May 2019 Forum Focus

Forum Focus The free monthly news magazine for the Blandford area

May 2019 Issue No. 86 Est: 2012

Date agreed for the merger of town surgeries A DATE has been agreed for the merger of Blandford's two surgeries, which are now working together with a view to combining on October 1 this year.

The practice managers' report for both surgeries welcomed the decision of Dorset CCG that, due to its rurality, the Blandford group practice will form its own Primary Care Network (PCN) from July this year, and will be GP-led, putting the new practice firmly in the driving seat.

The PCNs are based on GP registered lists, typically serving around 30,000 to 50,000 patients, with a range of staff, including GPs, pharmacists, district nurses, community geriatricians, dementia workers and health practitioners, as well as social care and the voluntary sector representatives.

"Both practices are extremely excited by this development which acknowledges that the GP is the best placed person to design and develop services to meet the needs of the local population," say the practice managers.

"We also think that this will further enhance our ability to recruit the very best health professionals into our teams."

Blandford's patient population is 25,000, but will grow with planned housing development, and the need for funding to support the growing population is now being

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flagged up in relation to new housing applications.

Clarity is being sought from NHS England as to whether the recently announced £4.2 million for premises development can be used for other purposes, since the initial funding request and development plan was written two-and-a-half years ago and no longer reflects the current position and changing plans for the delivery of health care locally.

Blandford now has nearly 20 Health Champion groups, of which details can be found on Facebook or from Sara Stringer at Whitecliff (01258 452501).

But missed appointments continue to be a problem, accounting for three per cent (868) of the 25,416 appointments from December to February.

The Patient Participation Groups (PPGs) are also working together, with information shared to the 'Virtual PPGs' by email.

A PPG networking event will be held on Thursday May 9 at Blandford St Mary Primary School in Birch Avenue between 6 and 8pm. Guest speaker Dr Simone Yule will talk about how Dorset GPs are working more closely together, and LiveWell Dorset is working to help people lead healthier lives.

For details call 07980 751520 or 07766 924612 or email communications@dorsetccg.nhs.uk.

Sally Sheldrake, Lydia Bethall and Emily Roberts, of Blandford Carnival Committee, with donations for the Red Box of feminine hygiene products, which have been delivered to The Blandford School. Full story: Page 15.

Charity begins at home THOUSANDS of pounds have been raised for local and national causes over the last few weeks and more will be generated at a number of events this month.

"We have found so much generosity out there," said Anna Butler, who, with friends, organised a series of events to raise nearly £2,000 in support of a children's charity in return for a place in the London Marathon (see Page 3).

No doubt there are others taking part in the run on April 28 who have raised funds to support one cause or another - if you did, please let us know!

The family of a Blandford woman who took part in a fundraising event in a hired wheelchair raised £2,600 for the Stroke Association (Page 4), and another local runner raised £700 for a young local boy with complex medical issues (Page 15).

Hundreds of pounds were raised to support the opening of new larger premises for a Blandford charity (Page 24), and hundreds more by a group of weight watchers for the Little Princess Trust providing wigs for • To Page 2

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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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Festival fans spoilt for choice in May IT'S the merry, merry month of May, and the start of the festival season, kicking off this Bank Holiday weekend with Teddy Rocks at Charisworth Farm, Thornicombe, on Friday to Sunday, May 3 to 5, with a fantastic line-up of bands supporting local children's cancer charity Teddy 20.

Thousands are expected to attend to hear headliners The Zutons and The Darkness and more than 80 other bands over the three days at the festival.

Last year it raised over £83,000 and since 2011, when it started, has raised over £167,000. For up-to-date news see Facebook Teddy Rocks Festival.

At the end of the month, over the late Spring Bank Holiday, there are two to choose from - the Cursus Festival at Sixpenny Handley, and the Arch Revival Festival at Sturminster Marshall.

The three-day Cursus Cider and Music Festival at Canada Farm from May 24 to 26 is in its fifth

year and is a small 500 capacity event. Ferocious Dog headline on the Saturday and other highlights include the young folk singer Will Varley, Dublin festival favourites The Eskies, together with the cream of the local music scene and Wimborne DJ and compere Dapper Dan. Festival organiser Kevin Davis said: "Over the last five years Cursus has built a reputation as a down-to-earth, fun and welcoming small festival." Find out more at cursusfestival.com.

The Arch Revival Festival at the Eight Arch Bridge between Sturminster Marshall and Shapwick at the edge of the river Stour from Saturday to Monday May 25 to 27 is aimed at family camping fun. There are three days of live music and activities, with local cider and ale tents, cocktails and prosecco, local food producers, clothing, poetry, yoga, drum circles and the opportunity for swimming. See Arch Revival at arkadiaevents.co.uk.

Charity begins at home • From Page 1 children with cancer (Page 22). Add to that more than £1,000 raised for Teddy 20 by the Comedy Exchange (Page 18), the thousands more which will be raised this weekend by Teddy Rocks, the hundreds of items and pounds donated every week to the Blandford Food Bank, and events supporting that and the other Mayor's charity this year, the Blandford Opportunity Group.

Then there are thousands of pounds being invested in local projects thanks to the work of volunteers seeking funding from other sources, and the hundreds of hours given every month by volunteers to local groups supporting the community - there's no doubt that charity really does begin at home.

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Teamwork pays off for Anna and her fundraising friends FUNDRAISING for a charity to take part in the London Marathon on April 28 earned Anna Butler, of Kings Road, Blandford, the title of March Fundraiser of the Month from MACS, the UK's national charity for children born without eyes or with underdeveloped eyes.

After she went into training with friends Jo Hicks and Karen Renwick to take part in the event before she turned 40, they decided to join forces and form a fundraising team.

in different rooms, with popcorn and drinks supplied by Morrisons, to raise £375.

"We had to use the hall for The Greatest Showman, as it was so popular," said Anna.

Next came Krispy Kreme donut Friday on the day they broke up for half-term, when 22 boxes (264 donuts) provided by a company supporting charity events were sold out within five minutes, making £142. When they did it again three weeks later they took preorders for the maximum 50 boxes allowed from Krispy Kreme, but begged them for another 20 and sold them all to make £350.

First she set up and promoted a Virgin Money Giving fundraising page, and her sister They held a Nathalie quiz night at Byrnes Nelsons for pledged to which all but have her one table very long was booked locks cut off Anna Butler, Jo Hicks and Karen Renwick who before the if she raised have raised over £2,700 for a children's charity night, and £300 by a as part of Anna's London Marathon bid. some amazcertain date, ing raffle which took prizes helped raise over £350. her to her target very quickly, and And on April 5, Fit Friday at resulted in a very short-haired Archbishop Wake saw children Nathalie. and parents run a combined total Karen's two sons Luke and of over 800 miles, the equivalent James set themselves a target of of over 31 marathons, on their cycling 131 miles (five marathons) new daily mile track. and raised over £225, and the Anna, who was saving a dodgy three women, who until recently knee for London three weeks all worked at Archbishop Wake later, ran 23 miles, and Karen Primary School, organised a managed a whole marathon, and movie night for the children, the children came up in their showing four films simultaneously classes to do as many laps as they could in half-an-hour.

Anna said: "We have really enjoyed all the various fundraising events we have organised. If I could give advice to future fundraisers, I would say do your research, keep it simple, and involve local businesses and people if possible. We have found so much generosity out there. And don't forget the doughnuts everyone loves a doughnut!"

She said she couldn't have done it without sister Nathalie, who accompanied her on all training runs with dog Maggie.

Karen and Anna at Archbishop Wake's FitFriday.

Anna's fundraising site is https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ AnnaButler11/1.

Fundraising stars Anna (left) and Karen.

Nathalie before and after.

Karen’s sons Luke, left, and James cycled 131 miles to raise sponsorship money.

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Wheelchair solves Helen’s run challenge A BLANDFORD mum was able to take part in a fundraising event for the Stroke Association thanks to the assistance of local charity the Disability Action Group (North Dorset).

Helen Haines particularly wanted to take part in the Resolution Run at Lydiard Park, Swindon, on April 7 along with other family members after her previously fit and healthy father, John Croft from Wiltshire, suffered a devastating bleed stroke in August last year.

But Helen has suffered with Multiple Sclerosis for 13 years, and her balance and mobility have been affected. So walking 5km - never mind the other options of a 10km or 15km walk or run - was going

to be a massive challenge for her.

She contacted the Disability Action Group in Nightingale Court and was reassured to find that for a very low cost she was able to hire a wheelchair which enabled her, with help from others, to take part in the event, which was so important to her family.

Along with her two daughters, Rowan (15) and Esme (9), her sisters Rachel Mills and Anna Brett, their children Ella Mill (8) and Harriet Brett (6) and John's supportive wife, Rosemary Croft, the eight ladies took part in the event, raising over £2,600 for the Stroke Association, who have supported John and Rosemary in their ongoing journey to recovery.

John Croft with his daughters, sonin-law and grandchildren at the Resolution Run.

Driver injured as car rolls A VERWOOD man in his 20s was taken to hospital for treatment to cuts to his face after the blue Seat Ibiza he was driving rolled and landed on its roof on the A354 Salisbury Road at Pimperne in the early morning of March 29.

The road was closed between Thickthorn Cross and Salisbury Road roundabout at Blandford while emergency services dealt with the incident and the local authority dealt with oil spillage on the road.

Above left: Bernard Jones, of Fiddleford, with the 1938 HRD bike owned by the Vincent Owners Club. Above right: Erin Young, aged 7, and her brother Brandyn, aged 3, on the 1946 Royal Enfield owned by their grandad Tony Samways of Blandford.

Bikers’ annual visit AROUND 30 bikers - and a large number of family members and spectators - turned out for the annual rally of the Dorset section of the Vintage Motor Cycle Club.

Members gathered with their bikes in front of Blandford Corn Exchange before embarking on a route around rural Dorset to the Fox at Ansty for lunch.

Among them was Bernard Jones, of Fiddleford, organiser of the Dorset section of the Vincent Owners Club, which this year won the draw at the national club's dinner dance allowing them to use the club's 1938 HRD (Howard Raymond Davis) bike for 12 months.

For information on the club, call Peter Miller on 01258 454986.

Resurrection Rock!

BLANDFORD Evangelical Church celebrated the Easter story in the style of medieval troubadours at their venue in Albert Street, Blandford, when they performed 'Resurrection Rock' using actors, singers, instrumentalists and dancers from their congregation.

