at the law firm having received outstanding national recognition in the Legal 500.

Blanchards Bailey has partnered Dorset's rural touring arts charity since the autumn of 2016, helping a diverse programme of professional performances reach the heart of rural communities right across the county.

Yvonne Gallimore, co-director at Artsreach, said: "For our charity to have the support of a company as well respected as Blanchards Bailey is just fantastic, and we congratulate them on their recent nominations and awards, both locally and nationally.

"We are excited to develop our partnership as our programme continues to grow, reaching out to new communities such as Blandford and providing access to high-quality arts across rural Dorset."

13

March 2019

Mother’s anger as broken lift keeps daughter grounded A DISABLED woman who was trapped in a broken lift at the Dorchester Corn Exchange last year was horrified to discover, when she was invited to hear the outcome of her complaint to Dorchester Town Council, to find the lift again out of order - and the town council meeting she had been invited to was upstairs.

Chloe Hixson, who was brought up in Blandford but now lives in Gillingham, was on both occasions accompanied by her mother Sylvia Hixson Andrews, who was able to attend the meeting.

She told the town councillors: "I'm shocked that we're in the 21st century with 17th century facilities. My daughter is downstairs on her own. She should be upstairs talking to you. If you can't get people to your meetings, you should change where you meet."

They had travelled from Gillingham to tell the council how they had become stuck in the lift before Christmas, and on using the emergency phone were connected to companies who previously serviced the lift and a former town clerk. With no caretaker in the building at the time they had to scream for help and eventually be released by the fire brigade.

Mrs Hixson Andrews, a former

Blandford town councillor, said Blandford never held meetings in locations which people were unable to access.

"My daughter might have wanted to come here to work as a clerk or serve as a councillor or come as a reporter but she can't because she can't get in here. I am horrified she can't get into the building. I'm disgusted."

Cllr Stella Jones apologised for the broken-down lift which had been working the day before. It was installed in 2010 to meet equality standards, but had had repeated problems, and had cost around £4,500 in repairs and servicing in the past year.

There are plans to find an alternative solution which would be acceptable within a listed building, and steps have been taken in the meantime including a notice asking those wanting to use the lift to press the buzzer to summon the duty caretaker, who has been told to remain on the premises when an event is taking place.

Cllr Jones and other councillors went downstairs to explain the situation and apologise to Chloe, who said: "I really couldn't believe it when we arrived to attend the meeting and found it not working. It really is awful to

Chloe Hixson and her mother Sylvia Hixson Andrews outside the still out of order lift in which they were trapped at Dorchester Corn Exchange. exclude someone from a public meeting because they use a wheelchair."

She suggested that because the council were aware that the lift was not working they should have moved the meeting to an accessible room.

"So many businesses are not

wheelchair accessible. It's particularly shocking when civic functions and democratically elected groups do not obey the Equality Act - if these areas cannot set best practice, then I wonder where the stimulus or drive for businesses to be wheelchair accessible, or even to hire disabled people is."

Surplus share-out FUNDS raised and donations made during the series of WWI exhibitions and events hosted over the last four years by Blandford's 14-18 Commemoration Group are being contributed to commemorative projects in the town.

The surplus remaining after deduction of expenses, and a donation of £200 to the Blandford Railway Club for the loan of its display boards, amounted to over £3,000.

A World War One theme bench now installed in The Tabernacle cost £807, another £2,000 is being dedicated to a commemorative book on Blandford's role in the war, and £1,000 has been donated to a Blandford & District Civic Society project to restore the Damory Street archway, which became a memorial to those from Blandford Secondary School.

14

Readers’ letters

A harsh verdict on our lovely school AS parents of children attending Durweston CE Primary school, we are all disappointed that the recent Ofsted inspection has labelled the school as 'Requires Improvement'.

We feel that the report is unduly harsh and does not acknowledge the indisputable improvements the school has made since the last inspection in 2016. Nor does the report take into account the overwhelmingly positive views of parents as expressed in the preinspection parents survey.

So we feel a sense of duty to address these deficiencies in the Ofsted report and to offer a balancing point of view.

Our children are happy and engaged at school and as parents we value the welcoming environment and the positive approach to learning.

The emphasis at Durweston is on meeting our children's emotional and physical needs and encouraging them to become well rounded, sociable and community-minded individuals who are spontaneous and creative with a thirst for learning.

We have a lovely school at the heart of the local community, with a strong commitment to local traditions and close ties to the adja-

March 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

cent church. All the children know and respect each other and there is a real family feel to the school.

As parents, we are fully supportive of the dedicated staff and the newly appointed headteacher, Mrs Brooke, who has worked wonders in a short time after a period of instability at the school.

One thing the report does acknowledge is that "this is a place where people want to be!"

Along with most other rural primary schools, Durweston is facing severe and crippling budgetary restrictions, worsening year on year, and yet, against this background, there is still a trend of rising attainment in the school since 2016. This is the context that is missing from the report.

We hope this recent Ofsted report does not deter prospective parents from viewing our fabulous school and we are happy to address any concerns or questions that prospective parents may have.

This report was one inspector's opinion, on one given day.

Parents, teachers and other staff are all still working together to ensure we excel in the next Ofsted inspection, though as the majority of parents will tell you, in our eyes our school is already outstanding.

Christine Newton Chair, Durweston School PTA

An honour for Michael I WAS delighted to learn that Dr Michael Le Bas is to be honoured by being granted the Freedom of

Community Club, 49 Damory Street, Blandford DT11 7HD. Please mark your letter 'for publication' and remember to include your address, which will not be used in full. Forum Focus reserves the right to shorten or edit letters in the interests of clarity, brevity and style.

the Town of Blandford.

The award publicly acknowledges the tremendous contribution that he has made to the fabric of our town over many years and is richly deserved.

After a distinguished academic career, Michael served as a trustee and curator of the Town Museum for three decades and has established an international reputation as an authority on Blandford's history.

He was a driving force, too, on the town's 14-18 World War One commemoration team and has been a member of the Civic Society for more than 20 years.

He is to receive the Freedom scroll at the mayor-making ceremony in May, a fitting highlight of his outstanding service to the town. Councillors are to be congratulated for bestowing this honour on a thoroughly deserving man.

David Eidlestein, Blandford (See Page 24)

A lunch for good causes ALL are welcome to join us at Blandford Catholic Church at the top of Whitecliff Mill Street for a simple lunch of soup and bread followed by tea or coffee.

There is no charge, but donations will be gratefully received to send to two charities helping feed the hungry in Africa and Asia: Mary's Meals and Cafod.

We will be delighted to see you on Saturday March 23 (Mary's Meals) and Saturday April 13 (Cafod). Come any time between

12 noon and 2.00 pm.

