April 2019 Forum Focus

Forum Focus The free monthly news magazine for the Blandford area

April 2019 Issue No. 85 Est: 2012

Jenny finds her brother’s grave after 75 years A GREAT grandmother tracked down the grave of the baby brother she had never seen when she visited Blandford cemetery with her daughter on March 4.

Sidney Peter Clarke was born on December 30, 1944, when Jenny Golding, née Clarke, now 81 and living in Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, was seven years old.

The baby did not survive the birth.

"I remember my father telling me to stay in my room on the night he was born, and next morning being told he had gone to heaven," said Jenny.

Ted gets in a tangle and causes quite a commotion. Story: Page 3

FORUM FOCUS

"I thought he wouldn't know anyone there and felt relieved some years later when my grandmother died that he would know someone then," she said.

The family, who lived in Nursery Road, Blandford, in a tied house related to her father's work for a chemist shop in the town, moved away from Blandford soon after the war, and Jenny remained an only child.

She was later told that her brother had been 'popped into a grave' with another person.

"I was happily married until my husband died 18 years ago and have three children in their 50s, with grandchildren and one great grandson so far. But I have always had a gap in my life," she said.

It was only when she started researching family history later in life that she began to hope that she could find out what happened to Sidney.

She learned from the charity Sands (Stillbirth and neo-natal deaths) that it had been the custom to put a stillborn baby in an adult's coffin, usually a female, and the parents told to forget it and try for another.

Only in the 1980s was it acknowledged that parents needed to grieve and proper funerals were held. The charity has a memorial area at the National

Jenny Golding at the grave of her brother Sidney in Blandford cemetery.

Arboretum where people can label a stone with a name.

But Jenny was able to first contact the Rector at Blandford Parish Church and then Blandford Town Council, which keeps the registers of all those buried in the Salisbury Road cemetery, in a bid to trace the grave.

Town Clerk Linda Scott-Giles said she could initially find nothing in the database of cemetery

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records, but when she looked in the Register of Stillborns, found Sidney Peter, son of George Sidney and Elsie May Clarke, of Nursery Road.

Listed as buried in the same plot was Lydia James on March 4, 1919.

Jenny said: "The lady mentioned is no relation of my family, but strangely enough one of my son's daughters is called Lydia, • To Page 2

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April 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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Copies can be picked up from any of our drop points below: Blandford and Blandford St Mary: Morrisons, Greyhound Yard; M&S Langton Road; The Post Office, Library and Parish Centre in The Tabernacle, the Corn Exchange, the Spar shop in Market Place, Gorge Cafe in East Street, Blandford Museum in the Market Place, the Tourist Information Centre in West Street, Chaffers in Salisbury Street, James Newsagents in The Plocks, the Co-op in Salisbury Road, the 3Cs in Damory Street, the Damory Garage and One Stop in Salisbury Road, Cherry's hairdressers in Elizabeth Road, Blandford Leisure Centre in Milldown Road, the Central Shop in Heddington Drive, the Brewery Visitor Centre, Lidl in Higher Shaftesbury Lane, and Tesco and Homebase at Stour Park.

In the villages: Charlton Marshall Church Rooms and Charlton pub, Woodpecker pub at Spetisbury, Abbott Garden Centre, Langton Long, True Lovers Knot and St Richard Close bus stop in Tarrant Keyneston, Langton Arms in Tarrant Monkton, 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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Parties gearing up for May elections NOMINATIONS close on Wednesday April 3 for both town and parish councils and the new Dorset Council elections, which will take place in May. A full list of candidates will be published online at dorsetforyou.gov.uk on Thursday April 4, and Forum Focus will next month be able to give a full list of candidates in each of the wards representing the DT11 area.

But a number of people have already indicated their intention to stand, including town councillors Byron Quayle, the current county councillor, and Nocturin LaceyClarke, a current district councillor, who will be fighting for the Conservatives in the two county Blandford seats.

John Tanner, currently a Blandford district councillor and Pimperne parish councillor, and town councillor Hugo Mieville will be contesting for the Liberal Democrats.

Pat Osborne, a Blandford town councillor, is chairman of the North Dorset Labour party, which on March 14 released its manifesto.

John Stayt, currently a Blandford town and Blandford St Mary parish councillor and district councillor for Riversdale, has indicated his intention to stand as an Independent, having resigned from the Conservative party.

Some current district councillors have also indicated that they will not be seeking re-election to the new Dorset Council, including Deborah Croney, member for Hambledon (county) and Hill Forts (district) who served as leader of the district council for a number of years and was last month appointed one of its honorary aldermen.

The deadline for registering to vote is on Friday April 12, and the last day to apply for a postal vote is Monday April 15.

The notice of polls will be published on Wednesday April 24 at polling stations, which will be open from 7am to 10pm on election day, Thursday May 2.

Dependent on the outcome of the Brexit negotiations, there could be further elections for the European Parliament, between May 23 and 26.

Jenny locates brother’s grave • From Page 1 and my mother's father was called James as a forename."

Rather than wait until December, the anniversary of her brother's death, she and her daughter Helen decided to visit the grave on the 100th anniversary of Lydia James's death.

They arranged to meet Mrs Scott-Giles and cemetery groundsman Gary Ayriss at the cemetery to be guided to the entirely unmarked plot.

Jenny laid flowers and a tribute to her brother and parents, copied from the grave in Highbridge, Burnham-on-Sea, where her parents are buried.

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April 2019

Search party success after Ted’s vanishing act A BLANDFORD family whose beloved dog went missing during a walk on the Milldown and was not found until nearly 32 hours later have thanked all those who came to their assistance.

Kayleigh O'Donnell of Preetz Way, her husband Toby and two young sons were devastated when Ted, a nearly ten-year-old black and white English springer spaniel, disappeared one morning while being walked by a friend of the family.

When he failed to return from his exploration of the bushes on the Hangings nature reserve, the O'Donnells' friend contacted Kayleigh at work to let her know Ted had disappeared, but she was confident he would turn up again within minutes.

When he didn't, his disappearance was posted on Facebook resulting in the involvement of dozens of people, many of them walking their own dogs and searching and calling for him without success.

An alert was put out through the charity Dogs Lost Found Stolen in Dorset Group, who distributed posters and sent member Peter Hawkins with a thermal camera to help.

The search continued the next morning, when Catherine Rose of Catherine'sK9Care in Sturminster Marshall joined the hunt and heard Ted's faint cry from the bushes just a few hundred yards

from where he had entered the Hangings area.

She contacted the O'Donnells so they could identify him, and Toby could also hear, but not see him, he was so deep in the bushes.

"Reinforcements were sought in the form of chainsaws, but Catherine crawled in to free Ted, who emerged safe and well as if nothing had happened," said Kayleigh.

"We got him home and checked him over - he was none the worse for his night in the bushes, but thoroughly enjoyed a drink, feed and sleep in his own bed.

Ted had been tagged and microchipped, but was wearing his harness, which was to prove his downfall when it became entangled in the bushes he was exploring.

"We are thrilled and relieved to have him home and now make sure we take his harness off whenever he is off the lead. But we were totally overwhelmed by the help and support we received from our local community.

"We also want to say a huge thank you to Catherine, to the charity Dogs Lost Found, and to all those who helped to look for him and shared his story on Facebook - and expressed their pleasure and relief on hearing he had been found.

"We feared the worst, but actually the whole experience has restored our faith in community spirit."

Crackdown on litterers FOLLOWING a litter pick on the Blandford bypass organised by the Dorset Waste Partnership (DWP) earlier in the spring, people are being urged to join the fight against roadside litter and warned of penalties for depositing it.

Litter picks have also been carried out at Wimborne and at Weymouth. Last year similar work in February and March cost Dorset taxpayers around £40,000.

Picking on high-speed roads requires a great deal of planning, including an application for a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) around four to six weeks in advance so that safety measures can be taken to protect staff.

The DWP is supporting Litter Free Dorset's 'Don't be a TOS53R' campaign, designed to send a hard-hitting message to drivers and passengers that our roads are not a giant litter bin, and that the owner of a vehicle can be fined up to £100 if rubbish is seen being thrown out of a car window.

Cllr Tony Alford, chairman of the Dorset Waste Partnership's joint committee, said: "We thank the majority of Dorset motorists and passengers who take their rubbish home and dispose of it properly.

Responsibility for this mess at the roadside lies with the minority who think it is acceptable to throw rubbish from their vehicles.

"If you spot litter being thrown from a vehicle, please let us know.

Together, we can help stamp out this antisocial behaviour."

Bushed! Ted, safe and sound after his escapade, but looking a little sheepish back at home in his basket.

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April 2019

Meaty feast brings a pay-off for charity

Bob Smith and Air Ambulance representatives, Richard Robbins, Roger Morgan and Wendy Burke outside The Baker Arms with licensees James and Desi Hutchings.

PROCEEDS of Child Okeford's tenth annual Pheasant Fest, held at the Baker Arms in February, were presented two weeks later to Wendy Burke and Richard Robbins, representatives of the Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance which the event has supported since its inception.

The total of £1,781.20 brought to around £16,000 the amount raised in the village over the last ten years, supported by the individuals and local shoots who, from the end of the shooting season onwards, donate around 60kg of meat to the cause.

It is then prepped, frozen and stored until a week before the fest, when volunteers prepare the menu of traditional fare of burgers, sausages, game pie, venison curry and this year a number of vegetarian options.

For £7, visitors could help themselves to whatever they liked. A raffle with prizes donated by villagers and local businesses was

run by Richard and Wendy, who said the Pheasant Fest was the only event they attend which is held annually just for the benefit of the Air Ambulance.

An auction offering services or events from local traders was conducted by Roger Morgan, a former Air Ambulance trustee.

Joint organiser Bob Smith said: "The good thing about the Air Ambulance is that it is totally non-political, supported entirely by donations."

He thanked particularly the Blackmore Vale Butchery (West Stour) for making the sausages, the Cross Stores (Child Okeford) for donating extra ingredients and an in-store collection, and James and Desi Hutchings, licensees of The Baker Arms, who hosted the event for the second time this year. As new incumbents in 2018 at the pub where it started, they agreed to host the event which they found already part organised when they arrived.

Jobs go as farm firm closes plant THE announcement of the closure of feed company ForFarmers' plant at Blandford Heights in the second quarter of 2019 as part of a £5m 'reduction plan' has meant redundancy for a number of workers with the loss of 30 jobs.

The move is part of the company's plan, announced in 2017, to optimise its supply chain by modernising existing mills and rationalising site locations.

Forum Focus farming correspondent George Hosford said: "The closure is a blow for the area, with jobs lost together with the local market for grain.