With performers ranging in age from seven to over 70, the dance, drama and visuals were connected by a set of six rock 'n' roll songs written by Sheila Wilson, together with a rich mix of styles.

Pastor Emma Carmichael said: "We had a few professionals to guide us along the way, but our energy and enthusiasm carried us along to tell the story of the death and resurrection of Jesus in an attractive and accessible way."

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Members of the Travers and Way family on the Easter egg hunt.

Eggs sunny side up AN Easter egg hunt in the Woodhouse Gardens was an 'eggs-traordinary' success, with hundreds of children and parents turning out in the sunshine to follow a trail of clues around the garden to win eggs.

The event was organised and hosted by Blandford Town Council, with eggs generously supplied by the Blandford's House of Sarunds chocolate outlet in Shaftesbury Lane, which was represented by Jackie Martin.

The clues led to features in the garden - the fountain, a plant pot, the flowers, the sculptured Jubilee tree, the Charter 400 mosaic (and the lawn-mower!) - which if named correctly earned the entrant a chocolate chicken. Other refreshments were served by members of Blandford Scouts, who are one of this year's Mayoral Charities.

Nordon: ‘a sad end’ THE demolition of Nordon for redevelopment prompted an article in the hallowed pages of Private Eye in March, saying that one of the last acts of the soon-to be-defunct North Dorset District Council was to be the destruction of the Edwardian villa built as the home of the local brewing dynasty the Woodhouse family in which it has long been housed.

It concludes that it will mark a sad end to North Dorset District Council's stewardship of the building, and of Blandford itself.

Meanwhile an application to Historic England for fast track listing of the building has been turned down on the grounds that it is not of national importance.

A response is awaited to letters to the Secretary of State for Housing and Local Government James Brokenshire from the Mayor Roger Carter and from retired local architect John Turnbull, seeking the Minister's intervention to stay the demolition in view of the local feeling, the objections of statutory consultees, and alleged breaches of the councillors Code of Conduct and Localism Act.

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ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

Cutting-edge kitchens and bathrooms on show K

INGSHOTTS of Wessex are proud to announce the opening of their new Kitchen and Bathroom showroom in Blandford at Glenmore Business Park featuring some of the leading names in both kitchen and bathroom designs.

The new premises showcase products as they are meant to be seen. One of their displays is a fully functional working kitchen offering the chance to experience and try some of the new technologies first hand - sous vide, steambake oven, intelligent hob and boiling water straight from the tap.

Kingshotts offer a free kitchen and bathroom planning, design and estimate service. Their experienced team of designers offer advice and can work alongside you to create your dream kitchen or bathroom using state-of-the-art computer technology.

Kingshotts are completely independent and are therefore able to use their wide experience to know exactly which tried and trusted products will best suit each individual customer.

The Kingshotts team consists of Director Allan Kingshott, who is a skilled period joiner with over 25 years' experience and has a plethora of knowledge around not only installing kitchens and bathrooms but also in designing and making various bespoke items for kitchens, bathrooms and other customer projects.

Supporting Allan are highly skilled sub-contractors who work almost exclusively for them, including fitters who have been with them for over 10 years. This enables them to deliver a very high level of personal service from inception through to completion.

The Kingshotts team look forward to welcoming you very soon at their showroom.

THE group of Year 6 pupils from Spetisbury Primary School who organised a litterpick in Blandford have thanked all those who came to help them, and particularly CleanUp Blandford, who lent them equipment to make the event possible.

"In the end we had over 50 people who collected over 30 bags of rubbish and recycling. We were really pleased that so many people came. Although the conditions were pretty horrible, we are all very glad that we did it, and hope to do it again, and to join the next CleanUp Blandford litterpick on May 11," said Nell Opalka, who initiated the project with friends Maisy, Romilly and Ruby.

Circus proves a hit EXTRAORDINARY physical circus was brought to the Corn Exchange and The Blandford School by Artsreach when Compania D'Click from north-east Spain performed their show 'Isla' and led a workshop at the school with 14 Year 10 students.

Students at the school the following day learnt balancing techniques, and head of performing and creative arts Lucy Bowerman-Ellis said: "Those who took part really enjoyed themselves and I thought the company were great with them, especially considering the language barrier.

It really is good to be able to offer

the students these experiences."

Artsreach will be back at the Corn Exchange at 2.30pm on Friday July 26 with Squashbox Theatre's 'Curious Creatures' - a show for children age 5+ and their families, using puppets, comedy, slapstick and live music. For details see artsreach.co.uk or phone 01258 480698.

This month's local Artsreach offering is by virtuoso Senegalese kora player, songwriter, drummer and percussionist Modou Ndiaye and his band at the Portman Hall, Shillingstone on Saturday May 11 at 7.30; details 07870 972089.

Literary festival plans PLANS are being progressed for Blandford's Literary Festival in November following a meeting of the promoters with local authors and visitors to discuss what the festival might include to celebrate existing and emerging talent, encourage creativity, celebrate the town and involve local businesses.

Ideas were put forward for talks by authors with workshops and school visits, storytelling, a literary quiz night, poetry readings, a short story competition, creative and theatrical writing. A further meeting will be held on Friday May 10 at The Cedar Tree in the Anchor Gateway off Salisbury Street, Blandford, at 6pm.

There will also be a Blandford Literary Festival presentation and fundraising event, Prose, Prosecco and Potions, at Marcia's Market, Clapcotts Farm, Spetisbury, on May 18, starting at 3.45pm.

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Battle lines drawn for seats on Dorset’s new unitary council WHEREVER you live in the DT11 area, you will after Thursday May 2 have a new county councillor.

In the last county elections in 2017, three wards covered the DT11 area. This time there are five, following the formation of the new unitary Dorset Council.

The retirement of two long-serving councillors, Hilary Cox in the former Winterborne ward and Deborah Croney in the former Hambledon ward, both of whom served also for many years as district councillors - leaves the way open to their successors.

In Blandford, now including Badbury Heights which was transferred to Hambledon for the election two years ago, there will be two councillors instead of only one.

The rest of the Hambledon ward has been split between the new wards of Beacon (including Iwerne Minster and villages west

of the A350), Hill Forts & Upper Tarrants (including Bryanston and Pimperne) and Cranborne Chase, the latter including parts of what was East Dorset.

The old Winterborne ward has been split between the new Winterborne North, including Blandford St Mary, Bryanston, Charlton Marshall and Spetisbury, and Puddletown & Lower Winterbornes, the latter including parts of what was West Dorset.

A total of 26 candidates are fighting for the six seats in DT11: six for the two seats in Blandford; seven, including three Independents, for the single Winterborne North seat covering

Blandford St Mary, Charlton Marshall and Spetisbury; and 13 for the other three seats covering the surrounding area.

Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm. All the votes will be verified and counted at Redlands Leisure Centre in Weymouth and the result, which will be posted on the Forum Focus website forumfocus.co.uk, is expected to be declared on

Friday, May 3.

The town and parish votes will not be counted until Saturday May 4, and because of the Bank Holiday on Monday May 6, the results will not be announced until Tuesday May 7.

• In the event of a European election on May 23, Dorset's existing representatives are William the Earl of Dartmouth (Independent, of Devon), Dr Julia Reid (Independent, of Chippenham) Clare Moody (Labour, of Weymouth), Ashley Fox (Conservative, of Bristol), Julie Girling (Conservative of Hucclecote, Gloucestershire) and Molly Scott Cato (Green, of Bristol).

The candidates The candidates contesting the local seats on the new Dorset Unitary Council are as follows: Beacon

Jane Somper (Con): A district councillor for the former Abbey ward since 2011 who has served as chairman of its overview & scrutiny committee and a member of the planning committee, as well as on the Stour Valley and Poole Partnership Joint Scrutiny Panel. A mother of three, she works in the farm shop at Gold Hill Organic in Child Okeford, and lives in Sturminster Newton where she has also served on the town council.

Samuel Charles Skey (Lab)

grew up in and around North Dorset before taking roles with Oxfordshire County Council and the NHS in Worthing following university. He moved back to the Shaftesbury area in 2010 to live with his partner, an NHS community nurse, and two children, and has supported and organised events in Shaftesbury, volunteering for Shaftesbury Arts Centre and Sturminster Exchange, and campaigning for an off-road cycle route between Gillingham and Shaftesbury.

Alexandra Gale (Lib Dem) has lived in the area all her life and wants the new council to listen and believe in Localism, ensuring fairness for residents and particularly the area's young people on local issues and plans. She wants to work for better integration of affordable public transport, and to fight for a presumption against significant housing development • To Page 10

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Town and parish councils elections FOR Blandford Town Council, candidates for three of the five wards have been elected unopposed.

In Blandford Old Town ward, Peter Clark of Rivers Mews and John Stayt of Damory Street are joined by Noc Lacey-Clarke of Dorset Street, formerly member for Hill Top ward, following the retirement of Jackie Stayt.

In Badbury Heights ward, Lee Hitchings of Church Road, Pimperne, is re-elected, and in Blandford Hill Top, Haydn White of Salisbury Road, Blandford, is joined by Alan Cross of Manor Farm Close, Pimperne.

There is a contest In Blandford Central, where there are seven candidates for six seats: former town councillor Rosemary Holmes of Liddington Crescent is standing, along with Roger Carter of Greenhill, Steve Hitchings of Kings Road, Lynn Lindsay of Barnes Close, Pat Osborne of Sharp Close, Dianne Robinson of Cadley Close and Byron Quayle of Alexandra Street.

There will also be an election in Blandford Langton St Leonards. There are five candidates for four seats, with two newcomers, Cathy Jacques of Diamond Way and Doro Russell of Salisbury Street, campaigning against Harold Galpin of Durweston, Hugo Mieville of Albert Street and Colin Stevens of Andrew Close.

In the parishes, there are three contested elections: in Iwerne Minster and Pimperne,

where there are eight candidates for the seven seats available, and in Okeford Fitzpaine, where ten candidates are fighting for seven seats, as follows: In Iwerne Minster, Arthur Evans of Oakwood Drive and Jonathan Mark Maguire of Dorset are standing, in addition to those seeking re-election: John Goodliffe of Church Hill, Mike Jones of The Paddocks, Paul Le Provost of Tower Hill, Kerry O'Connor of Home Farm, Brian O'Luanaigh of Blandford Road and Susan Trim of Beechdown.