Madeleine Hemsley

Success in slab project I WAS delighted to report to the Town Council, following my 18month campaign, that the County Council, the authority responsible for our pavements, is committed to replacing the dangerous slabs in the Market Place.

This would not have been possible without the tremendous support I received from officers of Blandford Forum Town Council and Cllr Noc Lacey-Clarke from North Dorset District Council. I would also like to thank our local Highways officers, whose technical support enabled us to move this project forward.

Much is still to be done before any slabs will be put down. It's my intention to hold a full consultation with residents, local groups and conservation officers. The County Council is in the initial stages of working up a design plan and sourcing options for the new slabs. The design and new slabs will then be put forward in the public consultation.

This is a great result for the town and an issue which many residents have contacted me about since I was elected in 2017. It is my sincere hope that this good news is only stage one of a greater vision I have to enhance the Market Place to make it work better for us all.

Byron Quayle County Councillor for Blandford

15

March 2019

Hospital bids a fond farewell to volunteers THE Friends of Blandford Community Hospital held a farewell tea party in the hospital dining room for two special volunteers, Mike and Eve Wood, who were relocating after between them dedicating 30 years of volunteering at the hospital.

Eve has been a Tarrant ward volunteer for 20 years, doing the tea and coffee trolley and chatting to patients, and husband Mike joined the team 10 years ago as a volunteer driver to medical appointments and for the minibus. He then started helping with fundraising, and in 2014 became chair of the fundraising committee.

Friends president Mac McLaughlin said: "He has worked everywhere, even in our charity shops, and they will both be sadly missed."

Eve said: "The camaraderie on Tarrant ward has been enormous. I started to volunteer after my mother was taken ill and had hospital treatment, when I swore that if I was ever in a position to put something back I would do so."

Mike said he had been 'coerced' when he retired from work but said it had been really rewarding to help people to appointments and on social trips and given him a 'new life' which had been fantastically satisfying.

Friends' chairman Steve Cole said he had been a great support to him as chair and the rest of the board. Tarrant ward nurse Gill Wood said of Eve: "It has been lovely to see your smiling face when I come in and amazing what a difference our volunteers make."

AN elderly man was taken to hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest in West Street, Blandford, on February 7.

The man, believed to be in his 80s, was in his car when he suffered the medical episode. He was pulled out of the vehicle and treated by paramedics at the scene and flown by air ambulance to hospital for further treatment.

Part of the road was cordoned off after police and ambulance were called to the scene near the Crown & Anchor pub.

The Friends and staff of Blandford Community Hospital gathered to wish farewell to volunteers Mike and Eve Wood, centre, with Friends president Mac MacLaughlin, left, and Tarrant ward nurse Gill Wood, right.

Unfilled vacancies and longer lives mean GPs face a crisis REPRESENTATIVES of patient participation groups across North Dorset met in The Exchange at Sturminster Newton to share their experiences and hear from Rob Childs, chair of the Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group, on the forces driving changes to health services in the district and across the country.

Speaking from his experience over decades as a general practitioner, he admitted that GPs were again in crisis, due partly to the increased life expectancy of the population as a whole and the difficulty of recruiting and retaining doctors at a time when more were retiring than were joining GP practices.

He said £4,000 had recently been spent advertising nationally for a new GP in North Dorset with not a single application.

General practice was the 'Cinderella option' among those qualifying through medical schools, who might already have a student debt of £70,000 to £80,000 and were not in a position to buy into a practice.

"In my practice in Sherborne we have four GPs, and if I lose one, that is 25 per cent of capacity. In a group of eight or nine GPs, it is not as bad.

"It is not sustainable for GPs to be working five days a week, 12 hours a day, seeing 40 patients a day. We need to find a way of sustaining primary care and making it attractive to doctors.

"In future you are more likely to see a doctor with a portfolio career, part in general practice and part in some other speciality, or something completely different."

He welcomed the latest plan for primary care networks based around community hospitals in which social and health care worked together, and the focus moving towards prevention through social prescribing around exercise and health activity, in partnership with pharmacists and physiotherapists, who were often in a better position to help.

"We have a pretty good set-up in North Dorset, with our three community hospitals in Blandford, Sherborne and Shaftesbury, a great staff, and patients."

Meeting co-ordinator Keith Harrison said the role of the PPGs included managing expectations and explaining the issues to friends, family and neighbours who did not understand.

16

Stella Walker works on the corset exhibit from the Edwardian era next to a dress made in European style with Japanese silk.

March 2019

Undies go on display as museum reopens BLANDFORD Fashion Museum in The Plocks reopened for the season on February 18 after a preview event the previous Friday, with a new feature exhibition on the changing fashions through nearly two centuries, and the changing undergarments that contributed to 'Creating the Shape'.

It reveals all, from petticoats to bras, generally hidden under the various styles, but integral to their development.

In the absence in the museum's collection of an original set of Georgian undergarments, a replica has been made by hand by Isobelle Dick, a third year BA Hons student in costume and performance design from the Arts University of Bournemouth.

One section leads from the multitude of heavy petticoats fashionable in the 1830s to the 'freedom cage' of the crinoline adopted in the 1850s, but rejected, we are told, by Queen Victoria until a heatwave in 1868 persuaded her to invest in one.

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The crinoline shrank into the bustle at the back in the 1870s, to be replaced by Edwardian corsets, the 'flattened' look of the 1920s, the arrival of the sometimes hand-made bra in the 1930s, utility clothing after the war, and finally the arrival of brinylon and the mini-skirts of the 1960s, exhibited opposite the crinolines of the 19th century.

Curator Stella Walker said: "It's fascinating to see how far we have come in 100 years."

The museum is now open through to November on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

A QUIZ night at the Farquharson Arms in Pimperne raised ÂŁ240 for Headway. Alan Souter, who is fundraising for the charity by making items to sell, thanked everyone who attended and helped, and organiser Jackie Vacher of the regular series of last Saturday quiz nights at the Farquharson endorsed his thanks. The February fundraiser was for Prostate Cancer.

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March 2019

Hospice reflects on 25 years of growth WELDMAR Hospicecare in January celebrated the silver anniversary of the opening of its hospice in Dorchester, the first of its kind in the county, with a building cost of £3.2m and a £2m endowment fund to run services costing £900,000 a year.

Today those running costs have risen to an annual £7m, raised through its charity shops, fundraising events and legacies.

Services have evolved to include inpatient care, a community nursing service and day services across the county.

More than 20,000 patients throughout Dorset have received care and support from Weldmar Hospicecare since 1994, together with their families.