"Hundreds of tons of our grain has gone there over the years, although we only buy a very small amount of their output. It is convenient to have a local mill because the transport charge for us to get it there is low.

"The income we get for grain we would have sold them will go down in the future because more fuel and other road costs will be incurred, and it will put more traffic on the road.

"Those buying grain will also see

the transport element of the cost go up. It is sad news but not entirely surprising as firms get bigger and centralise more - at the cost of the environment?"

But he said he knew the plant there was very old and in need of regular repair.

ForFarmers operates 15 manufacturing sites in the UK, consisting of production and blending mills. The company said the Blandford site, one of the older ones, would require significant modifications to modernise it and improve its efficiency.

The Blandford production volume will be taken on by its more modern sites, a newly constructed Exeter mill and organic feed mill at Portbury, which has recently been equipped with additional raw material storage bins to support the production of organic feed.

With sales of approximately 10 million tons of feed annually, ForFarmers is a market leader in Europe, and active in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Poland and the UK, with, in 2017, 2,325 employees and revenues of over £2.2 billion.

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April 2019

The battle to save Nordon RESIDENTS angered by the decision of North Dorset District Council and its planning committee to allow the redevelopment of the site of the council's former headquarters have been backed

by Blandford Town Council.

Members agreed on March 11 to ask the Secretary of State to 'call in' the now-approved outline planning application to demolish the buildings, including the original Edwardian house Nordon, and replace them with 40 affordable homes.

At the town council's planning committee, Mayor Roger Carter said he had been approached by many who were dismayed at the decision and "desperate" that Nordon was to be lost forever to housing that was not really needed in that location.

Councillor Steve Hitchings, who proposed the approach to the Secretary of State, said: "Because of the experience we have had over the Corn Exchange with Historic England, I honestly thought the application was dead, and they would not do this.

"North Dorset has driven a coach and horses through their own plan and our Neighbourhood Plan, and chosen not to listen to three statutory consultees."

It was agreed by 11 votes to two abstentions to delegate to Mr Carter authority to write to the Secretary of State, with copies to North Dorset MP Simon Hoare and Historic England.

News of the district planning committee's decision on the application by Aster Homes, to which over 30 had objected prior to the meeting, prompted several angry responses on social media and much suspicion of the way the plans had been drawn up in

Nordon: at the centre of a planning storm. secret, as well as letters to Forum Focus and to individual councillors.

County Councillor Byron Quayle, who spoke against the application at the meeting, said he was "deeply disappointed" at the committee's decision.

Nic Nicol, chair of the Blandford Town Team, said: "It is a huge disappointment for the town and community. There seems to be an appetite to appeal against the decision."

The site had been sold to Aster Homes subject to planning permission being granted. Members of the council's Nordon Project Board, Michael Roake and Graham Carr-Jones, who selected the Aster option from the seven received when they invited social housing driven applications, spoke of the 'legacy' they wanted to leave for Blandford in the form of affordable housing.

Four of the bids included the retention of Nordon, with fewer or

Council tax increase ARRIVAL of council tax bills through the letter box has confirmed the increase following the creation of the Dorset Council unitary authority.

As expected, harmonisation across the whole county so that everyone pays the same has led to a Band D figure for North Dorset of £1,935.20 which together with the town council precept in Blandford takes the total of £2,159.84 to almost the highest in the county, second only to Bridport.

It is a 6.27 per cent increase, around £12.70 extra for each of the ten monthly payments taken by direct debit, on the total for county, district and other precepting authorities in 2018/19.

The documentation included with the council tax demand highlights the 82 per cent of local authority income which now comes from council tax following the reduction in grants from central government. There has also been a rise of just over 2 per cent in business rates.

in one case more affordable homes but a much lower financial return to the council.

District and town councillor Jackie Stayt, who as a member of the district's planning committee proposed the acceptance of the planning officer's recommended approval, said after-

wards: "I genuinely thought this was a brilliant legacy for Blandford and am disappointed at the criticism which has followed the committee's decision."

Blandford & District Civic Society, in their recent newsletter, said: "There was an opportunity here to provide a legacy not only of affordable housing, but also of the preservation of an historic building and community asset."

There is no right of appeal against approval of a planning application. Local architect John Turnbull, who argued in the meeting that the proposal went against the district council's own planning policies, said: "There are two possible options on the table, judicial review or a call in by the Secretary of State."

He said Simon Hickman, senior officer at Historic England, who strongly opposed the demolition of Nordon and impact on the Conservation Area, was discussing the situation with his Historic England colleagues and legal team.

• Letters: Pages 14-15.

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April 2019

Ann’s legacy of literacy THE success of the adult literacy charity, Read Easy Blandford, under the leadership of Ann Fookes, was celebrated at a gathering to mark her retirement.

Many adults in Blandford and the surrounding area have been helped to learn to read or to improve their reading while Ann has been the group's chair.

She started the group nearly six years ago, creating a highly committed group of volunteers, some as reading coaches and others supporting the group's operation.

She said she was pleased that the group had been able to find more members who will be able to continue the work with the same level of commitment and satisfaction in working together.

She will be continuing to support the group by establishing an active group of Friends of Read Easy Blandford.

Retiring Read Easy Blandford chairman Ann Fookes with her bouquet.

Bryanston homes plan agreed in the face of opposition OUTLINE plans to agree the access for 75 homes on land north-east of Lower Bryanston Farm, Bryanston, were approved

by North Dorset District Council's planning committee, but by only four of the members, with four abstentions.

The site, opposite the listed boundary wall of Bryanston School, shares a boundary with the Blandford Forum, Blandford St Mary and Bryanston Conservation Areas, and is east of new housing already under construction at Dorchester Hill, Blandford St Mary.

In response to the application by Bryanston RFE Ltd, Carl Conlon, for Bryanston Parish Council, argued that the lack of need for a development of even higher density than the Dorchester Hill development now underway which would result in a hard edge destroying the character of the area.

He said access proposed off New Road, requiring removal of a section of hedgerow, would be unsafe, and the pedestrian route on a new footpath down the already narrow Fairmile Road would be unused by residents who would take the shortest route into town down New Road.

The parish council challenged a transport assessment supporting the application and said there would be significant benefits to the community by moving the vehicle access to a widened Fairmile Road, preventing extra traffic passing the historic cottages at the bottom of New Road.

The officer report admitted that

the introduction of a sub-urban road junction and housing along New Road would cause some harm to the setting and aesthetic qualities of the conservation areas, as would the increase in traffic.

Sally Woodlock asked for a more detailed archaeological investigation in view of nearby discoveries in the past of Roman burials, and Chris Gale argued for stronger protection for greater horseshoe bats which are known to frequent the site.

But they were told that the Dorset County Council senior archaeologist was satisfied that further investigation was not necessary and that a biodiversity mitigation plan had been agreed.

Local member Andrew Kerby said the 75 homes now suggested - a reduction in the 'up to 80' originally applied for - still increased the 65 density suggested in the Local Plan, and the parish council, competent local people who understood what would work, felt frustrated that they were not being listened to.

Planning officer Robert Lennis recommended approval of the application, saying that landscape and design would be considered at the detailed stage, but it had been agreed to limit the numbers and ridge height of properties.

Committee members Vic Fox, Jackie Stayt and Nocturin LaceyClarke all expressed reservations, but Councillor Peter Williams, proposing approval, which was seconded by Councillor Charles Dowden, said there were no grounds for refusal.

Concern at health plans PROPOSALS to transfer some health services to Blandford Community Hospital and to Dorchester from Bridport have caused concern in West Dorset, where patients and councillors have been critical of the move, fearing it will mean difficulties, particularly for the frail.

Health officials say the move is not about saving money but to provide better services, since more colonoscopy patients could be seen at Dorchester, and a more frequent service for those needing epidural pain relief could be offered from Blandford.

Dorset HealthCare also plans to relocate the Musculo-Skeletal (MSK) service list from Bridport to Blandford, saying this will make it more accessible to more patients, as the service is used by around 90 patients a year from across the county. The Bridport list only operates monthly, but at Blandford it can be run weekly.

A public consultation and engagement meetings have been held in Bridport, with a third on April 11 at the Women's Institute Hall to gather feedback on how any issues can be mitigated.

April 2019

New unitary council warned of the need to be inclusive CONCERNS that the new Dorset unitary authority is failing to consult adequately with all its constituent political parties and with town and parish councils were addressed at a meeting of the Shadow Council on March 15.

It considered a proposal from East Dorset member Shane Bartlett calling on the council to confirm the involvement of all political parties, and consultation with town and parish councils and the community in its decision making.

A motion of no confidence in the leader, Rebecca Knox, had earlier been withdrawn, and Councillor Bartlett's proposal was approved following a series of amendments.

At Blandford Town Council's planning committee meeting a few days earlier, Councillor Haydn White said the Dorset Association of Parish and Town Councils had sought a similar commitment and it had been discussed twice at the overview and scrutiny committee.

"The unitary must take on board the need to consult," he said.

Councillor Hugo Mieville said: "It's not just about town and parish councils, but also cross-party representation."

A meeting in confidential session was also held on March 21 to discuss redundancy proposals for nine senior officers from the county, district and borough councils,

BLANDFORD Town Council has agreed in principle to stage a skate fest at the skate park in Blandford St Mary later this year. After considering costs of running an event supplied by two companies, they agreed, subject to confirmation of details, to engage one at a cost of £1,750 plus VAT. Councillors commented that previous skate fests had been very successful, attracting young people from a wide area and promoting participation in a positive, healthy hobby which combatted antisocial behaviour and obesity.

which will be replaced by the unitary Dorset Council from April 1 following the reduction in the number of senior officer posts from 23 to just seven, with an annual saving of over £1 million.

But the cost of the collective contractual redundancy in accordance with local government rules and including a contribution to the pension fund will be £1,842,797, which will therefore be paid for in 20 months.

Many other local government officers who have not already found new jobs could also face redundancy, their union Unison saying that the council had only 95 posts for the 212 sent notice that their current position is at risk.

Although some specialist positions could be retained, at least 100 could be lost.

A consultation about the proposals started in January and continued to the first week of March, but no compulsory redundancies will be possible until after the new council comes into being on April 1.

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A PAIR of five-inch-high Egyptian faience shabti figures with painted details and hieroglyphic panels sold for £3,900 - many times the £200 to £300 estimate - at Hansons Teddington saleroom.

They were part of the collection of the late Peter Newall, a maritime historian and author, whose home in Blandford housed a vast collection of maritime books, photographs, postcards and other memorabilia.