In Pimperne, Antony Argles of Down Road; Tim Harman of St Peters Close; Martin Richley of Dorset, Peter Slocombe of Portman Road and John Tanner of Church Road are seeking re-election, and the other candidates are Hugh Sutton of The Old Rectory, Bob Adams of Letton Park and John Ernest Beckford of Marsh Way. And in Okeford Fitzpaine three councillors have stood down, and Rob Corben of Castle Avenue; Stephen Corben of Castle Avenue, Dilys Gartside of Back Lane and Rachael Rowe of Castle Lane are seeking re-election.

Seeking to join them are Ian Berry of High Bench, Derek Day of Castle Lane, Sue Le Riche of Old Dairy, and Fred Light, John Tulley Henderson Orriss, and Neil Plummer

who have given their addresses as in Dorset.

Only eight parishes are fully represented - Farnham, Ibberton, Stourpaine, Tarrant Hinton, Tarrant Rawston, Winterborne Kingston, Winterborne Whitechurch and Winterborne Zelston.

A shortage of nominations means that another 19 parishes will need possible co-options to fill a total of 40 vacancies, and in one, Chettle, a further election has been called since there were no nominations at all.

Milton Abbas is four short of its full complement of nine, and Iwerne Courtney four short of seven.

Charlton Marshall and Milborne St Andrew are three short of seven, Shillingstone and Winterborne Stickland three short of nine, Bryanston and Durweston two short of seven, and Child Okeford, Spetisbury, Tarrant Gunville, Tarrant Keyneston, Tarrant Launceston, Tarrant Monkton and Tarrant Rushton and Winterborne Houghton all have one vacancy. Tarrant Crawford, part of the South Tarrant Valley group with Tarrant Keyneston and Tarrant Rushton, and Iwerne Steepleton, part of a group with Iwerne Courtney (Shroton) have no representatives.

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Dorset Unitary Council election candidates • From Page 8 where it does not meet local need, together with job creation in towns and villages.

Centre, he has recently trained to become a Health Walk Leader.

Blandford

Pat Osborne (Lab) is a member of Blandford Forum Town Council, Chair of North Dorset Labour Party, and a former Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for North Dorset. As a working father with two young children, he cares deeply about securing a sustainable future for the community, local economy, and environment. A former youth worker and Youth Centre Management Committee Chair, and the current Town Council representative to Blandford Youth

Doro Russell (Lab) is a teacher, serves as a National Education Union representative, and is a former Labour Party campaign co-ordinator. She is a member of the Stour Valley Canoe Club and a regular participant at Parkrun.

She is also a committed campaigner for social justice who has volunteered in the Verne Immigration Detention Centre and campaigned for an end to indefinite detention. She has also worked closely with organisations supporting homeless people in the UK and those forced to flee their homes because of war.

Byron Quayle (Con), (above) with a background of military service, and Noc Lacey Clarke (Con), (below) a local shop

owner and charity trustee, have served respectively as the town's county and Old Town ward district councillors since 2017, as well as on Blandford town council. They are campaigning together with the key aim of putting the needs of Blandford residents first, and securing its future with a clean and safe environment for families with better services for the young and for older residents.

Their priorities include ensuring the council is efficiently run to improve services and keep taxes down, continuing to fight for more funding to improve the roads, provide better infrastructure to support the local economy, support for care homes and the care service, and properly supporting schools. They say: "We are both fortunate to be able to set our family foundations here in Blandford, and want it to be the best place to live. Its future is important as it is our families' future, and we want to continue to fight for Blandford in the new Dorset Council."

John Tanner (LibDem), born and brought up in Blandford, has been

a district councillor for the town for 24 years. He is a trustee of Age Concern Blandford and Treads youth advisory service, and a governor at The Blandford School and Milldown Primary. He is a former manager of Castleman House, and he and his wife, who ran a bed and breakfast establishment in Pimperne, have for 18 years been kinship carers of their granddaughter. He wants to see planning brought up to date, coordinating housing development with social infrastructure provision.

Hugo Mieville (LibDem) has worked at Milton Abbey School since 1985 in roles including Head of Modern Languages, Housemaster, Senior Master and now Alumni Director. A town councillor since 2011, he has served as chair of the town and general purposes committee and as deputy mayor. A Foundation Governor of The Blandford School, he is a former Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for North Dorset who says he cares about conserving the unique character of the town and ensuring that its residents receive the quality of service and care which they deserve.

Cranborne Chase

Piers Brown (Con), a district councillor for Hill Forts since 2016, in February last year became the youngest member of the Cabinet with responsibility for access and customer services, and served as a member of the Accounts and Audit committee.

For the last 12 months he has been Mayor of Shaftesbury. After introducing himself and talking to people about their aspirations • To Page 11

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• From Page 10 and concerns for the Cranborne Chase area, he says every village is different, but the key local issues he will be championing are: high-speed broadband, education, roads, supporting rural amenities, supporting business and speeding.

Stephen Mark Kelly (UKIP), born in the hamlet of Hogstock near Tarrant Rushton, has lived in North Dorset all his life, the last 22 years in the Tarrant Valley. He says his parents, when alive, paid the princely sum of £15 a year in rates - a house in the same band now attracts council tax charges of £2,828.75, equating to a mortgage of £283 per month. "Our current councillors said they would restructure the council and save you money. We got a huge

hike in council tax payments, with no extra services. Time for a new broom!"

Dennis Wardleworth (Lab) is a retired scientist, now writer and art historian, who sees the greatest threats on the world stage as climate change and, once again, nuclear weapons. On the local stage, he says, they are further cuts to the local government grant which has fallen by 60% since 2010, with a further £8 billion planned by 2025, and local government funding reliant on raising council tax. Many in Dorset are comfortably off, but many are struggling with high rents and the consequences of cuts and austerity, which has failed, and new voices are needed.

Hill Forts

Alan Cross (Lab), who lives in Pimperne with his wife, Coral, is a former school governor and retains a place on The Blandford School Foundation Board.

Growing up in Blandford, he progressed through local state schools to Southampton University to graduate with a B.A. in History and Politics and work for 33 years with Hall and Woodhouse Limited in a number of management roles. Now, he says, a decade of Tory Austerity has depleted Dorset of so much of the financial support needed to adequately fund local schools and social services, and is squeezing affordable housing.

Joe Hickish (Lib Dem), a North Dorset resident for over forty years whose children and grandchildren attended local schools, is married to a teacher, and has worked in social welfare with thelocal authority, and latterly with a • To Page 12

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May 2019

Dorset Unitary Council election candidates • From Page 11 voluntary organisation. Active in local politics for many years, he served two terms on North Dorset District Council and believes the change to the unitary authority should lead to benefits from the economy of scale, better facilities for young people, public transport for isolated communities, shared funding between adult social and primary care, and provision of affordable housing.

Sherry Jespersen (Con) has been District Councillor for Hill Forts for eight years, serving as Cabinet Member for Community and Economic Regeneration. She works with Parish Councils and community groups, such as the A350 Group, and her priorities are to ensure good management

to improve services within budget, to prioritise building houses local people can afford in the right place with infrastructure, to improve rural roads and road safety, to support investment to grow the local economy, to preserve village shops and to find cost effective ways of meeting care needs and protecting the vulnerable.

concerned about the pressures schools are under from Tory austerity and witnesses the daily struggles that teaching and support staff experience in the face of continual funding cuts. She is a qualified Dorset Ambassador, Treasurer of North Dorset Labour Party, and an active member of the 'Friends of School' for the local village school.

organisations to deliver practical results. Councillors also have a duty to the future, leading critical action on the environment and planning matters for the next generations of Dorset residents. She has worked for councils for over 15 years to improve services and deliver local outcomes, and well understands local government and how to get the most from council resources.

Puddletown & Lower Winterborne

Emma Elizabeth Bratley (Lab) is a small business owner in Milborne St Andrew and works locally for a conservation charity.

As the mother of two children and a volunteer SEN support worker at her local school, she is very

Helen Frances (Lib Dem) of Tincleton believes the new Dorset Council needs people who can resolve existing problems such as roads, public transport and services for the elderly and children, and should focus on them quickly and effectively, working with communities and other

Kevin Maitland-Gleed (Ind) has lived in Dorset since 1972 and in Milborne St Andrew since marrying his wife Sallie in Milton Abbey 34 years ago. Their daughter Kate is currently at university in York. He says he learnt to champion the underdog from his father and from his favourite teacher John Paulley, and as a former • To Page 13

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May 2019

• From Page 12 parish councillor/chairman and district councillor, can bring experience and understanding to the newly-formed authority, which should serve all residents equally and be a great opportunity to bring forward cohesive policies and services that will be of benefit across the community.

Emma Jayne Parker (Con) is a married working mother and lives in Winterborne Whitechurch. She has been a district councillor for her current Abbey ward since 2011, and during the last administration served as chairman of its licensing committee and a member of the overview & scrutiny committee. She is also chairman of her local parish council. Emma has lived in rural villages all her life and takes part in many rural pursuits. She looks forward to continuing to represent her community on the new Dorset Council.

Barrie Cooper (Lib Dem) runs his own farming business in Charlton Marshall, and represented Blandford on Dorset county council for nearly 30 years until losing to Byron Quayle in 2017.

He has also been district councillor for Langton St Leonards ward, and is a Charlton Marshall parish councillor, trustee of the New Charlton Marshall Village Hall and Blandford Youth Centre, a member of the management committee of Blandford Food Bank and elder at Blandford United Reformed Church, a former member of the Dorset Police Authority, and supporter of the Blandford Opportunity Group and Read Easy.

Winterborne North

Christine Adey (UKIP) is a teacher and self-employed GCSE examiner, married with three grown-up children, who has lived in Winterborne Stickland for over 30 years. She says: "Lots of us are wondering if it is worth voting anymore! The main political parties have twisted our referendum result into a deliberate mess, and our council tax has risen sharply.

We need to bring back control from the EU, manage our own needs locally and focus on our children's education, supporting real trade apprenticeships, family welfare and provision of social housing and benefits."

Andrew Kerby (Con), a member of NDDC since 2011, has been Cabinet member for community safety and wellbeing, serving on the audit committee and planning policy panel, Dorset Community Safety Partnership, DCC Health and Well-Being Board, and Dorset Police and Crime Panel. The chairman of the Blandford Youth Centre management committee, he will be working to reduce isolation and loneliness, improve physical health and establish Community Land Trusts.