Matt Smith, director of fundraising and marketing for Weldmar, said: "Our services have grown dramatically over the years. We now support over 2,400 people throughout Dorset each year, compared to 290 in 1994.

"Our thanks must go to everyone who continues to support Weldmar in many different ways - shopping with us, donating to us, supporting our events or volunteering their time.

"We really appreciate the support we have received from our local community over the past 25 years and we look forward to continuing to provide vital end of life care in Dorset for another quarter of a century and beyond."

To see a full timeline, visit weldhospice.org.uk.

Durweston’s sad loss TRIBUTES have been paid to David Astin, of Water Lane, Durweston, who died peacefully at home after battling illness for some time. His funeral was held on February 19.

Donations in his memory were taken for Prostate Cancer and Guide Dogs for the Blind by funeral directors Lesley Shand.

David was an active member of the community and served on Durweston parish council for many years, and as village Homewatch co-ordinator.

Parish council chairman Mark Taylor said: "He was a great support to me as chair of the council and had the village interests at the heart of everything he did on the council. It was a huge loss when he stood down."

He was also a member and chairman from 2010 to 2012 of The Milldowners, a group of dog walkers on the Milldown in Blandford, who came together to help preserve it as a resource for the people of the town and surrounding area.

News from the surgeries Did you know, both Eagle House and Whitecliff Surgeries have a Patient Participation Group (PPG)?

The Blandford PPGs are: • made up of patients and people associated with the practices • working with the GP practices, either by meeting in person or as part of a 'virtual group' of members communicating with their practices online.

• empowered to challenge the practices about any issue brought forward for the benefit of the patients, the practices and the wider community • not intended to be a complaint system for the practices, or a forum to air personal issues, complaints or medical treatments The PPGs in Blandford provide patients with a voice and enable them to be proactive in influencing the way our local health services are delivered. For example: • Make suggestions for improvements to services and the surgery environment, including information boards.

• Sit on staff interview panels for recruitment of staff.

• Help to run health promotion events, eg: in the Corn Exchange • Support the practices with the running of 'flu clinics.

• Participate in health events and communicate issues with the wider community eg: via town or village websites and producing articles for 'News from the Surgeries' in Forum Focus.

• Attend PPG networking events to keep abreast of NHS changes, especially in Dorset, and networking with other PPG groups to share ideas and good practice.

• Providing a way for the local GPs to understand their patients' needs.

To contact your PPG or find out more Whitecliff Practice - whitecliffpractice.co.uk/ppg.aspx Eagle House Practice - eaglehouseblandford.nhs.uk/ppg.aspx Or ask a member of your practice team.

18

The View from the Hill

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

I

T was pretty while it lasted, the dreaded white stuff, and didn't cause much trouble on the farm, but that will do for this year, thanks!

As you can see from the picture, the lambs (well hoggets now it's past January 1) were quite relaxed about it, lying in the sunshine. Their fleeces keep them so well insulated they really don't notice the weather, except when it is raining horizontally.

The turnip leaves weren't buried, and the turnips hadn't frozen solid, so there was plenty to eat.

We have just had our first draw of lambs for the dinner table trade and sent on 42 direct to the abattoir. A further 30 were a bit too tubby for the discerning buyer, so they were sent to Frome market, where the buyers aren't so fussy.

We also had a few old ewes to send on who can no longer be bred from.

I would put in a word here for the provenance of this healthy meat, which has been reared largely on grass, from land which is steep or otherwise not suitable for growing other crops, which therefore cannot be used to feed humans, unless converted first into animal products.

Combining the low input nature of our stock farming, and the stewardship scheme we belong to,

March 2019 this meat is all but organic, just not registered as such. The turnips are not organic, so we could not register our sheep as organic under our current system.

To add another potentially controversial comment to the mix, we are striving to make sure all our lambs have left the farm before March 29, because if the UK leaves the EU without an agreement for the transition period, we will overnight become subject to World Trade Organisation trade rules and EU tariffs, meaning that anyone across the channel who wants to buy our British sheep meat will have to pay an extra 51% for it to be allowed into the EU. Much of the lamb grown on farms in the south of England is currently exported to France.

Likewise our spring malting barley, which is highly sought after by many European brewers, will overnight be subject to a tariff of 53%. It is not difficult to imagine what an effect this would directly have on our income, hence we are doing our utmost to make sure all of last year's barley has left the farm well before B-day, as well as the lambs.

How long will we have to wait before the muppets running the country can sort things out? We have had to decide already what crops to plant this spring, and whether to put our ewes in lamb, having no idea what market there

Sheep relaxing in the snow, well insulated by their fleeces. will be to sell them into in a year's time.

A farmer from Suffolk, well known for his success in organic crop growing, came to speak to a group of interested farmers at the Langton Arms. The room was packed and there were a great many questions from the floor.

John Pawsey's system is unusual in that when he started converting in 2000, he was determined to show that organic cropping was feasible without animals. To grow organic crops successfully, you need at least two years of a five- or six-year rotation growing a fallow or fertility-building crop.

The doubters among us cannot believe that you can grow an

This mole is having a laugh. There is a trap set in the tunnel below, and the bucket is there to shut out the daylight and mark the position of the trap. Mr Mole has filled up the bucket with soil from below - then it froze!

organic crop rotation without livestock to help build up fertility.

John still grows crops without animals on land that he contract farms, but on his own farm he has weakened, and added sheep to the mix, which graze the twoyear clover leys, which he finds is the best way to build fertility. He is trying to convert his contract customers to sheep as well. I do wonder if it is sustainable to be both vegetarian (or vegan) and organic.

An on-farm meeting near Milborne saw a large number of farmers gather to look at a cover crop trial which compares 16 different species and seed mixtures in 128 different combinations.

Some were not suited to each other, but many had worked well.

Tests have been done to see which mixtures favour insect life the most and investigate the amount of nitrogen and other nutrients fixed by the crop, preventing it from washing down through the soil, and saving it in plant form for use by the following commercial crop.

There will be a huge amount of useful information generated by this trial, and farmers will use its results to help them decide which cover crops to plant for next winter.

19

March 2019

Honesty in focus

DCCF chairman Chris Thomas (far left) and founder Eve Went (third left) receive a cheque from Jude Castell (second left) and Caterpillar staff.

Firm’s charity team top £27k WHEN staff at Caterpillar Marine Power UK in Ferndown pledged to support a local cancer charity, they had no idea of just how far they would go.

Four years on they have run marathons, biked, bowled, pulled a 35,000kg aeroplane along a runway and even lost hair - raising almost £30,000 for Dorset Cancer Care Foundation (DCCF) in the process.

The fundraisers unveiled their final, fundraising total of £27,671.81 in a special presentation to DCCF founder Eve Went and chairman Chris Thomas.