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April 2019

Teddy festival to be biggest yet TEDDY Rocks Festival is gearing up for its biggest festival to date after announcing more than 80 acts that will be performing at Charisworth Farm, near Blandford, over the early May bank holiday from Friday May 3 to Sunday May 5.

Nicki Edwards and her band of dieters at the Park Run.

Nicki’s new challenge NICKI Edwards, 'The Cambridge Lady', has launched her latest charity fundraising weight loss challenge.

She is raising money for the Little Princess Trust, which provides real hair wigs for children suffering hair loss, in conjunction with a 'March Madness' Biggest % Weight Loss Challenge, in which clients could choose to join in a 30-day or a 60-day challenge.

The goal was to raise as much money as possible for the Trust, so anyone could join in right up to the end of March.

Nicki kicked off the month by inviting some of her clients to join her on the Park Run. "It was a great morning, the weather stayed fair for us and everyone really enjoyed it," she said. "It always makes me so proud to see the determination of my merry dieters and seeing them push themselves to do something they don't normally do is so inspirational."

There's a prize fund for the 'Biggest % Weight Loss' loser. To join in, give Nicki a call on 07904 331589.

Split across four stages, the family-friendly festival, fundraising for local children's cancer charity Teddy 20, includes a mix of internationally recognised artists, upand-coming UK breakthrough acts and local talent.

The final and complete line-up includes, on the first night, the return of Loathe! alongside Our Hollow, Our Home, Dream State and Parting Gift.

Headlining on the OnBuy.com main stage on the Saturday are British rock band The Darkness, who shot to fame in 2003 with their single 'I Believe in a Thing Called Love', from their number one UK album 'Permission to Land.' Stone Broken will headline on the Vocalzone second stage.

Closing the event on the main stage on the Sunday is indie rock band, The Zutons, best known for their chart-topping songs 'Valerie' and 'Why Won't You Give Me Your Love?', with King Nun and Parish Youth Foundation on the second stage and LuicĂŠ on the third.

Other acts performing over the weekend include Phil Campbell, the guitarist from iconic metal band Motorhead, 'Dancing in the Moonlight' singers Toploader, The Dirty Youth, Fatherson, Bloxx, Bang Bang Romeo, Press to Meco, Louis Berry, Lounge Kittens, plus tributes acts to

Oasis, Green Day, Rage Against the Machine, Blink 182, Foo Fighters and Limp Bizkit.

Founder and festival director, Tom Newton, said: "We're gearing up for the biggest and best festival yet, with our strongest line-up to date. We have worked tirelessly to ensure that there is something on offer for everyone and hope to welcome a recordbreaking number of visitors over the weekend."

Day and weekend camping tickets are available now from teddyrocks.co.uk and further information from facebook.com/ TeddyRocksFestival.

Soldier, 21, found hanged A YOUNG private found dead near Blandford Camp was identified at an inquest in Bournemouth as Daniel Mark O'Grady, aged 21, who was born in Bangor, Wales.

His body was discovered near Black Lane on the morning of February 20 when police were called to the report of an unresponsive man.

A post-mortem examination confirmed the cause of death as hanging.

The inquest, which was opened and adjourned until October, was told that police had confirmed that they were satisfied there are no suspicious circumstances.

The deceased's family were being supported by specially trained military officers.

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April 2019

Apprentice scheme is an industry first MARTIN Anderson, owner of Child Okeford-based Metro Rod Dorset, which specialises in drainage clearance working with construction companies, hotels, restaurants, businesses and households, has taken on his first apprentice engineer, 16year-old Ben Hughes.

Metro Rod have partnered with ITOL to create a new bespoke apprenticeship scheme, a unique industry first, to provide the skills, knowledge and confidence for a whole new generation of engineers.

Ben will complete a two-year work-based Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship, training and instruction taking place while working on drainage tasks. The structure of the formal training is built on a suite of specialist training courses that have been externally Accredited and Certified by the Institute of Training & Occupational Learning.

On completion of the learning modules, Ben will have earned a nationally recognised Level 3 ITOL qualification and will be fully qualified to carry out a wide

Literary festival unveiled PLANS for a Blandford Literary festival this November were revealed at the Community Expo on March 16 by the group working on the project, Louise Bliss, Finola Brennan and Paula Harmon.

They welcomed many offers of ideas and support for the event between November 18 and 24, which will include story-telling, poetry recitals, creative writing workshop, talks and writing competitions at venues around the town.

Find out more at Facebook Blandford Literary Festival or email blandfordliteraryfestival@gmail.com

Pancakes pull the crowds Ben Hughes with Martin Anderson, owner of Metro Rod Dorset. range of processes.

Mr Anderson said: "We are delighted to have taken on our first apprentice. Ben showed great enthusiasm for our skilled industry with a keen interest in the new state-of-the-art technologies that we will continue to invest in.

"Ben had been looking to find an apprenticeship scheme that was specialist to drainage but had not been able to find the right balance between classbased and practical hands-on training. Our work-based scheme ticked all the right boxes for him, and I look forward to him going from strength to strength".

BLANDFORD Parish Church's Community Kitchen offered a pancake drop-in at the Parish Centre on Shrove Tuesday when young and old were invited to tuck in without charge.

And on Friday, March 29, again in the Parish Centre, there was a craft morning at which people could learn something new or brush up on a forgotten skill with a free lunch and supervised creche on site.

A Lent course which took place on Wednesdays in March and will continue on the first two Wednesdays of April was launched with a screening of The Greatest Showman.

Gaming shop’s new move WAR gaming shop Noc's Box and its associated charity NOCS (New Opportunities for Community & Support) has relocated to new premises in 27 Salisbury Street from its home in Nightingale Court.

The charity, which works particularly with young people facing mental health challenges, launched a crowd-funding campaign and raised over ÂŁ2,500 from more than 30 sponsors in 28 days to support its expansion to better meet the needs of its clients.

Go-ahead for fly spray TREATMENT of the river Stour to prevent the emergence of the Blandford Fly in May has once again been dependent on permission being granted for the insecticide to be used but has now been given the go ahead. Town councillors were told at their last meeting that research is now being carried out at Bournemouth University to provide supporting evidence for future treatment of the insect.

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Jasmine the donkey with staff at Blandford Grange.

April 2019

Jasmine drops in for a social visit A VERY special guest was welcomed at Blandford Grange nursing home in Milldown Road, Blandford, when Jasmine the donkey visited with her owner as one of the therapeutic activity sessions for residents, many of whom live with dementia.

Jasmine is 'retired' from working on Weymouth beach but still enjoys being around people.

During her visit to Blandford Grange she spent time in the communal areas as well as bedrooms so all residents, regardless of ability or mobility, could enjoy meeting and stroking her.

Blandford Grange prides itself on being extremely animal friendly, and the activities team often arrange visits from animals such as alpacas and dogs. They are also planning to have chickens in the grounds, and residents enjoy watching squirrels and other wildlife living in the gardens.

Home Manager Tilla Wagner said: "It was wonderful to welcome Jasmine into the home. She is such a gentle and sociable animal and our residents really enjoyed

stroking her and chatting to her owner to learn more about her.

"Animals bring a whole new atmosphere to the home and many of our residents enjoyed looking after pets for many years before they came here, so it brings back wonderful memories for them."

The care home celebrated Valentine's Day with a series of activities and events in a special 'Week of Love' which included 'Love of Music', 'Love of Letters', 'Love your Hobbies' 'Love your Family' and 'Love Your Body'.

It concluded with a 'Love Your Community' afternoon tea to which neighbours were invited to share refreshments, cakes and a singalong, and on the Sunday with 'National Random Acts of Kindness' day.

The activities were designed to promote physical, mental and emotional health and wellbeing, encourage social activity, to be fun and stimulating, and build better relationships and partnerships among residents, carers and the wider community.

Borrowers in town A COMMUNITY theatre arts project is being planned for the summer holidays which will culminate in a production of The Borrowers, a dramatisation based on Mary Norton's series of books, over the Bank Holiday Weekend of August 23-25.

Town councillors have agreed to allow free use of the Corn Exchange for some of the preparations for the project, organised by Kissing My Elbow Productions and led by local actress Deborah Seeley with the support of Forum Drama, the Dorset Rural Music School, Blandford Library, Blandford Parish Church and arts groups including Activate, the arts development agency, which brought The Bell to Blandford at the start of the 14-18 WWI commemorations.

Sponsorship is being sought from local and national businesses for a series of events to include art and puppet workshops, a creative competition for primary school children, a summer school and a 'Blandford Little People Trail' at venues in the town.

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April 2019

Fostering brings benefits all round A SHILLINGSTONE couple who, since August last year, have hosted a teenage girl for one weekend a month say they are glad to have started fostering.

Claire and John Walker have lived in the village for 17 years and have brought up their daughters Abbie and Izzy there.

They started hosting the teenager to give her full-time foster carer a break and were on stand-by in case a child needed an emergency placement over Christmas.

Claire, 46, who works in local government planning, said: "We had to make sure this didn't have a negative impact on our children's lives and find a way to contribute that was positive for all our family.

"I love being a mum. It's just lovely to see children grow up. I love babies, but I also love seeing what the girls have become they are young ladies now and have their own opinions. My girls are now 16 and 19 and that means they can be mentors for

the girl we foster.

"She enjoys having time away and the foster carer gets time to pursue her hobbies and go away herself. I can see us supporting her throughout her teens. It means there is another pair of adults who are interested in her she gets that extra support."

John, 50, is an account director for an insurance management company. He said: "She fits in really well with our family. It's changed our lives less than we thought it might, has not been a huge disruption and we are enjoying the experience."

Many more foster carers are needed to ensure looked-after children get the best start in life.

Carers can come from any walk of life provided they are over 21 and have a spare room, and can offer anything from weekend breaks to full-time care in return for generous fees and allowances.

To find out more, go to fosterindorset.co.uk or call 01305 225568.

Chestnut tree concerns DAMAGE caused by a heavy goods vehicle driving over the roundabout in Elizabeth Road, Blandford, has raised concerns that the mature chestnut tree around which it was built may have to be felled.

Drivers of the X8 and X8A bus services, who have for many years negotiated the roundabout which has a section of hard surfacing to allow large vehicles to pass, were originally blamed but denied creating the ruts which appeared in the soft grass area.

Inconsiderate parking near the roundabout making it difficult for both buses and large delivery vehicles to get through has also been suggested as the cause.

The tree, popular in the autumn for its generous delivery of conkers, was originally one of a number on the site which pre-dated the building of the council estate in the 1950s.

Youth centre’s new hours

BLANDFORD Youth & Community Centre, next to the Leisure Centre in Milldown Road, is now open on the first and third Monday of the month between 6pm and 8.30pm to youngsters aged 11 to 21.