James Mayo (Ind) worked as

manager of the Crown Hotel for over 20 years, before that running his own catering company, managing the Anvil in Pimperne and working at Blandford Camp.

The president of Blandford & District Lions and former chairman of Blandford LVA, he has previously served two terms as a town councillor, and says that Westminster now has far too much say in local affairs, which is not true democracy, and recent events have shown that many elected representatives are well out of touch with the will of the local people. chair of the Dorset Association of Parish and Town Councils, I've endeavoured to make sure that Parish Councils have an important role in the new Dorset Council, particularly in planning.

As a trustee of two of the area's largest charities I have been able to assist students going to higher education as well as general help for others.

John Stayt (Ind) of Blandford was the Conservative district councillor for Riversdale & Portman but following his resignation from the Conservative party is standing as an Independent with the primary aim of helping the new council become less dependent on grants from central government and subject to the thinking of metro-centric politicians. He served on the district's overview and scrutiny, planning policy, political management and accounts and audit committee. A Blandford town councillor, he was in 2016-17 Escort to his wife Jackie as Mayor, and in 2012 he helped to establish the community magazine Forum Focus and is its advertising manager.

Haydn White (Lab) has lived in the area for over 40 years and is a retired headteacher who taught in Blandford's secondary schools.

He has been Mayor of Blandford three times. As Chair and vice

Jason Williamson (Ind) is a single parent who is proud to have lived in Blandford and surrounding area since he was six, working locally for the last 17 years. A fundraiser for a large children's cancer charity, he wants to make Blandford a place young families want to spend more time in by providing more amenities and events, consulting with members at the youth centre on what they would like to see, and improving local transport for the disabled and non-drivers.

All the local county and parish election results will be posted on our website forumfocus.co.uk as soon as they have been declared

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Readers’ letters

Nordon: why it matters READERS living outside of Blandford may not appreciate the reason why so much fuss is being made about the destruction of Nordon, a building in our conservation area.

The house is clearly quite distinct from other Edwardian houses in the town and, of course, is why it was originally included in the conservation area.

Four out of the seven potential developers clearly thought similarly and their distinguished architects were able to 'conserve' it by utilising it within their plans for the site.

Of course it might have been more appropriate to use the site for a community amenity as suggested by our elected town councillors, but the opportunity to 'take back control' clearly only applies to people higher up the food chain.

The loss of trees will result in an increase in carbon dioxide of about 200Kg/year, but then again, who cares? Not NDDC they are more concerned in covering the cost of paying for their executives' redundancy.

Mike Field Nordon Road, Blandford

Cycling help for all ages AS a newly qualified British Cycling ride leader, I am very

May 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

keen to let people know that free guided rides are now available in North Dorset for up to eight participants at a time.

Riders can be any age, but children over five must be accompanied by an adult; children under five can come along on a ride on a proper bicycle child seat or in a kiddie trailer.

The rides are graded as Easygoing - mostly traffic-free and up to six miles; Steady - on or off road up to 20 miles; and Challenging - on or off road up to 50 miles long. All you need is a bike in a safe condition to ride. A cycle helmet is recommended for adults and compulsory for children.

I will be running fairly regular Easygoing trips along the Trailway, starting in Blandford, on the second Tuesday of the month to coincide with the Stourpaine village hall coffee mornings.

I will also be running other grades of rides starting in Blandford. All British Cycling guided rides can be found at letsride.co.uk - just put your postcode in the search box. My Easygoing ride is called Happy Trails and there's a Challenging ride called Five Tarrants.

In addition to guided rides, British Cycling has ride social rides, similar to guided rides but with no designated leader.

Anyone can post a route, time and place to meet so that cyclists can come together to enjoy them. There are also readymade routes available which you use yourself. I will be posting ride social rides a bit further afield.

Colin Peck, Blandford

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

Ideal site for new school IN their submitted Blandford + Neighbourhood Plan, Blandford Forum Town Council, Blandford St Mary Parish Council and Bryanston Parish Council stated there was critical need for a new primary school in the north of Blandford and added that locating such a new school beyond the bypass is "where the evidence indicates it is most needed and having considered all other options".

However, as far as I am aware, nobody has thought of Nordon as the site for such a new primary school. Nordon is in the north of Blandford. While no doubt the existing buildings would need to be altered to be a primary school, the infrastructure is already there. I guess a new school could be up and running within a year.

Hitherto the education authority has been Dorset County Council and Nordon was the property of North Dorset District Council.

However, both councils have gone and been replaced by (the one) Dorset Council.

So the new situation is that the education authority already owns what I believe is an eminently suitable site for the critically needed primary school in the north of Blandford, namely Nordon. There is an additional benefit that part of Blandford's heritage would be preserved.

Simon Sherbrooke Salisbury Road, Blandford

Asthma aid I HAVE started a support group for sufferers of asthma and COPD and their carers.

You can find it on Facebook at Dorset Asthma and COPD Support Group.

Eventually I will be setting up meetings in Blandford where people can meet face to face to talk and have a cuppa. I will update you when I have finalised the plans. Please take a look at the Facebook group and leave comments.

Jan Collins

IF you think your house is haunted and need experts to investigate, a TV production company is waiting to hear from you. Back2back Productions are on the lookout for spooky places that could feature in series two of Help! My House is Haunted, to be screened on UKTV's Really channel.

Dorset journalist and author Roger Guttridge, who is helping Back2back to identify potential locations, said: "Once a haunting is selected, Back2back send in a team of experts - including an experienced psychic - to investigate and deal with the problem as appropriate. The locations could vary from ordinary houses to pubs, manor houses and castles.�

Anyone with information can email haunted@back2back.tv and rogersguttridge@gmail.com.

May 2019

Running mates raise cash to help fund Kyran’s care A RunBlandford member has raised over £700 in three weeks through her GoFundMe page to help a young Stourpaine boy and his family.

Lucy Mitchell, of Bushes Farm, Stourpaine, sought sponsorship when she took on the tough Dorset Ooser Marathon on March 31, involving running over 13 hills, with a fellow RunBlandford member Hannah Claxton, for seven-year-old Kyran Pipe.

Kyran, who is receiving therapy from a private practice based in Bournemouth until such time as he can receive NHS services, has had many health issues since he and his twin sister were born.

He has undergone a series of intense interventions including plaster casts, a metal frame and regular physiotherapy to allow him to walk, run and play like other children. He also has behavioural difficulties, and has been hospitalised several times with glandular fever, sleep apnoea and respiratory problems, undergoing operations and medication to try to help him sleep easier.

He is on several waiting lists for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, ASD testing and development delay screening, but as yet receives no NHS services.

The family is being helped by Total Children's Therapy, a company whose services cost a minimum of £800 to start, but which have already benefited Kyran greatly.

Alongside his Behaviour Support Services team he has been put on a reduced timetable at school for medical reasons, and has individual

15

care at school, with counselling sessions and SALT therapy as part of the new programme.

But each session is impacting financially on the family. Kyran's mum Hannah said: "Any support we receive is absolutely amazing as life has had a tough start for a seven-year-old."

Above: Kyran Pipe and his mum Hannah. Above right: Lucy Mitchell and fellow RunBlandford Ooser competitor Hannah Claxton.

Hygiene help for girls BLANDFORD Carnival is this year supporting a new project at The Blandford School to ensure girls do not have to miss school because they cannot afford the products they need during their period.

The nationwide community Red Box Project, founded in March 2017 by three friends in Portsmouth who were angered that 'period poverty' led to young women missing out on their education, quietly provides menstrual products in local schools.

Carnival committee member Sally Sheldrake said: "I first heard about the project on the radio last year and decided to contact The Blandford School which had not heard of the scheme but were more than happy to receive a Red Box. The school did have products available for students but not in the quantities that the Red Box can provide for students to be given the products to take home with them."

"The Red Box runs on donations and was lucky enough to be picked as one of the Blandford carnival committee's chosen charities this year."

Staff and pupils at the school will all know where the box is located so they can access it at all times.

Anyone who would like to donate to the Red Box project can contact Sally Ann Sheldrake on Facebook or email at sallyannbarr@gmail.co.uk.

A DOGGY Treasure Trail will be taking place on Sunday May 12 in support of a charity which helped Helen and Shahram Hakimzadeh, of Winterborne Whitechurch, when they fell in love with an abandoned puppy while on holiday in Greece.

Helen said: "Most people go on holiday and come back with a suntan.

Not us. We were adopted by a puppy and just had to rescue her and bring her home.”

Having a dog will not be essential to take part in the doggy trail starting at 2pm at the Old School Room, (next to the church). Further details are available from Helen on 01258 880883.

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The View from the Hill

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

T

HE cows are counting down the days until they can go outside. Having been shut indoors since November, and being crowded out by hyperactive youngsters for the last two months, they are ready for a return to the wide open spaces and some lovely green grass.

Silage is very nice - it can even be used as a fashion accessory, as the picture shows! - but there is nothing to beat fresh grass.

Hopefully by the time you read this, the cows will indeed have been happily reacquainted with some real Dorset pasture, the rain will wash out their winter coats, and they will begin to shine once again in the sun.

The UK possesses some of the best grass growing conditions in the world; our maritime climate, with ample rainfall, is perfect for it. Even on land which cannot grow arable crops, it can be a valuable source of nutrition for humans when converted into meat or dairy products.

Since we finished sowing we have been catching up on some grassland work, which has to come second after arable operations. It also pushes stones out of the reach of the mower and flattens mole hills.

A driver of experience is able to do this freehand, of course, but the job is made a lot easier with

May 2019 so we'll be hoping for warmer weather. Then they will be sorted into small groups in the fields behind Durweston to prepare for lambing.

Regular walkers will appreciate the importance of keeping dogs under control on the footpaths, for which we are very grateful.

The road works at Durweston bridge have begun - one thing they are sure to guarantee is a wet summer. The river has not flooded properly yet this year, so watch out.