Jude Castell, of Blandford, who has led the fundraising throughout and even shaved her head for DCCF said: "When we first heard about the charity we knew we wanted to do something, but none of us ever dreamed how passionate we would become about it.

"We have done some incredibly exciting things together, and as well as giving us a great deal of satisfaction to know we are helping others, I think this has also made us a stronger team."

She also met Steve Jewell, a selfemployed plumber who was struggling to pay his mortgage while going through cancer treatment. "I was moved to tears when he told me how our fundraising had helped his family through some very dark times," said Jude.

DCCF was set up in 2012 and gives grants to families experiencing financial struggles because of cancer, meeting household and transport costs, buying specialist equipment, and paying for muchneeded short breaks.

The charity's co-founder Eve Went said: "The Caterpillar team came to us in 2014 as fundraisers and they have gone on to

Managers wanted DORSET HealthCare is looking for people from a range of backgrounds to take on the role of Mental Health Act managers, independent people who review whether the trust has the authority to continue to detain a patient under the Act. They consider verbal and written evidence from doctors, nurses, social workers and others with other Mental Health Act panel members to decide whether to continue a person's detention or to discharge them.

DHC non-executive director Sarah Murray, who serves as an MHA manager, said: "This is a hugely important and satisfying role which gives real insight into mental health care in Dorset.

"We need more people with a range of experience and perspectives to ensure the panels carry out their duties effectively."

Applications are invited from people who can give three to five days a month, have a clean driving licence and access to a vehicle. There is full training and a payment of £70 per half-day worked, plus mileage payments.

Mental Health legislation manager Karen Crellin can be contacted at k.crellin@nhs.net or on 01202 492035 for an informal chat about the role.

become much-loved friends. Their devotion is incredible, and the team - and their employers who have kindly match-funded some of their fundraising - have made a huge impact on families affected by cancer here in Dorset."

Details of how to apply for grants and become a supporter of DCCF can be found at dccf.co.uk.

BLANDFORD Evangelical Church on March 16 is hosting a presentation by Patrick Regan, CEO and founder of the charity Kintsugi Hope, supporting people experiencing mental and emotional health challenges, and singer-songwriter Diane Regan in their tour 'Honesty Over Silence'.

They will be exploring themes in Patrick's book of the same name, performing songs, and seeking to open up conversations about difficult topics such as trusting in God when life is painful, dealing with anxiety and living honestly.

Patrick is a recipient of the Mayor of London Peace Award and an honorary fellow of the South Bank University and the Centre for Social Justice for his contribution to peace, justice and wellbeing. Diane is a school governor, a chair of the charity Christians in Entertainment and an ambassador for the national magazine Psychologies.

Tickets for the presentation, from 7pm to 9.30pm, are available for £2 from the church office via admin@becbygrace.co.uk or through kintsugihope.com.

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March 2019

News from Dorset Trading Standards COUNCILS in Dorset are changing, but how you seek consumer advice or report something to Trading Standards is not.

Whether in the new Dorset Council or in the new Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council, Trading Standards will continue to receive referrals from Citizens Advice and investigate problem traders. Reports can be made to the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 03454 040506, or at citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer.

Romance scams are crimes that break the hearts of victims, not only because of the financial loss they suffer, but also because of the loss of the relationships they believed were genuine.

Thousands of people lose money to romance frauds each year after being conned on internet dating sites and social networks.

Scammers set up fake profiles, fake photos and claim to be from other parts of the world, weaving

a story of a successful person working overseas, presenting themselves as a thoughtful, caring and loving individual who is looking for their soulmate.

They are good at what they do, asking questions of the victim about what they want in their lives, then using the information and turning it into a dream that becomes a reality to the victim.

Once they have established a relationship then the scamming begins with a plea for financial assistance, to cash a cheque that they are unable to cash themselves or help them out of a difficulty they are having.

Panorama, on BBC One, on November 19, 2018, showed a programme called 'Catfish: The Billion Pound Romance Scam' in which the investigative reporter, Athar Ahmad, exposed the international gangs behind online dating fraud. The programme is still available to watch on iPlayer.

Farmers recruiting

BLANDFORD Young Farmers held a new members and skittles evening on February 19 at Bryanston Club in a bid to recruit more like-minded young people, aged 14 to 16, who enjoy all aspects of the countryside.

They meet weekly in the Blandford area for a variety of activities, visits, talks, fundraising events and socials.

For further information call Katie on 07730 398975 or email blandfordyfc1@hotmail.com.

Town to bid for high street improvement cash TOWN councillors have agreed that a bid for Blandford should be submitted for a high street funding scheme announced by the government, despite the likelihood of its being unsuccessful.

They were told the new Future High Street Fund, offering between ÂŁ5m and ÂŁ10m to projects in towns facing significant challenges, would support only one town to be promoted by each local authority. Since, after March,

that would include the whole of rural Dorset, other towns in the county might take precedence.

But it was agreed that it would be helpful to engage in the selection process, since there was also a possibility, yet to be announced, of funding for heritage high streets for which Blandford could well be considered.

Councillor Hugo Mieville said: "We clearly fit into the historic character criteria, but there is

no reason not to try for the main one."

Councillor Roger Carter said there were some huge issues which could be included, such as purchase and pedestrianisation of the Market Place, one of a list of projects drawn up in November when they were asked to confirm items which might be supported by developer contributions. Councillor Lynn Lindsay suggested that moving the surgeries out of Whitecliff Mill Street might even be an option.

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March 2019

Delayed plans may go to new council TWO major planning applications which have been with North Dorset District Council for several months were expected to be decided by the district's planning committee last month.

The redevelopment of Nordon in Salisbury Road and development proposals for Lower Bryanston Farm were both listed in the middle of February with a committee decision date on February 26.

But with no news as yet on the outcome of a number of other controversial applications - including Riverside House in West Street, the more recent St Mary's Hill at Blandford St Mary, and many other outstanding schemes in other villages and towns in the district - it seems likely that many will fall to be determined by the new unitary authority.

A meeting of the Shadow Council for the new unitary council was due to consider on February 20 establishing an 'interim planning committee' consisting of district and county councillors trained in planning law to decide any schemes which need to be decided by committee before the new council is elected in May and the proposed three area planning committees established.

A spokesperson said: "The new Dorset Council will have one strategic planning committee and three area planning committees.

The location of the area committees is still to be finalised, but this is likely to be agreed in the next few weeks. Where possible, applications will be considered under the scheme of delegation, as is usual practice."