On the second and fourth Monday of the month at the same time it is open to the same age group of children with ASD. There are fun activities, advice and support, and the centre is fully accessible with wheelchair access, stairlift and disabled facilities. All youth workers have been DBS checked and are qualified to work with children and young adults with additional needs.

For further information contact jo.clarkebyc@gmail.com

Parking review moves on

A SPECIALIST team is now considering the issues raised in the consultation on parking in Blandford carried out last year as the first stage in an overall review.

Town councillors were told at a recent meeting that the team was impressed with the detail supplied as a result of the consultation, and further small local consultations could be carried out before they draw up proposals to the new Dorset Council.

Christine Smith of Blandford & District U3A, left, and Lin Johnson of the Bryanston Group of RDA.

U3A help for riding group FOR the last few years, Blandford & District U3A have nominated a local organisation to receive a donation from proceeds collected at open meetings and social events during the year.

Following collections during 2018, a cheque for ÂŁ342.72 was presented earlier this year to Lin Johnson, chairman of the Bryanston group of the Riding for the Disabled Association.

Lin told members at the presentation: "I cannot thank you all enough for this lovely donation which will go towards adapting standard riding equipment to ensure it's suitable for our many and varied disabled riders."

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April 2019

Illness forces Cariad Annie to step down

Guests at the launch of the Hall & Woodhouse Community Chest for the western area.

Brewers take the pledge HALL & Woodhouse have reopened their Community Chest supporting voluntary causes across the south, pledging once again to share £50,000 among local charities across its southern trading area.

The initiative is now in its 18th year, and applications are open until May 31 for voluntary groups to apply for grants of between £300 and £3,000.

The family-owned brewer, based

in Blandford St Mary, has since the Community Chest was launched in 2002 awarded more than £500,000 to 741 voluntary organisations.

Chairman Mark Woodhouse said: "It's great to support local voluntary organisations as no company can survive without the help and support of its local community.

The Community Chest is our opportunity to support those who support us.

"We are constantly impressed by what great things voluntary organisations can achieve with modest amounts of money."

More information and application forms can be downloaded at hallwoodhouse.co.uk/communitychest and emailed to communitychest@hall-woodhouse.co.uk for consideration.

All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application by the end of September and cheques will be presented to the successful organisations in October.

THE Blandford 14-18 Group, which over the last four years has commemorated the centenary of World War One, has re-formed as the Blandford Com-memoration Group to mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day in World War Two. An exhibition, D-Day 75, will be staged in the Corn Exchange, Blandford, on Friday and Saturday, June 7 and 8. Anyone with an interest in helping with research, construction or contributing is welcome to contact the group through the Town Council office in Church Lane.

ILL health has forced the founder of Blandford's popular and successful wholefood shop Cariad in the Georgian Passage to sell the business after just over two years of operation.

Annie Heritage, who opened the shop in January 2017, named after the Welsh for 'beloved' in her native language, announced on the shop's Facebook page that after much soul-searching and heartache she had made the hardest decision of her life by putting her health first and selling the business to Kris Hamilton.

She said: "Last year, I was diagnosed with serious long-term illness and despite my best efforts, the considerable stresses, long hours and physical demands of running the business have been hindering my efforts to recover.

"I wanted to make sure there is someone at the helm who can give the business the energy and attention it deserves and who will cherish Cariad as much as I have. The new owner will be Kris Hamilton, who has been doing such a fantastic job of holding the fort here since the new year.

"Kris was one of my first customers on opening day and shares my own ethos and passion. He has lots of exciting plans for taking Cariad forward and I hope that you will give him the same generous support you have given me."

She thanked everyone for supporting the shop and helping to make her dream come true. "I have loved every minute, met so many amazing people and made some lifelong friends too. It has been an incredible privilege to be here for you all."

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April 2019

Charity era ends as Carol retires THE end of an era has come to Age Concern Blandford with the retirement of its founder administrative officer and vice-chairman Carol Bunnagar, who after 20 years at its helm has decided it is time to stand down.

Tribute was paid at her final trustees' meeting by chairman Peter Slocombe, who said the trustees, volunteers and wider, older community of Blandford owed Carol gratitude for not only being its founder but also the great number of volunteer hours she had expended on their behalf.

"She has been very active in establishing Age Concern as a

well-known local charity which is highly respected in the community," said Mr Slocombe.

"Trustees, volunteers and clients have recognised her vast experience in advice and information which has always been offered in a calm and considerate manner, and countless clients have benefited."

Together with founder chairman Doug Moore and his wife Edna, Carol, a former nurse and ward sister at Wimborne Hospital, founded the Blandford branch in 1999 after initially offering information and advice in the Bastard Room above the then Age

CHILDREN'S charity Home-Start North Dorset is appealing for parent volunteers to meet the growing demand for home visit support for families with young children struggling to cope. No specialist skills or professional background are required, just the experience and natural empathy inherent in being a parent or long-term care-giver to very young children. A new HSND Preparation course will commence on April 24, including 40 hours of comprehensive preparation for one day a week over a nine-week period and is free to participants. For details call 01258 473038 or email office@home-start-northdorset.co.uk.

Carol Bunnagar is presented with a retirement bouquet by Age Concern Blandford president Elaine Shanahan with fellow trustees, from left to right John Tanner, Phil Allen, Lynn Lindsay and chairman Peter Slocombe.

Concern shop in East Street, and with a Big Lottery grant opened the offices in Nightingale Court.

When Age Concern and Help the Aged merged to become Age UK, the branch was not big enough to be part of Age UK, so has since operated as a 'friend' of Age UK Dorchester.

Carol, who has fundraised for the charity with sales in the Corn Exchange, has also been the organiser of the weekly Wednesday Pop-In and coffee

morning at the Woodhouse Gardens, which has now come to an end in the absence of anyone to take on the role.

"Her hard work and effort in organising the Pop-In has been appreciated by all over the years, and the money raised each week has been a significant contribution to Age Concern's finances," said Mr Slocombe.

Those attending the final Pop-In at the end of March also paid tribute to her hard work and efficiency.

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Readers’ letters

April 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

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.

Nordon sparks a storm of protest OBJECTORS who pleaded with NDDC to have a more sensitive plan, demolishing only the more modern buildings, retaining the original Nordon House and retaining more of the mature trees, were all ignored.

We were led to believe that it was a simple choice between retaining our heritage and natural environment and providing local families with much-needed homes. Documents released just five days before the planning committee meeting revealed that four of the seven bids for the site proposed retention of the house and provision of a similar total number of houses, including up to at least 18 affordable homes.

Undoubtedly a development scheme which retains the historic house and more mature trees would produce a lower return to NDDC. But can we really put a true financial value on the health and wellbeing of present and future generations?

Surely a lasting legacy is one which retains the cultural and environmental heritage of the town for future generations as well as providing decent housing in a decent environment.

Those of us who live in this part of Blandford know that Salisbury Road near Nordon is a busy, dirty and dangerous road. The new development will have its entrance even nearer the new council hub opposite Kings Road.

Large mature trees presently on the Nordon site provide an invaluable air-cleaning function, as well as providing an oasis for our diminishing wildlife. 26 of these trees will be lost.

D & C Williamson, Blandford THERE was a lack of consultation before the application was submitted, the financial figures were missing from paperwork even when a Freedom of Information request was submitted, and only eight of the dwellings will be truly affordable. The rest will be out of

OUR postbag has been filled this month with letters about the decision of North Dorset District Council to demolish their former headquarters at Nordon in Salisbury Road, Blandford, and build 40 affordable homes. We have room only for extracts from our correspondents. reach for those most in need of housing.

There was no consultation on how the developer contributions would be spent, total disregard of the expert from Heritage England and, in short, rather than leaving a worthwhile legacy to Blandford that hosted North Dorset District Council for so many years, this action has left a sore taste in the mouth.

John Tanner Blandford Central District Councillor THE loss of the Nordon buildings will mean Blandford loses out on the perfect opportunity to bring together local services into a hub.

One large enough to provide for the needs of the whole community that would also provide enough parking for residents who would need such a service.

Although I fully support affordable housing, just how 'affordable' will these new houses be? The impact on local infrastructure has not been fully considered. It is my sincere hope that the new Dorset Council approaches planning in a far more forward thinking and consultative way than has previously been the case.

Byron Quayle Blandford County Councillor THOSE involved in the decision-making process, including several of Blandford's district councillors, have much to answer for.

Why were the options and the planning processes not shared with the town council and the community?

Here was a golden opportunity to set up a

Community Land Trust that could have provided a desperately needed community hub and affordable housing available for rent not purchase.

There are valid objections to the council's planning processes, the demolition of the Edwardian villa built by the Woodhouse family and the removal of a large number of trees.

The Town Council's decision to ask the Secretary of State to call in the application merits the community's wholehearted support.

Nic Nicol Chair, Town Team, Blandford Forum WE are assured that government is transparent and accountable.

The Nordon Project Board met in secrecy, its remit was not published, nor any of the minutes. What proposals did it make or consider?

Those who work in secret usually have something to hide. Not transparent.

The council making this decision will not be in existence in May. None of the councillors who voted for this decision will bear any responsibility for the localised traffic congestion or a fatality arising from recreating a dangerous road junction, etc. Not accountable.

Localism was given to us by Conservative Prime Minster David Cameron and proclaimed the importance of local feelings and considerations. All of these were totally ignored.

Arrogance: English Heritage - a body with a responsibility to comment on planning - was treated with rudeness and arrogance. The principal planning officer suggested that Nordon should be demolished as it is surrounded by housing!

Every urban park is surrounded by housing some great opportunities there! In his opinion (totally unsubstantiated and without reference to any criteria) the demolition of an historic building, the removal of many mature trees, and the wholesale excavation of ground to • To Page 15

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April 2019

Letters extra • From Page 14 put in footings and drains, etc, do not constitute "substantial harm".

I am very, very glad that he is not my doctor.

With dismay Richard Foley, Tarrant Hinton THE Nordon site is within the Blandford Forum conservation area. My dictionary defines conservation as 'the protection of plants and animals, natural areas, and interesting and important structures and buildings, especially from the damaging effects of human activity'.

The plans will in no way protect plants and animals or an important building from wanton demolition. How Aster Group managed to persuade the planning committee otherwise is beyond my comprehension.

The area is a habitat for bats, hedgehogs, slow worms and numerous birds, including woodpeckers, pigeons, blackbirds, wrens, robins, thrush, crows removal of the mature trees will affect all of these.

The building is a fine example of an Edwardian home, with many original features, which it was suggested might be saved. Why was it included in the Conservation Area if, as the committee decided, there was 'not substantial' interest in it.