I can barely bring myself to mention our oilseed rape crop this year, which is not much short of a disaster. I reported in the autumn of the problems we had with cabbage stem flea beetle at estab- Silage as a fashion accessory! lishment. The beetle flies in the growing point, rendering the and eats the emerging plants, and plant a wreck. if in sufficient numbers can We now have 120 hectares of destroy the crop completely. scruffy moth-eaten rape staggerHowever, if the crop survives and ing into a half-hearted and limps through to spring in the extended flowering period. Some hope that a dose of fertiliser and plants escape, while others slowsunshine will bring it back to life, ly succumb to the internal we find there is a nasty sting in onslaught. This whole sorry turnthe tail. While the CSFB was eatout used to be prevented by the ing, it was also laying eggs, which hatch out over winter and use at the start of a seed dressthe resulting larvae burrow into ing which was the controversial the plant, and munch their way to neo-nicotinoid type, suspected of harming bees, so perhaps rightly banned in Europe. The sprays that used to work no longer do as the beetle has developed resistance.

The upshot of all this is that rape growing will greatly reduce in the UK until a new treatment can be found. We won't be giving up quite yet, but will reduce the acreage, try different sowing times and change the agronomy a bit, but it will be pot luck. Some Some lovely straight lines rolled by Gary in the meadows, to impress passersyears will be bad CSFB years by on Durweston Bridge. and others not so bad.

satnav in the cab, which can steer the tractor while the driver admires the view/checks his phone/polishes the dashboard/does valuable admin.

If we were all to turn vegetarian, it is interesting to consider what would be the best thing to do with all the grassland. George Monbiot would say let it grow trees, and I think he would be right. From the perspective of best value for the environment, and the future of our planet, we need more trees. They do more good in terms of stabilising the soil and processing of greenhouse gases than anything else.

But returning the UK's grassland to forest would not be good if we continue to eat meat, which is reared on soya and other feeds which have been grown on land recently relieved of rainforest in more vulnerable regions.

All of our spring crops are now sown. The barley sown in February is up and away and the rest which was sown in the last 10 days of March is just poking through. The poppies should be along shortly, though I am happy for them to stay out of sight in the soil while there is still risk of frost. A badly timed frost just as the tiny cotyledons open can wreak huge damage, and risk needing re-sowing.

As the new issue of Forum Focus hits your doormats, our sheep will be about to be shorn,

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May 2019

Machine supplies farm-fresh milk with green credentials ESTABLISHED local dairy, Meggy Moo's, at Park Farm in Shroton, have launched a bespoke milk vending machine, the Milkstation, which dispenses two types of farm-fresh milk, whole or semi-skimmed, fresh from the dairy, which customers can transfer direct to their own reusable bottles.

The family farm, established in 1989 by the Perrett family and now run by Alan and his father Andrew with a herd of 180 Holsteins, prides itself on putting its cows first, taking a sustainable, and environmentally conscious approach to farming and

The fresh from the dairy milk vending machine at Meggy Moo's.

selling practices.

Meggy Moo's launched their reusable glass bottle scheme in early 2018, which allowed customers to purchase their own glass bottles which would then be refilled on a pre-order basis.

Local mum Charlotte Fowler said: "I like being able to support local farmers at the same time as reducing my impact on the environment. The refillable glass bottle scheme helps me to teach my toddler about the importance of reusing and recycling. Visiting the farm to collect our milk teaches him where the milk comes from and how it's made."

The new self-service vending machine removes the need for pre-ordering, allowing customers to drop by and refill as needed.

Rachael Perrett of Meggy Moo's dairy said: "This is a really exciting development in the way that we sell our farmfresh milk. The vending machine enables our customers to purchase the freshest milk available, with real provenance and no food miles, and helps to protect the environment by using a refillable bottle or container. We look forward to seeing how our customers embrace the new approach."

Find out more online at meggymoosdairy.co.uk or pop along to the farm, open 7am 7pm Monday to Sunday.

DETAILS have been announced of the Macmillan Dorset Bike Ride on July 7, with four routes to choose from of 38, 48, 63 or 100 miles, all starting from Corfe Mullen. For variable entry fees and details see the website at macmillianbikeride.co.uk or call 01202 601705.

Emma and Alex Young in their new Ginger Viking premises at 28 East Street.

Viking’s new venture AFTER nearly two years operating a 'pop-up' cocktail facility at the Forum Café and providing alcoholic refreshment at countless local events and winning awards for cocktail making, Alex Young and his wife Emma have opened their new Ginger Viking deli, café and bar, open daily at 28 East Street, Blandford.

After their final night at the Forum Café, they thanked all their customers, friends and family, and particularly Terry at the Forum, without whom they could not have built up their business.

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May 2019

New role for Stagecoach dance teacher DI Waterman, who has been running Stagecoach schools for 22 years, retired at the end of the spring term to be replaced by the theatre arts school's dance teacher Anthony Steventon.

Anthony (pictured right) has taught dance at Stagecoach Blandford for the past six years, helping them to create routines and performances for various events. In 2017 he led the school in the carnival routines with the children and conducted them through songs which the children worked hard to perform for the whole route to win its category.

Anthony trained with Jason Thomas Performing Arts, based in Truro, Cornwall, and has since performed professionally in pantomimes, on cruises and in cabarets. He is also a qualified gymnastics coach who works with both recreational and squad children. In 2017 he was the choreographer for Wincanton Amateur Dramatic Society, producing routines for their original production of The Legend of King Arthur.

Stagecoach Blandford produc-

tions have included Thoroughly Modern Millie, Starlight Express and Bryanston Bash, and in October 2018 they participated in an event at the Bournemouth Pavilion with others from around the area.

In the summer term there will be professional workshops with material from Sister Act and We Will Rock You, as well as a performance in The Blandford School, and a performance troupe is being started for children looking to move into a performing career. A summer workshop from August 5 to 9 will be followed by a production in the autumn at Bryanston School.

Mayoral thanks to Railway Club

FUNNY MONEY: Clive Newlin of Blandford Community Promotions, organisers of the Comedy Exchange nights in Blandford Corn Exchange, presented a cheque for ÂŁ1,120, the proceeds of 'Teddy Laughs' held in January, to Owen Newton, of local children's cancer charity Teddy 20. The next Comedy Exchange is scheduled for June 15.

MAYOR of Blandford Roger Carter visited Blandford Railway Club at their weekly meeting to present a cheque for ÂŁ200 to club chairman Howard Day. The money was given towards the costs incurred in helping with staging various exhibitions sponsored by the town's 14-18 Commemoration Group over the last four years.

The Railway Club modellers created several of the displays used, and a group led by Mike Smith worked tirelessly to produce the fine models. They are now moving on to World War II projects, the first of which will be the D-Day landings exhibitions that the Commemoration Group is staging to mark the 75th anniversary in June this year.

The Mayor looked at the club's three layouts and the work being done on them, in particular the Dorbury layout, built on a door, that was on show at Wimrail model railway exhibition in Wimborne in March.

The club meets every Wednesday from 9am to noon at the Scout Club Hall in Eagle House Gardens, Blandford.

May 2019

Museum’s bright future after revamp BLANDFORD'S Town Museum in Bere's Yard reopened for the season after its £25,000 makeover in the presence of dozens of supporters, who were welcomed by chairman Nessa Hickish.

She said the museum, together with its new partners as the Blandford Museum, Arts and Heritage Trust, now had a great future.

Museum director Sylvia Hixson Andrews thanked all those who have given hundreds of volunteer hours to help carry out the renovations and whose work contributed to the museum.

She said she loved to watch 'Escape to the Country' and hear people say they wanted to move to the countryside for the sense of community. "This is what makes a community, the people who volunteer to support the activities in the town."

She also thanked the funders the town centre enhancement contributions from Lidl and other developers, which contributed £5,000, and the North Dorset Local Action Group which awarded £20,000 of LEADER funding.

In addition to the remodelled and

spacious entrance foyer, allowing space for large assemblies such as visiting school groups and occasional exhibitions, the museum now boasts enhanced lighting and heating to better display and maintain its exhibits and archives, new insulation and decoration, and improved facilities for volunteers, including a larger kitchen and toilet area.

A pre-season welcome was held for the team of stewards who make it possible for the museum to open daily from Thursdays to Tuesday free of charge to the public. The opportunities are varied for anyone interested in helping in stewarding, helping with the exhibits and archives, and helping with the education programme offered to school pupils.

Martin Brown, illustrator of the best-selling 'Horrible Histories' series, who was invited to officially reopen the premises, said the interest in the exhibits in a museum lay not in the exhibits themselves, but in the stories they told.

He was due back in town on the afternoon of Sunday April 28 to give a presentation and talk in the Corn Exchange for Blandford Town Council.

The spacious new exhibition area on the first floor.

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Chairman Nessa Hickish, left, and Director Sylvia Hixson, with Martin Brown, who cut the ribbon to open the refurbished museum.

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May 2019

Craig’s business boom LOCAL Snap-on man, Craig Bishop, has been nominated for a national business award only two years after launching the business.

He was named 'Snap-on tools Best Newcomer' at their annual conference and is now up for the title of the British Franchise Association's 'Young Franchisee of the Year' at its awards ceremony in Birmingham in June.

Craig, who lives in the Weymouth area, launched his new business in 2017 when he was 30 and covers the whole of North Dorset, so regularly stops off at local garages and workshops across the Blandford area where his van is wellknown.

He said: "To be a finalist is fantastic. I don't come from a family of business owners and I didn't have a background in

the tool trade. My success is down to sheer hard work and the fact that I love what I do. I give it my all and it's really paying off. I'm over the moon to have been shortlisted for such a big award."

The awards, sponsored by HSBC, recognise the best businesses in the country and celebrate consistent growth, innovation and exceptional customer service in the franchised sector which contributed over £17 billion to the UK economy in 2018.

Pip Wilkins, CEO of the British Franchise Association, said: "Craig's dedication and driven approach is very impressive.

He wants to be the best and is hungry for success… the results since starting the franchise speak for themselves."

Pictured from left: Dee Swinton, of Dorset Mind, Emma Regan from Douch Family Funeral Directors, Alexis Stevens of Dorset Mind, and Nick Douch, managing director of the funeral group.

Funeral team’s support for mental health charity MENTAL health charity Dorset Mind has received a donation of more than £3,500 from the Douch Family Funeral Directors, whose branch Lesley Shand is in East Street, Blandford.

The money was raised through a series of events last year, including an ascent of Mount Snowdon, Halloween fancy dress night and a cheese and wine evening, and the cheque was presented by managing director Nick Douch and marketing manager Emma Regan to Dee Swinton and Alexis Stevens from Dorset Mind.