Meanwhile, objections are mounting to two further applications for housing development in Charlton Marshall, for six homes on land south-east of St Mary's Church, and for nine homes and three letting rooms next to the Charlton Inn. Both have been submitted on behalf of the owners of land on the river side of the A350, that next to the church for R N & M Lawton, whose site off Church Lane was developed with 35 dwellings by Linden Homes.

The Charlton Inn application is submitted on behalf of Hall & Woodhouse, who last year consulted on a much larger development on their land east of the A350 which has not been brought forward. Residents and the parish council have objected to both schemes on various grounds.

There has also been a request for an environmental impact assessment on proposals for a solar farm at North Farm, Spetisbury, by the same company which developed the installation at neighbouring South Farm.

• See our website forumfocus.co.uk for the latest.

Financial boost for women’s mental health A MENTAL health charity has won £4,500 in funding to provide a new support group for women and girls across rural Dorset.

Women in Mind, a female-only, peer-based discussion and support group which hosts workshop, education programmes and practice advice, already operates in Bournemouth.

CEO of Dorset Mind, Marianne Storey said: "We have many rural areas which, due to location and lack of public transport, means many residents don't have access to the support services for women and girls.

"We intend to replicate our successful Bournemouth mental health support group across more rural parts of North Dorset, with a view to supporting more women with mental illnesses."

For more information about the

times and location of the new support group, which is due to start in summer, visit dorsetmind.uk.

Care for women dealing with mental health issues before and after childbirth is also set to improve significantly thanks to a state-of-the-art perinatal mother and baby unit planned for Poole.

A Dorset HealthCare planning application for the unit at St Ann's Hospital, near Sandbanks, has been approved by Borough of Poole councillors. The site will house eight beds for women suffering severe mental illness such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar and postpartum psychosis after giving birth.

Dorset HealthCare will fund the development at a cost of around £6.95 million, with work due to be completed in the summer of 2020.

D'Click Circo in 'Isla'.

Spanish circus in town AFTER their first sell-out Blandford show in November, Artsreach returns to the Corn Exchange with an outstanding physical circus show from Spain on March 31.

Isla is based on the dreams and hallucinations of three shipwrecked characters who find themselves alone and dependent on each other. It is presented by D'Click Circo with amazing acrobatics and circus skills to create unbelievable situations and overcome the limits of their island. The show starts at 6pm and will be followed by a question and answer session with the performers.

A special offer to ticket holders is 15 per cent off a meal with drinks at the Crown Hotel, Blandford, before or after the performance.

David and Katherine Norton, general managers at the Crown, said: "It's great news that Artsreach is bringing professional touring performances to Blandford. We're pleased to encourage people to make the most of their evening out, and at the same time support this very welcome new initiative for the town."

Tickets available from 01258 452074 or 07480 845028, or artsreach.co.uk.

Corn Exchange work is making progress FOLLOWING Blandford Town Council's decision last May to abandon the major project for regeneration of the Corn Exchange, the drawing-up of a new programme and the appointment of a new architect, proposals have now been drawn up to remodel the Shambles and Town Hall/Council Chamber.

They were agreed unanimously by town councillors in November, and the architects, who were contracted to carry out work to secure planning permission, are now waiting to hear the comments of local conservation officer Jen Nixon and Historic England.

But the architects have sought an addendum to their appointment, stating that work outside that agreement will be dealt with on a time charge basis.

Grounds and property manager Jon Goodenough told the town council that at the end of November, the council's roofing contractors were contacted

because of a leak in the Town Hall where the flagpole enters the roof.

The architect was contacted as a courtesy, as a result of which he visited the building on several occasions and was compiling a report on various maintenance issues of which officers were aware.

Mr Goodenough said the inspections and report being compiled fell within the original brief agreed, which included the requirement for a full building condition survey. Councillors, who have now budgeted for expenditure of around £26,000 in the coming year on essential repairs and maintenance, were reassured that an invoice for additional works at a cost of £747.50 plus VAT would be covered as part of it.

It was agreed to delegate to officers and the chair and vice-chair of the working group the drawing up of an addendum to the contract.

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Bryanston school music scholars

Playing for charity A GALA charity concert, given by music scholars from Bryanston School at Blandford Parish Church, was the first in a new series of community concerts to raise funds for local charities, including Blandford Community Hospital and the Community Kitchen.

It featured popular musical and classical hits, and ended with a small jazz band and a talented solo singer performing three popular songs from the 1950s.

Bryanston's director of music Stephen Williams said he was thrilled that the busy weekly programme of lessons, accompaniment sessions and ensemble rehearsals for the music scholars was being put to such good use.

"It is a wonderful opportunity for everyone at Bryanston to show our support for two important local charities. We hope that this will be the first of many such events."

The Rev Canon Jonathan Triffitt, Rector of Blandford and Langton Long, said: "As well as providing a platform for such accomplished young musicians to showcase their talents in a wonderful Georgian setting, the concert provided entertainment for the whole community while also raising funds for important local causes. The enthusiasm of Bryanston and its music scholars for the event has been infectious."

March 2019

Chris makes the final LOCAL Food Links chef Chris PlowmanHart, who works at Shillingstone Primary, was a finalist in the South-West Regional LACA School Chef of the Year competition.

Competitors had 90 minutes to prepare, cook and serve an imaginative twocourse menu that complied with School Food Standards.

His menu was of a fragrant Indian banquet and orange blossom and mango cheesecake, planned with the knowledge that curry was voted as the nation's favourite school meal last year.

He said: "I have worked as a chef for more than 20 years and can honestly say that working for Local Food Links is the best job I have ever had. I love working in a school, cooking nutritious meals from scratch and seeing pupils enjoy their lunches. As a dad I also know the importance of making sure that meals look appetising because children really do eat with their eyes."

Caroline Morgan, Chief Executive, said: "We are all very proud of Chris. Not only is this competition hugely enjoyable but it is also a great opportunity for caterers to showcase just how good their school meals are."

The overall South West Regional winner was Dave Leeper, from Salisbury, and he will be representing the region at the

Chris Plowman-Hart plates up in the School Chef of the Year competition. national final in Stratford upon Avon on March 7.

Local Food Links, which recently opened a new hub kitchen in Weymouth, is also a South West area finalist in the Federation for Small Businesses' Scale Up Awards.

March 2019

Calling all local descendants of Trafalgar men

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Ukulele group’s charity cheque AS part of their ongoing fundraising, which has amounted to several thousands of pounds during recent years, the Shroton Ukulele Club presented a cheque for £250 to the Friends of Blandford Community Hospital during a recent practice session in their village hall.

Friends' president Mac McLaughlin was delighted to receive the cheque and found

the practice session most entertaining. He said: "The money is really appreciated and will be used to support a variety of projects, including the creation of a musculoskeletal clinic within the existing gymnasium in physiotherapy, moving the gymnasium to the area where the old hydrotherapy pool was, and hopefully getting our theatre refurbished."