The main reason Nordon House was to be demolished, according to Aster Group, was that it was not possible to be incorporated into the plans. There are plenty of good examples of such conversions in Blandford - even outside of the conservation area.

Perhaps Aster Group’s architects are not as clever, and this worries me when it comes to the quality of the houses they intend to put on the site.

NDDC, soon to be defunct, look upon the plans as a legacy for the town. My dictionary defines legacy as 'something that is a part of your history or that remains from an earlier time'.

NDDC seem to have lost not only a potentially beneficial site for the town, but also their grasp of English.

Michael Field Nordon Road, Blandford

Stick with asphalt COUNCILLOR Quayle is quite right that the current slabs in the Market Place are dangerous.

Many are broken and / or loose,

such that they form a trip hazard.

The shiny nature of the surface of many of the slabs makes them treacherous in icy and rainy conditions - which begs the question as to whether they were a good choice of material in the first place.

From what I have seen the damage to the slabs is caused by HGVs, delivery and builders' vehicles driving up on to the pavements. This is compounded by poor workmanship by utility and building companies when making good the slabs after effecting repairs to sub-pavement services.

By the way, the same vehicles referenced above tend to deposit diesel spills when bumping up on to the pavements, which will be a problem with any type of slab.

Given that it is impossible to stop vehicles driving up on to the pavement and difficult to 'police' poor repair workmanship, I would question the wisdom of replacing the current slabs with more slabs - surely the problem with broken slabs would just recur in a few years' time.

To my mind the best solution would be to forget the idea of replacing the slabs and just lay asphalt. It wouldn't look very 'Georgian' but would be easier (and almost certainly cheaper) to lay down and much easier to repair both in terms of cost and reducing trip / slip hazards.

Ed Hern, Blandford

The fall-out from Ofsted IN response to the letter regarding the Ofsted report at Durweston Primary School, it is understandable that persons will be upset. However, it is unhelpful to vent your frustration in the local rag.

I am a chair of governors and I have been a governor at a primary school which obtained 'outstanding'. Durweston has had two successive inspections and judged 'requires improvement'. If one reads the Ofsted report and the minutes from the governors' meetings for the school, you realise why such a judgement was made.

Instead of self-declaring that you are 'outstanding' one should put efforts into reaching the next level and be consistent at that level.

Comment had been made about the new draft Ofsted inspection

framework; there will be judgement made on the 'impact' of teaching. Connect this with the new GCSE examinations and it is imperative that students going into year 7 hit the ground running, especially in reading and writing.

Prospective parents know a good school or a school striving to be good. I wish Durweston Primary school all the best - look beyond not within.

Derek Cuff, Blandford

Money for our schools EVERYONE knows that funding for education nationally has reached a crisis point. Locally this is no different.

The Blandford School achieved amazing results last August in the GCSE and A-level results, the best ever, and placed the school among the very best in Dorset private, academy or local authority.

Those results were obtained despite the financial background that means the school is given less money than the average secondary school in England and significantly less than Sturminster High School just a few miles away.

A week or so ago the Dorset education authority gained permission to retain an extra 1.1.% from the money handed over to schools in order to support its own budget.

This loss of income will clearly place even greater strain on our school's budget. A bingo session was recently held at the Royal British Legion Club to raise funds for the arts department, a won-

derful thing to do but surely should not be for essential supplies but for additional materials.

Talking of extras, the Chancellor's promised windfall for 'little extras' has arrived but only for capital expenditure so no use for the extremely hard-pressed day-today expenditure. Perhaps we need to examine where we are spending what money our councils have.

John Tanner, Pimperne

Planners see the light I WOULD like to apologise to our customers, friends and neighbours for the removal of the small illuminated sign which I attached to the wall outside the club in Damory Street, which was specifically designed to blend in with the Conservation Area with very subdued but flashing lights.

Unfortunately a complaint that it was in poor taste and unsightly resulted in a visit from the enforcement officer at North Dorset District Council, who gave me until March 15 to remove it.

He advised me that, were I to make application for a sign that was sympathetic to the area and appropriate to the premises with low-level discreet lighting, it might be considered acceptable.

However, since the cost of applying for advertising consent is £132 and more than the cost of the sign itself, I have yet to decide whether to follow that course of action and have in the meantime removed the sign.

Colin Young Damory Street, Blandford

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April 2019

Chaos at crossroads

Promotion for Adam THE relationship between the Blandford Detachment Dorset ACF (Army Cadet Force) was strengthened by a visit from Col Debbie Douglas, Corps Colonel Royal Signals (Reserves), and Corps Regimental Sergeant Major David Corcoran.

The three dozen cadets who meet in the ACF Hut in Kingston Close, Blandford, and are now at almost full strength, were inspected by their visitors, who chatted with them about their experience of the force and hopes for the future.

They then explained their respective roles within the Corps and presented a number of awards, before congratulating Senior Cadet Adam Ryall, who has been promoted to County RSM. Detachment Commander Kevin Luckham said: "I cannot remember the last time a Cadet wearing a Royal Signals cap badge has reached that level."

Cadet Ryall, a sixth-former at The Blandford School, who is planning to join the Royal Navy when he leaves school, was the following week being assessed for his suitability to fly helicopters.

He was presented by Corps RSM Corcoran with a pace stick purchased for him by the Corps Colonel Douglas in recognition of his promotion.

Senior Blandford ACF Cadet Adam Ryall, promoted to County RSM, is presented by Corps RSM Corcoran with the pace stick.

TEETHING problems with the diversions and road closures associated with the remodelling of the town's Badger Cross junction aggravated the difficulties over the works, which started at the beginning of March and are expected to take 12 weeks.

A failure of the lights on the evening of March 6 caused severe problems, and on March 12 a fire from an electrical manhole in Salisbury Road closed the road overnight while electricity board contractors carried out a repair.

The closure of Damory Street to entry from Park Road resulted in many drivers using Edward Street and Albert Street to divert to Damory Court Street and the Wimborne Road, and signs being hurriedly created to warn motorists to slow down because they were unsuitable for diverted traffic, with similar problems reported in Damory Court Street.

Town councillor Hugo Mieville, who lives in Albert Street, said he would continue to monitor the roads, and county councillor Byron Quayle said the work programme had been changed to try to ease the traffic build-up.

Residents in the Orkneys flats and other Salisbury Street properties found traffic queues blocking their accesses due to the absence of keep clear signs.

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April 2019

Showcase pays off for talented teenagers A TOTAL of £1,000 was distributed in prize money to the finalists in 'The Furlong Trophy' young talent competition, which has been staged over four months at The Paddocks bar in Salisbury Street, Blandford, with the support of local radio stations.

Seven young performers aged 14 to 18 competed before the judges, each playing four songs and instrumental pieces, and 18year-old Marco di Gaetano, from Ringwood, was announced as the runaway winner.

He finished ahead of closest rival Fleur Lindsay in a closely judged contest between her, Taya Minchington and Rosie Kate to decide second, third and fourth places.

Marco won £450, and there were cash prizes of £200 to £40 for each of the other finalists, who also included Russell Sharmore and Velvet Rose (Jordan Watts and Steven Speck).

All the competitors benefited from publicity and airtime on Abbey 104 and Wimborne FM, whose presenters, James Garfield and Jason Lloyd-Bevis, were in support together with Matt Black, and on Facebook where the competition has been streamed live.

The final followed a series of four heats and two semi-finals in the competition, sponsored by Ellbee Capital Services.

Stuart Laws, of Ellbee and The Paddocks, who personally sponsored the competition and presented the awards, said: "I couldn't believe how good these young people were when it came to an open mic session at The Paddocks, and wanted to do something to help them progress their musical careers.

"The ability and talent has been beyond my expectations, and we will be extending the competition over the next few months with new sponsorship, and opening it up to other age groups."

www.forumfocus.co.uk

The competitors, judges and presenters at the final of The Furlong Trophy.

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April 2019

Starfest celebrates dark sky beauty A STARFEST at Sixpenny Handley was organised by the Cranborne Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty as part of its bid for Dark Sky Reserve status.

There was a wealth of star- and space-themed activities, with family-friendly workshops and events during the day and stargazing in the evenings, which people could attend as single events or by booking several over the weekend.

Highlights included interactive virtual reality workshops on the International Space Station, being an astronaut, rockets, space travel and the night sky with Space Detectives, led by Jo Richardson, a

Travelling Planetarium Show with astronomer Bob Mizon of Wessex Astronomy, and the Commission for Dark Skies, stargazing with Wessex Astronomical Association, storytelling, face painting, astrophotography advice and demonstrations.

Numerous night sky enthusiasts have enjoyed a series of Cranborne Chase AONB stargazing evenings at which experts pointed out some of the hundreds of spectacular constellations in the pristine night skies.

To learn more about the AONB bid and sign the pledge, see chasingstars.org.uk.

Four-year-old Amelie Mortimer from Charlton Marshall at the Starfest in Sixpenny Handley.

Anna set for marathon A BLANDFORD park runner is gearing up for her first London Marathon on April 28, after nearly 12 months fundraising for MACS (Microphthalmia, Anophthalmia & Coloboma Support) supporting babies and children who have been born with underdeveloped eyes.

Anna Butler was disappointed to be initially unsuccessful in the ballot for a place in the race, but grateful to be accepted by the charity to represent them in return for her fundraising.

Motorcycles on parade Tom Whiting (4) and Iso Whiting (3) from Stalbridge meet a Stormtrooper.

THE annual run of the Dorset section of the Vintage Motor Cycle Club will be taking place on Sunday April 7, and starts at 11am outside the Corn Exchange, Blandford. The bikes will be arriving from 10am and be on display for people to view. For further details, call 01258 721356.

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April 2019

Loo money target for church choir A CHOIR based in St Nicholas Church, Winterborne Kingston, is on a mission to raise money for a much-needed church toilet.

The choir, Cantate, which meets every Tuesday, will be performing a fun, family-friendly concert on Easter Monday (April 22) at 2pm in aid of St Nicholas' Church. No tickets are required but there will be a retiring collection.

The choir's director, Sarah Pottinger, said: "We're asking people to spend a penny in both senses of the term. Never mind singing for supper, we're singing for a loo.

"The church is such an important part of our community but its use is hindered by its lack of a toilet.

Help at hand for IT users

The Cantate choir at Winterborne Kingston.

It's not only for congregations or those using the church regularly, but any visitors will be able to use it when the church is open."

Current estimates put the cost of installing a toilet at £20,000. All donations from the Easter concert - which will be collected using a chamber pot - and those

Dorset Trading Standards news PENSION cold-calling was made illegal on January 9 in a bid to tackle pension scams. Companies can no longer make unsolicited calls to people about their pensions. Those that break the rules could face enforcement action from the Information Commissioner's Office, including fines of up to £500,000.