The mental health charity, its staff and volunteers have for over 70 years been supporting people in Dorset, educating, challenging stigma and focusing on prevention and recovery.

Mr Douch said: "Dorset Mind was our 2018 charity of the year and our staff really got behind the fundraising. We have also

made use of the charity's services by putting our staff through mental health awareness training that also covered trauma and peer support.

"It was hugely beneficial and useful and means our staff know what signs to look out for and what to do. We'd encourage all businesses to consider training their workforces."

The group has already begun raising money for this year's charity, Dementia Friends.

Dee Swinton, Dorset Mind's income generation and marketing manager, said the charity had grown over the year, thanks to work with forward-thinking organisations such as Douch Family Funeral Directors.

"Not only were we their charity of the year, but we were able to work with their team and raise mental health awareness in a profession that can be very challenging."

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May 2019

News from the Camera Club

Law firm’s legal high THE new president of the Dorset Law Society, elected to succeed Paul Varney at the 183-year-old organisation's annual meeting, is Blanchards Bailey Principal Paul Dunlop.

Paul, who joined Blanchards Bailey in 2013, is head of litigation and disputes and also of the firm's agriculture team. He is recognised in the Legal 500 as one of the UK's leading lawyers in his field and is the firm's firstever society president. Blanchards Bailey Principal Paul Dunlop, the He said: "It is a great new president of Dorset Law Society, and privilege to be elected Emma Needham, the new vice-president. to this role. Our members work in a highly regulated profession and are committed to providing the highest quality of legal services.

Pat Catley's high scoring Winter Sunrise at Blandford Forum Camera Club.

MEMBERS of Blandford Forum Camera Club have been busy with inter-club competitions and prepping images for the annual exhibition, to be held in the Corn Exchange on May 25 and 26.

The Points Cup competition in March, judged by Paul De Sylva, saw top scores awarded to David Chaloner (Woodpecker Chick), Sally Chaloner (Gerbera), Malcolm Bowditch (Technology and Innovation Centre, Strathclyde) Jean Bartlett (Last Remains of the Kill) in the print section.

In the PDIs, top scorers were Pat Catley (Winter Sunrise), Jean Bartlett (Cheetah Pair) and (Meal for One), Howard Westlake (Beaulieu-SurDordogne), Colin Cross (Just Caught Supper) and (This is My Territory), Helen Hardy (Other Peoples Windows).

Guest speakers during March

were Graham and Jackie Poynter (View and Points of View) and Chris Button (Landscape and Close Up Images), both giving inspiration, tips and techniques to try.

April started with the annual general meeting, and competitions including Points Cup No 7, Match-an-Image (against Dorset Light Camera Club and Shaftesbury Camera Club) in which each team vyes for points with random and obscure images, and the BFCC Set Subject competitions with the theme 'Abandoned' for PDI's and 'Patterns in Nature' for the prints.

New members are always welcome at the weekly Tuesday meetings until May, and the Studio Group, Distinctions Group and Support Group sessions held each month, open to any level of photographer. For details see the website at bfcclub.co.uk.

"I am looking forward to continuing the society's renaissance of recent years and aim to focus on developing training as well as growing our membership.

"It is important that we have a spirit of openness with members talking to each other, sharing their views and collaborating on issues of mutual benefit."

Emma Needham, a Senior Associate at Blanchard Bailey, who specialises in wills and estate administration, has been elected vicepresident of the society, which has more than 160 members and is the county representative for the Law Society of England and Wales.

22

May 2019

Anne Shire, left, and Sara Loch selling raffle tickets at an indoor market in the Corn Exchange for a handmade quilt in support of the restoration of Blandford Church.

A quilt for the church A BEAUTIFUL handsewn quilt made by members of the 'Simply Sew' Craft Group based at the Blandford Parish Centre is being raffled in support of the restoration of Blandford Parish Church.

Other prizes include a £150 voucher from jewellers Horrocks and Webb, a food hamper, a hamper of bath-time goodies - and a knitted 'Rector', complete with surplus and coat, which has been made by one of the group.

The raffle will be drawn on the afternoon of the Georgian Fayre at 3pm, and tickets at £1 each are on sale from church members and in the church.

Slimmers’ hair help NICKI Edwards, 'The Cambridge Lady', and her slimming customers have raised over £500 for the Little Princess Trust.

"We are delighted to be able to support this wonderful charity," said Nicki. "One of my regular customers, who had long flowing hair, surprised me one day when she came in for our regular oneto-one weigh-in with a new, really short hairstyle.

"It turned out that she regularly donates her hair to The Little Princess Trust for them to make into wigs. That's when I decided we should try to help."

The charity, which provides real hair wigs free to children and young people up to the age of 24 who have lost their own hair due to cancer treatment and other

conditions, has a network of salons so wigs can be fitted close to the home of the people needing them.

Because it's real hair, the wig can be cut, curled, or straightened to match an original look - or to create a new style.

Nicki added: "My customers have been amazing, either by donating or entering the 1:1 Diet by Cambridge Weight Plan 30-day challenge. Their support for The Little Princess Trust has really overwhelmed me.

"I would encourage anyone to take a look at the great work the trust does on littleprincesses.org.uk and maybe help by donating some hair of their own."

23

May 2019

The scene is set for a fun-filled Georgian Fayre WITH the aim of reminding visitors of the town's Georgian heritage and architecture, Blandford's 27th Georgian Fayre will be opened by the Mayor, Roger Carter, at 10am on Monday May 6.

It promises a range of entertainment, including some old favourites and other new attractions.

This year The Mangled Worzels will perform in the Market Place for the first time, along with the Stour Valley Band, Anonymous Morris Men, and Gurkha traditional dancers.

There will be a music stage in Salisbury Street as well as in the Ham (Morrisons) car park, so plenty of music throughout the town.

Miniature armour displays, Vehicles of Yesteryear and vintage motorcycles will be on the Lower Ham, and on the grass area demonstrations of birds of prey, and alpacas from Longthorns Farm.

A vintage bus will take and bring passengers to and from the Brewery visitor centre and its car park free of charge. A children's zone with Mr Merlin and Okey

Dokey the Dragon will be in the Woodhouse Gardens.

The event raises funds for local charities and allows other charities and town organisations to raise funds and awareness for their causes, leading to an increased sense of community and involvement in cultural, educational and social activities to the benefit of all.

Volunteers give up hundreds of hours of their time, unpaid, to run the event, and the organisers are also very grateful to all their sponsors, without whose help they would find it very difficult to continue.

Town centre roads will be closed to traffic between 7am and 7pm for the event, which closes at 5pm. Because of the road closure, the taxi rank will be moved to Bryanston School gates and the corner of Damory Street and East Street. Whitecliff Mill Street will again be two-way from Park Road to Eagle House Gardens to allow access to homes in that residential area. Free parking will be available on Stour Meadows and at the brewery.

See the website blandfordgeorgianfayre.co.uk or @Blandford Georgian Fayre on Facebook.

WORK starts on Monday May 13 on an extension to the Woodhouse Gardens Pavilion, which will mean that the gardens and pavilion will be closed to the public for the following 14 weeks, while the area is officially a building site.

The Town Council is improving access and facilities by installing two unisex disabled toilets, a larger accessible kitchen and a lockable storage area. Groups normally meeting may have chosen to cancel their booking and receive a refund from the town council, or accepted an offer of alternative accommodation.

Carol Bunnagar (far left) and helpers at the final Age Concern Pop-in.

Pop-in’s time is up AFTER 20 years of service to the elderly, the Age Concern Blandford Forum Pop-in has closed due to lack of volunteers.

Helpers at the final Wednesday morning gathering in the Woodhouse Gardens pavilion presented a retirement bouquet and gifts to its leader Carol Bunnagar.

She said: " I should like to thank the volunteers and all the members for their support and the gifts I received on my last day."

The Age Concern office at 4 Nightingale Court remains open on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday mornings, 10am to 1pm, for advice and help.

24

May 2019

Plastic peril highlighted

NOC'S charity members and supporters outside their new home in Salisbury Street.

Civic launch for charity’s new home THE new premises of NOC'S charity at 27 Salisbury Street were officially opened by Mayor of Blandford Roger Carter, who said it was just the sort of activity hub needed as part of a renewal and regeneration to maintain the viability of the town centre.

"It's a hub where anyone can become actively engaged in hobby craft and share their skills and knowledge, and most of all where people can socialise, making a positive contribution to mental

health by bringing people together and networking to reduce social and rural isolation," he said. The charity is open to anyone but has been designed specifically to help people with Asperger Syndrome, autism and social anxiety through game playing.

Certificates were presented to a number of people who had helped with preparing the new venue and raised funds for the charity, which has been supported by the National Lottery and Children in Need.

HIGHLIGHTS of the Durweston Fayre in support of Durweston CE Primary and playing fields on Sunday May 12 from noon are the popular fun dog show and terrier racing, together with pygmy goats and miniature Shetland ponies, Ziggy and Teddy. Other attractions include traditional maypole dancing from the children at Durweston CE Primary, performances by the Performing Arts Theatre Academy and Starlight Dance Academy, a bar, food stalls and handcrafted goods by local crafters and artisans, and free parking off the A357.

PLASTIC-FREE activity across Dorset is being boosted by a crowdfunded UK film tour which started in Wimborne in March and will be coming to Child Okeford village hall on Friday May 3, with stalls and campaign material available from 7pm, and the film screening starting 8pm.

The documentary Rubber Jellyfish is a feature-length documentary exploring the effects of balloon releases on wildlife and the environment in the same way as littering and throwing rubbish.

It is being promoted by two local organisations, Don't Inflate to Celebrate and Ecotainment!, who were partners in the county-wide Wave of Change responsible for showing the feature film 'A Plastic Ocean' to over 600 people last year.

Town Team meeting THE Blandford Forum Town Team will be holding its annual general meeting in the Community Room in the Town Clerk's Offices on Thursday May 23 starting at 6pm.

Charged with promoting the Blandford area, the group succeeded last year in securing funding from the Lidl town enhancement money for new signs on the bypass highlighting the attractions.

Objectives for the coming year include working with the Town Council to achieve the part-pedestrianisation of the Market Place, improving access from the Trailway into the town centre for cyclists, and initiatives to create a 'Green' and 'SMART' town.

Anyone who would like to attend is asked to let secretary David Rose know by emailing blandfordtownteam@outlook.com.