News from the Camera Club THE year began for Blandford Forum Camera Club with round four of the Points Cup, judged by Peter Woodhouse.

David Chaloner (Yellow Hammer), Rachel Cooper (Lisa Louise), Stephan Selwyn (Day Out vintage style), Colin Cross (Ruffled Feathers) and Pat Catley (What Time is It?) achieved top scores.

The Southern Federation PDI inter-club competition was hosted, judged by Barry Senior, and the Studio Group held a portraiture workshop day with Laura Pearce on posing and directing a model.

Two further guest speakers, Edward Parker on low-light photography, and Tony Worobiec on 'The Water's Edge', completed January's events.

Round five in February, judged by Eric

Kennedy, saw top scores awarded to Jean Bartlett (A Well Fed Leopard), Ian Ferris (A County Pile for Bugs), Graham Hutton (Dunstanburgh Castle), Sally Chaloner (Vase with Purple Clematis), Colin Cross (Nuthatch and Gotcha II), Bob Harrison (Young Lady in a Hat) and Pat Catley (Alstroemeria and Banded Damoiselle).

Entries close on March 31 for the Blandford Forum Camera Club annual exhibition, to be held in The Corn Exchange, Blandford, in May, with classes for members and non-members. For more information contact ian.ferris@bfcclub.co.uk. For more information on the club contact eric.langley@bfccclub.co.uk or see bfcclub.co.uk.

REMEMBER this? The arrival of a coach and pair in 2005 re-enacting the historic journey of Lieutenant John Richards Laponetière, captain of the schooner HMS Pickle, bringing news of Nelson's victory at Trafalgar?

Descendants are now being sought of the men who fought with Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar as part of a further celebration of The Trafalgar Way, which is commemorated on a plaque attached to the wall of The Greyhound pub - in those days a coaching house where his horses were changed.

The route of that journey from Cornwall to London in an amazing 37 hours by Lieutenant Laponetière included Blandford. This year a group of vintage vehicles will be travelling the route in reverse as part of their 'Grand Tour' from Cape Trafalgar in Spain to Cape Cornwall, and around 50 beautiful old cars will be travelling through the town on Saturday, May 18.

Blandford Town Council is planning an exhibition in the Corn Exchange, and will be showing pictures of the bicentenary event, but is also hoping to invite any descendants of the seamen from Blandford who took part in the battle - Frederick Churchill, Joseph Clayton, Edward Clinch, Joseph Coffin, John Cromie, Samuel Johnson, Arthur Morris, William Nicholls and James Porter.

For more information on their service and the celebration being planned, which includes a talk in the Corn Exchange on Friday May 17, see the town council's Facebook post on January 25.

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March 2019

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March 2019

Sporting chance for football starlets MILTON Abbey School is working in partnership with the Dorsetbased Champion Sports Group to offer an Elite Football Programme to talented young footballers from Dorset, the UK and across the world.

In a scheme believed to be the first of its kind, the independent school in Milton Abbas has partnered with the sports academy that has already signed more than 90 young people to professional and international teams, and coaches more than 1,000 young people at a variety of levels across the south.

The school's director of sports Ben Lawes said: "If selected for the programme, talented young players will receive the best levels of football training and access to our sports courses, combined with a personalised approach to their wider education and the chance to play and train up to six times a week."

Football students will receive a rounded education covering sports and other core subjects, dedicated time to develop the mental attitude, financial skills and tactical knowledge required to succeed in professional sports, and the opportunity to train during games time and represent the school in competitive fixtures.

They will also be able to enjoy other extra-curricular and social activities and have access to the school's conditioning gym, swimming pool, golf course and cycling studio.

The school will host a professional football academy led by FAaccredited coaches during evenings and weekends, which footballers at the school will be able to join, while other talented youngsters will benefit from access to the pitches, a floodlit all-weather surface, and other facilities at Milton Abbey.

Local young people who have been selected for Champion's first full-time professional development team have already played matches at the school and taken part in joint lessons with Milton Abbey students.

To learn more about the programme or apply for it, visit miltonabbey.co.uk/football.

Champion Academy Players at Milton Abbey School.

IS it Wheely Wednesday? is a new series of bike rides for slower or less confident riders wanting to improve their cycling skills.

People are invited to get on their bike and join others for a ride, fresh air, chat, coffee stop, and be back in time for lunch.

It takes place every first Wednesday of the month on the North Dorset Trailway from Shillingstone Station, costing ÂŁ2 per person.

Adult tuition is also available, for which booking is essential, with a 75 per cent council subsidy for Dorset Council residents.

For details call Dilys Gartside on 01258 860157 or cyclewisesouthampton@gmail.com.

Inspection setback for school as progress stalls AFTER a monitoring report last October which indicated that Durweston Primary - judged in need of improvement in two successive inspections - was making good progress, staff and parents have been disappointed to learn following a further inspection in January that it is still considered to 'need improvement' in almost all categories.

Headteacher Nicola Brooke said: "Obviously, we are disappointed, especially since the written report seems far less positive than the verbal feedback we were given.

"The inspector was genuinely impressed by the strong community feel that we have here at Durweston, with supportive parents and staff and happy children who make good progress and achieve in line with national standards.

"The report acknowledges that there is a trend of rising attainment in the school. However, we do recognise that we need to get more of our children making accelerated progress, something we are addressing in our current school development plan.

"We are looking closely at all the recommendations in the report so that we can build on the work we are already doing. We are extremely grateful for the fantastic support of our parents and would encourage anyone who is interested in the work of our school to please come and visit."

The inspectors found the new head, appointed last spring, had quickly earned the respect of the school community and successfully raised staff morale, together

with a small minority of exemplary teaching at key stage 2 but that inconsistencies and weaknesses in the quality of education persisted.

Personal development, behaviour and welfare were 'good', and the

pre-school Handy Paws was wellled and managed, preparing children well for the reception class, where staff were welcoming and positive, but the progress of most was not sufficiently accelerated. • Letter: Page 14.

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March 2019

Golf club pitches in with charity donation THE golfing season at Ashley Wood began traditionally with a New Year midnight tee-off on the first tee by the new Club Captain Peter Johnson, Ladies' Captain Val Carder and Seniors' Captain Robin Morris, with a combined distance of over 425 yards.

The outgoing Club Captain Steve Sanger, Ladies' Captain Kay Everett and Seniors' Captain handed over the reins to the incomers after a fivehour party in the clubhouse.