The ban covers all cold-calling relating to pensions, including from legitimate firms, but is intended to target fraudsters.

The Government says cold-calling is one of the most common methods used by pension scammers, and research from the Money Advice Service suggested that there are as many as 250 million scam calls a year.

Victims of pension scams can be left with no money for their retirement. According to the Regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), victims of pension scams lost an average of £91,000 each last year.

Not all calls about pensions have been banned - but to be legal, BOTH of the following must apply: • The caller must be authorised by the FCA or be the trustee or manager of a pension scheme • AND you must have consented to receive calls from the organisation or have an existing relationship with the caller.

If you receive a call about your pension in any other situation, the call is illegal and may be a scam. You should record the phone number, try to get information from the caller such as the name of the company they're representing, and be careful not to give the caller any of your personal information.

You can then report it to the Information Commissioner's Office at ico.org.uk or by calling 0303 123 1113.

If you think you've been a victim of fraud, you can report it to Action Fraud, the national fraud and cybercrime reporting centre, online at actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040.

Indoor Kurling arrives BRENDONCARE opened the doors to a brand new club in Blandford when lots of fun was had by all in a game of the easyto-play indoor Kurling.

The club meets every Wednesday in Blandford Methodist Church from 10.30am to noon, and a warm welcome awaits anyone wishing to join them for fun and friendship, and the opportunity to make new friends.

Refreshments are included in the £3 weekly cost, and the first week is a free taster session. For more information call 01962 857099 or see brendoncare.org.uk.

received through their crowdfunding page 'weneedtheloofund' will go to St Nicholas Church.

The Rev Justin Pottinger, said: "Trying to raise £20,000 for a new toilet is no mean feat. It may seem like a steep sum but as we're dealing with an historic building with consecrated ground, the necessary planning issues and the works required have just kept adding to the costs."

Find out more at redpostbenefice.com/churches/winterborne-kingston/ - and donations can be made at: justigiving.com/ crowdfunding/weneedtheloo

THE Dorset branch of AbilityNet, a national registered charity that helps disabled and older people with their IT problems, is supporting people in the county with their computer and internet needs.

The charity helps with computers, tablets, smart phones and the internet, which can be hugely empowering, especially for those with limited mobility or lack of resources to get out much.

It offers a free helpline and website with advice and information.

ITCanHelp is a network of disclosure-checked volunteers who can visit people in their homes to diagnose and fix most computer-related problems, including installing and setting up hardware, software, internet and email, and changing settings to make equipment more userfriendly for the disabled.

If you live in Dorset and could benefit from the service or are interested in joining the volunteering team, call 0800 269 545 (Helpline) or email enquiries@abilitynet.org.uk or visit abilitynet.org.uk.

20

April 2019

Weather beaters

PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is given that Ginger Viking Ltd has applied to North Dorset District Council for a premises licence at 28 East Street, Blandford, Dorset DT117DR for regulated entertainment generally between the hours of 09.00 and 23.00, Monday to Saturday, and the provision of alcohol generally between the hours of 09.00 and 23.00 Monday to Saturday.

Any interested party or responsible authority may make representations in writing to: The Licensing Section, North Dorset District Council, South Walks House, South Walks Road, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 1UZ within 28 days of the date of this notice. The licensing register and details of this application may be inspected during normal office hours at the above address.

It is an offence under Section 158 of the Licensing Act 2003 to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in connection with an application and the maximum fine for which a person is liable on summary conviction for the offence is a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale (ÂŁ50,000).

Dated March 28, 2019

The winners (from left) Bob Clark, Arthur Rawson, Seniors' Captain Robin Morris and Jennifer Thompson.

A TOTAL of 34 ladies and seniors competed in the first mixed competition of the year at Ashley Wood Golf Club in conditions which were not ideal.

What is usually an 18-hole competition was reduced to a 9-hole event due to gale-force winds and horizontal rain.

In first place were Jennifer Thompson, Bob Clark and Arthur Rawson with a score of 32.5.

Celebrations for legal firm after scooping three awards BLANDFORD-based law firm Blanchards Bailey is celebrating after winning a hat-trick of titles at the prestigious Dorset Legal Awards.

The 80-strong firm claimed the coveted Law Firm of the Year (up to 99 employees) award, Company Commercial Team of the Year, and Private Client Team of the Year.

It was also named as finalists in the Family, Property and Litigation Team of the Year categories during a gala ceremony at the Bournemouth International Centre.

Last year it became the only law firm to win the same award in successive years for its Private Client work and earned a special commendation for Company Commercial Team of the Year.

Blanchards Bailey Principal and Chief Executive Alan Horne said: "We are absolutely delighted, especially to have built upon and exceeded our achievements of last year. The focus of our ethos

is very much about us as a team and the effort that everybody puts into our success. It is really gratifying to receive this recognition."

The independently run Dorset Legal Awards received 167 submissions from 17 firms before judges drew up a 40-strong shortlist.

Blanchards Bailey had nominations in every category it entered, following its recommendation in a record seven specialist categories, with 11 individual lawyers mentioned including all five partners, in the UK's leading law sector directory the Legal 500.

The Blanchards Bailey team on stage at the Dorset Legal Awards at the Bournemouth International Centre. (Picture courtesy of Dorset Legal Awards: Ash Elite, Quostar, South Coast Events & Studio Shotz Photography).

Chettle store reopens CHETTLE village store reopened on Saturday March 9 after a weeklong closure for refurbishment to include a new layout, new floor, new freezers, and removal of the old-style Post Office booth to give more space, a bigger and better vegetable selection, and more shelving on which to stock products.

The Post Office outreach service continues as usual on Mondays between 11am and 1pm, and the wine is now customer side giving shoppers a better view of the selection.

21

April 2019

News from the surgeries Whitecliff Surgery (and dispensary) and Eagle House Surgery opening hours over the Easter period

Members of Blandford Rotary present a cheque for the Food Bank to Gail del Pinto.

Support for food bank A TEAM from Blandford Rotary took part in a highly successful quiz evening at the Parish Centre to raise funds for the Mayor's two major charities, Blandford Food Bank and the Blandford Opportunity Group.

At the end of a very enjoyable and entertaining evening, the Rotarians presented a cheque for £1,500 to the Food Bank, represented by its manager Gail del Pinto.

Past President of Blandford

Rotary, Judy Adams, told the audience that the Food Bank was one of Rotary's chosen charities. "We know that the Food Bank is expanding its activities to meet an ever-increasing need for its services and we are delighted to help with this vital work."

Gail del Pinto expressed her great thanks to Blandford Rotary for their ongoing support for the charity, which last year, with the help of the community, cared for and supported 990 adults and children.

Crash victim named A PENSIONER killed in a road crash after pulling into the path of a heavy goods vehicle on the C13 at Fontmell Hill, Iwerne Minster, was identified at an inquest in Bournemouth as Sidney Ward, 70, a retired site manager from Bath.

Mr Ward was pronounced dead at the scene of the collision on February 15 between the silver Peugeot 207 he was driving and a white Mercedes lorry travelling north, whose driver was not seriously injured.

A passenger in the Peugeot, a woman in her 60s, was taken to Southampton General Hospital with serious injuries.

The inquest, which was adjourned to October 2, was told the cause of Mr Ward's death was multiple injuries.

The practices will be open for the normal hours except Easter Friday and Easter Monday, when both practices will be closed.

When closed the following options are available: • NHS 111 Open 24/7, 365 days a year, NHS 111 connects patients to a team of fully trained call advisers who are supported by experienced nurses, paramedics, and GPs. They will ask questions to assess the symptoms and give healthcare advice or direct the caller to a local NHS service. If necessary, they can also call an ambulance or direct people straight to A&E. Calls to NHS 111 are free from a landline or mobile phone • Pharmacies Pharmacies are open across the area during Easter; some are even open on Easter Sunday. Pharmacies can help with a range of things including aches, hangovers, colds, emergency contraception, and non-prescription medication.

• Minor Illness and Injury Units (Blandford / Shaftesbury / Wimborne).

Minor Illness and Injury Units can treat a range of minor illnesses and injuries such as sprains and strains, broken bones, minor burns and scalds, minor head and eye injuries, bites and stings.

• Non Urgent, Online Appointments - eConsult (accessed via the GP Practice websites). eConsult is a set of online tools for patients to check which service is right for their symptoms, to get immediate selfhelp advice, to find out what other services can help them or send an online consultation to their GP practice.

It may help manage certain conditions, without the need to attend the surgery in person. This service is completely free for NHS patients. A response to a patient eConsult will be generated within two working days.

22

The View from the Hill

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

W

HO woke this poor bumble bee up (pictured above) on February 23? It was surely too early when there is so much potential winter still ahead.

The bumblebeeconservation.org website tells us that all the old season queens, males and workers die at the end of each year, leaving only a new crop of already fertilised queens to hibernate and create a nest of young for the new season. I wonder if this was a young queen I found head down in a crocus. I fear she would have been disappointed because I doubt that much nectar was yet flowing.

Worrisome times for bees; however, farmers were happy with the spring preview. It gave us a chance to get some barley sown into amazing soil conditions for

February. We managed around 72 of the planned 114 hectares of spring barley before the weather reverted to type, and since then not a single wheel has rolled in the arable department.

Prior to sowing we had the usual early spring rush which always happens when the weather comes right. Muck, lime, digestate, biosolids and fibrophos fertiliser spreading proceeded at great pace, with several different contractors involved, then Gary was flat out with different machines to suit different soils, to get these organic fertilisers worked in.

The latest word from DEFRA is that incorporation times are soon to be shortened for these types of manures, from 24 hours to just 12. This could be a challenge, because the muckspreaders can cover the ground far quicker than we can get it cultivated.

The reason for this change is to prevent ammonia being lost to the atmosphere from the manure, which is a sensible enough desire, if we can deal with the logistical difficulty, though volatilisation of this kind is less of a problem in the cooler weather of February, than it is in autumn, when we spread in front of oilseed rape.

Another job needing to be done before we could even spread manure, was to finish the topping-off of the cover crop, so it wouldn't block up the cultivator. It seems a shame to cut off all this lovely foliage which has kept the soil healthy over winter, but we somehow have to sow a harvestable crop, and as the remains of the cover crop slowly rot down, it will supply some of the nutrient required by the next crop as it grows through the year. There will still be some available for next year's crop too, the organic content of the soil should rise a little, and we are also providing the worms with something to work on.

Here you can see Naama (born 2014) trotting along in front and leading the sheep - she is definitely the greediest.