Dorset Trading Standards news Care homes, Trading Standards and your consumer rights CHOOSING a care home for yourself or another person is a very important and often emotional decision. Moving to a different care home if the first one isn't right could be a big upheaval, so you need to be confident that you have all the information you need to choose the right one.

You have consumer rights regardless of whether you pay all the costs of your care or whether some or all of the costs are paid for by the local authority or another organisation. Knowing these rights help people make informed decisions when choosing a care home and can also help ensure you are fairly treated and protected if things go wrong.

The Competition and Markets Authority have recently contacted all care home providers who provide care for older people with advice to help those providers better understand and meet their obligations under consumer law. It includes: • Providing people with information needed to make informed choices • Treating residents fairly with fair terms and conditions • Providing services with reasonable care and skill • A fair, effective and easy to find and use complaints handling procedure.

Care homes which don't meet their obligations might be in breach of consumer law and could face enforcement action by local Trading Standards Services or the CMA. The Citizens Advice national consumer helpline on 03454 040506 can give advice and pass information to Trading Standards to investigate if you feel you are treated unfairly or a care home is breaking the law.

25

May 2019

Youth centre reports a year of progress AN exciting year of progress was William Williams, the centre has reported by Blandford Youth and been able to launch a wardrobe Community Centre manager Jo project providing toiletries, sanitary Clarke at the annual general meetproducts, high street clothing ing of the management committee. vouchers and school uniforms for young people in She said the centre is need in the communow open on Mondays nity. for additional needs and ASC evenings, The centre works in Wednesdays for about partnership with the 20 school years 9s and schools, sharing above, and Thursdays information for safefor about 80 school guarding purposes. years 7s and 8s.

The police call in weekly to talk with There are three Level 3 the young people, paid youth workers runplay pool and Xbox, ning each evening, and build communiassisted by eight volun- Blandford Youth and teers, six of whom hold Community Centre manager ty relationships so that those in trouble or are studying towards Jo Clarke. or worried can easLevel 2. There are also ily approach their local police. young volunteers of 15 and over who help run activities for the Face Forward work during the day younger people. They are trained on the first floor, providing motivain safeguarding, participation and tional and careers advice, and the confidentiality, and receive a health champions run a busy Dorset award and a reference for sewing friendship group for all their effort. ages on a Wednesday afternoon, providing a service to the wider Young people have taken part in community. arts, crafts, cookery, sports, gaming and peer-led workshops on Plans are now being made to bullying, and have received advice open the centre to school year 6s and support on friendships, relafrom local primary schools to protionships, school, college, peer vide a safe place to meet their pressure, self-harm, health, mental future classmates when they go health and healthy relationships. up to second school, and help the transition run smoothly.

Thanks to a grant from the charity

News from the surgeries Essential healthcare advice for your holiday this year 1, EHIC Card (European Health Insurance Card) - essential for access to medical services within the EU, EEA or Switzerland. Due to the current uncertainty of Brexit, check the NHS website nhs.uk before you travel, as the EHIC may not be valid after Brexit.

2, Travel insurance documents - make sure you buy adequate holiday medical insurance, including specific cover for any pre-existing illnesses, including for repatriation - especially important if Brexit happens whilst you are on holiday in the EU. 3, Carrying your prescription medication - some drugs that are legal in the UK, are illegal in other countries. You need your prescription/doctor's letter to prove you can legally have these drugs in your possession, eg: in China, you need a doctor's letter for any prescription drugs.

4, Make sure you have enough medicines for your trip and carry them in their original container, in hand luggage.

5, Pack any medical aids you need, eg: blood glucose monitor, and remember to get a doctor's note explaining the items you need to control your condition.

6, Vaccination documents (if needed) - check well in advance which vaccination(s) you need - see 'Travel vaccinations' on the website NHS Fit For Travel. The closest travel clinic is the Wimborne Travel Clinic.

7, Malaria treatment - check NHS Fit For Travel for the latest malaria advice.

8, Finally, whilst on holiday, only contact medical services in the country you are visiting for medical help, and not the Blandford surgeries as they cannot offer immediate help. • Happy holiday!

Durweston pupils in the green!

Irish jig at Durweston DURWESTON Primary celebrated St Patrick's Day in March by dressing in green and having a go at Irish dancing.

Charlotte Fernandes from Dance Days Academy came in to run workshops throughout the day, and everyone had a great time, including some of the staff who were seen to join in.

The school also said goodbye at the end of the spring term to one of their most long-standing teachers Judith Cresswell, who has taught at Durweston since 1985, and has touched many people's lives.

As a leaving present, she requested photos to remind her of the children she has taught over the years and instead of a gift, would like a fund to be set up in her name. Anyone who would like to contribute is asked to get in touch with the school.

26

May 2019

Pimperne are first tennis skills champions

Prosper Financial Solutions Cup champions Pimperne Primary school, being presented their medals and trophy by LTA competition development manager Sam Kemp and Prosper’s Richard Bethell.

PIMPERNE Primary School were crowned champions of the first edition of the Prosper Financial Solutions Cup, a tennis skills festival for Year 2 students held by Blandford Tennis Academy (BTA).

The festival was the culmination of a fiveweek collaboration between Prosper Financial Solutions and the academy, which saw Simon Kevern, the BTA head coach, visit more than 200 Year 2 students around the Blandford area to deliver five class sessions based around providing the students the skills necessary to be able to play the game.

After these sessions the top eight students were chosen from each class to represent their school in the skills festival which ended the tour. The festival took place with the help of 16 of Milldown Academy's Year 6 students

acting as sports leaders, having taken part themselves in a crash course in helping out in sports coaching sessions.

Following on from these sessions, all the students who took part in the class sessions as part of the tennis tour have been invited to take part in a fun starter course in the LTA's Tennis for Kids scheme. The introductory programme provides a six-week tennis course led by an accredited LTA coach, each child receiving a new racket and ball set and tee-shirt.

For more information on Tennis for Kids and how to take part, see Tennisforkids.co.uk for session times and information, and for more information on other sessions taking place at Blandford Tennis Academy contact them on blandfordtennis@hotmail.co.uk.

Family support helps Mark to national title BLANDFORD Amateur Boxing Club's Mark Benham has become the town's first-ever England Boxing Junior Champion.

He defeated an impressive opponent on a points decision in a competition at Rotherham and has now been selected to box for England at the Three Nations Championships in Cardiff on May 2-4.

The Blandford School Year 11 pupil, who weighs 66 kilogrammes and started competing at the age of 10, fought his way to the national title from a box-off to compete in the Western Counties final in Bristol, where he became the Western Counties champion.

He then beat a tricky opponent on a points decision in the semifinals in Rotherham for the national championships the day before the final.

On finals day his bout against a boxer from Maidstone Ghurka Boxing Club was fast paced, both boxers giving a fantastic

against Devon.

Blandford Boxing Club, which was recently given permission by the Town Council to use the town crest in its logo, trains twice a week at the United Reformed Church Hall in Whitecliff Mill Street, and currently has no premises of its own.

Mark is coached by his brother Danny and father Les Benham

Mark Benham with his coaches, brother Danny and father Les. display, and it came down to a split decision.

His success coincides with a successful season for the Blandford club, which receives no external funding, but has seen two members win their first bouts and another secure a unanimous vote to win for Dorset

said: "We desperately need our own premises and more sponsorship to fund our activities. We are planning to launch a crowd funding appeal, but anyone who can offer us any assistance is welcome to contact me on 07788 907343."

The club has particularly thanked David Pardoe for his help and support.

Future of learning on school summit agenda THE third Bryanston Education Summit for teachers and educationalists from all over the southwest takes place at Bryanston School on Wednesday June 5, entitled 'Revolution; the future of learning in a changing world'.

This year's annual summit will focus on many of the most significant issues facing the teaching profession, parents and pupils, and features a host of prominent speakers and contributors.

They include Claire Fox, director and founder of the Institute of Ideas and an accomplished author and regular contributor to the BBC's 'The Moral Maze', and Sir Anthony Seldon, a leading historian and political author who will be discussing the role of artificial intelligence in education and how it will affect future generations.

Behavioural psychologist and geneticist, Professor Robert Plomin will lead a debate on the way fates are determined by genes and the need to change the way we think about learning.

Alex Beard, a former teacher and author of 'Natural Born Learners', will share insight from his visits to the best schools all over world.

Craig Barton, a legendary figure in the world of mathematics, will talk about why the subject matters so much today.

Also talking part are leading educationalists - headteacher Jane Lunnon is one of the most outspoken advocates of single-sex education, and Alex Quigley will talk about how to close the 'vocabulary gap' among young people. Professor Dame Alison Peacock, chief executive of the Chartered College, will be discussing professional standards in teaching, and Ian Warwick will be exploring what can be learned from the work of Leonardo da Vinci.

Summit Director and Deputy Head Academic at Bryanston David James says the event will explore many of the biggest questions and highlight progressive and innovative solutions to some of the most significant challenges.

The Summit is open to anyone working in education and registration is already underway and available on a first come first served basis. Anyone wishing to attend should register online at bryanston.co.uk/educationsummit.

27

May 2019

Mixed fortunes for Tri Club runners MEMBERS of the North Dorset Tri club have been taking part in a number of distance running events in the area.

Dave Hewes and Andy Soward at the Larmer Tree Half. Photo: Dave Lewes.

Andy Soward found the Larmer Tree Half Marathon quite a challenge, coming 120th overall.

In the club's monthly newsletter he said: "It is not only the furthest I have ever run at 13.4 miles, but is also the hardest event. The elevation gain was the killer at a mighty 1,690 ft (515 m). The flattish first two miles soon became a drop down to cross the main road, then a climb to the top of a ridge line, before dropping down to start another climb. Then another steep hill and back down again before another long climb.

Would I do it again? No." His running club mate Dave Hewes fared better as the only person in the 55 to 59 category to finish in under two hours and come 14th overall.

Mikaela Weaver was one of

more than 1,000 runners who turned out to take on the fifth Weymouth half-marathon, organised by Just Racing, in windy but sunny conditions over a tough course of more than 13 miles in and around Weymouth, starting and finishing at Weymouth Pavilion.

Forthcoming events include the North Dorset Village Marathon on May 5, the Stourhead Mega Sprint on May 11, and the Bridport Tri on May 12.