Steve Sanger and Kay Everett made their charity cheque presentation to their nominated charity, the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, on

New Ashley Wood Golf Captains Robin Morris, Peter Johnson, Val Carder on New Year's Eve.

Georgina’s award bid A 19-year-old member of Ashley Wood Golf Club is in the running for England Golf's Young Ambassador of the Year Award, presented in association with the Golf Foundation.

Georgina Wrixon, who is now at college but comes from Horton, is one of four finalists who are making a difference to the game.

The winner will be announced at the England Golf Awards in London on March 21.

Georgina's mission is to keep young golfers in the game when they leave school, go to

Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance representatives Neil, left, and John, right, receive the charity cheque from 2018 Club Captain Steve Sanger and 2018 Ladies' Captain Kay Everett.

January 5, when representatives accepted the cheque for ÂŁ5,314 raised by members during 2018.

On the same day Mr Sanger presented Mrs Everett with a personalised headcover to recognise her third year as Lady Captain and Mr Johnson presented Mr Sanger with his Ashley Wood Past Captains tie, along with personalised golf headcovers to thank him for his second year as Club Captain.

Retiring Club Captain Steve Sanger (left) receives his past captains' tie and personalised golf headcovers from his successor Peter Johnson.

Retiring Lady Captain Kay Everett receives a personalised golf headcover from retiring Club Captain Steve Sanger.

university or turn 18. She is spreading the word that golf can be studied to degree level and that there are many jobs in the industry, other than playing on tour and coaching.

She promotes golf as captain of the Tournament Golf College, as a member of Ashley Wood Golf Club, as a Dorset player, and by presenting a trophy to her former school for services to golf, intended for the person who does the most to promote the game and make it accessible to the whole school.

She has also set up a Facebook group and an Instagram page and is doing her bit to get youngsters in the game by helping to organise and position the junior tees at Ashley Wood.

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March 2019

Rugby reunion fulfils Tim’s dying wish A RESIDENT at Blandford Grange care home in Milldown Road was granted a special wish shortly before his death on January 24, thanks to the kindness of his carers at the home.

Tim Burgess was an avid rugby fan who moved to the care home last October, and when his carers learned that his former team, Swanage & Wareham, were due to play at the Blandford ground in Larksmead on January 12, they arranged for him to go and watch.

It was a dream come true for Tim who had lived in Wareham and played rugby for the club for many years.

The outing was organised by the home's activities co-ordinator, Bridget Townsend, after his nurse Kate heard that the team were coming to Blandford to play.

Bridget said: "As his key nurse, Kate formed a close bond with Tim and found out that rugby is his number one passion. She was determined for his wish

to be granted."

After receiving go-ahead from his doctor, arrangements were made and Tim, accompanied by his family and members of the care team who supported him throughout the trip, arrived during the second-half.

He was lucky enough to see his team win and afterwards meet his rugby friends who gathered for photos and presented him with a rugby shirt as a memento.

Tim's family were delighted with the visit. His brother said: "I know it has been such a positive day for Tim. It means the world to us and him that you've been able to do this for him."

Tilla Wagner, manager of Blandford Grange, said: "It was such a special trip for Tim and delightful to see him sharing great memories and rugby stories with friends and family. I would like to extend my thanks to both Kate and Bridget for helping to make Tim's wish become a reality."

Tim Burgess, with his daughter at the rugby match. Picture: Healthcare Homes.

Tri club aims to recruit more children to compete NORTH Dorset Tri held its annual general meeting at Blandford Leisure Centre when Brendan Dunn from Autotechnics was thanked for the company's generous sponsorship during the year and for continuing its sponsoring in 2019.

It has helped to fund coaching courses and first-aid courses, and to purchase equipment. Members were invited to submit ideas for how sponsorship might be used this year to further progress the club.

The committee was re-elected to their positions, and an overview of the club's finances showed a surplus. Swimming and membership fees will remain unchanged, and an application form can be found on the club's website northdorsettri.org.uk.

One aim this year is to increase numbers in their junior section and encourage children to participate in competitive triathlons, enhance their skills and to have fun. Junior training session started on February 2 and take place on Saturdays, with taster ses-

sions available.

The adults were well represented in the Dirty Devil Stampede 2019 at the Army's tank driving training area at Bovington. Competitor Mark Fitton reported on a very testing race, scrambling through mud, over hills and water ditches and under a cargo net. "One big positive is that the Army takes the day off so you're not racing alongside tanks," he said.

Chris Osmond finished his 10+km in a very impressive 54 minutes to be 13th overall in a field of 370 competitors; Nicola Remnant showed her true grit and got round two circuits of the 20km course with a finishing time of not long over three hours, ahead of several others. Mark Fitton completed around 20km in 2 hours 3 mins to finish 15th overall out of 106 and 1st in his category.

There followed the Portland Coastal Marathon on February 10, and this month the Wimborne 20 on March 3, the Dorset Ooser Marathon and Half Marathon and the Yeovil Half Marathon, all on March 31.

Mark Fitton at the Dirty Devil Stampede at Bovington.

28 Friday March 1: St David's Day Quiz, Shroton village hall, 7.30pm, details 01258 863892 Wessex Acoustic Folk, Blandford Royal British Legion Club, Church Lane, 8pm, Wildwood Jack John Osborne - John Peel's Shed.

Tarrant Gunville Village Hall, 8pm, bookings 01258 830361 - artsreach.co.uk Saturday March 2: Dorset Perennial Group, talk by Simon Goldsack of Holme for Gardens, Durweston Village Hall, 2pm, details 01258 861802 Holy Moly & The Crackers, Sturminster Newton Exchange, 7.30pm, bookings 01258 475137 artsreach.co.uk The Mill Singers, St. Nicholas Church, Durweston,7.30 pm, details 01258 452641 Quiz, Blandford British Legion, Church Lane, 8pm, for The Blandford School art and design department Motown Theme Night, Nelsons Cheese & Ale House, from 8pm Sunday March 3: The Art Room, 11am-1pm at The Kings Arms, Blandford, details blandfordartsociety.weebly.com Dorset Ramblers, White Horse, Stourpaine, 10am, 5.5-mile walk, pub lunch and 3-mile afternoon walk, details dorsetramblers.co.uk Monday March 4: Blandford Floral Group, United Reformed Church Hall, Whitecliff Mill Street, 2pm for Michael Bowyer - Is It Spring Yet? Tuesday March 5: Pancake DropIn, Blandford Parish Centre, 3.30pm to 5pm Wednesday March 6: Blandford Bereavement Group meets Blandford Parish Centre, 11am to 12.30pm, details 01258 453425 Blandford St Mary Parish Council meeting, Brewery Hall, Hall & Woodhouse, 7pm Thursday March 7 (and every Thursday): Square Dancing, Spetisbury village hall, 4 to 6pm Friday March 8: Craft Market, The Shambles, Blandford Market Place, 9am to 2pm Blandford WI, The Parish Centre, The Tabernacle, 7 to 9pm, speaker Jane Macey of Blandford Adult Education Centre, details blandfordeveningwi.com BSO Trio of Flute, Viola and Harp, Ibberton Village Hall, 7.30pm, bookings 01258 817269 - artsreach.co.uk Sunday March 10: 1930s and 40s jazz with Polly Josephine, Springhead Trust, Fontmell Magna, 5pm, details, tickets 01747 818853 Monday March 11: Raise the Commonwealth Flag, Market Place, Blandford, 10am Child Okeford WI 'Getting creative with clay' with Deborah Clarke, The Community Centre, Station Road, Child Okeford, 2pm Child Okeford CoCL talk, Paul

March 2019

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.