In order to get the spring barley fields ready for sowing, we had to abandon some of the turnips, and put all the sheep into one field together.

Having not had a sheep dog on the farm for several years, we have to use every resource at our disposal to move the sheep in the right direction. This usually involves a lot of running, but can also include bribery of the small number of tame sheep who will always fall for a few pellets of grub in a rattled bucket, or some dry old toast, and be first out of the field. The rest of the flock will nearly always follow.

Calving has progressed well over the last month. We have only 12 out of 55 remaining to pop now.

One of the pre-calving jobs we

April 2019 had to do was a bit of hairdressing. We have to record the numbers of the cows as they calve, so we know which calf belongs to who, and some cows have, or had, very hairy ears, so out come the trimmers, and off comes the hair. The ear tags are now very easy to read.

Another area that gets some attention is the tail, which if left untrimmed, inevitably collects some of what comes out the back end and can make a bit of a mess of you as it swishes around, if the cow needs any help with calving.

A new type of ear tag has an electronic chip in it, and space on which we can write the name of the cow's father, so we know straight away not to put her in the same field as him if we keep her for breeding.

Two of the new crop of calves, one showing her new type of ear tag.

An interesting variant on cow husbandry in Aggra from our correspondent in India. And we worry about urban foxes!

April 2019

Historical riots inspired local writer’s new novel DORSET author Brent Shore, whose first novel, Shillingstone Station, has become something of a local bestseller, has selfpublished a historical novel, Blessèd are the Meek.

"It's a departure for me as all of my work until now has been con-

Brent Shore with a copy of his new novel, Blessèd are the Meek.

temporary fiction," said Mr Shore.

"But I wanted to tell the story of the Chartists and particularly the Plug Riots which took place in my home town of Hyde, near Manchester, in the 1840s."

Sabotaging the factory boilers was part of the workers' means of protest against not only their low pay and working conditions but also against the continued opposition of Parliament to the demands for the vote.

James Shore (the author shares a home town and a name but is no direct relation) was one of 18 men imprisoned for their parts in the riots of 1848. There is also a reference to Peterloo and an eye-witness account of the massacre at St Peter's Fields, exactly 200 years ago, related by James Shore's father.

Based on historical detail, Blessèd are the Meek is the story of a working man's life: his hopes, his frustrations and his legacy.

The book is available to buy, priced £8.99, at The Dorset Bookshop, Blandford or directly from brentshore.co.uk.

23

Vet visit’s a winner for Wilf WILF the border terrier was the first patient to be treated in the brand new consulting room at the Damory Veterinary Clinic following completion of phase one of the clinic's extension.

His lucky owner Andrea received a celebratory bottle of bubbles from vet David Harding when she brought her pet along for his annual vaccination and health check.

The clinic is on track to complete its full extension later this year and progress can be followed on its Facebook page and website.

24

April 2019

Volunteers are needed

Shroving at Durweston TUESDAY March 5 saw children from Durweston Primary School continue their tradition of shroving to celebrate the beginning of Lent.

All the children take flowers to lay on the doorsteps of local homes. They also sing the shroving song in the hope of being rewarded with something nice to eat!

Here we come a shroving!

Here we come a'shroving For a piece of pancake Or a piece of bacon Or a piece of truckle cheese Of your own making.

So blow the fire And heat the pan For here we come a shroving!

At the end of the morning, remaining flowers were laid on the grave of Valentin Rickman, a villager who set up a fund to ensure that shroving continues in Durweston, and on the grave of John Paulley, another villager who was a long-standing governor and friend of the school.

The children lay flowers on Mr Paulley's grave.

A CHILDREN'S charity providing free residential camps in Dorset for children with serious illnesses has some new daytime volunteering opportunities.

Bryanston School has hosted the Over the Wall camps, founded by Hollywood legend Paul Newman, for many years, and this year a record number of children are expected to attend camps in April, July and August. More volunteers are needed for daytime roles which allow them to return home in the evenings.

Over the Wall's camps aim to enable children with health challenges to reach beyond the perceived limitations of their illness, rediscover a new world of possibilities, build their confidence, self-esteem and social skills and above all have fun. They also focus on the families and siblings of children living with serious conditions, acknowledging the impact that their illnesses can have on family life.

To find out more or volunteer, see otw.org.uk or call 02392 477110.

Library the place for children at Easter CHILDREN'S Easter holiday events at Blandford Library include 'Eggs-cellent Easter bunting' on Tuesday April 9 (10.30 to 11.30am), 'Funny Bunny Pop-Ups’ on Thursday April 11 (2.30 to 3.30pm), 'ChirpyChirpy Chick Rotarians present the library with a new carpet for the Chicks' on children’s area.

Tuesday April 16 (10.30 to 11.30am) and 'Blue Bunny Baskets' on the Blandford Stour Rotary, they Thursday April 18 (2.30 to have been able to add some 3.30pm). much-needed resources and Advance booking is requested on equipment to the library, includ01258 452075. ing a colourful rug for the chilThere are also Easter reading, dren's area, Lego base plates for bingo, an Easter egg picture hunt their very popular Lego Club and and colouring competitions. a tea urn for making refreshThanks to a recent donation from ments during events.

Follow us on Twitter @forumfocus & online at www.forumfocus.co.uk

25

April 2019

School meals team celebrate a decade of great service A BIRTHDAY party in the school kitchen in Black Lane, Blandford, celebrated the tenth anniversary of its opening by school meals provider, Local Food Links (LFL).

Pupils from neighbouring Archbishop Wake Primary and representatives of other schools in the area were invited to the celebration in the kitchen which, over the past decade, has served up to 1.5 million freshly prepared meals to local schools.

The kitchen, which was established in the former kitchen of St Leonard's Middle School, was the second opened by the social enterprise. Kitchen manager Jayne Fry and cook Tracy Dawson have led the team from the beginning, when they served 400 meals a day to eight schools.

They now prepare and serve 850 to 11 schools, and demand in North Dorset has increased so much that a 'mini-hub' was opened in Shillingstone five years ago.

Jayne said: "It has been fantastic to have been here since the start and to have been involved in setting up a brand new kitchen. We have seen lots of changes over the years with new schools joining us along the way. One of the biggest changes was the introduction of universal infant free school meals, which almost doubled our numbers overnight.

"We have enjoyed working with our schools and the friendships and great working relationships we have made along the way.

The hard work of the whole Blandford team has been critical

to our success - without them the last 10 years would not have been possible. A huge thank you to all our schools for their continued support."

Susan Whitlock, headteacher at Downlands Primary, said: "Over ten years ago the Blandford heads were looking for a provider for hot school meals and I was part of the team that visited providers. It was apparent to all of us that Local Food Links was a clear winner from both the quality of the food and the feedback we received from the children we spoke to."

"At Downlands we have a very high take-up of universal infant free school meals, and a good proportion of Key stage 2 pupils purchasing meals too, meaning that we are often serving 180 meals a day.

"Local Food Links are consistently providing high-quality meals with a wide range of options that enable all tastes and dietary requirements to be catered for.

For some children LFL has revolutionised the way that meals are perceived and has introduced a variety of healthy food to their diet."

A beautiful birthday card covered in paper buns prepared by pupils at the Dunbury Academy was delivered by their representative.

Other long-serving supporters at the celebration were Lisa Daniels, who has been serving dinners at Downlands for ten years, and Shulay Erim, who has been managing the dinner ladies at Spetisbury Primary for the same length of time.

Shulay Erim, dinner lady manager at Spetisbury, and Lisa Daniels, dinner lady at Downlands.

Party time with cake, long service certificates, staff and customers of Local Food Links Blandford.

Cook Tracy Dawson and kitchen manager Jayne Fry prepare to cut the cake.

26

Pupils’ charity row, swim and climb A SPECIAL fundraising programme at Bryanston School saw more than 500 pupils, as well as teaching and support staff, undertake a wide range of ambitious challenges in aid of United World Schools (UWS).

Activities included rowing the width of the Atlantic on an indoor rowing machine, swimming the distance equivalent to crossing the English Channel and climbing Mount Snowdon.

It was organised by Bryanston's head boy, Cameron Robertson, and head girl, Zeynep Köksal, and will support a new school in Cambodia, which will become Bryanston's legacy school.

It will be run by UWS as part of its programme to improve the life opportunities of some of the world's poorest children through education.

Sara Furness, associate director for partnerships at the charity, speaking after the special fundraising weekend, said: "We are quite simply blown away by

the support, enthusiasm and generosity of the pupils and staff of Bryanston School."

She confirmed the extensive fundraising programme had raised in excess of £50,000.

"The passion and planning for the fundraising drive was truly inspirational. The original target was £29,000, which everyone acknowledged would be extremely challenging. To exceed this ambitious target by such a huge margin is a remarkable achievement and a credit to everyone within the Bryanston community.

"Thanks to this fantastic effort, we will now be able to build and support a school that will transform life opportunities for up to 200 children in rural Cambodia.

"The impact of this project will be felt for generations to come so, on behalf of UWS and the community that will benefit from the new school, we have to say a very big thank you to everyone involved - especially Zey, Cam and their fellow pupils.”

April 2019

Sara Furness from United World Schools, with Zeynep Köksal and Cameron Robertson, head girl and head boy at Bryanston.

A GALA charity concert in Blandford Parish Church by talented music scholars from Bryanston School, featuring popular musical and classical hits, was a great success, with an excellent attendance. More than £2,000 was raised for local charities, including Blandford Community Hospital and the Community Kitchen run by the church. It was the first in a new series of community concerts to raise funds for local charities by the young musicians.

27

April 2019

SPORTS SHORTS

Green light for bowling

Louis has lent his name to a series of walks and strolls around Blandford.

BLANDFORD Bowling Club holds its opening day at the start of the season on April 13, when the Mayor and his Escort will be attending and bowling the first bowl at 2pm.

There will also be two open days in May at the Park Road recreation ground, one for juniors on May 4 and the other for adults on May 11, between 10am and 4pm.

Potential new members and non-bowlers of all ages are invited to 'give it a go' and can just turn up wearing a pair of flat shoes. All equipment and tuition will be provided.

Many people think bowls is an old person's sport, and it is certainly ideal for mature people as it provides exercise and they can compete at their own level. But it is an excellent sport for people of all ages and the club has a strong youth section and social diary.

This is an opportunity to find out what facilities your local club provides. For further details go to blandfordbowlingclub.com.

Walking with history Tennis tips on offer A SERIES of 'Louis's Blandford Walks and Strolls' for people wishing to look around the town and countryside and learn more about the area have been launched in response to demand from visitors to the Blandford Information Centre (TIC) in West Street.