Meanwhile the Juniors, who held a Club Society "Easter Hash" on Easter Monday, have been enjoying regular training sessions in running, cycling and swimming which will continue on most Saturdays in May and June leading up to a Club Mini Tri to be arranged in July.

Mikaela Weaver at Weymouth Half.

Girls invited to take a swing at playing golf STURMINSTER Marshall Golf Club is offering free tasters for girls aged five to 18, followed by six-week coaching courses as part of Girls Golf Rocks run jointly

by England Golf and the Golf Foundation to encourage more girls into the sport.

At the taster sessions, newcomers will get together with other beginner girls to play fun games.

PGA professional coaches will lead the activities and Girls Golf Rocks ambassadors from local clubs and the county girls' squad will be on hand to help and encourage. Equipment will be provided and there will be plenty of time to chat.

The girls can then go on to the beginner coaching groups, with the chance to get out on the golf

course in the final week and play in a team alongside the ambassadors. They will also receive a golf club and goody pack.

The session at Sturminster Marshall is on Friday May 10, from 5 to 7pm, and will be followed by coaching starting the following Friday between 5 and 6pm.

Taster sessions are also being held at Dudsbury on Saturday May 4 from 4pm, Bulbury Woods on Sunday May 5 from 10am, and Broadstone on Saturday May 11 from 2pm, with coaching to follow at Dudsbury on Saturday evenings, Bulbury on Sunday lunchtimes and Broadstone on Tuesday evenings.

To book see girlsgolfrocks.org/Dorset.

Members of the Blandford Flyers Swimming Club who took part in the Swimathon in aid of Cancer Research UK and Marie Curie at Blandford Leisure Centre did themselves proud. They swam 5km in 1hr 16mins and raised over ÂŁ422 for a terrific cause. Pictured are back row, left to right, Max Leigh, Millie Creffield and Taryn Scott-Brown, and front left to right Wilf Leigh and Cerys Scott-Brown. Having to miss the swim but making a large contribution towards the fundraising were Avantika and Nishchala Gurung.

28 Wednesday May 1: Is It Wheely Wednesday - cycle ride from Shillingstone Station, details 01258 860157 Blandford St Mary Parish Council meeting, Brewery Hall, Hall & Woodhouse, 7pm Blandford Bereavement Group meets Blandford Parish Centre, 11am to 12.30pm, details 01258 453425 Thursday May 2: Town, parish and new Dorset Council elections, polling stations open 7am to 10pm Square Dancing, Spetisbury village hall, 4 to 6pm (and every Thursday) Friday May 3: Rubber Jellyfish, a documentary about aerial litter, Child Okeford village hall, see waveofchange.uk Friday May 3 to Sunday May 5: Teddy Rocks Festival, for Teddy 20 charity, Charisworth Farm, Thornicombe, teddyrocks.co.uk.

Saturday May 4: Plant sale & coffee morning, Tarrant Monkton & Launceston village hall, 10.30am Jumble Sale in aid of village hall funds, Okeford Fitzpaine Village Hall DT11 0RE, 2pm Sunday May 5: Dorset Wildlife Trust Dawn Chorus walk, Ashley Wood, near Tarrant Keyneston, 4.30am, booking essential on 07824 874273 Dorset Ramblers meet 10.15am at Win Green to walk Wessex Ridgeway to Tollard Royal. 5 miles, with optional pm walk to Melbury Beacon (2 miles) (details for this and other Sunday walks in May see dorsetramblers.co.uk) The Art Room - informal art session, 11am-1pm at The Kings Arms, Blandford, details blandfordartsociety.weebly.com Round Robin Ramblers meet outside the Martyrs Inn, Tolpuddle, 2pm for 4.5 mile walk around Tolpuddle, details 01258 880044 Monday May 6: Bank Holiday Blandford Georgian Fayre, 10am to 5pm, Blandford town centre Garden Open and Creative and Sustainable Living Fair, Springhead Trust, Fontmell Magna, 10am to 5pm Tuesday May 7: Valley Gardening Club meets Pamela Hambro Hall, Winterborne Stickland, 7.30pm details valleygardening@gmail.com Wednesday May 8: Forum Drama AGM, Woodhouse Gardens Pavilion, 7pm Sturminster Newton Floral Group meets The Exchange,

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.

Sturminster Newton, 7.30pm Thursday May 9: Forum Cancer Support Group, Woodhouse Gardens Pavilion 2 to 4pm (every 2nd Thursday of the month), details 07561 114644 Patient Participation Group Networking evening, Blandford St Mary Primary School, 6 to 8pm, details call 07980 751520 or email communications@dorsetccg.nhs.uk Friday May 10: Craft Market, The Shambles, Corn Exchange, Blandford, 9am to 1pm (and May 24) Dr Bods presents The Dub Pistols, Corn Exchange, Blandford, 7.30pm Wessex Acoustic Folk, Blandford Royal British Legion Club, Church Lane, 8pm, Mike Silver Saturday May 11: Cleanup Blandford litterpick from 10am: meet at the weir next to Mortain (blue) bridge on the Marsh & Ham Blandford Snooker Club open day, United Reformed Church Hall, Whitecliff Mill Street, Blandford Bowling Club open day, Park Road, 10am to 4pm Blandford Horticultural Society plant sale, Blandford Constitutional Club, 10am, details 01258 452380 Modou Ndiaye and band, Portman Hall, Shillingstone, 7.30pm, details artsreach.co.uk Dance for Charity with Salsa Amigos, Corn Exchange, Blandford, 7.30 to 11.30pm Sunday May 12: Durweston Country Fayre and Fun Dog Show, 12 noon to 4pm, supporting Durweston CE Primary and Playing Fields, details 07988 791260 Doggy Treasure Trail, 2pm, The Old School Room, Winterborne Whitechurch for PAWS of Pelion Greek Animal Rescue. Details 01258 880883 Spetisbury & Charlton Marshall Twinning Association cheese & wine, Church Rooms, Charlton Marshall, 12 to 2pm, details 01258 857515 Monday May 13: Swann Recruitment Fair, Corn Exchange, Blandford, 9am to 4pm Blandford Floral Group meets United Reformed Church Hall,

Whitecliff Mill Street, 2pm Wednesday May 15: Valley Gardening Club meets Pamela Hambro Hall, Winterborne Stickland, 7.30pm, details valleygardening@gmail.com Thursday May 16: Blandford Art Society Workshop with Judith Ryde, Pimperne Village Hall, 1.30pm, details blandfordartsociety.weebly.com Museum Archaeology Group talk

by Julian Richards on Shaftesbury Excavations, Blandford Museum 7.30pm Friday May 17: Trafalgar Way talk by naval historian Kate Jamieson, Corn Exchange 7.30pm Saturday May 18: Big Brekkie for Christian Aid, Blandford Methodist Church, 9am to 10.30am Trafalgar Way celebration and cavalcade, town centre and Corn Exchange, Blandford, 10am to 1pm Plants and Bring & Buy Sale, cream teas, Spetisbury Church, for church funds, 1.30 to 4pm Prose, Prosecco and Potions, Blandford Literary Festival presentation and fundraiser, Marcia's Market, Clapcotts Farm, 3.45pm, details 07780 952395 Saturday and Sunday May 18 and 19: Three Okefords Annual Rally, East Brooke Farm, Shillingstone, 10am til late, steam and agricultural machines, tractor pulling, stalls, details 01258 861473 Sunday May 19: Community Kitchen Big Breakfast 9.30am, Parish Centre, Blandford Help make 'Bags of Difference' for children in foster care, Tarrant Hinton village hall, from 10am,details 01258 830410 or email craftatnumber7@gmail. com Blandford Town Centre Heritage Walk, 11am from Marsh & Ham (Morrisons) car park, details 01258 459346 Tuesday May 21: Child Okeford Flower Arranging Club, practical workshop, Child Okeford Village Hall, 2.15pm, details: 01258 863775 Wednesday May 22: Bingo in aid of Blandford School Art Department, Blandford Royal British Legion, eyes down 7.30pm Thursday May 23: Blandford Town Team CIC AGM,

May 2019 Blandford Town Council committee room, Church Lane, Blandford, 6pm Blandford Horticultural Society meets United Reformed Church Hall, Blandford, speaker Mark Hinsley, 7.30pm, details 01258 452380 Friday to Sunday May 24 to 26: Cursus Cider & Music Festival, Canada Farm, Sixpenny Handley Friday May 24: Mayor Making, Corn Exchange, Blandford, 11 for 11.30am Film Night, Child Okeford Village Hall, 7.30pm, 'Stan and Ollie' (PG), bookings 01258 860518 Saturday May 25: Spring Fair, Stourpaine House, Manor Road, Stourpaine, 10.30am to 12.30pm. Details 07795 117510 Jumble Sale in Aid of The Ark, Child Okeford Village Hall, 11am to 1pm Keyneston Lodge Open Gardens, cream teas and raffle, supporting Young Epilepsy, 11am to 4pm 12-hour Poolathon for the Multiple Sclerosis Trust, Royal British Legion Club, Church Lane, Blandford from 12 noon, ÂŁ5 per player, text 075337056091 to register Talk for Churches Conservation Trust by wall painting conservator Anne Ballantyne at St Mary's Church, Tarrant Crawford, 2pm, details parker359@ btinternet.com or 01258 857453 Pub Quiz, Farquharson Arms, Pimperne, 8pm in aid of Stroke Association Saturday and Sunday, May 25 and 26: Blandford Camera Club Annual Exhibition, Corn Exchange, Blandford, 9.30am to 5pm Saturday, 9.30am to 4pm Sunday Saturday to Monday May 25 to 27: Arch Revival 2019 Family Camping Festival, Eight-Arch Bridge, Sturminster Marshall, arkadiaevents.co.uk Sunday May 26: Spetisbury cider festival, The Shack (Marcia's Market), Clapcotts Farm, Turnworth DT11 0EE - village gardens, teas; music, plants etc. Free parking & entry Shapwick Village Green country fair, Stewards Lane, DT11 9JZ, 12 to 4pm, details 07704672240 Monday May 27: Bank Holiday Friday May 31: Vintage Fair, Corn Exchange, Blandford, 9am to 5pm Wessex Acoustic Folk, Blandford Royal British Legion Club, Church Lane, 8pm, Winter Wilson Friday May 31 to Sunday June 9: Spetisbury Festival