Folk duo Ninebarrow are appearing at Milborne St Andrew on March 10, as part of this month's Artsreach programme.

Hyland - ‘Trips and Odysseys’, The Ark's room, St Nicholas School, Child Okeford, 7.30pm, tickets 01258 860767 Wednesday March 13: Lenten Lunch, St John the Baptist Church, Spetisbury, 12 to 2pm, (and March 20 and 27, April 3, 10 and 17) Play Reading, 'Billy Liar', Woodhouse Gardens Pavilion, 7pm, details 07596 959703 Sturminster Newton Floral Group meets, The Exchange, Sturminster Newton, 7.30pm for demonstration, ‘A trip to town’, Amy Shakeshaft Dorset Moviola, The Children Act, Fontmell Magna village hall, 7 for 7.30pm Blandford Forum Film Society, The Blandford School, 7.45pm, A Fantastic Woman, drama Thursday March 14: Forum Cancer Support Group, Woodhouse Garden Pavilion 2 to 4pm, details 07561 114644 Friday March 15: The Ark Child Okeford Easter Bingo in Child Okeford Village Hall, doors open 7pm, eyes down 7.30pm Saturday March 16: Community Expo, Blandford Corn Exchange, 10am to 1pm Cats Protection Coffee Morning & stalls, Woodhouse Gardens, Blandford, 10am to 12.30pm Iran - Land of Great Kings, Shahs and Ayatollahs, lecture by John Osbourne, Old School, Sturminster Marshall, 2.30pm, tickets 01258 857528 Valley Gardening Club Spring Show, Pamela Hambro Hall, Winterborne Stickland, 2.30 to

4.15pm, details valleygardening@gmail.com Honesty Over Silence, with Patrick Regan and singer-songwriter Diane Regan, Blandford Evangelical Church, 7pm to 9.30pm, tickets £2 from church office or admin@becbygrace.co.uk Alec Dankworth's World Spirit, Sturminster Marshall Memorial Hall, 7.30pm, bookings 07903 057427 artsreach.co.uk Milborne's Got The Blues with Teed Up, Milborne St Andrew village hall, 7.30pm, tickets 01258 837280 Monday March 18: Strictly Come Tea Dancing with the Soggy Biscuit Dance Band, Corn Exchange, Blandford, 2.30 to 4.30pm Tuesday March 19: Child Okeford Flower Arranging Club 2.15pm, 'Not Just Any Old Box', practical workshop + AGM, Child Okeford Village Hall, details 01258 863775 Wednesday March 20: 'All about Deer', illustrated talk by Bryan Edwards of Dorset Environmental Records Centre, North Dorset Group, Dorset Wildlife Trust, Fontmell Magna village hall, 7.30pm Valley Gardening Club meets Pamela Hambro Hall, Winterborne Stickland, 7.30pm for talk, The Secret World of Violets (Clive Groves), details valleygardening@gmail.com Thursday March 21: Blandford Art Society demonstration in oils by Michael Hemmings, 2pm, Pimperne village hall, details blandfordartsociety.weebly.com Blandford Museum Archaeology Group meets Milton Antiques,

Beres Yard, talk by Adrian Green (Salisbury Museum) on Pitt-Rivers Artefacts, details 01258 452831 Northern Harmony - Harmony Singing from around the World, St Andrew's Church, Fontmell Magna, 7.30pm, pre-performance workshop Springhead 4 to 6pm, tickets 01747 811853 - artsreach.co.uk Friday March 22: Last Chance Saloon double bill, Durweston Village Hall, 7.30pm, bookings 01258 488883 - artsreach.co.uk Film Night, 'The Wife' (15), Child Okeford Village Hall, 7:30pm, booking 01258 860518 Wessex Acoustic Folk, Blandford Royal British Legion Club, Church Lane, 8pm, Crow (with Paul Downes) Saturday March 23: Winterborne Kingston WI Jumble Sale, Winterborne Kingston Village Hall, DT11 9AZ 10.30am to 12 noon Live Music, Mad Hatter Hat competition, teas and raffle, Pimperne village hall, 3pm details 07879003567 Mayor's Charity Ball, Corn Exchange, Blandford, 7.30pm Quiz and Soup Night, Child Okeford Village Hall, 7:30pm, details 01258 861055 Durweston Choral Society, Orchestra and soloist concert, Durweston Parish Church, 7.30pm, details 01258 472253 Monday March 25: Iwerne Minster Produce and Horticultural Association meet 7.30pm, Abingdon Hall, The Chalk, Iwerne Minster, DT11 8NA, Eric Watson, ‘Fungi on your doorstep’ Wednesday March 27: Blandford Forum Film Society, The Blandford School, 7.15pm AGM followed by *Mystery Film* Thursday March 28: Finds Evaluation Day, Blandford Museum, Beres Yard, 10.30 to 1pm Blandford Horticultural Society meets United Reformed Church Hall, Blandford for Spring Show and Clive Groves 'The Secret World of Violets', 7.30pm, details 01258 452380 Winter Warmers talk by David Southwood on "OSTAR 2017", single-handed Transatlantic yacht race, All Saints Church, Tarrant Monkton, 7pm for talk 7.30pm, Friday March 29: Blandford U3A Open Meeting, Durweston village hall, 2pm, James Feaver - 'Food for free', details 01258 455081 Saturday March 30: Around the World with the Stour Valley Band and the DRMS 'Sing for Pleasure' Choir, St Peter and St Paul's Church, Market Place, 7pm, free admission Quiz and raffle in aid of Macmillan, Farquharson Arms, Pimperne, 8pm Sunday March 31: Blandford Museum opened for 2019 by Martin Brown, illustrator, 11am.

D'Click Circo - Isla, Blandford Corn Exchange 6pm, bookings 01258 452074 - artsreach.co.uk