Designed for people wanting to spend an hour or two, there are four walks of between five and nine miles, and four 'strolls' of between one and three miles.

They all start and finish at the Ham car park and will be available from the TIC from April 8.

The walks have been compiled by a TIC volunteer who prefers to give the credit for researching and preparing the walks to Louis, the dog that accompanied her.

She said: "We are often asked by visitors what they can see in an hour, the best way to walk round the town, where they can see open country, and whether there are any good cycling routes.

"So we have prepared this series of walks and strolls, which are not just for visitors, but for locals as well who might want a leisurely stroll or a good yomp out into the country."

Walkers can learn in the programme notes where the redlight district was, when Blandford Grammar School was the most "eminent school for gentlemen in the West of England", where there was a prisoner-of-war camp, who had a smuggling business with Sir Walter Raleigh, and many other interesting facts about Blandford's unique Georgian town.

TIC chairman David Eidlestein said: "We are very grateful to the volunteer who drew up the series for showing such enterprise. She did this in response to numerous enquiries from the public, and I am sure the walks she has identified will bring great pleasure to visitors and locals alike."

STOURPAINE Tennis Club is looking to entice new members as it gears up for the main summer season and hosting a free 'Rusty Rackets' session on Sunday, April 7, at its courts on Stourpaine Playing Fields.

Adults and over-16s who have played some tennis in the past but may feel out of practice or would like to have a taster session are invited to join new club coach Simon Kevern and members for handy tips and guidance. They can bring their own racket or borrow one from the club for play between 2pm and 4pm. There is no need to book.

For further information email stourpainetennisclub@gmail.com.

The club, which has entered men's doubles and mixed doubles teams in the Dorset League and will have two teams in Division 1 of the Shaftesbury League starting in May, runs three weekly club sessions during the summer, and weekly coaching sessions for adults and children.

Triathletes warming up NORTH Dorset Triathlon Club are looking forward to the reopening of Ellingham lake in the first week in April for an early Wednesday morning swim.

As the nights grow lighter the Wednesday night bike ride will start again around the end of April.

Meanwhile junior training sessions on bikes, swimming and running took place on Saturdays in March in anticipation of the Mad March junior triathlon at St Michael's School, Colehill, on Sunday March 24.

The adults had a choice of the Dorset Ooser Marathon and Half Marathon or Yeovil Half Marathon on March 31, followed by the Yeovil Sportive and April 14 or the London Marathon on April 28.

28 Monday April 1: Blandford Floral Group meets United Reformed Church Hall, Whitecliff Mill Street, 2pm with Carole Stables - Wedding Wonders Panda Pre-school bingo, Blandford Royal British Legion, Church Lane, 7.30pm Wednesday April 3: Is It Wheely Wednesday - cycle ride for the less confident, from Shillingstone Station, details 01258 860157 Blandford Bereavement Group meets Blandford Parish Centre, 11am to 12.30pm, details 01258 453425 Lenten Lunch, St John the Baptist Church, Spetisbury, 12 to 2pm, (and April 10 and 17): soup and a roll for £4 Blandford St Mary Parish Council meeting, Brewery Hall, Hall & Woodhouse, 7pm Thursday April 4 (and every Thursday): Square dancing, Spetisbury village hall, 4 to 6pm Friday April 5: Wessex Acoustic Folk, Blandford Royal British Legion Club, Church Lane, 8pm, Reg Meuross Saturday April 6: Comedy Exchange, Corn Exchange, Blandford, 7.30pm, see b-c-p.co.uk Bournemouth Male Voice Choir, 7.30pm at Milton Abbey Church, adults £12, under-18 £6. Tickets available from miltonabbey.org/ musical-performance-events/ or on the door Sunday April 7: The Art Room - Informal art session for beginners, 11am to 1pm The Kings Arms, Blandford, full details blandfordartsociety.weebly.com Annual run of the Dorset Section of the Vintage Motor Cycle Club starts 11am outside the Corn Exchange, Blandford, bikes arriving from 10am, details 01258 721356 Round Robin Ramblers meet 2pm near the Martyrs Inn, Tolpuddle for 4.5-mile walk around Tolpuddle, details 01258 880044 Rusty Rackets taster session with Stourpaine Tennis Club, 2 to 4pm, Stourpaine Playing Fields, stourpainetennisclub@gmail.com Monday April 8: Child Okeford Centre for Care and Learning talk

by Jennie Spiers - ‘Dorset Artists’, The Ark's room, St Nicholas School, Child Okeford, 7.30pm, tickets 01258 860767 Monday to Thursday April 9 to 18: Easter fun at Blandford Library Wednesday April 10: Play Reading, 'A Flea in her Ear', Woodhouse Gardens Pavilion, 7pm, details 07596 959703 Sturminster Newton Floral Group meets The Exchange, Sturminster Newton, 7.30pm, workshop ‘Innovations’ with Elizabeth Pelley Dorset Moviola presents ‘King of Thieves’, Fontmell Magna village

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.

The Spetisbury Occasional Dramatic Society pantomime, Aladdin, directed

by Mark Cheesley, played to four capacity audiences. From profits raised 'SODS' were able to donate £500 to Mosaic, a local charity that supports bereaved children. The junior cast donned their costumes one more time to present the cheque to Margaret Hannibal, CEO of Mosaic. Back: Margaret Hannibal, Freya Tansey (Princess Balroubadour), Jorja Baxter (Moonflower), Elsie Ray, Sarah Houghton (producer), Front: Lucy Butler, Penny Fry, Rohan Doe, Freddie Fry. hall, 7 for 7.30pm.

Thursday April 11: Forum Cancer Support Group, Woodhouse Garden Pavilion 2 to 4pm (every 2nd Thursday of the month), details 07561 114644 Thursday & Friday April 11 and 12: Community Kitchen, Blandford Parish Centre, from 12 noon Friday April 12: Blandford WI meet, The Parish Centre, The Tabernacle, 7 to 9pm, Annual Meeting, details blandfordeveningwi.com or on Facebook Saturday April 13: Blandford & District Lions Easter Craft Fayre, Corn Exchange 9.30am to 2.30pm, for tables available to hire, details 01202 624089 Annual Fun Dog Show, East Farm, Tarrant Monkton Messy Easter free family fun afternoon, Winterborne Stickland sports club, DT11 0NT, 2 to 4pm - Easter card making, biscuit decorating, egg hunt, prize for best Easter hat Bournemouth Sinfonietta Choir 7.30pm at Milton Abbey Church, adults £14, under 18 £2. Tickets available from miltonabbey.org/ musical-performance-events/ or on the door.

Sunday April 14: Dorset Ramblers meet at 10am car park near Marsh Bridge on A357 outside Shillingstone for 6mile walk in Hammoon/Child Okeford area, optional lunch at The Saxon Inn,details dorsetramblers.co.uk 'A Worldwide Tour through Sustainable Forestry': illustrated

talk by Edward Parker, hosted by Sustainable Dorset, Upper Mill Room, Springhead, Fontmell Magna, from 4pm. Members of Sustainable Dorset or Springhead £2, non-members £4, including hot drinks and biscuits, details 01258 818223 Monday April 15: Teddy20's Great Quiz Challenge, The White Horse Inn, Stourpaine, team of up to 6, £2 entry, advance booking advised, info@teddy20.org Annual Town Assembly, Blandford Corn Exchange, 6.30pm Just Sing! - first of weekly sessions of new contemporary choir, Blandford St Mary Primary School, 7.30pm, details 07738 907782 or justsingadultchoir@ gmail.com Tuesday April 16: Child Okeford Flower Arranging Club, 'Do you see what I see?', demonstration by Anna Steven, Child Okeford village hall, 2.15pm, details: 01258 863775 Blandford Men's Shed AGM, Blandford School, 4.30pm, details blandfordmensshed@gmail.com Wednesday April 17: Valley Gardening Club meets Pamela Hambro Hall, Winterborne Stickland, 7.30pm for talk, Not Just Gertrude Jekyll (Christine Stones), raffle & refreshments, non-members £3, valleygardening@gmail.com Illustrated talk by Bryan Edwards, Dorset Environmental Records Centre, preceded by AGM of the Dorset Wildlife Trust North Dorset branch, Fontmell Magna village

April 2019 hall, 7.30pm Thursday April 18: Blandford Art Society talk by John Britton - There's More to Art than Paints, 2pm, Pimperne village hall, non-members £4, details blandfordartsociety.weebly.com Blandford Museum Archaeology Group meets at the Museum for talk by Lilian Ladle with Druce Villa update. Details 01258 452831 Good Friday April 19: Good Friday Meditation 'Were You There': with rarely performed Stabat Mater (1750) by Girolamo Abos with the Bridge Benefice Choir and Stour String Trio, St Mary's Church, Sturminster Marshall, 3pm Easter Saturday April 20: Sero's Easter Egg tombola & cake stall, outside Holebrooks butchers, Sturminster Newton Market Place, 9.30am to noon Cats Protection coffee morning & stalls, Woodhouse Gardens Pavilion, Blandford, 10am to 12.30pm St George's Day Mummers Play, Child Okeford, 12 noon Sunday April 21: Easter Sunday Monday April 22: Easter Bank Holiday - Duck Racing, Tarrant Rushton House, Tarrant Rushton, from 11am, first race 12 noon, proceeds to Spetisbury School, Tarrant Keyneston Play Park and Naomi House Cantate 'We Need a Loo' concert, St Nicholas Church, Winterborne Kingston, 2pm Thursday April 25: Blandford Horticultural Society meets United Reformed Church Hall, speaker from Castle Gardens, Gardening for Wildlife, 7.30pm, details 01258 452380 Friday April 26: Film Night, 'Bohemian Rhapsody' (12A), Child Okeford Village Hall, 7.30pm, bookings 01258 860518 Wessex Acoustic Folk, Blandford Royal British Legion Club, Church Lane, 8pm, PJ Wright & Guy Fletcher Saturday April 27: Blandford Rotary 'Know Your Blood Pressure' Day, Corn Exchange, Blandford, 9.30am to 12 noon Bring and Buy Coffee Morning at All Saints Church, Tarrant Keyneston from 10.30am Dorchester Choral Society (joined by two international choirs from Germany and France) Milton Abbey Church, 7pm, adults £10, under 18 £5. Tickets available from miltonabbey.org/musical-performance-events/ or on the door Sunday April 28: Martin Brown, Illustrator of the Horrible Histories books and Author and Illustrator of Lesser Spotted Animals, Corn Exchange, Blandford, 2pm, refreshments available and books for sale, tickets £1 from the Town Clerk’s Office, Church Lane, Blandford